Winter Park, CO – The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) is mourning the loss of one of its veteran officials and leaders. Bob Dart, 64, passed away from a reported heart attack on Tuesday while working on the mountain at Winter Park Resort where he served as director of mountain maintenance.

“As both a volunteer and a ski area professional, Bob was the quintessential USSA supporter, dedicating much of his life to serving athletes as a competition official, mountain manager, committee leader and technical delegate,” said USSA President and CEO Tiger Shaw. “His vast experience and wisdom will be missed. He embraced the USSA wholeheartedly early in his career at Winter Park, and was tireless in his work for athletes and support of alpine ski racing.”

A native of Southern California, Dart moved to Denver in the mid ‘70s. He began his 37-year tenure at Winter Park in 1978, starting on race crew and quickly moving into a management role at the Winter Park Competition Center. He rose through the company to become director of mountain maintenance.

Dart began his USSA career on the Rocky Mountain Division Board as well as serving as commissioner of the USSA’s Great American Ski Chase cross-country ski marathon series in the ‘80s. In 1989, he began a long career as a FIS technical delegate, which saw him serve as TD for the 2005 World Championships in Bormio as well as the 2011 Hahnenkamm in Kitzbuehel, among many other assignments.

As a volunteer committee and board leader, Dart served 16 years as head of USSA Rocky Mountain Division Board and led the FIS NorAm Cup subcommittee for nearly two decades, alternating with Canadians. He was on the USSA Board of Directors from 1992-97 and again from 2005-14, when he also played a vital role in the McKinsey Study, which has helped change the face of USSA governance.

In his role at Winter Park Resort, Dart oversaw over a dozen U.S. Championship events and played an important role in bringing the U.S. Alpine Championships together with the NASTAR National Championships.

Over the years Dart received many of the USSA’s top service awards including the John Clair Award (service to U.S. Ski Team), Bud and Mary Little Award (service to FIS), Westhaven Award (service as technical delegate) and Paul Bacon Award (service to event organization).

Information on services is pending.