Intermedia

The problem I will be addressing is removal of US Snowboarding Alpine Team. The last year that US Snowboarding included an alpine team was about 2007. Since then, all the funding has been given to freestyle and boardercross riders. The current US team consists of 22 halfpipe riders, 8 slopestyle riders, and 14 boardercross riders.

            Personally, I am striving to make the US team, however it does not exist. It existed years ago, but it was removed because of funding problems. It creates a huge problem for younger snowboarders and current snowboarders who should be on the US team. The Canadians have 7 riders on their alpine team. This means their race fees, airfare, equipment, and hotels are covered. These riders are also given an annual salary. For American riders, their funds run out eventually because we are all paying out of our pockets to race. At my age, many racers switch to boardercross because of the money and publicity in that event. Personally, I think boardercross takes less skill since it requires you to go straight down the mountain as fast as possible. However, skilled racers see the value in switching events, even though it means giving up on their original dreams of becoming alpine racers. At Junior World Championships this past season it was almost embarrassing riding for the United States. Every other country had coaches, a wax tech, jackets, pants, and national stickers on their boards, and we had nothing. We were sent without a snowboard coach. Our coach had background in ski racing and was only there because he was a coach of another racer in Turkey. Also, none of us had any gear that showed we were riding for the US. We also had to pay for our flights to and from Turkey. Since it’s only there and back it wasn’t too bad, but there are US riders traveling around the world paying out their own pockets. In this sport, its impossible to continue riding for a long period of time because of the travel expenses. I have seen great American riders forced to miss races or opportunities to compete in Europe strictly because they can’t afford it. At the same time, USSA is supporting countless freestyle and boardercross athletes to travel the world, even though they have much less chance of winning medals.

            I would like to see an A team and a B team created for alpine riders. The A team would include the top 3 or 4 racers that travel to the world cup, and the B team would be the next 3 or 4 riders. The A team riders would just have their travel, hotels, and race fees covered. Therefore, any of the top riders could compete regardless of their financial situation.

            The opposing view, or the view that is currently being used by USSA, is alpine events are dying out. Therefore, they do not want to financial support an alpine team. I have seen an increase in younger riders throughout the years, but USSA does not support these young racers and all the funding goes toward freestyle and boardercross riders.