An Update from Coach Cameron
September News
The student-athletes have arrived back on campus, and we are in the full swing of things. The athletes are attending classes, lifting in our state of the art Varsity sports gym, and we are taking advantage of the wonderful weather with workouts outside. Our weekends have been busy so far. We had a camping and rafting trip on the Middle Fork American River, hiked the Pacific Crest Trail by Sugar Bowl Resort, wake surfed on Lake Tahoe, and mountain biked at Tahoe Donner. All these activities would not be possible without the help of our community. Special thanks to the Sullivan’s, High Sierra Water Ski School, and Yale Spina and the Sky Tavern Bike Park crew.
The Pack at the top of Tahoe Donner trails.
The Pack at the top of Sugar Bowl for the team hike.
This summer I’ve been busy with a few projects. The first project is to purchase a new van. We spend a significant amount of money on repairs on our two vans. I did some research, talked to other university ski teams, and shopped around town. I’m happy to say that we have partnered with Mercedes-Benz Reno and will be getting a new (AWD!!) van in November. This is a great step forward and could not have been done without the support of the community. The funds raised at Ski Ball last fall have directly impacted this project and let it come to fruition. This was an important initiative for our team because we drive to training every day and cover many miles to get to races. A new van will add the safety we all desire for the student athletes.
Another key project is an upgrade to the ski team’s locker and tuning room. When I first came to Nevada, the ski team had a very small space for tuning their skis. It was tight, cramped, and I felt like this D1 team deserved more! I was able to acquire another room in the Virginia Street Gym for the team, which the athletes can use for both tuning and storing their equipment. We installed new lockers, and it is a huge upgrade that will make the athletes feel like they have a true home on campus.
Ski room before
Ski room after
As we turn towards Ski Ball 2024, which is on November 1st, our fundraising efforts will be geared toward getting the Nordic team off the ground. In NCAA Skiing, we combine Alpine and Nordic skiing to compete for the National Championship. Right now, Nevada only has an Alpine team. To compete for a national title, we need the Nordic team. Our path forward is to build up an endowment so we can have sustainable funds forever. This will help support the rebirth of the Nordic program and ensure that Nevada Skiing is supported for many years to come.
I would love to have you attend Ski Ball 2024! It is such a fun event, a great way to connect with the Wolf Pack Skiing community, and officially kick off the winter season. Tickets can be purchased online through the Nevada Ski Boosters website.
That’s all for now! Go Pack!
Cameron Smith
Head Ski Coach
