October 15, 2012 – Dear Editorial Staff, I was sent a link to your article posted on skitrax.com regarding the supplement Hero. Your reporting was fair and even-handed, and I appreciate you pointing out the fact that the company’s website speaks prominently about the product not being intended for use by competitive athletes. – read article HERE.

Because the company makes only homeopathic products that are diluted many thousands of times and are not intended for use by competitive athletes, we never thought that this would be a concern for the competitive athletic community, but it seems that we may have been wrong.

The image of US Skiing and the US Ski Team is important to me. They have worked very hard to establish a reputation as an organization promoting clean competition and with zero tolerance for the use of banned substances.  I am not currently a USSA member and have not coached for a couple of years, but given my continued involvement and visibility in the nordic community, I understand people’s concern regarding my involvement with Hero.

After much consideration, last week, I decided to dissolve any and all relationship between myself and Hero, effective immediately.

I’m saddened to see people posting comments about the integrity of skiers from Idaho. This company was created after I had retired from coaching and there is no reason for those athletes to have their hard work and commitment called in to question. They are committed, ethical athletes and they do not deserve to have that status challenged simply because they line in the same state as I do.

The error in judgment was mine and mine alone.

Thank you for your consideration.

Travis Jones