Kelble brings experience to regional coaching

USSA took another meaningful step in bolstering the national alpine development system, hiring World Cup veteran Frank Kelble as the Rocky Central regional coach.

Kelble, who has over 25 years of international experience, has coached at every level within the USSA including a long stint with the women’s World Cup speed team that led to the first of what is now 16 World Cup titles by Lindsey Vonn.

“We have strong clubs, great coaches and promising young athletes – it’s an exciting environment to rejoin with my World Cup experience,” said Kelble. “The USSA has a strong athletic focus that’s pointed at building and supporting the next generation of U.S. Ski Team athlete. My goal is to help produce quality projects that directly drive our club athletes to the next level.”

He joins Karin Harjo, who is in her second year as the Western regional coach and an Eastern regional coach yet to be named.

The positions, announced by USSA Alpine Director Patrick Riml, will collaborate with Regional Alpine Development Director Lester Keller to generate further support for USSA clubs and promote cooperation among regions with the goal of increasing the number of regional-level skiers who qualify for the national team.

“Frank Kelble brings an outstanding professional record in creating environments for athletic success,” said Riml. “He knows firsthand what it takes at the highest level of the sport and will be bringing that vast knowledge into our National Development System. The charge for our regional coaches is to look for ways to work with club athletes and coaches within their regions to encourage collaboration in a way that boosts our national development pipeline.”


”The USSA’s fundamental development unit is club programs,” added Keller. “The addition of Frank Kelble and our continued work with Karin Harjo is an integral part in building a long-term plan to strengthen the national alpine development system for both athletes and coaches at the regional level.”

Photo: USSA
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