Gratitude for a Great Year

A big thank you to everyone who joined us for our Nordic Awards on April 2nd and Olympic Parade on April 3rd. They were wonderful to bring the community together and celebrate the season. Despite unprecedented conditions, there was plenty to cheer about. With such strong participation across our youth programs, we focused this year’s awards on athletes in our Devo programs and above.

We began the evening by recognizing our incredible coaching staff, who consistently showed up with enthusiasm and creativity despite the challenges of a low-snow season. We would especially like to recognize our Head Comp Coach, Liz Stephen. Over the past eight seasons—five as head coach—Liz has helped lead the team to one of its most successful periods while making a lasting impact on countless athletes. Her passion for coaching and dedication to people is truly unmatched.

Liz will be attending nursing school at the end of May and stepping down from her role as head coach, though she will remain involved on a part-time basis. This transition means we are now hiring a new Head Comp Coach. With the Olympics coming to our region in the coming years, this is an exciting opportunity to play a leadership role in our community. You can find the job description and application link HERE.

We also want to highlight the outstanding work of our Head Junior Comp and Devo Coach, McKinley Hibl. This season brought record participation in our intermediate programs, and McKinley handled it all with exceptional organization and energy. Whether adapting to dryland practices, coordinating transportation to Soldier Hollow, or keeping spirits high during less-than-ideal conditions, she created a positive and productive environment for athletes. She was also a constant presence at Intermountain Division races, supporting athletes every step of the way.

We were proud to recognize our graduating seniors, Kyle Clarke and Augie Roepke. Augie has been a Nordic Combined athlete since his early days in Kickers and Gliders and has competed both nationally and internationally. In 2024, he qualified for Nordic Combined World Juniors and was named a recipient of the prestigious Alf Engen Award. Augie will continue his Nordic Combined career next year as he moves to Norway to train.

Kyle Clarke joined our Devo Prep program as a U12 skier and has shown tremendous growth through years of consistent training and dedication. He has participated in nearly all IMD races and camps since joining the Comp Team. In addition to skiing, Kyle was also a varsity mountain biker for Park City High School. He will attend the University of Utah this fall and we look forward to catching up when we see him on the trails.

Junior Dylan Taylor was also honored with the Alf Engen Award. Dylan demonstrated outstanding leadership this season, consistently bringing a positive attitude, strong effort, and a commitment to supporting her teammates. She capped off her season with three wins at the Western Nordic Club Championships. If you visit Utah Olympic Park, be sure to check out the impressive Alf Engen trophy on display in the museum.

After a well-earned break, our athletes and coaches will return to organized training on May 11 for Devo programs and above. Behind the scenes, our staff has been busy planning for the next year. Practices will be held in the afternoons through early June before transitioning to mornings on June 8.

We’re also excited to introduce a new name for our Devo summer program: Adventure and Agility. Open to youth ages 10 and up (and occasionally 9, depending on readiness), this program focuses on fun, movement, and skill development through activities like hiking, running, biking, rollerskiing, agility work, and sessions at Utah Olympic Park. Families can choose to participate for the full summer or sign up week by week. More information can be found HERE.

Registration is also open for our Comp and Junior Comp teams. These programs offer more structured training, increased rollerskiing, and practices at the U.S. Ski Team Center of Excellence, along with several summer camps that are always a highlight of the season. More information HERE.

If this season taught us anything, it’s that success doesn’t begin with the first snowfall—it begins in May. The work we put in during the summer months, from training and planning to team bonding, sets the tone for the entire year. Whether the snow shows up or not, that foundation matters. Joining summer training is one of the best ways to set yourself up for a strong season.

We look forward to seeing you all again soon.

Emma Garrard
Cross Country Director