U.S. Paralympics, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC), announced that Kevin Jardine has been named associate director and head coach of the Paralympic Military and Veterans Alpine Skiing Program. Jardine has more than 16 years of experience in high-performance skiing and coaching, and a list of credentials almost as long as his skis, according to a USOC press release.
Photograph of Kevin Jardine courtesy of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association.
“Kevin is one of the top Paralympic alpine coaches in the world,” Chief of Paralympics, USOC, Charlie Huebner, was quoted as saying. “His addition to our program provides significant leadership to enhance Paralympic skiing in the U.S.”
In his new role with the USOC, Jardine will collaborate with Disabled Sports USA (DS/USA), Paralympic ski programs, and the U.S. Adaptive Alpine Ski Team, to identify and train developmental and emerging injured service members who have the talent to pursue excellence at the Paralympic Games. As an aspect of U.S. Paralympics’ planning and analysis, high priority has been placed on the identification and development of athletes who can be trained to compete for Paralympic Alpine National Team programs-another key area of emphasis for Jardine. He will continue to be based in Aspen, Colorado.
“I am really excited about expanding this program and building depth in our athlete pool,” Jardine said. “Having the program in Aspen will also be exciting, as the ski area is top-notch, and the community support is unparalleled. It’s definitely a great challenge ahead, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Most recently, Jardine was the director of competition for the adaptive ski program, Challenge Aspen. He served as assistant coach and was later promoted to head coach of the U.S. Disabled Alpine Team from 1999-2006, during which time the coaching staff lead the team in more than 160 Disabled NorAm races, 120 Disabled World Cup races, four world championships, and three Paralympic winter games. He was a part of the National Sports Center for the Disabled in Winter Park from 1994 until 2001, working to ready athletes for international competition and the 1996 and 2000 World Disabled Alpine Championships. As the New Zealand Paralympic alpine ski head coach, Jardine travelled with the team to the 1998 Nagano Winter Paralympic Games, Japan, where the team brought home six medals: four gold, one silver, and one bronze.
Jardine received the Amazing Leader Award from the USOC in 2007 and the International Disabled Coach of the Year in 2006 from U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association.
