Audrey Crowley is #OnTheRise

Audrey Crowley is among the youngest members of any U.S. Ski & Snowboard team at only 17 years old, yet she has already made considerable progress in her athletic career. Growing up, Crowley has raced in both able-bodied and adaptive races across the country, being competitive in every race she starts. She was named to the U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team for the first time last season and made her World Cup debut in January 2024, finishing just off the podium in her first start. Crowley’s accolades are already accumulating, earning Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy’s Athlete of the Year in 2019, becoming the super-G national champion in 2023, and taking home five national championship titles at the 2024 U.S. Para Alpine Championships.  

Audrey is one to keep an eye on. We sat down with her to talk about her journey and goals for the future. 

Q: What initially drew you to skiing?

Audrey Crowley: Growing up in Wisconsin, there was not much to do in the winter, so my family joined a ski club when I was two. We went every weekend. My sister started racing, and when I was old enough, I joined her in the gates. Skiing brings my family together, and for that, I will always be drawn to skiing. 

Q: When you were younger, getting into the sport, what were your goals?

AC: When I was younger, everything about skiing was fun; every time I went to practice or raced my goal was to have fun. As I got older I realized that winning is fun and pushing myself is fun. 

Q: What is one thing that you’re most proud of in your career so far?/what is your biggest accomplishment so far?

AC: Winning the able-bodied SYNC Championship super-G, making me the first Para athlete ever to win a SYNC race, is the one thing I’m most proud of to date. This win came after an especially tough season and proved to myself that even though racing able-body is hard, the struggle is worth it. 

Q: What is your ultimate goal?

AC: My ultimate goal is to get better every day. Pushing myself to reach new challenges is what makes me excited to ski. 

Q: Are there any moments that you’ve experienced in your career that didn’t seem real?

AC: Standing at the top of the Tofana Schuss about to start in my first FIS Para World Cup race still doesn’t feel real. After many years of watching the Cortina races, it felt dreamlike to be able to race it myself. I will never forget my teammates' support and the pure happiness I felt while racing down the first time.  

Q: Who were the athletes that you looked up to when you were younger, or who are they now?

AC: As a little girl from the U.S., I looked up to Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin. Of course, their racing was amazing, but their poise and determination were and are inspiring. I’m lucky to have such strong female role models to learn from. 

Follow Audrey on social media.