For Jen Allen, ski practice used to mean getting in a van with the rest of the Timberlane Regional High School team at 5:45 a.m. on Saturdays and driving three hours to Wildcat Mountain Ski Area.

But now it means hiking up the Colorado back country with ski and avalanche gear on her back.

"What I'm doing now is a little more creative," she said, "and a lot more dangerous."

Allen, 23, of Sandown was the first female skier at Timberlane to race all four years and set multiple records, coach Pete Torosian said. She's since spent two years competing on the University of Colorado freestyle ski team.

She just received a sponsorship from a local ski shop to join its Big Mountain Extreme team this season. She's also on the cover of the Loveland Pass season brochure.

In her new sport, Allen has already taken a second place for creating her own path down a tree-filled venue with big cliffs. Her goal this winter is to qualify for the only Big Mountain circuit in the country, which could take her on 10 competition stops from New Mexico to Alaska.

Allen started recreational skiing when she was 3 years old, but said she was nervous to go out for the race team at Timberlane.

That's a typical fear for most freshmen when they join the team, according to the coach. Most students have never raced before and know they will be skiing against schools from northern New Hampshire that can hit the slopes every day, Torosian said.

But the girls team went into the postseason with a 62-0 record last year, he said. They have placed second in the state Division I competition three out of the last five years, including Allen's senior year.

But their success isn't easy or cheap, Torosian said.

Skiers train on dry land until there's enough snow at Bradford Ski Area in Haverhill, Mass., to practice racing two nights a week there. Every Saturday, they head to Jackson to ski Wildcat.

With help from the Booster Club, they have to pay for their own practice tickets and transportation. The school district pays for the team's participation in meets.

To help fund this year's practices, there will be a ski and snowboard swap sale from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at the high school. Used equipment from local shops, as well as consignments from anyone looking to get rid of their gear, will be on sale. The team is charging a 20 percent consignment fee.

"We do rely on that money," Torosian said. "If the boosters are successful, it pays for lift tickets for Monday and Wednesday nights. If not, the athletes have to pay."

As a free training method, Torosian and his wife, MaryBeth, also use competition video to teach their racers.

No matter the training tactic, Allen said she credits Timberlane and the Torosians for her current success. Allen never thought that after growing up in Sandown and practicing at Bradford, she would be competing in extreme skiing.

"I just sent them a letter because I wanted to thank them for everything they did for me in high school," she said. "But I want to see them when I get home and talk to them about the big air I've been getting."