Team Thunderbolt, a Southeastern Michigan based junior development alpine ski team, celebrates their 20th birthday this season with a Gala Ball fund-raising event at Pine Knob Ski Resort on Oct. 22.
The team started as a small group of young ski racers at Mt. Holly in 1985 and grew to Michigan’s largest Junior Development Team now training over 300 athletes a season at both Mt. Holly and Pine Knob ski resorts.
Program Director Thom Halsey is excited about the success the team has experienced recently and hopes more youth can become involved in the sport.
‘We are very proud of our athletes and the growth of the program over the last five years. In just the last two years, we have had 25 athletes qualify for the Junior Olympics, 40 Michigan High School All-State athletes and two State Champions in the program.?
The Gala Ball is open to everyone age 21 and over and Halsey hopes some of the alumni from years past will find their way to the event to share stories and memories.
The fund-raiser will include hor? dourves, dancing, live and silent auctions, and a Chinese raffle.
The donations for the auctions and raffle are generous and varied. In addition to the expected ski equipment and accessories, family memberships to Metamora and Atlas Valley Country Clubs; vacation stays in luxury condos at Snowbird Utah; Boyne Mountain Ski Resort season passes; Northern Michigan get-a-ways; golf for four at several private and public country clubs; and plenty of non ski related items will be doled out by the end of the night.
Tickets are $35 and are available by calling Thom Halsey at 248-625-2463, or by visiting the team’s Web Site: www.ThunderboltRacing.com.
A limited number of tickets will also be available at the door at $40 each. Thunderbolt Federation for Amateur Ski Training is a Michigan Non-Profit 501 c3 organization. All proceeds benefit the organization.