In an effort to give back to the community that has supported it for over 100 years while it faces challenges brought by the COVID-19, the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club is doing more than just staying in motion; it’s asking athletes to move for a cause.

Community Strong Challenge | #CommunityStrongSSWSC

While practicing the state-wide ‘stay at home order’ issued by Governor Polis, SSWSC athletes will plan to be active to raise funds while adhering to all social distancing measures, doing their part to help raise money for the Yampa Valley COVID-19 Response Fund, set up by the Yampa Valley Community Foundation. (For more information about the Yampa Valley COVID-19 Response Fund, please visit YVCF.org/Covid19 .) Teaming together, while still physically far apart, athletes are participating in SSWSC’s 3-day “Community Strong” Virtual Challenge, in which the Club has the goal to ride, run, ski, hike, or snowshoe a combination of 2,000 miles. Athletes will exercise alone, and use virtual apps to track and log their progress toward the overall club goal.

Athletes are looking for financial pledges toward their miles, 100% of which goes to the COVID-19 Community Response Fund, which currently has a $15,000 match and is 16% of the way towards its goal. Mileage pledges are laid out so that a donor chooses the amount they will contribute per mile that the club achieves in total, with a cap set by the individual.  One-time amounts can also be donated. All donations can be made at https://go.rallyup.com/communitystrong, where the club will post daily blog updates about how many miles they have completed.

“Athletes are in a regeneration phase of training right now, and are heavily focused on what their bodies need. This is a fun way to keep athletes moving and focused on those individual goals, while also focusing on the needs of the community,” said SSWSC Strength and Conditioning director Sady Tobin, who came up with the challenge. “We’re excited to be able to give back, while doing something that is also imperative for athletes to maintain their fitness.”

The Community Strong Challenge will start at 6am on Friday, April 17th and end at midnight on Sunday, April 19th. 
To set up a matching donation, contact SSWSC Foundation Director of Development Ellen Campbell at [email protected]

Strong, Balanced, and Connected |  #staystrongsswsc

In addition to the three day Community Strong Challenge, SSWSC is entering the second week of its “Strong, Balanced, and Connected” online courses. Athletes are encouraged to maintain their health while in quarantine, incentivized by SSWSC covering the costs for athletes U14 and older to participate in virtual fitness and yoga classes, offered by Steamboat Fitness and Out Here Yoga. Courses are designed specifically for athletes by the dedicated professionals of both organizations, and the virtual platform of Zoom allows Steamboat Fitness/Out Here Yoga instructors to interact and offer specific tips to participating athletes. In turn, athletes are also able to see each other if they wish, and feel connected to their friends. Steamboat Fitness offers courses for athletes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 4pm and Out Here Yoga offers classes on Thursdays at 6pm. Interested SSWSC athletes should contact their coaches.

Virtual Trainings | Social Media Challenges

Social Media has been an asset for SSWSC athletes looking to stay in shape, and a creative outlet on which to share their individual workout plans. Many of SSWSC’s disciplines have created “Social Media Challenges” that encourage athletes to create the best of a fitness routine: For Nordic Combined athletes last week (insta: @nc_steamboat), the challenge was to show the best “balance” routine, while for Alpine U14 athletes this week (insta: @sswscu14), the social media challenge was to create the best obstacle course. Athletes created videos showing their unique talents and fitness activities that support their on snow pursuits; from unicycles to gymnastics or cardio, demonstrating the week’s challenge. 

Thanks to the internet, SSWSC coaches are also able to continue hosting weekly trainings, athlete evaluations, and even end of the season parties on platforms such as Zoom. The Club athletes, in respect of social distancing and the Shelter in Place orders, may be alone, but they are most certainly still a team, and an active team at that.

To date, the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club offers youth development programming to approximately 1,000 athletes each year and claims 95 Olympians and 165 Olympic Appearances, more than any other town in North America. Together, they remain strong, balanced, and connected:  Community Strong.