On the first day of the FIS Para Alpine Ski World Cup Finals in Sella Nevea, Italy, Laurie Stephens led the way for the U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team, finishing on the podium in third. 

Warm weather and sunny conditions hovering around 40 degrees Fahrenheit threatened to cancel the second run, but course workers and volunteers were able to keep the hill in running order. The first run led to an unusually high 13 DNFs across the field, indicating the difficult course set and weather implications. 

Laurie Stephens earned her third podium of the season on the women's side, landing in third in the women’s sitting event. Allie Johnson rounded out the women’s side, finishing sixth in the women’s standing classification. 

The men encountered some trouble in run one, with Patrick Halgren, Spencer Wood and Andrew Kurka skiing out. Jesse Keefe and Ravi Drugan led the way for the men’s team, both finishing ninth in the men’s standing and sitting events, respectively. Just outside of the top 10 was Matthew Brewer, who finished 11th in the men’s sitting classification. Andrew Haraghey finished 13th in the men’s standing event. 

The team has a day off before they take on the second giant slalom in Sella Nevea on Thursday, March 21. The action begins at 4:00 am ET, followed by run two at 7:00 am ET. 

RESULTS
Women
Men 

Every year at the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Congress awards ceremony in May, U.S. Ski & Snowboard recognizes the work of those behind the scenes and the people and organizations that provide athletes of all ages with opportunities to participate in ski and snowboard competitions.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard members can nominate in many of the award categories, including The Paul Bacon Award for excellent event organization, the John J. Clair Award for outstanding service to national teams and more.

How the process works

• Nominations for these awards are accepted from members who have a valid and current membership for the 2023-24 Season. 
• Each sport committee also submits its own nomination.
• Selection of awards winners is determined by a vote of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Awards Working Group in early April.
• Winners are announced in May.

How to nominate

• Read through the categories open to public nomination.
• Click on the nomination link for each individual award for which you wish to nominate.
• Complete the nomination paying special attention to highlighting accomplishments required for each award.
• Nominees must also be current members of U.S. Ski & Snowboard.
• Click to submit.
• Remember, you need to submit nominations for each award separately.

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT NOMINATIONS: Friday, March 29, 2024

PUBLIC NOMINATION CATEGORIES

Paul Bacon Award (event organization)

The Paul Bacon Award is given to an individual or group for the greatest contribution to U. S. Ski & Snowboard in the field of race organization during the 2023-24 season. Traditional nominees include local clubs or individuals whose work has made a difference in providing good events for athletes.

PAUL BACON AWARD Nomination Form

John J. Clair Award (service to national teams)

The John J. Clair Jr. Award is given for outstanding service that benefited the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team in 2023-24. Past recipients have included outside team support personnel, donors, journalists, movers and shakers. Most recipients have been individuals, though some organizations have been recognized. The recipient’s service should be to the national teams.

JOHN J. CLAIR JR. AWARD Nomination Form

Bud & Mary Little Award (service to FIS or USOPC)

The Bud & Mary Little Award is a lifetime achievement award presented to an individual who has contributed significantly through a long-term involvement with the International Ski & Snowboard Federation or U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Recipients are eligible to receive the award only once. Achievement should be lifetime; it is not specific to this past year.

BUD & MARY LITTLE AWARD Nomination Form

Buddy Werner Award (sportsmanship)

Have you seen any great acts of sportsmanship this past year? Nominations should be based on actions from the 2023-24 season. It is only open to individuals.

BUDDY WERNER AWARD Nomination Form

Russell Wilder Award (service to youth)

The Russell Wilder Award recognizes the most outstanding effort during 2023-24 in focusing the interests of American youth on the sports of skiing or snowboarding. It can be awarded to an individual or an organization.

RUSSELL WILDER AWARD Nomination Form

OFFICIALS NOMINATION AWARD CATEGORY*

West Family Award (outstanding official)

The West Family Award is a lifetime achievement honor, recognizing an outstanding certified official at any level.  Nominations come from the pool of current U.S. Ski & Snowboard Officials membership.

WEST FAMILY AWARD Nomination Form

*Nominations only open to those who hold a current U.S. Ski & Snowboard Officials membership. 

FIS TECHNICAL DELEGATE NOMINATION AWARD CATEGORY^

Westhaven Award (outstanding FIS technical delegate)

The Westhaven Award is a lifetime achievement award, recognizing an outstanding FIS technical delegate for his or her service over time. Nominations come from the pool of current FIS TDs.

WESTHAVEN AWARD Nomination Form

^Nominations only open to those who hold a current U.S. Ski & Snowboard Technical Delegate membership. 

The U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team kicked off the second phase of their season in Veysonnaz, Switzerland, where Laurie Stephens landed on her first podium of the season in the giant slalom. 

The event brought the largest field of athletes seen so far this season, increasing the level and depth of the competition. It was an overcast day on the course, causing flat light and shadows throughout, which proved challenging for many competitors, seeing a high number of DNFs and DSQs.

Seven time Paralympic medalist Laurie Stephens led the way for the U.S. women, finishing third in the women’s sitting event. This is Stephens' first World Cup podium of the season, adding to her impressive repertoire of achievements. In the women’s standing event, Allie Johnson finished ninth. 

On the men’s side, Ravi Drugan finished 14th in the men’s sitting event. Patrick Halgren was 16th in the men’s standing event, followed by Spencer Wood in 18th. Andrew Haraghey, Andrew Kurka and Matthew Brewer did not finish.

The team takes on another giant slalom in Veysonnaz on Tuesday, Jan. 23, slated to begin at 3:30 a.m. ET. 

RESULTS
Women
Men

The U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team wrapped up their second World Cup of the season in Steinach am Brenner, Austria, gaining valuable experience against fierce competition and conditions. 

The team started the event on Wednesday with the first super-G race of the season. Despite challenging conditions and course sets, the team had a couple of solid finishes. The day featured two separate super-G races, with Andrew Kurka leading the team in the first race, finishing eighth in the men’s sitting event. Andrew Haraghey finished 11th in the standing event. 

During the second super-G of the day, Jesse Keefe improved upon his first finish, snagging ninth place in the standing event. Matthew Brewer was the only American to finish in the sitting event, finishing 10th. 

Next up for the team was the first giant slalom of the season. Andrew Kurka once again led the U.S. in the men’s sitting event, in sixth, while Jesse Keefe was eighth in the men’s standing event. On the women’s side, Allie Johnson finished sixth in her first World Cup appearance of the season. 

Unfortunately, Friday's second giant slalom race was canceled due to heavy winds. The team was preparing to head to La Molina, Spain for their next World Cup, but the races there have been canceled due to lack of snow and unfavorable weather forecasts, per FIS Para Snow Sports. One canceled downhill race is to be rescheduled for the World Cup in Cortina, Italy, while a super-G race will be rescheduled in Veysonnaz, Switzerland. 

The team now has an extended training break before their next World Cup stop in Veysonnaz, Switzerland, Jan. 22-25. 

RESULTS:
Men’s super-G 1
Men’s super-G 2
Men’s giant slalom
Women’s giant slalom

The U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team kicked off their season this weekend in St. Moritz, Switzerland, with solid results throughout the team during two days of downhill races. 

There were sunny but blustery conditions during both races this weekend, proving challenging for many competitors, with multiple DNFs and DSQs both days. 

On day one, the men’s standing class was led by Jesse Keefe, who finished in fifth, followed by Spencer Wood in 11th. Wood has overcome many challenges recently, including a change to his classification, leading him to be allowed to compete with only one pole, which is different from previous years. Despite having only a few weeks on snow with one pole, he has taken to the change and is continuing to find confidence.

On the men’s sitting side, Andrew Kurka led the team with a fast run, finishing fourth, followed by Ravi Drugan in eighth and Matthew Brewer in ninth. Patrick Halgren and Andrew Haraghey did not finish day one. 

Day two had similar but slightly warmer conditions for the racers. Jesse Keefe once again led the U.S. standing men, finishing in sixth, followed by Spencer Wood in 10th and Andrew Haraghey in 12th. Ravi Drugan had the best finish for the men’s sitting class, landing in eighth. Patrick Halgren and Andrew Kurka did not finish. 

The team is headed to Steinach am Brenner, Austria next for two super-G and two giant slalom races Dec. 20-22. 

RESULTS
Men

PARK CITY, Utah (Oct. 16, 2023) - U.S. Ski & Snowboard officially announced the 12 athletes who have accepted their nomination to the 2023-24 U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team across all classifications and disciplines. 

The team is highlighted by multi-time Paralympic medalists Laurie Stephens and Andrew Kurka, alongside seasoned athletes such as Andrew Haraghey and Jesse Keefe.

The 2023-24 FIS Para Alpine Ski World Cup season begins in St. Moritz, Switzerland, in December with a set of downhill races and the team will spend the majority of their season in Europe. Beyond World Cup races, the team will be back stateside for the Winter Park Open in January, the Huntsman Cup in February and National Championships in early April. 

“I am confident that the team will be bringing home some great results this season,” said Erik Leirfallom, U.S. Ski & Snowboard Para Sport Director. “This team had a productive off-season with a month-long camp in Chile and two strength testing sessions in Colorado Springs, so I’m excited to see their hard work pay off.” 

You can find the finalized FIS World Cup schedule here.

2023-24 U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team

(Hometown; Club; College/University; Birthdate)

A Team

Women

• Laurie Stephens (Wenham, MA; University of New Hampshire; 3/5/1984)

Men

• Andrew Haraghey (Enfield, CT; National Ability Center; Westminster University; 12/16/1995)
• Andrew Kurka (Palmer, AK; Alyeska Ski Club; Purdue University; 1/27/1992)
• Jesse Keefe (Sun Valley, ID; Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation; University of Colorado Colorado Springs; 3/26/2004)
• Spencer Wood (Pittsfield, VT; National Sports Center for the Disabled; University of Colorado Boulder; 1/17/1997)

B Team

Women

• Allie Johnson (Chicago, IL; National Sports Center for the Disabled; Colorado State University; 12/23/1994)
• Saylor O’Brien (Woodland, UT; National Ability Center; 4/28/2003)
• Audrey Crowley (Vail, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 3/1/2007)

Men

• Matthew Brewer (Huntington Beach, CA; National Ability Center; Saddleback Community College; 5/8/1975)
• Connor Hogan (Foxborough, MA; National Sports Center for the Disabled; 6/6/1997)
• Ravi Drugan (Eugene, OR; Oregon Adaptive Sports; 12/19/1989)
• Patrick Halgren (Tolland, CT; National Sports Center for the Disabled; 6/24/1992)

COACHES AND STAFF

• Anouk Patty - Chief of Sport
• Erik Leirfallom - Para Sport Director
• Ryan Pearl - Head Coach, Para Alpine
• Lyndsay Strange - Assistant Coach, Para Alpine
• Sawyer Mattsson, Assistant Coach, Para Alpine
• Brian Neff - Athletic Development Coach, Para Alpine & Para Snowboard
• Ryan Odeja - Para Press Officer

FOLLOW THE U.S. PARA ALPINE SKI TEAM

Instagram: @usparaskisnowboard
Facebook: U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team
Twitter: @usskiteam
TikTok: @usskiandsnowboard
Threads @usskiteam 

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

Ryan Odeja - U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team Press Officer
ryan.odeja@usskiandsnowboard.org