PARK CITY, UTAH (October 10, 2022) – U.S. Ski & Snowboard confirms a two-year deal with resorts in Sun Valley, Idaho, and Waterville Valley, New Hampshire to host the Toyota U.S. Alpine National Championships and the Toyota U.S. Freestyle National Championships through the 2024 season. 

“Sun Valley and Waterville have a proven track record of hosting competitions and we could not be more excited to have them on board for the next two years,” says Eric Webster, Director of Events at U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “U.S. Ski & Snowboard is excited to support the organizing committees and look forward to cheering on the athletes, many of whom are currently on the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team rosters.”

Each year, the Toyota U.S. National Championships bring top athletes from each division and a handful of international racers to storied national venues. Both locations have experienced organizing committees and involved ski clubs that have put on large-scale events in the past, including NorAm Championships, World Cups, Junior Nationals and other notable winter competitions.   

Alpine Nationals in the West 

From April 2-5, Sun Valley Resort will host the 2023 Toyota U.S. Alpine Championships with both men and women competing in slalom, giant slalom and super-G events. The course in Sun Valley has a storied history of alpine racing, along with technical and challenging terrain, and will feature local U.S. Alpine Ski Team athletes such as Ryder Sarchett, Jack Smith and Dasha Romanov.

“As the first destination ski resort in North America, we are proud to be a location where history and memories are made. We last hosted the U.S. Alpine Championships in 2018, and we are looking forward to welcoming back athletes to our beautiful community, where people have come to enjoy the incredible terrain and experience since 1936," said Sun Valley Resort Director of Marketing & PR Bridget Higgins. "Sun Valley's history is steeped in unifying competition and team camaraderie, and we're looking forward to seeing friendly and healthy competition foster incredible performances. We are so proud that three Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation members are on the team.”

Freestyle Champs in the East 

Freestyle skiing lies at the heart of the Waterville Valley and the community of Mount Tecumseh is excited to welcome back world-class freestyle athletes to the “Birthplace of Freestyle Skiing.” Waterville Valley has hosted several competitions in years past and many legendary freestyle skiers have competed on this mountain, namely Wayne Wong, Doug Pfeiffer, Nick Preston and 2x Olympic medalist Hannah Kearney. 

“Waterville Valley is home to a thriving community of young athletes, from the BBTS Snowsports Club to the Waterville Valley Academy,” says Sarah Van Kralingen, Marketing and Communications Manager at Waterville Valley Resort. “We hope events like this will inspire and influence aspiring young athletes, demonstrating the phenomenal skill, athleticism and sportsmanship involved in freestyle skiing.” 

The moguls and dual moguls events will take place at Waterville Valley Resort on locals’ favorite Lower Bobby’s Run—a steep and technical track perfectly positioned for spectators at the base.

The full schedule of races will be available closer to the event. 

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About Sun Valley Resort

Sun Valley Resort was founded in 1936 as America’s first destination ski resort. Located in the Idaho mountains, it is truly a four-season resort with a wide array of activities. With more than 3,400 vertical feet and over 2,300 acres of skiable terrain, Sun Valley offers skiers and boarders an exceptional and varied experience. Bald Mountain has 12 chairlifts, 100 runs, and family and beginner-friendly Dollar Mountain offers two high-speed quads, a terrain park- and the Silver Dollar Carpet for ease of access and learning appeal. Sun Valley is a member of The Grand America Hotels and Resorts family. Sister properties include Snowbasin Ski Resort, The Grand America Hotel, Little America Hotel (all Salt Lake City, Utah); The Westgate Hotel, San Diego, Calif.; Little America Flagstaff, Ariz.; Little America, Wyo., and Little America, Cheyenne, Wyo.  

Sun Valley is served by Hailey's Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN). The airport is located 14 miles from the resort and is easily accessed from six major cities: San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), Los Angeles (LAX), Salt Lake City (SLC), Denver (DEN), and Chicago (ORD). All Sun Valley Resort guests receive complimentary roundtrip airport transportation.

www.sunvalley.com | 800.786.8259 | @sunvalley | #sunvalley

About Waterville Valley Resort

Home of the Kids Ski Free Pass, Waterville Valley Resort is New Hampshire’s Family Resort, offering a plethora of year-round family-friendly activities. With 265 acres of alpine skiing terrain, 72 kilometers of Nordic Ski trails, and 125 miles of hiking trails, the potential for exploration is endless. Enjoy slopeside family-friendly après-ski, specialty cocktails, live music, and fireworks; or discover the serenity of the White Mountains via alpine skiing, hiking, Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking, or mountain biking! 

About U.S. Ski & Snowboard

U.S. Ski & Snowboard is the Olympic National Governing Body (NGB) of ski and snowboard sports in the USA, based in Park City, Utah. Tracing its roots directly back to 1905, the organization represents nearly 200 elite skiers and snowboarders in 2022, competing in seven teams; alpine, cross country, freeski, freestyle, snowboard, nordic combined, and ski jumping. In addition to the fully-funded elite teams, U.S. Ski & Snowboard also provides leadership and direction for tens of thousands of young skiers and snowboarders across the USA, encouraging and supporting them in achieving excellence. By empowering national teams, clubs, coaches, parents, officials, volunteers, and fans, U.S. Ski & Snowboard is committed to the progression of its sports, athlete success, and the value of team. For more information, visit www.usskiandsnowboard.org.

St. Louis, Missouri may not be your typical ski town but it is filled with a community that continues to cheer on and support our athletes, year after year. At the 6th Annual St. Louis Aprés Ski Party, Olympic Champion Mikaela Shiffrin and 400 stead-fast St. Louis fans dressed in this year’s theme of denim and ice and raised $800,000 for U.S. Ski & Snowboard.

Ron Kruszewski, who serves as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Stifel Financial Corporation generously hosted the event at his home and stood with Mikaela at the doors of ‘Mikaela’s Saloon’ while greeting every supporter as they arrived.

As Mikaela shared on her personal Instagram profile, this fundraiser is very important to her and a tradition to kick off the season, “St. Louis, you have outdone yourselves. Some of the best sports fans in the world and I’m so happy to have connected with you all again before the season officially starts. On behalf of the entire U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team, we can’t thank you enough for your support. It’s because of all of you that we’re able to do what we love.”

Through generous donations from Stifel and attendees, silent auctions featuring U.S. Ski Team and Olympic gear, local art and more, all funds collected from the evening directly benefit the athletes of all U.S. Ski & Snowboard teams. To all in attendance, both in person and those who supported from afar, your generosity and support offer the 180 athletes of the national U.S. Ski & Snowboard team the encouragement and funds they need to compete on the world’s biggest stage this winter. We could not be more grateful for the support from the St. Louis community. When you see an American flag on the podium this winter, know you played a part in making it happen. Thank you for being part of the team behind the Team. 

The U.S. to host the most FIS World Cups on American soil in history.

For Immediate Release
October 3, 2022

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND (October 3, 2022) – U.S. Ski & Snowboard confirms the 2022-23 FIS World Cup schedule in the United States after the 2022 fall FIS meetings. U.S. Ski & Snowboard and its resort partners will host four Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cups, one freestyle World Cup and three snowboard/freeski World Cups—the most ever on U.S. soil.  

“We could not be more excited to host eight World Cups at U.S. venues this season,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, President & CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “This is a pivotal moment for skiing and snowboarding in the United States, allowing sports fans to watch the best of the best compete on their home mountains and inspire generations to come.” 

Alpine World Cups

As is tradition, the 2022-23 U.S. FIS World Cup circuit will begin on the east coast with the women’s alpine team racing giant slalom and slalom at the fan-favorite Killington Cup. 40,000 fans are expected to cheer on the U.S. Alpine Ski Team women, including five-time Killington Cup champion Mikaela Shiffrin. 

The week after Killington, the men are in Beaver Creek, Colorado for the annual Xfinity Birds of Prey World Cup for super-G and downhill events starring 2022 Olympic silver medalist Ryan Cochran-Siegle. 

After a European stint, the World Cup tour returns to the United States at the end of February for giant slalom and slalom races at the Palisades Tahoe World Cup, with hometown racers and World Cup podium stars Bryce Bennett and Travis Ganong returning to race in front of their home crowd. To conclude the U.S. circuit, the men heads to Aspen, Colorado at the beginning of March for the Aspen World Cup speed events on the famed America’s Downhill course. 

Snowboard / Freeski World Cups

Copper Mountain will host two World Cups in December: the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix and the Visa Big Air presented by Toyota. Both events will bring the best competitive freeskiers and snowboarders to world-class big air and halfpipe venues. Athletes, including 2022 Olympic medalists Alex Hall and Julia Marino, will compete. 

In February, the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix will return to Mammoth Mountain in California for slopestyle and halfpipe competitions. 

Freestyle World Cups 

From February 2-4, the Intermountain Healthcare Freestyle International Ski World Cup returns to Deer Valley Resort for its 25th year and will host moguls, aerials and dual moguls on the famous 2002 Olympic course. In the aerials event, 2022 Olympic champion aerialists Ashley Caldwell, Chris Lillis, and Justin Schoenfeld will be competing, while 2022 Olympic silver medalist Jaelin Kauf headlines the moguls competition. 

2022-23 World Cup Schedule

Freeski and Snowboard

• Dec. 16-17: Toyota U.S. Grand Prix, Copper Mountain, Colorado; men’s and women’s halfpipe
• Dec. 16-17: Visa Big Air presented by Toyota, Copper Mountain, Colorado; men’s and women’s big air
• Feb. 2-4: Toyota U.S. Grand Prix, Mammoth Mountain, California; men’s and women’s halfpipe/slopestyle

Freestyle

• Feb. 2-4: Intermountain Healthcare Freestyle International, Deer Valley, Utah; men’s and women’s aerials/mogul

Alpine

• Nov. 26-27: Killington Cup, Vermont; women’s slalom/giant slalom
• Dec. 2-4: Xfinity Birds of Prey, Beaver Creek, Colorado; men’s super-G/downhill/downhill
• Feb. 25-26: Palisades Tahoe, California; men’s slalom/giant slalom
• March 3-5: Aspen World Cup, Colorado; men’s super-G/downhill

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QUOTES

Aspen World Cup - Aspen Snowmass, Colorado
John Rigney, Senior Vice President, Aspen Snowmass Ski Resort
"It’s thrilling to see World Cup racing back in Aspen. Our community’s alpine heritage and love of skiing runs deep and everyone pitches in to support events that bring the best in the world to Aspen. Having the men on our iconic America’s Downhill track will be incredible. World Cup Finals in 2017 was amazing, but we haven’t seen this level of racing on that course in years. The energy, the excitement, the crowds lining the course, and the speed—I believe people will be blown away by what they see on one of the world’s most exciting downhill venues."

Xfinity Birds of Prey - Beaver Creek Resort, Colorado
Nadia Guerriero, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Beaver Creek Resort
"We are so excited to host the Birds of Prey World Cup again this season at Beaver Creek. As a favorite course of U.S. racers and coaches, we are counting down the days until we welcome the world to our incredible steep terrain, intimate alpine village and exceptional guest service.”

Ross Leonhart, Marketing and Multi-Media Manager, Vail Valley Foundation
“As a staple on the World Cup circuit since 1997, we are excited to see more ski racing on American soil this year. We know there is an appetite for ski racing in the United States and can’t wait to see more of it. The annual Birds of Prey races in Beaver Creek have become known as the kickoff to winter in North America and a celebration of exciting speed events. There’s nothing quite like World Cup ski racing and the atmosphere that comes along with it, especially here in the United States.”

Toyota U.S. Grand Prix & Visa Big Air present by Toyota - Copper Mountain, Colorado 
Dustin Lyman, President and General Manager, Copper Mountain
"As Copper embarks on its 50th anniversary season, we are thrilled to honor our longstanding partnership with U.S. Ski & Snowboard and welcome the return of the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix, and the Visa Big Air presented by Toyota event. Hosting elite-level competitions is in Copper’s DNA and there’s truly no better way to celebrate this monumental season than to unite some of the most passionate athletes and fans in the sport at these world-class events. We look forward to another great year ahead."

Killington Cup - Killington Ski Resort, Vermont
Mike Solimano, President & General Manager, Killington Resort and Pico Mountain
“It is truly an honor to welcome the World Cup each year to Killington. Watching world-class athletes racing down Superstar, encouraged by such a passionate crowd, is an unmatched experience. The Killington Cup is about the community as much as the competition and in the past, the number of fans in attendance has broken records. We're excited to return this year with Friday night festivities like the bib draw and fireworks and the new K-1 Lodge to welcome them all. I personally can't wait to see if Mikaela Shiffrin will be able to hold on to her title for the sixth time or if a new face will claim the crown." 

Toyota U.S. Grand Prix - Mammoth Mountain, California
Michelle Tomaier, Director, Events, Sponsorships and Athletes
“Mammoth is proud to host our 17th Toyota U.S. Grand Prix here in our Unbound Terrain Parks. Our 20+ year partnership with U.S. Ski & Snowboard, and our commitment to all levels of athletic training and competition, are at the core of the Mammoth brand. We look forward to watching hometown heroes like Maddie Mastro, Dusty Henricksen and Brock Crouch, as well as the rest of the field, compete at the highest level this February.” 

Palisades Tahoe World Cup - Palisades Tahoe, California 
Communications and Public Relations Team, Palisades Tahoe
“Palisades Tahoe looks forward to continuing our tradition of hosting the greatest international winter events and we couldn’t be more proud to welcome the international ski community back to our resort. This year, the resort is hosting a men’s event for the first time since 1969. The event will be held on the same trail used in 2017 for the women’s alpine cup races; the course was described as one of the toughest venues on the women’s circuit. Palisades Tahoe is honored to host a world cup event and eagerly awaits the positive energy brought to the community by a World Cup event.” 

Intermountain Healthcare Freestyle International Ski World Cup - Deer Valley, Utah
Susie English, Vice President of Marketing, Deer Valley Resort 
"The 2023 Intermountain Healthcare Freestyle International in February will mark 25 years that Deer Valley Resort has hosted elite international ski competitions. Our continued commitment to hosting these world-class events is a hallmark of Deer Valley’s legacy and we are excited to welcome the athletes and spectators back to our venue as nighttime events are planned to return this year."

Vermont’s Killington Resort, the largest ski and snowboard destination in Eastern North America and a POWDR resort, has announced that tickets for the 2022 Killington Cup will be available for purchase starting October 6 at 10:00 a.m. ET at killington.com.

Taking place November 25-27, the FIS Ski World Cup will once again bring the women’s giant slalom and slalom races to Vermont. The event is expected to attract U.S. Ski Team superstars, including five-time Killington Cup slalom victor and last season’s overall World Cup winner Mikaela Shiffrin, former University of Vermont skier Paula Moltzan and Burke Mountain graduate and Dartmouth student Nina O’Brien. 

Returning this year is the athlete bib presentation, fireworks display and vendor village to kick things off on Friday night. There is no ticket required for the Friday night activities, which are free to the public. In addition, Killington Resort will be unveiling its state-of-the-art K-1 base lodge this season, where fans will be able to warm up and enjoy a variety of refreshments throughout the weekend.  

“It is truly an honor to welcome the World Cup each year to Killington. Watching world-class athletes racing down Superstar, encouraged by such a passionate crowd, is an unmatched experience,” says Mike Solimano, president and general manager of Killington Resort and Pico Mountain. “The Killington Cup is about the community as much as the competition. Last year, we raised over $449,000 to support the regional winter sports community through the Killington World Cup Foundation, and we are proud to continue this tradition and donate a portion of ticket sales, including 100% of general admission and VIP packages, again in 2022. We are also thrilled to debut the new K-1 Lodge, which is truly the icing on the cake.”  

Again this year, a percentage from all ticket options benefit the Killington World Cup Foundation, which supports athlete hospitality and provides grants to bolster winter sports infrastructure and access to winter sports throughout the region. Proceeds from 2021 ticket sales supported over 31 winter sports programs in eight states. Ticket offerings for the 2022 Killington Cup include: 

General Admission - $5 per day  

All proceeds of general admission tickets benefit the Killington World Cup Foundation - viewing areas are located all around the base of Superstar Trail and adjacent to the racecourse. Two video boards will provide top-to-bottom race coverage while approximately 35% of the course will be visible from these areas.  

VIP Packages – Sold in Partnership with the Killington World Cup Foundation 

The Killington World Cup Foundation is currently pre-selling Silver, Gold and Platinum packages only. Information about VIP package options or getting on the waitlist for individual tickets can be found at kwcfgivesback.org. 

Premier Grandstand – $100 Sat / $90 Sun  

The Premier Grandstand offers guaranteed access to the highest five rows of the grandstands at the base of Superstar trail, providing one of the best vantage points of the course.  

Grandstand – $45 Sat / $40 Sun 

Ticketed Grandstands are located at the base of the Superstar trail, adjacent to the racecourse, and are general admission for all rows except the top five. The grandstand provides an elevated view of the racecourse, along with two jumbo screens broadcasting top-to-bottom race coverage.  

Parking 

K-1 preferred parking is available again this year. Preferred parking is $80 per day and entitles purchasers access to the K-1 parking lots for one vehicle. Free parking and shuttles will continue to be available around Killington Resort.  

For additional information about the 2022 Killington Cup, please visit killington.com/worldcup and sign-up Killington Cup text updates here.  

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

U.S. Ski & Snowboard Partners With GMTM For Future Athlete Identification and gives young athletes around the country an opportunity to try out for the U.S. Aerials Ski Team team virtually. 

Have you watched the Olympic Winter Games and thought, ‘I want to do that’? Now you have the opportunity. U.S. Ski & Snowboard has partnered with GMTM to recruit young athletes and Olympic hopefuls to gain attention from Olympic coaches in aerials skiing through the U.S. Aerials Ski Team Pipeline: Digital Combine. 

Aerials skiing became an Olympic sport at the 1994 Games and consists of a skier performing flips and spins off a jump and landing on an inclined hill. Aerialists’ scores are based on their jumps, air time, form, landing and degree of difficulty of the jump performed. 

Aerials skiers come from various backgrounds, including gymnastics, diving, trampolining, BMX biking and more. And the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team is looking to recruit athletes to join the pipeline for the Olympic Winter Games. 

Through U.S. Ski & Snowboard on GMTM, athletes can participate in activities hosted by Team USA scouts and coaches to gain exposure and be seen by the best in the sport. Through questionnaires, video uploads and messaging to connect athletes to coaches, young skiers will be one step closer to competing for the nation's national team. 

U.S. Ski & Snowboard is the United States’ National Governing Body (NGB) for skiing and snowboarding and hosts national and international competitions while helping athletes compete. U.S. Ski & Snowboard is also responsible for nominating athletes to Team USA—the nation's team for the Olympic Games.

The U.S Aerials Ski Team Pipeline: Digital Combine offers experienced skiers and new athletes from other sports backgrounds a step-by-step process to begin participating in the sport. Through the event page, five unique activities allow participants to showcase a variety of talents from different disciplines. Those activities include:

1. Athlete Background - Build your ATHLETE profile and share what interests you about the U.S. Aerials Ski Team.

2. Highlight Reel - Upload a highlight reel or a video of your highest sporting achievement.

3. Standing Backflip - Upload a video of your standing backflip, aerial training or trampoline work so that our team can review your submission.

4. 40-Yard Dash - Upload your 40-yard dash time below and a video recording of your sprint so our team can review your submission.

5. Vertical Jump - Upload your vertical jump measurement below and a video recording of your jump so our team can review your submission.

The partnership between GMTM and U.S. Ski & Snowboard allows youth skiers to interact in real-time and build a profile that organizes accomplishments, metrics and content, which is visible to coaches.

If you are a skier or an athlete from another sport hoping to find an opportunity with U.S. Ski & Snowboard, create a profile now and stay tuned for new events coming to GMTM.

About U.S. Ski & Snowboard
U.S. Ski & Snowboard is the Olympic National Governing Body (NGB) of ski and snowboard sports in the USA, based in Park City, Utah. Tracing its roots directly back to 1905, the organization represents nearly 200 elite skiers and snowboarders in 2022, competing in seven teams; alpine, cross country, freeski, freestyle, snowboard, nordic combined, and ski jumping. In addition to the fully-funded elite teams, U.S. Ski & Snowboard also provides leadership and direction for tens of thousands of young skiers and snowboarders across the USA, encouraging and supporting them in achieving excellence. By empowering national teams, clubs, coaches, parents, officials, volunteers, and fans, U.S. Ski & Snowboard is committed to the progression of its sports, athlete success, and the value of team. For more information, visit www.usskiandsnowboard.org.

The U.S. Aerials Ski Team is hosting the annual Grill & Chill fundraiser Thursday, September 15, at the Utah Olympic Park (UOC). Attendees, virtually and in-person, will get a behind-the-scenes look at our aerials athletes practicing their spectacular tricks in the Spence Eccles Olympic Freestyle Pool. All proceeds benefit the team as they gear up for the 2022-2023 season. 

Attend

Join us at 10:00 a.m., MST, on the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Facebook page to hear from 1995 moguls Olympian Sean Smith, who will be live from the water ramps to give a first-hand look into the athlete's practice while talking to them before they take another lap. In the afternoon, RSVP (spots are limited) to snag a front-row seat on the deck to watch their second practice of the day. 

Donate

All donations will support critical needs for coaching, travel, and training costs throughout the 2022-23 season. RSVP is required to attend the afternoon session, but all virtual and in-person attendees are encouraged to enter the raffle, check out our online auction and donate. 

Who will be there?

Take a look at the 2022-23 aerials athletes who will be in attendance at the event:

Ashley Caldwell, 29, Ashburn, VA. - U.S. aerial skier; 2022 Olympic gold medalist, 4x Olympian, on the team that won the inaugural gold medal during the mixed team aerials event at the 2022 Winter Olympics

Chris Lillis, 24, Pittsford, NY. – 2022 Olympic gold medalist; first American aerial skier to land a quint in competition in over a decade

Justin Schoenefeld, 24, Lawrenceburg, IN. – 2022 Olympic gold medalist; first athlete from Indiana to win a gold medal at the Winter Games

Megan Nick, 25, Shelburne, VT. – 2022 Olympic bronze medalist; first American to win an individual aerials Olympic medal since 1998

Winter Vinecki, 24, Gaylord, MI.  – U.S. aerial skier; 4 FIS World Cup podiums; has completed a marathon on seven different continents

Eric Loughran, 25, Pelham, N.H. – U.S. aerial skier; 2x Olympian and 2020 National Champion

Quinn Dehlinger, 20, Cincinnati, OH. – U.S. aerial skier; 2x Junior National Champion and 2018-19 NorAm Cup Champion

Derek Krueger, 19, Cleveland, OH. – U.S. aerial skier; top-10 finish in 2022 World Cup Finals

Kaila Kuhn, 19, Boyne City, MI. – U.S aerial skier; finished the 2018-19 World Cup season ranked 15th overall

Dani Loeb, 21, Pintala, AL. – U.S aerial skier; first Alabamian ever to make the team[CH3] 

Karenna Elliot, 22, Cincinnati, OH. - U.S. aerial skier; started skiing when she was 14 and is now the second person, and the first woman, to do a double back pike on snow

Megan Smallhouse, 21, Reno, NV. - U.S. aerial skier; 2018-19 NorAm Cup Overall Champion, started skiing at 11 months old and has a twin brother who is also a ski racer

Tasia Tanner, 20, Salt Lake City, UT. - U.S. aerial skier; two 11th place finishes at the World Cup, and 8 NorAm Cup podiums, before deciding to specialize in aerial skiing, she competed in Big Mountain and Big Air

Donate to the Aerials Team Today!

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.

Growing up in a small California town not far from Yosemite National Park instilled a real love of nature in U.S. Ski Team speed racer Keely Cashman (Strawberry, Calif.). Cashman’s passion for the park and her spirit for giving back landed her U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Team Athletes Giving Back Award for 2022. In addition to the honor, she will receive $5,000 for the Yosemite Facelift project at Yosemite National Park. It’s a nice reward for her cause, as Cashman prepares in earnest for the 2022-23 World Cup season.

The annual award is presented to a national team athlete for their efforts giving back to causes of importance to them. Each year the Yosemite Facelift holds a three-day park cleanup effort where volunteers, including Cashman’s family, help put a fresh face on the revered national park.

As a child, Cashman visited the park often with her family. “Every ski season we made a trip to compete in the coveted Silver Ski race in the park at Badger Pass. Being surrounded by such beauty made me realize, from a young age, that the land needs to be preserved and protected.”

She learned about the Yosemite Facelift program from a high school friend a few years ago. “The past few years my mom and I have volunteered,” said Cashman. “We are already looking forward to helping again this September.”

Her participation in the program has been recognized by others locally. Among the many thank you’s she received was a handwritten note from professional rock climber Timmy O’Neill.

Cashman learned about the award itself from her team teammate, Nicola Rountree-Williams, who won the honor a year earlier. Rountree-Williams, who was diagnosed with autism, won the $5,000 to support the Autistic Self Advocacy Network.

A rising star on the women’s speed team, Cashman is coming off a pivotal season where she successfully returned from injury and made a strong Olympic debut in Beijing. 

“Last season was tricky for me,” she said. “I was coming back from my first injury ever. It took a little more time than I had initially hoped to get back to the top level. Each race I got more confident. I thought my peak skiing was in China at the Olympics.”

A strong multi-event skier as a junior, Cashman had three top-14 finishes as a 16-year-old at the 2016 Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer, including 10th in super-G. In 2019, she was fourth in combined at the Junior World Championships in Val di Fassa, Italy. A year later in Narvik, Norway, she stepped it up to bronze. 

Just nine months later, she had a breakthrough World Cup weekend in Val d’Isere, racing to 10th in super-G and finishing 15th and 17th in two downhills. But three weeks later, her racing world crashed down around her as a downhill training accident in Garmisch-Partenkirchen knocked her unconscious and put her into a German hospital for eight days. Six months later, she was back on snow.

She admits today that getting back into the starting gate at Garmisch last January was tough. “It was one of the most mentally challenging things I've ever done,” she said. “From the start, you stare at the spot where I crashed. That was crazy. But I skied decently there and was super proud of myself.”

Her Olympic experience in Beijing was another big boost to her confidence. “It was a dream come true for me,” she said. “Leading up to it with all the COVID things happening, I didn’t let it sink in until I was in the village. Once we got there, it was awesome.”

Staying in the Yanqing Athlete Village gave her the opportunity to meet athletes from around the world, both from her sport of alpine skiing as well as ice sliding sports. 

She admitted to being nervous in her opening event, taking 27th in super-G. But she had a strong downhill, finishing 17th. In the combined downhill, she skied to an impressive seventh in downhill - just .65 off the lead - before going out in slalom.

It buoyed her confidence and she’s looking forward to the 2022-23 season.

Looking ahead to the coming season with a new set of coaches and fresh, young teammates who are creating a new team dynamic, she’s feeling confident. “Right now I have a great mindset,” she said. “I've been training hard in the gym. I feel stronger than I've ever been! We have a whole new coaching staff with some younger girls coming up. It kind of feels like a fresh start."

“I’m trying to take my skiing and my confidence and the mental approach that I took into the last races of last season into the next season. So, I’m really excited – and happy!”

In a way, Cashman is emerging as a young leader on a team in a very positive transition. “We have probably the youngest speed team of any nation,” she said. “It's a really young group of girls. We have good bonds off the hill – we push each other.”

Veterans Jackie Wiles and Alice Merryweather are still on the sidelines with injuries. But their veteran presence is still felt by the team. Breezy Johnson, one of the top-ranked downhillers in the world, is expected back from injury for the season.

Like many, Cashman’s wondering how the planned Zermatt downhills will work in early November. She’s especially looking forward to running the downhill track at St. Moritz and Kvitfjell, where the women will be running the 1994 Olympic course for the first time since 1996.

Cashman takes great pride in the Team Athletes Giving Back Award – it’s a part of her overall growth as a world-class athlete. She also has a positive vibe for the future, not letting her January 2021 injury get in the way.

“Before I got injured, I had the best results that I've ever had,” she said confidently. “I just try to remember that I can ski with the best in the world. I have the skill. I have what it takes to make it. So I’ll just take it day-by-day and (move forward with) small victories.”
 

Congratulations to all the 2022 Summer Fun Nationals winners!

Message from Meri Stratton, the event organizer:

I want to thank all of you for whatever level of participation you added to ensure a very successful event.  It takes everyone to make it a success.  It takes a village! Thank You!

I have sent all the results, worker pictures and special winners to the webmaster to post on our website.  Hopefully she can get it all posted soon. Check back often to see if it is up  www.SummerFunNationals.com . Brian Robb, our photographer has all your photos  ready on his site to preview and purchase. brianrobbphoto.com 

How special was it to race on the West Mile!  Never in any of the previous 33 years has there been enough snow to even consider racing on Mile.  I believe we ended up with a total of 78 total participants.  Not all participated in all events, a few just worked and there were a few minor casualties both before and during the races. However, all had a wonderful time.  Racers came from all across the US and ranged in age from 13 to 84.   Having that wide age spread is what the Summer Fun Nationals is all about!  Ski racing is a lifelong family affair! 

The weather was primo.  The course sets were fabulous. The Gate Grunts were phenomenal.  The snow was superb. Timberline was awesome. The parties were sumptuous. What a fantastic set of circumstances to make for the perfect event!  THANK YOU ALL!!!

Now, let’s look to next summer.  We are scheduling the 2023 Summer Fun Nationals for July 14-15-16, 2023.  Please put it on your calendar and start making plans now.  We look forward to seeing you then. Let’s have some more ski racing fun!