Thursday, October 22, 2009

Free Rider Scholarships

SQUAW VALLEY FREESTYLE FREERIDE TEAM ANNOUNCES 2010 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM – EIGHT LOCAL STUDENTS TO BE AWARDED
Scholarship applications due November 1, 2009

[Squaw Valley USA] October 21, 2009 –The Squaw Valley Freestyle Freeride Team and Squaw Valley USA are proud to announce that eight local skiing scholarships will be awarded for the 2009-10 season. Eligible applicants include Lake Tahoe Basin and Truckee student athletes in grades 7-12. Scholarship recipients are rewarded full time team membership and a full season pass to Squaw Valley USA, where the full time team trains six-days-a-week. Applications are available online at www.squawfree.org. Squaw Valley Freestyle Freeride Team Scholarship applications are due November 1, 2009.

“We are proud of our scholarship program, as it provides opportunities for youths who may not otherwise get a chance to participate in our program,” explains Squaw Valley Freestyle Freeride Team Director, Nat Schirman. “This year we are awarding eight full team scholarships, meaning subsidized athletes will represent approximately 10% of our team roster.”

The eight Squaw Valley Freestyle Freeride Team Scholarships will be awarded to local athletes looking to advance their skiing knowledge and abilities. Scholarships do not include team uniform and travel expenses. As a California 501(c) non-profit foundation, the Squaw Valley Freestyle Freeride Team’s objective is to provide young athletes with “support systems.”

“Given the resources where we live, our support systems naturally revolve around skiing. Although our focus is to develop world-class athletes, they [Squaw Valley Freestyle athletes] learn much more than that,” says Schirman. “Athletes on the Squaw Valley Freestyle team are challenging themselves everyday in sport and in life. They are imagining goals and working hard to achieving those goals. We are supporting their goals by providing these kids with progressive coaching at a world-class resort, in a fun and safe manner.”

The Squaw Valley Freestyle Freeride Team focuses on four disciplines of freestyle skiing: Moguls, Halfpipe, Slopestyle, and Big Mountain Freeskiing. The full-time, year-round Squaw Valley team competes and trains throughout the winter and spring months; in the off-season the team trains on the Water Ramps in Park City Utah, and holds summer ski camps in locations like Whistler, BC and Mt. Hood, OR. Throughout the winter, the team travels to almost all major international and national competitions.

“We have produced Jr. National and National Champions, World Cup Champions, X-Games athletes, Olympians, and Olympic Champions . . . but most of all, we have provided kids with great memories, and a love for skiing and the outdoors,” exclaims Coach Schirman.

Squaw Valley Freestyle Freeride Team Scholarship applications are available at www.squawfree.org/pdf/scholarshipapp2009.pdf. Completed applications must be sent to:
SquawFree Scholarship Applicant
PO Box 2173
Olympic Valley, CA 96146

Monday, October 5, 2009

An early October update

I just received some information from Squaw Valley advising me of 3 to 5" of snow and it is just beautiful. If this is any indication as to just what is coming for the winter, then we just might have a truly great ski season.
THINK SNOW!