USSA

New National Team Members Head to Rookie Camp

by
USSA
2015-06-17 08:40
 

PARK CITY, UT (June 17, 2015) – New members of the U.S. Ski Team, U.S. Freeskiing and U.S. Snowboarding will be in Park City at the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association’s (USSA) Center of Excellence this week for the teams’ annual Rookie Camp.

Rookie Camp began in 2007 as a means of educating new national team athletes about the opportunities they had through the USSA as well as their responsibilities as role models and representatives of the team. This year’s group of 35 athletes will participate in classroom sessions focusing on topics such as fundraising and career education, tackle the ropes course at the National Ability Center and complete an avalanche awareness session.

“All of these athletes have worked extremely hard to earn their spot on our national teams,” said USSA’s executive vice president, athletics Luke Bodensteiner. “The USSA’s programs, including athletic benefits and education opportunities, are especially helpful for the rookie team members as they begin to work towards new athletic achievements.”

Another highlight of this year’s rookie camp is the Military Mentorship Program (MMP). Sponsored by PenFed, the MMP brings veterans, active-duty service members and elite athletes together to create meaningful experiences, build relationships and share their personal stories of teamwork, perseverance and reaching the limits of their potential. Major Jesse Stewart, a U.S. Army Wounded Warrior, will do a session with this year’s rookies along with former athlete and Army veteran Rob Powers.

“The Military Mentorship Program is one of the most meaningful sessions at Rookie Camp,” said Bodensteiner. “Both elite athletes and military members are representatives of the USA abroad and, through this program, they're able to learn and grow together.”

Ranging in age from 14-years-old to 34-years-old, this year’s rookies have already racked up an impressive roster of results, including six Junior Worlds medals, one World Championship medal and a U.S. national title. They will spend the next three years competing and training with their sights set on the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea.

“These athletes are some of the best in America, and they all have the opportunity to be best in the world,” said Bodensteiner. “Their dedication and enthusiasm points to a very bright future for our teams.”

 

HIGHLIGHTS

  • The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association will welcome 35 new national team members to the Center of Excellence in Park City this week for the annual Rookie Camp.
  • This year’s rookies have already won six Junior Worlds medals, one World Championship medal and a U.S. national title.
  • Rookie Camp began in 2007 as a means of educating new national team athletes about the opportunities they had through the USSA as well as their responsibilities as role models and representatives of the team.
  • The 2015 program includes a Military Mentorship Program session with Major Jesse Stewart, a U.S. Army Wounded Warrior, and former team athlete and Army veteran Rob Powers.

 

QUOTES

Luke Bodensteiner, Executive Vice President, Athletics, U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association
All of these athletes have worked extremely hard to earn their spot on our national teams. The USSA’s programs, including athletic benefits and educational opportunities, are especially helpful for the rookie team members as they begin to work towards new athletic achievements. These athletes are some of the best in America, and they all have the opportunity to be best in the world. Their dedication and enthusiasm points to a very bright future for our teams.

The Military Mentorship Program is one of the most meaningful sessions at Rookie Camp. Both elite athletes and military members are representatives of the USA abroad and, through this program, they're able to learn and grow together.

 

2015-16 Rookies

U.S. Alpine Ski Team
Griffin Brown (North Fayston, VT; University of Vermont Ski Team; 2/8/1995)
Garret Driller (Tahoe City, CA; Montana State University; 8/24/1996)
Addison Dvoracek (Squaw Valley Ski Team; 1/27/1996)
Patrick Kenney (Hingham, MA; Burke Mountain Academy; 2/13/1997)
Alex Leever (Vail, CO; University of Denver; 7/6/1995)
Patricia Mangan (Derby, NY; Holimont Racing Club; 3/7/1997)
Alice Merryweather (Hingham, MA; Stratton Mountain School; 10/5/1996)
Nina O'Brien (Edwards, CO; Burk Mountain Academy; 11/29/1997)
River Radamus (Edwards, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 2/12/1998)
Hig Roberts (Steamboat Springs, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 3/15/1991)
Galena Wardle (Basalt, CO; Aspen Valley Ski/Snowboard Club; 4/24/1998)

U.S. Freestyle Ski Team
Avery Driscoll (Park City, UT; UOP Sports Club; 6/1/96)
Nessa Dzemian (East Hampstead, NH; Team Park City United; 4/14/94)
Elle Gaudette  (Maple Grove, MN; Elite Aerial Development Program; 11/30/97)
Tess Johnson (Edwards, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 6/19/00)
Nik Seemann (Winter Park, CO; Winter Park Competition Center; 8/28/97)
Lane Stoltzner (Park Ridge, IL; Telluride Ski and Snowboard Club; 12/21/90)

U.S. Nordic Ski Team
Nita Englund (Iron Mountain, MI; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 6/10/92)
Caitlin Gregg (Minneapolis, MN; Loppet Nordic Racing; 11/7/80)
Julia Kern (Waltham, MA; Cambridge Sports Union; 9/12/97)
Katharine Ogden (Landgrove, VT; Stratton Mountain School; 11/17/97)

U.S. Snowboarding
Madison Barrett (West Chesterfield, NH; Stratton Mountain School; 4/1/98)
Chase Blackwell (Longmont, CO; 2/27/99)
Roger Carver (Placerville, CA; International Snowboard Training Center; 1/23/90)
Hailey Langland (San Clemente, CA; Tahoe Select Snowboard Team; 2/8/00)
Rosie Mancari (Anchorage, AK; Steamboat Spring Winter Sports Club; 1/22/94)
Jarod Minghini  (Snowshoe, WV; International Snowboard Training Center; 5/21/88)
Michael Perle (Saddle River, NJ; International Snowboard Training Center; 1/21/94)
Meghan Tierney (Edwards, CO; International Snowboard Training Center; 1/15/97)

U.S. Freeskiing
Cameron Brodrick (Mammoth Lakes, CA; Mammoth Mountain Freeski Team; 2/6/98)
Caroline Claire (Wilmington, VT; Stratton Mountain School; 2/2/00)
Eddie Gildea  (Weston, MA; Hanley Consulting Inc.; 7/3/97)
Anna Gorham (Bend, OR; 7/22/00)
Alex Hall  (Salt Lake City, UT; Park City United; 9/21/98)
Jaxin Hoerter (Breckenridge, CO; 7/17/00)
Jake Mageau (Bend, OR; Mount Bachelor Sports Education Foundation; 11/25/97)

 


 


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