USA SENDS SPORTS ENVOYS TO ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2010-03-03 11:49:00

ArmInfo. The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs SportsUnited office, in partnership with Roxy, a
brand of Quiksilver, is conducting a snowboarding ports Envoy program
in Armenia, March 3-7, 2010. Professional snowboarders and Roxy team
riders Amber Stackhouse and Erin Comstock will be the first action
sports athletes to be sent abroad as Sports Envoys by SportsUnited.

The US Department of State reports that during their five-day trip,
Stackhouse and Comstock will visit Yerevan and Tsaghkadzor. While in
Yerevan, the Envoys will meet with middle school students, university
film students, and female athletes to discuss the importance
of participation in sports for women and girls. In Tsaghkadzor,
the Envoys will conduct two snowboard clinics, give a snowboarding
exhibition and judge a snowboard cross event.

Amber Stackhouse is the 2003 winner of the American Snowboard Tour
in slopestyle (freestyle). Since then, she has consistently honed her
skills to gain a reputation as one of the best slopestyle contenders
on the circuit. In 2007, she defended her title and was ranked as
the #1 boarder on American Snowboard Tour in slopestyle. Outside of
snowboarding, Stackhouse is an accomplished film producer who has
produced several films, including "Labor of Love" and "Refreshments,"
as well as two groundbreaking all-girl snowboarding films, "As If"
and "Ro Sham Bo."

Erin Comstock is a professional snowboarder whose list of
accomplishments includes numerous podium wins, including first place
in the Abominable Snow Jam (ASJ) slopestyle contest in 2008. Comstock
is a six-time participant in the ESPN U.S. Winter X-Games, and is
also a familiar face in snowboarding films. Comstock’s list of film
credits includes appearances in "As If," "RoShamBo," "See What I See,"
"I Ride Park City," "City, Park City," "Stance" and "LaLaLand."

Sports Envoys serve as ambassadors for their sport in overseas programs
that include drills and team building activities, as well as engaging
the youth participants in dialogue on the importance of leadership
and respect for diversity.