BRECKENRIDGE - Steele Spence remembers how important it was to ski side-by-side with his heroes.

From imitating their moves he'd seen on a VHS tape to freeriding with them in person, Spence got the chance to watch and learn from some of his freeskiing idols at a young age.

Now, the 24-year-old gets to return the favor to young athletes who look to him as a hero. Spence, who's been featured in many films and magazines as one of the nation's premier freeriders, is a special guest coach at Team Summit's Thanksgiving freeride camp.

The camp began Wednesday at Breckenridge and will continue on Friday. It costs $60 per day and is open to anyone who is USSA (United States Ski and Snowboard Association) certified, Team Summit freeride director Tyler Morant said.

"This is something special that I get to do," Spence said. "I think about it the way I did when I was a young up-and-comer and was aspiring to be a pro. I got to meet and ride with some guys that I had seen in videos and studied. It just blew me away when I got to spend time with those guys - it was awesome."

Team Summit member Ian Borgeson, 14, was one of the campers who got to kick back with Spence between rail slides and big-air bumps. The 14-year-old from Summit Cove said the first day of camp went great.

"(Spence) is a legend and it feels like he's excited to be here and hang out with us," Borgeson said. "He talked and joked around with us a lot. It's been a great time riding with him."

Spence, an Aspen native, spends much of his time working with Level 1 Production (a film company) and as a designer with 4Frnt Skis, but enjoys working at youth camps because he gets to be around aspiring pro athletes.

"I love getting out here with the kids because they're so talented and fearless," he said. "Those guys are a testament to what's going on with our sport right now. They're devoted, work hard, ski every day and they pick up (tricks) fast."

Morant seemed grateful for Spence's attendance.

"He's one of the biggest names in freeriding and to have him here is awesome," Morant said. "It's not often we get to bring in a superstar like Steele. For the kids to not only meet him, but to ride and hang out with their hero is awesome."

Team Summit's Thanksgiving camp will run through Sunday at Breck.

"It's going really well here," Spence said. "The guys are really stoked and Breck has a lot of features. We can ride stuff all day and work on the technical side as well. They're digging it."



Josh Salerno can be reached at (970) 668-4633, jsalerno@summitdaily.com