Waterville Valley Black and Blue Trail Smashers, which operates the BBTS Ski Club and Waterville Valley Academy, is the proud host of the 2008 U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) Junior Olympics. Close to 165 elite 13 and 14 year old male and female alpine racers from as far south as the Carolinas to the northern most points of the state of Maine will gather at Waterville Valley for three days of competition. The event opens on Sunday, March 9 with slalom races followed by giant slalom on Monday, March 10 and Super G slated for Wednesday, March 12.
Athletes competing at the Junior Olympics are the best USSA racers in their age class in the eastern United States, each qualifying from their respective state for a start spot. Not only is earning a spot at the Junior Olympics a huge honor for these young athletes but it also is a stepping stone to qualify for the international J3 (13-14 year olds) alpine races for the Whistler Cup. Many U.S. Olympians had their start as Junior Olympians.
WVBBTS operates the BBTS Ski Club, one of the oldest ski clubs in the country, which offers season long weekend training to alpine, freestyle and snowboard athletes. WVBBTS also operates Waterville Valley Academy, a full time five month academic and snowsports training academy. Waterville Valley Ski Area and WVBBTS have a rich history of hosting large alpine competitions, including World Cups featuring the best alpine racers in the world. WVBBTS also has a rich history of producing elite alpine, freestyle and snowboard athletes including:
- U.S. Alpine Ski Team and 1988 Olympian Felix McGrath
- Great Britain alpine 2002 and 2006 Olympian athlete Chemmy Alcott
- US Ski Team member Hilary McCloy
- US Ski Team member Nick Baker
- 1998 Olympic aerials gold medalist Nikki Stone
- U.S. Freestyle Ski Team athlete and 2006 Olympian Hannah Kearney
- U.S. Freestyle Ski Team athlete and recent World Cup podium performer Kayla Snyderman
- U.S. Snowboarding team rider and 2006 Olympian Michele Gorgone (parallel giant slalom)
Peter Stokloza, CEO and Executive Director of WVBBTS said, “We are very proud to share the Town of Waterville Valley with the many alpine families who will travel from throughout the eastern United States to take part in this event. Waterville Valley has got to be the most beautiful campus an organization could ask for nestled in the heart of the White Mountain National Forest.”
For more information about WVBBTS and the 2008 USSA Junior Olympics, log on to www.wvbbts.org or call 603-236-4612.