The Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club promoted Sam Tarrant to Freestyle Director following the departure of Bobby Aldighieri. Previously, Tarrant held the role as the freestyle high performance coach, which he took on in July 2021.

Aldighieri stepped down from his role as program director in August 2021 after seven years at the helm. Since then, Ann Battelle has served as interim freestyle director, leading the program for nine months while the SSWSC conducted a nationwide hiring search. Battelle will continue as the U17/U19 coach and lead strength and conditioning coach for moguls.

“With Sam’s and Ann’s leadership last year, we found that the best in the nation were already here, and we’re thrilled both will continue to guide the moguls program,” said Associate Executive Director Jon Nolting in a news release from the SSWSC. “Sam had a great impact in his first year here. We’re confident that Sam’s vision, connections across the country in freestyle, and in-depth knowledge of the sport will help the SSWSC moguls program flourish.”

Tarrant started skiing in Stowe, Vermont, and later was an athlete at the SSWSC while attending the Lowell Whiteman School, now Steamboat Mountain School. He’s since accrued more than 15 years experience as a coach across all levels of freestyle skiing.

“Steamboat has a rich, successful history in freestyle skiing, and a history of strong leadership, which I am excited to carry on,” Tarrant said in the release. “I look forward to providing excellent training and competition venues for our athletes, and building and expanding the freestyle culture and training curriculum here in Steamboat.”

The freestyle program has seen impressive growth and the athletes have racked up accomplishments in recent years. At the 2022 Olympics, two of the 13 Olympians with ties to the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club were freestyle athletes and one, Jaelin Kauf, earned silver.

According to the release, the SSWSC was awarded the opportunity to host the 2022-23 Freestyle Junior Nationals event.

Shelby Reardon is the assistant editor at the Steamboat Pilot & Today. To reach her, call 970-871-4253, email sreardon@SteamboatPilot.com or follow her on Twitter @ByShelbyReardon.