Mammoth Lakes, CA – Veteran U.S. Ski Team member and three-time Olympian Stacey Cook, who calls Mammoth Mountain home, has identified the talented young athletes who have been named to the 2015-16 Stacey Cook/Sun Valley Ski Tools (SVST) Competition Team. Scholarship recipients are chosen based on passion and dedication to the sport, community involvement, and character.

The relationship between Cook and SVST runs deep; it all began when SVST was an original sponsor of Cook early in her career. “I think there were about six athletes that SVST said they’d choose to sponsor based on character rather than results, and then all six of us made the U.S. Ski Team. They had quite a bit of foresight,” reflected Cook.

When Cook made the Team and had the support of a technician, she no longer needed the sponsorship of SVST, but she took this as an opportunity to create something that would help her give back to young athletes who needed the same support to propel their career forward. Cook approached SVST and asked that they partner up to create a scholarship program based on the same ideal: character before talent. SVST obliged, and it has grown ever since.

Owner of SVST, Norma Vermillion, is equally appreciative of Cook, her dedication to this program, and her commitment to young athletes.

“I can’t tell you how much we appreciate Stacey and the amazing job she does with this program,” said Vermillion, “Our staff here at Sun Valley Ski Tools are dedicated to the world of alpine ski racing. We know that for many athletes, the costs to compete strain family budgets. We wish we had the means to help every single athlete that applies for Stacey’s scholarship, but we don’t.”

One character trait that sets Cook apart in the world of professional sports is her desire to give back to the same ski community that influenced her life in such a big way. She seems to find a way to manage all of this between travel to and from on-snow camps and conditioning to prepare for another season on the World Cup tour, enlisting the help of her teammates and friends to weigh in on applicants. This year there were 72 applicants, and they were all qualified.

Scholarship recipients receive everything from skis, donated by Cook’s new sponsor Stöckli, to SVST tuning equipment and swag.

The 2015-16 team boasts an impressive roster of athletes including those who have persevered to come back from injury (Katie Collins of Vail, Colo.), the first-ever ski cross athlete (Mazie Hayden, of Pittsfield, Vt./Killington Mountain School), and even a young woman who applied on behalf of her high school team in Natrona County, Wyo. In Leslie Briscoe’s application, she mentioned she would use the scholarship to support her team instead of just herself. Her selflessness turned Cook’s head.

“I thought that was very creative and generous, and I loved the idea,” Cook reflected. “I had so much fun racing for my high school team and it is a group within this sport that is very passionate, but often forgotten about. I’m really happy we can support those two schools this year.”

In a recent note to scholarship recipients, Cook wrote, “I am so proud of all of you and what you have accomplished in skiing and in life.”

2015-16 SVST COMPETITION TEAM
(Name, Birth Year, Hometown, Ski Team)

• Hunter Rodrick, ’98, Chappaqua, New York, Stratton Mountain School
• Mazie Hayden, ’00, Pittsfield, Vermont, Killington Mountain School
• AJ Hurt, ’00, Carnelian Bay, California, Squaw Valley Ski Team/NTG
• Grace Stetsko, ’00, Lake Orion, Michigan, Pinnacle Ski Team
• Bruno Amon-Franceschi, ’01, Los Angeles, California, Mammoth Mountain Ski Team
• Natrona County High School and Kelly Walsh High School Ski Teams courtesy of Leslie Briscoe, ’99, Casper, Wyoming
• Katie Collins, ’00, Vail, Colorado, Ski & Snowboard Club Vail