Park City, UT (Friday, July 19, 2002) - Aldo Radamus, U.S. alpine development head coach for the past six seasons, is leaving to become program director for Ski Club Vail (CO), the U.S. Ski Team announced Friday.

Radamus, a native of Argentina, turned to coaching after completing his amateur and professional racing career. He began coaching at Wilmot Mountain (WI) in 1979. He previously coached at Ski Club Vail for three years in the early Eighties.

He joined the U.S. Ski Team coaching staff in 1984 and was a women's slalom/giant slalom coach for two years before beginning an eight-year run coaching with the Steamboat Springs (CO) Winter Sports Club. He returned to the U.S. Ski Team with the 1995 season as men's technical (slalom/GS) head coach and moved to the development program after the '96 season.

"Certainly, I have mixed emotions about this. This was a great period in my career but returning to Vail is a unique opportunity," Radamus said. "I've had a great time with the Ski Team, worked with some incredible athletes and outstanding coaches and other staff members; it's been a very rewarding time for me and it's difficult to leave.

"But this is such a fantastic opportunity and challenge. I'm excited about what's ahead."

"Aldo's done a terrific job and we'll miss him," said Alan Ashley, VP-Athletics for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association. "We asked him to put together a top quality program to help our emerging athletes reach their goals, and he's certainly done that. He's really tireless and he'll be tough to replace, but I'm also super pleased he's going to Vail. He's going to be a great asset for those athletes and being so involved in that bigtime program will be very important for us. Ski Club Vail's a very significant USSA competition club, which has given us Chad Fleischer and Sarah Schleper, among others, in the recent past. We certainly wish him and his family all the best."

U.S. Alpine Director Jesse Hunt added, "Aldo has done an admirable job for the organization. The results of the World Junior Championships [where U.S. skiers collected seven medals, including five golds] were 'Best in the World!' at the junior level. Our challenge going forward is to continue to develop this group of athletes so they're winning at every level. Aldo's energy and desire are contagious and his departure will be a loss for us."

Radamus will stay involved with U.S. Ski Team development programs through the summer, including a camp in New Zealand next month, to create a smooth transition. He said Todd Travis will oversee the daily activities for the men's development team and John Hale will oversee the women's development team; Ashley said there was no timetable on selecting a new development director.

Radamus and his wife Sara and son River will move to Vail from their Park City home during the summer.