55 athletes nominated to U.S. national teams, most from Park City program
Jul 3, 2023, 8:00 AM | Updated: 8:09 am
United States' Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during an alpine ski, women's World Cup slalom, in Are, Sweden, Saturday, March 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
(AP Photo/Alessandro Trovati)
PARK CITY— Known for its Olympic amenities, Park City’s Youth Sports Alliance continues to produce national and Olympic athletes.
This year, 55 current or alumni athletes of the program were nominated to U.S. national or junior national teams.
The Youth Sports Alliance
The YSA was founded after the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympic Games as an effort to get local athletes and children out, active, and using the Olympic venues.
According to its website, “The mission of The Alliance is to support winter sports activities for youth in Summit and Wasatch counties, promoting good sportsmanship and healthy lifestyles through participation, education, and competition.”
The program has expanded to include Park City School District, covering 22 local schools.
Emily Fisher, YSA Executive Director, says the YSA also has plenty of activities during the summer.
“For our after-school programs, we have a whole variety of sports and healthy lifestyle activities, not just winter sports.”
These activities include downhill skiing, freeride snowboarding, mountain biking, triathlon training, camping skills, and speed skating.
This year, the YSA had 2,400 students participate in its after-school program.
Creating champions
Not only were these 55 YSA athletes recently nominated to U.S national teams, but the alliance also helped produce 3 2022 Olympians.
“The idea is that an athlete tries our after-school program, falls in love with a sport. Then, we connect them with a local club where they can pursue that sport,” explains Fisher.
YSA partners with seven different local winter sports clubs.
- Park City Ski and Snowboard
- Wasatch Freestyle Foundation
- Park City Ice Miners
- Figure Skating Club of Park City
- Wasatch Luge Club
- Utah Olympic Park Bobsled and Skeleton
- Park City Speed Skating Club
The YSA supports these clubs through fundraising events and scholarships.
If a child needs financial support to join a club or pursue a sport, the YSA offers need based scholarships to several deserving athletes who are enrolled in YSA member clubs.
Fisher says teaching nearly 3,000 students is a lot, but they love what they do and are always excited to see their athletes succeed.
“It’s busy for sure, but it’s great. We’re very passionate about what we do.”
Read More:
Utah Olympic venues host Olympic and Paralympic Day celebrations
Completed host questionnaire brings Utah closer to hosting another Olympics
How an MLB stadium could help bid for another Utah winter olympics
