A mere hundredth of a second can mean the difference between first and second place in the highly competitive world of a professional ski racing. Athletes continually seek out the best coaches and training opportunities to insure they are in top physical condition for the upcoming ski season. This same drive brought three professional skiers to The Stone Clinic in August to attend the third annual Dry Land Pro Ski Training Camp.

The Dry Land Pro Ski Training Camp, founded by Kevin R. Stone, M.D., is the top off-season training program for professional ski racers. The Camp offers a unique opportunity for pro skiers to train in valuable physical and mental conditioning programs led by world renowned professionals and Olympians. Dr. Stone tailors traditionally recreational activities such as cycling, in-line skating, boxing, weight training, and water aerobics for maximum benefit to the professional skier. The program is designed to enhance the skiers performance in competition, help injured athletes regain strength and agility, and teach techniques to help avoid injury for the upcoming ski season.

Andreja Rojs came to the camp hoping to enhance her performance on this year's Women's Pro Ski Tour. Andreja, who finished second on the tour last season, thoroughly enjoyed the excellent variety of sports the camp offered. "The training really keeps you going because you do so many fun activities," Andreja said. "I've picked up so many tips from the coaches here." Andreja hopes to use those tips this season to produce her best skiing and take over the top spot. Andreja feels her top competitors this year will be Julie Parisien, Sarah Hemery, and fellow camp mate Heather Flood. "Training with Heather has been highly motivational and the competition between us makes us workout even harder," Andreja explained.

Heather Flood came to the camp to regain strength and agility following a knee injury during a race in February. She suffered severe anterior cruciate ligament damage and extensive meniscus cartilage tears in her left knee, resulting in major surgery by Dr. Stone. The surgery was followed by two months of rehabilitation at The Stone Clinic and an invitation to her third camp. "The knee feels fantastic and I've been able to do everything and keep up with everyone else in the camp," Heather said. Heather enjoyed the new format of this year's camp which included an abbreviated schedule with fewer athletes. "This year it's more of a highly personalized training camp in a more intense environment," she explained. "The boxing class was awesome. That's what's so great about the camp, everything is so fresh and you have a variety of different activities to choose from." Heather was leading the tour when she got injured and finished the season in third place overall. "I want to be back on top and I'm confident I can be. I need some good on snow training to make sure the knee is solid and not be tentative. The camp has given me a chance to gauge myself physically and mentally before the season and I'm very pleased."

An injury also led Aaron Henderson to this year's camp; but an old injury. A fall during a race in 1989 caused an injury to the ACL and meniscus cartilage in his knee. Aaron, who did not compete last year on the Pro Ski Tour due to the injury, came to the camp to learn techniques to avoid injury in the upcoming season. He attended the first Dry Land Pro Ski Training Camp in 1994 and echoed Heather's opinion that this year's smaller camp was much more individualized and focused on each of the athletes needs. "You get a lot more one on one with the coaches and you get to ask more questions and get more feedback," Aaron explained. "The camp is such a good motivator and I hope to do it every year."

In addition to having an abbreviated schedule and a smaller group of athletes, this year's Dry Land Pro Ski Training Camp also included an athlete from a different sport. Peggy Odita, a Bay Area Heptathalete, also participated in the camp. Peggy failed to qualify at the Olympic Trials in Atlanta this Summer due to a nagging stress fracture problem. She hopes the camp will help her avoid further injury problems and perhaps focus on the Olympic Games in 2000. She also welcomed the opportunity to train with athletes from another sport. "Being high level athletes, we have the same mentality and it's the same training atmosphere. There really is no difference between us," Peggy said.

Dr. Stone, physician for the U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Pro Ski Tour, also enjoyed the camp's new format. "I was very pleased to be able to provide such individualized fitness training for each of the athletes," he said. The successful change in format has prompted a permanent change from a Dry Land Pro Ski Training Camp to a year round individualized training program open to athletes from any sport. The Stone Clinic will offer this program free of charge to any professional athlete and their training partner. The program is available to fit into the athletes schedule and can be customized to a three day, five day, or week long training program for their particular sport.

The Stone Clinic and The Stone Foundation for Sports Medicine and Arthritis Research are dedicated to the treatment and prevention of injuries to active people. Our research focuses on new methods of cartilage regeneration and knee ligament repair.