May 20, 2008 (Park City, Utah) – The 2008 USSA Awards dinner, part of the annual USSA Congress, was held on Friday, May 16, honouring athletes, coaches, and clubs. Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) received the Cross Country Athlete of Year award but was getting married that day to Jeff Ellis in Anchorage and could not attend the ceremonies – read more on Randall’s award here. Erik Flora who was named USSA Development Coach of the Year was also at the Randall-Ellis wedding and was unable to attend to accept this award or the APU Nordic Ski Center’s award as the Cross Country Club of the Year, which Flora runs – read more on Flora and APU Nordic here.

Bill Demong (Vermontville, NY) was recognized as Nordic Combined Athlete of the Year, while Park City Nordic Ski Club, a leader in national Nordic sport development, was named the USSA Jumping/Nordic Combined Club of the Year – read more on the club here – and Matt Whitcomb was named Cross Country International Coach of Year.

The annual USSA Congress from May 13-18, which includes meetings of sport committees, sub-committees, as well as the USSA Board of Directors, featured an inaugural USSA club leadership conference, Excellence 2008: An Elite Performance Clinic for USSA Clubs, on Tuesday (May 13) and Wednesday (May 14). The conference included a panel discussion with several club and resort leaders who talked about what they’ve learned over the years and the issues they’ve faced, including presentations from the sport science division on what happens when one travels, how to prepare for travel, strength training etc. The conference was a big success with about 100 attendees and is on the agenda for next year.