Greenwood, ME – Three time Olympian Julie Parisien, who grew up skiing in Maine at Mt. Abram ski area, will launch a new non-academy ski racing program at the resort in Greenwood.nParisien will be joining returning Mt. Abram Head Coach Tim LaVallee, who himself at one time coached Parisien, to create the new race development program that will focus on promoting high school and middle school ski racing to help those athletes reach their full potential. Le Club de Sport LaVallee/Parisien will supplement and support the athlete’s home program, high school and middle school coaches, and training needs by providing coaching, a 40-day training program that includes 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.

Parisien skied on the World Cup Alpine circuit, winning three titles: in giant
slalom at Waterville Valley, N.H. in March 1991; in slalom at Sundsvall, Sweden in
March 1992; and in slalom at Park City, Utah in November 1992. She had one other World Cup
podium finish and 15 top 10s in her career. At the 1993 World Championships, Parisien won
silver in slalom. She narrowly missed an Olympic medal, placing fourth in slalom and fifth in
giant slalom at Albertville in 1992. After her retirement from the World Cup circuit, Parisien
skied for 10 years on the Women’s Pro Ski Tour.

LaVallee is a former four-year standout and two-year captain of the Plymouth State
University ski team in New Hampshire and has enjoyed a distinguished coaching career in ski racing. He has been
successful at the high school level in Bethel and at Oxford Hills High School in Maine; the
college level at the University of Colorado and Bates College; the prep school level at Gould
Academy; and the national level with the United States Ski Team from 1983-87.

The other le Club de Sport coaching staff will also include program director Mark Thibodeau,
veteran coaches Tim Hucthisen and Joey Chretien, and former Mt. Abram athlete and UMF racer
Courtney Poston.

“In addition to our top level coaching staff, 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,” says Thibodeau.

“Superb
snowmaking capacity with the addition of 60 new HKD tower guns to our snowmaking fleet, 28 dedicated for the race hill, outstanding training and racing terrain and a lighted training and race hill make Mt Abram the ideal place for development of young ski talent,” adds LaVallee. “We also have a great nucleus of young talent returning and they are anxious to show off their
skills and prove themselves on the race hill this winter.”

The Mt. Abram Le Club de Sport LaVallee/Parisien will begin its first day of training on Dec. 4. The cost of the program is $799 and includes a season ski pass valued at $429. This means the actual cost per training day is less than $20 per day.

“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 that might not of had an opportunity to get
the training, coaching and hill space that we are able to provide for a very reasonable price.”

For more details on how to join the Le Club de Sport LaVallee/Parisien check it out at
www.skimtabram.com or email race(at)skimtabram.com. Interested parties may also call (207) 875-5000.