Happy New Year! We have a great word of the week to ring in the new year and that word is passion. For most of us, if not all of us, passion is the reason our athletes are participating with the SSWSC. “Passion” was chosen by 15-year-old SSWSC Nordic Combined and Ski Jumping U16 National Champion, Annika Belshaw. For Annika and all of our athletes, finding your passion is personal, and is backed by play, and fun. Her National Champion title resulted from hard work, which couldn’t result without love of the sport, or passion. Annika said “Do what you love. Want to win. Keep going no matter what.”

A great example of an SSWSC club member who carried passion into their life outside of sports, is former athlete Kyle Ewing. Kyle said that his passion for life, work and success was instilled in him by SSWSC Freestyle Director Bobby Aldighieri during his time on the team. Today, Kyle has carried that passion forward into his successful founding of TerraSlate Waterproof Paper, which now makes paper for all branches of the US Military and Coast Guard as well as many biotech firms, schools, and even menus for restaurants in town.

Remember to carry passion with you as you strive for your goals this season. It won’t always be easy, but passion can help you find your way to the top.