USASA AT A GLANCE
PROFILE
USASA is grassroots snowboard and freeskiing competition with a history of cultivating Olympians, icons, and darn-good human beings through fun, fair and progressive events. USASA’s nationwide Regional Events Series (500+ regional events) give athletes of all ages and levels an opportunity to hone their skills, build confidence, find community, and flourish in the safety of an environment that nurtures creativity, progression, and inclusion. As a 501(c)3 non-profit, USASA puts every membership dollar back into snowboarding and freeskiing so the next generation of athletes will have a place to thrive in their development creating access to Olympic dreams and a whole lot more.
COMPETITION AS A FOUNDATION
We develop, nurture, and support the next generation of snowboarders and freeskiers by creating and cultivating the space and opportunity for education, personal development and creative expression on the hill and in life.
USASA'S FIVE GUIDING PRINCIPLES
A CULTURE OF INCLUSION
At USASA we strive to maintain an environment that welcomes all athletes where differences are valued and all members of our community are treated with respect regardless of race, gender, or age. We support the enhanced access and retention of underrepresented groups and stand firmly against racism, violence, and injustice. We know there is more work to do and USASA is committed to listening, learning, and growing with the needs of our community.
YOU’RE INVITED
If you have a love for snowboarding and freeskiing consider yourself invited. USASA prides itself on being a community of comradery and offering accessibility for all levels and ages from aspiring pros to weekend fun-seekers. We have age groups from 6 & under to 60 & up. Everyone's invited means just that. USASA welcomes all races, abilities, and gender identities.
PARTNERS IN INCLUSION
As part of our commitment to inclusion, the USASA is a proud partner of the National Brotherhood of Skiers, Adaptive Action Sports and Athletes with Intellectual Disabilities.
BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIER TO ENTRY
Members Under 8 are free. USASA believes in the power of getting youth involved in snowboarding and freeskiing early. So much so that we’re continuing to breakdown the financial barriers to entry with our youngest members.
• In 2017, USASA started funding free memberships for kids 7 & under across the nation and lowered 8-9 year old’s membership to just $50.
• 123% increase in participation with the implementation of reduced entry fees
• Beginning in 2020, athletes 8 & under will be given free membership
GATEWAY TO A BROADER COMMUNITY
Putting on your USASA regional bib automatically includes you in the larger tribe of snowboarders and freeskiers around the country. By participating at your local USASA you are ranked with other competitors in your age group nationwide, so whether you’re in Northern Maine or Southern California, you’re all a part of the bigger USASA family. And when you make it to National Championships you can take pride in the fact that you’re at the largest snowboarding and freeskiing event in the world and did we mention, the most fun?
Safety is our top priority and at USASA, safety means the whole environment. Social, Physical, Mental, and Environmental.
COMMITMENT TO SAFETY
We want our USASA athletes to push themselves and their boundaries in a safe and inclusive environment with their well-being as the top priority. As a testament to this, USASA is an early adopter of Safesport protocols, has clear concussion policies that focus on safely evaluating athletes for return to play and USASA offers online avalanche clinics for those days when you’re not competing. As the Coronavirus pandemic continues, USASA is committed to following CDC and state guidelines to ensure the safest environment possible when we return to snow this winter.
- 100% of USASA coaches have been trained in person by a certified coach developer.
- USASA was one of the first to require that each coach, judge, and official have passed the CDC Return to Play concussion protocols, are CPR certified and have passed the USOPC background screening.
- USASA was the first to implement the Red Light Concussion Protocol that prohibits an athlete from registering for or competing in a USASA event after a head injury until cleared by a medical professional.
PROGRESSION WITH SAFETY IN MIND
USASA provides an environment that athletes of all ages feel safe to progress by working with resort partners, USASA certified Technical Supervisors, coaches, judges, and officials whose main focus is on how to ensure our athletes are competing in an environment that is safe and secure for growth and progression.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING
Competing in snowboarding and freesking as part of USASA teaches perseverance, respect, team building, discipline, and that while winning is fun, it isn’t everything. Falling down and getting back up is one of life’s greatest lessons and USASA provides the opportunity for personal growth in a safe supportive environment.
EDUCATION AS PART OF OUR CULTURE
It’s in our DNA to teach, mentor, and help not only athletes but each other. All USASA officials, coaches, and judges are trained in person.
COACH, JUDGE, OFFICIAL, PARENT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
With consistent training through certification courses/clinics, USASA:
- Creates and maintains a safe and professional working environment.
- Allows coaches and stakeholders to stay up to date with current practices and methodology
- Creates a community in which everyone teaches and shares the same message
A LEGACY OF INTEGRITY
For over 30 years, USASA has earned its trusted reputation in snowboard and freeski competitions by consistently hosting professional, credible regional and national events that bring legitimacy to our sports. As the first step in the Olympic pipeline, we hold ourselves and our event series to the highest standard knowing that the journey begins here.
In everything we do from the hill to the board room, USASA operates with organizational excellence and integrity. It’s in how we speak to one another with respect and work to collaborate for the greater good of the sport and the community. We acknowledge strengths and differences and work together with our members, member families, series directors, volunteers and partners to uphold an environment that cultivates USASA’s core values of excellence, respect and fun.
CORE VALUES DEFINED
Excellence - We strive for excellence with events, venues, education, organization, communication and safety
Respect - We value respectful behavior in the mountains and between individuals
Fun - We provide a competitive environment where sportsmanship, camaraderie, progression, and pride lead to a positive outcome
Snowboarding and freeskiing’s legacy of challenging the status quo inspires USASA to approach all aspects of our business and events through the lens of innovation. With fresh eyes open to new solutions we can provide dynamic change and progression to our athletes and our competition environment as freeskiing and snowboarding grow and develop.
Our ability to embrace new technologies such as Team App , develop new event formats or evolve with our ever-changing landscape will ultimately set us apart and provide continued relevance to our athletes, coaches, families, and partners.
INNOVATIVE EVENTS
USASA is responsive to the needs of our innovative freeski and snowboard community ebbing and flowing with the creative and progressive mentality of the community. USASA has enacted double up formats to provide more athletes and opportunity to compete without sacrificing the integrity of the event. At USASA Nationals, we give the next generation an opportunity to compete in the same format as the pros by hosting qualifiers and finals for Menehune ages up. This progressive attitude led us to develop a last chance qualifier for cross events, giving athletes more opportunities to heat racing at Nationals again growing the development of our members. These are developed from a need, we see the need for more opportunities for our athletes so we work tirelessly to develop more opportunities that are in the best interest of athletes.
DIGITAL NATIVES
USASA utilizes cutting edge digital platforms like Team App and offers online registration to ensure all our athletes, coaches, parents and officials get important information as we get it from event day updates, weather changes, startlists, and results. It's all in the palm of your hand.