John Farra Named to top USSA Nordic Post

U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) President and CEO Bill Marolt recently announced the appointment of Olympian John Farra as the new nordic director. Ferra will head the organization's sport programs for cross country, nordic combined, and ski jumping. He will replace Luke Bodensteiner who was recently named as associate athletic director for high performance.

"John brings enthusiasm, excitement and a strong background in nordic sport at all levels," said Marolt. Ferra, a former U.S. champion was a 1992 Olympic cross country skier and member of the U.S. Ski Team from 1990-93, and was a 1991 NCAA All American at the University of Utah. He graduated from Utah in 1995 and moved into a coaching role. He then served six years in leadership roles at the National Sports Academy in Lake Placid. Since 2002 Farra has worked for the Maine Winter Sports Center.

"I am thrilled to be back at the USSA at such an exciting time," said Farra. The U.S. Ski Team has begun to make headway internationally. Nordic combined skier Bill Demong won a World Championship silver last year and was third in the World Cup standings this season, a new U.S. mark.

The new director will join the USSA staff in April and will be an active leader in the organization's annual Athletic Summit planning process and USSA Congress in May. Farra, along with his wife Tess and two children, will move to Park City this spring.

_{John Ferra photo by Carolyn Wawra/U.S. Ski Team}