yyzcanuck Posted August 14, 2009 Report Share Posted August 14, 2009 U.S. Champion Alpine Snowboarders Launch America's Snowboard Team Professional snowboarders establish the country’s first, independent snowboard training organization with the aim to secure spots on Team USA and contend for medals at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games (ASPEN, Colo., August 13, 2009) – In an unprecedented initiative, a newly-formed independent group of Champion alpine snowboarders announced today the launch of America’s Snowboard Team® (AST). AST is the first independent, professional snowboard team in the United States created by athletes for athletes. Their mission is to raise the profile of alpine snowboarding and provide a premier training environment for Olympic hopefuls to qualify, and ultimately medal, at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C. AST is comprised of four U.S. National and World Cup Snowboard Champions: Chris Klug (Aspen, Colo.) , two-time U.S. Olympian and Olympic Bronze Medalist; Zac Kay (Mt. Shasta, Calif.), U.S. National Parallel Giant Slalom and Parallel Slalom Champion; Josh Wylie (Stratton Mtn., Vt.), 2009 U.S. Slalom Champion; and Erica Mueller (Steamboat Springs, Colo.), U.S. National Parallel Giant Slalom Champion. Each athlete has secured World Cup start positions for the upcoming Olympic qualifiers. The four AST athletes established an independent program to provide stronger funding and coaching in preparation for the race season and to ultimately secure spots on Team USA. Rob Roy (Bend, Ore.), legendary alpine snowboarding coach and former U.S. Olympic Snowboard Team Coach in 1998, returns to coaching to join AST as Head Coach. “I am thrilled to have this opportunity to coach the talented and motivated athletes of America’s Snowboard Team in pursuit of Olympic Gold,” Roy said. Ian Price (Bend, Ore.), former World Cup snowboard racer, and two-time U.S. Open Champion, will serve as AST Assistant Coach and Technician. Over the next eight months AST will be training at Mt. Hood, Ore., as well as Summit County, Colo. and Aspen, Colo. – home of America’s Snowboard Team. Fans can meet the AST team at www.americassnowboardteam.com and engage in an interactive blog with the athletes and view a complete schedule of AST training camps and Olympic qualifying competitions. In addition, the Web site will feature a short highlight video, including riding and on-the-road footage, as well as interviews with the athletes. “I am so excited about our new team. I believe this gives my teammates and I the best chance to contend for medals next February in Vancouver,” said Klug. “I’m looking forward to working hard with my teammates and Rob Roy again to achieve our Olympic dreams,” Klug continued. Kay added, “It’s refreshing to be a part of such a positive environment where the athletes have a real voice.” Mueller included, “I feel so honored and proud to be a member of America’s Snowboard Team. It has made me realize that with a little hard work and a strong desire, I can be part of something I truly believe in—a team based on passion and dedication to our sport and to each other.” Mueller continued, “I think these qualities are what will take us to the podium in Vancouver next February.” Wylie expressed, “I’m super excited! All of the hard work putting this team together is paying off.” “We’re on-snow in a couple of weeks with a great new coach and four highly motivated athletes, I can’t ask for anything else. This is going to be a great season,” Wylie said. While in pursuit of their Olympic dreams, over the next few months, AST will not only be training and competing, but they will also be riding with a humanitarian purpose in support of organ and tissue donation awareness through the Chris Klug Foundation (CKF). “Currently, over 100 thousand Americans are on the national waiting list for a life-saving organ transplant,” Klug stated. “As a nine-year liver transplant recipient, I am passionate about sharing the life-saving message with others in all that I do. I’m proud that our new team is helping support this effort, “Klug explained. All AST members are registered organ and tissue donors and support CKF in promoting the critical need for organ and tissue donation in the United States. America’s Snowboard Team is supported by the following sponsors: Hooters, BCF and Aspen/Snowmass. To learn more about AST, visit www.americassnowboardteam.com. America’s Snowboard Team®, is the first independent, professional snowboard organization in the United States created by athletes with the mission to raise the profile of alpine snowboarding and provide a premier training environment for Olympic hopefuls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patmoore Posted August 14, 2009 Report Share Posted August 14, 2009 Thanks for the heads up. I wish them all well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinecure Posted August 14, 2009 Report Share Posted August 14, 2009 Sponsored by Hooters. How cool is that? Seriously though, is this like what Bode did when he didn't feel like submitting to the restrictions of the US team? I'm guessing it doesn't change the rules about how many US Alpine Athletes can go to Whistler. But I'm also guessing that it means they don't have to rely on the US Team for funding. Anything that helps try to raise the profile of Alpine in general, and in the Olympics, is OK with me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted August 15, 2009 Report Share Posted August 15, 2009 Sponsored by Hooters. How cool is that? Unfortunately, not all too cool! Wish em all the best... http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/aug/14/hooters-loses-505-million-2nd-quarter/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncermak Posted August 18, 2009 Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 Unfortunately, not all too cool! Wish em all the best...http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/aug/14/hooters-loses-505-million-2nd-quarter/ that is just the vegas hotel/casino...not the entire company.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncermak Posted August 18, 2009 Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 Sponsored by Hooters. How cool is that? As long as they don't have to wear the hooters uniform... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gecko Posted August 18, 2009 Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 As long as they don't have to wear the hooters uniform... now there's an image....Chris Klug in Orange Daisy Dukes........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inkaholic Posted August 18, 2009 Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 now there's an image....Chris Klug in Orange Daisy Dukes........ Bad image Gecko. Think Erica Mueller. Such a cool person and excellent rider. Good luck to all of these riders in their quest for hardware. Ink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack M Posted August 18, 2009 Report Share Posted August 18, 2009 Sponsored by Hooters. How cool is that? fake. fail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUD Posted August 19, 2009 Report Share Posted August 19, 2009 fake. fail. No, I am pretty sure she is real......... ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Posted September 27, 2009 Report Share Posted September 27, 2009 on AST: http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090925/SPORTS05/909250417/0/NEWS01 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
www.oldsnowboards.com Posted October 15, 2009 Report Share Posted October 15, 2009 Klug made the front page of the sports page!! Article about their team and the private sponsorship. Video , check out the interview http://www.koinlocal6.com/content/mediacenter/default.aspx?videoId=12304@koin.dayport.com&navCatId=156 Video , check out Klug's board (plate) http://www.kgw.com/video/index.html?nvid=400983&shu=1 video; Rob Roy commenting http://videos.oregonlive.com/oregonian/2009/09/olympian_bronze_medalist_chris.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philfell Posted October 15, 2009 Report Share Posted October 15, 2009 Cool! Those damn reporters can't get anything right though. The Netherlands PSL was not an Olympic Qualifier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inkaholic Posted October 27, 2009 Report Share Posted October 27, 2009 I found pics of AST training at copper on Coppers site. http://www.coppercolorado.com/the_mountain/photos_of_the_week/index.htm Possibly Kay and Klug in the shots. Ink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonbordin Posted November 13, 2009 Report Share Posted November 13, 2009 or a lift kit? The photo in question. I'm a noob to hard boots but those sure look different. Go AST! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
www.oldsnowboards.com Posted November 13, 2009 Report Share Posted November 13, 2009 or a lift kit?The photo in question. I'm a noob to hard boots but those sure look different. It is definitely different. It is a lift/plate mod. Top secret There are some other photos of that day that shed light on it's design. HINT, HINT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inkaholic Posted December 2, 2009 Report Share Posted December 2, 2009 posted on AST/youtube site. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WI7GJfUSi4&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WI7GJfUSi4&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> also from Zac on AST site: Hey Everyone, We wrapped up our intense Copper training camp on Friday and our last week was by far the best and most productive. We were able to train alongside the Swiss, the lone Swede Daniel Biveson and the Canadians for most of the week. We set duel courses and even held a mock race one day with a cash purse that everyone chipped in for. Klug represented well in the mock race placing second and just losing by a couple tenths to Silver medalist Simone Schoch. Everyone parted ways and went home for some much needed rest on Saturday. I was able to spend a few days at home but had to pack up and head over to Europe on Wednesday. I’m still in need of a World Cup start for the upcoming event in Limone, Piemonte so I needed to come to Austria and race in some Europa Cup’s. Yesterday was the first race and my decision to fly over paid off, I started 33rd (once again a stacked field with a lot of the top World Cup riders) and ended up qualifying in 9th after two decent runs. The riders in the finals had their work cut out for them as there were over 200 riders in yesterday’s race so the snow conditions looked like a war zone with craters and ruts you could lose a small horse in. I advanced through the first couple of rounds and soon found myself facing Anton Unterkofler from Austria in the finals with Adam Smith and Manual Vieth racing for 3rd and 4th. Anton had me by full penalty after I made a mistake on the 3rd gate from the finish in the first run. However, he ended up making the same mistake at the very same gate in the second run and I was able to hold on for the victory! Adam rode well both runs and took 3rd place. Today’s race had a little better snow conditions but that came with hurricane force winds. I started even farther back today with the arrival of a few more good riders from the World Cup but I ended up qualifying 3rd and ended the day in 4th after they decided to cut the finals to one run duels because of the wind. Overall a great weekend for me and a good confidence boost for the World Cup in Limone! Zac This entry was posted on Monday, November 30th, 2009 at 8:00 am and is filed under Zac Kay. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. Way to go Zac and Adam! Ink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
queequeg Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 posted on AST/youtube site. Is this going to be a Series of videos?? Sweet!!! Who was that riding the SG in the pipe ... skills!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inkaholic Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 Pretty sure the only AST member riding SG is Josh. CK and ZK are on Kesslers. Ink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patmoore Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 Great video! Erica was riding a Kessler when I saw her at Okemo a couple of seasons ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeoffV Posted December 8, 2009 Report Share Posted December 8, 2009 Great video. Didn't know they were training in the pipe as well:eek: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted December 18, 2009 Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20091218/SPORTS/912179983/1077&ParentProfile=1058 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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