Annual U.S. Ski Team Fundraiser Nets Record Funding

By Published On: November 18th, 2019Comments Off on Annual U.S. Ski Team Fundraiser Nets Record Funding

On the tail-end of a long and productive week of on-hill training at the U.S. Ski Team Speed Center at Copper Mountain, Colorado, and off-hill responsibilities, including media and sponsor activities, the U.S. Alpine Team held their annual fundraiser in Vail, raising a record of nearly $200,000. 

Every year, athletes use this fall fundraiser as a means to raise funding to defray travel costs. Once again, Randy and Heather Viola and Chalie and Ariane Viola have generously hosted at Yama Sushi, providing sushi for the athletes and supporters. This year, there was a record crowd, filling the space with good energy and great conversation.

Tiger Shaw, President and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, addressed attendees, thanking them for their support, followed by alpine athlete Thomas Biesemeyer, who took the lead from the athletes’ side to organize the fundraiser. Thomas introduced teammates Olympian and Junior World Downhill Champion Alice Merryweather and local Vail Valley double Junior World Champion River Radamus, who each shared a powerful story about their careers with the crowd. 

Attendees were encouraged to give a donation, while those who were unable to physically attend had the option to donate online and/or bid on unique auction items, including double Olympic champion and five-time World Champion Mikaela Shiffrin’s historic gold medal-winning Spyder slalom suit as well as two pairs of her signature Oakley goggles. Through donations and the silent auction, the team had a record year, raising nearly $200,000.

The U.S. Alpine Ski Team will finish up their final prep period camp at Copper Mountain, with tech athletes traveling to Levi, Finland, for the World Cup slalom opener on November 23-24 followed by the women in Killington, Vermont, while the speed teams put the final touches on their downhill and super-G skiing as they prepare for the start of the North American tour in Lake Louise, Canada and Beaver Creek, Colorado.

Release courtesy of U.S. Ski & Snowboard.

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