Steamboat Springs, CO (December 8, 2020): The Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club (SSWSC) is pleased to announce acceptance into the U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s High Performance Center Partnership Program, open to Gold and Silver level clubs across the U.S.

The program, developed in 2017, allows ski and snowboard clubs and their athletes to connect with training facilities across the country, with consistent, structured programming supplemented by U.S. Ski & Snowboarding to complement each club’s training. The goal: to create a developmental pathway for aspiring athletes who hope to head to the national team level.

“This unique partnership benefits all of our athletes and enhances our training programs,” said Sady Tobin, Director of Strength and Conditioning for the SSWSC. “It gives us structured training, coaches education, and access to recent research and trends in order to create the best training environment from a youth level continued to our highly competitive programs.”

The SSWSC’s DeHaven Strength and Conditioning Center has made several upgrades in recent years, as have the programs. Formerly ‘support’ programming for the on snow disciplines, the SSWSC now hosts Strength and Conditioning programs throughout the summer as well as the winter. The building itself has also seen improvements, from new equipment and layouts to the recent exterior remodel that included the expansion of an outdoor training pad and addition of garage doors to allow for the facility to be more functional during COVID-19 restrictions.

“The SSWSC is committed to providing the highest level of support to our athletes of all ages,” said Dave Stewart. “Success at the highest level requires constant self-evaluation and improvement, and the U.S. Ski & Snowboard High Performance Club Partnership Program represents an opportunity for our club to connect more closely with the knowledge and experience of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard sport performance staff and coaches. The program is also intended to build a collaborative learning community between clubs, and we look forward to contributing to our national high performance system by sharing our experience.”

In addition to the implementation of U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s training systems within the SSWSC’s programs, the partnership allows elite athletes to access associated facilities across the US. The extended unity of the program was developed with the goals of creating a cohesive community, ample learning opportunities between clubs and partners, and enhanced leadership for training and education throughout the Gold and Silver clubs.

“We couldn’t be happier that SSWSC is joining the High Performance Center program,” said Calin Butterfield, U.S. Ski & Snowboard High Performance Coordinator.  ”Their team of coaches and staff bring vast experience, knowledge, and capabilities working with athletes across the developmental spectrum, and in multiple sports and disciplines. This partnership with them, as with all elite HPC clubs, is critical in developing the future of our infrastructure and young athletes. We are looking forward to what they can bring to the program as well as helping them to strengthen the U.S. talent and athletic development pathway.”

Approximately 10 percent of U.S. Ski & Snowboard clubs are ranked with Gold Club Certification, and SSWSC will be the 12th club to join the High Performance Center Partnership Program. At current, the SSWSC trains over 1,000 athletes each year, and lays claim to 95 Steamboat Olympians who combined have 165 Olympic appearances, more than any other town in North America.