Bill Madsen joins United States Ski and Snowboard Association in full-time role

Bill Madsen has joined the United States Ski and Snowboard Association to oversee NASTAR's programme ©USSA

National Standard Race (NASTAR) director of operations Bill Madsen has joined the United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) to oversee NASTAR’s initiatives alongside the sport’s governing body in America, it has been announced.

The development comes as part of an agreement signed between NASTAR, the largest public grassroots ski race programme in the world, and the USSA, who will assume operational management of the company, back in May.

Madsen’s role will be to continue the success of the NASTAR programme, which reaches 115 resorts across North America, through the USSA’s events department.

It is hoped this will allow more people to get involved in the sport and comes after the USSA announced a reduction in membership prices to attract further participants in skiing and snowboarding.

“NASTAR’s alignment with the United States Ski Team unites all alpine racers under one roof and is an opportunity to promote the sport as a whole,” Madsen, who has worked with NASTAR for more than 25 years, said.

“This change provides young kids and adult racers with an opportunity to engage with their heroes who inspire and motivate them to stay excited about and involved with the sport.

“Since its inception in 1968, NASTAR has been a gateway for people to become passionate about competitive skiing.

“I look forward to working with the USSA to grow what we’ve already established.”

The partnership between the USSA and NASTAR was announced in May and is aimed at improving the development of the sport in America ©NASTAR

Madsen will carry on in his day-to-day management of NASTAR as well as working with the USSA, where he will try to establish partnerships for the organisation in order to increase the sport’s development in the country.

His appointment into a staff role with the USSA was heralded by the organisation’s President and chief executive Tiger Shaw, who hopes Madsen’s input will further enhance the sport in America.

“Bill has done a remarkable job managing NASTAR and the USSA is committed to maintaining that level of professionalism moving forward,” he said.

“He will be an invaluable asset to the USSA events team as we gear up for another season of NASTAR racing.”

NASTAR have also announced that their National Championships, an annual event which sees around 1,200 participants compete each year, is due to take place from March 24 until 27 next year.

They are set to reveal a host city for the competition midway through September.