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FISHER MAKES CONNECTION WITH ARMENIAN SKI FEDERATION
SkiRacing.com
http://www.skiracing.com/?q=node/1559
May 25 2010
During a visit to Armenia earlier this month, 2010 Olympian and U.S.
Alpine Ski Team athlete Erik Fisher met with a group of coaches,
athletes and students at the Armenian State Physical Education
University in the country's capital city.
The 10-day trip began as a chance to do some traveling while picking up
his sister Carlie from a mission trip, but after an email from Fisher's
friend Arman Serebakian, who is a member of the Armenian National Ski
Team and currently a senior on the University of Colorado Ski Team,
Fisher found himself connected to Gagik Sargsyan, Secretary General
for the Armenian Ski Federation.
"Arman lives in Squaw Valley and when he heard I was headed to Yerevan,
he introduced me to Gagik over email and we started planning,"
said Fisher. "It came together pretty quickly and was an amazing
experience. Gagik showed me around and then we spent a few hours at
the University talking skiing."
According to Sargsyan, who is a member of the faculty, the university
is the top facility sport studies facility in Armenia.
"We decided to invite Erik to Tsakhkadzor Ski Resort in Armenia which
is where our national teams are train and where we organize FIS races,"
said Sargsyan. "After visiting Tsakhkadzor Erik met with the Armenian
Ski Federation's vice presidents, national team head coaches, athletes,
lecturers, specialists and students at the Armenian State Physical
Education University. This was a very important opportunity for us as
the Armenian Ski Federation continues to develop as an organization."
In a room full of around 80 people, including Armenian television and
print news crews, Carlie provided translation as Fisher spoke about
the U.S. alpine skiing development pipeline.
"Everyone was pretty excited that I was there," added Fisher. "I
pretty much spoke about what it takes to become a professional ski
racer in the U.S. and then walked them through some typical workouts
both in the gym and on snow."
Post lecture, Fisher fielded questions then met with University
President Vahram Araqelyan. "Mr. Aragelyan mentioned that Erik's visit
was very important for all of us and special exchange of experience
is very useful," said Sargsyan. "The meeting was a great success not
only among the students but also among the specialists. The ideas
presented by Erik will be used by our specialists and coaches in
their future practice.
The president of the Armenian Ski Federation Armen Yeritsyan
also highly appreciated Erik's visit to Armenia. It was the first
co-operation with the USA Alpine representatives, and we think that
the co-operation from our two sides will continue and deepen."
To continue the relationship, Fisher is working to build program with
ski swaps around Idaho and Utah where unsold and unclaimed equipment
is sent to the Armenian Ski Federation for free distribution to
young athletes.
"I've been involved in the Bogus Basin ski swap in the past and
there's always a truckload of stuff that isn't picked up. A lot of it
is great equipment and unfortunately probably ends up in a landfill,"
said Fisher. "I'd like to start a program where all that stuff is
gathered and sent to Armenia. They have a lot of passion for skiing
over there and I want to support that."
While planning is still in the initial stages, Fisher hopes to have
the program ready to go by next fall and the Bogus Basin Ski Education
Foundation has already pledged their support with equipment.
Additionally, Foundation Head Coach Steve Smart says plans are in
the works to adopt the Armenian Ski Federation as their sister program.
To support Fisher's effort, go to www.erikfisherusa.com.
Erik Fisher and Armenian Ski Federation Secretary Gagik Sargsyan
photo by Shelly Fisher
From: A. Papazian
SkiRacing.com
http://www.skiracing.com/?q=node/1559
May 25 2010
During a visit to Armenia earlier this month, 2010 Olympian and U.S.
Alpine Ski Team athlete Erik Fisher met with a group of coaches,
athletes and students at the Armenian State Physical Education
University in the country's capital city.
The 10-day trip began as a chance to do some traveling while picking up
his sister Carlie from a mission trip, but after an email from Fisher's
friend Arman Serebakian, who is a member of the Armenian National Ski
Team and currently a senior on the University of Colorado Ski Team,
Fisher found himself connected to Gagik Sargsyan, Secretary General
for the Armenian Ski Federation.
"Arman lives in Squaw Valley and when he heard I was headed to Yerevan,
he introduced me to Gagik over email and we started planning,"
said Fisher. "It came together pretty quickly and was an amazing
experience. Gagik showed me around and then we spent a few hours at
the University talking skiing."
According to Sargsyan, who is a member of the faculty, the university
is the top facility sport studies facility in Armenia.
"We decided to invite Erik to Tsakhkadzor Ski Resort in Armenia which
is where our national teams are train and where we organize FIS races,"
said Sargsyan. "After visiting Tsakhkadzor Erik met with the Armenian
Ski Federation's vice presidents, national team head coaches, athletes,
lecturers, specialists and students at the Armenian State Physical
Education University. This was a very important opportunity for us as
the Armenian Ski Federation continues to develop as an organization."
In a room full of around 80 people, including Armenian television and
print news crews, Carlie provided translation as Fisher spoke about
the U.S. alpine skiing development pipeline.
"Everyone was pretty excited that I was there," added Fisher. "I
pretty much spoke about what it takes to become a professional ski
racer in the U.S. and then walked them through some typical workouts
both in the gym and on snow."
Post lecture, Fisher fielded questions then met with University
President Vahram Araqelyan. "Mr. Aragelyan mentioned that Erik's visit
was very important for all of us and special exchange of experience
is very useful," said Sargsyan. "The meeting was a great success not
only among the students but also among the specialists. The ideas
presented by Erik will be used by our specialists and coaches in
their future practice.
The president of the Armenian Ski Federation Armen Yeritsyan
also highly appreciated Erik's visit to Armenia. It was the first
co-operation with the USA Alpine representatives, and we think that
the co-operation from our two sides will continue and deepen."
To continue the relationship, Fisher is working to build program with
ski swaps around Idaho and Utah where unsold and unclaimed equipment
is sent to the Armenian Ski Federation for free distribution to
young athletes.
"I've been involved in the Bogus Basin ski swap in the past and
there's always a truckload of stuff that isn't picked up. A lot of it
is great equipment and unfortunately probably ends up in a landfill,"
said Fisher. "I'd like to start a program where all that stuff is
gathered and sent to Armenia. They have a lot of passion for skiing
over there and I want to support that."
While planning is still in the initial stages, Fisher hopes to have
the program ready to go by next fall and the Bogus Basin Ski Education
Foundation has already pledged their support with equipment.
Additionally, Foundation Head Coach Steve Smart says plans are in
the works to adopt the Armenian Ski Federation as their sister program.
To support Fisher's effort, go to www.erikfisherusa.com.
Erik Fisher and Armenian Ski Federation Secretary Gagik Sargsyan
photo by Shelly Fisher
From: A. Papazian