MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN, CA (Nov. 8, 2016) – Veteran U.S. Ski Team member and three-time Olympian Stacey Cook (Mammoth Mountain, CA) continues her longstanding commitment to giving back to the ski racing community as she announces recipients of the 2016-17 Stacey Cook/Sun Valley Ski Tools (SVST) Competition Team. Recipients are chosen based on criteria such as passion and dedication to the sport, community involvement and character.
Time flies when you’re having fun and giving back. Though Cook can’t recall exactly what year this is for the scholarship, she believes they’re passing a decade of supporting juniors with this scholarship program. “It is really rewarding to see some of my past scholarship winners excelling in college, post-college, and even getting married,” reflected Cook. “I feel like our past winners represent the program so well and I look forward to seeing how this new group flourishes this season and into the future.”
Cook is not only an incredible athlete and a student of the sport, but she is a great mentor for both her teammates and young athletes in the community. For her, gratification comes not only in supporting athletes in achieving their dreams in ski racing, but also witnessing these athletes transfer skills learned on the mountain to life off the mountain. “Watching the winners learn and grow from skiers to people and in sports and beyond is really rewarding and makes the effort for me and the others involved worthwhile,” she added.
This year Cook chose four juniors and two teams. She notes that the inclusion of teams has been a great addition, as the scholarship can reach many kids that are deserving, while at the same time reward clubs that are making a big difference in the sport. “We’re planning to host tuning clinics for these teams so they can learn more about taking care of their equipment and how to specifically use the SVST tools and Raceservice waxing system,” says Cook.
Scholarship recipients receive $500 of tools from SVST and $500 of Raceservice Wax.
Learn more about the genesis of the Stacey Cook/SVST scholarship.
2016-17 SVST COMPETITION TEAM
Isaiah Nelson, Buck Hill Ski Racing Team, Burnsville, MN
Hannah Utter, Green Mountain Valley School, Waitsfield, VT
Hailey Cutler, Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, Sun Valley, ID
Jett Seymour, Steamboat Winter Sports Club, Steamboat Springs, CO
Bogus Basin Ski Education Foundation, Boise, ID
Diamond Peak Ski Education Foundation, Incline Village, NV
QUOTES
Isaiah Nelson, Buck Hill Ski Team
This scholarship means so much because it shows me that others believe in me, and it will help teach me responsibility for my own skis.
Hailey Cutler, Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation
Being rewarded this scholarship is a huge honor. It really has opened my eyes to all the care and support I have from people all around. I am so grateful for this opportunity!
Mark Wedeking, Head Coach/Program Director, Bogus Basin Ski Education Foundation
It is a great honor to win this scholarship from Stacey Cook and SVST. We have used SVST tools and wax to help our kids be fast out on the hill for years. They make the best stuff in the business. Stacey is one of our favorite racers to watch on the speed side, so getting this scholarship from her is like icing on the cake. We are super excited for a great race season ahead and being able to make it a fast one because of Stacey and SVST.
