<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1I2SH9_1ExrD2gY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1I2SH9_1ExrD2gY00" width="1726" height="1200" ><figcaption>BSF athletes try out the new in-ground trampoline at the Aug. 26 grand opening. Courtesy of Bridger Ski Foundation</figcaption></figure>On the “legacy wall” at Bridger Ski Foundation’s new 3,200-square-foot headquarters, a curated display reminds visitors of the organization’s 91-year adventure. Antique skis, leather boots and other curious relics, framed posters of memorable events, historic photos and key sponsors are enshrined above couches, armchairs and a coffee table.For almost a century, Bozeman’s youth ski development organization has prided itself in being scrappy. BSF has bounced around between various office locations, working out of basements and business parks, and held gear an assortment of storage units.With a sudden abundance of resources under one roof, the next task is to figure out how to keep that scrappy mindset.“This facility puts BSF on par with the best ski clubs in the world,” said Executive Director Evan Weiss, now in his ninth year of leading BSF. “… It’s long overdue. We’ve kind of been everywhere, and nowhere, for the past 90 years.”He explained that owning land and a true home base has been a strategic priority for a very long time, but other immediate needs took priority.It was a crucial seed gift from former BSF board member and tech entrepreneur Brannin McBee that gave BSF the courage to go for it, acquiring the property and opening the fundraiser. The contribution also allowed BSF to open its first-ever endowment, currently holding $1 million.Nearly 400 donors, more than 40 local businesses, all 15 BSF board members and a handful of foundations contributed to the $3 million project.“My biggest takeaway is how supportive this community is of its ski culture, its ski programs, its ski trails,” Weiss said. “We overcame almost every major challenge that was set in front of us, but only through the community coming together.”<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2yjJTF_1ExrD2gY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2yjJTF_1ExrD2gY00" width="1662" height="1247" ><figcaption>The “legacy wall” inside BSF’s new facility. Jupiter Floros/Chronicle</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1hBMqj_1ExrD2gY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1hBMqj_1ExrD2gY00" width="1662" height="1247" ><figcaption>Jupiter Floros/Chronicle</figcaption></figure>The building, previously a metal machine shop for a drilling and excavation company, is located on the Bridger Bowl side of the train tracks beside Bozeman Creek on Gold Street. BSF acquired it in July of 2025.From concept to reality, the project only took about a year and a half. Staff began occupying the space in May, and Weiss thinks it turned out better than the renderings.BSF hired Minarik Architecture, owned by a BSF family, and construction firm Langlas and Associates. Both were flexible and creative, Weiss explained, allowing individual artists to contribute features like ski-themed driveway lights and ski pole railing posts for the interior stairs and balcony. In such a small time frame, Weiss compared the design process to “building the airplane as it’s taking off.”The new facility features many resources.First — and most exciting to young athletes from all disciplines of skiing — is the pair of 7-by-14-foot in-ground trampolines for aerial training. Weiss said they will triple athletes’ trampoline access, previously hosted at the home of a BSF family.The property also has a sizeable backyard for balance and agility workouts. Strength and conditioning facilities are across the street at The Mountain Project and on the adjacent Story Mill trail system.Streambank access to Bozeman Creek offers a peaceful spot for the organization to practice mental health for both athletes and coaches, a growing priority for all BSF programs.Inside, the main room can hold meetings for 40 to 50 people, useful for gatherings like coach trainings and meetings with teams. BSF will offer the space to its partners including the U.S. Forest Service, Gallatin Valley Land Trust, Bozeman Health and Crosscut Mountain Sports Center.“This facility puts BSF on par with the best ski clubs in the world.”- Evan Weiss, BSF executive directorSolar energy powers the building with a 21-kilowatt system estimated to pay for itself in six or seven years. The panels were supported by grants from NorthWestern Energy, Gallatin County and federal programs.The garage offers BSF a significant storage upgrade compared to various storage units of years past. BSF will now have easy access to nearly all its regularly used equipment, Weiss explained, plus a gear tuning room available to the public.Weiss invites the entire Bozeman ski community to use the tuning room, but he only asks that users purchase an annual BSF trail pass. These passes are voluntary and help fund grooming operations on BSF’s 90-kilometer winter trail system, which costs $220,000 per year — trail pass sales typically generate between $60,000 to $95,000. The new facility offers a corner to pay and pick up these annual passes in person for the first time.“We want this to be a space for everybody,” said Weiss, who previously felt that BSF’s facilities were never athlete- or community-forward. “We want it to be a hub for winter sport in Bozeman.”Finally, office spaces upstairs put coaches from different disciplines in the same room for the first time.“We’re going to see immediately that people are working together better, taking positives from one program, better solutions, and sharing them across the board. Because our programs are diverse,” Weiss said.Mike Papke, freestyle program director in his 37th year coaching for BSF, is most excited that the space brings together not only coaches, but also athletes. He’s proud that BSF now offers a safe and inclusive space for kids, bringing skiers of all types into one place for training, after-school leisure and homework and joyous reps on the trampoline.“It’s been really cool to see the cross-culture interaction,” said Gabby Hennes, operations and development manager and a former six-year Nordic coach. “There’s a big difference between Nordic culture and freestyle culture, and we’re only going to see a lot of growth and benefits from getting to engage with one another.”Papke is excited for all of BSF’s community work to take place in one spot.“I just look at the generation that has this building and these opportunities we’ve created, as a game changer,” Papke said.Hennes believes the past year has generated a lot of community buy-in and positive momentum. The new facility helps attract coaches, and BSF has already noticed an uptick in applications.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0NnI87_1ExrD2gY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0NnI87_1ExrD2gY00" width="1675" height="1237" ><figcaption>{span}A couple hundred community members attended BSF’s grand opening on Aug. 26 {/span} Courtesy of Bridger Ski Foundation</figcaption></figure>She noted that BSF needs to raise about $30,000 to finish the project debt-free.“While that feels, for us now, a small drop in the bucket after raising close to $3 million, it’s going to take a lot of micro-donations or a few larger scale gifts to push us across this finish line,” Hennes said. “So if you support BSF and love BSF and have the capacity to give, we’d be so grateful.”Weiss said one of the most enjoyable parts of the project has been reaching out to BSF alumni asking for artifacts, team photos and other nuggets of inspiration to connect the new headquarters to BSF’s storied past.“Probably the most recurring comment has been, ‘Wow, I wish this was here when I was an athlete.’”</div></body>

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On the “legacy wall” at Bridger Ski Foundation’s new 3,200-square-foot headquarters, a curated display reminds visitors of the organization’s 91-year adventure. Antique skis, leather boots and other curious relics, framed posters of memorable events, historic photos and key sponsors are enshrined above couches, armchairs and a coffee table.

New BSF headquarters a ‘game changer’ for Bozeman skiing

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On the “legacy wall” at Bridger Ski Foundation’s new 3,200-square-foot headquarters, a curated display reminds visitors of the organization’s 91-year adven

New BSF headquarters a ‘game changer’ for Bozeman skiing

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