Competition Center

NSCD Competition Center

The NSCD Competition Center has training programs for racers of all abilities. For athletes wanting to learn how to race at the Elite Level, the NSCD has athletes aspiring to reach the 2022 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China.

Whether you are interested in Alpine, Snowboard Cross or Cross-Country/Biathlon, the NSCD has a program that will fit your needs.

The Competition Program is based on the same teaching principals used for able-bodied competitive ski racing organizations. It involves on-snow and dry land cross-training that includes biking, aerobics and weight lifting. NSCD Coaches train athletes with visual impairments, amputations, paraplegia, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, post-polio and congenital disabilities.

For more information on Paralympic Race Training call the Competition Center at 970-726-1547 or email Erik Petersen.

Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding

Available for beginner through elite level racers. We begin the season with building your foundation with edging and balance drills, then progress to speed and gate training and preparation for Alpine, Cross-Country and Snowboard competitions. The program includes use of the Fraser Valley Recreation Center with customized preparation for the season’s races and strength training.

Our Developmental Level introduces beginning skiers and riders of all ages to the sport of racing through camps and Level 1 races. The Elite Level Program trains competitors for upper-level races and supports them at races across the nation. The Elite Level Program also hosts training sessions for International teams, including those from Germany, Great Britain, Finland, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Sweden, Japan, Iceland and South Africa.

Bridge Program

The Bridge Program supports athletes of all ages curious about competitive alpine, cross-country and biathlon ski racing, as well as snowboard cross competition.

Dates: determined after athlete consultation
Location: Winter Park Resort and Fraser Valley
Price: TBD
Includes: TBD

Emerging Athlete Program

Looking for an introduction to competitive snowboard cross and alpine, cross-country and biathlon skiing? Have fun meeting and working with professional athletes from around the world that are training for the 2022 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China.

Dates: call Erik Petersen, Competition Center Director, at 970-726-1547 for more information
Location: Winter Park Resort and Fraser Valley

Nordic Skiing and Biathlon Program

The National Sports Center for the Disabled began a competitive Nordic and Biathlon Program in winter of 2010/2011. This program experienced immediate success by producing a Women’s Sit 3-Time National Champion who went on to also win a World Cup Bronze medal in biathlon. This immediate success has also attracted other elite adaptive Nordic skiers that represented the United States in the 2011 World Cup Races in Norway. The United States Paralympic Program, in collaboration with the National Sports Center for the Disabled, also hosted an athlete development camp in 2011. Program success is due to the extensive cross-country skiing available to athletes that desire to train at the highest level. The Fraser Valley is at nearly 9,000 feet of elevation and has nearly 250 kilometers of adaptive friendly groomed trails. Morning Star Ranch has two indoor ski ergometers and an indoor and outdoor adaptive biathlon range. Athletes that train with the competitive program also have access to the Grand Park Community Recreation Center. This facility allows participants to supplement their on-snow training with strength workouts, an indoor pool and a ski ergometer.

These elite facilities along with world-class adaptive coaching and administration will help each athlete achieve their highest potential as an adaptive Nordic ski racer.

Meet the NSCD Competition Center Coaches

Erik Petersen
Director of Alpine, Nordic/Biathlon & Snowboard Competition

Erik Petersen has trained more than 300 athletes in his career at the NSCD. He is no stranger to the alpine industry. He has more than 30 years of experience in competitive ski racing, is a seven-time All American in Alpine Skiing and a three-time Overall Champion in NCSA Collegiate Alpine Skiing.

It is evident Erik is passionate about alpine sports and training. He was a Team Breckenridge Alpine Coach, a U.S. Ski Team Coach and is an Internationally Certified Coach, Level 500, with the U.S. Ski Association. Currently, he sits as an International Paralympic Committee member as Head of Competition for North America, out of Bonn, Germany since 2007. He is a current member of Adaptive Sports Committee USA and a past Chair of Adaptive Sports Committee USA (2007-2010).

At the 2010 Vancouver Paralympics, he received the Order of Ikkos Award. The Order of Ikkos Award is a prestigious award that is made available to all U.S. Olympic/Paralympic medalists. The medalists can present the medal to one coach or mentor and Erik considers this his greatest sports achievement. He is a graduate of Colorado Mountain College and earned a degree in Sports Science. He has earned a black belt in Martial Arts (Aikido) and also enjoys his family, staying fit and golf.

Scott Olson
Coach, NSCD Alpine Ski Team

17 years ago Scott met a friend who had CP who talked him into going skiing. He loved the sport and the very next year he started teaching the disabled at the Courage Center. Additionally, Scott coached for the Forrest Lake High School Ski Team for 10 years and was also coaching the Courage Center Race Team for 8 years before moving to Colorado to coach for the NSCD Alpine Ski Team. In the off-season, Scott loves to water ski.

Mark Birdseye
Coach, Nordic/Biathlon

Mark is excited to be the coach for the National Sports Center for the Disabled Nordic and Biathlon competitive program. He comes with more than 20 years of management experience in the Nordic and Biathlon world. He has taught able-bodied Nordic skiers in both skating and classic skiing. Mark has also coached multiple sports and has his degree in Physical Education with extensive experience in exercise science.

Mark is married and has two children that are both in college. He and his family have lived in Grand County for nearly 25 years. In his free time, he enjoys skiing, road biking, volunteering with the local high school wrestling team and spending time with his family.

Shawn Scholl
Head Coach

An elite athlete in multiple sports as well as extensive able-bodied and adaptive coaching experience, Shawn’s credentials include an M.S. in Exercise Physiology. He was the U.S. Paralympic Nordic/Biathlon Development Coach and designed and implemented training plans for the U.S. Paralympic Nordic Team. Shawn was a Certified Instructor at the American College of Sports Medicine. Shawn began his career as a Track and Field Coach at Montana State University.

As an athlete, Shawn was a member of the U.S. Rowing Team from 2000-2004; a USCF Category 1 Bike Racer from 1992-2000; and a former World Ranked Decathlete.