Former SSCV head Steinberg returns to coach ski cross

Ski and Snowboard Club Vail on Tuesday announced the return of former SSCV Executive Director Erik Steinberg as a coach of SSCV’s Ski Cross team.

Erik Steinberg

A Vail native since 1964, Erik Steinberg moved to Vail with his family when his father Tom was recruited to become Vail’s first doctor and founded the Vail Clinic and Hospital. Growing up at the foot of Vail Mountain Erik became a member of Ski Club Vail as well as the cycling team “No Name” coached by 7 time Tour de France rider Caesar Moretti.

An RMD Jr. Downhill Champion, Erik went on to compete at the University of Colorado where he was part of four NCAA National Championship teams and a First Team All-American in 1974. After two seasons racing in the first seed at the Europa Cup, Erik narrowly missed qualifying for the 1976 Olympic Team.

Hired by the US Ski Team in 1979, first as a Men’s Assistant DH Coach and then Women’s Head DH Coach, Erik helped Billy Johnson win Olympic Gold in 1984 and Doug Lewis win World Championship’s Bronze in 1985. His Women’s Team made US Racing history in Vail in 1986 with a World Cup DH win by Pam Fletcher and 6 Americans in the first 14 places. In total, Erik has coached 41 National Champions.

From 1988 to 1993 Erik served as the Executive Director of Ski Club Vail before relocating to Steamboat Springs where he headed up the Billy Kidd Performance Center for 7 years. In recent years Erik has been a Realtor and parent of a young ski racer.

Ski Cross is an Olympic sport where athletes race in an exciting head to head format in a course with multiple terrain features such as rollers, banked turns and jumps. A spectator favorite, Ski Cross is slated to return to the X-Games after a two year absence in 2016. Ski & Snowboard Club Vail alumnus Chris DelBosco is a two time Ski Cross Olympian, FIS World Champion and X-Games Gold Medalist.

SSCV’s Ski Cross program is for U16 and U14 athletes hoping to follow in Chris’ footsteps. Both Full-Time and Part-Time programs are offered. Training in the traditional Alpine discipline of Giant Slalom, Free-skiing and skills development will be supplemented with work on start technique, jumping skills and side by side training using existing facilities.

An informational meeting is scheduled on Sunday August 24 at 12:30 p.m. at the SSCV Clubhouse on Vail Valley Drive just East of the Children’s Ski School at Golden Peak. Everyone is invited to meet Steinberg, welcome him home to Vail and learn more about SSCV’s Ski Cross Team. Go to the SSCV website for more information.