To kick off U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s new partnership with Toyota, a few of Toyota’s NASCAR stars got the chance to train with U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes at the Center of Excellence in Park City.

Included amongst the NASCAR athletes were Furniture Row Racing drivers Martin Truex Jr. and Erik Jones, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Daniel Suarez, as well as Truex’s crew chief Cole Pearn and Jones’ crew chief Chris Gayle.

WATCH: NASCAR DRIVERS WORK OUT WITH U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD ATHLETES

“God, I hate working out,” said Truex before he started. “It’s so boring!”

Martin Truex Jr. snowboards on the simulator at the Center of Excellence in Park City. (U.S. Ski & Snowboard)

But Truex was proved wrong, as the workout included activities like skiing and snowboarding on a simulator with alpine skier River Radamus, doing stationary bike workouts with U.S. Ski & Snowboard strength and conditioning coaches, flipping on the trampolines with aerialists Ashley Caldwell and Mac Bohonnon, and cheering on nordic combined skier Bryan Fletcher while he performed a VO2 max test.

On their second day in Utah, the NASCAR drivers headed up to Park City’s Utah Olympic Park where they watched aerialists go off the water ramps, hiked to the top of the ski jumps with nordic combined skier Taylor Fletcher and—of course—drove a bobsled down the Olympic course.

Daniel Suarez slips with the help of Mac Bohonnon and Ashley Caldwell. (U.S. Ski & Snowboard)

Finally, they wrapped up their trip by going down to the Utah Olympic Oval where they learned to skate with Olympic speedskaters.

"Success!" said Truex after the two-day excursion into the Winter Olympic world. "Zero wipeouts."

Watch the NASCAR drivers learn what it’s like to train with Olympians in NBC Sport’s video here.

WATERVILLE VALLEY, N.H. (June 29, 2017) - Olympian Tom Corcoran, an early U.S. Ski Team pioneer and founder of the New Hampshire's Waterville Valley ski resort, passed away Tuesday (June 27) at his home in Seabrook Island, S.C. at the age of 85. Corcoran was one of the most decorated skiers of his era, moving on to become a pioneer in the ski industry and a longtime U.S. Ski & Snowboard leader. He was inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in 1978.

Corcoran was born Nov. 16, 1931 in Japan and grew up skiing at Quebec's Mt. Tremblant. He went to high school in New Hampshire and later competed for the U.S. Ski Team at both the 1956 and 1960 Olympics. He narrowly missed a medal in giant slalom at Squaw Valley, finishing fourth.

In his career he won four U.S. titles, the famed Roch Cup in Aspen twice, Sun Valley's Harriman Cup and many other honors. After retirement he remained extremely active in the sport as a leader with the then U.S. Ski Association and the U.S. Ski Team Education Foundation. He was awarded U.S. Ski & Snowboard's Julius Blegen Award in 1991 for his lifetime service to the sport.

Corcoran graduated from Dartmouth College in 1954 and later earned a master's degree in business from Harvard. After retirement, he worked in Aspen before moving back to New Hampshire where he founded Waterville Valley in 1965. The resort opened on Mt. Tecumseh in 1966 with four chairlifts.

Corcoran's Waterville Valley also became a popular spot for politicians and celebrities, from the Kennedy family to New Hampshire's Sununu family. Over the decades he played a pivotal role in the American ski industry, also serving as a very active director and chairman of the National Ski Areas Association. He also played a key role in the startup of the recreational racing program NASTAR in the late '60s. He stepped down from management in 1999.

During his three decades managing Waterville Valley, it became a core resort for ski racing. The legendary Waterville Valley Black and Blue Trail Smashers were a central part of racing in New England, playing host to all levels of competition from kids and junior races right up to World Cup racing, playing host to 11 races. America's Julie Parisien made history at Waterville Valley in 1991 winning a World Cup giant slalom. The resort also played a pioneering role in the formative years of freestyle skiing, as well as in cross country as race site in the U.S. Ski Association's Great American Ski Chase.

"Tom Corcoran was a real catalyst behind the prominence of alpine ski racing when I was growing up in the 1970s and '80s in New England," said U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO Tiger Shaw. "He was the consummate visionary and volunteer for our sport - always looking at ways he could give back."

Corcoran's brilliant performance in the 1960 Olympics at Squaw Valley saw him come within six-tenths of a second from becoming America's first man to win a medal. His fourth place finish was the best for an American in giant slalom until Bode Miller won silver in 2002.

After his retirement from Waterville Valley, Corcoran and his late wife Daphne, an accomplished sailor, spent time at their home in South Carolina as well as sailing around the world. In 1999 Tom and Daphne completed a four-year circumnavigation of the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea that covered 20,000 sea miles, with visits to 26 countries and over 200 ports of call. He remained an active follower of the U.S. Ski Team and an engaged advocate for the sport.

Daphne passed away this past February. The Corcorans left behind six children, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Information on services is pending.

CARRABASSETT VALLEY, Maine (June 28, 2017) – U.S. Ski & Snowboard has announced Carrabassett Valley Academy and Sugarloaf as the newest additions to its training partnership program. CVA has been designated as a U.S. Ski & Snowboard High Performance Center and Sugarloaf as a Team Development Site.

As a high performance center, CVA will collaborate with U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Park City- based Center of Excellence and other high performance centers to share best practices in strength and conditioning, sport science and sports medicine. It will also serve as a site to host training and education sessions for U.S. Ski & Snowboard clubs in the region. CVA’s training facility, the Anti-Gravity Complex, boasts strength training venues, trampolines, an indoor skate park, basketball court, spin and yoga room, climbing wall and a variety of outdoor training sites.

“The connection with U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s High Performance Team will be an invaluable resource for the school,” said CVA High Performance Director Shelby Downing. “It is a great advantage, not to mention huge inspiration, to be able to see U.S. team members in action in the gym and on the fields.”

Sugarloaf is a regular stop on the FIS NorAm Cup Tour and has hosted multiple regional and national championships as well as a FIS World Cup and Junior World Championships. As a U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team Development Site, Sugarloaf will provide on-hill training days for regional and national development projects and access for U.S. Ski Team athletes.


Multiple Olympic athletes have emerged from CVA and Sugarloaf's program, including (l to r) Kristen Clark-Rickenbach, Bode Miller, Emily Cook and Seth Wescott. (Getty Images)

“Since the FIS World Cup in 1971, Sugarloaf has been a proving ground for the nation’s top skiers and snowboarders,” said Sugarloaf General Manager Karl Strand. “From Bode Miller to Kirsten Clark and Seth Wescott, many of the country’s greatest athletes have cut their teeth right here in Carrabassett Valley, and we are honored to open our doors to the next generation of competitive snowsport athletes.”

“These partnership programs have provided hundreds of our regional and national athletes with the training opportunities they need to take their performance to the next level,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO Tiger Shaw. “The facilities at CVA and Sugarloaf will be invaluable resources for our national teams and local clubs as we prepare for the Olympic season and beyond.”

CVA and Sugarloaf join eight other resorts, academies and facilities that have established formal partnerships to support U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes. The training partnership program was formalized last winter and is available to U.S. Ski & Snowboard gold and silver certified clubs and resorts around the country.

PARK CITY, Utah (June 20, 2017) – U.S. Ski & Snowboard has named Toyota as the official automotive and mobility partner of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Teams, bringing the world’s top automaker together with America’s best winter athletes to achieve success at the upcoming Olympic Winter Games and beyond.

Toyota’s partnership with U.S. Ski & Snowboard began last season as it stepped in as the title sponsor of the U.S. Grand Prix, one of U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s premiere event properties and the official Olympic qualification series for snowboarding and freeskiing. With the expanded partnership, Toyota will now have a presence across multiple U.S. Ski & Snowboard events, including the U.S. Alpine Championships and domestic World Cups across all sports. The company will also receive logo exposure on alpine, freestyle and cross country athlete uniforms.


Toyota is entering its second year as the title sponsor of the U.S. Grand Prix. (U.S. Ski & Snowboard)

“With a record number of digital impressions and TV viewers last season, U.S. Ski & Snowboard events continue to bring incredible value to our partners and are key in the promotion of our athlete and sports,” said Tiger Shaw, U.S. Ski & Snowboard president and CEO. “Through its expanded partnership, Toyota is demonstrating confidence in its ownership of the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix and a dedication to supporting all of our national teams. We are looking forward to continuing to add value to this relationship.”

Commitment to advanced mobility, innovation and a passion for the outdoors aligns Toyota with U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s organizational vision, and both parties are working together to grow the visibility of winter action sports. In the lead-up to the Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, Toyota will also support some of U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s top athletes, including U.S. Snowboard Team’s Chloe Kim and Hailey Langland, and U.S. Freeski Team’s Torin Yater-Wallace and Gus Kenworthy.


(L to R) U.S. Snowboard Team athletes Julia Marino, Jamie Anderson and Hailey Langland celebrate a USA sweep at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain. (U.S. Ski & Snowboard)

“Toyota’s first year as a partner of U.S. Ski & Snowboard was invaluable to us as a brand making its initial foray into the Olympic movement,” said Ed Laukes, group vice president, marketing, Toyota. “Adding the U.S. Ski Team to the mix for this season, especially heading into the Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, is very exciting.”

The 2017-18 Toyota U.S. Grand Prix schedule will be announced this week at U.S. Ski & Snowboard Partner Summit.
 

ABOUT U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD
U.S. Ski & Snowboard is an Olympic sports organization providing leadership and direction for tens of thousands of young skiers and snowboarders, encouraging and supporting them in achieving excellence. By empowering national teams, clubs, coaches, parents, officials, volunteers and fans, U.S. Ski & Snowboard is committed to the progression of its sports, athlete success and the value of team. Established in 1905, U.S. Ski & Snowboard receives no direct government support, operating solely through private donations from individuals, corporations and foundations to fund athletic programs to assist athletes in reaching their dreams. The organization is based in Park City, Utah. For more information, visit www.ussa.org.

ABOUT TOYOTA
Toyota (NYSE:TM), the world's top automaker and creator of the Prius and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to advancing mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands. Over the past 50 years, we’ve produced more than 30 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more than 44,000 people (more than 34,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (1,500 in the U.S.) sold more than 2.8 million cars and trucks (nearly 2.5 million in the U.S.) in 2015 – and about 80 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 20 years are still on the road today.

Toyota partners with community, civic, academic, and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We share company resources and extensive know-how to support non-profits to help expand their ability to assist more people move more places. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.

PARK CITY, Utah (June 19, 2017) – The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association today unveiled its official rebrand as U.S. Ski & Snowboard. Along with the name change, a new brand mark will unite athletes, members and fans as one team with a vision to be Best in the World in Olympic skiing and snowboarding.

The brands of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Teams have become among the most recognized commercial marks in winter Olympic sport, capturing the spirit of the organization’s on-the-edge action sports. A variety of marks have been used over the institution’s 112-year history, including most recently logos for the three national teams – the U.S. Ski Team, U.S. Snowboarding and U.S. Freeskiing – and a master association logo. With the advent of the new mark, all elements of U.S. Ski & Snowboard are now tied together under the strength of one brand.

“With the continuous evolution of our sports, it was important for us to have a common brand that truly represented who we are as an organization and what we aim to achieve across all of our different sport programs and teams together,” said Tiger Shaw, U.S. Ski & Snowboard president and CEO. “The U.S. Ski & Snowboard brand embodies our core values and unites our entire organization, fueling a passion for our sports at every level. The single, iconic mark will propel us forward as we continue to grow our sports and strive for athletic excellence.”

Throughout the two-year rebranding project, U.S. Ski & Snowboard called on a variety of experts to provide insight. Nike Senior Strategic Advisor Jeanne Jackson led the branding task force efforts, working alongside industry leaders including United States Olympic Committee Chief Marketing Officer Lisa Baird and many others. U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes and stakeholders also provided input via large surveys and many interviews. Harrigan Design Group in Boston, I.d.e.a, a San Diego-based consulting firm, and many other firms developed various iterations before landing on the aspirational, unifying mark.

"Uniting the U.S. Ski & Snowboard brands will bring increased strength and marketability to the organization,” said Jackson. “As a mom with two kids who participated in U.S. Ski & Snowboard programs, it’s an honor to play a role in shaping a brand that represents the passion we all share for skiing and snowboarding – from our Olympians to our members and young athletes alike."

“U.S. Ski & Snowboard is a model of consistency on and off the snow, and this move to elevate and unify its brand ahead of the PyeongChang Games will only enhance their position as a leading organization in winter sport worldwide,” said Baird. “Together, as part of the Team USA family, we not only support America’s current and future elite athletes, we work to grow and strengthen the Olympic Movement in the United States – and this type of forward thinking will help us in that endeavor.”
 

The crest has a contemporary, clean and confident design, empowering all athletes to pursue personal greatness:

• Best in the World Vision: Each element of the mark embodies the most critical elements of the organization’s vision and mission, and its core values of excellence, passion, community and team.
• One Team: For the first time, all teams and athletes of U.S. Ski & Snowboard will be united under one brand and one brand mark.
• Patriotism: The mark is emblematic of a patriotic team including stars and stripes, elements of the American flag, as a symbol of national pride.
• Mountain Trails: Mountain trails are symbolic places that hold a special place in the hearts of skiers and snowboarders.
• Athletic Excellence: The three stars signify a podium - the three Olympic medals - representing the primary focus of athletes as they strive to be the Best in the World.

“We focused our efforts on bringing to life two of the critical core values of U.S. Ski & Snowboard: team and excellence,” said Ryan Berman, co-founder of i.d.e.a. “Stakeholders from all sports had a say in the creative process and we hope this is just one more reason everyone will constellate together behind the new mark. This project has been one of the more joyful contributions-to-country assignments for our team and we’re very thankful for the opportunity.”

The new crest was first introduced by U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s world-recognized athletes in February 2017 at World Championships, key World Cups and on the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix tour. The June 19 public roll out, including rebranded social media channels, engages the entire U.S. Ski & Snowboard community ahead of the organization’s pre-Olympic Partner Summit. A limited amount of branded apparel is available in conjunction with the launch and can be purchased at donations.usskiandsnowboard.org.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard is one of the most successful U.S. Olympic sports organizations, having won 38 medals, including 14 gold, in the last two Winter Games. Its athletes will be among favorites across all ski and snowboard events at the upcoming 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang.

PARK CITY, UT (June 12, 2017) — U.S. Ski & Snowboard has announced U.S. Ski Team alumnus Will Brandenburg will assume the role of western region development coach.

Brandenburg, who officially retired from the U.S. Ski Team with one final lap at the U.S. Alpine Championships at Sun Valley, Idaho in 2016, will be responsible for delivering programs and projects in the western region, and supporting national development initiatives for U.S. Ski & Snowboard.

Following an eight-year career with the U.S. Ski Team, Brandenburg relocated to Sun Valley, serving as U16 Head Coach at the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF). While at SVSEF, he was involved with the implementation of a slalom progression program, focusing on a detailed, step-by-step teaching advancement for U16 athletes.

Will Brandenburg's athletes cheer him on at the U.S. Alpine Championships at Sun Valley in 2016.

“After years of U.S. Ski Team experience at the highest level, we are thrilled to bring Will back to U.S. Ski & Snowboard as the western region coach,” said Alpine Development Director Chip Knight. “He has recently been imparting his knowledge and enthusiasm to young athletes at the local level in Sun Valley, and is now excited to have an expanded impact in his new role.”

Hailing from Ski Bluewood outside of Dayton, Washington before he began racing with Schweitzer Alpine Racing School, Brandenburg takes great pride in having grown up in the western region, and credits its strong community and collaboration between clubs to his success at the elite level. He hopes to bring his vast knowledge and passion for the sport to the new role, and looks forward to recreating this strong sense of community and collaboration.

“This is an opportunity to continue my evolution as a coach and point my passion in a direction that will elevate athletic development across the region,” noted Brandenburg.

Brandenburg’s official start date is August 1, 2017.

QUOTES

Chip Knight, Alpine Development Director
After years of U.S. Ski Team experience at the highest level, we are thrilled to bring Will back to U.S. Ski & Snowboard as the western region coach. He has recently been imparting his knowledge and enthusiasm to young athletes at the local level in Sun Valley, and is now excited to have an expanded impact in his new role. As Will tells it himself, he is a product of the western region, and he believes that athletes benefit most from collaborative exposure to the best training environments. I look forward to seeing him take the region forward in the years ahead!

Will Brandenburg
I grew up ski racing in a time when there was a strong and united western region. A big reason why I was able to pursue my dreams in this sport was because of excellent regional programming and strong collaboration between the clubs. Just like athletes, clubs must work together and push each other to become greater. At one point in time, the western region was really good at cultivating this sense of community and it's now my goal to regain the unity that makes our clubs and this region so great. I have so much respect for the people that have held this position before me and feel honored to be the next person in line to carry this torch. I will put everything I have into this and see what comes. I try to live my life everyday with honesty and passion. This is an opportunity to continue my evolution as a coach and point my passion in a direction that will elevate athletic development across the region.

Jackie Wiles (Aurora, OR) has an impressive resume. In the 2016-17 season alone, she nailed the top 10 in two FIS World Cups, including standing on the podium in the Altenmarkt-Zauchensee downhill. Now, the Olympian is hosting her first ski camp, the Jackie Wiles White Pass Summer Race Camp—three days of skills and drills and three days of gate training—at Timberline on Mt. Hood from July 7-13.

Want to attend her camp and learn to ski like Jackie? The camp is offering one scholarship for a young racer.

“I understand what it takes to keep skiing competitively – time, perseverance, physical fitness and a financial commitment that can sometimes be difficult,” said Wiles. “This year at my camp, I wanted to help a kid who may not be able to attend because of financial constraints.”

Supported by Directors Mortgage, the camp is an opportunity for young ski racers to gain experience and knowledge both on and off the mountain. It will mostly be focused on skills, drills and gates, but there will be off-snow time where Wiles will focus on helping kids learn to bounce back from bad races, fight for their dreams and learn what it’s like to be a competitive athlete on a global stage.

To apply for the Directors Mortgage scholarship, visit www.directorsmortgage.net/jackiewiles.

For more information on the Jackie Wiles 2017 White Pass Summer Ski Camp, visit jacquelinewiles.com/2017skicamp.html.

We may still have 172 days until the World Cup returns to Killington, and it may be a women’s World Cup, but Redneck Racing’s Robby Kelley and Tucker Marshall—both born and raised in Vermont—wanted to train on the esteemed track. On June 4, Kelley and Marshall hiked up a bundle of gates and set a gnarly slalom on Killington’s Superstar trail through the bumps and dirt.