July 25 and 26, Lucy Gray and Max Marrs traveled to Park City with their coach, Sas Fawcett, to attend the Moguls Project Gold Camp. Project Gold Camps are run by US Ski & Snowboard and are designed to provide progressive training opportunities for elite-level freestyle mogul athletes, helping develop the next generation of high-performance skiers.
The camp kicked off at the Utah Olympic Park (UOP), where the athletes met an incredible coaching lineup for the weekend, including current US Ski Team mogul athletes Tess Johnson and Kasey Hogg, former US Ski Team mogul athlete Kai Owens, and US Aerials Team Coach Matt DePeters. After being divided into coaching groups, Max was paired with Kai Owens while Lucy worked with Kasey Hogg.
The first day began with a two-hour water ramp session, where both athletes focused on refining their take-offs while continuing to build their trick repertoire. Max began learning Cork 720s, while Lucy started working on Back Tucks with an X position. Following the morning session, the group headed to the Center of Excellence (CoE) for a strength and conditioning workout.
Walking into the CoE was an unforgettable experience. Surrounded by images of Olympic and World Cup athletes and world-class training equipment, Lucy and Max were in awe of the environment. After their workout, they had the opportunity to train on the super trampoline, where both athletes worked through cork progressions. This was a brand-new skill for Lucy and a valuable progression for both athletes.
The day concluded with another water ramp session back at the UOP. Max continued progressing his Cork 720s, while Lucy built confidence with her Back Tucks, Back Xs, and even began attempting Back Tuck Grabs.
The second day followed a similar schedule, beginning with another productive morning on the water ramps. As a coach, it was an invaluable opportunity to observe a wide range of athletes, listen to experienced coaches, ask questions, and continue developing my own coaching knowledge alongside the athletes.
That afternoon, Lucy and Max completed the US Ski & Snowboard SkillsQuest assessment at the CoE. SkillsQuest is a fitness and athletic testing program designed to measure the physical qualities required for ski and snowboard competition. It assesses strength, power, agility, endurance, balance, and movement skills that form the foundation of elite athletic performance. Both athletes performed exceptionally well, and I was incredibly proud of the effort and determination they showed throughout the testing.
Following SkillsQuest, the group attended a presentation from Freestyle Sport Director Matt Gnoza before returning to the UOP for another afternoon of water ramp training. It was fantastic to see both athletes continue to challenge themselves, try new skills, and grow in confidence with every jump.
The camp wrapped up with one final water ramp session on Monday morning, providing the perfect finish to an outstanding weekend.
Lucy and Max gained so much from the experience—not only through the technical training but also by being coached and mentored by athletes they admire and aspire to emulate. It was an incredible opportunity, and I have no doubt they will bring their new skills, confidence, and knowledge back into their training here at home. A huge thank you to US Ski & Snowboard for providing such an outstanding development opportunity. Experiences like Project Gold are invaluable in helping young athletes continue to grow both on and off the water ramps.
