Longtime USSA Coach Vordenberg resigns

Thu, Apr  26, 2012 - By USSA

PARK CITY, UT (April 25) –Two-time Olympian and longtime cross country coach Pete Vordenberg announced his resignation from the U.S. Ski Team after 10 years of coaching to spend more time with his growing family. Vordenberg began coaching in 2002 and led the cross country team through some of its most successful years including the first World Championship medal won by a U.S. woman and the first World Cup medal in 25 years. After competing on the U.S. Cross Country Ski Team for six years, Vordenberg transitioned to coaching and has held nearly every coaching position for the team at one time in his career. Most recently he was the men's head World Cup coach.

Pete Vordenberg (center) with cross country wax techs Randy Gibbs (left) and Peter Johansson (right).

HIGHLIGHTS

• Pete Vordenberg has resigned as the U.S. Ski Team's men's head World Cup cross country coach.
• Vordenberg has been with the U.S. Ski Team for a total of 16 years, first as an athlete for 6 years and then as a member of the coaching staff for 10.
• After competing in two Olympic Winter Games, Vordenberg transitioned to coaching, holding positions throughout his career of assistant coach/World Cup coach, head cross country coach, head development coach and men's head World Cup coach.
• Vordenberg led the cross country team through some of its most successful years including the first World Championship medal won by a U.S. woman and first World Cup medal in 25 years.

QUOTES
Chris Grover, Head Cross Country Coach
The U.S. Cross Country Ski Team is clearly sad to see Pete stepping down. I know this decision has been a very difficult one for him. Pete is passionate about the success of U.S. cross country ski racing.

He has coached for the U.S. Ski Team for the past 10 years, and has held every coaching position possible within the staff. His knowledge, his work ethic and his passion for this team have been a huge part of our step forward as a nation.

In the end, Pete had to make the right decision for his young family and for the U.S. Ski Team. We will dearly miss having Pete in the program, but we understand his decision and wish him the absolute best in his future endeavors. We know our paths will cross many times in the near future.

Pete Vordenberg
The foremost reason I am leaving my coaching position is my new family. To do the job the way I would want to do it would require more travel, time and energy than I can give it. I support the whole cross country staff and all our athletes utterly and that means stepping aside.

[Editor's note: Pete wrote a very interesting and very readable book called Momentum: Chasing the Olympic Dream.

Says Pete, "This story follows the pursuit of my dream to win an Olympic gold medal. It is not a retelling of the little engine that could. Rather, it is about why the little engine even tried."

Great book - highly recommended! - Mike Muha]