Copper Mountain, CO – The U.S. Ski Team Speed Center at Copper Mountain is on track to open at the Colorado resort on Oct. 31, nearly two weeks earlier than it did during its inaugural year of operation last season.

“Last year we had a few good days on the Speed Center before heading to Lake Louise to start our World Cup season, but this year we should be able to have a few good weeks with World Cup snow conditions and terrain,” said athlete Marco Sullivan.  “The facility is invaluable for our development pipeline. In the past we trained downhill from six to eight in the morning and none of the young racers who trained later in the day even knew we were there. Now we’re having midday sessions and the club kids can come over and watch some of the best downhillers in the world. I learned a lot like that while I was young. It’s inspiring for kids to see what the top level is doing.”

“The Speed Center has created an atmosphere that’s special and makes you want to push harder. It’s our own,” added Stacey Cook, of Mammoth Lakes, Calif. “The men and women’s team train alongside each other and there’s a lot of pride that comes along with that – everything about the environment helps you progress.”

The venue features 87 HKD automatic snowmakers, two miles of A-net with steel structures, five miles of B-net and fencing set on 4,500 netting poles. Copper’s mountain operations team has worked around the clock since snowmaking began on Oct. 2 to ensure the venue would be ready for training as early as possible. The world-class training facility has been meticulously shaped to mimic all aspects of World Cup races venues across the globe.

“What we really gain with the Speed Center is training on World Cup snow conditions. With the Speed Center, we can create race-type conditions for every session and that’s a huge advantage, especially this season while we’re all trying to figure out new ski setups,” Cook explained.

The benefits of speed training at Copper are wide-reaching as U.S. Ski Team athletes will be able to utilize Audi FIS Alpine World Cup level snow conditions and terrain well in advance of the North American races in Lake Louise, Aspen and Beaver Creek. Not only is the facility home to the U.S. Ski Team, but U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) club programs have the ability to utilize the venue until it reopens for public skiing in mid-December.