Chalk up another milestone for Momentum Camps as they celebrate their 30th year of operations. Whistler’s longest running summer glacier camp missed two years during the COVID-19 pandemic, but came back strong in 2022 with skiers and riders attending from all over the world.
Operated by husband and wife team John and Julia Smart, both former Olympians, the camp started in 1992: the year moguls skiing was first added to the Olympics.
“It’s been an amazing journey running these camps for so long," said Smart in a press release. "We thought we may only do it for 10 years, but we love what we do and each year we found ways to improve and build on our programs until they are what you see today."
'Quite a ride'
Momentum's very first summer saw 43 mogul skiers attend over a period of three weeks. 30 years later, the camp has gone from strength to strength and now hosts upwards of 1000 skiers and riders over five weeks each year: including people of all ages and backgrounds. The camp includes programs in moguls, park, big mountain, snowboard as well as film and photography.
Smart says, "It’s been quite a ride starting the camp when we were so young and still competing ourselves, to now 30 years later having helped so many other young athletes on their path. We have seen the sport evolve and grow over that time and the camp has done the same, incorporating the new school skiing disciplines early on, adding big mountain and snowboarding, as well as our Film + Photo camp.”
The organization partners with many current and former World Cup and Olympic athletes as coaches, a formula that has not changed over the decades. Many of this year’s coaches were themselves former campers and remember how inspiring it was to be coached by their heroes.
"What is great about being around so long is that we have been able to share in the successes of so many of our campers and hire them back as a coach to inspire the next generation," said Smart.
Change is a good thing
Momentum has continually evolved over the years. Its popular Girls Week was added in 2011 thanks to longtime camper and coach Sarah Burke, who passed away in a tragic 2012 ski accident. Burke is remembered and honoured each year through the camp’s ‘Spirit of Sarah Scholarship’, whereby a free camp is given to one up-and-coming female skier. This year’s winner is 11-year-old Alana Hunt from Australia, who will be flying out to train in the Sea to Sky before competing in the winter events down under.
"I am so excited and honoured to have been awarded the Spirit of Sarah Scholarship and to have the chance to come to Whistler," said Hunt in a release. "Sarah’s story is an inspiration to girls everywhere who want to chase their dreams and I am really grateful to Momentum and the Sarah Burke Foundation for giving me the chance to follow my own dream. I can’t wait to make new friends, learn new tricks and to help to keep Sarah’s amazing legacy at the camp alive.”
Momentum's Exposure Film + Photo camp made its debut in 2012. Hosted by Forecast Magazine editor Jeff Schmuck, the program taps into the growing passion for filmmaking and photography among today's skiers and riders. This year, local filmmaker Mike Douglas will join the coaching roster, along with Chad Chomlack as head photo coach. Both have years of professional experience working in the action sports world and are slated to share their creative expertise with campers.
Summer sessions run until July 17. More information is available on the Momentum Camps website.
