Dwindling participation of some programs, cost, and difficulty in finding coaches contributed to the proposal, which also included gymnastics. Canceling the two Casper school programs that train at Hogadon leaves only four schools in the state with alpine ski teams--training at White Pine, Snowy Range, Snow King, and Montana’s Red Lodge. Due to Wyoming High School Athletics Association bylaws, those four teams would be permitted to ski race in 2008 and 2009, but then the sport would be eliminated.

When the Natrona County school board met to review the proposal last night, parents, coaches, and students crammed into the board meeting to voice support. "I think we need to look at the fact that these are lifetime sports," said alpine ski coach Tom Ellbogen. "Our numbers are on the rise. It's obvious to me this isn't a sport on the decline."