SAN FRANCISCO (October 23, 2014) – The stars were out inside San Francisco’s venerable Bimbo’s 365 Saturday (Oct. 18) as the Bay Area greeted Olympic champions at the San Francisco Snow Ball, a benefit for the athletes of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA). Olympic and World Champions from Tiburon’s own Jonny Moseley to Tahoe’s David Wise to freestyle World Champion Jeremy Bloom mixed it up in retro ski attire, with emcee Trace Worthington, himself a World Champion freestyle skier, introducing over a dozen Olympians. Fans danced the night away to the music of Crossroads while raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to support America’s Olympians.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Over 300 Bay Area ski and snowboarding fans turned out at Bimbo’s 365 Saturday night (Oct. 18) to meet over a dozen Olympians, raising money to support athletes of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association.
- Let’s Go Retro! In total Bimbo’s style, guests turned out in full-on retro ski gear, including local hero Jonny Moseley who dressed up as the legendary British ski jumper Eddie the Eagle. Olympian Trace Worthington – himself a World Champion – emceed the evening, which included a retro fashion show.
- How it Helped? Unlike their competitors, USSA athletes get no government support. The hundreds of thousands of dollars raised at the Snow Ball go directly to help athletes achieve their Olympic goals.
- Ski with an Olympian! USSA’s auctioneer Tom Kelly gave the audience plenty of bidding action including ski outings with Warren Miller film star Charlotte Moats to Jonny Moseley and Tamara McKinney, with over $100,000 raised from the audience.
- History: The retro ski party at Bimbo’s was one of the liveliest ever in the 30 year history of the event, begun by San Francisco financial leader Thom Weisel.
- Organization: A Snow Ball Committee of two dozen Bay Area leaders organized the gala, chaired by Christine Aylward, Geoff Yang and Dave Morin.
- How You Can Help? Did you miss the big pre-season party? You can still help by purchasing a U.S. Ski Team Gold Pass, a fully transferable ski pass good at any U.S. resort, or simply make a donation. Go to foundation.ussa.org to learn more.
QUOTES
Tiger Shaw, President and CEO, U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association
What does it take to win 17 medals in Sochi? Events like the San Francisco Snow Ball are pivotal to fund programs that help our athletes become Best in the World. We’re unique amongst our competitors in that we have no government support. Our success is based on support from Americans!
Jessie Diggins, 2013 World Champion, Cross Country Team Sprint
When I was a junior racer I won an event and had an opportunity to get an autorgraph from my hero, Kikkan Randall. It motivated me. Six years later I found myself racing with Kikkan and winning a World Championship. I couldn’t have done that without the support from people like you. Thank you for making this opportunity possible.
Olympic and World Champions
Jonny Moseley, 1998 Olympic Champion, freestyle moguls
David Wise, 2014 Olympic Champion, halfpipe skiing
Jeremy Bloom, 2005 World Champion, freestyle moguls
Jessie Diggins 2013 World Champion, cross country team sprint
Trace Worthington, 1995 two-time World Champion, freestyle aerials, combined
Tamara McKinney, 1989 World Champion, alpine combined, and 1983 World Cup Champion
Additional Olympians
Travis Ganong, alpine
Steven Nyman, alpine
Laurenne Ross, alpine
Liz Stephen, cross country
Athlete Attendees
Cross Country
Jessie Diggins
Liz Stephen
Freeskiing
David Wise
Brita Sigourney
Alpine
Bryce Bennett
Tommy Ford
Travis Ganong
Steve Nyman
Laurenne Ross
Alumni
Jonny Moseley
Trace Worthington
Tamara McKinney
Charlotte Moats
Jeremy Bloom
Event Corporate Partners
Audi
Liberty Mutual
Visa
San Francisco Snow Ball Committee in Attendance
Jeremy Bloom
Allison Bhusri
Nate Bosshard
J. Taylor Crandall
Jan D’Alessandro
Tod Francis
Porter Gale
Christine & Curtis Gardner
Kent Goldman
Karen John
Thomas Laffont
Liz Larned
Stephanie Mellin
Jonny Moseley
Jordan Ormont
Victoria and Philip Raiser
Evan Reece
Mathias Shilling
Marc Stad
Josh Stein
Rob Webb
Will Wick
Event Sponsors
Olympic Sponsors
Diana & Steve Strandberg
Suzanne & J. Crandall
Gold Sponsors
Stephanie & Fred Harman
Liz Larned
Silver Sponsors
Liz & Thomas Laffont
Lee & Justin Sadrian
Amy & Geoff Yang
Bronze Sponsors
Christine Aylward
Allison & Aneel Bhusri
Christine & Curtis Gardner
Stephanie & Bill Mellin
Mary Ann & Steven Read
Jennifer & Josh Stein
Thom Weisel, Stifel
Ascent
Squaw Valley – Alpine Meadows
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
About the USSA
The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) is the national governing body of Olympic skiing and snowboarding. It is the parent organization of the U.S. Ski Team, U.S. Snowboarding and U.S. Freeskiing. Developed to facilitate participation in national and international competition, the Olympic sports organization provides structure for competitive skiing and snowboarding. From grassroots programs to governance of sport, management of rules, competitions and athletic rankings, the USSA oversees athletic pipelines for development in the sports. With a vision to make the USA the best in the world in Olympic skiing and snowboarding, the USSA provides leadership and direction for tens of thousands of young skiers and snowboarders who share an Olympic dream while maintaining a strong adherence to core values. The USSA, established in 1905, operates out of the national training and education facility, the Center of Excellence, in Park City, UT.
About the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team Foundation
The U.S. Ski Team, U.S. Snowboarding and U.S. Freeskiing are the only teams on the international circuit that receive no federal funding. Athletes are supported by donations made to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team Foundation, a non-profit, 501(c)3 that funds year-round athlete training, competition, development and educational needs in the crucial years leading up to the next Olympic Winter Games.
