Whitefish Mountain Resort’s Freestyle Ski and Snowboard Teams are up and running again this year, but with a few exciting changes, according to Steve Knox, the program’s new director.

“Basically, the Freestyle Team and the Snowboard Team have been merged into one cooperative program,” said Knox. “We have new coaches, a new curriculum and a spectacular training site at the Fishbowl Terrain Park and Superpipe on Big Mountain .”

The new curriculum will involve on-snow training on the Mountain as well as participation in twelve freestyle and free-ride events to be held at the Resort. Knox will initially oversee the administration and direction of both programs while coaching skiers, and long-time instructor Jay Dobbins will coach for the snowboard program. “Jay is a familiar face in snowboarding circles and brings years of coaching and instructing experience to the table,” said Knox.

In 1994, Knox helped create the resort’s freestyle ski team from a loosely-organized group of local skiers. At its peak in 2001, the team had well over fifty members and was nationally recognized. Under Knox, the team won the Northern Division Freestyle Team trophy four times, sent numerous members to National Championship events, twice hosted the USSA Freestyle Junior Olympics, and was named USSA Freestyle Club of the Year in 2000. Resort officials have previously recognized Knox’s contributions to the resort by naming the mountain’s official USSA inverted aerial jumping site Knox Landing.

“We are very lucky to have Steve back on board,” said Arrow Anderson, director of Whitefish Mountain Resort’s Ski & Snowboard School , which includes competitive teams. “He knows how to run a good program, and he knows how to teach kids.”

Knox is optimistic about the future of the resort’s competitive teams, and sees them as an important element in the local skiing equation. “These teams are all about the community. They provide an important path of progression for local kids who are interested in pursuing the sport, but they couldn’t exist without support from the resort, the Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation, local ski clubs, ski shops, parents, and volunteers.”

Training has already begun, and Whitefish Mountain Resort's freestyle competition teams are still accepting new members. Those interested can contact Knox directly at (406) 862-2971, or sign up by calling the resort at (406) 862-2900.