Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club Awarded U.S. Ski & Snowboard
“Jumping/Nordic Combined Club of the Year”
Top Honors: Jumping/Nordic Combined Club of the Year, Domestic Coach of the Year

Steamboat Springs, CO (May 22, 2019): Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club (SSWSC) is proud to announce that it has been awarded the U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s 2018-2019 “Jumping/Nordic Combined Club of the Year” Award. In addition to the prestigious accolade for one of the many programs hosted by the SSWSC, U16/U18 Head Coach Karl Denney was honored as “Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined Domestic Coach of the Year” at the U.S. Ski & Snowboard awards ceremonies last Thursday evening.

This is the third year in the row the program was honored as Jumping/Nordic Combined Club of the Year, and the first SSWSC coach recognized as Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined Domestic Coach of the Year in ten years.
Changes to the training programs this year that caught the attention of U.S. Ski & Snowboard officials included the program’s growth to record levels under the leadership of Olympian and Program Director, Todd Wilson, as the largest Jumping and Nordic Combined Programming in North America. With several pushes throughout the season to offer free coaching to youth that otherwise would never have the opportunity to experience the sport, including hosting a free Wednesday Night Jump series and providing coaching available during the city of Steamboat’s “free Sunday ski days” at Howelsen Hill, the program was able to increase interest.  The 2018-19 season also leveled the gender balance, with a notable push for programming aimed at the community’s girls, culminating with the club playing host to a successful men’s and women’s FIS Nordic Combined Continental Cup in December- the first women’s Continental Cup event ever held in the USA. Additionally, the athletes brought attention to the first-class coaching with their numerous successes: Steamboat athletes took titles this season in U20 Ski Jumping, U16 men’s and women’s Nordic combined, men’s and women’s team sprint at U.S. Championships, and seven athletes qualified for Junior World Championships.

“Our coaches have been working hard to make the programing at the SSWSC the best in the nation,” said Wilson. “Every chance we had to showcase our sport was taken this season, which gave our athletes numerous opportunities to finesse their skills and hone in on what their coaches have taught them. We were incredibly proud to have the increased interest in our sport, and to be able to nurture that interest and further develop our programming. It is an honor to have those efforts recognized.”

Head U16/U18 Coach Karl Denney wrapped up his fifth winter coaching for the SSWSC, and this season, he made specific efforts that earned the Coach of the Year award due to his detailed tracking and logging of athlete progress. These logs allowed Denney and other Jumping/Nordic Combined coaches to tailor their training efforts to the specific needs of each athlete, helping to advance them to national teams and competition successes.

“The importance of tracking performance and goal setting, and then following through regardless of failure or setbacks, is something that the kids will be able to use in multiple aspects of their lives, helping them to become well-rounded individuals,” Denney said.

The energy and knowledge Denney brought to the season spread to his athletes as they traveled across the country and through Europe, keeping Steamboat on the map in the sport. Working with the athletes as they advanced, Denney showed deep passion and care for the individuals, helping him to become one of the top coaches in his sport.
“We are honored to receive these accolades, and to have our staff and athletes recognized for their hard work and dedication to the sport,” said Sarah Floyd, Executive Director.

To date, the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club offers youth development programming to approximately 1,000 athletes each year and claims 95 Olympians and 165 Olympic Appearances, more than any other town in North America.

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