By Josh O’Gorman
STAFF WRITER | July 30,2013
STAFF WRITER | July 30,2013
Rutland Herald
Image provided
A conceptual drawing shows Killington Mountain
School’s proposed projectto create a space for students to practice
racing, moguls, snowboarding and free-skiing.
KILLINGTON — Killington Mountain School has
begun an ambitious fundraising campaign to create a world-class
competition and training venue.
The accredited school — with alumni who include Olympians and a U.S. National Freestyle champion — is planning a three-phase, $1.25 million project to create a space for students to practice racing, moguls, snowboarding and free-skiing disciplines.
KMS hopes to break ground on the first phase in September, but the clock is ticking for the school to raise the funds.
This month, the school announced it has received a $275,000 gift toward the project from an anonymous donor. The donation represents one-half of the projected $550,000 budget for the first phase.
The donation also represents a challenge to school officials, alumni and supporters: KMS has until Aug. 30 to raise the remaining $275,000.
“We’re about 2 weeks into our pledging period and we’ve received $75,000 in pledges,” said Tao Smith, head of school at KMS. “The largest amount of solicitations have been made and now we’re just waiting to hear back.”
Smith said his school is targeting donors who are capable — and hopefully willing — to give between $5,000 and $25,000.
“We have a lot of people sending in donations of $100 to $200, which we appreciate, but we don’t have enough time to reach our goal with those size donations,” Smith said.
The first phase of the project involves cutting a new, 220-meter mogul course and making improvements to the Highline racing trail. The improvements will include widening the trail to meet modern competition standards.
“The trails our kids are on were cut 40, 50 and 60 years ago, and a lot has changed since then,” Smith said. “A lot of venues have had to modernize their trails to keep up with upgrades in technology and increases in speed.”
The second phase of the project, which is scheduled to open in 2015, will include buildings at the starting and finishing lines, lights and a lift. With the current lift system, students can make three runs an hour. With the new lift, Smith said, they will be able to make five or six runs in an hour.
Phase III — to be completed in 2016 — will make improvements to snowmaking equipment.
For more information about the project, or to make a donation, visit www.killingtonmountainschool.org/trailsinitiative.
josh.ogorman@rutlandherald.com
The accredited school — with alumni who include Olympians and a U.S. National Freestyle champion — is planning a three-phase, $1.25 million project to create a space for students to practice racing, moguls, snowboarding and free-skiing disciplines.
KMS hopes to break ground on the first phase in September, but the clock is ticking for the school to raise the funds.
This month, the school announced it has received a $275,000 gift toward the project from an anonymous donor. The donation represents one-half of the projected $550,000 budget for the first phase.
The donation also represents a challenge to school officials, alumni and supporters: KMS has until Aug. 30 to raise the remaining $275,000.
“We’re about 2 weeks into our pledging period and we’ve received $75,000 in pledges,” said Tao Smith, head of school at KMS. “The largest amount of solicitations have been made and now we’re just waiting to hear back.”
Smith said his school is targeting donors who are capable — and hopefully willing — to give between $5,000 and $25,000.
“We have a lot of people sending in donations of $100 to $200, which we appreciate, but we don’t have enough time to reach our goal with those size donations,” Smith said.
The first phase of the project involves cutting a new, 220-meter mogul course and making improvements to the Highline racing trail. The improvements will include widening the trail to meet modern competition standards.
“The trails our kids are on were cut 40, 50 and 60 years ago, and a lot has changed since then,” Smith said. “A lot of venues have had to modernize their trails to keep up with upgrades in technology and increases in speed.”
The second phase of the project, which is scheduled to open in 2015, will include buildings at the starting and finishing lines, lights and a lift. With the current lift system, students can make three runs an hour. With the new lift, Smith said, they will be able to make five or six runs in an hour.
Phase III — to be completed in 2016 — will make improvements to snowmaking equipment.
For more information about the project, or to make a donation, visit www.killingtonmountainschool.org/trailsinitiative.
josh.ogorman@rutlandherald.com
Comment:
It's good to see this effort and the revival of the Trike Rice by Chris Carr. These private efforts are what needs to be done to promote business activity in our town as opposed to using tax dollars. It's nice to see these businesses helping htemselves.
There are major budget considerations coming up in the near future, 3.5 million in road improvements and 1 -2 million for the GMNGC sprinkler system. Spending taxpayers money on so called economic development schemes that benefit only a handful of businesses is simply not justifiable with these looming expenses.
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