Michael Duran and Daron Rahlves heads up the forming of (ASCA)

The United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) pulled funding from elite sports, including ski cross. According to vice president of athletics Luke Bodensteiner, the USSA needed to redirect funds towards its alpine, freestyle aerials and snowboarding programs by establishing a domestic base of competition. Ski cross didn't qualify, but the USSA will continue to host lower-tier events.

As a result, after the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, racers Michael Duran and Daron Rahlves approached members of the ski cross community about forming the American Ski Cross Association (ASCA). The organization would supplement the costs of ski cross racers and serve to heighten awareness about the sport.

"The situation was that there would be no funding," ASCA board member Mike Jaquet explained. "So we set about creating funding for skiers to train, develop and compete on a world-class level." ASCA intends to field a team with enough credentials and money to win in Sochi, Russia, in 2014.

Leading up to the 2011 International Ski Federation World Cup season, ASCA procured resources for a first event. "We got our first donation in November and were able to fund a team to compete in Italy," Jaquet explained. John Teller's third place finish at the season opener on Dec. 18-19 in Innichen, Italy, brought the ASCA team what Jacquet describes as "instant credibility."Teller has since taken over the World Cup rankings lead with a win Friday in St. Johann, Austria.

"The U.S. Ski Team is a big organization, so it is almost better that we are able to focus on ski cross athletes only," said Teller. ASCA will be crucial to his 2011 campaign. "Without this I would not have been able to travel to Europe."That credibility, ideally, will help ASCA's grassroots mature into a long-term source of financing and development for ski cross. Eventually, the ASCA would cull both a men's and women's team of eight to 10 riders to compete regularly, with coaches and trainers priming younger skiers to ascend the ranks through a series of domestic races. "Today, we have virtually none of this," admitted Jaquet. "We are years behind the [Europeans] and even in our own backyard to the Canadians."

Casey Puckett plans to change that. A four-time alpine racing Olympian and six-time national champion, Puckett has spent much of the last decade tackling ski cross. He won Winter X Games gold in 2004 and 2007 and, together with Rahlves, posted the U.S. Ski Team's only ski cross podium results last year. Now, Puckett has been tapped as the ASCA's executive director. While the ASCA has been banking on donations of varying size, it expects to meet its initial fundraising goal of $250,000 in 2011.

Puckett and Jaquet trust that persistence and strong results are key to more lucrative backing. "With a year under our belts, and if our results can continue at Winter X and the World Championships," Jaquet argued, "then I think we will be in great shape to secure corporate partnership money." Puckett admitted that he worried about potential conflicts with the U.S. Ski Team. "My biggest concern when I came on was how they would view our efforts. So far, there's been no problem. They're glad we're picking it up," he claimed, stating that the ASCA has been assured there will be no conflicting sponsorship troubles.

The USSA's Bodensteiner didn't rule out reevaluating ski cross in the future. "We're in this to win more medals than other countries, and we'll support specific athletes and teams to do that," he affirmed. The ASCA is picking up the slack. While quasi-retired, Puckett will don a jersey on behalf of the ASCA at least once more when Winter X returns to his hometown of Aspen, Colorado. Puckett and the rest of the ASCA team -- consisting of Winter X veterans Teller, Caitlin Ciccone, Jean Rudigoz, and Duran's brother Pat -- will advocate for their sport across the World Cup schedule, which resumes in Alpe d'Huez, France on Wednesday.

You Loose Some, You Win Some, Stephanie Gilmore Signs with Quick Silver after Julian Wilson Announces Switch to Nike 6.0

After the news broke earlier Tuesday that ASP future star, Julian Wilson left Quiksilver for Nike, Quik announced it signed current and four-time world champ, Stephanie Gilmore to a five-year contract.

Gilmore, who has ridden for Rip Curl her entire pro career, won her first World Championship her rookie year of 2007, and has dominated the Womens tour since.

"I have had exceptional support throughout my career and I am excited to have this bright opportunity with the respected team at Quiksilver," says Gilmore, "I am looking forward to pushing myself to new levels and feel this is a move which will help me stay inspired while competing at the highest level as a professional surfer on the ASP Women's World Tour. It's thrilling to be a part of an innovative and globally respected brand like Quiksilver. Its rich history and creative direction are well aligned with my personal ambitions."

Gilmore will become a brand ambassador for Quiksilver's own women's line. The brand has until now sponsored female artists, musicians, photographers, and fashion designers.


After winning her fourth title in Puerto Rico last November and her third Vans Triple Crown in Hawaii in December, Gilmore made news recently when she was attacked near her home in Tweed's Head. The attac  left her with a broken wrist. She has said she will be healed in time for the start of the season at on February 26, Roxy Pro on Australia's Gold Coast.

"We are very happy to welcome Stephanie to Quiksilver," says Bob McKnight, CEO of Quiksilver, "Her many accomplishments, at such a young age, are incredible. She is an inspirational role model for young women and a perfect fit for Quiksilver."

Energy Drink Ban...First Four Loko. Now Red Bull?

Last month legislators in New York and Kentucky began considering bans of energy drink sales to minors. The proposals come following a warning on alcoholic energy drinks by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and measures in several states outlawing their sale.

In December the Suffolk County Legislature in New York State held a public hearing on a bill that would ban the sale of energy drinks to anyone under age 19. The proposed bill in Suffolk, on the eastern end of Long Island, would target energy drinks such as Red Bull, Monster and Rockstar, all of which invest heavily across action sports as sponsors of both events and athletes. So some action sports athletes might be old enough to be sponsored by energy drink companies, but not old enough to drink....hmmmm?

In Kentucky, Representative Danny Ford, a Republican state legislator from Mount Vernon, is considering a similar plan that would outlaw sales to anyone under 18.

In Suffolk County, the ban would target energy drinks with more than 80 milligrams of caffeine per serving, slightly more than the average soft drink. Stores that sell such beverages would be required to post signs warning customers of health risks associated with the products. Retailers would be fined $250 for failing to post the sign, and $500 for selling to minors.

Four states have already banned alcoholic energy drinks, the most infamous of which is Four Loko, a highly caffeinated malt liquor beverage known as "blackout in a can" that had been linked with several deaths in 2010.

New York State banned Four Loko and the F.D.A. issued warnings in November to producers of alcoholic energy drinks, calling caffeine added to the drinks an "unsafe food additive" following a year-long study. (So does that include Red Bull & Vodka?)

But the legislation in Suffolk County and Kentucky would be the first in the country to ban non-alcoholic energy drinks, a $7 billion a year industry.

Not all energy drinks are created equal. In August, the American Association of Poison Control Centers issued a statement regarding dangers posed by energy drinks that read: "The amount of caffeine found in many energy drinks is much greater than the amount found in soda and is often much greater than the amount found in a cup of coffee."The statement went on to warn that if improperly consumed, energy drinks could cause symptoms ranging from "nausea, vomiting, and nervousness" to "seizures, and increased heart rhythm." (I felt that way after watching the movie "Skyline"...They should of outlawed that!)

A public hearings will be held beginning Feb. 1.

Julian Wilson Leave Quicksilver and Inks Deal with Nike 6.0

After rumors circulated for months regarding Wilson's leaving Quiksilver, it looks like they were true after all.  Julian has signed with Nike 6.0. We're still awaiting an "official" announcement from the parties, but please check back I'm sure some info will surface in a day or so!

Shaun White has been confirmed to compete in both Slopestyle and SuperPipe at Winter X 15

Better late than never, Shaun White has been confirmed to compete in both Slopestyle and SuperPipe at Winter X 15 later this month. White has been competing and medaling in both events in the Winter X games since 2002. Sean has fifteen Winter X medals, with 10 golds divided evenly between Slopestyle and SuperPipe.

White placed first in both Slope and SuperPipe at WX 2009, but decided not to compete in Slopestyle last season in order to concentrate on halfpipe and winning Olympic Gold. White trained for the Olympic season in a private halfpipe with a foam pit, emerging with the infamous double cork that badly injured rival Kevin Pearce and changed the face of pipe competitions forever. However, while White dominated every pipe event he entered last year.

Torstein Horgmo, who won the Breckenridge Dew Tour slopestyle event in December and is arguably the man to beat, landed the first triple cork this summer. And guys like Air & Style Beijing winner Sebastian Toutant have been busy adding every double cork 10 and 12 variation under the sun to their trick repertoires. Meanwhile, White spent his summer skateboarding -- competing at the X Games (where he won silver) and the Dew Tour (where he won three out of four events) -- which he followed up this fall with a promo tour for his new skateboarding video game.

White has more Winter X slopestyle medals than any other competitor in WX history -- eight total, while runners up Kevin Jones and Andreas Wiig are tied at four each  we will see how he fairs this year after a summer of no training.