Aaron Blunck named to U.S. Freeskiing team

“Right away I was so stoked”

On Friday, May 25 local halfpipe skier Aaron Blunck got the call that any young aspiring winter athlete hopes for, when the U.S. Ski Team invited him to join the U.S. freeskiing development team ranks.
“Right when he called he welcomed me to the team,” says Blunck. “I was just like, ‘I would love to do that.’ Right away I was so stoked.”
Blunck admits he had no idea making the U.S. ski team was even possible for the 2012-2013 season and it wasn’t even on his radar during the past winter.
The first time he even had an inkling something was in the works was the night before, when he heard his friend Alex Ferreria was picked for the team.
“I honestly had no clue,” says Blunck. “I called Alex because I was so stoked for him and he said, ‘Yeah, dude, you’re next.’ That night I was like, I hope I get that call and I hope it goes well. It’s something I’ve wanted to do and be a part of. That was a goal of mine, to make the U.S. Ski Team.”
Blunck stepped up his game this past year, making the move to the I-70 corridor to attend and compete with the Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy (VSSA). He spent a frantic winter season on the road training and competing. Now that he has been selected for the team, his training and competition options will open up even further. In addition to working with his coach, Elana Chase at VSSA, he can join the U.S. team for competition and workouts.
“Now I’ll be getting a little more support from the US team, training and traveling with the guys and coaches on the US team,” explains Blunck.
Furthermore, he will have access to facilities and camps that are exclusive to U.S. ski team athletes. Getting access and exposure like this bodes well for Blunck with the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia right around the corner.
“I feel a lot closer to that now because I’m going to have access to training at the Center for Excellence in Park City and the Utah Olympic Park,” says Blunck. “And I’ll have access to private camps with the U.S. team.”
Blunck kicks off his stint on the U.S. team with a new athlete orientation in June and may attend the first U.S. ski team camp on Mt. Hood in July.
“This is definitely one of the biggest things for me,” says Blunck.