Third-year Brighton head coach Jeff Street was beaming about how unique it is for the team to have a world-class athlete's encouraging words of support permanently emblazoned on its trophy.
"I think meeting someone like Lindsey Vonn provides motivation and seeing they can overcome anything, from injuries to grades and school, and still be able to be part of a good, solid athletic program," Street said. "To be able to learn from her, get the chance to talk, that's sweet."
Vonn visited Brighton to kick off her new Ski Girls Rock program by going through a 45-minute workout with the girls team at Brighton High and other young skiers, after she led a seminar with the Mt. Brighton ski instructors to prepare them to teach the unique girl-focused program.The ski hill will offer four three-day Ski Girls Rock training weekends, December through February.
"Obviously academics come first, but they seem like they are incredibly enthusiastic and very motivated young women, and that's great to see," Vonn said about the varsity members. "I can only encourage them to continue working hard and keep enjoying what they're doing, because it's showing not just on the slopes but also off the slopes. Their attitude in general is really quite something. It's cool to see."
Sophomore Morgan Myers said spending time with Vonn was exciting.
"It's incredible that she would even take the time to come here," Myers said. "It was a dream of mine for her to come here. It's just inspiring."
Myers was also hoping to help keep skiers rising from the younger ranks. About 30 elementary and middle school-age girls also took part.
"I was hoping to motivate some littler kids to maybe get more into the racing program and to kind of be an inspiration to them to get out there and keep practicing," she said.
Vonn also visited Mt. Brighton last fall, saying she grew up in Minnesota learning to ski on a similar hill and wants to support and inspire youth development in the Midwest.
"Training has changed a lot, and it's starting a lot younger as well," Vonn said. "I didn't start working out hard until I was about 12 or 13, and I feel like the ages are becoming increasingly younger. And I think that's good because kids are so energetic at that age. It's good to point them in a direction and get them to be active in a more structured way. I also think it's good for them socially to be with other kids and see that everyone else is working hard too."
Saturday marked just 100 days until Vail Beaver Creek, Vonn's home course, will be hosting the Alpine World Ski Championships. Vonn said it's only the fourth time the U.S. has hosted Worlds, and when she was 16 she volunteered at the event.
"So everything is going to come full circle when I am actually in the starting gate, so I'm really looking forward to it," said Vonn, who missed the last Olympics after suffering an injury during training.
