Former US Ski Team coach takes on new role at Steamboat Springs

The Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club (SSWSC) announced that Adam Chadbourne will be its new alpine competitive program director. After evaluating a large field of qualified candidates, SSWSC believes that Chadbourne’s credentials and leadership will serve the club well as it continues to build upon and enhance a strong alpine program.

As former alpine program director for Burke Mountain Academy in Vermont, snowsports director at Waterville Valley in New Hampshire, and a four-year U.S. Ski Team coach, Chadbourne is well prepared for his new role as alpine competitive program director. He was honored by both USSA and the Vermont Alpine Racing Association as Coach of the Year in 2010. In 2007, he led the Burke Mountain Academy alpine program to USSA Club of the Year honors. In his coaching roles, Adam has worked closely with multiple Olympic medalists, including Mikaela Shiffrin, Andrew Weibrecht and Ted Ligety. While working in the Eastern Region of USSA, Chadbourne was the chairman of the Eastern Development Committee, where he focused on enhancing training and competition opportunities for Eastern alpine ski racers.

“To say that I am thrilled to join the SSWSC team is an understatement,” Chadbourne said. “I am proud to embrace this super community of active young people and tremendous coaches. Given the quality of the current staff and the number of great athletes involved in the alpine program at SSWSC, there is no question that we can continue the work that has been done and strive not just to be the strongest program in the country athletically, but also to develop the best young men and women of integrity, ethics, and intrinsic motivation in all that we do. We’ll hold fast to our principles, and we’ll ski like there is nothing to lose!”

SSWSC is confident that Chadbourne will excel in his new role, and is excited to have a coach and leader with such diverse experience.

“We are very pleased to welcome Adam and his family to the Steamboat community,” said Athletic Director Jon Nolting. “With the recent addition of the SSWSC-Stevens Family Alpine Venue at Steamboat Ski Resort and the amazing training opportunities at Howelsen Hill, the SSWSC alpine program is well positioned to accelerate its current success. This along with the incredible community support system in place here are two big factors that have motivated Adam to make the commitment to Steamboat. Our club’s vision is to produce champions both on and off the mountain. Adam clearly knows what it takes to produce champions on the mountain. However, his appreciation for the growth of children as individuals through their participation in ski racing is what makes him unique and a great fit for the SSWSC.”

Chadbourne and his wife, Alison, and their two daughters will be moving to Steamboat this summer. The alpine program was formerly directed by three-time Olympian Caroline Lalive-Carmichael, who will remain with the club as a coach in the alpine discipline. Currently, the alpine program has nearly 500 athletes. To date, the SSWSC has produced a record of 88 Olympians who have achieved 151 Olympic appearances in 19 Winter Games representing 12 countries; more than any other town in North America.

Release courtesy of SSWSC, cover photo by Couloir Images