Connie Brogden Heads South with SASS Argentina

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Southern Vermont Series freeskier Connie Brogden was the lucky winner of a week long backcountry camp session with SASS Argentina this summer. Brogden won the session at USASA Nationals last March as part of SASS Global Travel’s on-site sweepstakes. So this August in the sweltering heat of an east coast summer, Connie packed her bags with skis, boots, winter gear and extra layers and set off on her first trip to mid-winter Argentina, “it was so cool that in less than 24 hours we went from 90 degree heat into snow.”


SASS Global Travel runs week long big mountain and backcountry skiing and snowboarding sessions in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina through August. Campers spend their days learning the ins and outs of avalanche awareness, building backcountry jumps, sampling local Argentinian cuisine, practicing spanish and savoring some of that floater powder that Argentina is known for.  


While 15-year-old Brogden has spent the last few years coming up the USASA ranks, competing in the Junior World Championships in Italy, earning third place at the U.S. Revolution Tour slopestyle and taking home silver at the 2017 USASA National Championships in Copper Mountain, CO, this was only her second experience withbackcountry skiing.

“It was my first time ever hitting a backcountry jump.” Brogden said, “ I think the experience with SASS helped prepare me for the upcoming season, because it helped me get back into more of a skiing mode and I learnt a lot while I was out there. And the most valuable thing that I learned was the avalanche training and how to use all my equipment.”

Learn more about SASS Global Travel and their adventures here. And join or renew your USASA Membership to save $300 on SASS Argentina sessions here.

 

Save The Date! USASA Nationals March 30th-April 11th, 2018!

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The fun and festivities of USASA Nationals return to Copper Mountain, CO March 30th-April 11th, 2018! Save the date and take advantage of some amazing USASA member discounts on Copper lodging, Hertz rental cars, Southwest Airlines, and Summit Express shuttles.
Snowboarding Nationals:
March 30th, 2018 thru April 6th, 2018 ( 1 day of training, 5 days of competition)
  • Early Bird Registration, Friday, March 30th
  • Practice and Opening Ceremonies, Saturday, March 31st
  • Competition, Sunday, April 1st thru Thursday, April 5th
Freeskiing Nationals:
April 6th, 2017 thru April 11th, 2018 ( 1 day of training, 4 days of competition)
  • Practice and Opening Ceremonies, Saturday, April 7th
  • Competition, Sunday, April 8 thru Wednesday, April 11th
NorAM Finals & FIS Races at the National Championship:

All competitors participating in Open Class Alpine, Boardercross & Skiercross events at the 2018 National Championship must have a USASA, USSA & FIS License. 

DISCOUNT CODES

Copper Lodging

  • 888-395-0050
  • Discount Code: 3049 USASA Nationals

Shuttle Service From Denver Airport

Hertz

  • Hertz Convention Number:  04BW0011 - Use until Jan 1st, 2018 ONLY
  • Hertz Convention Number:  04BW0012 - Use beginning Jan 2nd, 2018 ONLY

Southwest Airlines

104 USASA Members Pre-Qualify for Rev Tour

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One hundred and four USASA members qualified for the 2018 Toyota U.S. Revolution Tour via USASA events held in 2017. Fifty-seven snowboard athletes and forty-seven freeskiing athletes will drop into the 2018 U.S. Revolution Tour kicking off this December. USASA will also host 4 Rev Tour qualifers throughout the season to give athletes who have yet to secure a Rev Tour spot an opportunity to earn one. Dates and locations are TBD. USASA and U.S. Ski and Snowboard's continued partnership supports US freeskiing and snowboarding atlhletes' progression and provides a pipeline from grassroots local events to Olympic gold. Click here to for the full list of pre-qualified athletes in snowboarding and freeskiing and here to see the complete criteria on how to earn Rev Tour spots.

Q&A With Chuck Allen Scholarship Recipients Brandon and Konnor Ralph

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Konnor Ralph taking top honors in rail jam at the 2017 USASA Nationals

The USASA Foundation sat down with Brendon and Konnor Ralph, two of the 29 athletes who were awarded the 2017 Chuck Allen Scholarship, to hear about the importance and honor of receiving the Chuck Allen Scholarship. Chuck Allen, founder of USASA, started this scholarship fund to support athletes who showed a commitment to community, good grades, participation in their chosen forms of education and a strong commitment to USASA and their local USASA series. We’re so proud of all of our recipients and are wonderful examples of USASA athletes who personify the codes of excellence, respect and fun.

 

Why is being a recipient of the Chuck Allen Scholarship important to you and your freestyle skiing pursuits?

Receiving the scholarships is an honor! The scholarship committee awarded these to us based on what they read in our applications. Receiving the Chuck Allen Scholarship provides us feedback that our hard work in school, our positive attitudes, our efforts to be kind to others and our goal to become even better freestyle skiers is noticed and appreciated by others.

 

What are you excited to do with this scholarship?

Our parents sacrifice in order to allow us to freestyle ski. We are so grateful for the time they commit getting us to competitions, all the money they spend on car expenses, lodging, meals and ski equipment, and definitely for their emotional support and encouragement!

Our scholarship awards will go toward Windells ski camp this summer. This money, on top of what we both earned through our paid jobs, makes Windells possible. Without any coaching opportunities where we live, we merely rely on each other for guidance and coaching.The summer camp opportunity allows us to receive great direction, guidance and support from an actual coach. We are really excited about being able to go!

 

 
Brendon Ralph during the 2017 USASA Nationals at Copper Mountain, CO

How has USASA positively affected you life?

USASA competitions and being a freestyle skier is a major source of joy to us! It’s challenging and super rewarding. When we aren’t skiing we are dreaming about skiing!

Through USASA competitions we have been able to travel and compete in hills across the Inland Northwest were we never would have gone otherwise. We have met a ton of new friends from all over who love skiing as much as we do and also some really supportive adults. USASA has been an incredible experience.

29 USASA Members Awarded Chuck Allen Scholarships

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The USASA Foundation awarded 29 USASA members the 2017 Chuck Allen Scholarship. The Chuck Allen Scholarship rewards athletes who demonstrate the characteristics and qualities most valued by Chuck Allen, founder of the USASA; a commitment to community, good grades, participation in the athlete’s chosen forms of education and a strong commitment to USASA and their local USASA series.

Applicants were required to share their USASA results, a summary of who they are, their future dreams and hopes, three letters of recommendation from a coach, teacher or community member on those important character traits and a sealed official school transcript on academic performance and participation.

“Receiving the Chuck Allen Scholarship provides us feedback that our hard work in school, our positive attitudes, our efforts to be kind to others and our goal to become even better freestyle skiers is noticed and appreciated by others.” - Konnor and Brendon Ralph, slopestyle and rail jam freeskiers from the Inland Northwest Series.  

 The USASA Foundation distributes financial awards to a recipient’s chosen organization to offset their further educational, recreational or training costs. The USASA Foundation is the fundraising arm of USASA and to date has awarded over $21,000 for both the Chuck Allen Scholarship and the Nationals Assistance Fund for the 2016/17 season.


Chuck Allen and USASA Alum and Olympian Louie Vito circa 2010

Click here to support the USASA Foundation.

Congratulations to all 29 of the 2017 USASA Foundation Chuck Allen Scholarship recipients!

Spencer Vagg           Evan Andrus             Andre Kemink
Gillian Arnold            Brendon Ralph          Avery Higgins-Lopez
Hanna Blackwell       Sophia Saccoccie     Colin Bentley
Zachary Poulin          Kaitlyn Blizzard         Oskar Chadwell
Mika Kizuka              Gunnar Anthony        Shannon Bently
Konnor Ralph            Riley Jacobs             Shayne Sandblom
Parker Anthony         Jake Johnson           Audrey Higgins-Lopez 
Dante Kemink           Zack Zaman             Otto Lichtensleiger
Martin Khlop             Ryder Bollock            Luke Bulloch
Molly Croes              Kaiya Quintieri

USASA Members Save Up To $300 on Summer Ski and Snowboard Camps

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Summer is officially here and USASA wants to make sure your summer is filled with time on snow! Woodward Copper, Woodward Tahoe, SASS Global Travel, BKPRO, Windells, and High Cascade are all offering amazing deals on summer camps for USASA members.
 
Here's a list of discounts to summer camp for valid USASA members:

SASS Argentina is nearly SOLD OUT! If you are looking to make this unreal summer training opportunity happen this year, you need to get on it ASAP. A bunch of USASA athletes are already signed up. All USASA members get $300 off. INQUIRE HERE.

*The $85 price is only valid May1-August 31, 2017
**As always, Ruggies are free and Groms are just $50.