Brad Nelson from the FootLab interviews Jessica Parchetta from The Alpine Factory

Brad. We're at The Alpine Factory in Arden Hills, Minnesota, Jessica, you've been teaching for a long time, tell me how you got into this and what you're trying to do with The Alpine Factory.

Jessica. I've been a ski instructor and race coach for over two decades now. I was looking for a way to be able to enjoy the sport that I love year-round and this is a perfect way to help people achieve their best potential and practice in a year-round controlled environment.

Brad. How does the rotating ramp differ from snow?

Jessica. It's a consistent textured environment, so you're skiing on a carpet that allows you to practice your technique in a way where the movements will translate back to the snow, but it's a controlled environment

Brad. Is this just for beginners or for all abilities?

Jessica. It's for beginners up through advanced. We can adjust the speed and the pitch of the ramp. We can turn the bunny hill into a black diamond in a minute.

Brad. In The FootLab, I've talked to a number of racers and coaches that have been here.

Jessica. We can do race training, we can do drills and we can even race gates here, so it's a lot of fun!

Brad. Is this a workout, or does it just seem like a great workout to me?

Jessica. It is a workout! It's intense, there's no down time waiting for the lift, so you are skiing a full day in about an hour. It's a great way to not only get your ski legs in shape but you can dial in your new boots. It's a really, really great way to train.

Brad. Am I the only person that's ever fallen on this thing?

Jessica. No, falling is a possibility, however you're always being monitored by one of our coaches. We can stop the slope right away!

Brad. Thank you!

If you have any questions about The Alpine Factory, check out their website:
TheAlpineFactory.com

To maximize performance and comfort check out our custom fitting page:
 Custom Ski Equipment And Ski Boot Fitting