And we are lucky to have him! Today you hear from our own U16 Alpine Head Coach Ben Brown. Ben has been coaching with the club since 2013 after a full career of ski racing as a Midwestern kid, through college at Western State University and after college, at an elite level on the Continental Cup. He landed in Steamboat over a decade ago and have been helping young athletes reach their goals on the snow ever since. And we get the added bonus of a co-host today. Jon Nolting joins Nicole on the mic - a fitting interviewer as both a friend and mentor to Ben along the way.   SPONSOR DEAL! Use code SSWSCpodcast at honeystinger.com for 20% off all products. Fuel up now! Fine print: 20% off entire order, online only, no minimum purchase, good on subscriptions & one-time purchases, one use per customer, active until 12/31/23 Today you hear: Ben's background both as a kid athlete growing up in the Midwest boonies & his path to coachingThe power of goals: Ben had his eye on the prize from childhood - how what may seem like a young kid's dreams actually became a realityThe transition from racing pro to a new coaching career: How he did it with no regrets What it takes to get Coach of the Year awards from US Ski & Snowboard: Basically this entire conversation illuminates Ben's worthiness!Ben's Why of CoachingHow Ben identifies the trifecta (talent, mental game, passion) in athletes and then nurtures those attributes without burning the kids outU16 to U18 is usually a big drop-out rate, yet our club has an amazing retention rate from Ben's group to the next. How Ben creates athletes that want to keep going!What commonalities Ben sees among the best U16 athletes in the worldWhy a focus on positive group culture wins, and why it may be the single most important thing at this age and stageParents: Ben is a key voice in helping our kids take accountability - we should all thank him for telling the kids to manage their own gear, schedule and training! This is the age when we become assistants, no longer managers - thank you Ben!Ben's personal athletic journey: from Skier to Mountain Biker and how his own drive has evolved after becoming a parent himself  For more on the amazing Ben Brown: Ben has been coaching at the SSWSC since 2013, and was named U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Alpine Coach of the Year in 2020. Ben grew up racing in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He continued his racing career at Western State Colorado University, competing Division 1 NCAA. After graduating college Ben continued racing full-time at the Continental Cup level in pursuit of his goals. He coached at Green Mountain Valley School and at Loveland prior to coming to Steamboat. Ben currently is the chair of the Rocky/Central Region and Rocky Mountain Division Alpine Competition Committees that govern ski racing in the region. He has been part of the coaching staff overseas at international children’s championship events several times. He is a Level 300 certified coach by U.S. Ski & Snowboard. When he’s not coaching, you’ll find Ben spending time with his wife Rita and enjoying his favorite hobbies of bike racing and back-country skiing. As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!

John O’Sullivan was recently in Steamboat talking about the what, how and why of being a sports parent. John is a speaker, podcaster, former pro athlete, and movement creator, specifically in regards to his Changing the Game Project. He’s also the author of a couple bestselling books including one we should all have: Changing the Game: The Parent’s Guide to Raising Happy, High-Performing Athletes and Giving Youth Sports Back to our Kids.   SPONSOR DEAL! Use code SSWSCpodcast at honeystinger.com for 20% off all products. Fuel up now! Fine print: 20% off entire order, online only, no minimum purchase, good on subscriptions & one-time purchases, one use per customer, active until 12/31/23   This interview was so much fun - when you have the opportunity to get a speaker like John behind the mic, it's hard to stop picking his brain! John's perspective is a mix of his own experience as an athlete, his experience as a parent of athletes and a desire to help other people enjoy the beauty of what sport brought him.  Today you will hear: John's background: how sports impacted him as a kid athleteHis philosophy on Working out (adults) vs Play (kids) & the progression of joy through sportHow dabbling is the true path to expertiseInteresting fact: 93% of elite 10-12 year olds are no longer elite senior athletesIt's not FUN or COMPETITIVE: it needs to be bothSuggested documentary: David Beckham's storyAnd so much more For more on John, check out his Changing the Game website, watch his TEDx talk (it's awesome!), and listen to his Way of Champions Podcast. And be sure to pick up his book "Changing the Game" 💪 As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!

It's not everyday that you stumble across a world champion athlete in Steamboat who isn't a snow sport athlete. Today you will hear a parallel perspective on what it takes to be the best - from my favorite person in the world - our current SSWSC mountain bike and skimo coach, former 2-time Ironman Triathlon world champion, consummate gear enthusiast, health and fitness guru, father of 6th grade SSWSC athlete Wilder, and my husband, Tim DeBoom.    SPONSOR DEAL! Use code SSWSCpodcast at honeystinger.com for 20% off all products. Fuel up now! Fine print: 20% off entire order, online only, no minimum purchase, good on subscriptions & one-time purchases, one use per customer, active until 12/31/23   Tim is an elusive champion; he doesn't wear his accomplishments on his sleeve. When we moved to Steamboat in 2020, he didn't want to leverage his athletic past, so he started by volunteering to coach whichever ski program needed him. After a season of wrangling 6 year olds on cross country skis, the club figured out his skills would be better suited for a different level of athlete! Today he coaches the kids who have a proclivity for endurance - on the bike and on skis - notably starting the first-ever Steamboat Springs Skimo program (one of just a few kids' skimo programs in our country).  This interview was a blast - when's the last time to sat down with your spouse and asked them all the big questions about what makes them tick? After listening, please reach out if you have any questions about the programs Tim leads or anything else!  Today you will hear: Tim's background: family, sports, philosophies and moreSwimming: How one sport set the stage for a future world champion in another sportTrust in the process is key to success in everything.Specialization vs diversificationPatience & ConsistencyIdentities: How they shift and change from Swimmer to Pro Athlete to Dad to Coach "I wonder if I can finish?" The Power of Wonder As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!

A big hello and welcome back to our listeners today - We started the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club Show in 2022 with the goal of spreading our love for all things outdoors and a side effect of educating and inspiring people around the world. Thousands of listeners tuned in to hear from coaches, parents, experts and athletes - we got such great feedback that we are back with another season of fun and inspiration… and who better to kick things off with than the new kid on the block, our new Executive Director Brian Krill.     SPONSOR DEAL! Use code SSWSCpodcast at honeystinger.com for 20% off all products. Fuel up now! Fine print: 20% off entire order, online only, no minimum purchase, good on subscriptions & one-time purchases, one use per customer, active until 12/31/23   Brian's 5 Things (among many more): There are many nuances to the word Champion. [Listen to hear them!]At the base of everything is this question, "Why are we doing all of this?" - Is it the right thing to be doing? Does it align with our core beliefs?Find your passion. Then learn your limits.My goal as an educator is simply this - I want to help people be their very best selves."When I'm outdoors and pushing my body, I feel more alive than any other time." More about Brian Krill here: Brian Krill has three daughters, two grandchildren, and his wife is a professor with a Ph.D. in Theatre. He has been a professional educator and nonprofit professional for almost thirty years working in competitive mountain athletics and the nonprofit sector since he graduated from The Colorado College in 1994. He has a Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Management from Regis University, where he was recognized with the “Karen A. Patterson Award for Community and Organizational Change,” and was owner and lead consultant of Peak Nonprofit Consulting, LLC. Mr. Krill was an administrator, teacher, and coach in independent schools and ski clubs for a decade and has extensive sales experience serving as a sales manager in western CO for seven years. Mr. Krill was also a professor at Western State Colorado University from 2010-2013, where he taught advocacy, academic writing, public speaking, and philosophy courses. Mr. Krill acted as the Interim Director of the Crested Butte Snowsports Foundation in 2012 and 2013. In 2013, he brought this broad background and resources related to education, competitive snowsports, business, nonprofit leadership and management, and fundraising to U.S. Ski and Snowboard as the Club Development Manager and to further launch the new Club Development Program. In 2015, he was promoted to Director of Sport Education, tasked with providing education, certification, and recognition to all U.S. ski and snowboard clubs and coaches nationwide. In August 2016, Brian transitioned to Jackson, WY, to assume the role of Executive Director for the Jackson Hole Ski & Snowboard Club. Beginning in July 2020, Mr. Krill took the position of Executive Director & Head of School at Sugar Bowl Ski Team and Academy. In his tenure there, he successfully led the organization, an accredited boarding and day high school, and a full-scale ski team through the many challenges of COVID, as well as managing a successful re-accreditation process for the school. Brian returned to Colorado in July 2023 to assume his new role as Executive Director of the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!

"If you're not having fun, it's not worth doing."  This quote has always been my motto, but until now, I didn't have any research to back it up. After talking to today's guest, Jean Cote, it turns out I was right! Fun is the magic pill that keeps us going in athletics (and life) & forges the path to a life-long love of the sports we do.  The Club was lucky to have Jean join us in person recently to share his findings on how to keep kids engaged in the sports they love. Before we listen to Jean, be sure to take advantage of this deal from our show sponsor!   SPONSOR DEAL! Use code SSWSCpodcast at honeystinger.com for 20% off all products. Fuel up now! Fine print: 20% off entire order, online only, no minimum purchase, good on subscriptions & one-time purchases, one use per customer, active until 12/31/23   Topics we discuss today include: Deliberate fun vs deliberate practiceThe 10,000 Hour MythFun & Friends are the keyParent role modeling: Are you modeling the behavior you want your kids to see?The parents tend to take the fun out of sports (what not to do!)Transformational coaching: Jean talks about "The How of Coaching" & the 11 behaviors that great coaches exhibit including two we discuss - vulnerability and humilityResource: "Range" by David Epstein about the importance of diversification For more on Jean Cote: Jean Côté is one of the world’s foremost experts on positive youth development through sport and is an internationally recognized researcher and sought-after speaker on the subject. Dr. Côté conducted a transformational coaching workshop for SSWSC coaches virtually in 2022 and visited Steamboat for a few days this January to work with our coaches again, observe our model, and present to SSWSC parents.  Dr. Côté has focused on the factors that contribute to personal growth through sport, lifelong participation, and performance development and his presentation to SSWSC parents addressed the Personal Assets Framework, and the central role of family and parents in supporting the best possible outcomes for young athletes.  As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!

Jaelin Kauf won a silver medal in freestyle moguls in the 2022 Olympics. One year later, she proved it wasn't a fluke by following up with not one, but two, second place podiums at World Champs last week. This woman is on a roll! Today you get to hear all about Jaelin as we chat about her career starting when she was a baby through to her recent double silvers at the 2023 World Championships. But before we do, be sure to check out this amazing deal from our podcast sponsor.   SPONSOR DEAL! Use code SSWSCpodcast at honeystinger.com for 20% off all products. Fuel up now! Fine print: 20% off entire order, online only, no minimum purchase, good on subscriptions & one-time purchases, one use per customer, active until 12/31/23 Today you'll hear the following and so much more! Jaelin's skiing originsHer parents were world class mogul skiers: how they helped her enter the sport without adding pressureHow the SSWSC helped shape her athletic careerJaelin's career rollercoaster:HighlightsBreakthroughsFailuresThe big stuff like 2 Olympics!Most importantly, how she learned to pick herself back up when things went sidewaysAdvice for parentsWhat "Deliver the Love" means to herJaelin's favorite snacks :)Speed round: fave venue, if she has ever snowboarded, her favorite Steamboat breakfast spot (shout out to Freshies) As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!

Today we have a very timely episode for all the parents out there who have kids entering competition season. This is a time with the stress, nerves and pressure ramp up for our kids, and as parents, we are along for the ride!    SPONSOR DEAL! Use code SSWSCpodcast at honeystinger.com for 20% off all products. Fuel up now! Fine print: 20% off entire order, online only, no minimum purchase, good on subscriptions & one-time purchases, one use per customer, active until 12/31/23   Our Chief Operating Officer, Jon Nolting, is a multiple guest on the show (you may recognize his voice in the Intro too!), and two-time parent of kids who have faced down the perceived high-stakes competition season and survived. Along the way, Jon has developed a passion for this topic, having researched various strategies and is a living example of how they play out. Case in point, minutes before we started recording, Jon received a phone call from his 17 year old son, Jeremy, who had just had a disappointing result in a competition in Quebec. It was fascinating to be a fly on the wall listening to how he handled the conversation - something we talk about in today's episode.  Per the title, we have lots of tips and tricks available here! Today we talk about the follow and more: The difference btwn performance and results: and how parents can help (hint: parents can only help with the things they can actually control!)The comparison game and how it can negatively affect your kids' results. Leave the coaching to the coaches!Kids can read body language, so be aware of yours when talking to them about their sport! At the end of the day, we all want our kids to find happiness and we hope that their sport helps them do this. Jon has one simple ask for all parents out there: Will you commit to learning more about your child’s sport to help you in supporting them in the best way you can?  Listening to this episode is a good step toward doing this! For more on Jon Nolting, go here, or listen for his voice at one of the many events hosted at Howelsen Hill this winter! As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!

It's not every day you get to sit with one of the greatest athletes in the last decade - just days before he leaves for the final professional event of his career - ponder his past and speculate on his future. In this case, it's Snowboarder Mick Dierdorff - 2-time Olympian & 2019 Snowboard Cross World Champion among many other accolades. The event he's heading to is the 2023 Snowboard Cross World Champs, an event he didn't even plan to do but is the perfect way to wrap his decade-plus career.     SPONSOR DEAL! Use code SSWSCpodcast at honeystinger.com for 20% off all products. Fuel up now! Fine print: 20% off entire order, online only, no minimum purchase, good on subscriptions & one-time purchases, one use per customer, active until 12/31/23 Today we have some fun - we go long & we don't even scratch the surface. We may need to do Part 2 when Mick is back from Worlds! We cover the following and more: What it feels like to be preparing for the last pro event of Mick's careerGrowing up Mick: skis, hockey, and finally - the snowboard at age 11!Support is key to everything: Parents, the community, coaches, mentors & moreThe Rollercoaster of the last decade - Mick's career was not a perfect hockey stick trajectory; he went through some serious times of self-discoveryHow Mick came to really understand himself, accept himself and not apologize for who he isHow to mentally manage a sport that combines both adrenaline and enduranceWhat success means to Mick And of course our final question: What is the greatest lesson you've learned through sport? (you need to listen to hear it!) For more on Mick, check out his website, watch this amazing video of his 2019 World Championship Crown & tune into this year's Snowboard Cross World Champs - let's cheer him on! As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!

Today we talk all about injuries with the Club's Medical Coordinator, Certified Athletic Trainer, Forrest Pecha. Here's the thing about this episode: if you don't need to hear it right now, that's great - you are beating the odds! But as you'll learn, if you are an athlete (or a parent of an athlete) for whom sports is a big part of your life, there is a good chance that at some point, you may experience an injury. One of the first things we do today is normalize this!    SPONSOR DEAL! Use code SSWSCpodcast at honeystinger.com for 20% off all products. Fuel up now! Fine print: 20% off entire order, online only, no minimum purchase, good on subscriptions & one-time purchases, one use per customer, active until 12/31/23 In this episode, you will learn the following: How Forrest chose the path to become a CAT - we go a little deeper on this pathThe two main types of injuries: Overuse & TraumaticWhat's the first thing a kid/parent should do when an injury occurs?The Healthy Roster app & processThe mental aspect of recovering from injuriesOur one of a kind approach to keeping kids motivated and connected with our Injured Athlete Workout Programs& so much more to help kids get through the tough stuff! For more Forrest Pecha, go here! To facilitate the new program and connect athletes to their return-to-sport team, Forrest Pecha has been hired by SOSI for the position of Medical Coordinator for the SSWSC. The Medical Coordinator will have three core areas of focus: injury management, medical care coordination, and education for coaches, athletes, and parents.  Pecha was previously a Program Director for the Athletic Training Residency at both St. Luke’s Sports Medicine in Boise, ID and at Emory Sports Medicine in Atlanta, GA. He also served as the head athletic trainer for the USSA Men’s Alpine team for the 2002 Winter Olympic games and has traveled with U.S. Soccer for over 13 years providing medical care. Pecha will be on location half time each at SSWSC and SOSI. And because his twins are just too cute and we all do what we do for more than just ourselves, here's a gratuitous twin shot! As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!

Welcome back to another amazing episode focused on the mind-game we play with sports. Today we meet the Club's Mindset Performance Coach, Luke Brosterhous. Luke came to this field of expertise from the golfing world as a standout young golfer who eventually played on the pro circuit. When he moved to Steamboat, he started coaching for the Club and that's where his curiosity about how the mental aspect of sports really became a focus. He decided to go back to school and get his Masters Degree in Sports Psychology. Today he helps young athletes develop a strong mental game which is arguably as (or more) important than their physical game! SPONSOR DEAL! Use code SSWSCpodcast at honeystinger.com for 20% off all products. Fuel up now! Fine print: 20% off entire order, online only, no minimum purchase, good on subscriptions & one-time purchases, one use per customer, active until 12/31/22 In this interview we cover: Luke's background in golf and how he was drawn to the field of sports psychologyLuke's 4 pillars for mental strength training:  Concentration & Deep focusImageryMotivationFlow (follows focus) How and why we have trouble paying attention: check out Stolen Focus by Johann HariAdvice for both kids and parents to support their mental gamesGoals: Outcome goals are the WHAT. Process goals are the HOW. He challenges you to define your WHY!Epilogue question: Does mindset training differ between endurance vs adrenaline athletes? If yes, how? For more on Luke Brosterhous, visit his website here! In addition to being a Class A PGA Member, Luke holds a Masters Degree in Exercise and Sport Science from the University of Utah, in the area of Sport Psychology. Luke served as an Alpine Coach to the Winter Sports Club from 2001-2004, and 2008-2011. Luke’s unique ability to bring together Coaching and the most effective researched principles in the world of Sport Psychology is what distinguishes his Coaching from others.

Meet the inimitable Maddy Schaffrick! Previously our Snowboard Director, Maddy recently became the Assistant Coach of the the US Snowboard Halfpipe World Cup Team. A few days before she left Steamboat, we sat down with her and got real - about her career, her philosophy on sport & what's REALLY important in life.  SPONSOR DEAL! Use code SSWSCpodcast at honeystinger.com for 20% off all products. Fuel up now! Fine print: 20% off entire order, online only, no minimum purchase, good on subscriptions & one-time purchases, one use per customer, active until 12/31/22   Today we cover: What it was like to grow up in SteamboatLearning to ski at age 3The importance of falling - and getting back up - how tai chi taught her to fall (literally) & how dumb-luck injuries taught her to get back up (after rediscovering the joy of snowboarding)Meeting & learning from her idol Gretchen BleilerThe whirlwind of becoming a very young championWhat it was like to live an adult-ish lifestyle as a young teen & then reintegrate into her Steamboat peer group after a bad crashIs it possible to be a skier & snowboarder?What makes snowboarding awesome?A speed round of random fun facts about MaddyAnd so much more! If you take nothing else from this interview... RIDE THE ENTIRE MOUNTAIN!  Read Maddy's infamous (and greatest) bio ever! Hello! My name is Maddy Schaffrick. I was born and raised in beautiful Steamboat Springs, Colorado and grew up in the Winter Sports Club. My list of passions is substantial but snowboarding has always been at the top of it. I love all creatures but lions are my favorite. My favorite color is the Rainbow and my favorite thing to eat is ice cream. I’m allergic to all nuts, which is funny because my favorite people are nuts! Snowboarding is fun. Friends are family. Nature cures everything. Kindness makes a difference. Magic is Real. Love is All. On top of Maddy’s contagious personality and smile she was on the U.S. halfpipe team for seven years. Her resume is packed with impressive results including X Games and Grand Prix events. As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain! More pics cuz there are just too many good ones! Podcast episode photo credit: Jeff Urbahn

Today we are lucky to have one of the world's premier sports researchers on the show. Mark Williams is one of the world’s leading authorities on expertise and its acquisition in sport. He has published 18 books and written over 500 scientific articles on how people become skilled and achieve success in sport and across other professional domains. He has worked across the globe as a consultant with numerous Olympic and professional sports and has vast experience as a scientist, author and educator, and as an applied sports scientist. Mark visited Steamboat earlier this year to share insights about the concept of creating elite athletes. While he was here, we sat down and dug deeper into some of the concepts he has studied for years.   SPONSOR DEAL! Use code SSWSCpodcast at honeystinger.com for 20% off all products. Fuel up now! Fine print: 20% off entire order, online only, no minimum purchase, good on subscriptions & one-time purchases, one use per customer, active until 12/31/22   Today you will hear: The science behind nature vs nurtureFactors that play into your chances for athletic successThe debate between diversification and specialization: aka when to focus on one sport for maximum results (if ever)What happens when puberty hits: how to manage swings in performance during these yearsHelicopter parenting: how and why we should not do it!And more! For more on Mark Williams, hop over to Amazon and grab his book The Best: How Elite Athletes are Made.  As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!

You're in for a double rainbow treat today with the incredible, insightful, resilient Flanigan power couple - Millie and Gardner! Since many of our listeners are parents, often with kids in the Club, we are building on our parent-perspective series. The Flanigans are long-time supporters of the club; as they mention today, they were involved in the club even before they had kids! Millie is currently a Physician Assistant and worked for 22 years in family medicine and now work full time in mental health as a Psychiatric PA. Gardner is the Executive Director of STARS. They have two kids, Bode (20) and Merritt (15) who provide the foundation for this conversation (unbeknownst to them)!    SPONSOR DEAL! Use code SSWSCpodcast at honeystinger.com for 20% off all products. Fuel up now! Fine print: 20% off entire order, online only, no minimum purchase, good on subscriptions & one-time purchases, one use per customer, active until 12/31/22 Today's conversation is fun and engaging all the way through including the following & more: How Millie & Garnder met (a baby blue snowsuit may be involved)The fire: their house literally burned downFinding community and support amid traumatic timesResiliency, kindness, generosity & allowing yourself to receiveMental health perspectives from Millie (her speciality) including tips on how to help your kids through big decisions and tough times"Be there for them, but don't feel their journey with them."How to battle "swooping parent" syndromeA guest appearance from Peter Lemonjello!Gardner's alter ego is one of SSWSC's greatest announcersHow he fell into announcing & why it's important to keep it fun& so much more!  As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!

Meet our Ski Jumping & Nordic Combined Program Director Todd Wilson, who just so happens to be a 2-time Olympian who stumbled into coaching as a way to temporarily give back to the sport he loves so much. 30 years later he has given back more than he could have ever imagined.    SPONSOR DEAL! Use code SSWSCpodcast at honeystinger.com for 20% off all products. Fuel up now! Fine print: 20% off entire order, online only, no minimum purchase, good on subscriptions & one-time purchases, one use per customer, active until 12/31/22   Today we cover the following and so much more: Todd's early years growing up on skis in Winter Park, ColoradoHis first big jump in Steamboat at age 8 (spoiler: it was not pretty) & why he decided to try again (spoiler: life lesson alert!)A short walk down ski history laneWhat it was like to compete as a pro nordic combined athlete for a decade and why he decided to stopThe importance of having role models: how having heroes helps kids build dreamsThe down-low on Steamboat's amazing ski jumping facilityAnd about a hundred life nuggets thrown in for good measure :) For more Todd Wilson: Todd oversees a professional staff of twenty-five coaches involved in the training of over 150 athletes. He started jumping with the Winter Park jumping program at the age of five and took his first jumps at Howelsen Hill at age eight. In 1984 he was named to the U.S. Nordic Combined Ski Team and competed internationally for nine seasons, which included the Winter Olympic teams of 1988 and 1992 and the World Championship Teams in 1985 and 1987. Todd began coaching with SSWSC in 1993 while he attended college at Colorado Mountain College. His first tour of duty with the SSWSC was as head coach for the U10 Team and then he was named Nordic Combined Head Coach the following year. In 2000 he was promoted to Nordic Program Director to oversee all the club’s Nordic sports of ski jumping, cross country, nordic combined and biathlon. With growth in the club’s nordic sports, in 2010 Todd was named Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined Program Director. This is Todd’s 29th season with SSWSC. Todd served as chairman for the USSA Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Coaches Subcommittee for 12 years and was a finalist for the 2003, US Olympic Committee’s Development Coach of the Year Award. The SSWSC SJ/NC program has won the US Ski & Snowboard’s SJ/NC Club of the Year Award the last four years. Todd and his wife, Stephanie, live in downtown Steamboat Springs with their two daughters, Maggie and Ella. As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!

It's not every day you get to hear from a 4-time Olympian, World Champion Mogul Skier & 6-time National Champion, so when you do, you take your time and get the full story! Ann Battelle is not only a champion on the mountain, she's a champion human off the mountain too as she shares her passion and experience with the next generation of freestyle skiers as our moguls coach for all ages.    SPONSOR DEAL! Use code SSWSCpodcast at honeystinger.com for 20% off all products. Fuel up now! Fine print: 20% off entire order, online only, no minimum purchase, good on subscriptions & one-time purchases, one use per customer, active until 12/31/22   Today's conversation is a roller coaster - part trip down memory lane and part big picture lessons and insights.  We cover the following and so much more: What the sport of freestyle skiing is & how Ann got into itAnn's background as an athletic outdoorsy girl dabbling in lots of sports including soccer, gymnastics and more on the east coastAnn actually started her competitive athletic career in a different sport - she played collegiate soccer at Middlebury CollegeIt's never too late to start a new sport if strong athletic foundations are in place - soccer and gymnastics translated perfectly to her new passionHow a little cockiness was required for Ann to make the switch to freestyle skiing & set incredibly lofty goals after collegeAnn shares her roller coaster career as a 4-time Olympian dealing with successes and trying times - it's hard not to give her a hug in the middle when she talks openly about her Olympic disappointmentsTopics include: mental blocks, coming back after injuries, perseverance, setting goals and moreAdvice for parents: "This is your kid's journey."Quote of the day: "Let me be me."   For more on Ann Battelle (shown here at the top of the course with her daughter who is a U19 racer!): Ann is Steamboat’s first four-time Olympian as well as World Champion Mogul Skier. She discovered Freestyle Ski Racing at the end of her college experience & competed for the SSWSC from 1989-2002. She moved to the Front Range and started 5 Circle Fitness, an outdoor ski and sports conditioning fitness business. After a particularly frustrating 9-hour commute (the drive usually takes under 3 hours) from Steamboat back to the Front Range, the Battelle's decided to return to Steamboat in 2014. She joined the SSWSC as a coach this time with two daughters in the freestyle program. Ann has coached at all levels in the program, and is currently working with kids of all ages.  As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!

Meet our Athletic Director Dave Stewart! He's one of those guys you wish you had known your entire life. He's fun, honest, open and positive, but he can also dig deep and share openly about the big questions, the ones that help create our value systems.   SPONSOR DEAL! Use code SSWSCpodcast at honeystinger.com for 20% off all products. Fuel up now! Fine print: 20% off entire order, online only, no minimum purchase, good on subscriptions & one-time purchases, one use per customer, active until 12/31/22   This episode is all about the big question, the one we ask every guest who comes on the show - What's the greatest lesson you've learned through sport? We decided Dave would be the perfect guest to dissect this question. Get ready for a fun ride through Dave's athletic history into his current role as Athletic Director for the club.  In particular: Lots of discussion about parenting: how his parents impacted his athletic journey and how he took what he learned forward through his coaching and his own parenting. There are many ideas for parents who are listening to ponder and incorporate into their approaches.The bread crumbs approach: Whether it was intentional or not, Dave followed the bread crumbs his parents left for him to great athletic success and beyondThe myth of talent or giftDon't jump ahead. Let a 10 year old be a 10 year old!How lessons learned through sport are different than lessons learned in other waysSport is about helping all athletes uncover their limitless potential, not about targeting only those who are seen to have talentResiliency: Sport is about learning to get up again. Dave's greatest lesson: Our fundamental, universal skill or talent is our ability to learn. It's not about being good or bad at something. It's about choosing to put in the necessary work, time, planning and we can become proficient at anything.  Today we invite you to consider this question: What is the greatest lesson you've learned through sport? We want to hear from you! Please reach out on our social media channels or leave a comment here with your greatest lessons. As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain! For more on Dave Stewart: Dave was the nordic skiing head coach for 12 years at the University of Denver.  In that time he led his teams to six NCAA titles, two individual titles, and he coached 21 NCAA All-Americans. Dave was named the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association’s Nordic Coach of the Year six times. He raced cross country through college and later as a pro athlete. He received his Masters of Business Administration from the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver.

Fresh off 6th place at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, Olivia first hit the national radar in 2016 when she was the junior national champion followed in 2017 as the dual mogul junior world champion. After that, she turned pro, hit the world cup tour and started racking up results and confidence. In 2018, she was the first alternate for the Winter Olympic Games. Four years later she got retribution, and not only made the team, but made the finals. While we're in awe of her 6th place finish at the games, we may be even more in awe of the fact that she is a brilliant and driven student, currently enrolled at ivy league school, Columbia University in New York City. Olivia was so gracious to spend time with both Nicole and Wilder DeBoom today, openly sharing her journey to Beijing & beyond.   SPONSOR DEAL! Use code SSWSCpodcast at honeystinger.com for 20% off all products. Fuel up now! Fine print: 20% off entire order, online only, no minimum purchase, good on subscriptions & one-time purchases, one use per customer, active until 12/31/22   Notables: When things get tough and you wonder if you should keep trying, tap back into why you loved it in the first placeIt's important to remember that your identity does not rely upon skiing; that you are more than the thing you do.Hindsight is 20/20Mindset work is key: Olivia is always seeking ways to improve hersParental support is #1. Her parents truly listened to her, understood what she wanted and then helped her make that happen.Olivia's advice to all the kids out there who are chasing their athletic dreams: Keep it simple and keep it fun! *This episode includes an extra credit bonus feature with 10-year old interviewer Wilder DeBoom (shown below with Olivia when she came to Wilder's SSWSC Alpine practice!) - listen to hear the stuff that REALLY MATTERS like snacks, dogs and overcoming your fears. As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!

Meet Kevin & Laura Sankey, parents to three incredibly amazing, incredibly different kids - all of whom have experienced the SSWSC in different ways with their own definitions of happiness and success. Today we seek to explore how to navigate the Club's offerings for multiple children with diverse interests. We couldn't think of a better couple to kick off this conversation than the Sankeys!   SPONSOR DEAL! Use code SSWSCpodcast at honeystinger.com for 20% off all products. Fuel up now! Fine print: 20% off entire order, online only, no minimum purchase, good on subscriptions & one-time purchases, one use per customer, active until 12/31/22   Today we cover: The Sankey kids' journeys: How Logan, Nolan and Colton all found their nichesHow much the Sankeys pushed their kids (very little) vs letting their kids lead (mostly)The difference between nurturing and pushing your kidsParent-coaching pitfall advice: "Don't try to coach your kids"For parents who know nothing about the sports their kids are doing: In a nutshell, let them educate you!What the Sankeys did right and what they did wrong: This is worth listening to as they asked their kids to grade them on their sport-parenting (some tears may have escaped while reading their notes)!Trust the process: Your kids' coaches know what they're doing!Most important advice! DON'T WAIT UNTIL THERE'S AN ISSUE TO START CONNECTING WITH YOUR KIDS' COACH!  Action item: When your kid starts their sport season, reach out to the coach and ask this question, "What can we as parents do to help you coach our athletes and develop them as much as possible?" As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!

Today we hear from Sady Tobin, Director of Strength & Conditioning for the club. Arguably the most important part of any athlete's sport program is the foundation they create outside of the actual sport. Sady's mission is to help kids develop a long-term fitness base that is fun and helps create strength and confidence. All winter programs include conditioning as the kids get older and are ready to add this into their plans. Today we discuss: Sady's background, how she came to the club and what attracted her to kids developmentThe values behind the training: Inclusion, progress, respectWhy it's important to have strength & conditioning in addition to specific discipline trainingThe importance of body awareness and creating this awareness at a young ageConfidence not comparison: the foundation of each kid's programHow parents can help support their kids' conditioning programsThe importance of a Strength Mindset  As Sady says at the end, "Never Give Up." Strength and conditioning is a long-term game, so just keep coming back!  For more on Sady and the SSWSC strength and conditioning program, reach out here.  As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!

This episode is about money. Plain and simple - winter sports are not cheap. There's coaching, gear (so much gear!), ski passes, travel, snacks (so many snacks!) and more. When you add it all up, sometimes the finances just don't fit your family's budget.  Don't walk away yet! Today you hear from Jon Nolting, the Associate Executive Director, about a program the club created to help all families participate in these sports that can change their kids' lives.  It's called the EZ Scholarship Program. You can find details here. As Jon says, if your kids can't participate in our programs because you can't afford it, then we're doing something wrong! Today we learn about: The actual EZ scholarship programHow the club uses the information you give them (hint: it's private and not shared outside the organization)How you can get help above and beyond the EZ scholarship programHow to maintain a frugal mindset and still participate in expensive sportsWhy sports are an investment worthy of a high level of family prioritizationOur objective to create more inclusion in predominantly white, upper class sportsWhat's really important to be successful in sports...Side effect of participating in winter sports: You just may stumble upon the greatest relationship of your life on the ski hill (Spoiler: Jon did!)Some resources for discounted and used gear (Note: don't buy a used helmet - everything else is fair game!) Jon's greatest lesson learned through sport - Persistence will take you far in life!  More about Jon Nolting (center): Jon joined the SSWSC in 2015 as its Athletic Director and took on the position of Associate Executive Director in conjunction with Athletic Director in 2018.  Jon brings 23 years of experience in club and athletic leadership, coaching and education, 9 years with the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association. He has spearheaded national club and coach education and certification systems in the sports of Alpine, Cross Country and Freestyle skiing, Nordic Combined, and Snowboarding. He has also led significant efforts at the national level implementing best practices in athlete and coach development. Nolting holds a bachelor of science degree in applied mathematics from the University of Colorado, School of Engineering, and a minor in economics. Jon and his wife Darlene have two children who are athletes in the SSWSC. As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!