In keeping with our motto, “For the Kids”, Ski & Snowboard Club Vail (SSCV) is looking forward to accommodating the needs of our young skiers and snowboarders once the proposed clubhouse at Golden Peak is completed.  SSCV received Town of Vail approvals last year to build a new 28,000 square foot clubhouse along with 10,000 square feet of residential space at the site of the existing clubhouse on Vail Valley Drive at Golden Peak.

Although the slope side location of the current clubhouse provides convenient ski in/ski out access to athletes, it was constructed in 1977 and the second story added in 1986 when the Club had less than 100 participants. SSCV now has more than 100 coaches and 600 athletes. Built with community volunteers and donations of time and materials from many of the local contractors, the club’s home has served the community well for almost 40 years.

What it means “For the Kids”

A new clubhouse will mean many things “For the Kids” including much needed space for video review, equipment storage and preparation, warm-up and cool-down, changing areas and gear storage and private meeting spaces. A “great” room will allow larger gatherings of teams for educational presentations and social events and house Ski & Snowboard Club Vail’s Wall of Excellence and Hall of Fame tributes to the achievements of so many who’ve contributed to the legacy of Vail.

The new clubhouse will provide the space needed today and into the future to serve the needs of the entire community of Ski & Snowboard Club Vail that enables youngsters to develop the character, courage and commitment needed to be successful adults through the vehicle of competitive snow sports long after their days at SSCV are over.

The Process

Several years of time and effort has been put in by SSCV board members working with staff, representatives of the Town of Vail and Vail Resorts, architect KH Webb Architects and general contractor Viele Construction to understand the needs of SSCV athletes, staff, parents, neighbors and the community, along with the finances required to meet those needs.

Vail Resorts has very generously committed to donate 12,000 square feet of additional land adjacent to the current clubhouse site, enabling the new building to have three large traffic lanes and greater set-backs from the roadway to minimize the effect on the surrounding neighbors and improve traffic flows for drop off and pick up times.  Final drawings, floor plans, finishes, renderings, costs, and the approvals needed to break ground are already in place.

What’s next

The existing SSCV Clubhouse sits on one of the most beautiful parcels of land in the Valley, offering breathtaking views of the Gore Range and Vail Mountain along with priceless ski-in ski-out access to the mountain.  This presented a unique opportunity to include 10,000 square feet of residential space on the 3rd and 4th floors of the new building which will become one penthouse or two condominiums.

The sales proceeds from the clubhouse residential space will fund the cost of the clubhouse and also may seed an endowment fund for financial assistance for the athletes to help support accessibility and sport related competition, travel, equipment and camp costs.  This creative approach to financing the project is designed to avoid cannibalizing fundraising efforts for other much needed initiatives “For the Kids”.

All that remains to be done to make the new clubhouse vision a reality is to sell the residential space.  If necessary financing is received in the next few months, it is the Club’s plan to begin construction in early April of next year (2016).

There is no doubt in my mind that the new clubhouse will greatly enhance the world class experience that SSCV seeks to deliver to its snows sports athletes both on snow and off.  For decades to come, it will allow us to do more for the kids of the community and support the mission and vision of SSCV.

For more information on the new SSCV Clubhouse and the penthouse units contact SSCV at sschmidt@skiclubvail.org or 970-790-5161.