Lake Wanaka, New Zealand – Snow Sports New Zealand (SSNZ) Chief Executive Ross Palmer announced today that after leading New Zealand’s governing organization for skiing and snowboarding through a period of rapid growth and change, including the completion of a complex integration process, he is moving on to pursue new career opportunities.nSnow Sports New Zealand Board Chair Rick Pettit credited Palmer with numerous accomplishments over the past three years, and said he’s pleased with the progress that has been made by the organization during this time.
“Given where we were three years ago, essentially a post office box, Ross has accomplished a great deal, including bringing all of the sports together under one umbrella,” said Pettit. “Even more notable, however, is the leadership role Ross and Snow Sports New Zealand played in helping to advance two new sports toward inclusion in the 2014 Olympics.”
Under Palmer’s guidance, SSNZ made the formal proposal to the International Ski Federation (FIS) to include snowboard slopestyle in the recently concluded World Championships, a prerequisite to consideration for the Olympic program.
As Chair of the FIS New Event Working Group, Palmer and SSNZ also led the charge to get ski slopestyle into the Olympics by staging the first-ever FIS ski slopestyle competition at a World Championship level.
A letter to SSNZ from FIS Secretary General Sarah Lewis and FIS President Gian Franco Kasper stated that, “Snow Sports New Zealand has taken a leading role in driving forward the development of these disciplines and events, demonstrated by its proposal to the International Ski Congress in June 2010 to include snowboard slopestyle on the program of the FIS World Championships.”
The letter went on to say that, “Unquestionably the great success of the FIS Freestyle and Snowboard Junior World Championships 2010 in Wanaka played a significant role in showcasing the new events on a world stage and we were able to strategically use the excellent /images to assist the application by FIS to the IOC for the inclusion of the new events on the program of the Winter Olympic Games. Of particular note was the fact that the Junior World Championships in Freestyle skiing and snowboarding were carried out jointly for the first time ever, which is also the venue model used at the Olympic Winter Games, as well as the debut of freestyle ski slopestyle at World Championship level.”
Palmer said he simply recognized emerging and established trends in freestyle skiing and snowboarding, and helped push them along within FIS.
“My goal was very simple,” said Palmer. “To provide more and greater opportunities for Kiwi athletes to perform and excel on the world stage. If the IOC ultimately accepts these disciplines into the Olympic program, there’s already a great group of established and up-and-coming New Zealand athletes who will have their shot at an Olympic medal in 2014.
“I want to thank the Board of Snow Sports New Zealand for giving me the opportunity to lead the organization over the past three years,” said Palmer. “I’ve enjoyed my time working in the sector, and taking on the many challenges we’ve faced as a fledgling National Sporting Organization.
“Bringing all of the member sports together was an immediate priority when I started in the role, and I’m pleased that this was accomplished. I’m also pleased with the ongoing work taking place at the development level in each of our sports. Aspiring athletes now have a clear pathway to grow and improve and perhaps one day make it to the world stage.”
Palmer said his near-term goal is to continue his work as a founder and trustee of SOS Outreach New Zealand, a charity that utilizes snow sports and other outdoor adventure activities as a medium for working with under-served youth.
“I’m excited by the new challenges ahead, and I want to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to all those who have supported the growth and development of SSNZ in recent years,” said Palmer. “I’ve had the opportunity to work with some great people, inside and outside our organization, so I expect that snow sports in New Zealand will continue to grow, both in terms of importance and future international success.”