November. 2, 2009 (New York, NY) – The stars shined gold, silver and bronze in New York on Thursday (Oct. 29) as the New York Ski and Snowboard Ball brought champions and fans together for a gala evening to support Vancouver Bound U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding athletes. The biggest single fundraising event of any Winter Olympic sport played to a sold-out crowd of over 500 at Gotham Hall in Herald Square with more than a dozen top athletes and Olympic champions at the 42nd annual gala.

All night long, fans and athletes mingled and talked shop about the upcoming season. Bode Miller – just off the airplane from an on-snow training camp in Austria and Switzerland – signed autographs for kids and held court with fans. Adaptive skier Ralph Green, a Brooklyn native, told tales at his table, while World Championship moguls medalist Michelle Roark and downhiller Marco Sullivan helped pitch auction items.

Some of the greatest champions in the history of the U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding packed the stage in an emotional moment early in the evening. Olympic champions Tommy Moe (1994 gold, silver), Donna Weinbrecht (1992 gold) and Seth Wescott (2006 gold) were flanked on stage by Bode Miller (2002 double silver) and Billy Kidd (1964 silver). It was a look back in history as Moe and Weinbrecht recounted the lifetime commitment it took from their friends and family to make their golden moment a reality.

With such a gold mine of athletic success in the room, it was an evening that left a lasting impression on athletes, young and old.

“Every time I think about what it will feel like to step out onto an Olympic course I get goose bumps,” said cross country skier Liz Stephen. “The support that I felt and saw at the New York Ball gave them to me, too. What is cool for me to see is how much support we have from fans, parents, friends and communities around the country.

“As skiers, we compete, for the most part, individually. But without a team to support every step we take, we would not even begin to be capable of achieving what we do.”

Recounting the story of his own historic silver in 1964 (with teammate Jimmie Heuga winning bronze), Kidd also talked about the importance of Team. “We weren’t the favorites,” said Kidd, who garnered one of the loudest rounds of applause of the evening. “We were just two young kids who did the unexpected. If either one of us had won a medal, you could say it was luck. But for the two of us to win together, it was a Team.”

The gala evening kicked off with an on-stage introduction of a dozen Vancouver Bound athletes. Nordic combined World Champion Billy Demong talked about how sport science is making a difference for athletes. Wescott, who is seeking to defend his snowboardcross gold, told the crowd about the depth of the team with 8-10 athletes vying for just four spots. Miller tipped off the fans that he hopes to start in the Audi FIS World Cup in Levi, Finland in two weeks but expected to be fully ready to go for the Audi Birds of Prey in Beaver Creek in early November.

One of the most active live auctions in recent years saw some incredible opportunities get grabbed up for the cause. One of the highlights was a chance to train with the men’s alpine team next August in New Zealand. One lucky bidder also won an experience to drive an Audi R8 at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, plus a wine weekend courtesy of Parallel Wines. One fan paid top dollar for an opportunity to ski with Roark at Winter Park Resort, plus some of her exclusive line of Phi-nomenal perfume (yes, she’s also a chemical engineer). And Billy Kidd helped sell a fabulous week at Steamboat’s new One Steamboat Place – of course, with a day skiing with the Olympic silver medalist and World Champion.

Kidd is a regular attendee at the Team’s annual gala. In fact, he was among a group of athletes including Heuga, the late Spider Sabich, Suzie Chaffee and more who attended the very first New York Ball in October, 1967 at New York’s famous Tavern on the Green.

The New York Ski and Snowboard Ball has a long legacy of raising money to support U.S. athletes. The first event in 1967 was a collaborative effort between Coach Bob Beattie and early U.S. Ski Team supporters in New York including J. Negley Cook and Ralph “Doc” DesRoches who led pioneering efforts to help raise money to support the fledgling Team. Over the years a host of supporters have headed efforts to make the New York Ski and Snowboard Ball the biggest fundraiser in Olympic sport. This year’s efforts were headed up by Team trustees Steve Hankin of Sentient Jet and Chris Heinz of Rosemont Capital.

“As a Jersey Girl, I have a special place in my heart for the New York Ball,” said Olympic champion Donna Weinbrecht. “It truly is a wonderful evening for me – seeing friends, fellow athletes and meeting equally avid lovers of our sport, who have supported athletes like me
over the years and who continue to help ensure the future of skiing and snowboarding in our country.”

“New York has such a big population of skiers and snowboarders that there’s great excitement in the group of people that are here,” said Wescott, who also attended the Team’s New England event a month earlier. “It’s especially true in the Olympic year because they really do feel like their support goes to help that team and the athletes.”

“The combination of New Yorkers’ natural enthusiasm and the excitement for the upcoming Olympics created this atmosphere that was just incredible,” said U.S. Ski Team downhiller Stacey Cook from Mammoth Mountain. “Gotham Hall was so cool! The committee really did an amazing job organizing this year’s New York Ball and I am so proud to have been a part of it and to have helped rally such a great crowd to support us on our run up to Vancouver! I am so fired up for the season now!”

A common takeaway for the athletes was the passion of the crowd which came to a fevered pitch with the traditional Flying Ace All Stars trampoline show. Headlining the 15-minute action-packed show was none other than World Champion Ryan St. Onge. The evening wrapped with Unforgettable Fire, a U2 tribute band.

“The New York Ball is an amazing event,” said Stephen. “There are 500 plus people who attend – all who have gathered just to support us, as athletes of the US Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding.”

Fans who couldn’t make the sold out New York event can show their support for Vancouver Bound athletes by joining the U.S. Ski Team Fan Club here.

Next up: the Chicago Ski and Snowboard Ball on Friday, Nov. 13.

Next up: the Chicago Ski and Snowboard Ball on Friday, Nov. 13.