The Western Region staff - Angie, Fletch, Pick and Bill - welcomes everyone to the 2020-21 Alpine season.  The Summer and Fall months have been packed with video conference calls discussing how to make ski racing happen during a global pandemic.  Now, just in time for the winter weather, we have plans, we have guidance, we have calendars built at all levels.  We’re eager for the season to begin.  “Nimble” flexibility (coined by Will Brandenburg) is the term for this season.  There will likely be changes as we go.

Our sport changed last March when U.S. Ski & Snowboard canceled the remainder of the 2020 season.  Due to the growing pandemic and restrictions placed on our NGB, Western Region was forced to cancel five U14/U16 projects, and five FIS RTG projects from the summer and fall preparation period; over 65 training days with our athletes lost.

On a positive note, over 25 western clubs took advantage of summer training on Mt. Hood, which opened the Palmer Snowfield from mid-June through August.  Western Region Junior Coach, Jeff Pickering, and Western Region FIS Coach, Fletcher McDonald were on the snowfield for two weeks in July and were able to check in with athletes and coaches from many clubs.

Timberline Ski Area enforced strict preventive practices, including face coverings, distancing in lift lines, minimal lodge use, etc.  During the 10-week summer season, the area experienced over 44,000 skier visits, and to-date, no case of Covid-19 has been traced back to Timberline.  This is encouraging news as we prepare to host large groups of athletes at events this winter.

The typical Summer and Fall meetings, beginning with the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Congress, were held virtually.  This format enabled a larger and more diverse group of participants to attend meetings and collaborate with leadership, improving communication and cooperation among the various constituents of our sport.  Links to relevant presentations are:  Alpine Development Director’s Report, Western Region Director’s Report and US Ski & Snowboard Membership Report.  These report links along with others can be found on the Western Region webpage.

Perhaps the biggest challenge over the past several months has been the preparation of our competition calendars.  Race organizers, divisional leadership and the ski resorts all had concerns and questions that needed to be answered.  Regional staff and leadership are pleased with the events we were able to schedule.  The race calendar, and more, follow in this update.

One final note; competition opportunities may not be as plentiful this year.  But that’s OK.  Take advantage of the time at home to “train to develop,” and not only “train to race.”  And freeski, a lot!  Take the time to ski all terrain and all conditions.  The West’s greatest alpine racers have all been amazing skiers.  Stay safe.  Stay healthy.  And most of all, have fun!

Regional and Divisional Racing

Leaders from Western Region and the five divisions have been meeting weekly throughout the late summer and fall to discuss plans for hosting safe competitions during the Covid-19 pandemic.  U.S. Ski & Snowboard produced two documents to help explain the current environment and provide a safer path for race organizers to follow: Covid-19 Domestic Competition Guidance and Alpine Domestic Competitions Guidance. The policies and recommendations are intended to reduce risk of exposure to Covid-19 by reducing travel, reducing the number of athletes at a race, and reducing the number of volunteers needed to host a race.

Some of the changes this year, while the coronavirus continues to be a significant concern, will include:

• The start to  national racing will be delayed
• A maximum of 100 competitors on race day
• Often, there will be separate race days for men and women
• When conditions allow, two races for the same gender may be held on a single day
• Limits on athletes in the start and finish areas
• Specific policies and schedules for course inspection
• Virtual meetings and awards presentations
• Reduced number of officials and volunteers working the race

Also, be aware of policies and restrictions that host resorts may impose on athletes and parents.

Here is the link to the Western Regions 2020-21 calendar schedule.  This is a work-in-progress and will be updated often.  Also, check the FIS Calendar, the USSA calendar, and your divisional calendar for local races.

News from U.S. Ski & Snowboard

A significant amount of information has come together the past few weeks as Covid-19 questions are answered and consequent plans are made.  If you missed the recent message from U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO, Tiger Shaw, please read his update.  Also, Alpine Development Director, Chip Knight, reports on current national development projects and other current alpine issues in his latest update.

The Alpine Sport Committee’s Fall Meeting was Friday, October 23rd.  The meeting minutes with approved proposals will be included in our next update.  However, the ban on using fluorinated wax was amended and approved.  It will state: the use of fluorinated wax at all non-FIS levels of training and competition in the U.S. is prohibited.  

Important:  November 1st is the deadline to renew your membership with the U.S. Ski & Snowboard before paying a late fee.  If your waffling with regard to the upcoming season - have faith!  Our clubs, divisions and sport leaders are doing everything they can to provide a safe and exciting experience for our athletes, young and old.  Read Membership Service’s recent email to help answer your questions.

Western Region FIS Coach, Fletcher McDonald, spent all of September and some of October in Europe coaching with the USST Men’s D-Team.  Here are Fletcher’s brief notes on the D-Team Europe training.

 

2021 W.E.S.T. Team

Western Region nominates WEST Team athletes each Spring based on objective criteria and results from the season.  Athletes are officially named to the team in October.  USST D-Team athletes are automatic members of the WEST Team.  Congratulations to these athletes for their accomplishments, and good wishes for the coming season.

Women

• D-Team Wilkinson, Alix 2000 SVST
• D-Team Macuga, Lauren 2002 PCSS
• 1 Bocock, Mary 2003 RM
• 2 Romanov, Dasha 2003 SVSEF
• 3 Woodruff, Kaelin 2003 SBSTA
• 4 Tozzi, Sophia 2003 JHSC 
• 5 Kaiserman, Madison 2004 PCSS

MEN

• D-Team Smith, Jack 2001 SVSEF
• 1 Mathers, Jeremy 2001 SBSEF
• 2 Snyder, Bennett 2001 TCRA
• 3 Parazette, Oliver 2002 JHSC
• 4 Travis, Gunnar 2003 PCSS
• 5 Brown, Benny 2003 PCSS
• 6 Sarchett, Ryder 2003 SVSEF 

To learn more about WEST Team criteria and team benefits refer to the 2020 Western Region Handbook.  (The 2021 Handbook will be available soon.  Link to the appendix draft for current information.)

Coaches Education

The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Sport Education Department hosted a fantastic Club Excellence series of webinars this fall, delivered by the Apollo Group from the USOPC.  The four sessions included four continuing education credits for coaches.  Here are the links if you missed the series.  If you would like to earn the four education credits be sure to register at Fall Summit.

• Session 1: Coaching Philosophy
• Session 2: Planning
• Session 3: Coaching
• Session 4: Review (link coming soon)

SkillsQuest-Fitness

A Skillsquest Fitness Testing webinar was held in September targeting coaches and clubs instructing them how to administer an in-house test.  If you missed the webinar, click HERE for the link to the recording.  The webinar was excellent.  Click HERE for the powerpoint presentation by Calin Butterfield, US Ski & Snowboard Sport Science Department.  Due to COVID, US Ski & Snowboard is not requiring testing to be completed in regionally validated sessions.  Clubs are encouraged to perform the testing based on the guidelines provided in the presentation & webinar.  Also, here are links to the Shuttle Run audio and the Push Ups audio

Divisional Websites

Contact your divisional office for local race calendars, race officials training, and Fall meeting schedules.

• Alaska
• Far West
• Intermountain
• Northern
• PNSA

Copper Mountain Opening

After a busy off-season of planning and limited skiing due to the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns from last spring, it is exciting to see the cold weather returning to our mountains! Copper Mountain in Colorado is now open for training and the U.S. Ski Team is starting to arrive for its annual fall camps. Members of the National Development Group will be on the ground during the first half of November, training alongside Sasha Rearick and Marjan Cernigoj’s NorAm Teams, as part of the first development programming being run this year.

Last spring’s 2020 U.S. Nationals have been rescheduled and will take place at Copper November 16-22 with all four events being contested. Most of the National Team athletes will be there, so the races are sure to be highly competitive.  Directly afterward, we will be hosting national development SG training on the Copper Mountain Speed Center to provide our young athletes with a unique opportunity to train on one of the best venues in the country.  Space is limited: coaches should be in touch with Chip Knight if they are interested in attending with their athletes.

COVID-19

COVID-19 has reshaped our world and much of what we do these days. As an individual outdoor sport, we are confident that we can operate in a safe manner. Still, we all must strive to do our part and stay socially distanced so our ski resorts can remain open through the winter. In particular, we must take care to protect ourselves and each other at natural points of congestion: lift lines, start and finish areas, as well as lodges and other indoor spaces.

Late this summer, we released our Alpine Domestic Competition Guidance, working in partnership with resorts and clubs to outline a way forward for the season ahead. Major themes include the requirement of a COVID Coordinator as part of each competition, a reduction in field sizes, limiting unnecessary travel, and delaying the start of the season. One silver lining is that we anticipate athletes will be able to train more in the coming months, which will stimulate long-term development in the sport. We recently held a Return to Sport webinar about the overall direction we’re taking, discussing everything from our “bubble” approach with the National Team to specific efforts we are taking within each discipline.  Check out the recording for anyone who missed it!

Fall FIS Meetings

During FIS meetings earlier this month, the main word being used is “flexibility” as our sport tries to adapt to an ever-challenging international environment with different access and quarantine regulations between each country. The World Cup showed it could successfully operate with the recent opening races in Soelden, but the difficulty with travel rules and restrictions are magnified when athletes try to cross borders for lower levels of competition. We are engaged with our Canadian partners to try to schedule NorAm events later in the season and we will communicate that schedule as soon as we can confirm events in the calendar. Recognizing that access to FIS racing could be unequal in different parts of the world, FIS Council has approved a “two-year” Base List for the 2021-22 season, which will include results from both the 2019-20 and the 2020-21 seasons.

SkillsQuest - Fitness

As fall winds down, many athletes are completing SkillsQuest - Fitness (SQF) physical conditioning testing at their respective clubs. We were not able to organize national or regional testing events due to COVID-19 mass-gathering concerns, but we have encouraged clubs to organize local SQF testing and to submit athletes’ scores to our national database for tracking purposes. The National Team continues to maintain the overall scoring standard of 550 points for women and 700 points for men.  Many of our athletes at that level are far exceeding those thresholds.  For anyone unfamiliar with the SQF protocol and tests, please watch Calin Butterfield’s recent educational webinar and download the new SQF manual for a hands-on reference.

Membership Deadline

Please be aware that because of pandemic concerns the U.S. Ski & Snowboard membership deadline has been extended to November 1. Sign up by this Sunday to avoid late fees!

Dermatone, which offers the highest quality skin protection in the most extreme environments, announced today that it has been named the official sunscreen, lip balm, and frostbite protection of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team. The multi-year partnership extends through 2023 and includes providing U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team athletes with Dermatone skin protection products to use throughout training and competition.

“Elite athletes spend countless hours training and competing in the coldest, windiest and brightest conditions in alpine environments,” said Doug Metchick, Dermatone CEO. “We are excited to support the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team as they prepare for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Dermatone will help protect their skin year-round and ensure that they are always ready to face the competition.”

Dermatone was founded in 1981 as the first product to provide cold weather protection along with sunscreen. The brand’s long-lasting, water-resistant, sweat-resistant, and broad-spectrum SPF formulas deliver unparalleled protection in high UV environments. Dermatone has been tested in some of the most extreme environments on Earth, including Mt. Everest, K2, Antarctica and Death Valley.

“Dermatone has been a trusted brand in mountain sports for decades and has a proven track record in intense environments,” said Michael O’Conor, chief revenue officer for U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “Our athletes train and compete under extreme mountain conditions and this partnership will make life on the road that much more comfortable. We are thrilled to bring Dermatone into the U.S. Ski & Snowboard family and are excited for the support they will provide our athletes, our teams and our community.”

You’re invited to an exciting night in with U.S. Ski & Snowboard on Thursday, November 19 at 5 p.m. MST / 7 p.m. EST. Shake up your favorite cocktail, glam up in your best event-from-home attire, grab your computer and join Olympic Freestyle Champion Jonny Moseley and X Games Gold Medalist Maggie Voisin for a live, 30 minute show you won’t want to miss. U.S. Ski & Snowboard presents the New York Gold Medal Gala Reimagined: A Night at the USANA Center of Excellence. 

This year would have marked the 54th annual New York Gold Medal Gala, U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s marquee fundraising event. However, due to the ongoing global pandemic, with the health and safety of all athletes, staff, donors and supporters, U.S. Ski & Snowboard has shifted all fundraising efforts to virtual experiences. Going virtual has its benefits as all ski and snowboard fans are invited to attend - registration is free! 

Hosted by Jonny and Maggie, with a special appearance from two-time Olympic Champion Mikaela Shiffrin, A Night At the USANA Center of Excellence will seek to help raise $1 million to ensure athletes across all teams have access to coaching, training and elite competition for the 2020-21 season. All funds raised will directly benefit Olympic hopefuls on their road to Beijing 2022 and beyond. Go behind the scenes of what it’s like to train to be Best in the World, hear from some of your favorite athletes and gain insight into what the competitive ski and snowboard world will be like this season. Jonny and Maggie have been training all summer for this with a rigorous schedule of online meetings and look forward to spending some time with you from the comfort of your own home. 

Technology has the power to connect us during a time we cannot physically be in the same place. Fans and supporters are encouraged to show their support remotely by registering or donating. Now is your chance to get ahead of the game by bidding on the online auction, now live. Be a part of history with exclusive Team gear, sports memorabilia and incredible, immersive experiences. New items will be added in the lead in to the live show, so be sure to check back. The online auction will be available until Monday, November 23 at 10 a.m. MST / 12 p.m. EST. 

Join us for an amazing evening. After all, there’s nothing like relaxing on the couch after a long day of being stressed on the couch.

Register today at nightatthecoe.org or by texting "gold" to 243725!

In an exclusive Instagram live interview with Olympic Channel's Ashlee Tulloch, double Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin wanted fans to know she isn't contemplating quitting ski racing just yet, and in fact, said she was hoping to return to FIS Ski World Cup action during the month of November. 

Despite an annus horribilis for the double Olympic champion, who lost both her maternal grandmother and then her father in the last 12 months in addition to the global pandemic, she intends to return to the slopes.

"This year – especially this summer and the process of getting our feet back under us – has opened my eyes to so much more than ski racing," the American told Olympic Channel's Ashlee Tulloch, during which she projected incredible strength and revealed emotional vulnerability.

"At the same time it's kind of solidified my motivation that I want to get back to the sport. I don't want to end my career as a ski racer on this note of having to step away from the sport because of a family tragedy," she said.

 

 

 

 

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In case you missed it the other day...it was awesome to catch up with @ash_tulloch for a chat about 2020, how my back is doing, the @usskiteam's Jeff Shiffrin Athlete Resiliency Fund, and what's next for me. Check it out! I'm looking forward to getting back on snow!! 🙃🙃🙃 Learn more about the Resiliency Fund at the link in my bio! (keeptheflamealive.org)

A post shared by Mikaela Shiffrin ⛷💨 (@mikaelashiffrin) on Oct 25, 2020 at 11:09am PDT

Mikaela discussed her back injury, what 2020 has been like, the recently-launched Jeff Shiffrin Athlete Resiliency Fund, and what's next for her. 

"It's hopefully a short thing; it's healing. I'm doing rehab and PT and should be back skiing, racing in November. That's my goal.

"I should know before Levi, pretty solidly, because I need to get some training in before we race. I'm kind of working with minimal preparation, but back home here in Colorado, it's getting a little chilly so we should be able to get on the mountains, get on some snow.

"I'll be able to hopefully test it out, and if I feel pain then I guess I'll need a little longer, but I don't think I'm going to feel pain. It's going to work."

When asked about the Resiliency Fund, Mikaela beamed. She shared about how "unifying" the campaign has been for U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes across sports, and just how gratifying the work she and her family have put into the campaign has been. 

Read the full article on OlympicChannel.com. 

Seven-time FIS Crystal Globe champion and U.S. Snowboard Pro Team member Chris Corning was recently featured in a Forbes.com article by Michelle Bruton, where he discussed his career, navigating the Covid-19 landscape, and his aspirations for the 2020-21 competition season. Chris has been a staple on FIS World Cup, X Games, Dew Tour, and U.S. Open podiums for years. Although he's only 21-years-old, he has been riding at a professional level since he was 15, and it's clear he has learned a lot from his experiences. 

Chris's dedication and hard work has certainly paid off. Over his career, Chris has earned three slopestyle crystal globes, two big air globes, and two park and pipe overall globes. In addition, he has earned eight World Cup victories and 14 podiums in 27 career starts. Last season, he tied Janne Korpi for the most men's crystal globes ever in park and pipe World Cup history. 

“There are a few people around us who know what we put into it," said Chris. "I think it’s not put out there how hard we actually work."

Read The Full Story at Forbes.com

As a leader in global health and wellness, USANA, the Cellular Nutrition Company, is committed to the advancement of innovative, high-quality health supplements for elite athletes worldwide. To further its commitment to research and development, USANA is now the title partner of U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s state-of-the-art training and education facility, the Center of Excellence.

The USANA Center of Excellence will continue to blend the best of high-performance athletic facilities, including strength training areas, a gymnasium, ski and snowboarding ramps, trampolines, a nutrition center, recovery/rehabilitation facilities, and a full sports science lab for U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes. USANA will work closely with U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s sport science staff and the organization’s top skiers and snowboarders on new product research and areas for development. 

“I am very excited about this new and expanded relationship between USANA and U.S. Ski & Snowboard,” says  Robert Sinnott, M.N.S., Ph.D., USANA’s chief scientific officer. “Through this extension, we have agreed to conduct two to three clinical studies annually to measure the effects of USANA’s supplements in elite athletes. The goal is to improve on their athletic performance metrics, help boost their immune systems while traveling, and assist them to achieve better quality sleep—all necessary for optimal performance and recovery. Not only will this partnership assist and benefit Olympic athletes, it’s also a great investment in USANA’s future and product pipeline.”

To learn more about USANA and its award-winning supplements, visit usana.com.

USANA and U.S. Ski & Snowboard first teamed up in 2011, when USANA became the organization’s Official Nutritional Supplement, Vitamin, and Minerals Partner. Since then, USANA has supported elite athletes through two Olympic cycles.

“We value our relationship with U.S. Ski & Snowboard, and are excited to take these next steps with them as we sponsor the USANA Center of Excellence and collaborate on product innovation,“ says Dan Macuga, USANA’s chief of communications and marketing. “We look forward to further developing our story alongside this accomplished, world-class institution and its athletes, and will continue to provide our products to more professional and Olympic athletes than any other nutritional supplement in the world.”

“Our nine-year partnership with USANA has been a fruitful one, and we are thrilled to enter into this new, expanded relationship with them,” says Tiger Shaw, U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO. “As a sports organization, we are constantly evolving and looking for new and better ways to enable our athletes to achieve success throughout their training and competition cycles. USANA’s commitment to working alongside our sport science staff will allow us to be on the forefront of innovation. It’s exciting for us to be a part of their product development process.”  

U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced today a new partnership with Rack Attack, North America’s premier retailer of vehicle rack solutions. Rack Attack has been named the Official Rack Retailer of the U.S. Ski Team, U.S Snowboard Team, and U.S. Freeski Team.

Rack Attack will outfit U.S. Ski & Snowboard with products for national team athletes as well as provide exclusive benefits and support to U.S. Ski & Snowboard members.

“Rack Attack has always been committed to the snow sport community and our partnership with U.S. Ski & Snowboard only solidifies our position,” said Alexander Welbers, CEO of Rack Attack. “We are looking forward to working with the team, the athletes and all the other snow sport enthusiasts.”

“We are proud to welcome Rack Attack to our family of partners and suppliers”, said Michael O’Conor, Chief Revenue Officer of U.S Ski & Snowboard. “We are grateful for the support they will provide our organization, our athletes and our community.”

For more information, visit www.rackattack.com

Aerial skiers of the U.S. Ski Team are used to a predictable annual rhythm of training and competing. But when COVID-19 prompted international, national and local lockdowns, athletes got creative in keeping up with their fitness and mental health routines. For aerial skiing power couple Ashley Caldwell and Justin Schoenefeld, that meant turning to water, but not for ramping. 

“I’ve done some sailing in my past and during quarantine we had a lot of ideas...this was just one of them,” said Ashley. “Justin saw a small sailboat on Facebook marketplace and said we should buy it so I could teach him. We did.” And so the two skiers turned sailors with the purchase of a 1984 420 Vanguard. “It needs work but it floats,” commented Justin.

Ashley acknowledged that she was no pro at sailing but knew that together they could make it work. “There was definitely a learning curve the first time we went out,” said Ashley. “The morning of our first sail I had had a dream about it the night before,” said Justin. “I remember waking up and being super stoked. I was hooked immediately.”

 

 

 

 

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His birthday wish was to go sailing...But the winds were too wild today for us newbies. Does a picture count? Happy birthday #firstmate ;) ❤️❤️❤️❤️ #420sailing #420sailboat @jordanellesp #sailing

A post shared by Ashley Caldwell (@ashleyskis93) on Aug 13, 2020 at 5:48pm PDT

Ashley and Justin committed to sailing about twice a week throughout the summer, weather permitting. They successfully navigated the waters of the Jordanelle and Rockport Reservoirs and have not only learned a new skill, but found sailing a great compliment to summer training. 

“Sailing is [usually] peaceful, like a meditation,” explained Ashley. “The wind is propelling you through the water. Most of the time you are cruising and have a fun time. In aerials most of the time you are standing around, just waiting for your chance at the jump. Then all of a sudden you have to give 120%. Sailing is kind of like that too. You’re just going along, going along, and all of a sudden you have to be ready and prepared.”

“We’ve been through some scary points,” said Justin. “We almost flipped the boat several times.”

Despite the challenges their new hobby brought, Ashley and Justin were thankful to have the outlet during such an unsettling time in the world. “It gave us a mental break,” said Ashley. “In that way, sailing was just like doing anything else other than our sport [of aerial skiing],” added Justin. 

“We learned a lot,” said Ashley. “We have yet to capsize. Sailing improved our communication skills and we enjoyed the mental cross training and teamwork element. Our goal is to win four medals between the two of us in Beijing.” Will sailing be the edge that sets Ashley and Justin up for success? Only time will tell.

As October fades to November, Ashley and Justin will be setting sail for their first on-snow jumps since March. Both have had excellent summer training periods and look forward to the season ahead. With Mixes Team Aerials included in the World Championships program this season and the Olympic Winter Games program next season Ashley and Justin have the opportunity to medal together on the same team. 

Follow Ashley and Justin on Instagram @ashleyskies93 and @jrschoenefeld.

U.S. Freestyle Aerial Ski Team members Dani Loeb, Megan Nick and Winter Vinecki took to the jumps on Saturday, October 17, but not to huck themselves into the water. The three women were joined by UOP staff member Bre Cartwright and spent a couple of hours picking up trash and debris on and under the water ramps at Official Training site Utah Olympic Park, giving back some of the love the jumps give to them all summer long. 

“We collected seven trash bags total, one for recycling bottles,” said Dani. “We picked up things like zip ties, soap bottles, lots of socks, gloves, even some mouth guards. Also nails and screws and stuff like that.”

Dani and Megan started what they hope will be an annual UOP cleanup last summer. Both women are passionate about being respectful stewards of their environment. “Megan and I bond a lot over being plastic-free and waste-free,” said Dani. “We decided it was a good idea to clean up the jumps. [During training when we’re] sitting up there we see a lot of debris. So we decided we would just take care of it and clean it up.”

 

 

 

 

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@megsnick9 and I started a new tradition last year where we pick up trash at our second home! This year @wintervinecki and @blifeinthemakin joined the trash family! The jumps are a small area, but I hope it inspires you to pick up trash in your local area. Grab some friends and go out for a few hours! The Utah Olympic Park has lots of different sports that train there, so there are odd things you may find. We found tons of old socks, gloves, mouth guards, and tons of soap and Gatorade bottles. Lots of the stuff we found are sadly not recyclable, but we did separate the things that are. If you train up here, please remember to grab your old soap bottles and show sheets! Recently I have been finding it difficult to follow a stricter plastic-free lifestyle with covid. I want to tell everyone who is trying to be more eco friendly that it’s ok if you mess up! What matters is that you are trying, and the more people that try, the bigger we make an impact! #utah #plastic #trash #nature #flips #pickup #gooutside #skiing

A post shared by Dani (@dani.loeb) on Oct 17, 2020 at 2:08pm PDT

“Dani and I started doing this last year because it was very discouraging to see how much trash was left behind at the end of summer training at the UOP,” said Megan. “We are so lucky to be able to train at such an amazing facility and it is a real bummer to see how much gets left behind.”

The U.S. Aerials Team clocks hundreds of hours and jumps at the UOP during the summer and takes pride in their facility. People from all over the country come to watch these athletes train, and the Team wants to make sure they put their best foot forward on the jumps and in their environment. “Not only do we want to keep the place clean for our own health, safety and sanity, but also for everyone else that comes to the park,” said Winter. “People come to watch us jump into the pool all summer long and kids from all over come to try water ramping. I want to set a good example for those that come so everyone can have a good time.”

It’s not only the human visitors but the animal visitors that appreciate a clean jump site. “Being in Utah and being backed up against the mountainside, the UOP is also home to many animals,” explained Winter. “We have had a mama and baby ducks swim through the pool, moose walk up by our snow site, weasels run under the water ramps, and more. This is their home too and it shouldn’t be cluttered with our waste. If everyone just does small acts to help keep our environment clean, we can continue to enjoy everything we love about the great outdoors, like skiing, hiking, and more!”

Megan and Dani enjoy sharing their passion for the environment with their team. By continuing to talk about ways to do better and organizing activities like the UOP cleanup, the two women believe they can help the team leave their world a little better than they found it. “I think it is important for everyone to be an environmental steward but it requires us to constantly be educating ourselves,” said Megan. “I am always finding ways I can improve my everyday habits to be more eco-conscious and minimize my impact. You don’t have to be super passionate about the environment to do a better job.”