The creation of the program will fill a void left by the closure of Crested Butte Academy. The private school provided a range of snowsports competition opportunities to both day and live-in students, but declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy in December of 2003 and has been in financial difficulties since. The Mountain Sports Division should allow local students to continue to compete in Alpine, Nordic, Freestyle and Freeride events and will employ several staffers who were associated with the Academy including Cesati, and freeride coach Woody Lindenemeyr.
The programs will include options for Alpine Racing, Snowboarding, Big Mountain/Freeride Skiing, and Telemark divisions and are run in association with the Crested Butte Ski Club. \
