May 14, 2009 (Park City, Utah) – Clubs across the nation work year round to groom athletes for success in the competitive skiing and snowboarding arena. The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association is recognizing five of its more than 400 local clubs nationwide for superior dedication to the progression of the sports in 2009.

Stratton Mountain School, the Waterville Valley Black and Blue Trail Smashers, the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, the Eau Claire Flying Eagle and the Squaw Valley Ski Team, will receive award recognition during the USSA’s awards dinner May 15 in Park City during USSA Congress 2009. One of the clubs will receive honors as overall USSA Club of the Year.

Stratton Mountain School Honored for Snowboarding
The 2009 Snowboarding Club of the Year, Stratton Mountain School opened its doors in 1972 and has since produced over 29 Olympians and many national team athletes. SMS is renowned for the success of athletes that leave its snowboarding program, including World Cup SBX champion Lindsey Jacobellis, Ellery Hollingsworth and Louie Vito.

Program Director Mike Mallon, who is also the 2009 Westhaven Award winner is credited with producing a team of coaches and staff, most of whom were professional snowboarders themselves, that have a passion and commitment to snowboarding that pushes SMS athletes ahead of the pack. Currently SMS has 85 athletes competing in both regional and elite level events.

Waterville Valley Named Freestyle Club of the Year
One the oldest ski clubs in the country, the Waterville Valley Black and Blue Trail Smashers was named 2009 Freestyle Club of the Year for an unsurpassed commitment to freestyle skiing from grooming youth to producing some of the nation’s top athletes. In 2009 Waterville Valley hosted and qualified 36 athletes for the Junior Olympics. They also had 14 athletes qualify for U.S. Championships and two athletes made the 2009 World Championships halfpipe team.

Under the longtime leadership of Nick Preston, the Waterville Valley Black and Blue Trail Smashers has produced more than 50 national team athletes in freestyle, six World Championship titlists, one Olympic gold medalist, one World Cup overall titlist and many World Cup and U.S. Championship winners.

2009 Alpine Club of the Year Award Squaw Valley Ski Team
The Squaw Valley Ski Team was honored as Alpine Club of the Year after an exceptional season as well as ongoing excellence. Squaw Valley athletes from the J5 level to the U.S. Ski Team men’s development squad had an outstanding season, a result of the emphasis placed on comprehensive skill development at youth ages. The club has an outstanding development system with hundreds of young skiers in its learn to race program.

Mark Sullivan leads a staff team that includes a host of past U.S. Ski Team athletes including World Cup champion Tamara McKinney, former World Cup star Greg Jones and former U.S. Ski Team coach Konrad Rickenbach.

Sun Valley Recognized for XC Work
The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, under the leadership of Rick Kapala, received the 2009 Cross Country Club of the Year Award. With a broad pipeline that cultivates athletes from an introduction to the sport of cross country, all the way to a focus on Olympic development, Sun Valley exhibits a high level of dedication to sport that engages hundreds of athletes with cross country.

In the 2009 season Sun Valley SEF’s athletes competed around the globe in World Championships, World U23 championships, and World Junior Championships. Additionally, six athletes from the club qualified for World Cup competitions.  

Eau Claire Flying Eagle Named Jumping/Nordic Combined Club of the Year
Access to three new jumps, a hand tow to the top of the jumps, a snowcat groomer, and plans to put plastic in the jumps for summer training are just a few of the recent renovations which have singled out Eau Claire Flying Eagle as worthy of receiving the 2009 Jumping/Nordic Combined Club of the Year Award.

In 2009, the small club, which has five volunteer coaches, no paid staff, and great community support, held an annual tournament that drew over 100 participants. The club has also sent athletes to Junior World Championships and produced Junior Olympic champions.

Eau Claire Flying Eagle is a club committed to the growth of ski jumping through their renovations and its learn to ski and learn to fly programs, which have helped in developing multiple Junior Olympic Champions.

The clubs will be honored on the evening of May 15 in Park City at USSA’s awards dinner.