SAM Magazine-Park City, Ut., June 28, 2007-Park City will be the home of USSA's new national training center. Dubbed the Center of Excellence, the facility will be a state-of-the-art structure with world-class facilities designed to improve athletic performance. Construction on the $22.5 million center will begin this summer, with groundbreaking July 18, and will be completed prior to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

The 85,000-square-foot center will include strength-training areas, a gymnasium, a climbing wall, ski and snowboard ramps, trampolines, a nutrition center and rehabilitation facilities. Plus, it will feature educational areas for athletes, coaches and clubs, such as a computer lab, multimedia rooms for performance analysis, and equipment workshops. All of the educational resources will be shared with USSA's 400 clubs around the country.

"This center has been a vision for over a decade, and will have the best sport science and training facilities for our diverse athletic needs," said Bill Marolt, USSA president and CEO. "It also will provide educational opportunities that will benefit athletes in their specific sport and after their competitive careers end."

The center "will be a huge asset for us," said World Championships nordic combined silver medalist Bill Demong, who, like USSA athletes Shannon Bahrke, Lindsey Kildow, and Graham Watanabe, have moved to Utah to work more closely with team coaches. Added Demong, "This center will set the standard for NGBs [national governing bodies], not only in this country but around the world."

USSA expects the center will serve as a magnet for the ski and snowboard sports community in a variety of ways and enhance USSA's value for athletes, coaches and staff as well as clubs, volunteers, corporate partners, donors and other supporters. It is being funded through the organization's Legacy Campaign endowment.