Sideline Stories: Sam Morse, US Ski Team
Born and raised in Carrabassett Valley at the base of Sugarloaf, I had the endless playground of the Western Maine Mountains at my fingertips. At 23 months, I took to the slopes and my passion for flying downhill on skis was born. My folks carved out a living at Sugarloaf owning a small interior design business and running the local chapel as ski resort ministers. Being a local provided me with the incredible opportunity to attend Carrabassett Valley Academy which is a high school dedicated to skiing and life in the mountains. It was here that I refined my craft of ski racing and managed to qualify for the US Ski Team upon graduation. I’ve since spent the last seven years traveling the globe racing on the World Cup tour representing the US Team. I specialize in the alpine disciplines of Downhill and Super G, considered the speed disciplines and consisting of 3+ mile long courses, descending thousands of feet of elevation, reaching speeds over 90mph, while sailing of jumps over 150 feet long, all without a seatbelt. I’m a bit of an adrenaline junky I have to admit! When I’m not running downhill courses, I explore Maine’s toughest rivers in my whitewater kayak.
Spending my career in the mountains thus far and growing up playing in the Maine woods I’ve gained a great appreciation for the outdoors. I was introduced to the Allagash River in northern Maine by former ski coach and life mentor, Chip Cochrane, (owner of Allagash Canoe Trips). I began learning to guide under Chip a few years ago and recently earned my Maine Guide License and am looking forward to leading my own sports through a magical part of Maine.
The off season is always the toughest time for a professional athlete to find a competitive outlet. Over the years I’ve combined my passion for paddling, biking, and trekking along with my comfortability in the woods to compete in the Maine Summer Adventure Race. Adventure racing is a thrilling test of what a person is made of, often a 24hr race format navigated through solely with a map and compass while racing on foot, by bike and across water.
I owe the great outdoors of Maine so much for giving me a path to follow and am immensely grateful to those who shared it with me!
