Mt Hood snow gives Windells Academy students a head start

MT HOOD, OR – September 2011 –– Windells Academy opened its snow park on Mount Hood last week for the winter season. The snowpark is the first and only park to open in North America for the season. Because most parks open sometime in November, it gives Windells Academy student athletes an advantage over their winter competitors by having more in-season time to train for competition. The park is open exclusively to Windells Academy students and their invited friends.

Windells’ current student body athletes have excelled this year in competition including Nicole Mcnulty who came in fourth place at the snowboarding national championships.  Four of Windells’ skiers finished the year ranked in the top 100 in the world of professional freeskiing: Nick Geopper finished the season ranked 14th, Maggie Stout (In her first year) 18th, Jared Karon 50th & Chris Verrue 80th.  Students also reached podiums at the Dew and North Face Tours and competed in the X Games.  They also signed sponsorships with the likes of Surface Skis and Smith Optics.   

The Windells Academy educational experience goes well beyond the classroom and the hill. Industry trips this year have included visits to Nike, K2, Bonfire, Atmosphere and Mervin providing students with an inside look at the action sports industry.  Students, who are taking media courses, also have the chance to learn from and work with Windells media staff of videographers, photographers and editors who are some of the best in the industry.  On a trip to Southern California in May, Windells got a private tour of USC’s Lucas/Spielberg Film School – known as the premier film school on the planet.