Beyond the X: Snow schools for Olympic hopefuls

Stratton head U-16 alpine coach Mike Morin said dreaming about the Olympics is where most of the growth takes part. The 10-year U.S. Ski Team coach returned to SMS in 2007.

He coached in three Olympics (1994, 2002 and 2006), his 2002 U.S. team won the Best Overall Team at the World Junior Championships and in 2006 he was selected as the International Coach of the Year.

"That dream and motivation to make it to the Olympics is one thing," Morin said. "The reality is there's a very small number who make it to a very high level. But on their way, the journey and the life skills they learn make it a great experience."

Junior downhill skier Alice Merryweather has big dreams, but considering how much she's accomplished, it's not nearly a long shot.

In December, Merryweather finished first for the U-18 downhill racers in the U.S. National Championships at Copper Mountain, Colo. A few weeks later, she was named to the 2013-14 Eastern Region Team by USSA (U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association), the only prep-aged athlete selected. 

She was thrilled to be accepted into Stratton, she said, even after weighing out the pro and con list to public school. Stratton's reputation on both the athletic (it also offers lacrosse and soccer) and academic ends is renowned.

Of the 125 full- and part-time students, there are 63 alpine athletes, 26 snowboarders, 20 nordic, nine freestyle and seven freeski athletes. The average grade size for the 7-12 school is 19 and average class size is 10. Their current students come from all over the map — literally — including New Zealand, Australia, Chile, England and Japan.

"When we applied I realized it wasn't like a normal public high school and I'd be giving up a normal social life," she said. "But honestly, the list was all pro for Stratton. I have so many more close relationships than I think I would have had I gone to public school. And the time management skills I've learned and how to work independently has been amazing."

Though her parents were primarily recreational skiers, her older brother Simon is now racing at Harvard. He went the public-school route.

"Seeing the experience I've had, he sort of wishes he'd done the same thing," Merryweather said. "He wishes he could have trained as much as we do. At Stratton it's every day of the week and even weekends. Even if we have to miss some school."

View a photo gallery from a day at Stratton Mountain School

Much like Sugar Bowl, the daily schedule is challenge. At 7:15 a.m. it's breakfast. From 8-11:45 a.m. is on-snow training. Lunch is until 12:25 p.m. The rest of the afternoon until 5:10 p.m. is school.

Of the 125 students, 96 are full-term, 25 are winter-term only and four are short-term. Full-term boarding is $46,200 annually and $33,750 full-term day.