Pillar Projects

 Pillar Projects are where the NNF meets athletes:

providing opportunities, experiences, and a changed sense of where skiing can take them.

Competitions:

NNF partners with US Ski and Snowboard to provide the funding for Junior/U23 World Championships, athlete exchanges, and support for members of the US Ski Team.

Each year, NNF sponsors the US team at 5 different levels of international competition, from U18 juniors all the way up to the World Cup:

    • U18 Nordic Nations: Top US U18 skiers qualify to compete against Scandinavian skiers in Norway as part of an athlete exchange introducing them to international racing.
    • FIS Junior World Ski Championships/ U23 World Ski Championships : First World Championship experience for the best junior skiers (U20) in the US, and international junior level Championship (U23) for developing pro and collegiate skiers.
    • OPA Cup: The European continental cup, gives domestic level pros experience they need to push to the World Cup level.
    • World Cup: Supplemental funding for US Ski Team members to step onto the World Cup start line.  NNF supports those athletes not funded by the US Ski team but have qualitied to race World Cup.
    • NNF SuperTour:  NNF makes the top-level domestic race circuit in North America possible. The NNF SuperTour provides a direct route to the World Cup and enriches US skiing across the continent.

Training Camps: 

A critical component of athlete and regional skier development. NNF supports training camps for athletes across the country.

Camps help:

    • Introduce young athletes to their peers from ski communities across the country.
    • Create an inclusive training environment at the elite level.
    • Connect athletes to inspiring coaches, and the cutting edge training methods they know best.
    • Provide chances for athletes to have meaningful experiences in the places that make US skiing special – from Craftsbury, VT, Cable, WI, Soldier Hollow, UT, to Kincaid Park, AK, – and everywhere in between.
    • Create a collaborative environment for athletes and coaches to share knowledge and a passion for skiing.

NNF is the principal provider of support for US Ski and Snowboard’s Development programs, including:

  • National Training Group (NTG)/National Elite Group (NEG): Top U18+ athletes from across the country working with US Ski Team athletes and coaches in series that runs from Spring-Fall.
  • Regional Elite Group (REG): Summer series bringing top U18+ skiers from across each region of US skiing together for focused training, community development, and offseason competition opportunities.
  • National U16 Camp: Summer opportunity for top U16 skiers to work with US Ski Team athletes and coaches, while training with their national peers in an introduction to focused “camp-style” training block.
  • US Ski Team International Development Exchanges and Trips: Collaborative training opportunities meant to foster US skiing’s relationship with the international ski community through our best asset, our skiers.

    Athlete and Coaching Grants:

    With three categories of grants, Trail to Gold, Athlete and Coaches Grants will be awarded to qualified, deserving American Nordic athletes and coaches.

      • Trail to Gold:  Join the US Ski Team World Cup staff for up to 2 weeks of hands-on experience in waxing, testing, coaching, and all aspects of being a team member of a world-class coaching staff.  Utilize FIS’ Women coaches bib allotment to test skis alongside the world’s best athletes.  Women coaches from across the US bring World Cup experience home, helping spread inspiration and passion across US ski communities from coast-to-coast.
      • Athlete Grants:  NNF Athlete Grants will be awarded to qualified, deserving American Nordic athletes who demonstrate the need for financial sponsorship. Distributed funds are intended to be used to offset summer training expenses and will be awarded August 15.
      • Coach Grants:  2 Coaches Grants will be awarded to development coaches who further the values of the NNF.
      • Team Grant: 1 Team Grant will be awarded to the Team that furthers the values of the NNF.
    Share This