Three powerful words–Character, Courage and Commitment—form the foundation for everything Ski & Snowboard Club Vail provides “For the Kids” at SSCV. These words represent SSCV’s core values and form the basis from which our athletes learn life-long lessons through the vehicle of competitive snow sports.

C3 Award

The most prestigious award an athlete can receive during their time at SSCV is the C3 (Character, Courage and Commitment) Athlete Award. Nomination for this award, in and of itself, is a great honor. Coaches, peers, parents and community members can nominate any SSCV athlete or staff member from October through April for the monthly C3 Awards for their outstanding display of Character, Courage and Commitment. One winner is announced each month, as you have been reading about in my weekly column, and at the end of each season the annual Walter Kirsch Award Winner is selected from among the season’s monthly C3 Athlete Award winners.

Focus on the Process

In competition, as in life, outcomes are often determined by variables beyond one’s control. Weather, conditions, equipment, the performance of the competition and many other factors can impact the result. It is by the individual focus on the process of doing one’s best, exhibiting Character, Courage and Commitment that maximizing potential is achieved. It is these lessons of persistence, risk taking and resilience that will help our young athletes become successful adults.

For athletes, parents and coaches alike, it is this focus on effort and process rather than dwelling on the results that creates both the greatest fulfillment and highest achievement.

Coaches impacting athletes

As studies have shown, coaches are among the most influential people in children’s lives often ranking just behind parents and well ahead of peers. The ability of our coaches to instill, as well as model SSCV’s core values of character, courage and commitment to our athletes is of utmost importance to our organization. The development of these traits in a child will keep them engaged and focused in all areas of their lives as well as provide them the mental and physical strength needed to achieve their goals in sport and more importantly in higher education, professional and personal development long after their time at SSCV and their competitive snow sports days are over. It is the emotional support that our staff provides to our athletes that will far outweigh any technical tips they can give their athletes. Our coaches live by the adage “Your athletes will not care what you know until they know that you care”.

Try the Club Days

If your child can get on and off the chair lift by themselves and comfortably ski or ride Golden Peak, please have them join us for our final complimentary Try the Club Day on Sunday, March 20 with freeski park & pipe, big mountain, freestyle moguls and snowboard coaches on hand. SSCV also offers full-time programs and academic partners through Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy, Vail Mountain School and SSCV Winter Tutorial. Contact sschmidt@skiclubvail.org or 978-621-8738 for details, including age and pre-registration requirements, on the above.