Fall 2011

Ski & Snowboard Club Vail (SSCV) is at an unprecedented time in its history. The 2010-11 season saw membership surpass 500 athletes; from 5 year olds just starting out in Future Stars and getting their first taste of competition locally in the Steadman Clinic Vail Cup to world-class athletes such as 2011 World Championship medalists Jen Hudak in Ski Half-Pipe, Chris DelBosco in SkierX and Lindsey Vonn in Downhill, competing around the world in the World Cup and X-Games. Outstanding athletic achievements were seen across all five SSCV sport programs: Alpine and Nordic Racing, Freestyle Skiing, Snowboard and Freeskiing including Big Mountain.

Our team of Program Directors and their coaching staff continue to grow and strengthen with a number of outstanding key additions in every program. The on-snow staff now number over 70. To put this in the proper perspective, Ski Club Vail (now Ski & Snowboard Club Vail) had approximately 70 athletes when the current clubhouse was expanded in 1986 by the addition of the second floor!

As a result, SSCV has leased 10,000 square feet of space at Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy (VSSA) in Minturn from Eagle County Schools for an initial 5 year term with 9 renewable 5 year options. SSCV staff will now have their offices at the Maloit Park Campus, further strengthening the communication between academic staff, coaches and athletes. The administrative team will have offices both at the campus and at the Golden Peak Clubhouse. Off-season (April 15 to October 31) and school days the staff will be at the campus, while on weekends and holidays you will find us at the clubhouse as always.

VSSA enters its fifth year as the first, and to date only, snow sports academy in the United States that is part of the local public school system. Since its founding in 2007, VSSA has seen growth from 30 to 40, 50, 90 and this year, over 120 students in grades 5-12, surpassing even our most optimistic projections. Currently, students have not only achieved the expected athletic success with 7 student/athletes named to U.S. Ski and Snowboard teams but more importantly achieved academic success with students being accepted to the University of Colorado, University of Denver, Dartmouth, Middlebury, Harvard and the University of Vermont among others.

Exciting discussions are also underway with Vail Mountain School (VMS) to improve coordination of academics and athletics for those SSCV members who attend VMS. The opportunity to choose among several excellent academic alternatives while pursuing snow sports at the highest level will serve all members of the SSCV community in a way only dreamed of previously.

Entering its third year of operation, the Vail early season training venue on Golden Peak has quickly developed a worldwide reputation as being the premier location for training in November. Most importantly, the benefits of world-class training for all our sports are made available at home to SSCV athletes, giving our kids a head start on the season. Training alongside world champions from moguls and racing, to freeskiing and snowboarding provides a unique opportunity for our children to see, and be inspired by, the very best. Opening on November 1st with the help of the $3M snowmaking system (funded by generous supporters of SSCV), early season training will bring 30 teams from around the world to Vail, and along with them business to the community at an otherwise slow time and helping SSCV to offset the cost of operating the venue for our kids. The snowmaking improvements illustrate the incredible relationship that exists today between Vail Resorts and SSCV providing support “For the Kids” in every way imaginable. Vail Resorts is our most important and most significant supporter.

Exciting new initiatives are proposed at the Maloit Park Campus for program enhancements such as: a complete pro shop offering state of the art equipment preparation and repairs to our membership, an expanded Nordic trail system and improved grooming, and acrobatic facilities – both indoors and outdoors at VSSA for year round training, and enhancements to the on snow facilities at Golden Peak. Finally, a Human Performance and Wellness Center, student housing and staff residences are proposed, creating a true campus combining academic, athletic and residential facilities at Maloit Park.

These are incredible times for SSCV as we approach our 50th anniversary “providing youth the opportunity for character growth and excellence through athletics”! Welcome to SSCV, and thank you for being part of our organization. With your participation, support, generosity and encouragement we are able to pursue our vision and mission as an organization, and support the dreams and goals of our kids.