Chris “Hatch” Haslock has yet another accolade to add to his noteworthy list.
The executive director and head coach of AXIS Freeride, a nonprofit freestyle skiing organization located in Park City, was honored in early April as the 2011 United States Ski & Snowboard (USSA) Domestic Coach of the Year.
The award, for freestyle ski coaching specifically, had six nominees. Haslock, who had been nominated a couple times before, finally won.
“It’s kind of a cool award, because you’re nominated by your peers,” he said. “It’s nice to know that I’m respected in the field I’m working in. To see some of these things that have happened we started this club from scratch just five years ago.”
AXIS Freeride is coming off a year in which it took 17 local athletes to the 2011 Junior Olympics in Steamboat Springs, Colo. More than 145 total athletes are currently part of the expanding organization.
“That’s kind of making a statement,” he said of his club’s growth and achievements. “We’re sustaining that. We’re bringing more kids up through the ranks. The program just continues to grow. We’re seeing growth in the bottom as well as the top.”
Haslock is no stranger to the top; an aerialist at the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Alberta, Canada, he saw his career derailed due to injury and found himself at a crossroad.
Coaching and helping others achieve their desired level of greatness came naturally for him, he said.
He began coaching internationally at the 1992 and 1994 Olympic Winter Games in association with USSA, along with coaching three world championship freestyle teams.
“I definitely had some good success at the top level, but as I redefined my life, I started coaching again, and my goal was to start a grassroots program and a club,” he said. “To bring kids on the way up through a program.
“I was inspired to try and put all that time and investment into figuring it out on my own; wanting to be able to help others get where they want to be quicker. My biggest inspiration is wanting to put to use all of those tools that I acquired.”
A native of Michigan, Haslock’s career and love for the snow bounced him around the country like a pinball, as he went to Colorado, to Salt Lake City, to Lake Placid, N.Y., and eventually to Park City, which he’s called home the last 11 years.
Starting AXIS Freeride from scratch was no easy task, he said. But looking back, he is proud to say that this national coaching award is more than just a personal achievement it’s a step forward for his club and all its participants. He took the first step with the club with three staff members, two of whom are still there five years later.
“I have to say I definitely had a vision when I started the club,” he said. “I feel like I’ve been blessed to have the staff and volunteers surrounding me. To be able to basically build the club in the vision and vein I had, I’m pretty stoked to see how it comes together. Certainly, as an athlete, you’re always striving to be the best and be better. We’re always trying to be the best club we can be.
“That drive is still there, and even though my life should probably be easier right now, there’s always something to move onto the next step.”
Now, as the snow begins to melt, Haslock and his club are preparing for the summer months when they’ll be training extensively on indoor trampolines for aerials at the Utah Olympic Park.
He said, as always, he’s excited to see what the next batch of youngsters can bring.
“We’ve created a nice team dynamic and that dynamic is just growing and growing,” he said. “I’m for sure the focal point with this award, but it’s clearly a reflection of AXIS Freeride as a whole.”