New Hampton School Skiers Shine at Waterville Valley Academy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) February 23, 2012 -- Waterville Valley, NH -- There is an exciting collaboration between New Hampton School (NHS) and WVBBTS Snowsports Educational Foundation’s Waterville Valley Academy (WVA). Students A.J. Clemens (NHS PG/WVA Alpine PG), Stephen Bouzianis (NHS/WVA Alpine, J2), Zack Godwin (NHS/WVA Alpine, J3) and Camron Zavell (NHS/WVA Freestyle B) have all been excelling on the slopes this season.

Bouzianis and Godwin are currently enrolled in WVA’s academic and full-time athletic training programs, Clemens is in WVA’s PG program and Zavell is a WVA mid-week training athlete while studying at NHS. Just this past week, Bouzianis was named to the Eastern J2 team and will be representing the east at the National J2 Alpine Championships at Mammoth Mountain in early March. When asked about how the collaboration is working for him, Bouzianis says, “Both schools are doing whatever is necessary for me to succeed. High academics at NHS and the focus on skiing at WVA has made what was hard to juggle before, easy.”
Results from earlier this year, by the NHS students at WVA, have been truly outstanding. Zack Godwin calls the partnership, “Amazing!” In late January, Godwin won the NHARA J3 Regional SG at Sunapee, and has this to say about his experience, “Basically I’m getting the best of both worlds with academics at New Hampton and skiing at the Academy.”

AJ Clemens finished a lofty 6th place at the FIS Eastern Cup Downhill at Sugarloaf, Maine and Camron Zavell, as a second year Freestyler, has benefited greatly from the full-time program at WVA which includes dryland, trampoline and on-snow training as well as airbag training on the new BBTS Phil’s Hill BagJump Training Center on the campus of WVA at Snow’s Mountain.
“The BagJump Training Center has been an awesome training tool for us this season!” says Camron. “We haven’t had a great snow year, so it’s been nice to have a venue to train at when the weather doesn’t cooperate. The jump site has really helped me progress my skiing and practice new tricks safely before trying them on snow.”

According to Christina Zavell, Camron’s Mom, “Our son is clearly on an upward trajectory and the improvement we’ve seen throughout the season is a testament to how full-time training can significantly raise the bar on an athlete’s performance, confidence and ability to compete successfully. We are absolutely thrilled with the balance between his social, academic and athletic high school experience. She goes on to say, “Jamie Arsenault, New Hampton Athletic Director, and Wes Preston, WVA Freestyle B Director, have gone above and beyond to ensure that Camron has maximized his training and educational opportunities. This pairing has been a positive game-changer on many levels”

What is clearly apparent is that the relationship between NHS and WVA is a successful development path. Athletes who are looking for an innovative New England college preparatory boarding school experience coupled with an elite snowsports training program are finding real success with NHS/WVA. These dedicated athletes are getting the best of both schools as they excel on the mountain and in the classroom on their way to becoming engaged global citizens and the leaders of tomorrow.

ABOUT WVBBTS/SEF & Waterville Valley Academy

WVBBTS is a non-profit snowsports educational foundation that offers competitive training for alpine racing, freestyle skiing and snowboard athletes. The organization runs a weekend program for athletes of all ages, as well as Waterville Valley Academy, a winter-long academy for athletes who wish to take their competition skiing and riding to the next level while keeping a focus on their academics. For more information please visit www.wvbbts.org or www.gowva.org

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