Laps with Olympic Athletes Instill Confidence in SOS Outreach Youth

Brita Sigourney, on right, fist bumps a SOS Outreach youth. Sigourney is a freestyle skier in Park City, Utah. She won a silver medal in the superpipe at Winter X Games XV in 2011 and a bronze in 2012. She won a bronze medal in the 2018 Winter Olympics. Photo: Courtesy of SOS Outreach and U.S. Ski & Snowboard

PARK CITY, Utah. — Olympic athletes Steven Nyman and Brita Sigourney skied alongside 95 participants of the SOS Outreach mentor program at Park City Mountain on Feb 7. 

Nyman and Sigourney spent the day inspiring the SOS youth to discover ways to get up after falls, encourage and cheer on peers, and step outside comfort zones to try something new. The day was full of laughter, fist bumps, and autographs, according to SOS Outreach. 

The national youth development non-profit, which began in Park City in 2015, incorporates the outdoors to build community, develop critical life skills, and strengthen underrepresented youth to navigate unexpected challenges. The U.S Ski & Snowboard Team and Armada Skis supported the program.

The athletes skied with SOS’s oldest participants, who often don’t get to experience carefree joy due to high levels of stress from school and helping to support their families.

“That was one of the best days I’ve ever had!” said Angel, a 17-year-old SOS participant. “Brita was kind enough to show all of us her skills on the half-pipe, and Steven was always encouraging us to ride with style and finesse—and that gave us all courage to ride better than we have before.”

The impact of the day was mutual for the athletes. 

“I got to go skiing with some amazing kids at SOS!” said Sigourney. “SOS is such a great organization that instills confidence and provides unique opportunities to our local youth—and they were shredders.”

Support from Vail Resorts, Armada, the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team and other dedicated partners allows SOS to transform the mountain into a more inclusive place. A place where every child can feel comfortable learning new sports and connecting to the outdoors. 

Find out how you can support SOS’s mission.