Dear Team Summit athletes and families,

I wanted to update you with regard to the situation that unfolded during an out-of-state Team Summit competition last weekend. An Alpine coach was arrested and accused of sexually assaulting a minor on one of our Alpine teams.

The nature of this allegation is both shocking and horrifying, and I want to assure you Team Summit is responding with the utmost seriousness and urgency. We are cooperating fully with the investigation authorities have underway. After initially learning of the allegation, we immediately reported it to the U.S. Center for SafeSport as required by our National Governing Body, US Ski and Snowboard. The coach is no longer employed by Team Summit.

We have been in regular contact since the weekend with the family of the athlete and the other team members who were traveling to the competition. We have also made access to a professional therapist available to any of our athletes, team families, or staff members. It is important to know that we take the well-being of all our athletes incredibly seriously.

All Team Summit coaches undergo thorough background checks as a condition of their employment and complete mandatory SafeSport training before working with athletes. In addition, bi-annual background checks are performed on each coach, and they are required to participate in an annual SafeSport refresher course.

Should anyone wish to report this situation—or any other related or unrelated concern—to SafeSport, they may do so at: https://uscenterforsafesport.org/report-a-concern/

If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me directly.

Thank you,

CB Bechtel
Executive Director, Team Summit Colorado
CB@teamsummit.org