Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation ramps up season at Lake Tahoe with new programs

The Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation at Lake Tahoe has opened registration for the 2012 – 2013 competitive and development ski and snowboard programs. With a variety of options from the One-Day Program to the Full-Time Competitive Program, the Foundation has something for all ages and levels of skiers and riders. Registration packets are available online and at the HSSF building.

“The foundation continues to strengthen its relationship with Heavenly and work with the community to provide skiing and snowboarding options to the local youth,” said HSSF president Jim Plake. “This year we’ve created development programs that bridge the gap between the Heavenly Ski and Ride School programs and the Foundation’s intense competitive programs. The hope is that we’ll attract more young skiers and snowboarders and provide them more program options.”

The new Foundation development programs run December 1 through March 31, 2013. The One-Day Program is open to skiers and snowboarders, age four and up and includes 18 full days for $950. Our Part-Time developmental program is designed for skiers and riders who want to get a lot of days on the mountain. These programs are for skiers and riders age seven and up and include 40 full days for $1,500. For skiers age seven to 18 that want to race but aren’t quite ready for USSA join our Tahoe League development race team. This team practices Saturday, Sunday and holidays and includes 44 full days for $1,850. There are other options available through the Heavenly Ski and Ride School.

The Foundation is proud to be home to some of the area’s best competitive athletes. Our competitive teams require an extreme amount of commitment from both athletes and parents. With a longer season, mid-November through as late as mid-May, these programs offer a lot more time on the mountain with professional coaches and more participation in competitions. Dryland and gymnastics training, night training, video analysis, pro clinics and more advanced competition training are some of the bonuses. With all programs the emphasis is placed on skiing and boarding preparation and equipment care, physical and mental competition techniques, healthy activity and good eating habits, while promoting the values of teamwork and good sportsmanship. We offer competitive programs in alpine racing, freestyle, freeride and snowboarding; costs range from $1,900 to $3,500 and scholarships are available.

The dedication seen from the coaching staff makes the Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation one of the best in Tahoe. Last year head freestyle coach Jere Crawford was named “Coach of the Year” by the United States Ski & Snowboard Association. He will return to the Foundation Freestyle Team for his 19th season. He was an amateur and pro mogul skier; is the original Top Gun on Gunbarrel; designed and built courses for Nationals, Junior Nationals, pro events, and countless regional events; and is a Level 2 aerial coach. Assistant coach Travis Woodcock is a former member of the HSSF Freestyle Team. He has competed in many skiing disciplines including moguls, racing, aerials, slopestyle, halfpipe, big mountain and even acro; he was a National Combined Freestyle Champion; and was the first person to do eight twisters.

This year the Foundation Alpine Team welcomes back Noel Dufty as the U16 head coach. Dufty begins his 21st season at the Foundation. He has over 30 years of professional ski coaching and is a former professional ski racer; has coached in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Italy and the USA; and has an International Level 4 certification. He coached Heavenly’s National Team and Olympic Team member Jonna Mendes; US Team Member Alicia Howard; and World Championship Team and National Team member Wisi Betschart. We are excited to welcome Kyle Kracht and Christine “Corky” Woodcock to our alpine coaching staff; both are former HSSF Alpine Team racers. Woodcock will return for her second season with the Foundation as the new U14 coach, she’s been an instructor at Heavenly for the past three years. Kracht will begin his second season as the alpine coordinator. He raced for the Rocky Mountain College race team and was named the “All American Racer” in 2006.

The Snowboard Team welcomes Dan Rich as the new Snowboard Team head coach. Rich begins his second year coaching for the Foundation, and tenth as a snowboard coach. He’s certified AASI Level III and is excited to bring his coaching expertise to our competitive team. The Foundation also welcomes back Scott Amoroso for his second season. For complete bios visit our website.

Scholarships are available to those who qualify and applications must be postmarked by
October 25, 2012. Please visit www.heavenlyfoundationteam.org for applications and qualification information. The Heavenly Foundation’s Scholarship Committee is an independent group of community leaders who evaluate each application and award financial assistance based on family income, the athletes’ written essay, and scholastic standing. The funding for the program comes solely from community contributions and our various fundraising events such as our Annual Ski Swap, The Grapes & Gates Wine Tasting and our Kinder Kup Race Series. The committee was able to award over $8,000 in scholarships to 20 athletes for the 2011-12 season. Over the past five years the Foundation has awarded over $65K in scholarships.

About the Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation
The Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to facilitating and leading the local community in the development of programs to encourage youth to participate in winter sports, alpine skiing and snowboarding. The HSSF operates independently on donations and fundraisers. In addition to providing a safe skiing and riding experience to those within the foundation, outreach and community involvement also play a big part of the base of the Foundation. Throughout the winter season the HSSF provides scholarships to families whose children would not be able to participate in the race program; hosts a non-race Blue Angels program through the middle school; works with the SOS (Snowsports Outreach Society); works with the Boys and Girls Club of South Lake Tahoe; and organizes multiple events, like the Kinder Kup series, and fundraisers including the annual spring wine gala, Grapes and Gates, at Edgewood. For more information on the Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation visit www.heavenlyfoundationteam.org.

— Aimi Xistra-Rich is the executive director of the Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation. She can be reached at aimix@heavenlyfoundationteam.org or call the administrative offices at (530) 541- 7354.

Photo: Head freestyle coach Jere Crawford and some members of the Foundation Freestyle Team. From left to right: Mia Idzorek, Gabbi Fisher, Taryn Baker, Coach, Shanti Payne and David Glover.