Donner Summit, CA: The Auburn Ski Club Training Center has recently been awarded Podium Certification at the Bronze level by U.S. Ski and Snowboard. U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Podium Club Certification Program requires a rigorous, mission driven self-assessment and review of best principles and practices in eight areas of organizational performance. The Auburn Ski Club Training Center has demonstrated appropriate levels of performance in all areas and is recognized as an important partner of U.S. Ski and Snowboard and a leader among ski and snowboard clubs in the nation.
The Bronze Podium Certification process, which comes as Auburn Ski Club celebrates its ninetieth anniversary, was led by ASCTC’s Membership and Program Administrator Beth Ingalls, and supported by the Club’s Alpine, Nordic & Snowboard Program Directors, ASC Board Member Guy Hodgdon and Community Representative Marty Schoonmaker, an active club member and parent of several athletes in Club programs.
In addition to compiling extensive documentation about the club’s programs, facilities, athletic benchmarks, mission and strategy, the club analyzes its Leadership and Governance, Finance and Funding, Culture, Communications, Human Resources, Child and Athlete Protection, Programming and Logistics.
“Many clubs have found that the most positive impact was not necessarily the certification designation, but, rather, in uncovering the true opportunities they have to improve and continue to deliver sustained excellence. These clubs all set great examples, and are leading the charge for club improvement nationally,” said Ellen Adams, U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Club Development Manager.
Podium Certification is an in depth process spanning several years or more in which U.S. Ski and Snowboard Certified Clubs work up from the Bronze level to Silver and eventually Gold. Since U.S. Ski and Snowboard member clubs, and especially Podium Certified Clubs, provide a direct pipeline for athletes with goals of progressing to the Olympic Level, a symbiotic relationship between the clubs and U.S. Ski and Snowboard is a critical one, driven by a common mission to provide the best resources for athletes.
Luke Bodensteiner, U.S. Ski & Snowboard Executive Vice President of Athletics sums it up nicely: “Our clubs are our sport’s biggest asset to athlete recruitment, development and retention, and working hand-in-hand with them will enhance their levels of achievement and will transform the performance of our athletes and teams at all levels.”
About Auburn Ski Club Training Center
The Auburn Ski Club Training Center is a non-profit winter sports facility dedicated to the lifelong enjoyment of winter sports for families and athletes from the greater Foothill region, across Northern California and beyond. Our Training Center is one of the few combined Alpine, Nordic, Biathlon and Snowboard training centers in the country. The training center blends together an atmosphere of national caliber athletes, family recreational skiing and international level competition.
As the top racing and training venue in the western United States, ASCTC was named USSA Nordic Club of the Year in 2001 and 2005 and Snowboard Club of the Year in 2010. ASCTC has hosted many national championships including: XC Junior Nationals in 1971, 2005, 2009, 2015; the 2004 NCAA Nationals, the 2015 US Biathlon Nationals and the 2017 USSA SuperTour. ASC Training Center is a U.S. Ski and Snowboard Bronze Certified Club.
ASC Training Center’s Summer and Year Round Nordic and Biathlon programs are starting now. Learn more and register at auburnskiclub.org or call 530-426-3313 ext. 104.
