Shaun White Helps Launch U.S. Olympic Talent Search at Mount Hood’s High Cascade and Windells

The largest landing bag training system in North America has been introduced at Wy’East Mountain Academy as part of Project Gold, the U.S. national team’s initiative for youth development.

High Cascade Snowboard Camp and Windells Freeski Camp have partnered with U.S. Ski & Snowboard to organize Project Gold, a national program aimed at mentoring the top emerging snowboard and freeski athletes in the country. The first session will be held from June 15 to 21, 2025, at the camps’ facility on Mount Hood, near Government Camp, Oregon. Shaun White, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, will join the session on June 17 to collaborate with athletes and coaches, sharing insights from his own journey in youth development and the Olympics.

Project Gold brings together 60 of the nation’s top junior athletes for a week of elite coaching, training focused on progression, and evaluation by U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s top coaches. This program plays a crucial role in connecting the grassroots culture of summer camps with the national team pathway, offering early exposure to athletes who could potentially represent the United States in future Olympics.

This year’s session will also mark the debut of a new landing bag at the camps, an Olympic-level training system designed by Banger Bags from Austria and funded by parents of a former Wy’East Mountain Academy student. Situated on the academy’s 28-acre campus, the landing bag includes a 30-foot-wide takeoff ramp with jump distances ranging from 30 to 60 feet and a landing area over 100 feet long. The system will be utilized by Project Gold athletes in June before being available to a wider group of campers later in the summer.

Participants in Project Gold will have the unique opportunity to learn directly from Shaun White when he visits the camp on June 17. White will share lessons from his journey to Olympic success and provide guidance on navigating the evolving landscape of the sport. Recently, White launched The Snow League, the first professional winter sports league dedicated to snowboarding and freeskiing, featuring a new head-to-head format and a unified competitive schedule to help the next generation of athletes excel.

Shaun White commented on the importance of nurturing talent in the U.S., emphasizing the support provided by High Cascade, Windells, and Project Gold to help young athletes grow from the grassroots level. Selected athletes for Project Gold were chosen based on their performances in various competitions and their potential for development.

Project Gold offers a development-focused environment for national team coaches to work closely with athletes, focusing on long-term growth and identifying those with the skills and mindset to succeed at the highest level. The pathway to Team USA becomes a real possibility for athletes who progress through programs like High Cascade, Windells, and Wy’East Mountain Academy.

The June session will be led by a collaborative coaching staff from the Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team, Stifel U.S. Freeski Team, High Cascade, and Windells. Coaches will not only focus on on-snow responsibilities but also on building trust, assessing growth potential, and connecting with athletes who may rise through the national team ranks in the future.

For more information on Project Gold, visit usskiandsnowboard.org. To learn more about High Cascade, Windells, and Wy’East Mountain Academy, visit highcascade.com, windells.com, and wyeastacademy.com.