Sammy Smith will soon suit up for the United States in a second sport.

The U.S. women’s soccer team on Thursday selected the Boise High junior for next month’s U-17 World Cup in India, adding to a breakthrough year for the multisport star — on her 17th birthday.

“I was really shocked, especially after not being invited to some of the recent events. I’m super excited. I can’t wait. It’s going to be a great opportunity.”
- Sammy Smith

The U-17 Women’s World Cup kicks off Oct. 11, when the United States takes on host India at 8:30 a.m. Mountain time. The U.S. also drew Brazil and Morocco in Group A. Fox Sports 2 will broadcast all U.S. games during the group stage, and the 16-team tournament crowns its champion Oct. 30.

Read the full story at IdahoStatesman.com

Jessie Diggins and Julia Kern finished first, and second among nearly 1,000 cross country skiers from 22 countries who descended on Falls Creek, Australia, Sunday for the 30th staging of the Kangaroo Hoppet XC Ski Marathon.

The Hoppet, part of the prestigious Worldloppet Ski Federation of marathon events, is the largest annual snowsports event in the southern hemisphere and attracts elite and citizen skiers from around the world. Perfect weather and tracks greeted the skiers as they wound their way through the course from the Falls Creek Nordic Bowl across the Bogong High Plains.

"It was super fun to finally experience the Hoppet," Diggins said. "There’s something different about pulling a race bib on and I was really grateful for the chance to practice all my race day things; timing of the warmup, fueling, and hydration, setting goals, and feeling nervous."

Diggins won the women's race 42k mass start women's race with fellow American Peter Wolter winning the men's 42k mass start, making it a US double. Diggins positioned herself well in the lead pack on the tough Paralyser climb and was able to get a break on Kern as the skiers descended from the Bogong High Plains.

"Mostly, my plan was to hang on to the pack and Jessie as long as possible, given it was a fairly gradual race with a decent amount of wind, so drafting made a huge difference," Kern said. "I wasn’t able to hang on through the long climb early on, so I ended up skiing alone most of the race."

"As Julia said, we were on the tails of the men's pack in a really great draft, so we were having a fun time cruising through the first 10km together," Diggins added. "My big goal of the day was to try out some aggressive fueling strategies for when we race 50km later in the World Cup season, so I went to the front at the start of the long climb to try and not let the pack splinter apart so I could keep racing with the boys. Peter decided to attack at that time though, so I ended up hanging on to the back by my fingertips and then working together with a smaller pack, which was super great practice for me. I was really happy with how I was able to practice taking more feeds during the race and get a chance to really work on my drafting and bridging from one group to the next. Kern was able to put a good break on Casey Wright (who finished third)."

"It is always fun to pull on a race bib," Kern said. "Although we still have some time until the official race season, now is the time I like to start putting on a race bib for some harder efforts to remember what’s that like. It made me excited for the season to come!"

In the men’s event, a large pack skied together for 10k before Wolter put the foot down at the top of the course and was able to break the pack after 15k.  Wright from New Zealand and Lars Young Vik from Australia battled for the minor placings before Wright was able to edge ahead of Vik coming into the finish.

Digging and Kern, along with U.S. Ski & Snowboard World Cup cross country coach Jason Cork, are spending three and a half weeks on snow in Australia training for the upcoming World Cup season which kicks off in November in Ruka, Finland. They will join the rest of the U.S. Cross Country Team for the final pre-season training camp in Park City for two weeks in October. 

After a two-year hiatus due to COVID restrictions, it was great to have the Hoppet back on the international stage. Race Director, Ben Derrick, paid tribute to all the volunteers that come together for the event. “We have over 100 volunteers involved in staging the event that are made up of local skiers and non-skiers alike. After a couple of years of forced cancellation, it was great to see the enthusiasm and passion that our community brings to the sport.”

The 30th staging of the Hoppet is an amazing achievement for all involved in the event. “The far-sighted and aspirational dreaming and planning from the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club in the late 80’s has really paid enormous dividends for the sport and the local community. It is a celebration of everyone who has been involved in the event”.

The Worldloppet series move on to New Zealand for the Merino Muster next week.

Olympic medalists Ryan Cochran-Siegle and Jessie Diggins were honored by U.S. Ski & Snowboard as athletes of the year, winning the prestigious Beck International Award - the highest athlete recognition for the organization.

Cochran-Siegle, whose mother Barbara Cochran won Olympic slalom gold in 1972, earned his first medal with a silver in super-G at Beijing. Diggins, who won gold with Kikkan Randall in 2018, became the first individual cross country medalist for America since 1976 when she won silver and bronze at Beijing.

The Beck International Award dates back to 1931, honoring some of the greatest champions in ski and snowboard sport.  It was the fourth time Diggins has won the Beck International Award (2016, 2018, 2021, 2022) and the first for Cochran-Siegle. Diggins was also named Cross Country Athlete of the Year, for the fifth time, with Cochran-Siegle taking Alpine Athlete of the Year honors.

“Ryan and Jessie truly distinguished themselves this season, both with athletic results and the inspiration they provided to teammates and to the next generation of athletes,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO Sophie Goldschmidt. “They stand amongst a strong field of athletes who each have their own story of success this past season.”

In recognizing Cochran-Siegle, U.S. Ski & Snowboard acknowledged his long and patient journey. After starting his career with a Junior World Championship medal, he persevered through myriad major injuries before getting his first World Cup podium and win in the 2020-21 season, before a season-ending injury took him out.

Diggins, who won the overall World Cup title a year ago, was also recognized for a strong overall season with five World Cup podiums including two wins. She also anchored a historic first-ever mixed relay World Cup victory for the USA.

OTHER SPORT ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Jake Adicoff with guide Sam Wood - Adaptive Athletes of the Year
Jake Adicoff and his guide Sam Wood were named Adaptive Athletes of the Year. The duo teamed up for a pair of individual silver medals at the Paralympics, plus anchored Team USA’s gold in the mixed team event. At the World Championships, they won gold, silver and bronze. Beyond the medals, Adicoff and Wood have been role models in the sport with their professional way of working together and communications style - setting a new high bar for how visually impaired athletes and guides work as a team. Their example has elevated the entire U.S. Paralympics Nordic program.

Alex Hall - Freeski Athlete of the Year
Olympic champion Alex Hall was named Freeski Athlete of the Year. Hall took gold in Slopestyle at Beijing. He came into the Olympics with five major event podiums. At the Olympics, he impressed Slopestyle judges with his unique approach to the course, earning the high score of the day on his first run.

Jaelin Kauf - Freestyle Athlete of the Year
Veteran moguls skier Jaelin Kauf was recognized as Freestyle Athlete of the Year. A perennial top finisher in the World Cup standings, Kauf earned an early berth on Team USA for the Olympics and came away with silver in moguls in her second Games. Recognized as one of the fastest skiers on the tour, Kauf focused on the big event to come away with a medal. She was also acknowledged for her inspiration to the team and motivation to young girls in sport.

Ben Loomis - Nordic Combined Athlete of the Year
Ben Loomis was named as Nordic Combined Athlete of the Year. It was his third time winning the title (2016, 2018, 2022). In a breakthrough season, Loomis scored World Cup points every weekend and had two 12th place finishes at the Olympics in Beijing. His steady progress has been an inspiration to the nordic combined team.

Annika Belshaw - Ski Jumping Athlete of the Year
Annika Belshaw was named Ski Jumping Athlete of the Year. Belshaw soared to a career-best season with her first-ever Continental Cup victory and had seven top-10 finishes to land fourth in the overall Continental Cup standings - the best U.S. finish since Sarah Hendrickson was second in 2015.

Lindsey Jacobellis - Snowboard Athlete of the Year
Lindsey Jacobellis was named Snowboard Athlete of the Year. It was her fourth time earning the top honor (2007, 2008, 2009, 2022). Jacobellis has forged a career in snowboardcross with 31 World Cup victories, seven World Championship medals and now three Olympic medals. A silver medalist in her event’s Olympic debut in 2006, Jacobellis rode to gold in Beijing then came back to team up with Nick Baumgartner to win gold in the initial Olympic team event.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard recognized its top clubs as a part of its annual awards. The Mammoth Mountain Ski & Snowboard Team was named overall Club of the Year for the second time, having been honored in 2019. Eldora Mountain Ski & Snowboard Club was recognized as Development Club of the Year.

“Clubs are the entry point for skiers and snowboarders into the sport and a vital part of our athletic pipeline. We’re proud to recognize the achievements of these clubs across all of our sport programs.”
– U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO Sophie Goldschmidt.

California’s Mammoth Mountain Ski & Snowboard Team was recognized as the overall Club of the Year, an honor it also won in 2019. The Development Club of the Year award went to Colorado’s Eldora Mountain Ski & Snowboard Club.

“These clubs really set a high standard of excellence for others,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Club Manager Ellen Adams. “Mammoth Mountain, as overall Club of the Year, has long been a productive club for a wide array of local programs and consistently pushing athletes to the top level in the sport. As Development Club of the Year, Eldora Mountain was recognized for its engagement in development programs and contributions to the sport regionally.”

Additional organizational awards, including Athletes of the Year, will be announced throughout the latter half of June.

2022 OVERALL CLUBS OF THE YEAR

OVERALL CLUB OF THE YEAR

SNOWBOARD CLUB OF THE YEAR
Mammoth Mountain Ski & Snowboard Team (Gold Certified Club)
Mammoth Mountain Ski & Snowboard Team (MMSST) was recognized as overall Club of the Year, as well as Snowboard Club of the Year - both for the second time. MMSST was acknowledged for its dedication to creating the best winter sports program in the nation through long-term athlete development, excellent programming, and a commitment to supporting its athletes. The program is led by Ben Wisner, who was also acknowledged as overall and snowboard Development Coach of the Year.

The success of Mammoth’s multisport program is based on several key factors. First, MMSST is highly engaged in coaches' education, ensuring that everyone on staff has at least level 100 certification. Secondly, it has made a serious commitment to progression with its high performance center. It is also an active participant in hosting events from local to national to international level.

In snowboard and freeski, MMSST has developed some of the most skilled athletes in the country, including Olympic champion Chloe Kim.

MMSST has also excelled in partnering with U.S. Ski & Snowboard and USASA to hold vital events. This past season, Mammoth played host to a snowboard World Cup which doubled as an Olympic qualifying event. It also produced USASA and Rev Tour events, plus a Project Gold camp for park and pipe.

DEVELOPMENT CLUB OF THE YEAR
Eldora Mountain Ski & Snowboard Club, Boulder, Colo. (Silver Certified Club)
Colorado’s Eldora Mountain Ski & Snowboard Club (EMSC) was selected as the second recipient of the new Development Club of the Year Award. The honor is presented annually to a club recognizing its alignment with U.S. Ski & Snowboard athlete development standards.

EMSC was founded in 1975 and now offers programs in junior race, core, and ability. In addition to alpine, it also integrates a ski and snowboard freestyle/freeride program, the EMSC Free Team, offering slopestyle, big air, ski and snowboard cross and big mountain.

One of the key elements of EMSC’s selection as Development Club of the Year was its work in the U.S. Ski & Snowboard club certification program. In summer 2020, EMSC earned its bronze certification. It then took feedback from the bronze review, focusing on areas for improvement and this past season achieved silver certification.

One of the strengths of EMSC is its very active and engaged board which works with staff leadership in increasing the impact of its mission through a carefully-developed roadmap to realize its vision. It has established a strong relationship with the mountain, ensuring well-maintained and accessible competition and training venues. In addition, it has fostered a strong relationship with parents.

All programs from Youth Ski League to FIS are closely aligned with U.S. Ski & Snowboard training systems. EMSC is also known for its collaboration with other clubs.

2022 SPORT CLUBS OF THE YEAR

Adaptive - Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, Sun Valley, Idaho (Gold Certified Club)
One of the most noted multisport clubs in America, the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, was awarded the Adaptive Club of the Year Award. SVSEF was honored for its commitment to excellence at all levels of the sport, notably their integration of para-athletes into their teams.

Among the athletes in the SVSEF program are four-time Paralympic medalist Jake Adicoff and three-time medalist Sam Wood. Both are well integrated into the SVSEF cross country Gold Team program to not only benefit their training but serving as mentors to other athletes. First-time alpine Paralympian Jesse Keefe grew up in the SVSEF program from a young age.

The Gold Team is led by coach Chris Mallory who customizes elements of their training that is unique to Para cross country. He also served as a coach and wax technician for Team USA at the Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing.

SVSEF has provided a roadmap for how to provide quality opportunities for more athletes in their community while also continually striving for competitive success across all areas of the sport.

SVSEF is a two-time winner of the overall Club of the Year Award (1999, 2013) but it is its first time winning Adaptive Club of the Year.

Alpine - Team Summit Colorado, Copper Mountain, Colo. (Gold Certified Club)
Team Summit Colorado was named Alpine Club of the Year. Under the leadership of Executive Director CB Bechtel and Alpine Director Aldo Radamus, the club has developed a strong culture in its alpine ski racing program and has created cost-effective, local programs for Summit County athletes.

Team Summit was recognized for providing a place in its program for every athlete to find their own level of excellence. The result has been Team Summit athletes achieving notable success and finding the podium at every level. Out of this past season, Team Summit qualified four athletes to the National Development Group, as well as qualifying three athletes each for the U18 and U16 national championships.

The club is an active participant in hosting divisional relationships, utilizing its relationships with several local resorts. Its volunteer officials are well educated. Radamus and other club officials are also active on divisional, regional and national committees, as well as engaging in national projects - always looking for ways to help grow the sport.

Cross Country - The Loppet Foundation, Minneapolis (Gold Certified Club)
The Loppet Foundation, which offers year-round outdoor activity programs in the heart of Minneapolis, has been selected as Cross Country Club of the Year. The club was recognized for its continuing work to achieve its mission during the pandemic.

This past season, The Loppet Foundation hosted a safe, motivating and competitive junior championships as national competitions were reinstated. It employed a thorough and thoughtful COVID-19 mitigation plan that followed U.S. Ski & Snowboard standards, conducting a successful event for 600 junior athletes and staff. The Loppet Foundation also implemented venue improvements resulting in a very high level of racing in the heart of a metropolitan area.

Athletically, Loppet Nordic Racing excelled on its home course winning the junior national club award and helping lead Midwest Division to second place.

Following the unfortunate cancellation of the FIS World Cup in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic, The Loppet Foundation has persevered to continue to offer strong programs and to be a vital part of the national cross country racing scene.

Freeski - Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club, Aspen, Colo.
The Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club (AVSC) was awarded the Freeski Club of the Year Award for its commitment to developing and supporting top-tier athletes and coaches. A longstanding program in the Roaring Fork Valley dating back to 1937, AVSC’s mission is to coach and inspire kids to excel while promoting a community of passion, grit and mountain culture. AVSC presently has over 350 freestyle and freeski athletes with 55 coaches. About 45% of freeski athletes receive financial support from the club’s scholarships and grants.

AVSC has developed a well-rounded training program for freeski athletes in the community, including the opportunity to train at their state-of-the-art tramp, airbag and ramp facility, on-snow glacier camps locally in May and June and a full complement of in-season programs in Olympic sized pipes and jumps used for X Games and other world-renowned competitions.

During the winter, AVSC athletes not only train on snow but also hone their tricks at the local gymnastics facility. Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club has a keen focus on progression and instituted an in-house qualification program similar to that of Aerials that requires athletes to achieve high repetitions of tricks and qualify jumps on airbags before allowing new tricks to be performed on snow.

Continuing education for coaches is a high priority for the club, with frequent workshops for coaches on important topics like first aid, mental health awareness and more. AVSC is also active in events, this past season hosting a Rev Tour and USASA Series competitions.

These efforts result in a well-rounded program that impacts a broad range of passionate young freeski athletes. It has also made AVSC one of the biggest contributors to the U.S. Freeski Team with four athletes this past year including two-time Olympic medalist Alex Ferriera.

Freestyle - Stratton Mountain School, Stratton, Vt. (Gold Certified Club)
Stratton Mountain School (SMS), a notable multisport club program, was awarded Freestyle Club of the Year. SMS was the overall Club of the Year in 2020 and has also won cross country, freeski and snowboard Club of the Year prior to this.

It was a strong season athletically for Stratton’s freestyle program with 100% of eligible team members qualifying for U.S. Junior Nationals and 60% for U.S. Nationals. SMS had one of the largest representations on the NorAm Cup with seven athletes, and their athletes took both male and female MVP in the Eastern Division, along with the men’s Eastern Mogul Champ title.

Stratton Mountain School has long been dedicated to excellence and is a U.S. Ski & Snowboard gold-certified club. The club's programs are committed to the Long-Term Athlete Development model and regularly host trampoline and on-snow camps for local athletes. SMS is also active on the U.S. Ski & Snowboard regional competition calendar.

The growing program, led by Eastern Division Freestyle chair Deb Newson, has had to react to the changing landscape during the pandemic. To make up for time lost the past two seasons, Deb took her team to camps and comps all around the world, including Idre Fjäll, Sweden in November, Apex, B.C. in December, Aspen and Steamboat Springs, Colo. in January, Sweden Europa Cup in February, and Palisades Tahoe in April. Some SMS athletes were on the road for over 100 days but were still successful in getting accepted to top college programs. With talented coaches and a multitude of recent successes, Stratton Mountain School's recruitment efforts are more successful than ever, and this club will only continue to grow and contribute to the sport of Freestyle."

Top club and national coaches have been recognized by U.S. Ski & Snowboard as a part of its annual awards program. Recipients were acknowledged both for athletic accomplishments and contributions to the broader success of the sport.

Development Coach of the Year honors went to Ben Wisner of Mammoth Mountain. Longtime U.S. Ski Team alpine coach Forest Carey earned Coach of the Year recognition.

“Clubs and coaches are core to the success of athletes both at the local level and nationally,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Director of Sport Education Gar Trayner. “It’s exhilarating to recognize the amazing success stories we’re seeing around the country.” 

OVERALL DEVELOPMENT COACH OF THE YEAR

SNOWBOARD DEVELOPMENT COACH OF THE YEAR

Ben Wisner, Mammoth Ski & Snowboard Team, Mammoth Lakes, Calif.
Ben Wisner, director of freeski and snowboard for the Mammoth Mountain Ski & Snowboard Team, has been named both overall and snowboard Development Coach of the Year. He was recognized by his peers as a ‘one-of-a-kind coach’ whose success with his own program at Mammoth also has a strong impact on the sport nationally.

Wisner has been coaching for over 20 years. During his time at Mammoth, Wisner has helped the program become a breeding ground for young talent. Under his direction, MMSST has placed more than a few athletes on the U.S. Snowboard Team, including Olympians Chloe Kim, Maddie Mastro and Dusty Henricksen.

One of the keys to Wisner’s success is that he is always looking to the next generation of athletes. This past season, he extended his expertise as a coach at Junior World Championships in Switzerland. He was a valuable asset to the team both on and off the snow.

His peers acknowledged him for his work in connecting with athletes and pushing them to the next level with his passion for the sport.

OVERALL U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD TEAM COACH OF THE YEAR

ALPINE TEAM COACH OF THE YEAR

Forest Carey, Park City, Utah
Veteran alpine coach Forest Carey was recognized as Coach of the Year as well as Alpine Coach of the Year. It was the fourth time he has won the alpine honor.

In his 12-year career with the national team, Carey has become known for his passion and caring for his athletes—instilling confidence in them. He is a student of the sport and analyzes every last detail after training and competition from video analysis to split times to equipment performance.

The highlight of the season came at the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, where Ryan Cochran-Siegle took super-G silver. It was an inspiring performance marked by perseverance and fortitude as Cochran-Siegle overcame injuries and hardships with Carey supporting him the entire way.

U.S SKI & SNOWBOARD TEAM SPORT COACHES OF THE YEAR

Cross Country - Jason Cork, Stratton Mountain, Vt.
Longtime U.S. Ski Team World Cup Coach Jason Cork was awarded the Cross Country Coach of the Year honors.

Cork has worked with three-time Olympic medalist Jessie Diggins since 2010, before she was on the national team. He serves as both her personal coach and wax technician. A year ago Diggins won the overall World Cup title as well as the distance World Cup title. This past season, she won two Olympic medals—silver in the 30k freestyle mass start and bronze in the freestyle sprint—and became the first American since 1976 to win an individual Olympic medal.

He is known for his detailed training planning and oversight, as well as his world-class ski selection and waxing ability.

Freeski - Dave Euler, Park City, Utah
Dave Euler, who coaches the U.S. Pro Freeski Slopestyle and Big Air Team, was named Freeski Coach of the Year. Euler was previously the 2019 recipient and in 2016 was named Freeski Development Coach of the Year.

Euler led the U.S. Freeski Slopestyle and Big Air Team to great success this season starting off with a podium sweep by Colby Stevenson, Alex Hall and Nick Goepper at Dew Tour. At the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Alex Hall won gold and Nick Goepper earned silver in slopestyle, and Colby Stevenson earned silver in big air. At the conclusion of the season, the team was awarded the FIS Nations Cup.

Euler is well known and admired for his positive attitude, dedication to the sport, and ability to motivate, inspire and develop athletes at all levels. He joined the team in 2018 after coaching freeskiing at Team Park City United.

Freestyle - Vladimir ‘Vlad’ Lebedev, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Vladimir ‘Vlad’ Lebedev, head aerials coach for the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team, was named Freestyle Coach of the Year for the third year in a row. Lebedev joined the team in 2019 and has been a valuable asset with his extensive knowledge of the sport, background as an athlete and international coaching experience for multiple countries.

It was a strong season for the U.S. aerials team, capped by Olympic gold in the debut of the team event with Chris Lillis, Justin Schoenefeld and Ashley Caldwell, and a bronze from Megan Nick in the women's individual event. In addition to the team's Olympic success, five U.S. Freestyle Team aerialists finished in the top-10 in the season-long FIS World Cup rankings.

Lebedev’s approach as a coach is dedicated to helping each athlete succeed, as shown by the individualized plans and strategies he develops for each team member matched up with seasonal, monthly and daily goals. In his three seasons as head aerials coach, he has led the team to its strongest results in 20 years.

He is a native of Uzbekistan and competed as a Russian aerialist for a decade, winning bronze at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games.

Nordic Combined/Ski Jumping - Chris Gilbertson, Steamboat Springs, Colo.
Chris Gilbertson, jumping coach for the U.S. Nordic Combined Ski Team, was named Nordic Combined/Ski Jumping Coach of the Year.

Gilbertson, who had coached up to 2013, returned to the United States in the summer of 2020 when the nordic combined team was challenged to get international coaches into the USA because of the pandemic onset. The team heartily welcomed him back. In the two years since his return, he has been consistently supporting, challenging and motivating athletes.

The impact of his work has been a substantial climb up the ranks in ski jumping results compared to the past. His passion for the sport of nordic combined has been embraced by the athletes, with the results showing.

Gilbertson was named Nordic Combined/Ski Jumping Development Coach of the Year in 2001 while working with the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club.

Snowboard - J.J. Thomas

JJ Thomas, Olympic bronze medalist in halfpipe from 2002 and U.S. Snowboard Team halfpipe coach, was recognized with the Snowboard Coach of the Year award.

While Thomas made his mark as an athlete, his real impact has come since moving to coaching. As a private coach for Shaun White, he was instrumental in White’s stunning comeback in 2018 to win his third Olympic gold medal. He then brought his skills to the U.S. Snowboard Team where he has impacted a wide range of athletes.

This past season his athletes had a remarkable season, led by Chloe Kim winning a repeat Olympic halfpipe gold. His men’s team placed three in the top seven in Beijing, including White just missing a medal in fourth.

Thomas’ approach to coaching features a focus on detail with goal orientation. His work with athletes on both short and long-term goals, combined with a strategic plan of attack, has helped make their personal dreams become a reality.

SPORT DEVELOPMENT COACHES OF THE YEAR

Alpine - Ian Dunlop, Ski & Snowboard Club Vail, Vail, Colo.
Ian Dunlop, the head U16 men’s coach at Ski & Snowboard Club Vail, was recognized as Alpine Development Coach of the Year. He was recognized not only for the success of his own athletes, but for his overall contribution to development within the region and nationally.

Dunlop began as a ski racer in Wisconsin, before moving to Winter Park, Colo. He later skied for the University of Denver. Dunlop began his coaching career at Winter Park coaching FIS-level athletes before joining U.S. Ski & Snowboard as the Rocky/Central regional coach in 2013, contributing to the growth of excellence in the region. 

In 2019, he took on his current role in Vail making an immediate impact with his U16 athletes posting strong results and moving on to be successful at the FIS level. This past season his U16 men dominated national junior championships with podium finishes across all disciplines, including four of the top five overall. Although top national results get the headlines, Dunlop is known for building an atmosphere where every single athlete on his team feels 100% committed to the team.

Dunlop is a strong contributor to the governance of the sport, serving as vice-chair of the Rocky Mountain Division Alpine Competition Committee and sits on the national U16 and Older Development Working Group.

Cross Country - Miles Havlick, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
Miles Havlick, cross country coach for the University of Utah, was awarded the Cross Country Development Coach of the Year Award. He was recognized not only for the success of the Utes cross country athletes who won a 15th national title this past year, but for the impact he and his athletes are having on sport development.

This past season, his Utah cross country team included five U.S. Ski Team members, three of which competed at the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. Four of those athletes raced in World Cups and the fifth competed at the U23 World Championships.

Two of his athletes, Sophia Laukli and Novie McCabe, were top-20 in their debut Olympics. Both also took NCAA titles to help boost the Utes to the national title. They also finished fifth and seventh in the Tour de Ski final hill climb. In addition, Sydney Palmer-Leger is ranked as the number one junior woman in the world on the FIS distance points list. 

Havlick was recognized for the positive team culture he has developed to not only benefit the Utes, but to be a collaborative partner with the national team.

Freeski - Greg Ruppel, Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club, Aspen, Colo.
Greg Ruppel, who heads the freeski program at the Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club, was awarded the Freeski Development Coach of the Year Award. Ruppel, who has been coaching for nearly 20 years, was acknowledged for his all-around work in coaching and program management at AVSC and his engagement with the Freeski Sport Committee.

Ruppel began his freeski coaching career in New England, working at Loon Mountain and Waterville Valley before moving to Aspen where he has coached for a decade. He has put a high priority on advancing his coaching through education, attending over a dozen U.S. Ski & Snowboard clinics and achieving Freestyle Level 4 and Freeski Level 300 certifications.

During his career at Aspen, Greg​ has coached several top-10 junior halfpipe skiers, and his athletes have earned spots on not only the U.S. Pro and Rookie Freeski Teams, but also the U.S. Olympic Freeski team.

Freestyle - Bill Harris, Mont Chalet Freestyle Aerial Training Center, Chesterland, Ohio
Bill Harris, an innovator in freestyle aerials skiing for over four decades, was named Freestyle Development Coach of the Year. While most wouldn’t look at the state of Ohio as a hotbed of freestyle skiing, Harris’ work over the years has helped develop a host of Olympians including 2022 team gold medalist Justin Schoenefeld.

Now 78, Harris started his first freestyle program at a small midwestern ski area in 1983. When he left the ski area in the early ‘90s, he wanted to ensure athletes still had a place to pursue their sport. So he built a water ramp on his own property outside of Cleveland. That started a succession of Olympians including Brian Currutt, Mariano Ferrario and Schoenefeld.

Harris was recognized not just for the top athletes that came out of his program, but for his constant work at providing opportunities for young athletes. He runs his program free of charge and has always been the type of coach who goes the extra mile for his athletes.

“Bill’s genuine love for the sport of freestyle skiing and his honest care in coaching and developing our talents was what made my experience with the team so memorable,” said one of his former athletes.

While perfecting their craft is always a goal of athletes, Harris’ focus goes well beyond, looking to develop well-rounded, respectful, humble, confident and hard-working individuals.

Nordic Combined/Ski Jumping - Todd Eing, Harris Hill, Brattleboro, Vt.
Vermont ski jumping coach and program leader Todd Eing was awarded the Nordic Combined/Ski Jumping Development Coach of the Year Award. Eing has been instrumental in developing a junior ski jumping program at Harris Hill, which just celebrated its 100th year of holding an annual tournament.

While Harris Hill has long been a major ski jumping center in New England, it had lacked a junior jumping program. Eing has been transformational for the sport, spearheading the construction of 10m and 18m jumps at Memorial Park and organizing training for young jumpers from five to 15 years old beginning in 2018.

Eing has built a comprehensive program that includes fall training in the gym and on a roller jump to prepare athletes for the season. He wears many hats for the program, including coach as well as chief of competition for the annual Harris Hill tournament. He also volunteers for major events around the region, including Lake Placid.