PARK CITY, UT (May 18, 2015) – U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) Chairman Dexter Paine welcomed four new members to the USSA Board of Directors at the board’s annual meeting on Sunday during USSA Congress 2015. Dan Leever (Palm Beach, FL/ Vail, CO), Grete Eliassen (Salt Lake City), Chris Seemann (Winter Park, CO) and Martina Lussi (Lake Placid, NY) each bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in sport and leadership to the board.
Leever, who also sits on the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team Foundation Board of Trustees, has been involved with Ski and Snowboard Club Vail for over 15 years and is an avid supporter of the USSA’s alpine racing programs. He is also the founder and chairman of the Vail Snow Sports Foundation and the TA Foundation, organizations dedicated to promoting youth snow sports through the financial support of young athletes.
Grete Eliassen skis at the 100 Days Out from the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi Celebration in Times Square, New York City. (Sarah Brunson/USSA)
U.S. Freeskiing alumna Eliassen will also join the board, representing the United States Olympic Committee Athletes’ Advisory Council ex-officio position. Eliassen, who grew up ski racing, transitioned to freeskiing during her teenage years and has won six X Games medals in halfpipe and slopestyle skiing. She is the only female skier to medal in both the first halfpipe and slopestyle X Games events. Eliassen is currently director of marketing at Wickr, a proprietary instant messenger for iOS and Android that allows users to exchange end-to-end encrypted and self-destructing messages, including photos and file attachments.
Chris Seeman (left) and moguls athlete Patrick Deneen watch the 2015 Visa Freestyle International at Deer Valley Resort. (Kirk Paulsen)
Seemann has been involved with freestyle skiing for over 20 years. Starting as an aerials athlete, he has transitioned into a variety of roles with the Team, including coach and technical advisor. He is also the current Chairman of USSA’s freestyle and freeskiing sport committee.
Lussi steps in as the jumping/nordic combined representative, taking over from Joe Holland. She has been involved with the sport at various levels. Her three children - Danielle, Nina and Miles - are all ski jumpers. She has volunteered at Lake Placid's Olympic Jumping Complex in the past and also volunteered for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. Lussi currently sits on the board for Women’s Ski Jumping USA.
USSA Board of Directors
Chairman: Dexter Paine, New York, NY (FIS)
Vice Chairman: Greg Boester, Rye, NY (Foundation)
Treasurer: John Bucksbaum, Chicago, IL (Foundation)
Tricia Byrnes, Aspen, CO (Snowboarding Athlete)
Jon Casson, Salt Lake City, UT (Snowboarding)
Charles Christianson, Anchorage (Alpine Athlete)
Emily Cook, Park City, UT (Freestyle Athlete)
Bryan Fletcher, Steamboat Springs, CO (Jumping/Nordic Combined Athlete)
Cami Thompson Graves, East Thetford, VT (Cross Country)
Jeanne Jackson, Portland, OR (Foundation)
Lisa Kosglow, Hood River, OR (At-Large)
Darryl Landstrom, Minneapolis, MN (Alpine)
Dan Leever, Palm Beach, FL/ Vail, CO (At-Large)
Martina Lussi (Jumping/Nordic Combined)
Andy McLane, Weston, MA (Foundation)
Kipp Nelson, Ketchum, ID (Foundation)
Erik Resnick, Vail, CO (Foundation)
Chris Seemann, Winter Park, CO (Freestyle)
Tiger Shaw, Park City, UT (CEO)
James Southam, Anchorage, AK (Cross Country Athlete)
Ex-Officio
Michael Berry, Lakewood, CO (National Ski Areas Association)
Grete Eliassen, Salt Lake City, UT (USOC Athletes’ Advisory Council)
David Ingemie, McLean, VA (SnowSports Industries America)
Bill Marolt, Park City, UT (USOC)
Hank Tauber, Park City, UT (FIS)
