Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club Show

Building Dreams with Ski Legend & Coach Todd Wilson

Meet our Ski Jumping & Nordic Combined Program Director Todd Wilson, who just so happens to be a 2-time Olympian who stumbled into coaching as a way to temporarily give back to the sport he loves so much. 30 years later he has given back more than he could have ever imagined. 
 
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Today we cover the following and so much more:
Todd's early years growing up on skis in Winter Park, Colorado
His first big jump in Steamboat at age 8 (spoiler: it was not pretty) & why he decided to try again (spoiler: life lesson alert!)
A short walk down ski history lane
What it was like to compete as a pro nordic combined athlete for a decade and why he decided to stop
The importance of having role models: how having heroes helps kids build dreams
The down-low on Steamboat's amazing ski jumping facility
And about a hundred life nuggets thrown in for good measure :)
For more Todd Wilson:
Todd oversees a professional staff of twenty-five coaches involved in the training of over 150 athletes. He started jumping with the Winter Park jumping program at the age of five and took his first jumps at Howelsen Hill at age eight. In 1984 he was named to the U.S. Nordic Combined Ski Team and competed internationally for nine seasons, which included the Winter Olympic teams of 1988 and 1992 and the World Championship Teams in 1985 and 1987. Todd began coaching with SSWSC in 1993 while he attended college at Colorado Mountain College. His first tour of duty with the SSWSC was as head coach for the U10 Team and then he was named Nordic Combined Head Coach the following year. In 2000 he was promoted to Nordic Program Director to oversee all the club’s Nordic sports of ski jumping, cross country, nordic combined and biathlon. With growth in the club’s nordic sports, in 2010 Todd was named Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined Program Director. This is Todd’s 29th season with SSWSC. Todd served as chairman for the USSA Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Coaches Subcommittee for 12 years and was a finalist for the 2003, US Olympic Committee’s Development Coach of the Year Award. The SSWSC SJ/NC program has won the US Ski & Snowboard’s SJ/NC Club of the Year Award the last four years. Todd and his wife, Stephanie, live in downtown Steamboat Springs with their two daughters, Maggie and Ella.
As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!

4-time Olympian Ann Battelle - A True Champion On & Off the Mountain

It's not every day you get to hear from a 4-time Olympian, World Champion Mogul Skier & 6-time National Champion, so when you do, you take your time and get the full story! Ann Battelle is not only a champion on the mountain, she's a champion human off the mountain too as she shares her passion and experience with the next generation of freestyle skiers as our moguls coach for all ages. 
 
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Today's conversation is a roller coaster - part trip down memory lane and part big picture lessons and insights. 
We cover the following and so much more:
What the sport of freestyle skiing is & how Ann got into it
Ann's background as an athletic outdoorsy girl dabbling in lots of sports including soccer, gymnastics and more on the east coast
Ann actually started her competitive athletic career in a different sport - she played collegiate soccer at Middlebury College
It's never too late to start a new sport if strong athletic foundations are in place - soccer and gymnastics translated perfectly to her new passion
How a little cockiness was required for Ann to make the switch to freestyle skiing & set incredibly lofty goals after college
Ann shares her roller coaster career as a 4-time Olympian dealing with successes and trying times - it's hard not to give her a hug in the middle when she talks openly about her Olympic disappointments
Topics include: mental blocks, coming back after injuries, perseverance, setting goals and more
Advice for parents: "This is your kid's journey."
Quote of the day: "Let me be me."
 
For more on Ann Battelle (shown here at the top of the course with her daughter who is a U19 racer!):
Ann is Steamboat’s first four-time Olympian as well as World Champion Mogul Skier. She discovered Freestyle Ski Racing at the end of her college experience & competed for the SSWSC from 1989-2002. She moved to the Front Range and started 5 Circle Fitness, an outdoor ski and sports conditioning fitness business. After a particularly frustrating 9-hour commute (the drive usually takes under 3 hours) from Steamboat back to the Front Range, the Battelle's decided to return to Steamboat in 2014. She joined the SSWSC as a coach this time with two daughters in the freestyle program. Ann has coached at all levels in the program, and is currently working with kids of all ages. 
As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!

Greatest Lessons Learned Through Sport with Athletic Director Dave Stewart

Meet our Athletic Director Dave Stewart! He's one of those guys you wish you had known your entire life. He's fun, honest, open and positive, but he can also dig deep and share openly about the big questions, the ones that help create our value systems.
 
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This episode is all about the big question, the one we ask every guest who comes on the show - What's the greatest lesson you've learned through sport? We decided Dave would be the perfect guest to dissect this question. Get ready for a fun ride through Dave's athletic history into his current role as Athletic Director for the club. 
In particular:
Lots of discussion about parenting: how his parents impacted his athletic journey and how he took what he learned forward through his coaching and his own parenting. There are many ideas for parents who are listening to ponder and incorporate into their approaches.
The bread crumbs approach: Whether it was intentional or not, Dave followed the bread crumbs his parents left for him to great athletic success and beyond
The myth of talent or gift
Don't jump ahead. Let a 10 year old be a 10 year old!
How lessons learned through sport are different than lessons learned in other ways
Sport is about helping all athletes uncover their limitless potential, not about targeting only those who are seen to have talent
Resiliency: Sport is about learning to get up again. 
Dave's greatest lesson: Our fundamental, universal skill or talent is our ability to learn. It's not about being good or bad at something. It's about choosing to put in the necessary work, time, planning and we can become proficient at anything. 
Today we invite you to consider this question:What is the greatest lesson you've learned through sport?
We want to hear from you! Please reach out on our social media channels or leave a comment here with your greatest lessons.
As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!
For more on Dave Stewart:
Dave was the nordic skiing head coach for 12 years at the University of Denver.  In that time he led his teams to six NCAA titles, two individual titles, and he coached 21 NCAA All-Americans. Dave was named the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association’s Nordic Coach of the Year six times. He raced cross country through college and later as a pro athlete. He received his Masters of Business Administration from the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver.

Olympian Olivia Giaccio - Keep it Simple & Keep it Fun

Fresh off 6th place at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, Olivia first hit the national radar in 2016 when she was the junior national champion followed in 2017 as the dual mogul junior world champion. After that, she turned pro, hit the world cup tour and started racking up results and confidence. In 2018, she was the first alternate for the Winter Olympic Games. Four years later she got retribution, and not only made the team, but made the finals. While we're in awe of her 6th place finish at the games, we may be even more in awe of the fact that she is a brilliant and driven student, currently enrolled at ivy league school, Columbia University in New York City. Olivia was so gracious to spend time with both Nicole and Wilder DeBoom today, openly sharing her journey to Beijing & beyond.
 
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Fine print: 20% off entire order, online only, no minimum purchase, good on subscriptions & one-time purchases, one use per customer, active until 12/31/22
 
Notables:
When things get tough and you wonder if you should keep trying, tap back into why you loved it in the first place
It's important to remember that your identity does not rely upon skiing; that you are more than the thing you do.
Hindsight is 20/20
Mindset work is key: Olivia is always seeking ways to improve hers
Parental support is #1. Her parents truly listened to her, understood what she wanted and then helped her make that happen.
Olivia's advice to all the kids out there who are chasing their athletic dreams: Keep it simple and keep it fun!
*This episode includes an extra credit bonus feature with 10-year old interviewer Wilder DeBoom (shown below with Olivia when she came to Wilder's SSWSC Alpine practice!) - listen to hear the stuff that REALLY MATTERS like snacks, dogs and overcoming your fears.
As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!

The Parent Trap: Navigating Winter Sports for 3 Very Different Kids with Laura & Kevin Sankey

Meet Kevin & Laura Sankey, parents to three incredibly amazing, incredibly different kids - all of whom have experienced the SSWSC in different ways with their own definitions of happiness and success. Today we seek to explore how to navigate the Club's offerings for multiple children with diverse interests. We couldn't think of a better couple to kick off this conversation than the Sankeys!
 
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Fine print: 20% off entire order, online only, no minimum purchase, good on subscriptions & one-time purchases, one use per customer, active until 12/31/22
 
Today we cover:
The Sankey kids' journeys: How Logan, Nolan and Colton all found their niches
How much the Sankeys pushed their kids (very little) vs letting their kids lead (mostly)
The difference between nurturing and pushing your kids
Parent-coaching pitfall advice: "Don't try to coach your kids"
For parents who know nothing about the sports their kids are doing: In a nutshell, let them educate you!
What the Sankeys did right and what they did wrong: This is worth listening to as they asked their kids to grade them on their sport-parenting (some tears may have escaped while reading their notes)!
Trust the process: Your kids' coaches know what they're doing!
Most important advice! DON'T WAIT UNTIL THERE'S AN ISSUE TO START CONNECTING WITH YOUR KIDS' COACH! 
Action item: When your kid starts their sport season, reach out to the coach and ask this question, "What can we as parents do to help you coach our athletes and develop them as much as possible?"
As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!

Conditioning 101: Sady Tobin Sets Your Kids Up with a Long-Term Fitness Base

Today we hear from Sady Tobin, Director of Strength & Conditioning for the club. Arguably the most important part of any athlete's sport program is the foundation they create outside of the actual sport. Sady's mission is to help kids develop a long-term fitness base that is fun and helps create strength and confidence. All winter programs include conditioning as the kids get older and are ready to add this into their plans.
Today we discuss:
Sady's background, how she came to the club and what attracted her to kids development
The values behind the training: Inclusion, progress, respect
Why it's important to have strength & conditioning in addition to specific discipline training
The importance of body awareness and creating this awareness at a young age
Confidence not comparison: the foundation of each kid's program
How parents can help support their kids' conditioning programs
The importance of a Strength Mindset 
As Sady says at the end, "Never Give Up." Strength and conditioning is a long-term game, so just keep coming back! 
For more on Sady and the SSWSC strength and conditioning program, reach out here. 
As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!
 

How Can I Afford my Child’s Winter Sports Program?

This episode is about money. Plain and simple - winter sports are not cheap. There's coaching, gear (so much gear!), ski passes, travel, snacks (so many snacks!) and more. When you add it all up, sometimes the finances just don't fit your family's budget. 
Don't walk away yet! Today you hear from Jon Nolting, the Associate Executive Director, about a program the club created to help all families participate in these sports that can change their kids' lives. 
It's called the EZ Scholarship Program. You can find details here. As Jon says, if your kids can't participate in our programs because you can't afford it, then we're doing something wrong!
Today we learn about:
The actual EZ scholarship program
How the club uses the information you give them (hint: it's private and not shared outside the organization)
How you can get help above and beyond the EZ scholarship program
How to maintain a frugal mindset and still participate in expensive sports
Why sports are an investment worthy of a high level of family prioritization
Our objective to create more inclusion in predominantly white, upper class sports
What's really important to be successful in sports...
Side effect of participating in winter sports: You just may stumble upon the greatest relationship of your life on the ski hill (Spoiler: Jon did!)
Some resources for discounted and used gear (Note: don't buy a used helmet - everything else is fair game!)
Jon's greatest lesson learned through sport - Persistence will take you far in life! 
More about Jon Nolting (center):
Jon joined the SSWSC in 2015 as its Athletic Director and took on the position of Associate Executive Director in conjunction with Athletic Director in 2018.  Jon brings 23 years of experience in club and athletic leadership, coaching and education, 9 years with the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association. He has spearheaded national club and coach education and certification systems in the sports of Alpine, Cross Country and Freestyle skiing, Nordic Combined, and Snowboarding. He has also led significant efforts at the national level implementing best practices in athlete and coach development. Nolting holds a bachelor of science degree in applied mathematics from the University of Colorado, School of Engineering, and a minor in economics. Jon and his wife Darlene have two children who are athletes in the SSWSC.
As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!
 
 

Decker Dean - Steamboat’s 100th Olympian

Today we hear from Steamboat's 100th Olympian - Decker Dean! Decker joins us from Norway where he's training and competing after his 2022 Olympic debut in Beijing. Decker grew up in Steamboat, found jumping along the way and at 22, is officially a professional ski jumper, training and competing around the world. 
Today we talk about:
What it was like to grow up in Steamboat
What role SSWSC played in his life
Other sports & shenanigans Decker "participated" in including tourist flipping and unicycle riding :)
The state of ski jumping in the US and globally
How it feels to be a "celebrity" in Europe 
What it means to be a pro ski jumper
The importance of support in this sport: sponsors, parents, girlfriend (she won bronze in Beijing in Mixed Jumping - Abigail Strate of Canada)
2022 Beijing - all the details!
The mental side of jumping
Some really fun rapid fire questions toward the end!
Decker's advice to aspiring ski jumpers, "Remember why you're doing it; why you fell in love with it."
The final question: What's the greatest lesson you've learned through sport? "You get beat up pretty hard before you can succeed. I think that's probably the most valuable and hardest lesson I've had to learn."
As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!

Choose the Best Programs for your Kids with Blair Seymour

Today we visit with our Sport Development Director, Blair Seymour. Our goal is to help guide you through the registration process. There are so many programs offered that it can often be confusing and stressful to whittle them down. For the sake of seasonality, we are going to focus on snow sports today and save the summer programs for next spring!
Note: A side effect of our conversation is all of the greater life lessons that bubbled to the surface!
Today you will hear:
Some cool insights into Blair's background & why she's been with the SSWSC for 30 years!
We start with this question: What program should I sign my kid up for?
Age options
The differences between various programs I.e. nordic and alpine, freeski and freestyle, etc
At what age kids are guided toward specialization
Long term athlete development philosophy
Competitive vs recreational options
Common questions Blair gets every season (answers in the podcast):
My kid is really good skier. Can he/she "ski up?"
My u10 doesn’t want to ski 3 days a week. 
My child just wants to race, why doesnt the club have a race only program for 8 year olds?
Or my child has no interest in racing, why does he have to train in gates?
Why do you recommend xc skiing in addition to alpine?
Finally, Blair's answer to the question we ask every guest - What's the greatest lesson you've learned through sport? - is powerful!
As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!
 

Welcome to the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club Show

Welcome to the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club Show! We kick off the podcast with two guys who are integral to the club's leadership - Jon Nolting and Dave Stewart - as we discuss the goals of the show and more. 
Today you will learn:
All about the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club
What SSWSC offers
The show goals: Sharing our passion, Education, Connection and of course Entertainment through fun, inspirational stories
The show is a great resource whether you live in Steamboat or not! 
More about Jon and Dave here!
Jon joined the SSWSC in 2015 as its Athletic Director and took on the position of Associate Executive Director in conjunction with Athletic Director in 2018.  Jon brings 23 years of experience in club and athletic leadership, coaching and education, 9 years with the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association. He has spearheaded national club and coach education and certification systems in the sports of Alpine, Cross Country and Freestyle skiing, Nordic Combined, and Snowboarding. He has also led significant efforts at the national level implementing best practices in athlete and coach development. Nolting holds a bachelor of science degree in applied mathematics from the University of Colorado, School of Engineering, and a minor in economics. Jon and his wife Darlene have two children who are athletes in the SSWSC.
Dave was the nordic skiing head coach for 12 years at the University of Denver.  In that time he led his teams to six NCAA titles, two individual titles, and he coached 21 NCAA All-Americans. Dave was named the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association’s Nordic Coach of the Year six times. He raced cross country through college and later as a pro athlete. He received his Masters of Business Administration from the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver.
Be sure to subscribe to the SSWSC Show so you will be up to date on all new releases!
As always, please share your questions, comments, feedback and requests. Go to sswsc.org! Now get out there and support, lead or be a champion on and off the mountain!