Having four athletes from the Winter Park Competition Center compete on the world’s biggest stage at the Milan/Cortina Games has been a point of pride across the valley. These are athletes who trained on our slopes, developed within our community and spent years working through the program. The spotlight is exciting, but what matters goes much deeper.
The 16-Weekend Commitment
The WPCC winter program runs approximately 16 weekends each season. From early winter through spring, athletes and families commit their Saturdays and Sundays to structured training, coaching and competition, plus weeknight training at the Colorado Adventure Park. That consistency is what separates a recreational experience from a true development program.
Families plan their calendars around it. Travel schedules revolve around it. For families coming from Denver and the Front Range, that means a 90-minute drive each way, every weekend, for four months straight. For many, the question eventually becomes whether it makes sense to keep commuting or to be closer to the mountain. It is one of the primary reasons so many WPCC families have made Grand Park both their home and their home away from home. Proximity simplifies the season. Less drive time means more focus, more flexibility and a more sustainable rhythm for athletes and parents alike.
A Program That Draws Talent
WPCC attracts families from across Colorado and beyond because of its depth. Alpine, moguls, freeski, snowboard and all-mountain programs operate under experienced coaches who prioritize fundamentals, technical strength, and mental preparation. The goal is not simply to produce podium finishes. It is to develop strong skiers and riders who understand their sport and build lifelong skills.
This year’s four Olympians are a visible example of what is possible within the program. Birk and Svea Irving, Stacy Gaskill, and Jackson Harvey represent years of coaching, mentorship and steady progression through team levels. This moment did not come without support from both the families and the community.
At the same time, the program serves hundreds of athletes whose names may never be announced at an Olympic start gate. They gain discipline, accountability and a lifelong connection to skiing. They build friendships through shared work and shared goals. That broader impact is what sustains the program year after year.
More Than a Sponsorship
As Diamond-level sponsors of WPCC in both winter and summer seasons, our support is centered on the kids. It is not about logos on banners. It is about standing behind athletes and families who make the commitment to the program and supporting the families who structure their lives around it. It is about helping ensure that a top-tier development pipeline remains strong in a mountain community that values sport and outdoor life.
When Winter Park athletes reach the Olympic stage, it energizes the entire town.
Generations Putting Down Roots
Over time, many Competition Center families choose to establish roots in Grand Park. What begins as a practical housing decision tied to training often becomes something more permanent. Living near Winter Park Resort allows families to integrate skiing into their life rather than treating it as a destination. It creates stability during demanding seasons and opens the door to long-term involvement in the sport.
Skiing is a lifelong activity that families share across generations. Athletes grow up and continue to ski. Some return as coaches. Others raise their own kids in the same program. Whether that starts with a condo at Elk Creek or a townhome in The Meadows, the connection to this community tends to stick. The Olympic energy running through Winter Park is powerful and it highlights the best of what the Winter Park Competition Center and this community have built together.
