USSA names athlete, club and coach of the year

As part of the annual U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) Congress, the association recognized accomplished athletes, coaches and leaders at the Chairman’s Awards Dinner on Friday night. The awards include USSA gold awards, silver awards and athlete, coach and club of the year awards in each sport.

The late Bob Dart was honored with this year’s Julius Blegen Award, the organization’s highest honor, presented to a USSA member who contributed his or her outstanding service to the sports of skiing or snowboarding in the U.S. As both a volunteer and a ski area professional, Dart was the quintessential USSA supporter, dedicating much of his life to serving athletes as a competition official, mountain manager, committee leader and technical delegate based out of Colorado’s Winter Park Competition Center.

Gold award recipients included U.S. Alpine Ski Team coach Brandon Dyksterhouse, who works with the women’s World Cup tech team and was honored as International Coach of the Year. His athletes saw success on the World Cup and beyond this season, including five consecutive World Cup victories from Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin.

With strong programs across all USSA’s sports, Carrabassett Valley Academy (CVA) was honored with the Club of the Year award. CVA achieved gold status in the USSA’s club certification program in 2015.

FIS technical delegate Paul Van Slyke has served as a FIS technical delegate for over 18 years and was honored with the Westhaven Award in recognition of his service.

U.S. Cross Country Ski Team athlete Jessie Diggins received the Beck International Award for her performance in international competition. Diggins had a breakthrough season on the World Cup. She skied to seven podiums, including her first individual win, leading the women’s cross country ski team to one of its best seasons ever. Mammoth Snowboard Team’s Ben Wisner, who has worked with athletes such as Chloe Kim and Maddie Mastro, received the Development Coach of the Year award.

Fenway Sports Group, NANA Nordic and Dr. Terry Orr received USSA silver awards for their service to the sports. Fenway Sports Group joined forces with the USSA this season to host the Polartec Big Air at Fenway, the most successful U.S. Grand Prix event in history, and will be presented with the Paul Bacon Award for event organization. NANA Nordic, an Alaska-based USSA club that uses cross-country skiing to promote a healthy lifestyle, will receive the Russell Wilder Award for contribution to youth. Orr, who is retiring from active duty with the medical pool, has served as team physician for the men’s alpine team for 14 seasons and worked four Olympic Games.

Other USSA silver award recipients include Tom Winters for his service to the FIS and USOC, Laurie Stevens for her service as a USSA official, Dr. Randy Viola for his service as a team physician, U.S. Freeskiing athlete Gus Kenworthy for demonstrating leadership and good sportsmanship both on and off the snow and Olympian Bryan Fletcher for his work with his foundation, ccThrive.

2016 U.S. SKI AND SNOWBOARD ASSOCATION AWARDS

USSA Diamond Award
Julius Blegen Award (Highest honor for service to sport) – Bob Dart (Winter Park, CO)

USSA Gold Awards
Beck International Award (top USSA athlete) – Jessie Diggins (Afton, MN)
USSA Coach of the Year Award – Brandon Dyksterhouse (Vail, CO; U.S. Alpine Ski Team)
USSA Development Coach of the Year Award – Ben Wisner (Mammoth Lakes, CA; Mammoth Snowboard Team)
USSA Club of the Year Award – Carrabassett Valley Academy
Westhaven Award (top USSA technical delegate) – Paul Van Slyke (Lake Placid, NY)

USSA Silver Awards
Paul Bacon Award (event organization) – Fenway Sports Group
John J. Clair Jr. Award (service to the U.S. Ski Team) – Dr. Terry Orr (South Lake Tahoe, CA)
Bud and Mary Little Award (service to FIS/USOC) – Tom Winters (Tucson, AZ)
Buddy Werner Award (athlete sportsmanship, leadership) – Gus Kenworthy (Telluride, CO)
Russell Wilder Award (service to youth) – NANA Nordic
USSA J. Leland Sosman Award (service as team physician) – Dr. Randy Viola (Vail, CO)
West Family Award (USSA official) – Laurie Stevens (Campton, NH)

USSA Athlete of the Year Awards
Adaptive Athlete of the Year Award – Oksana Masters (Louisville, KY)
Alpine Athlete of the Year Award – Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO)
Cross Country Athlete of the Year Award – Jessie Diggins (Afton, MN)
Freestyle Athlete of the Year Award – Ashley Caldwell (Ashburn, VA)
Freeskiing Athlete of the Year Award – Gus Kenworthy (Telluride, CO)
Nordic Combined Athlete of the Year Award – Ben Loomis (Eau Claire, WI)
Ski Jumping Athlete of the Year Award – Kevin Bickner (Park City, UT)
Snowboarding Athlete of the Year Award – Chloe Kim (Torrence, CA)

USSA Coach of the Year Awards
Adaptive International Coach of the Year Award – Ben Black (Aspen, CO; U.S. Paralympic Team)
Adaptive Domestic Coach of the Year Award – Ray Watkins (Heber City, UT; U.S. Paralympic Team)
Alpine International Coach of the Year Award – Brandon Dyksterhouse (Vail, CO; U.S. Alpine Ski Team)
Alpine Domestic Coach of the Year Award – Rob Worrell (Vail, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail)
Cross Country International Coach of the Year Award – Jason Cork (North Pole, AK)
Cross Country Domestic Coach of the Year Award – Sten Fjeldheim (Marquette, MI)
Freestyle International Coach of the Year Award – Todd Ossian (Park City, UT; U.S. Freestyle Ski Team)
Freestyle Domestic Coach of the Year Award – Nori Pepe (Killington, VT; Killington Mountain School)
Freeskiing International Coach of the Year Award – Ben Verge (Ketchum, ID; U.S. Freeskiing)
Freeskiing Domestic Coach of the Year Award – Dave Euler (Park City, UT; Team Park City United)
Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined International Coach of the Year Award – Bine Norcic (Slovenia; USA Nordic)
Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined Domestic Coach of the Year Award – Scott Smith (Cary, IL; Norge Ski Club)
Snowboarding International Coach of the Year Award – Dave Reynolds (Bend, OR; U.S. Snowboarding)
Snowboarding Domestic Coach of the Year Award – Ben Wisner (Mammoth Lakes, CA; Mammoth Snowboard Team)

USSA Club of the Year Awards
Adaptive Club of the Year Award – Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club
Alpine Club of the Year Award – Ski & Snowboard Club Vail
Cross Country Club of the Year Award – Stratton T2
Freestyle Club of the Year Award – Killington Mountain School
Freeskiing Club of the Year Award – Mammoth Mountain Ski and Snowboard Club
Jumping/Nordic Combined Club of the Year Award – Flying Eagles Ski Club
Snowboarding Club of the Year Award – Carrabassett Valley Academy

Release and photo courtesy of USSA