The Winter Park Competition Center’s All Mountain Program has finished its early registration with a number of young athletes signing up to ski and snowboard at Winter Park Resort.

This year, the early registration concluded a “heartfelt success story — one that blends community spirit, the love of skiing, and the legacy of a beloved young athlete,” the competition center shared in a news release.

For the first time, early registration provided returning families with priority access to winter programs, while also supporting a charitable cause in the memory of a local student, the center states.

Families paid an additional $200 per athlete with the program fees, with all proceeds going to the Competition Center Athlete Support Fund, administered by the Grand Foundation. Donations were made in the name of 7-year-old Mollie Staley Palmer, a Fraser Valley Elementary School student who died earlier this year.

Before her passing, Palmer was an active program participant at the competition center, where her “joy for skiing was unmatched.”

Known as “Mighty Mollie,” she loved being outdoors, whether it was on the snow, mountain biking on trails or performing gymnastics.

“We are so thrilled early registration was such a success for other skiers and that Mollie’s love for skiing continues to live on through this,” the Staley Palmer family expressed.

The Athlete Support Fund allows local youth to access skiing and riding, regardless of income. Both merit and need-based scholarships are available to cover costs such as gear, program fees, and licenses.

“Funds will provide scholarships so young skiers and riders can experience the same passion (Palmer) found on the mountain,” the center stated. “Thanks to the generosity of families, early registration raised over $30,000 — enough to give dozens of children the chance to ski, and perhaps even inspire a future Olympian.”

Registration for the 2025-26 season is at http://www.wpcompcenter.com. To apply for a grant with the support fund, please visit https://grandfoundation.com/Grants/Competition-Center-Athlete-Support-Fund. The deadline to apply is Sept. 15.

All Mountain Program Director Toad Pittz shared the following statement:

“At the heart of the Competition Center, we believe in nurturing the ‘total athlete’ — guiding each individual to achieve their highest potential not just as skiers, but as confident, well-rounded people. Through sport, we teach life lessons, emphasizing personal growth, integrity, and effort over winning. The support raised through early registration honors that philosophy —extending those same opportunities and support to young athletes who may otherwise not have access, in memory of mighty Mollie Palmer.”