SAM Magazine-Greenwood, Maine, Nov. 9, 2010-Mt Abram Resort is launching a non-academy race program, Le Club de Sport LaVallee/Parisien. The program will promote high school and middle school ski racing and help those athletes reach their full potential and grow in alpine racing. It will supplement and support the athlete's school program and coaches.

Participants will receive world class coaching, a 40 day training program that includes training over Christmas break, a low racer-to-coach ratio, extensive video analysis, and logical progression of skills development, through a blending of directed free ski drills, gate drills, and full-length courses.

The program is headlined by two native Mainers: three-time Olympian Julie Parisien, and her former coach, Tim LaVallee.

According to Mt Abram Le Club de Sport program director Mark Thibodeau, "Mt Abram has one of the best training facilities in the country and a management that is fully supportive of racing on it's slopes." Mt Abram has installed 28 of its 60 new HKD tower guns on the race hill, augmenting its lighted training and racing terrain.

Training begins Dec. 4; cost is $799, including a season's pass ($429 value). This means the actual cost per training day is less than $20. "You will be hard pressed to find a higher quality training opportunity anywhere for this price in New England," says Kevin Rosenberg, Mt Abram's guest services manager. "In addition, this program gives a world class view into the sport of alpine ski racing and creates many new passions and skills for these young athletes."