USSA opens new center to public

The public got its first peek inside the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association’s new headquarters and gym, the “Center of Excellence” in Park City, Utah today. An official ribbon cutting ceremony and public tours marked the facility’s launch into full-time operation following two months of moving, testing and polishing.  

Athletes Ted Ligety, Steven Nyman and T.J. Lanning were on hand to join CEO and President Bill Marolt in welcoming the public to the team’s new, 85,000-square-foot home.

Marolt welcomed the crowd of more than 400 fans, trustees and athletes and thanked them for braving the nearly 100-degree weather to celebrate American snow sports.
The public got its first peek inside the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association’s new headquarters and gym, the “Center of Excellence” in Park City, Utah today. An official ribbon cutting ceremony and public tours marked the facility’s launch into full-time operation following two months of moving, testing and polishing.  

Athletes Ted Ligety, Steven Nyman and T.J. Lanning were on hand to join CEO and President Bill Marolt in welcoming the public to the team’s new, 85,000-square-foot home.

Marolt welcomed the crowd of more than 400 fans, trustees and athletes and thanked them for braving the nearly 100-degree weather to celebrate American snow sports.

“Our dream was to build something that was world class and we have exceeded our expectation,” said Marolt of the ten-year project. “It’s really better than we though it was going to be.”

Marolt was quick to credit the “team” that came together to make the center a reality, thanking donors, architects, city and state leaders and citizens for rallying to build the facility on time and under budget. He also took a moment to ask those in attendance to pray for alpine racer Cody Marshall, who is hospitalized following a serious head injury sustained early Thursday morning.    

Other distinguished guest speakers included Park City mayor Dana Williams, FIS secretary general Sarah Lewis and Olympic gold medalist and Park City native Ligety.

“It’s been so awesome to be a part of this facility,” said Ligety. “It is great for the athletes to able be in here together working out and have that camaraderie between teams that we haven’t been able to have before.”

Media, team members’ families and aspiring young athletes explored the 22.5 million dollar center’s cardio and weight lifting gym, full-size basketball court, ramps and tramps area and nutrition kitchen. For the tour the building was divided into stations where experts in each area instructed visitors on how the team utilizes the center.  Alpine skier Stacey Cook demonstrated a vertical leap measurement device, aerialist Emily Cook tutored visitors on the value of the team’s nutrition center and mogul skier Jeret “Speedy” Peterson flipped and spun on the center’s large trampolines to the ooos and ahhs of young fans.      

“This place is awesome, I like want to live here,” said one young snowboarder while exploring the center. The feeling was mutual among all in attendance.

To see a full photo gallery of the event go to Ski Racing’s Facebook fan page.