August 7, 2008 (Park City, Utah) – A group of 15 U.S. Ski and Snowboard athletes took a tour of the soon-to-be completed Center of Excellence in July as they spent a week together in Park City, Utah. Amazed by the structure’s future capabilities and features designed to advance them in their careers, several athletes talked to the USSA about their excitement for the Center of Excellence.

“This is our first time to see it. To see all the space for lifting weights and playing games gets us excited to be here,” said Olympian Marco Sullivan (Squaw Valley, CA). “It makes me want to be a rookie again. It can only mean good things to train our athletes.”

President and CEO of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association Bill Marolt guided the athletes through the 85,000 sq ft building. “The professionalism to have everything under one room is incredible – the administration, sport science and even the soccer fields outside,” said Olympian Daron Rahlves (Sugar Bowl, CA) “This will be all the best stuff to allow the athletes to get the best out of training.”

Upon its completion in March 2009, the athletes will be able to train in a state-of-the art facility that includes an aerials and snowboard ramps and tramps area, a gymnasium, recovery room, cardio center, nutrition center, equipment and research areas and sports medicine facilities.

“It’s actually pretty overwhelming to see the magnitude of it. This is the best gym you could ever dream up,” said four-time X Games gold medalist Nate Holland (Squaw Valley, CA). “This place looks like it will be a blast – the ramps and tramps will let you goof off but still be training.”

After getting a preview of their training center, the athletes, which included Olympic gold medalist Seth Wescott (Sugarloaf, ME), Olympic silver medalist Shannon Bahrke (Tahoe City, CA), U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix overall champion Louie Vito (Columbus, OH) and Olympian Steven Nyman (Provo, UT) toured the rest of the building including the entryway, which will showcase athlete achievements when it is complete.

“Being a part of the history in the entryway is very special. I would love to have replicas of my medals in here,” Wescott said.

After their tour, athletes were able to sit down to lunch with some of the construction workers from the Jacobsen Construction team who are working on the building before heading out to finish their week in Park City.