USSA announce membership restructure to increase participation in skiing and snowboarding

The USSA have announced a membership restructuring in order to increase participation in the sport ©USSA

The United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) has announced a restructuring of its membership in order to make the sports more accessible across the country.

It is hoped the move will help increase the amount of members of the organisation, which currently stands at 30,000.

Pricing has been altered in a bid to attract more people to the sports, with entry-level costs starting at as little as $15 (£10/€13) and the categories have also been adjusted.

They will now include athlete age classes, allow for multi-sport membership at no additional cost for the first time and athletes will be able to compete in USSA-sanctioned events as part of a short-term membership scheme.

A volunteer membership initiative has been set up as part of the review into the structure, which provides clubs with a means of increasing participation among youngsters while ensuring background screening of everyone working with children is maintained.

“Supporting dreams at all levels of participation is key to achieving success at the elite level,” USSA President and chief executive Tiger Shaw said.

“The new membership structure not only encourages broader USSA membership within our sports but also better encompasses people involved at every level of skiing and snowboarding.”

The governing body hope the membership change will help increase participation levels at youth level — The USSA hope the membership change will help increase participation levels at youth level ©Getty Images

The structure was designed following meetings with key sport and industry stakeholders and follows the establishment of a special task force, charged with coming up with ways of enhancing membership and opportunities for young people to get involved in the sports.

“Skiing and snowboarding are family sports, so it’s important to make it affordable,” Shaw added.

“The USSA community goes far beyond just competitors and coaches.

“Anyone who wants to engage with the USSA, whether they’re spectating, following or participating as an athlete, will have the opportunity to become a member and have access to member benefits at a reasonable price.”

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