Dear SSWSC Members and Supporters;
In 2020-21, when faced with unprecedented challenges, we were reminded of how important our work with the youth of our community really is and why we do what we do. Our staff and our generous supporters contributed to an incredible experience of normalcy for over 1,000 young athletes in our programs. Gratefully, we were able to operate, uninterrupted, through the summer and winter seasons. The value and importance of our programs for kids and their families was immeasurable. Perhaps more than any other year, the SSWSC made a real difference in kids’ lives.
Like many others, despite the long history of the club, in 2020 we found ourselves in uncharted waters. We safely navigated through the pandemic and experienced one of our most successful years ever. Thanks to the incredible support of all of our community partners and generous donors, we were able to increase scholarship funds by 30% to help our families struggling with the financial impacts of the pandemic. Our membership and our coaching staff grew, and we were able to successfully conduct all of our programming and all of our athletic events. We missed some of our annual fundraising events and we all adjusted to a modified Winter Carnival that 100% focused on building memories for the kids. Even without our largest fundraising event of the year, we were overwhelmed by the support from so many who went “all in” to support the club. With the additional impact of a PPP loan, which was forgiven, it was a strong financial year for the club.
In spite of the challenges, we celebrated when two of our coaches were named Coach of the Year by US Ski & Snowboard and three young women made history by competing in the first ever women’s Nordic Combined World Cup and World Championships events. We were also proud of our new U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team and NCAA team nominations, and the many personal-best performances across the board. Perhaps most important, the satisfaction of our members was the highest it’s been in years, with the majority of our members responding in our annual survey that their children’s programs didn’t just meet, but exceeded their expectations.
This 2020/2021 season annual report is a celebration of everyone’s contribution to a year like no other in our 107-year history. As we look forward, our focus will be on planning for the future to satisfy the needs of our growing and changing community while we strive, with your support, to be the best at producing champions on and off the mountain.
With sincere appreciation,
Sarah and Jon
It was so important for my son to have the ability to be active and get outside this winter
with his friends and coaches, especially because of the COVID restrictions and how much
they were negatively impacting other aspects of his life. Thank you for all you did this
season to keep your programs running."
-SSWSC Parent
Sarah Floyd
Executive Director
Jon Nolting
Associate Executive Director
New Barrows Chairilift at Howelsen Hill
At the end of the winter season, the replacement of the nearly fifty- year-old, two-person Barrows Chairlift at Howelsen Hill began thanks to a partnership between the SSWSC and the City of Steamboat Springs. A generous donation by Smartwool and the VF Corporation made this $3 million project possible.
The new SkyTrac triple chairlift is set to open in December 2021. With greater uphill capacity, the new lift will mean less waiting in lift lines and more efficient training for SSWSC groups, as well as a better experience for the general public. The new lift alignment brings the base slightly closer to the lodge, improving accessibility. It will also provide a better experience in the summers for guests of the alpine slide, which is operated by the SSWSC.
