NEW YORK (Nov. 3, 2017) - A tense energy wafted across the starlit ballroom in New York City’s Ziegfeld Theater Thursday. A day earlier, the Times Square countdown clock ticked down to just 100 days until the opening ceremony of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang. As almost three dozen U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes gathered for the New York Gold Medal Gala, one theme was omnipresent: It was go time.

For an organization that goes up against heavily national-funded teams every weekend, the 51st annual New York soirée is a vital fundraising tool as well as an opportunity for athletes to exchange their snow boots for dress shoes and high heels to hang out with over 650 passionate fans. The gala raised well over $1 million net to support American athletes - the biggest night of its kind in Olympic sport. Next door in a unique ice bar at a local hotel, nearly a hundred more U.S. Ski & Snowboard ambassadors raised a toast to the team on its road to PyeongChang.

Athletes gather in front of the crowd. (Getty Images) 

Guests arrived at the midtown venue to the tune of pleasant chords from the strings of a Korean gayageum. TV crews scrambled for the arrival of stars like Lindsey Vonn, Gus Kenworthy and Ashley Caldwell. There were over a dozen Olympic medals in the house - including seven gold - plus countless world champions. The thunder of ceremonial Korean drums brought everyone's eyes to the stage as emcee and Olympic champion Jonny Moseley took to the stage.

"Do you notice a heightened level of intensity here tonight?" said Moseley. "I can tell you, the athletes feel it now - just 99 days from the biggest event of their lives. And all of you - our fans - you're paying closer attention right now, aren't you?"
 

Jonny Moseley MCs the event. (Getty Images)

U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO Tiger Shaw - himself a two-time Olympian - recognized that, as well. "What's on everyone's mind right now is how to make that Olympic team," said Shaw. "It will be tough. That's what this year is about."

Shaw also paid tribute to young Mikey Lillis - just 17 - who passed away in his sleep two weeks earlier. Lillis' older brothers - world champion Jon and World Cup winner Chris - were there as well as their mom Jamie. It was a poignant moment for a tight-knit family. "We really have something to ski for this year," said the boys.

Alex Deibold thanks the crowd. (Getty Images)

The gala capped a week of Olympic celebrations from team uniform unveilings by The North Face and Burton to a day of fun for fans meeting athletes in Times Square, along with snowboardcross Olympic bronze medalist Alex Deibold ringing the closing bell alongside team supporters at Nasdaq while action videos played on skyscraper-sized big screens outside in Times Square.

“I feel really lucky to be here,” said Deibold addressing the crowd at Ziegfeld. “I remember coming here for the first time in 2013 and what a thrill it was. I’ve appreciated the support that I’ve had from you.”

Lindsey Vonn echoed the feeling. “We can’t do what we do without your support,” said the two-time Olympic medalist. “This is what you do, New York, and we appreciate it.”

Lindsey Vonn smiles for the cameras. (U.S. Ski & Snowboard)

Strobe lights flashed and videographers jostled for position as media looked to grab that insightful quote that would foreshadow what was to come this February in PyeongChang. Supporters clamored for a photo with the ski and snowboard stars.

Auctioneer John Curley revved up the crowd. Skiing with Tommy Moe at Tordrillo Mountain Lodge in Alaska - bam, $30k. Making turns with Jonny Moseley at Squaw Valley - bam, bam, $22k. A weekend at Julia Mancuso's place on Maui - bam, $12k.

The the real meaning of the evening is the impact New York brings to the fledgling careers of athletes with stars in their eyes. No one said it better than world moguls champion and NFL star Jeremy Bloom. The Colorado native told the story of being inspired when, as a young boy, he watched the Olympic debut of moguls skiing in 1992.

Jeremy Bloom speaks to the crowd. (Getty Images)

"Seeing Edgar Grospiron win gold on TV that day changed my life," said Bloom. "I told my parents that night, 'this is what I want to do.' They said, 'put your mind to it and you can do anything.'"

Bloom had the audience spellbound as he recounted the day he was in the football locker room at the University of Colorado when he got a call from his moguls coach. The team had found some funding for him to go to Chile. It was his one-shot chance to get a result that would eventually lead him to making the U.S. Olympic Team. At his football coach's encouragement, he took a break from CU and went to Chile. At camp he skied 30-50 runs every day - first up and last off the hill. He got that result and later made the Olympic team. And he capped his career with a world championship.

"If it wasn't for what the U.S. Ski Team did for me," said Bloom, now a highly successful businessman, "this little C teamer wouldn't be standing in front of you today. It changed my life."

In 95 days, around 100 U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes will walk into PyeongChang Olympic Stadium with big eyes, broad smiles and Olympic dreams. For many, that night at the New York Gold Medal Gala will resonate in their mind and push them further to achieve their dreams. 

U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the national governing body for Olympic skiing and snowboarding, today issued an official statement of sustainability, pledging the organization’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint, promoting sustainability and preserving its sports for generations to come.

“The winter season and everything it encompasses, from snowfall to cold temperatures, is essential to our organization’s success on the Olympic stage and to the growth of skiing and snowboarding in America and across the globe,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO Tiger Shaw. “As a national and international leader in our sports, it is important for us to vocalize our position on climate change and join our athletes, members and partners in inspiring change.”

In addition to publishing a sustainability statement, U.S. Ski & Snowboard has also formed an internal sustainability committee to help establish best practices for the organization at events and global team activities. The organization has aligned itself with the City of Park City, National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) and Protect Our Winters (POW) in these efforts. Each entity plays a role in supporting U.S. Ski & Snowboard and its athletes.

"Protect Our Winters is proud to partner with U.S. Ski & Snowboard and we're happy to see them not only speak out about the reality of climate change and its impacts on our industry, communities, and the sports we love, but to also take action,” said Barbara Weber, Senior Brand Manager at POW. “We look forward to working together to further find solutions to the climate crisis, while engaging many of the athletes who represent our respective organizations."

“Park City Municipal supports U.S. Ski & Snowboard in their industry leading efforts to address climate change,” said Mayor of Park City Jack Thomas. “It will take all of us to ensure that our ski slopes stay snowy in the winter, so that great skiing and snowboarding conditions last for future generations.”

The sustainability statement reads as follows:

U.S. Ski & Snowboard, a national and global leader in snow sports, is committed to addressing climate change and stewarding sustainability of winter sports. Millions globally are inspired by winter sports and enjoy healthy, active lifestyles in winter environments. Climate change threatens our winter environments with receding glaciers, rising sea levels, volatile weather cycles and less snowfall.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s vision is to make the United States of America the best in the world in Olympic skiing and snowboarding. Our mission is to lead, encourage, and support athletes in achieving excellence by empowering national teams, clubs, coaches, parents, officials, volunteers and fans. We will achieve this excellence in our environmental practices by acting to sustain the sports that inspire us daily. We will tackle climate change by reducing our environmental footprint and promoting environmental responsibility. We intend to achieve our goals while minimizing our organization’s impact on the environment and helping to preserve the ability of future generations to safely live and play in our shared natural environment. Our commitment to environmental stewardship is long-term. A healthy environment benefits everyone – employees, fans, athletes, sponsors and the community at large.
 

To reach this vision, we adopt the following three guiding principles:

• U.S. Ski & Snowboard will utilize and promote sustainable business practices within our organization, with our business partners, suppliers, sponsors and in our hundreds of events and competitions we organize, manage and sanction.
• U.S. Ski & Snowboard will educate our stakeholders, including athletes, coaches, parents, staff, clubs and fans, about the effects of climate change on the future sustainability of our sports.
• U.S. Ski & Snowboard will collaborate with resort partners, environmental groups, other sports federations and industry organizations to collectively promote and support environmentally sustainable practices in every aspect of the snow sports industry.

By formulating specific action plans based on these guiding principles, U.S. Ski & Snowboard will strive to lead nationally and globally in all aspects of sustainable practices in the snow sports world.