Colorado University Athletics
Coaches World - Issue IV
Assistant Coaches Dan Weinberger and Jed Schuetze will post weekly diary entries to update Colorado ski fans on the progress of their training towards the 2006 NCAA Championships, to be held at Steamboat, Colorado, March 8-11. This week Dan fills us in the 2005 Ski Ball!
The 35th annual Ski Ball was held last Friday at the Byron R. White Stadium Club in Folsom Field. This was the eighth consecutive ski ball I have attended (four as an athlete, two as a “donor” and two as a coach and committee member) and I can honestly say this one far surpassed the previous seven. The differences were numerous and subtle, but once summed together they had a dramatic effect. Upon reflection I want to attribute this year’s success to three primary reasons: this year’s athletes, the ski ball committee, and Mike Bohn, our athletic director.
Firstly and most importantly, it was a success because of the athletes, after all that is why we attend the ski ball. We want to demonstrate our support for this year’s athletes, and as I mentioned last week, this year’s athletes are special. Throughout the evening, we as coaches had the opportunity to watch our athletes interact with the guests and create a tangible atmosphere of excitement about this years ski team. On numerous occasions I had people come up to me and tell me they just spoke with so and so, and how impressed they were them. Thank you guys, you are the reason we are all out here!
Secondly, the work of our ski ball committee, chaired by Gwen Sparn. For the past 10 weeks the committee has been meeting every Tuesday morning at 7 a.m. to answer the question, “How do we make this years ski ball the best ever?” The tireless commitment of these volunteers from pre-event planning, to setup, to the actual event had a spectacular effect on the whole function. And I spoke with a number of them the following day at the football game and they were already brainstorming for next years ball, Nov. 3rd ? so mark your calendars!
Finally, the work of Mike Bohn, our athletic director, contributed immensely to the success of our ski ball. He personally rallied behind the ski team to support us in achieving our goals, and helped us to raise $21,250 in less than 20 minutes. I cannot think of an economically more effective A.D., but the true impact was the effect it had on the audience and especially our athletes. I believe, in those twenty minutes, our athletes realized how important they were to CU athletics, and how much people cared about them and their cause. They realized that they now shared their goals with a larger community that is willing to help them in anyway they can. They are no longer operating in a small vacuum where only themselves, the coaches, and their parents care about their achievements. We have an illustrious past to return to, and there is a community helping us and anxiously awaiting our return to the top.
So I want to personally give a tremendous thanks to all those involved in this years ski ball. With the money we raised we are going to buy ourselves a new van for the athletes!
Now on to the important stuff!
The best dressed goes to
The best dancer goes to Lesley LeMasurier and Pat Duran.
The best quote of the night also belongs to Leslie. While hearing a riveting story from assistant coach Jed Schuetze, she stopped him mid-sentence and said, “That is a nice story Jed, but I just love to dance!” She then abruptly left for the dance floor.
And a special thanks to the 35 Norwegian ski team alumni who flew across the ocean to support us!