World-class Skiing, Montana Style

BY JENNY WHITE

BRIDGER SKI FOUNDATION | WWW.BRIDGERSKIFOUNDATION.ORG

THE SKI SLOPES AND TRAILS ARE MORE THAN JUST A WINTER PASTIME AROUND HERE. THEY ARE THE CORE OF OUR WINTER CULTURE AND A PROUD EXAMPLE OF HOW WE PUT COMMUNITY FIRST, EVEN WHEN SUPPORTING COMPETITIVE ATHLETES.

A GRASSROOTS SKI COMMUNITY

At the heart of it all is the Bridger Ski Foundation (BSF), a nonprofit ski club dedicated to preserving the grassroots soul of skiing while being leaders in youth development, coaching, and wellness. BSF serves the greater Gallatin Valley, with a history that goes back to 1936 and the first ski club in the area. From rope tows to homemade grooming equipment, local residents have always worked together to make skiing possible for our youth. Today, BSF offers unparalleled opportunities that keep snowsports accessible and promote community wellness through trail stewardship and snowsports programming.

Both youth and adults can participate in over 30 BSF programs in Alpine, Nordic, Freestyle (moguls), Freeskiing (park), Freeride (big mountain) and Snowboarding. To keep program fees reasonable, the nonprofit fundraises up to 50% of their operating budget each year, and they provide scholarships and equipment assistance. The result is a vibrant winter culture, where outdoor time and life skills are celebrated every day.

COMMUNITY NORDIC TRAILS

As part of their community outreach, BSF runs a robust trails program that grooms and maintains winter trails at 7 locations in Bozeman, with more than 80+ km of cross country (aka Nordic) skiing. This includes an energy-efficient snowmaking system at Sunset Hills that provides a more reliable in-town ski season.

All of these trails are “free” to the public, with grooming funded through trail memberships and donations. This unique trail model requires a lot of community support, and you can pay it forward by pitching in with your own trail membership or becoming a business sponsor of the trails. A huge thanks to Engel & Völkers for being a longtime supporter of the Bridger Ski Foundation and the Community Nordic Trails program.

Trail information and memberships are available at www.bridgerskifoundation.org/trails. (continues on page 14)

A WORLD-CLASS ACT: THE PRO TEAM

On a typical day of cross country skiing in Bozeman, you might see a group of adults learning to skate ski during one of BSF’s clinics, a line of kindergartners tackling their first uphill, or you might have the privilege of watching members of the BSF Nordic Pro Team training for a World Cup event. They’re easy to spot: the power and speed with which these men and women can crest a hill (and their envy-worthy technique) stands out even in a town full of accomplished skiers.

Coached by four-time Olympian Andy Newell, the BSF Pro Team is a community-supported Olympic development team that gives some of the top Nordic skiers in the country the support to pursue a professional ski career. Newell recruits athletes from the top collegiate and domestic racing ranks, and they move to Bozeman to train year round, many of them working part-time locally as well.

Olympic and national team athletes in the U.S. do not receive funding from the government in the way that athletes from Germany, Norway, Sweden, and other countries do. Thus, BSF is one of six select ski clubs in the states that plays a crucial role in developing and supporting both up-and-coming and established skiers.

Newell notes, “"Bozeman is an ideal place for this Olympic development program. BSF is an established club so integrating elite athletes with the current club model makes a lot of sense. I want to see Bozeman and BSF grow into a primary Olympic training hub for skiing, and we are gaining momentum.”

“OLYMPIC AND NATIONAL TEAM ATHLETES IN THE U.S. DO NOT RECEIVE FUNDING FROM THE GOVERNMENT IN THE WAY THAT ATHLETES FROM GERMANY, NORWAY, SWEDEN, AND OTHER COUNTRIES DO. THUS, BSF IS ONE OF SIX SELECT SKI CLUBS IN THE STATES THAT PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN DEVELOPING AND SUPPORTING BOTH UPAND-COMING AND ESTABLISHED SKIERS.”

The winter ski trails, Newell says, are some of the best training grounds in the country. Plus, the local mountain trails and backroads play a key role in building their fitness basse during the non-skiing months.

“Our team model is not rocket science,” Newell adds. “I try to bring talented individuals together so we can work as a team, support one another, and work closely with the youth skiers. With a positive, community-based team culture, results are bound to come in the long-term.”

Newell’s approach is working. Last season, three Pro Team athletes raced on the World Cup circuit and several ranked at or near the top of the domestic Super Tour standings. One was named to the U.S. Ski Team.

This coming winter holds a lot of promise for the Pro Team. Newell states, “Our goals for the season are pretty straight forward: try to qualify as many athletes for the World Cup as possible. We have an exciting season ahead, including World Cup competitions in Canmore, Alberta, and Minneapolis, Minn. It's rare for the Nordic World Cup to come to North America so this is an incredible opportunity for BSF."

The BSF Pro Team is self-funded and depends on the support of sponsors, the Bridger Ski Foundation, and the larger community. You can follow along and make a contribution at www.bridgerskifoundation.org/pro