BECK INTERNATIONAL AWARD

Alpine nomination: Ted Ligety

 Ligety capped a record World Cup season with his fifth and sixth victories in March for his fourth World Cup giant slalom title.  The sixth win links him to the great as the only man to have six GS wins in a single season.  In February, Ligety won three gold medals at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships to become the first man since Jean Claude Killy 45 years ago in 1968 to win three or more gold in one World Championships.

Cross Country nomination: Kikkan Randall Background:  Golden Globe WC Cross-country Sprint Competition two years running.  3rd Overall World Cup.  11 WC podiums.  Top placements in events outside her specialty discipline and distances.

Freestyle nomination: Hannah Kearney

Hannah Kearney is no stranger to success. She won the World Cup Moguls Overall Globe yet again making this number four (4). She's an Olympic Gold medalist, World Champion medalist and broke Ingemar Stenmark’s World Cup winning streak with 16 wins in a row.

This season was a real test for Hannah as she found herself internally injured with just a few weeks before the World Cup season began. She was unable to compete and had to watch the first two World Cups stateside, online, being a fan. She took advantage of this uncanny time off and was able to increase her strength and endurance to new levels. She would return with a vengeance winning her first event back in Lake Placid moving on to win , World Championships including a bronze medal, Are, Sierra Nevada and winning twice in Deer Valley in both singles and duals. She is dedicated to her performance, her skills increase her confidence and her confidence drives her to push even harder. She is a complete athlete/competitor who is responsible for any fault or weakness and seeks to rid herself of that weakness. Her continued goal is world domination in the sport of mogul skiing and she is the definition of determination and best in the world.

Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined nomination: Sarah Hendrickson

We nominate US women’s ski jumping team athlete Sarah Hendrickson (Park City, UT) for this honor. The 18-year-old took the gold medal at this winter’s world championships in in women’s ski jumping and has set herself up to be one of the medal favorites for next year at the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. She also finished second in the overall battle for the season-long World Cup crown, a title she won a year ago. Sarah’s season-long performance was incredible and we feel worthy of consideration for this award.

Snowboarding: Kelly Clark

Easily the winningest woman in halfpipe history, Kelly Clark’s meteoric rise established a legacy, and expectations of greatness that only she can top. Kelly won every major event the past two seasons, crushing all records held before.

Kelly started the 2012/2013 season with a New Zealand World Cup Halfpipe win. She followed that with a huge victory at the X Games, Sochi World Cup, US Open and European XGames. Adding to this dizzying podium list, she received nominations for an ESPY and Nickelodeon Teen Choice Awards. Despite one of the best victory streaks ever, Kelly will still tell you that her most prized achievement is the respect of her female snowboarding peers, and the well-earned reputation of pushing women’s halfpipe riding further than any other, including a first-ever contest 1080 in the pipe last winter.

Freeskiing nomination: David Wise

David Wise won almost every major event during the 2012-13 season. After coming back from a knee injury last season, David was on a mission to come back strong and dominate the field. His hard work paid off with great results starting with the a win at the XGames, then over to win the Park City World Cup, first at World Championships and finally a win at the Euro XGames.

2012-2013 Results: 1st Park City World Cup 1st Aspen XGames 1st World Championships 2nd Euro XGames

PAUL BACON AWARD

Cross Country nomination: Craftsbury Outdoor Center (COC)

Craftsbury has jumped into the organizing scene the past several years and has been instrumental both regionally and nationally with their ability to host the highest caliber races – with or without cooperation from Mother Nature.

Craftsbury again put forth an over-the-top effort in the 2013 ski season. The winter came with a late start, but the savvy COC crew was able to host a full house for Thanksgiving week training and camps, as well as the first Eastern Cup of the season in mid-December. Both events hosted US and Canadian skiers with the Eastern Cup consisting of upwards of 400 racers per day. Last season, the site hosted nearly all Eastern USSA, school and college cross-country ski competitions including the USSA Distance Championships and SuperTour finals. They juggled a multitude of races on their man-made circuit within short time frames spectacularly; special recognition needs to be given for their handling of the Adaptive events in this picture. The efforts included spraying 2 million gallons of water onto their trails; the COC crew moved over 2,500 cubic yards of snow for the Distance Nationals and SuperTour alone.

2 In addition to hosting events Craftsbury, is moving forward to enhance year-round training camps for Nordic, biathlon, running and rowing. This development, along with their emphasis on their successful Green-Team cross-country race team as well vision for the future, makes the site an important USSA/USST partner in the eastern US.

Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined nomination: Harris Hill Ski Jumping Committee

We nominate the Harris Hill Ski Jumping Committee for this award for their continued dedication in promoting the sport of ski jumping with their annual Harris Hill Ski Jumping tournament, held in Brattleboro, VT every February for nearly 100 years. For the last two seasons the club has undertaken the greater responsibility of hosting prestigious FIS Cups in ski jumping-an expensive and hugely time consuming event. This event helps the US team jump in front of American fans. This two-day event for the US TEAM and US development and regional ski jumpers helps our athletes gain much-needed FIS points.

Several years ago the HHSJC completely re-built the ski jump bringing it up to exacting FIS standards, a major project.

This Committee is a volunteer-only group and is dedicated to keeping alive the rich traditions of the sport in the .

Snowboarding/Freeskiing nomination: Copper Mountain Resort

Copper Mountain has been a traditional event and early season camp host for USSA alpine and snowboard competitions for many decades. Copper has really stepped up their commitment to Snowboarding and Freeskiing in the last few years. The Copper Race Department has aggressively hosted three Snowboarding/Freeskiing events: Race to the Cup (PGS, PSL), Hole Shot NorAm (SBX/SX) and the US Snowboarding / US Freeskiing World Cup Grand Prix (HP, SS). Copper is also hosting the USASA Nationals, a six-day event with over 2,500 athletes.

No other resort comes close to hosting as many high-level Snowboarding and Freeskiing events as Copper. The infrastructure and quality of these events set a new standard. The athletes continuingly provide great feedback about the Copper events and high level of venues.

JOHN J. CLAIR JR. AWARD

Alpine nomination: Walt Evans

 FIS Certified Alpine Technical Delegate since 1984 #468  USSA Internationally Certified Coach  Assistant Chief of Race for 2002 OWG M/W slaloms  USSA/RMD Alpine Committee Chairman 1978-1983  USSA Alpine Committee 1997-2012  Russell Wilder Memorial Award (Youth Development) 1996

3  Halstead Memorial Award Recipient (lifelong contributions to skiing) 2002  USSA’s Alpine Domestic and Development Director  FIS Alpine representative to the Youth and Children’s Questions Committee 2006- 2012  Secretary of the FIS NorAm Committee 1997-2012

Cross Country nomination: David Knoop and the National Nordic Foundation

 David is an at-large member of the CC Committee; he has spent several years as a gold member of the USST Foundation and is the Executive Director of the NNF, National Nordic Foundation.  Specific nominee accomplishments in the current season related to the Award: The NNF provides funding for USST Nordic projects involving athletes from USST B- Team status through Junior ranks in Cross-country and Nordic Combined including:  World Cup Competitions  World Championships  World Junior/U23 Championships  Continental Cup Competitions, Nor-Am & Overseas  Scandinavian Cup Competitions  International Training Competitions/Camps  North American Training Camps With respect to the criterion: “benefit to US Teams,” it should be noted that athletes jumped directly from NNF support to the red group of the World Cup and a significant number from the 2012/13 season include: 68 - Individual athletes-part of NNF supported international race opportunities. 38 - International development races supported by the NNF, OPA Cup, etc. 10 - International podium finishes on NNF Pillar Projects 7 - Individual World Cup top 10 finishes by NNF supported athletes 3 - NNF supported B-Team Cross-Country athletes qualified for World Cup Finals. 2 - Number of years in a row an American has been on the podium at OPA Cup Finals.  Any additional accomplishments which would enhance current season nomination: Dave Knoop assumed the organization’s leadership a few years back and quickly grew the yearly operational level from a struggling $35,000 to well into the six figures and significantly broadened the organization’s project base. The NNF, almost single handedly run by Dave Knoop, is a solid and consistent force in US Cross-Country and Nordic Combined Team campaigns today.

BUD AND MARY LITTLE AWARD

Independent Nomination: James McCarthy

Over the past 25 years, Jim McCarthy has been a key game changer for the USSA and its stature in Olympic sport in America. As a leader of the USSA’s Cross Country Committee,

4 McCarthy helped move the sport forward. As the chairman of the USSA, he served at a pivotal period helping engineer a new direction of governance for the USSA.

McCarthy served on the newly re-structured USOC's Board of Directors from its inception in 2003 through February 2007. He also served on the USOC Governance Review task force which drastically changed the dynamics of the board of directors. The USOC had been a 123-person board and 21-person executive committee. After a series of hearings, demands to reform the structure of the USOC led to the creation of the 11-person board and a massive internal reorganization. McCarthy was instrumental in getting the USOC to evolve from a volunteer structure into a staff-driven model. Prior to the USOC restructure, he had been the representative of the USSA to the USOC Board of Directors since 1999. Recently he served on the USOC Independent Advisory Committee which was established in 2009 by the U.S. Olympic Committee Board of Directors to re-assess the USOC's Board structure and operations model.

In 2006, McCarthy was the U.S. Chef de Mission for the Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy and in 2002 he served as a U.S. Assistant Chef de Mission for the Olympic Winter Games in .

From 1996 to 2002, McCarthy was Chairman of the Board of USSA. Prior to serving in that role, he held many positions with the USSA including Interim President and CEO during the summer of 1996. During McCarthy's tenure as Chairman, ski and snowboard athletes progressed from fifth in the 1998 Olympic Winter Games medal count to third in 2002 and the budget for USSA athletic programs doubled.

A graduate of Northwestern University (JD) and the University of Notre Dame (BA, English), McCarthy has been engaged in the private practice of law in Chicago.

BUDDY WERNER AWARD

Alpine nomination: Julia Mancuso

No information provided.

Cross Country nomination: Elizabeth 'Liz' Stephen

Liz Stephen placed 5th in the 2013 World Championships, she is in the “red-group” on the World Cup with an array of top international results, is a seven year USST member and has won an equal number of National Championships.

Without being our most visible athlete, Liz is a respected leader and a built-in source of good energy and positive attitude. Her enthusiasm always fills the space around her as she always cheer on her teammates, leads the charge with support and motivates her Team to perform at their best. At any hint of down-turn, Liz is the catalyst lifting the spirits and making people realize they love what they do which is a key ingredient in the US Women’s Cross Country Team’s success.

5 Liz has been featured in ESPNW bringing enthusiastic, positive exposure to the sport of cross country skiing. She is involved with Fast and Female, an organization activating young girls into cross-country throughout . In the off-time, Liz is frequently found visiting elementary and middle schools, locally, nationally and in foreign countries, for motivating talks or taking them skiing. Liz works with her home region as well as others, bringing enthusiasm and love of the sport to clinics and camps to youth and skiers of all ages.

Liz is a great asset and inspiration to the US Ski Team, a true role model for young athletes everywhere, and is an outstanding candidate in the true spirit of the Buddy Werner Award.

Freestyle nomination: Bradley Wilson

Bradley Wilson earned 2012 rookie of the year, came back in 2013 skiing his way to 4th on the World Cup Grand Prix standings. This is a feat seldom have accomplished after a successful rookie season. This year, Deer Valley was his first podium in World Cup, earning bronze. In Inawashiro, Japan he was 2nd in singles and grabbed his first gold in duals. He then traveled to Are, and took home another bronze medal. He topped his season off being National Champion.

He skis to have fun, this is what allows him to relax and perform when it matters most. For instance, in dual moguls, he has slower starts than his fellow competitors but by relaxing and letting his skis find the way down, he overtakes the world’s best, usually passing them by the bottom air and winning in speed points in the dual. Since he is so kind, some of the other competitors underestimate him.

Brad is the glue that keeps his team together and is the first person to lend a hand to his teammates. Even if he didn't have a great day on the hill, he's still out cheering on his teammates and his brother, Bryon Wilson. He wants success for his whole team. He is the definition of a team player.

Snowboarding nomination: Ross Powers

Ross Powers is one of the legendary figures in the history of competitive snowboarding. He is one of the most decorated Halfpipe riders and winner of the first US Gold medal in the sport by spearheading the historic sweep of the podium in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games. Between 1995 and 2000, Ross racked up an astounding 20 World Cup Halfpipe Podiums along with countless podiums in X-Games and US Open competitions.

After a brief hiatus after retiring from competitive halfpipe riding, Ross turned his immense talents to Snowboardcross. In a short time, he made the leap from the NorAm level to the World Cup and a spot on the US Snowboard Team, this time as a Snowboardcross athlete. In 2009, Ross earned his first podium at World Cup Snowboardcross event and repeated that feat during the 2010 Olympic selection process in Telluride, CO. Even with a World Cup podium, Ross narrowly missed making his 3rd US Olympic Team. With the prospect of a spot in 2014 still in mind, Ross recently turned his attention to coaching at the prestigious Stratton Mountain School in his Vermont hometown.

But, Ross’s influence will be felt far beyond competition and even coaching. In 2001, he founded the Ross Powers Foundation to help talented riders make it to the elite levels by

6 providing funds for education, travel and competition. Today, by enlisting the help of fellow Olympians Seth Westcott, Darren Rahlves, Lenny Kratzenburg and Michael Phelps, the Level Field Fund provides funding for dozens of athletes from the entry level to elite athletes currently on the US Ski and Snowboard Teams. Ross’s efforts have been recognized in the media by ESPN, The Boston Globe, USA Today and Ski Racing Magazine. Throughout the course of his career, Ross has been a great champion and a great sportsman. But his lasting impact will be through the dozens of athletes whom Ross is helping through his philanthropic efforts.

Freeskiing nomination: Keri Herman

The women on the US Freeskiing Team are all incredibly close. Anyone who has spent time around them knows that they are very tight-knit, always root for one another, and truly embody the spirit of team in what is essentially an individual sport.

No one on the team is a better representative of that spirit than Keri Herman. Whether at a Dew Tour, a Grand Prix, X Games or a sponsor photo shoot, there will be no one with a bigger smile on her face than Keri. Friends with all of the other skiers, Keri’s goodwill, friendliness and laughter are a much needed respite from the pressure that comes at these events. This season the Freeskiing community lost a dear friend and fellow athlete, Sarah Burke. Keri helped organize the XGames memorial for Sarah, produced stickers for all of the athletes to remember Sarah during the XGames and through the season. Keri was always there to help a friend through a tough moment and focus on the positive.

Keri’s good nature remains the same no matter where she finishes at a competition (though it is usually on the podium), and that serves to lift the spirits of all of the competitors at an event.

RUSSELL WILDER AWARD

Alpine nomination: Stephanie Prater

I would like to nominate Stephanie Prater of the Prater family for her continued support of ski racing in the Rocky Mountain Division.

Stephanie Prater continues to sponsor the J4 Junior Championship Qualifier in Crested Butte. The Prater Cup just finished its 33rd year. The event started out as the RMD J4 Championships and then turned into the J4 qualifier when Rocky/Central went to a J4 Regional Championships, now it is the RMD U14 qualifier for the Rocky Mountain Division.

Prater Cup is an event that every U14 that has ever attended has fond memories of. Parents who competed in it are excited to go back to Crested Butte to watch their children experience the same love of skiing and excitement that they themselves experienced as a child at the event. These parents don't remember how they place at the event, they remember the event and how their nation's team did.

Not only is Prater Cup a ski race, it is an event. Athletes are divided up into Nations teams and earn Sportsmanship points for good behavior that is witnessed by the race organizers.

7 There other events, the cookie crack up and basketball game. The top five Nations teams with the most overall points winning prizes. Big prizes, like a new pair of skis.

Stephanie Prater works tirelessly to support this event and gather all the prizes for the athletes. Stephanie has led the charge for last 12 years I have attended this event. She does not have a child that ski races, she does it because she wants to support the memory of her lost family member, but also to support the love of ski racing that he had. She makes Prater Cup an amazing event for the athletes who attend, providing memories that will last forever. I am honored to have witnessed this kind of dedication to our sport that Stephanie Prater has shown.

Cross Country nomination: New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA)

NENSA’s focus on youth development in Nordic skiing has yielded tremendous results in the past decade. This season highlighted the key events NENSA has placed as stepping-stones in the regional development pipeline.

At NENSA it begins with the Bill Koch Festival, a two-day celebration of skiing with races and non-competitive activities focused on fun and skiing fundamentals while exposing over 500 youth skiers to the sport in an exciting venue. This year’s Festival, the “Boston Ski Party” took place in Boston, MA during winter storm “Nemo,” adding to the adventure for the young skiers involved. Bill Koch attends annually and Peter Graves served as this year’s announcer to bring a world-class feel to the event.

The next stop is the NENSA J2 Championship, a three-day, event that brings the best young skiers in the region together to compete on state teams at a big year-end championship. The 2013 event was highlighted by family-style dinner in the tradition of host Holderness dining hall, a large guest class from the great lakes and Midwest, an impromptu jumping competition and three days of great competition among young athletes culminating in the co- ed team relay for all 200 athletes.

Once NENSA athletes graduate from the youth ranks to compete in high school, they come together at season’s end for a four-race, three-day Eastern High School Championship. This event offers big-race experience and exposure to high school kids from New England and Canada. The camaraderie between state teams is palpable, and the event gives over 200 athletes a new platform on which to shine, and exposure to a variety of race formats they may not see in high school racing including wave starts, individuals starts, team sprinting, and seeded mass starts.

NENSA also continues to support the junior athletes seeking the next level with additional training and racing opportunities. At the junior elite level, the pipeline includes summer training camp opportunities, New England Junior National Team organization and supplemental athlete funding through NENSA’s Athlete Fund.

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Alpine nomination: Esther DelliQuadri

Rocky Mountain Division/ United States Ski and Snowboard Association Esther became involved in the governance of competition skiing in 1983 and remains very involved today, she has served as President, Treasurer, Chairman of many influential leadership groups within Colorado and also representing Colorado at the National level. Esther's influence with progressive and innovative programming led to many important projects including: the USSA Junior Olympic system, the Colorado Ski Games and the Rocky Mountain Trophy Series.

Her interest in the governance had two critical emphases: 1. Concern for the healthy development and environment for alpine competitors. 2. Ensuring that the racing environment is challenging but safe.

Colorado Major Event Production and Officiating Beginning in 1979 Esther has been instrumental in recruiting, training and developing ski race officials including: race administrators, referees, timers, chief of race, chief of course and technical delegates. Her commitment to this critical challenge is emphasized with her current leadership position as the President of the Rocky Mountain Certified Ski Race Officials. This local organization designs clinic content, delivers education, trains and mentors officials and promotes them in the system as their expertise develops. Esther is certified as a Technical Delegate by the FIS, she is one of 6 women TDs in the United States, and this is the highest possible certification for alpine officials.

Summary points 1. Founder and leader of several organizations (SSWSC, RMD, RMSRO, and USSA) focused on the healthy development of Colorado youth devoted to providing affordable skiing and snowboarding opportunities for motivated athletes. 2. Innovator and promoter in helping to develop a USSA Youth Ski League that has roots in Colorado known as the Buddy Werner League. Esther helped to organize the leagues in Colorado into an Eastern Council and a Western Council to promote affordable, fun, team racing for children in Colorado. 3. Avid supporter of the education and certification system of "alpine officials". The system is devoted to fair and safe competition events and venues for alpine racers. Esther has been instrumental for over 30 years in recruiting and training.

Cross Country nomination: James 'Jim' Rodrigues

Jim Rodrigues has been a tireless volunteer and resource person since the 1980s and never missed a season. Beyond his technical acumen as a TD, Rodrigues brings unsurpassed enthusiasm as an event volunteer and keeps a consistent focus on educational opportunities within the New England Nordic Ski Association, NENSA. He has for the past seven seasons served as NENSA’s Event Manager.

Jim’s TD resume speaks for itself, but what sets him apart is his constant search for ways to contribute to the Nordic community, and to offer his expertise in any capacity – officially or advisory. Jim has launched an annual Event Organizer Seminar to help New England race directors and venues raise the bar in their operations ranging from homologation of

9 championship level race courses to hosting Bill Koch League events. He is a tremendous regional resource, quietly helping bring premier competitions to New England, including this year’s NCAA Championship in Middlebury, VT and next year’s USSA Junior National Championship slated for Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe.

Besides his multi-facetted role as an official, Jim is the person to do what is needed, make the call, pick up the shovel or jump in the Pisten-Bully to groom the course. Whatever questions need to be answered and whichever tasks need to be done; Jim is a resource.

Jim TD’d his 100th event this season and has been one of the most consistent – and consistently good – figures in New England Nordic skiing. For all his tireless work in all aspects of our sport, Jim Rodrigues is a great candidate for the USSA Westhaven Award.

Jim Rodrigues – short resume summary: - 78 USSA & FIS Events - 11 NENSA Regional Championships & Festivals - Multiple State Championships & Other Events - 2013 TD JN's Fairbanks AK. - 2012 Jury Member: SuperTour Finals: Craftsbury, VT - 2012 Chief of Course: Championships Rumford, ME - 2010 Chief of Course: Nordic Combined & Jumping Junior Nationals: Salisbury, CT - 2010 TD: FIS Marathon: Sapporo, Japan FIS Marathon - 2009 Jury Member: SuperTour Finals: Fort Kent, ME - 2009 TD: FIS American Birkebeiner: Hayward, WI - 2008 TD: FIS Gatineau Marathon: Ottawa, Canada - 2006 TD: Junior Nationals: Houghton, MI - 2005 TDA: NCAA Championships, Stowe, VT - 2004 TDA: Junior Nationals: Lake Placid, NY - 2002 TDA: Spring Series: Bolton VT

Snowboarding nomination: Bill Van Gilder

William Van Gilder is a major backbone in the Snowboarding Community. He started out as an athlete in the 90's. When his athletic career ended, he immediately transitioned into running an event series in his home state of Pennsylvania. He wanted to make sure kids had the opportunity to compete, no matter where they lived.

Fast forward 10 years and Bill is the committed volunteer working as President of the USASA, he is the go-to-guy for the U S Snowboarding Revolution Tour working as the Technical Advisor, and he is still running his own event series in Pennsylvania.

In the role of the USASA President, Bill has helped bridge the gap between grassroots snowboarding at the USASA level to the elite US Snowboarding level. Bill pushed aside all of the politics and worked to do what is right for the athletic pipeline. He has paved the way to allow athletes to transition seamlessly from USASA to the US Snowboarding level.

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Alpine nomination: Curt Hammond

Curt is a long-time Technical Delegate who has represented the USA Alpine FIS TDs with distinction for decades at every level of FIS Competition. Over the years, Curt handled some unique and potentially controversial situations with an always calm, professional, and reasoned approach. His deportment in stressful situations defused many potential confrontations and lent a real and perceivable air of fair competition to athletes, coaches and race organizers.

Curt stepped down in 2012 and 2013 to pursue other skiing goals. All who worked with him will miss his counsel and support.

Cross Country nomination: Allan Serrano

As US Cross-country is advancing at a rocketing pace, Al Serrano is an outstanding, progressive representative in the line-up of international officials. In short Al has:  Spent decades in USSA cross-country ranging from club and NCAA coaching through top level FIS TD.  Gone through the ranks of USSA officiating duties.  Served as USSA appointed Technical Advisor for Cross-country Nationals.  Become one of very few North American FIS TDs at the World Cup level.  Become a member of the FIS Rules and Controls Committee  In 2013 served as TD @ Quebec City World Cup.  In 2013 served as TD @ Liberec, CZE, World Cup.

Freestyle nomination: Ed Albert

Ed Albert has been an A license FIS TD since 2008. Ed has had a long running involvement with the sport of Freestyle Skiing.

Technical Delegate History: FIS B TD License approved, Zurich 2006 TD/Chief of Comp/Starter for numerous Eastern Freestyle A Level and B Level meets. TD Eastern Freestyle A Level Championships 2004, 2005, 2006 Assistant TD – NorAm, Killington, VT 2004 – Rick Howard, TD TD – NorAm, Mt. Gabriel, Canada 2007 – Moguls, Duals, Aerials – Wayne Hinkel, Head Judge TD – NorAm, Val St. Come, Canada 2008 – Wayne Hinkel, Head Judge Assistant TD – World Cup, Lake Placid, NY 2008 – 2 Moguls, 1 Aerial TD – 2009 US Freestyle Championship, Squaw Valley, CA TD – 2011, 2012 US Freestyle Championship, Stratton Mountain, VT TD – 2012 World Cup Voss, Eastern Freestyle A Rules and Technical Chairman, 2007-2008

Ed began his officiating career being Chief of Competition and TD for Eastern Division freestyle events since 2004. Ed has also been Chief of Competition for many U.S. NorAms and the 2006 & 2007 Killington Freestyle National Championships prior to moving into his TD role.

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As the Rules and Technical Chairman for Eastern Freestyle Division since 2007, Ed has been instrumental in running TD clinics to educate all Eastern TDs. On top of his normal Rules and Technical duties, Ed conducts a TD/Chief of Competition seminar with a self created multi-media CD presentation.

Ed is also currently the Head TD on the Freestyle and Freesking Sports Committee, Rules and Officials Committee, this role has been instrumental in guiding the transition of Freestyle and Freeskiing becoming joined as one sports committee and the challenge of incorporating two more Olympic disciplines (Slopestyle and Halfpipe) into the USSA rules.

While all the above accomplishments are a testament to Ed Albert’s commitment to the sports of Freestyle and Freesking, Ed’s most impressive quality is the way he handles his position as TD. Ed does an amazing job of balancing the tasks and requirements as TD, with a manner that helps Organizers, Events Staff and Coaches. He balances the needs of safety, fairness, organization, and production value for each event for which he is TD. Ed is truly a role model for TDs to aspire to. This season Ed traveled to be a spectator and watch his daughter compete. He noticed that the organizers were struggling and he jumped right in without question to help. He continues to go above and beyond because he loves the sport.

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