2016 Team Named at Copper Mountain

COPPER MOUNTAIN, CO (Nov. 21, 2015) – There’s no question that winter has arrived at Copper Mountain, home of the U.S. Ski Team Speed Center.

Copper acted as host to a day of festivities on Saturday, kicking off with the Putnam Investments NASTAR Pacesetting Trials followed by the annual Nature Valley First Tracks team naming announcement. With Olympic gold medalists Ted Ligety (Park City, UT), Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) and Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) and rising stars such as AJ Ginnis (Waitsfield, VT), Hig Roberts (Steamboat Springs, CO) and Paula Moltzan (Lakeville, MN) present, 58 athletes were officially named during a public celebration to kick off the start of the 2016 Audi FIS Alpine World Cup tour. 

HIGHLIGHTS

• The 2016 U.S. Alpine Ski team was publicly introduced on Nov. 21 during Nature Valley First Tracks, a public celebration at Copper Mountain, CO – home of the U.S. Ski Team Speed Center. 
• Olympic medalists Ted Ligety, Lindsey Vonn, Mikaela Shiffrin, Julia Mancuso (Squaw Valley, CA) and Andrew Weibrecht (Lake Placid, NY) were among 43 athletes named to the 2015 A, B and C Team, with another nine to the Development team and six to the National University Team.
• Bode Miller (Franconia, NH) will miss the 2015-16 season, but remain on the team.
• Mancuso will miss the 2015-16 season due to hip surgery, but has her sights set on PyeongChang in 2018.
• Bryce Astle (Sandy, UT) and Ronnie Berlack (Franconia, NH) were named to the team posthumously. The two were poised at the start of their U.S. Ski Team career when they were killed last January in an avalanche in Austria. It is the first time the U.S. Ski Team has named an athlete to the team posthumously.
• Six athletes were named to the new National University Team (N-UNI), led by Coach Peter Lange. These athletes have had the opportunity to train alongside A, B, C and D teams in strength and conditioning programs and at on-snow camps.
• Inspired by the official U.S. Ski Team mascot Champ, the Team kicked off a content series asking athletes and fans about the moment they truly felt like a champion. Auden Pankonin (Welch Village Ski Club), winner of the #WhatMakesAChamp contest, joined Ligety at the Putnam Investments NASTAR Pacesetting Trials and the team on stage alongside Champ.
• The team is coming off a five-medal World Championships, with both Vonn and Shiffrin winning Audi FIS Alpine World Cup overall titles. 
• After securing the title of winningest female in alpine skiing history with a total of 67 victories, Vonn is again making a return to snow after an ankle fracture sustained in training at New Zealand this summer. She will make her return to snow debut at Aspen for the giant slalom. 
• Copper Mountain is home to the U.S. Ski Team Speed Center, which provides U.S. skiers with a World Cup-level training course. 
• The Audi FIS Ski World Cup swings through America Nov. 28-29 with a women’s giant slalom and two slalom races – one rescheduled from Levi – in Aspen, followed by men’s downhill, super G and giant slalom Dec. 4-6 at Beaver Creek, CO.

Huge crowds gathered at First Tracks at Copper Mountain. (Copper Mountain Resort - Tripp Fay)

QUOTES 
Patrick Riml, U.S. Ski Team Alpine Director
It’s an off year—no big event like a World Championships or an Olympics—but it’s an important year for us. I think we have very high goals. A lot of our World Cup-level athletes have very high goals for globes or world titles. On the women’s side with Mikaela and Lindsey, Lindsey has a comeback and Mikaela is tapping into the speed side. We’re hoping to be competitive there. There are definitely a couple of strong girls out there. It’s going to be a very exciting season. We’ve had a good start so far—Soelden was good. On the men’s side, Ted is in good shape. Hopefully he can compete and content for the overall World Cup.

I’m also very excited about the young crew. They’re going into their season with a strong focus on the Europa Cup, Junior World Championships. We had two strong performances last year [at the Junior World Championships] with a gold and a bronze medal. So hopefully we can step it up and take it to the next level with a couple additional medals from the Junior World Championships.

It’s going to be a great season. The preparation was good. Colorado is great right now with lots of snow and good training. We’re all excited about getting going.

Mikaela Shiffrin
Racing on home soil is always special, just the feeling of being home is so wonderful and it puts me at ease. When I’m racing in Europe there’s this constant edgy feeling like I’m doing something wrong or not following the rules! Don’t get me wrong, it’s spectacular in Europe, but when I come home after being in Europe all winter I can actually take a deep breath and really relax for the first time since the start of the season. It’s huge that we get to spend most of November training in Colorado—with the men racing in Beaver Creek and the women racing in Aspen. It’s probably my favorite time of the season.

It’s always been a dream of mine to win the overall globe, but I think this year is a little bit of a gauge to see where I can stack up…if my slalom keeps going well then I feel really strong and I can make points. But it’s a little too early to tell right now. I don’t want to focus too much on that right now. It’s just race by race right, so we’ll see if I can win some races.

Ted Ligety
I think winning the overall title is my biggest career goal – I think it’s every ski racer’s biggest career goal. I never really wanted to be a specialist growing up. I’ve done well in all of the disciplines at some point or the other, but haven’t pieced together a full season. I am definitely an outside contender…I wouldn’t consider myself anywhere near one of the favorites for the overall, but it’s definitely a goal. And trying to get the GS globe back is definitely a goal.

Athletes pose on stage at First Tracks. (Copper Mountain Resort - Tripp Fay)

2015-16 U.S. ALPINE SKI TEAM
Name (hometown; home club) (skis, boots, bindings, poles, helmet, goggles, glasses, protection) birthdate
* denotes Olympian
**denotes posthumous team naming

Men's A Team

David Chodounksy (Crested Butte, CO; Crested Butte Ski Team) (Nordica, Nordica, Marker, Swix, Briko, Briko, Briko, Slytech) 6/25/1984 *
Travis Ganong (Squaw Valley, CA; Squaw Valley Ski Team) (Atomic, Atomic, Atomic, Leki, POC, POC, POC, Leki/Ortema) 7/14/1988 *
Tim Jitloff (Reno, NV; Park City Ski Team) (Stoeckli, Lange, Atomic, Leki, Bolle, Bolle, Bolle, Leki/Ortema) 1/11/1985 *
Ted Ligety (Park City, UT; Park City Ski Team) (Head, Head, Head, Leki, Shred, Shred, Shred, Slytech) 8/31/1984 *
Bode Miller (Franconia, NH; Carrabassett Valley Academy) (Bomber Skis, Leki, Dainese, Dainese) 10/12/1977 *
Steven Nyman (Sundance, UT; Park City Ski Team) (Fischer, Fischer, Fischer, Komperdell, POC, POC, POC, Ortema) 2/12/1982 *
Marco Sullivan (Squaw Valley, CA; Squaw Valley Ski Team) (Atomic, Atomic, Atomic, Leki, POC, POC, POC) 4/27/1980 *
Andrew Weibrecht (Lake Placid, NY; New York Ski Education Foundation) (Head, Head, Head, Komperdell, Briko, Briko, Briko, Slytech/Ortema) 2/10/1986 *

Women's A Team

Stacey Cook (Mammoth Mountain, CA; Mammoth Mountain Ski Team) (Stoeckli, Marker/Volkl, Komperdell, POC, POC) 7/3/1984 *
Julia Mancuso (Squaw Valley, CA; Squaw Valley Ski Team) (Stoeckli, Stoeckli, Lange, Swix, POC, POC, POC) 3/9/1984 *
Alice McKennis (Glenwood Springs, CO; Rowmark Academy) (Atomic, Atomic, Atomic, Leki, Briko, Briko) 8/19/1989 *
Laurenne Ross (Bend, OR; Mt. Bachelor Ski Education Foundation) (Volkl, Lange, Marker, Briko, Briko) 8/17/1988 *
Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO; Burke Mountain Academy) (Atomic, Atomic, Atomic, Leki, Atomic, Oakley, Oakley, Leki) 3/13/95 *
Leanne Smith (North Conway, NH; Mt. Washington Valley Ski Team) (Rossignol, Lange, Rossignol, Swix, POC, POC, POC, Slytech) 11/28/1987 *
Resi Stiegler (Jackson Hole, WY; Jackson Hole Mountain Resort) (Rossignol, Lange, Rossignol, Leki, Shred, Shred, Shred) 11/14/1985 *
Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO; Buck Hill Ski Racing Club/Ski & Snowboard Club Vail) (Head, Head, Head, Leki, Briko, Oakley, Oakley, Leki) 10/18/1984 *

Men's B Team

Michael Ankeny (Deephaven, MN; Buck Hill Ski Racing Club/Dartmouth College) (Nordica, Nordica, Nordica, Leki, Briko, Briko) 1/17/1991
Thomas Biesemeyer (Keene, NY; New York Ski Education Foundation) (Rossignol, Rossignol, Rossignol, Swix, Briko, Briko, Ortema) 1/30/1989
Ryan Cochran-Siegle (Starksboro, VT; Cochrans Ski Club/Mt. Mansfield Ski and Snowboard Club) (Rossignol, Rossignol, Rossignol, Komperdell, Shred, Shred, Shred, Slytech) 3/27/1992
Tommy Ford (Bend, OR; Mt. Bachelor Ski Education Foundation) ((Head, Head, Head, Swix, Shred, Shred, Shred, Slytech) 3/20/1989 *
Jared Goldberg (Holladay, UT; Snowbird Sports Education Foundation) (Head, Head, Head, Leki, POC, POC, POC, Leki/Ortema) 6/15/1991 *
Nolan Kasper (Warren, VT; Burke Mountain Academy) (Volkl, Lange, Marker, Swix, Briko, Briko, Ortema) 3/27/1989 *
Kieffer Christianson (Anchorage, AK; Burke Mountain Academy/Dartmouth College) (Blizzard, Tecnica, Marker, Swix, POC, POC) 8/11/1992
Hig Roberts (Steamboat Springs, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club/Middlebury College) (Fischer, Fischer, Fischer, Leki, Daniese, Daniese, Daniese) 3/15/1991
Wiley Maple (Aspen, CO; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club) (Atomic, Atomic, Atomic, Komperdell, Briko, Oakley) 5/25/1990

Women's B Team

Paula Moltzan (Lakeville, MN; Buck Hill Ski Racing Club) (Rossignol, Rossignol, Rossignol, Swix, POC, POC) 4/7/1994
Katie Ryan (Aspen, CO; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club) (Head, Head, Head, Swix, POC, POC) 1/3/1993
Jacqueline Wiles (Aurora, OR; White Pass Ski Club) (Rossignol, Lange, Rossignol, Swix, Shred, Shred) 7/13/1992 *

Men's C Team

Erik Arvidsson (Woodside, CA; Squaw Valley Ski Team) (Head, Head, Head, Swix, POC, POC, POC, Ortema) 9/3/1996
**Bryce Astle (Sandy, UT; Snowbird Sports Education Foundation) 1/16/1995
Bryce Bennett (Olympic Valley, CA; Squaw Valley Ski Team) (Fischer, Tecnica, Marker, Leki, POC, POC, POC, Leki/POC) 7/14/1992
**Ronnie Berlack (Franconia, NH; Burke Mountain Academy) 4/21/1994
Drew Duffy (Warren, VT; Green Mountain Valley School) (Nordica, Nordica, Marker, Swix, Shred, Shred, Slytech) 6/1/1995
Samuel DuPratt (Dixon, CA; Park City Ski Team) (Head, Head, Head, Swix, POC, POC) 11/28/1993
Mark Engel (Truckee, CA; Sugar Bowl Academy) (Atomic, Atomic, Atomic, Komperdell, Bolle, Bolle, Bolle, Ortema) 10/1/1991
AJ Ginnis (Waitsfield, VT; Green Mountain Valley School/Dartmouth College) (Fischer, Fischer, Fischer, Leki, Shred, Shred, Shred, Ortema/Slytech) 11/17/1994
Tim Kelley (Burlington, VT; Cochrans Ski Club) (Fischer, Fischer, Fischer, Leki, Shred, Shred, Shred, Slytech) 5/20/1986
Nicholas Krause (Northboro, MA; Stratton Mountain School) (Head, Head, Head, Leki, POC, POC, Leki/Ortema) 5/12/1993
Brennan Rubie (Salt Lake City, UT; Snowbird Sports Education Foundation) (Nordica, Nordica, Marker, Bolle, Bolle, Bolle, Slytech) 5/8/1991
Kipling Weisel (San Francisco, CA; Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation) (Stoeckli, Rossignol, Marker, Swix, POC, POC, POC, Slytech/Ortema) 3/26/1995

Women's C Team

Lila Lapanja (Incline Village, NV; Sugar Bowl Academy/Diamond Peak) (Fischer, Lange, Fischer, Leki, POC, POC, Leki) 12/3/1994
Anna Marno (Steamboat Springs, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club) (Stoeckli, Stoeckli, Marker, Swix, Uvex, Uvex) 11/23/1992
Nina O’Brien (Edwards, CO; Burke Mountain Academy) (Rossignol, Rossignol, Rossignol, Leki, POC, POC) 11/29/1997

Men's Development Team

Addison Dvoracek (Truckee, CA; Squaw Valley Ski Team) (Nordica, Nordica, Marker, Leki, POC, POC) 1/27/1996
Patrick Kenney (Hingham, MA; Burke Mountain Academy) (Nordica, Nordica, Marker, Leki, Dainese, Dainese) 2/13/1997
Sam Morse (Carrabassett Valley, ME; Carrabassett Valley Academy) (Fischer, Fischer, Fischer, Swix, Uvex, Uvex, Uvex, Ortema) 5/27/1996
River Radamus (Edwards, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail/TEAM Academy) (Rossignol, Rossignol, Swix, POC, POC) 2/12/1998

Women's Development Team

Breezy Johnson (Victor, ID; Rowmark Ski Academy) (Atomic, Atomic, Atomic, Leki, Shred, Shred, Shred, Slytech) 1/19/1996
Stephanie Lebby (Big Bear Lake, CA; Squaw Valley Ski Team) (Head, Head, Head, Leki, POC, POC, Leki) 2/19/1997
Galena Wardle (Aspen, CO; Aspen Valley Ski Club) (Volkl, Lange, Marker, Leki, POC, POC) 4/28/1998
Patricia Mangan (Derby, NY; HoliMont Race Team) (Rossignol, Rossignol, Rossignol, Leki, Briko, Briko) 3/7/1997
Alice Merryweather (Hingham, MA; Stratton Mountain School) (Rossignol, Rossignol, Rossignol, Leki, POC, POC) 10/5/1996

National University Team

Alex Leever (Vail, CO; University of Denver) 7/6/1995 
Brian McLaughlin (Topsfield, MA; Dartmouth College) 6/24/1993
Garret Driller (Tahoe City, CA; Montana State University) 8/24/1996
Griffin Brown (North Fayston, VT; University of Vermont) 2/8/1995
Sandy Vietze (Warren, VT; University of Vermont) 7/16/1993
Tanner Farrow (Ketchum, ID; Westminster College) 5/21/1993

2016 ALPINE STAFF
Alpine Director: Patrick Riml
Men’s Team Manager: Kate Avrin
Women’s Team Manager: Chelsea Steinbach
Alpine Press Officer: Megan Harrod

Men’s World Cup Overall
Head Coach: Sasha Rearick
Physio Coordinator: Chris Antinori  

Men’s World Cup Speed
Head Coach: Alex Hoedlmoser
Assistant Coach: Scott Veenis
Assistant Coach: Pete Anderson
Strength & Conditioning Coach, Assistant Coach Speed: Chris Beckmann
Pool Ski Service: Sylvain Munsch
Fischer Ski Service: Leo Mussi
Atomic Ski Service: Thomas Graggaber
Rossignol Ski Service: Shawn Gaisford
Head Ski Service: Guntram Mathis
Physical Therapist: Tiitu Romar

Men’s World Cup Technical
Head Coach: Forest Carey
Assistant Coach: Ian Garner
Assistant Coach: Parker Gray
Assistant Coach: Adam Cole
Head Ski Service Ted Ligety: Alex Martin
Pool Ski Service: Matej Cujes
Pool Ski Service: Alex Petitdemange

Men’s C Team
Head Coach: Ian Lochhead
Assistant Coach: Brad Saxe
Speed Ski Service: Vittorio Boggian
Tech Ski Service: Nicolo Concari

Development Team
Head Coach: Randy Pelkey
Assistant Coach: Justin Johnson
Ski Service: Eric Holmer

Women’s World Cup Overall
Head Coach: Paul Kristofic
Head Strength & Conditioning Coach, Assistant Coach Speed: Eirik Hole

Women’s World Cup Speed
World Cup Speed Head Coach: Alberto Senigagliesi
Assistant Coach: Chris Knight
Assistant Coach: James Pollock
Assistant Coach: Martin Gray
Ski Service: Ales Sopotnik
Ski Service: Miha Dolinar
Head Ski Service Lindsey Vonn: Heinz Haemmerle
Stoeckli Service Julia Mancuso and Stacey Cook: Andrea Vianello
Physical Therapist: Martina Wegscheider

Women’s World Cup Technical
Head Coach: Brandon Dyksterhouse
Assistant Coach: Jeff Lackie
Atomic Ski Service Mikaela Shiffrin: Kim Erlandsson
Physical Therapist: Lyndsay Young

Women’s Europa Cup and Development
Europa Cup Head Coach: Frank Kelble
Assistant Coach: Kris Shampeny
Assistant Coach: Karin Harjo
Ski Service: Jeff Wagner
Ski Service: Stephane Musial
Ski Service: Eric Dasko  

ALPINE SPONSORS AND SUPPLIERS
Alpine Uniform Supplier
Spyder
Helly Hansen

Soft Goods
Booster Straps
Buff, Inc.
Dainese
Khombu
POC
Reusch
Slytech
Ziener
Level
Neve
Vertical Brands

Alpine Uniform Sponsors 
Audi
High Sierra
Nature Valley
Putnam Investments
Spyder
USANA
Visa
GoPro

Hard Goods
Atomic
Fischer
Head
Komperdell
Lange
Leki
Marker-Volkl
Nordica
Rossignol
Swix

Helmets, Goggles, Eyewear
Atomic
Boll
Briko
Oakley
POC
Shred
UVEX

Protection
Dainese
Leki
POC
Ortema
Slytech

Wax, Tools, Training Devices and Accessories
BOSU Fitness
Dominator
Dermatone
DryGuy
EPS-Doublet
Forward Ski System
HKD Snowmakers
Little Hotties
Prinoth
Holmenkol
Reliable Racing
Ski Sauna
Skier’s Edge
Sun Valley Ski Tools
Swix
Thule
Toko
Tools4Boards
TriggerPoint
WEND Wax
Wintersteiger
World Cup Supply
Yaktrax
Zarges