ALPINE SKIING

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History:

The Alpine Ski Racing Program at National Sports Academy has a twenty year history of providing the finest opportunities for Alpine athletes to pursue their athletic and academic goals. NSA's student-athletes, past and current, have competed at local, state, regional, national, Olympic, and World Cup ski races. The combination of an athlete's talent and motivation, the access to the World Class and Olympic training / competitive venue of Whiteface Mountain, and the additional cross- training opportunities that are provided by the Olympic Training Center site contribute to the success of our enrolled athletes.

Philosophy:

Student-athletes at National Sports Academy are carefully monitored in an individual, year-long program. This program covers an extensive conditioning (dryland) program which focuses on endurance, power, balance/coordination, and sport-specific physical training. From the weight room to the incredible diversity of the Adirondack Mountains, this program provides the winning formula for an intense and always interesting blend of athletic training.

Training:

NSA's on-snow training starts with summer camps at Mt. Hood, Oregon. November finds student-athletes and coaches traveling to camps in Colorado, Canada, and Europe for training. Immediately following Thanksgiving vacation, student-athletes train daily every morning at Whiteface Mountain which offers FIS, homologated race and training trails which boast the largest skiable vertical in the east.

Student-athletes from National Sports Academy have competed, and are currently competing at Division I colleges, past and current Olympic and World Cup levels, and at Regional and National Junior competitions.

Coaches:

Stephen Mergenthaler - Program director/head coach National Sports Academy Lake Placid NY; Level 400 USSA Coach; National Development System US Ski Team Coach; Chairman NYSSRA J1-2 committee; Chairman NYSSRA J3-4-5 committee; Chairman NYSSRA Coaches committee; NYSSRA Coaches Education; USSA Coaches Education clinician/examiner;   ASEP Instructor;  Level 3 PSIA;   Amateur, and Pro racing background; SUNY Adjunct faculty -PE department -Basic and Intermediate Rock Climbing; Owner and Head guide for Redline Mountain Guides and Adventures; Licensed Rock Climbing Guide.
Email Stephen

David H.Smith - Head Alpine Coach. USSCA Certified coach. National Sports Academy alumni 1989. B. A. Economics St. Lawrence University 1994. 2004 Eastern Region Coach of the year. Assistant coach 2005 World Junior Alpine Championships. JI-II NYSSRA Development Comttitee member. NYSEF coach 1994-2006, Head Mens FIS Coach 2000-2006. NCAA Championships 1992-1993. Email David

David Wenn - Head of School and NSA Junior III Alpine Coach. Level III USSCA, PSIA Level I course conductor. Email David

Royce Van Evera - Junior I/II Men's Development Coach; Level II USSCA; Level II PSIA; Head Junior III Coach - West Mountain Race Program - eight years.

John Norton - Junior I and II Girls Coach. USSCA Level I NYSEF Coach since 2002, SMC Asst. Coach 1999 - 2002. NYSEF alum, SMC graduate / ski team member.
Jim Johnson - Junior III Coach.

Alpine Links

FIS Results
NYSSRA
NYSEF
USSA East