US Ski Team Athletes Seek to Inspire
Teaching Kids About Sportsmanship
Over the past few months, six US Ski Team athletes, including Olympic Gold Medalist Jonny Moseley, have visited schools in 13 cities as part of the "Sportsmanship for Life" program. The program seeks to teach kids good sportsmanship, both on and off the field.
The athletes encouraged students to write essays of 200 words or less describing what sportsmanship means to them in all aspects of life, and what they expect from role models.
The US Ski Team members selected a total of 16 regional gold medalists based on their essays. All 16 have become honorary members of the US Ski Team and their schools receive a $1,000 donation in the winning student's name to further education. From the 16 regional winners, three national winners were selected to win an all-inclusive trip to the Freestyle Grand Nationals in Deer Valley, Utah, on January 5-7, 2001. The national gold medalists are Aaron Boyle of Provo, Utah; Michelle Turcios of Redwood City, California; and Keir Stiegler of New Hope, Minnesota.
The Sportsmanship for Life program is sponsored by Sprint and American Skiing Company.
US team members Kristina Koznick, currently 6th in the World Cup slalom standings, and freestyler Joe Pack, who recently captured his third World Cup win at Blackcomb Mountain, British Columbia, visited a Junior High School in Seattle, Washington. Hundreds of 7th and 8th graders attended the assembly in the gym of Seattle Middle School.
Pack and Koznick asked the students, "What does good sportsmanship mean to you?" Some of the their answers included: "Cleaning my room when my mom asks me to" and "Helping someone with their homework."
Koznick said she enjoys being able to interact with the kids. "It's really the only chance that we as athletes get to actually talk to the kids and to people who possibly might look up to us. I love being able to interact and possibly have an impact."
The students watched as Pack demonstrated some of his world-class moves with an acrobatic aerial performance on a trampoline he uses to practice gravity-defying jumps. Koznick also braved the trampoline for her first back flip - ever - in front of the students, with Pack's help.
Pack has been involved in the program in previous years. "First of all, the essays they write are great. They love it. You get all these kids pumped up on skiing, and it's just fun to be part of that energy and send a good message to them about sportsmanship. It works out for everybody," he said.
For more information about the Sportmanship for Life program, call toll free 1-877-624-8258.
