Jenn Hart

Come On Down to the Cooper Spur Saloon!

Get your boots polished, your buckles shined, your poker face on and join CSAT for the first ever Cooper Spur Saloon! Expect a fun evening of games, auction items and general rabble-rousing at the Hood River Elks Club, December 2nd at 7pm! Tickets are now available for admission, the scholarship raffle and – of course – the infamous Golden Ticket (which allows you to pick ANY live auction item before bidding begins!). 🎟

>> Get Your Tickets to the Saloon Today! <<

Please note: after a few years of Drive-In Movie family fun, the event committee is bringing back a special night out for the 21+ crowd. You’ll want to rustle up a babysitter for the littlest cowpokes.

One of the best ways to support your athlete is to make sure their skis are in tip-top shape. Without properly tuned and sharp/waxed skis a CSAT skier may not be able to do what a coach asks or improve. Here’s an outline of the five most important tasks to get and keep your skis fast for the upcoming season:

Pre-Season Ski Maintenance
a. Base Preparation:
i. Check for any base damage or core shots and repair them promptly.
ii. Stone grind the base to create a smooth and clean surface.
b. Edge Tuning:
i. Sharpen the edges to the appropriate angle to maximize grip and control (1 degree base 2 degree side).
ii. Remove any burrs or imperfections from the edges.
c. Wax Selection:
i. Choose the appropriate wax for the anticipated snow conditions (e.g., cold, warm, wet).
ii. Apply an initial layer of wax and scrape it for a clean, even surface.

Regular Ski Waxing
a. Frequency: Wax skis regularly, depending on the snow conditions and usage (e.g., every 1-3 days of skiing).
b. Temperature-specific Wax: Use the right wax for the day’s temperature and snow conditions.
c. Proper Waxing Technique: Apply wax evenly, scrape it, and brush the base for a smooth and fast finish.

On-Hill Maintenance
a. Carry a Maintenance Kit: Always have a small maintenance kit on hand with wax, scraper, brush, and a few edge-tuning tools.
b. Spot Repairs: Inspect the base and edges during breaks and address any minor issues immediately.
c. Edge Control: Maintain edge sharpness by using a diamond stone or edge file when necessary.

Storage and Transportation
a. Ski Bag and Ski Ties: Use a padded ski bag to protect skis during transportation and store them properly in the off-season.
b. Dry Skis: Ensure skis are dry before storing to prevent rust on the edges. If skis are put away when wet they will rust and you will need to do extensive work to get them sharp again after they rust.
c. Wax Protection: Apply a storage wax to protect the base from drying out at the end of season or if you will not be using the skis in the coming months.

By following these tasks, you’ll be better equipped to keep your athletes’ skis in optimal condition throughout the season, ensuring they have the speed and control needed to excel on the slopes.

When the flakes fly and the trails freeze over, it’s time to give you and your kid’s bike some care before it goes into hibernation.

Proper Cleaning
Cleaning is essential before hanging the bike up. It is made easier with bike brush kits and biodegradable solvents. A hose with a low pressure setting can be effective for getting the grime off your bike. Drivetrain specific cleaners will help remove unwanted grime without breaking down grease to give your parts a longer lifespan.

Service Your Shocks
If you ride a full suspension, the winter months are a great time to service your fork and shock. Keeping up with suspension service intervals will ensure the bike will be ready to go the distance when the trails thaw. Suspension seals need to be serviced periodically, even if the bike hasn’t been ridden.

Do It Now – Not In March
The service department typically has quicker turnarounds and winter suspension service specials to offer customers so they can be ready to ride when the season picks up. Staying ahead of the masses hoping to get their bikes fixed in the spring, will get you out riding when the dirt is prime.

If you’re a year round rider, winter upkeep is even more important. Swapping out the summer tires for mud spikes, dropping the tire pressure and mounting up fenders will keep you upright and enjoying the ride.

Join CSAT for the 2023 – 2024 Winter Season!

The 2023 – 2024 season brings some big changes for CSAT! With Wynn Berns on board as Freeski and Snowboard Program Director and Joe Johnson returning as head Freeski coach, we’re excited to grow our Freeski programming and start a brand new Snowboard team with programming from 9 – 16 years old!

Learn about CSAT Freeski Programs

Learn about CSAT Snowboard Programs

Interested in the Alpine team or ski racing? Cooper Camp and USSS programming continues a legacy started in 1978 with experienced coaching staff that seek to grow and foster our regions best technical skiers – all while having fun!

Learn more about CSAT Alpine Programs

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cooper Spur Alpine Team Welcomes Accomplished Freeride Director, Wynn Berns
Hood River, OR – May 22, 2023 – Cooper Spur Alpine Team is delighted to announce the
appointment of Wynn Berns as our new Freeride Director. With an exceptional background in
high-level competitions, including NorAms, X-Games, and the Olympics, Berns brings a wealth
of expertise to establish our new snowboard program and elevate our freeride ski programs to
new heights.

Berns, a Plymouth State University graduate, boasts nearly two decades of coaching
experience, guiding athletes from USASA and USSA regional events to World Cups and the
X-Games. Previously, he held key positions such as Windell’s WyEast Academy Athletic
Director and Head Freeride Coach at Windells. Berns also served as the Director of Freeski at
the Killington Mountain School and Head Freeride Coach at Waterville Academy.

“I am thrilled to be joining Cooper Spur Alpine Team, one of Mt. Hood’s premier ski programs,
and look forward to providing our local communities with the best skiing/snowboarding
opportunities possible,” expressed Berns.

Under Berns’ dynamic leadership, Cooper Spur Alpine Team is poised to become a force to be
reckoned with in the freeride sports arena. We are confident that his expertise, passion, and
dedication will inspire our athletes to reach unprecedented levels of achievement. Berns’ vision
for CSAT’s Snowboard and Freeski program aligns perfectly with our team values.

Cooper Spur Alpine Team is excited to welcome Wynn Berns as our new Freeride Director and
embark on an exciting chapter of excellence in freeride sports. For media inquiries and further
information, please contact:

Shana Sweitzer
Executive Director
541-490-7575
shana@cooperspuralpineteam.org

CSAT’s Pre-Season at Sun Peaks Registration Is Open!

Let’s go to Canda and ski in November!  Sun Peaks Canada is a ski in/ski out resort, while being the second largest ski area in Canada. Over the last 5 years CSAT has enjoyed amazing early season conditions at Sun Peaks, freeskiing and training alike. Sun Peaks is a ski-in ski-out expereince that offers world class training, amazing early season free ski conditons, no crowds and a sweet exchange rate!

​CSAT’s Family Camp (U12 & U10s) November 19-25th. Arrival on Saturday the 18th

Family Camps include coaching, training lane space, and lift tickets. Family camps do not include transportation, meals, or lodging. Athletes train and freeski starting in the morning and are released to their parents between 2-3pm

• Cost $1100. With Ikon $750 $300 Deposit Due October 15th (Payment Plans Available) – Click Here To Register. For those with an Ikon pass contact Shana for reduced price.

Team Camp (U14 and older) November 15 – 26th. Van Leaves Hood River on 14th

Team Camp includes coaching, training lane space, lift tickets, transportation to and from Hood River/Portland, lodging, meals, video review, and dryland activities.

Team Camp athletes must be U14’s (YOB 2010) or older.

Our lodging and meals will be at Nancy Greene’s Cahility Lodge. This is a ski-in, ski-out facility that provides the athletes nice rooms and quality meals. The lodge also provides the team a large tune/wax/storage room in the heated underground parking area.

• Cost $2300 with Ikon $1670 $300 Deposit Due September 15h (Payment Plans Available) – Click Here To Register. For those with an Ikone price contact shana for reduced price.

Housing 

If you are considering coming to Sun Peaks this fall please make sure to reserve your housing soon. The Cahility will give CSAT families 15% off any available room in the Cahilty Lodge or any Bear Country condos, townhomes and vacation homes. Go to website www.bearcountry.ca pick the dates and start making a reservation. The promo code to enter to receive the discount is SkiRace. If the rooms you need are not available at the Cahility Lodge they recommend the Fireside and Kookaburra, which are directly across from the Cahility. Crystal Forest is a 2 minute walk to the Cahilty. Crystal Forest has a lot of options, 1, 2 and 3 Bedroom units.

Call or email with any questions.