SSWSC is a non-profit 501(C) 3 organization providing sports and youth development programming for over 1,300 athletes every year. Our vision is to produce champions on and off the mountain. Our goal is to be the best in the country at developing the “complete” athlete – coaching every individual to achieve their highest level of human and athletic performance – resulting in healthy, contributing members of our community as well as skilled and passionate athletes.

We believe that sports add character, confidence, and direction into a child’s life. Additionally, sports bring opportunities to excel, dream, and work toward the future. The overall impact for children goes well beyond the athletic results and extends into their personal growth and development. It’s no wonder that the kids of SSWSC have gone on to become Olympians, NCAA champions, collegiate scholars, CEOs, and leaders in their own right.

Athletic training is offered in alpine, cross country, freestyle, freeskiing, nordic combined, ski jumping, freestyle moguls, and snowboarding, as well as strength and conditioning, cycling, and skateboarding.

Serving tens of thousands of kids for more than a century, the club is one of the oldest and most successful winter sports clubs in North America. SSWSC has trained 100 Olympians, with 180 Winter Olympic appearances in 21 Winter Games representing 12 countries. These Olympians have brought home 18 medals! Currently, there are four Olympians on staff. We have the best coaches in the nation right here in Steamboat!

In 2023, U.S. Ski & Snowboard honored SSWSC with 2023 U.S. Ski & Snowboard Club of the Year, Alpine Club of the Year, and Freestyle Club of the Year. This is the fifth time SSWSC has been honored with Club of the Year, more than any other club in the United States.

History of the Club

Please Note that all photos are courtesy of the Tread of Pioneers Museum in Steamboat Springs, CO
For more information about the history of Steamboat Springs Colorado, visit www.treadofpioneers.org.

The Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club was founded more than a century ago in 1914 as a committee for the Steamboat Springs’ yearly Winter Carnival. SSWSC continues to be one of the oldest winter sports clubs in the U.S. With the joining of the Steamboat Springs Ski Club (an all-male club) and the S.K.I. Club (an all-female club) into SSWSC in 1927, the club became more unified and at the time represented the second largest club in the U.S. Western Division. In 1932, the club celebrated its first Olympic success by sending a member to compete in the Olympics, and in 1949 the club became incorporated.

Forty-three years after its founding, SSWSC was designated as an educational non-profit organization in 1957 and continues to function as such today. Created by historical pioneers in the ski industry and supported by Steamboat’s tight-knit community, SSWSC is set apart from any other club with its high standards of Olympic, personal and professional accomplishments. The SSWSC has served tens of thousands of kids over the years, producing 100 Olympic athletes who have made 180 Olympic appearances in 21 Winter Games representing 12 countries, and have brought home 18 Olympic medals: 6 gold, 9 silver, and 4 bronze. In the past five Olympics alone the club sent a combined 79 athletes; 13 to Beijing, 15 to Pyeongchang, 14 to Sochi, 17 to Vancouver and 20 to Torino. SSWSC truly has set a precedent of Olympic success that has become part of the great legacy of this club. No other club in North America has produced more Winter Olympians; nationally SSWSC has produced the most Olympians per capita in the U.S.

View a complete list of SSWSC Olympic athletes:
SSWSC Olympians