U.S. Ski & Snowboard is working to cultivate an inclusive environment through diversity, equity, and inclusion measures. A large part in improving these areas is breaking  down barriers to participation in order to make skiing and snowboarding more accessible. SOS Outreach is an organization doing just that. They are dedicated to helping children of all socioeconomic backgrounds experience outdoor adventures and get involved in their communities. Through these outdoor experiences, participants learn different life skills including teamwork, discipline, and the courage to overcome obstacles when success does not come right away.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard and SOS Outreach are working together to create memorable experiences for children interested in skiing and snowboarding. In February Olympic athletes Brita Sigourney and Steven Nyman took part in an outdoor adventure at Park City Mountain skiing with 95 of the children in the SOS mentorship program. Reflecting on the experience, Nyman said, “The kids were fantastic. There were a lot of laughs, fun skiing, good crashes. My favorite time was when we went through the mini park in a train all jumping one after another.” Nyman also noted that participants were “very inquisitive and willing to push themselves on the snow.”

Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team member Kyle Negomir led a video call with SOS Outreach, talking to a group of  children about the life skills they have learned through the program and sharing ways he has learned to fight through adversity in his career. “It was sweet seeing how shy many of them were at first, but after hearing my story and how similar the issues all of us face really are, they started to open up and let me really engage with them.” Negomir stated, “There were a lot of thoughtful questions at the end of the meeting which really made it an organic conversation.” Negomir could not say enough about the great work of SOS Outreach. “Abbey and the rest of the mentors within the program are truly helping these kids learn the skills and character needed to become leaders of their own, and giving them a great outlet to come better themselves,” he added.

The positive feedback received from both athletes and participants speaks to the exceptional work being done at SOS Outreach. Both U.S. Ski & Snowboard and participating athletes are looking forward to future opportunities with the organization. Negomir is already planning for the next adventure, “I’m hoping to be able to help out a bit more this year and beyond, and to recruit some more of my teammates to come talk with the kids once the season is over!”

To learn more about SOS Outreach, visit their website here.