USASA

Client: usasa.org

Revamping USASA’s Membership & Event Platform

Overview

As the lead designer on this project, I worked on everything from interactive prototypes to front-end development, including HTML, Sass, and some JavaScript. Our goal? To evolve USASA’s membership and event registration system, upgrade their homepage, and refine FileMaker workflows and web integration to improve operations.

Background

USASA is the world’s largest snowboard and freeski community, supporting over 5,000 members and hosting more than 500 competitive events annually. Their website and database systems were central to managing membership, competition logistics, and internal operations—but they were also complex, costly, and in need of serious optimization.

Originally built as a custom scoring and tabulation system, their platform had deep integration between their database and CMS. However, operational costs were high, the user experience wasn’t keeping up with demand, and new membership models needed to be implemented.

For context: Olympians like Shaun White, Jamie Anderson, and Kelly Clark got their start with USASA, and in 2018, multiple USASA alumni took home Olympic gold in PyeongChang. The organization needed a modern, efficient system to continue fostering the next generation of athletes.

Our Approach

Our team at Beezwax started by addressing immediate issues before the next competition season kicked off. From there, we established an agile workflow to tackle system defects, improve operations, and reduce technical debt. Over the course of two years, we:

  • Introduced code review, pre-production environments, and structured release planning.
  • Re-architected portions of the FileMaker-web integration.
  • Reduced the web codebase by 66% while adding major new features.

The Transformation

Once we stabilized the system, we shifted focus to enhancing the website experience. I worked on designing and implementing a new responsive homepage, incorporating a brochure-view to better highlight USASA’s mission. The membership registration process got a modern UI/UX refresh, making it more intuitive and visually engaging.

Other key improvements included:

  • Interactive regional map showcasing USASA’s national reach.
  • Simplified navigation to make content easier to find while giving sponsors visibility.
  • Complete refactor of high-traffic database functionality, ensuring a smooth mobile experience.

Beyond web updates, we also optimized back-end workflows:

  • Automated bib number assignments for the National Championships.
  • Improved data-syncing between online/offline systems.
  • Streamlined event registration and compliance workflows.
  • Enhanced performance and data integrity across the board.

The Impact

These improvements resulted in a more efficient, mobile-friendly, and visually compelling experience for USASA members, staff, and event organizers. The organization saw stronger marketing and social media engagement, better operational efficiency, and a platform ready to support their next generation of athletes.

This project was a great example of how design, front-end development, and smart system architecture can work together to drive real impact—and I was thrilled to be a part of it.

Services Provided

  • FileMaker-Web Integration
  • Front-End Development (HTML, Sass, JavaScript)
  • Code Optimization & Refactoring
  • UX/UI Design & Research
  • Workflow & Process Optimization
  • Agile Development & Consulting

Functional Areas

  • Membership & Event Registration
  • Competition Data Management
  • Marketing & Sponsorship Visibility
  • Performance Optimization & Security
  • Compliance & Legal Workflows
  • Operations & Administration
  • Data Sync & Document Generation

Technologies Used

  • FileMaker
  • JavaScript (Custom Front-End Enhancements)
  • HTML & Sass (Responsive Web Development)