The UOP Discover Skeleton program provides a taste of the high-speed Olympic sport of skeleton. You’ll learn the basics of this sliding sport and be sent headfirst down the smooth ice track at speeds around 50mph!

Come prepared with gloves and an adventurous mindset, and you’ll leave the Park changed by this unique and unforgettable experience. The skeleton programming at the UOP serves as an entry point into US Olympic athlete development (ages 10-28) and you can continue on this path right here in Park City.

Valerie Fleming is the Program Manager for Bobsled and Skeleton at the Utah Olympic Park, where she oversees athlete development and coaches USA Bobsled national team athletes.

A Park City resident and University of California, Santa Barbara alumna, Valerie competed in Division I Track & Field before being recruited to USA Bobsled — launching a nine-year international career that earned her a silver medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics, three World Championship medals, and 22 World Cup medals, establishing her as one of the most decorated brakemen in U.S. history.

Valerie holds a Master’s Degree from Saint Mary’s College of California and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). She continues to serve the sport internationally through her involvement with the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation.

Nick Vienneau has been involved in sliding sports in Utah since the early days of the Park City track. He first tried skeleton in Calgary, slid the old track in Lake Placid, and eventually came back home to Utah to be one of the first athletes down the track before it was opened. Those early years, when coaching and equipment were hard to come by, shaped how he approaches the sport today.

As Head Skeleton Coach at the Utah Olympic Park, Nick’s focus is simple: build a safe, supportive, and inclusive community where athletes can grow at the right pace. He believes performance comes from support, not pressure and uses a proximal‑development approach to help athletes progress step by step with confidence.

Nick has coached at the Olympics and worked with international development programs, but his favorite work happens here at home. He cares most about helping athletes at all stages of development grow their skills, confidence and love for the sport within the sliding community.

When he’s not at the track, he’s probably running youth programs, spending time with his family or on a trail somewhere.

Matt Griff is a husband, father to 4 children and 1 small but mighty miniature dachshund named Sherman. Starting skeleton in 2006, he’s a former Team USA skeleton athlete and has been coaching since 2011. An Escrow Officer, rugby player and coach, movie and TV stuntman, two-time Guinness World Record holding trampoline slam dunker and talks with his hands a lot.

Kyler competed with Team USA for 5 years before moving focus to his real estate career. Once he realized he missed the sport he came back to the UOP to help coach during the sliding season. Although he rarely gets on a sled anymore, he’s still happy to talk smack to any athlete and challenge them to a race. His favorite part of coaching is filming in the most challenging curves to make sure the athletes are listening to his pointers.