EL COLORADO, Chile (July 26) - The Best in the World women's alpine speed team, featuring Stacey Cook (Mammoth Mountain, CA), Leanne Smith (N. Conway, NH) and Laurenne Ross (Bend, OR),  started its on-snow Road to Sochi with a two-week camp in El Colorado. The training block is the first of two in Chile for coach Chip White's speed group, which placed all six athletes on the Audi FIS Alpine World Cup podium and topped the nations standings for downhill by a massive 457 point margine.

Six-time World Cup downhil champion and reigning Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO), who has made incredible progress in her injury recovery, has her sights set on returning to snow in September. St. Anton downhill winner Alice McKennis (Glenwood Springs, CO), who also suffered a season ending crash, is also making strides toward a strong recover. 2013 World Championships super G medalist Julia Mancuso (Squaw Valley, CA) opted for technical training in New Zealand, but will head to Chile in September. 

The Audi FIS Alpine World Cup season opens Oct. 26-27 in Soelden, Austria - the official European Training Center of the U.S. Ski Team - then makes its North American swing with two weeks in Beaver Creek, CO beginning with women's speed races Nov. 29-Dec. 1 followed by the men's Audi Birds of Prey race week Dec. 6-8.

BEND, OR (July 25) — U.S. Speed Team member Laurenne Ross conquers mountains in both directions. Delivering her first World Cup podium at the end of last season, Ross clearly knows how to make a quick descent. She spends her summers, on the other hand, fighting gravity — rock climbing, mostly in her home state of Oregon.

This is part of an ongoing series of articles following elite USSA athletes and their offseason endeavors. Read the full Summer Side Projects story on Ross at SkiRacing.com.

PARK CITY, UT (July 24) – The title of U.S. Champion is on the line in the upcoming U.S. Ski Jumping Championships at the Utah Olympic Park (UOP) in Park City Sunday, Aug. 4. The event on the HS134 meter large hill, taking place in the summer for the sixth straight year, will be part of the Utah Olympic Park’s annual Springer Tournee. Among the favorites will be World Champion Sarah Hendrickson (Park City, UT), who sat out last year’s event while recovering from knee surgery, and large hill women’s titlist from 2012 Jessica Jerome (Park City, UT). Defending champs Anders Johnson (Park City, UT) and Peter Frenette (Saranac Lake, NY), who tied for the title last year, are expected to compete for the men. Jumping Championships are set to start with the trial round at 8 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 4, at the UOP.

HIGHLIGHTS

• 2013 U.S. Large Hill Ski Jumping Championships will take place during the summer for the sixth straight year on Aug. 4 at the 2002 Olympic venue in Park City, UT on the HS134 meter hill.
• Jessica Jerome (Park City, UT) will be looking for her 11th U.S. Championship after winning on both the large and normal hills in Park City a year ago.
• Peter Frenette (Saranac Lake, NY) and hometown jumper Anders Johnson (Park City, UT) will be battling for the top spot among the men. Last year, the two tied on the large hill.
• World Champion Sarah Hendrickson is expected to compete after sitting out of the competition last year after recovering from knee surgery.
• The nordic combined and normal hill ski jumping U.S. Championships will take place at the Flaming Leaves Festival in Lake Placid, NY Oct. 12-13.

Defending Champions
Men’s Large Hill
Peter Frenette, Saranac Lake, NY (4 titles), and Anders Johnson, Park City, UT (4 titles)
Women’s Large Hill
Jessica Jerome, Park City, UT (10 titles)
Men’s Normal Hill
Anders Johnson, Park City, UT (4 titles)
Women’s Normal Hill
Jessica Jerome, Park City, UT (10 titles)

QUOTES
Anders Johnson, Park City, UT (defending large hill champ, 4-time U.S. Champion)
I love being able to compete on my home hills and it's a great time of year where we have almost every ski jumper in North America in Park City competing on all hill sizes at all ages. It's also a great chance for us to see where our competitive level is before we head over to Europe for the Grand Prix circuit that begins in just a few weeks.

Jessica Jerome, Park City, UT (defending large and normal hill champ, 10-time U.S Champion)
U.S. Championships is always important to us just as any competition is important to us. Just because it's an Olympic year does not make me want to win any more; I always aim to win. It will be interesting to see what happens this year. I know Lindsey [Van] and Sarah [Hendrickson] are really great fliers, and Alissa [Johnson] and Abby [Hughes] have made some strong improvements this summer, so it will definitely be a fun competition.

Schedule
Sunday, August 4th
8:00 a.m. U.S. Ski Jumping Championships (men and women HS 134-large hill)

Each week the USSA Sport Education Department will post a Coaches Tip of the Week.  The information will rotate through the ski and snowboard disciplines so check back each week to see the newest tip!

Rollerski Safety Tips
{This tip was adapted from a Roller Ski Safety article by Jon Brodhead, Craftsbury Nordic Center for NENSA: New England Nordic Ski Association}

Summer is upon us and fall is just around the corner, we thought it would be a great time to remind everyone how important it is to be safe while training outside on the roads around the country. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you are out rollerskiing this summer.

Time
Think carefully about the time that you are training, rush hour and dawn/dusk, when you are least visible should be avoided. Consider adjusting your schedule if it's getting late in the day.

Location
Bike/rollerski paths are ideal, but if they are not available in your area choose roads with little traffic where drivers can clearly see you training. Avoid roads with many twists and sharp turns.

Gear
Bright clothing and helmets are a must. Reflective vests or clothing also help you to be as visible as possible to drivers. Absolutely no headphones should be worn during rollerskiing training on the road.

Group
Rollerskiing in a group makes you more visible to drivers but it is important to keep focused on the road and minimize distracting chatter. Groups can be helpful in alerting each other to traffic and rough roads. Ski single file and be courteous to drivers. You should ski with traffic on the right side of the road; however, some areas require rollerskiing on the left side, so know the laws within your particular area.

Rollerskiers should follow all traffic laws and be vigilant. When a car comes from the rear all skiers should stop skating and double pole single file as close to the edge of the pavement as possible. Do not begin skating again until you are sure there are no other cars coming from behind. Skiing in groups can help you be more visible but if you have a large group it's best to split up into smaller groups making it easier for cars to pass.

When you stop skiing, all of the athletes and the coach should step completely off the pavement.  

These tips are important to remember for rollerskiers, but apply to runners and cyclists as well.  Safety while training outside should be a top priority for all athletes and coaches.

PDF Copy of this week's tip

The full article by John Brodhead can be found here: https://www.nensa.net/training/roller_ski_safety.shtml

After a blitz of summer conditioning, it's time for the women's technical team of Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) and Resi Stiegler (Jackson Hole, WY) to get back on snow with their annual trek to New Zealand. Ski Racing Magazine caught up with the reigning slalom World Champion just before her flight to the Southern Hemisphere. 

AVON, CO — It hasn’t exactly been an offseason of rest and relaxation for Mikaela Shiffrin. The 18-year-old passed through Vail and Park City recently as part of a busy summer schedule that has included stays back East, where she graduated from Burke Mountain Academy in June. In Colorado last week, Shiffrin and her mother Eileen sat in for an interview with FOX Sports conducted by gold medalist Picabo Street, one of the many pre-Olympic media obligations the rising star has had to fulfill this offseason.

Read the full story at SkiRacing.com.

COURCHEVEL, France (July 21) - The Tour de France ended this weekend, as did a two Euro camp for nordic combined team. A week jump training in Hinterzarten was followed by the team's traditional Tour de France camp based in Courchevel. In addition to jump and cross country training the team climbed everything in sight including the Col de la Madeleine, Col du Glandon, Cormet de Roselend, Col de Tamie, Col de Leschaux, Col de Aravis, Col de la Croix Fry, La Plagne, Meribel and Courchevel. Kudos to Taylor Fletcher for beating the locals, winning the Wednesday night hill climb in Courchevel.

Queen Stage
Think the Tour de France had a rugged day with two climbs of Alpe de Huez on Thursday? Checkout the U.S. Nordic Combined Ski Team's ride that day on Olympic champion Billy Demong's ride tracking - nearly 14,000 vertical feet climbed!
Riding with the Nordic Combined Team - July 18, 2013
 

GRESHAM, OR (July 16) - Bill Johnson, a U.S. Ski Team legend who boldly predicted his downhill gold medal victory at the 1984 Olympic Winter Games in Sarajevo, has elected to continue his fight against a life threatening infection amongst the comfort and support of family and friends. Johnson, who remains cheerful and aware, was hospitalized on June 29 and spent two weeks in intensive care while doctors unsuccessfully attempted to find the source of an infection that has attacked all of his major organs. Rather than endure a daily regimen of oxygen, antibiotics and fluids, Johnson will return to Gresham Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Center where he was living before being hospitalized. 

HIGHLIGHTS

• Bill Johnson, who won the Olympic gold medal for downhill in 1984, was hospitalized on June 29 with a severe infection.
• Johnson spent 11 days in intensive care while doctors attempted unsuccessfully to determine the sourse of the infection.
• The Olympic champion has since elected to leave the medical facility and stop medical aid. 
• Johnson won three FIS Alpine World Cup downhill events in the 1983-84 season including the famed Lauberhorn Classic in Wengen, Switzerland.
• After his Wengen win, he would boldly predict and win the 1984 Olympic gold medal for downhill in Sarajevo.
• Following the Olympics, Johnson won World Cup downhill races in Aspen and Whistler in the same season.

PARK CITY, UT (July 15) – The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, the national governing body for Olympic skiing and snowboarding, has announced a multi-year alliance with the online fundraising platform RallyMe.com as the Official Crowdfunding Platform for the USSA, U.S. Ski Team, U.S. Snowboarding, and U.S. Freeskiing. The innovative program is designed to help athletes raise funds to offset travel and training costs over and above the $20 million the USSA invests each year in athletic programs.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association has entered into a multi-year alliance with RallyMe.com to become the Official Crowdfunding Platform for the USSA, U.S. Ski Team, U.S. Snowboarding, and U.S. Freeskiing.
• The RallyMe partnership is designed to help the USSA’s national team athletes close their personal funding gap for travel and other expenses beyond the $20 million the USSA invests each year in athletic programs.
• RallyMe.com is an online crowdfunding platform for athletes, teams, and organizations that may be utilized by USSA athletes to raise personal contributions.
• USSA athletes who raise funds on RallyMe will be featured on a special team partner page, allowing funders to easily access elite team athletes. They will also have a customized widget integrated into personal bio pages on their respective national team website, so supporters can easily contribute.
• RallyMe’s safe and secure online platform provides sophisticated tools and templates to help USSA athletes or “Ralliers” easily share their personal stories and fundraising message across social media venues.
• Crowdfunding has fast become one of the most efficient personal funding venues today, allowing the fund seeker to ask many people for support at a small amount. The entire crowdfunding industry is expected to raise $5 billion in 2013, according to Crowdsourcing.org's annual report.

QUOTES
Luke Bodensteiner, Executive Vice President, Athletics
As a Best in the World Olympic sports organization, we focus on providing our U.S. athletes with high performance services – the best coaching, access to training facilities like the Center of Excellence, competition support, sport science and sports medicine. With nearly 200 athletes in the USSA’s elite teams, a number of those athletes continue to fund some or all of their personal travel expenses. RallyMe provides a turnkey opportunity to assist athletes in funding those costs over and above the investment USSA makes each year in athlete performance and development.

Bill Kerig, CEO & Founder of RallyMe 
We’re honored to form this special relationship with the USSA and help further its Best in the World vision. USSA athletes have amazing personal stories that we can help them hone, share, and monetize. We created RallyMe to give athletes, teams and organizations a simple, yet powerful online tool to achieve their fundraising goals. Working with the USSA we can support more athletes achieving their dreams.

About RallyMe
RallyMe is an online funding tool that empowers athletes, teams, and organizations to harness the power of the crowd to fund their goals. RallyMe helps athletes monetize their personal and social media network through crowdfunding, or asking many people for a small amount of financial help to achieve a clearly stated goal. Learn more or start a Rally at http://rallyme.com.

About USSA
The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) is the national governing body of Olympic skiing and snowboarding. It is the parent organization of the U.S. Ski Team, U.S. Snowboarding and U.S. Freeskiing. Developed to facilitate participation in national and international competition, the Olympic sports organization provides structure for competitive skiing and snowboarding. From grassroots programs to governance of sport, management of rules, competitions and athletic rankings, the USSA oversees athletic pipelines for development in the sports. With a vision to make the USA the best in the world in Olympic skiing and snowboarding, the USSA provides leadership and direction for tens of thousands of young skiers and snowboarders who share an Olympic dream while maintaining a strong adherence to core values. The USSA, established in 1905, operates out of the national training and education facility, the Center of Excellence, in Park City, UT.

Emilia Wint took women’s slopestyle by storm with a Revolution Tour win in late 2011. Her fearless slopestyle tricks, big air and rails earned her invites to Dew Tour Finals and Euro X, all within weeks of her top finishes at the Killington Dew Tour stop, the Aspen/Snowmass Open and the Mammoth Mountain VISA U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix. In December 2012, Wint was competing at Dew Tour Breckenridge and landed a jump wrong, suffering a season-ending knee injury. Now, she's motivated to get back to the top and perform better than ever.

Name: Emilia Wint

Sport: Slopestyle skiing

How/when did you decide you wanted to compete: After being on Hawks Freeride in Breckenridge for a few seasons, small competitions were the next natural progression. After two seasons of small competitions, I made it into some professional events.

Biggest accomplishment in your career so far: 2nd Place WSI 2012, 4th AFP slopestyle overall 2012, 3rd slopestyle overall Dew Tour 2012, 5th Euro X Games 2012

Goals for next season: To come back stronger than last year and make the Olympic Team.

Favorite snow destination: Breckenridge, CO

Favorite non-snow destination: The beach

Favorite food: Sriracha sauce. Does that count as a food?

If you weren't a professional athlete what would you be: I've asked myself that question before and honestly can't come up with an answer. I've been pursuing this goal for so long that I always choose skiing over anything else. I know that I would have stayed in Denver to finish high school and then go straight to college, but after that, I don't know. Skiing is more fun than anything I can imagine though!

Time you've been most scared in your life: When I hurt my knee. It only took a few hours from the time I crashed to get the MRI results, but not knowing is a pretty scary feeling. Everything you had planned for the season rushes through your head, and you start imagining the worst. Once I found out what was wrong, though, I made a game plan and just focused all my energy on getting better.

Biggest vice: Sriracha sauce. I put it on everything, and if it's not available, my food is missing a key ingredient.

Biggest pet peeve: Improper grammar and spelling in texts

Advice to others who want to follow in your footsteps: Do what you enjoy. It's what'll make you the happiest, and with that, success will follow. There is no point in blindly following what everyone else is doing just because doing something different can be scary.