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In quest for gold, Olympic skier seeks to help Reno youth

March 7, 2008

Shelly Robertson

Reno, Nevada- Though she is traveling the world chasing her Olympic dream, skier Shelly Robertson maintains close ties to her hometown of Reno, Nevada.

This spring, while she’s competing in Europe, Asia and across North America, Robertson, 28, will be working to give back to the Reno community by raising money to sponsor underprivileged kids to learn how to ski in the Sky Tavern Junior Ski Program. Robertson has partnered with LifeMoreNatural.com to put on a pledge drive based on her training and competitions with all money raised going to the local non-profit ski program.

“I want to give children the same opportunity that I was given as a child–the chance to ski,” Robertson, currently ranked fifth in the world and second in the U.S., said. “Skiing is an amazingly fun sport and we all know that it isn’t cheap. By sharing my story with children and offering financial assistance, I hope that I can get them as excited about skiing as I am and give them a safe, fun environment in which to set goals and achieve them.”

The Sky Tavern Junior Ski Program is an all volunteer-run snowsports program dedicated to teaching Northern Nevada children how to ski and snowboard. Sky Tavern operates at the City of Reno owned Sky Tavern Park Sky and is an 8 week program that starts the first weekend in January each year. Children receive a 2 hour lesson from certified snowsports instructors and then have the rest of the day to free ski or ride.

“Learning how to ski is so good for the kids,” John Morrow, a volunteer Instructor Trainer for Sky Tavern said. “When they first start the program they’re timid and unsure. By the end of the season they’re flying down all the main runs. It really helps there self-esteem and confidence and that’s something they take with them. It’s a great feeling to be a part of that.”

Sky Tavern first opened in December of 1945, and has been trying to represent the best of what skiing and community are all about ever since.

“I chose to help support the Sky Tavern Ski Program because I feel it is a great program that helps the children of Reno experience skiing and snowboarding in a safe environment,” Robertson said. “My mom instilled a deep desire in me for skiing when she taught me how to ski at age 3 and she continued to support my sister’s and my dream of competing at the national level. Ever since I was a kid I dreamed of going to the Olympics and with hard work and the support of others I plan on accomplishing this goal by attending the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. By sharing my story with children and offering financial assistance, I hope that I can get them as excited about skiing as I am and give them a safe, fun environment in which to set goals and achieve them. By providing children with the opportunity of sport I feel that they will gain a sense of accomplishment and a stronger self-esteem and may even pursue their own Olympic dream.”

Shelly Robertson

Though teaching Reno’s youth to ski is what Sky Tavern is all about, safety and fun are what’s most important to the organization.

“With two doctors, a bunch of firemen and paramedics, we’re really one of the best ski patrols around,” Eric Lamberts, a local physician and Sky Tavern Ski Patroller said. “One of the great things about skiing is that you can do it till you’re 60, my age.” Lamberts began as an instructor at Sky Tavern 23 years ago when he first started bringing his daughters up to ski. “It’s such a good thing to do for these kids. It creates lasting memories, gets them out from in front of the T.V. and builds their self-confidence. Besides, it doesn’t make sense to not learn how to ski in Reno.”

“I like to ski with my dad,” Caleb Gardner, 11, of Spanish Springs said. “We come up here every weekend that we can. It’s fun to come up with my family. Sometimes the neighbors come too.”

For transportation, lessons and lift tickets the cost is $195. Through the pledge drive at LifeMoreNatural.com, Shelly hopes to raise money to send 15 underprivileged Truckee Meadows area kids to ski school.

“I love it,” Todd Carns, 14, of Reno said. “Every weekend, I can’t wait to get up to the mountain.” Now in his third year in the program Todd is one of the many children that gets picked up by Sky Tavern’s buses at one of six local schools. “I want to be a ski patroller one day,” he said.

People can donate to Shelly’s cause based on a per mile basis or on how she places at her competitions.

“I’m currently back on the circuit in Europe, where we will be going to the Czech Republic, Sweden and Italy,” Shelly said. “We will finish the season in Deer Valley, UT for National Championships (March 27-30).
Ski lessons

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Written by Allan Warren · Filed Under Recreation 

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