Grant Funding from Two Foundations To Help Kick-Start the Program

WILMINGTON, NY ( September 20, 2023) – The New York Ski Educational Foundation, with the support of grants from the Killington World Cup Foundation (KWCF) and the Cloudsplitter Foundation, has launched a new Skimeister Program for young athletes to learn ski jumping, alpine, cross country, and freestyle skiing.

The new program is geared toward U10 athletes with the birth years of 2014 to 2016. Grant funding will support the administrative costs of staffing the program as well as funding the purchase of a fleet of ski equipment for families to use for the season. Athletes will spend three days a week training at ORDA venues including Mount Van Hoevenberg, Whiteface Mountain, and the Olympic Jumping Complex, as well as local community venues. The goal of this program is to introduce young athletes to the various snowsports opportunities available to them in the Lake Placid region at the Olympic venues. 

“Skiing and the Olympic movement have a long history in the region,” John Norton, Executive Director of NYSEF said. “We’re excited to offer a program that allows our youth to experience a wide variety of competitive ski disciplines in one program as well as provides an affordable way to use the proper equipment – thanks to the generosity of the KWCF and Cloudsplitter Foundation.”

The KWCF grants were created with the aim of promoting winter sports and enriching

communities. This includes initiatives that help remove barriers to entry, such as providing equipment and training opportunities. Additionally, KWCF aims to create new growth opportunities in winter sports by improving safety mechanisms and infrastructure, as well as funding events that promote the sport to a wider audience. 

“The KWCF is proud to support NYSEF’s Skimeister program through our 2023 grant initiatives,” said Lynn Boynton, executive director of KWCF. “KWCF aims to cultivate and enable talented young athletes to access high-quality coaching, equipment, and training opportunities, fostering athletic excellence and personal growth. NYSEF’s dedication to developing well-rounded skiers aligns perfectly with our mission, and we are delighted to continue supporting their impactful programs.”

The Cloudsplitter Foundation is dedicated to improving the future of the flora, fauna, communities, and people of the Adirondacks.

To learn more about NYSEF’s Skimeister Program and to register online, visit https://www.nysef.org/registration. There is an early bird rate for registrants who sign up before October 15, 2023. 

ABOUT NYSEF

The New York Ski Educational Fund (NYSEF) is a non-profit dedicated to empowering young athletes to understand and reach their potential through skills development and competition in alpine, biathlon, cross country, freestyle skiing, nordic combined, ski jumping, and snowboarding. NYSEF offers professional guidance and financial support for athletes to help every young person who passes through the program understand the value of teamwork and community and their role in both. NYSEF is the largest multi-disciplinary youth snowsports organization in the United States. Recognized as a “Gold Certified Club” by the U.S. Ski & Snowboard, NYSEF is one of the organization’s original eight Gold Club members and has been a leader in snowsport education for 50 years. Find more information online at NYSEF.org and 

on social media channels at Facebook.com/NYSEF and Instagram @NYSEFSnowsports.