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Stifel Honors Stifel U.S. Ski Team Athletes and Staff With 2024 Stifel Awards

By Leann Bentley
April, 25 2024
Stifel

 (April 25, 2024 – Park City - Utah /St. Louis, Missouri) Stifel Financial Corp., the title sponsor of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, is thrilled to announce the recipients of the Stifel Awards for the 2023-24 season. As the season officially wraps for the athletes, Stifel has contributed $36,000 to the team across nine distinct award categories spanning alpine, cross country, freestyle and freeski disciplines. Winners were nominated and elected by their teammates and staff.

“At Stifel, we strive to be the place where success meets success, and nobody embodies that more than all of the athletes that make up the Stifel U.S. Ski Team,” said Ron Kruszewski, Chairman and CEO of Stifel. “This year, we expanded the scope of the Stifel Awards to encompass all ski teams under the U.S. Ski & Snowboard umbrella, allowing athletes and staff alike to recognize outstanding contributions. We take pride in providing a platform to celebrate not only victories but also the resilience and dedication displayed by these athletes."

“The winners of each category are more than deserving for what they accomplished this season, whether it was a comeback, success story or just being an invaluable member of the team. This season was historic in many ways and it’s great to see the support from Stifel to honor these incredible athletes and staff,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Chief of Sport Anouk Patty.

Demonstrating their dedication to the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, the Stifel Awards underscore Stifel's commitment to supporting athletes both on and off the slopes. The following athletes and staff have been recognized as the winners of the awards within each respective team:

STIFEL U.S. ALPINE SKI TEAM AWARD WINNERS

  • Athlete of the Year: AJ Hurt, River Radamus
  • Rookie of the Year: Elisabeth Bocock, Stanley Buzek
  • Most Improved: Lauren Macuga, Ryder Sarchett 
  • Best Comeback: Jackie Wiles, Wiley Maple
  • Staff Member of the Year: Ian Garner 

STIFEL U.S. CROSS COUNTRY SKI TEAM AWARD WINNERS

  • Athlete of the Year: Jessie Diggins, Gus Schumacher
  • Rookie of the Year: Sammy Smith/Haley Brewster (tie), John Steel Hagenbuch
  • Most Improved: Sophia Laukli, Zanden McMullen
  • Best Comeback: Rosie Brennan, Gus Schumacher
  • Staff Member of the Year: Kristen Bourne

STIFEL U.S. FREESKI TEAM AWARD WINNERS

  • Athlete of the Year: Alex Ferreira, Rell Harwood
  • Rookie of the Year: Henry Townshend, Kate Gray
  • Most Improved: Colby Stevenson, Rell Harwood
  • Best Comeback: Hunter Hess, Riley Jacobs
  • Staff Member of the Year: Matt Voss

STIFEL U.S. FREESTYLE SKI TEAM AWARD WINNERS (moguls, aerials)

  • Athlete of the Year: Olivia Giaccio, Winter Vinecki
  • Rookie of the Year: Kasey Hogg, Connor Curran
  • Most Improved: Asher Michael, Karenna Elliott
  • Best Comeback: Tess Johnson, Tasia Tanner
  • Staff Member of the Year: Bryon Wilson, Stanislav Kravchuk

 

U.S. Ski & Snowboard Celebrates One of Organization's Most Successful Seasons

By Leann Bentley
April, 24 2024
USA

U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the governing body for skiing and snowboarding in the United States, has officially wrapped one of its most successful seasons in history. Throughout the organization’s 10 sports, U.S. Ski & Snowboard brought home four Nations Cups, 13 individual FIS Crystal Globes, 14 Youth Olympic Games medals, 14 Junior World Championships medals, and had two teams, cross country and freeski, end their year with their most successful seasons in history. Alongside the athletic success, the organization hosted 11 domestic World Cups and is celebrating the launch of initiatives and new partners that are reshaping the organization and celebrating a successful revenue year. 

Breaking Down the Numbers: a Historic 2023-24 Season

Four U.S. teams brought home the coveted Nations Cup this season, awarded to a nation that tallied up the most World Cup points throughout the season: the Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team in both moguls and aerials, the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team park & pipe team and the U.S. Para Snowboard Team. The women’s moguls team is the best in the world for a reason, with six of the world's top 10 spots held by U.S. women. 

The FIS Crystal Globe is awarded to the most successful World Cup athletes in their respective sports. The Globe is given on both a discipline and an overall basis and this season, the U.S. Ski & Snowboard teams brought home 13 globes. The FIS overall Crystal Globe, seen by many athletes as more prestigious than an Olympic medal, was won by four U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes, including freeskier Alex Ferreira, cross country skier Jessie Diggins and Para snowboarders Brenna Huckaby and Noah Elliott. 

On the freeski side, two-time Olympic medalist Ferreira won every halfpipe contest he competed in, a feat never seen before in freestyle skiing. He also secured the overall Crystal Globe for freeski park & pipe with his perfect season and the discipline Globe in halfpipe, with his teammates Mac Forehand and Alex Hall winning the slopestyle and big air Globes, respectively. Ferreira also won the X Games and Dew Tour halfpipe, bringing his total 2023-24 season victories to seven out of seven.

Three-time Olympic medalist Diggins took home the overall Crystal Globe for the second time in her storied career after her most successful season to date, which included setting a record for the best season in U.S. history for a cross country athlete, winning the overall Tour de Ski and bringing home six victories and 12 podiums. She also secured the distance discipline Globe. 

Two-time Paralympic medalist Elliott of the U.S. Para Snowboard Team closed out a phenomenal season, where he found the podium seven out of eight times and added six World Cup wins to his resume to secure the overall and banked slalom Globes. Teammate Brenna Huckaby, who won the first-ever gold medal in the banked slalom discipline at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, added yet another overall Globe to her resume, along with two discipline Globes. Peggy Martin also secured the Globe for banked slalom.

Despite an injury sidelining Mikaela Shiffrin for six weeks, the most dominant alpine skier of all time still took home the title of best slalom skier of the year—her eighth slalom Globe in her exceptional career. 

2023-24 Season Globes  
  • Noah Elliott - Para Snowboard Overall
  • Noah Elliott - Para Snowboard Banked Slalom
  • Jessie Diggins - Cross Country Overall
  • Jessie Diggins - Cross Country Distance
  • Alex Ferreira - Freeski Park & Pipe Overall
  • Alex Ferreira - Freeski Halfpipe 
  • Mac Forehand - Freeski Slopestyle 
  • Alex Hall - Freeski Big Air
  • Brenna Huckaby - Para Snowboard Overall
  • Brenna Huckaby - Para Snowboard Cross 
  • Brenna Huckaby - Para Snowboard Banked Slalom
  • Peggy Martin - Para Snowboard Banked Slalom
  • Mikaela Shiffrin - Alpine Slalom 

The junior skiers and snowboarders also shined, showcasing the dominant pipeline making its way to the top. U.S. Ski & Snowboard secured 14 medals in skiing and snowboarding at the Youth Olympic Games, including three golds, marking a significant improvement over previous years. Notably, the team clinched its first-ever ski jumping, ski cross and mixed team dual moguls medals. The U.S. also won an additional 14 medals at the Junior World Championships and U23 Junior World Championships, including the first-ever cross country sprint and men’s ski jumping medals. 

“The success of this season is a true testament to the hard work and dedication from not only the athletes but the team behind the team,” said Anouk Patty, U.S. Ski & Snowboard Chief of Sport. “It takes everyone to find this level of excellence and I am confident that next season we will see even more. As we take the time to reflect on these past several months, I am so proud of what our team has accomplished and know that in many areas, we’re just getting started.”

Success Off the Snow

Off the snow, the success of U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s foundation and partnerships team has been equally as impressive during the 2023-24 season. Revenue growth surpassed expectations, reaching record level for the organization.

This season, U.S. Ski & Snowboard welcomed more key partners to the team. New partners included United Airlines, iFit, Hedlum Brewing, Knockaround and NakedCashmere. Existing partners like Stifel, Hydro Flask and Textron Aviation expanded their partnerships in a variety of ways, including sponsoring World Cup events and fundraisers, supporting more teams and partnering with individual athletes, with Stifel and Hydro Flask becoming the title sponsors of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team and Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team.

“Working with prominent brands like Stifel, Hydro Flask, Toyota, United Airlines, iFit, Kappa and more solidifies our commitment to excellence,” said Trisha Worthington, Chief Revenue and Philanthropy Officer at U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “This season, we dove deeper into what we can do with these partners by working together on marketing initiatives and enhancing what a partnership can look like.” 

This season, U.S. Ski & Snowboard introduced Easy Green, the organization’s new climate initiative. Named after an “easy green” trail at a resort, the concept embodies the idea that making sustainable choices should be easy. It included partnerships with leaders in the climate advocacy space, including Protect Our Winters, the National Ski Areas Association’s Sustainable Slopes, Keep Tahoe Blue and more. The HERoic initiative, focused on promoting women athletes and coaches, also continued. HERoic panels were held around the country at domestic World Cup events, featuring women trailblazers across various fields of sport and industry. 

With the season wrapping up, the U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes will take well-deserved breaks but the 2024-25 season is just around the corner, with more records to break and history to be made. 

“Success does not happen overnight,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, President and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “What U.S. Ski & Snowboard has accomplished this season came from years of hard work, both on and off the snow. I am proud to lead an organization that cares deeply about the athletes that represent our teams and know that coming off a season like this, the momentum is palpable and we are ready to get back to it and continue making history.”

Alpine Team Announces Key Staffing Changes for 2024-25

By Sierra Ryder - Stifel U.S. Ski Team
April, 23 2024
copper
Racers prepare for a training run in Copper. (U.S. Ski & Snowboard)

PARK CITY, Utah (April 24, 2024) – The Stifel U.S. Ski Team announced key staffing changes for the upcoming 2024-25 season across both the men’s and women’s alpine teams. 

Both alpine teams had a strong 2023-24 season, securing 10 World Cup wins, 21 podiums and 51 top 10 results in the World Cup across 11 athletes.

“We had a very good 2023-24 season and we are excited to build upon this success with these new hires,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Chief of Sport Anouk Patty. “The coaches joining our organization are sure to make a positive impact on the future of our alpine programs.”

The team will be led by men’s head coach Mark Tilston and women’s head coach Paul Kristofic.

MEN

Longtime coach with the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, Ian Garner, is stepping down as the head men’s World Cup tech coach. Garner led the men’s tech team to some strong results across the board for several seasons, highlighted by River Radamus’ career best season this past year including his first podium . 

“We are so grateful for everything that Ian has done with the men’s World Cup team,” said Tilston. “His knowledge is invaluable to us and we look forward to collaborating with him as we make this transition.”

Stepping in as the head men’s World Cup giant slalom coach is Fabien Munier. Munier joins the Stifel U.S. Ski Team from the French Ski Federation where he has most notably worked with Olympic medalist, world champion and previous overall FIS Crystal Globe winner Alexis Pinterault, as well as the French Europa Cup speed and World Cup tech teams. 

Former French Ski Federation coach Claude Cretier also joins the men’s World Cup group. Cretier, an Olympic ski racer who finished fifth in the 2002 downhill, coached French greats such as Pinterault and Olympic medalist Victor Muffat-Jeandet. 

“Fabien and Claude’s background with the French Ski Federation shows that both have the experience and drive to make a positive impact on our team,” said Tilston. “We have a great group of athletes and Fabien and Claude will push our athletes to the next level of competition.”

On the men’s slalom side, Tristan Glasse-Davies joins the team as the head men’s slalom World Cup coach. Glasse-Davies most recently coached with GB Snowsports as the head men’s slalom coach for Dave Ryding as well as up-and-coming slalom skiers Billy Major and Laurie Taylor. Glasse-Davies has been key in Ryding’s slalom career, coaching him to one of the top slalom skiers in the world. Glasse-Davies was also a pivotal member of the team that claimed Great Britain’s first ever alpine World Cup win with Ryding at Kitzbühel in 2022. 

“It is exciting to have Tristan join our men’s slalom group,” said Tilston. “Tristan’s direction and experience is sure to help our slalom skiers reach their full potential.”

The men’s Europa Cup team will see new leadership under Clement Tomamichel. Tomamichel most recently coached with the French Ski Federation on the women’s development and Europa Cup teams. 

WOMEN

On the women’s alpine side, head tech coach Magnus Andersson has stepped down from his position. Andersson was a pivotal member of the women’s staff for eight years, leading the women’s tech team to a career-best season, first time podiums and Nations Cup discipline wins. “Through the years on the team Magnus has had an incredible impact on our athletes and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors” said Kristofic. Rudi Soulard has since been promoted to head women’s tech coach. Soulard was the assistant coach with the tech team in 2023-24 and made excellent strides with the staff and athletes alike.

His previous coaching experience includes head slalom coach for the French women’s team, coaching World Cup great Viktoria Rebensburg to two Olympic medals, two World Championship medals, 49 World Cup podiums and three giant slalom FIS Crystal Globes. Soulard is no stranger to the organization – he was also the head men’s tech coach with the Stifel U.S. Ski Team from 2008-10 where he worked with Ted Ligety as he secured two giant slalom Crystal Globes and a bronze medal at the 2009 Alpine World Championships.

“We are thrilled to have Rudi at the helm of our women’s tech team,” said Kristofic. “We know he will continue to build upon and raise the bar of this talented group of skiers.”  

Mikaela Shiffrin will bring in a new assistant coach this upcoming season with Janne Haarala, who most recently coached the Norwegian national team. He was the head women’s tech coach with the Norwegians for the past six years. 

I’m super stoked to be part of the journey with the most successful alpine skier in the world,” said Haarala. “I am committed to working hard and sharing my experience and passion for alpine skiing with this team.” 

Finally, the women’s Europa Cup team will also have a new coach: Miha Kurner. Kurner joins the team from Killington Mountain School where he was the Alpine Program Director and U18 women’s coach. Kurner will bring a breadth of not just coaching experience but also his successful racing career where on the Slovenian Alpine Ski Team he raced on the Europa Cup and World Cup circuits. 

“We are very excited about the future of the alpine program with these excellent new hires,” said Patty. “These new staff additions build upon our previous success leading into a World Championships season and Olympic year on the horizon. Our teams are ready and equipped to begin prepping for the coming season.” 

A full staff announcement will be released this fall, in tandem with the official Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team announcement. 

Three Alpine Athletes Win Big in World Pro Ski Tour

By U.S. Ski & Snowboard
April, 4 2024
steffey
George Steffey wins the giant slalom in the World Pro Ski Tour. (World Pro Ski Tour)

Release courtesy of World Pro Ski Tour

2024 World Pro Ski Tour TAOS World Championships, presented by New Mexico True Results

Super Slalom World Championships, presented by SportsInsurance.com and CB Sports – March 29, 2024

After exciting qualifying rounds and Ski TAOS’ Kachina Basin, the men faced off starting in a round of 32 and the women qualified to a field of 16 based on entry numbers. Regardless of competition size, men and women receive equal prize money and race on the same course at all World Pro Ski Tour races. Here's how it all panned out:

MEN

Joining the WPST TAOS World Championships were regular WPST competitors including U.S. Ski Team veteran, Michael Ankeny (USA); Current Tour leader, Christian Soevik (NOR); German national team veteran, Roman Frost (GER); 2023 Tour Overall Champion, Simon Breitfuss-Kammerlander (AUT); six-time All-American, Filip Forejtek (CZE) and more. These athletes set up to face off the likes of 2023 WPST World Champion, Reto Schmidiger (SUI); 2023 FIS Parallel World Champion, Alex Schmid (GER);  U.S. Ski Team and TAOS athlete River Radamus (USA); World Cup tech specialist, Sam Maes (AUT); Austrian World Cupper, Raphael Hauser (AUT) and more. 

Round of 32 surprises included a fast elimination of 2023 Tour Champion, Simon Breitfuss-Kammerlander who qualified poorly, while Germany's Adrian Meisen upset number nine-seeded George Steffey (USA). Racing progressed smoothly into the round of sixteen, where upsets included Haaser taking advantage of a quick mistake by the number 1 seeded Filip Forejtek and Haaser then went on to ski into the quarterfinals. No other big surprises through this round.

Headed into quarters, racing was intense and the pace aggressive. While dominant on the Tour all season, Soevik met his match in Haaser and was eliminated, while Schmidiger proved his mastery of the TAOS course once again and easily defeated his Czech opponent, Jan Zabystran (CZE). Frost, also a solid WPST athlete this season, faced Sam Maes, who edged him out. Finally, longtime Tour regular Ankeny challenged Schmid, but was unable to get past the reigning FIS World Champion gold medalist even with an advantage after the first run.

Semi-finals offered an all-international field with Haaser out skiing Schmidiger, who was showing signs of fatigue. Maes met Schmid with aggression and skied into the finals.

With a small final between Schmidiger and Schmid, Schmidiger came out victorious after Schmid got tangled up and was unable to recover. In the finals Maes and Haaser each attacked the course, but Maes had a dominant start and built his lead the entire way down.

1) Sam Maes (BEL)
2) Raphael Haaser (AUT)
3) Reto Schmidiger (SUI)
4) Alex Schmid (GER)

WOMEN

The women's field held another deeply stacked group of talent, including: WPST regulars like 2023 Tour Champion and Overall World Champion, Erin Mielzynski (CAN); 2022 Tour Champion, Tuva Norbye (NOR); 2024 WPST Aspen winner, Sara Rask (SWE); All-American Kaitlyn Harsch (USA) and more. These ladies met 2022 Overall TAOS World Champion, Paula Moltzan (USA); 2023 Giant Slalom TAOS World Champion, Tricia Mangan (USA); and other racers coming directly off the World Cup.

SportsInsurance.com teammates Tuva and Harsch saw one another in their first matchup, with Tuva coming away with the win. Tuva then had to meet yet another teammate, Mielzynski in the Round of 8. Mielzynski has proven dominant against Tuva all season, but today, Tuva skied with a purpose and clearly came away with the win. 

Meanwhile, Tuva's younger sister Kaja also joined in the race action - Kaja has raced on the WPST before, but not recently - and progressed along the bracket to face Moltzan in the semi-finals. Both Norbye sisters skied with speed and precision to progress along in their brackets, with Tuva advancing against Mangan, however Kaja was unable to outski Motzan and made it into the small final against Mangan. Mangan won the first heat, but Kaja regained her momentum and skied into third place.

In the big final, Tuva challenged Moltzan in the first run, but ultimately Moltzan found more speed in the second run on the blue course and earned the top spot in the TAOS World Championships super slalom for the third year in a row.

1) Paula Moltzan (USA)
2) Tuva Norbye (NOR)
3) Kaja Norbye (NOR)
4) Tricia Mangan (USA)

Giant Slalom World Championships, presented by Mazda – March 30, 2024

Saturday brought a bluebird and calm day Kachina Basin at Ski TAOS with a deeply talented field of pro athletes coming together for another day of World Championships racing, this time with a giant slalom course set.

MEN

After yesterday's super slalom, a giant slalom set brought a totally new game, with the men's round of 32 progressing as planned, but the round of 16 brought some major surprises. New faces to progress on during the day included the upset of yesterday's 2024 Super Slalom World Champion, Sam Maes (BEL) by George Steffey (USA). Tour leader, Christian Soevik (NOR), was taken down by rival WPST skier, Filip Foretjek (CZE) who has had difficulty up against Soevik all season. Alex Puente Tasias (ESP), who just joined the Tour in Bear Valley, upset Alex Schmid (GER), the reigning FIS Parallel World Champion. 

Exciting action and sometimes wild skiing continued into the quarterfinals with the giant slalom definitely bringing more speed and riskier lines by the athletes. Steffey proved he liked the GS format much better than yesterday's slalom and quickly eliminated Foretjek. Tour veteran and longtime US Ski Team athlete Michael Ankeny has proven throught the season that he can still compete agains the younger athletes now racing pro, but he was unable to shake off Alex Puente Tsias, who found an extra gear in his skiing today and progressed to the semi finals. The next surprise of the round came between U.S. Ski Teammates Radamus (USA) and Patrick Kenney (USA). Kenney held an advantage on the first run but was on the slower of the two courses in his second run; he dropped the hammer after the road and skied into the semis with a clear win. Last but not least, Jan Zabystran (CZE) met yesterday's second place finisher, Raphael Haaser (AUT) and Zabystran proved dominant in both runs.

During the semifinal round, George Steffey proved he could not be stopped on this course, saying, "as more of a GS guy, I favored today's setup and took every advantage." Steffey took care of Puente Tasias and sped into the finals. Zabystran continued his building pace against Kenney and earned the other spot in the finals. 

In the small final, Puente Tasias was showing fatigue and was unable to shake off Kenney, and the American skiied into a third place. Steffey and Zabystran kept it exciting through the first run, but Zabystran got too straight into the second and let Steffey ski safely into victory and to take home a $20,000 big check. 

1) George Steffey (USA)
2) Jan Zabystran (CZE)
3) Patrick Kenney (USA)
4) Alex Puente Tasias (ESP)

WOMEN

The women decided to change things up with the giant slalom as well, with more speed and straighter lines in places where they could take greater advantage of the flat sections. Yesterday’s super slalom World Champion, Paula Moltzan (USA) was upset in round of 8 quarterfinals by Fabiana Dorigo (GER), a Tour rookie and first time pro racer here at TAOS. 2023 Tour Champion Erin Mielzynski (CAN) was similarly upset when faced by Tricia Mangan (USA). Kaja Norbye (NOR) showed she was another athlete who could thrive in both tech disciplines with swift progress agains Evelina Fredricsson (SWE). Finally, Nora Brand (GER) defeated Tuva Norbye (NOR), preventing her from meeting her sister in the next round.

Release courtesy of World Pro Ski Tour 

In the semi finals, Mangan's speed kept coming while Dorigo was showing signs of fatigue and Mangan progressed to the final. Kaja Norbye was similarly able to outski Brand. This left an all German small final between Dorigo and Brand, and big final between Mangan and Norbye.

The small final went quickly with Dorigo holding Brand and skiing into third place. Mangan showed a more conservative approach to the course than her wild skiing of years past and defeated Kaja Norbye with a clear victory in both runs.

"This has been the most amazing event and I have had so much fun; the World Pro Ski Tour, TAOS and all of the sponsors have done an incredible job on this event and it all still feels surreal," said Mangan of her win.

1) Tricia Mangan (USA)
2) Kaja Norbye (NOR)
3) Fabiana Dorigo (GER)
4) Nora Brand (GER)

OVERALL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

With points accumulation over the race weekend, Tricia Mangan was a clear WPST 2024 TAOS World Champion, presented by New Mexico True and she held both her $20,000 prize and $25,000 bonus high. so much variety in the men's field between the two race days culminated in a three-way tie for the $25,000 men's title and bonus, shared by Jan Zabystran, Sam Maes and Raphael Haaser.

Ski Cross Junior World Championships Team Announced

By Sierra Ryder
March, 29 2024
ski cross
Walker Robinson competes at the Winter Youth Olympic Games. (OIS/Simon Bruty)

PARK CITY, Utah (March 29, 2024) – U.S. Ski & Snowboard is pleased to announce the nine ski cross athletes that will represent the USA at the Ski Cross FIS Junior World Championships next month in Idre Fjäll, Sweden. 

The team is highlighted by Morgan Shute who recently earned two medals at the Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon, Korea, including a silver in the individual and silver in the team event. Shute is also ranked first in the NorAm overall. Youth Olympic Games teammate and fellow team event silver medalist Walker Robinson also joins Shute on the World Juniors team. 

“This group of ski cross athletes is strong across all levels,” said Chip Knight, U.S. Ski & Snowboard Alpine Development Director. “We have a mix of up-and-coming athletes as well as our ski cross veterans, two of whom just claimed silver at the Youth Olympic Games. We know that this group will have success in Fjäll and are excited to see them compete against the world’s best.”

The event will take place April 14-15, 2024 with both an individual event and a team event. 

U.S. Junior World Championships Roster 

(Hometown; Club; Birthdate)

Women

Molly Hagan (Laconia, NH; Gould Academy; 5/15/2007)

Maggie Swain (Kingfield, MA; Carrabassett Valley Academy; 7/10/2006) 

Morgan Shute (Allendale, NJ; Carrabassett Valley Academy; 9/13/2006)

Deia Steinmetz (South Lake Tahoe, CA; Team Palisades Tahoe; 10/18/2006)

Men

Sullivan Butler (Carrabassett, ME; Carrabassett Valley Academy; 7/7/2005)

Aiden England (Truckee, CA; Team Palisades Tahoe; 8/11/2006)

Jack Mitchell (Wenatchee, WA; Evolve SX/Mission Ridge Ski Team; 3/3/2003)

Tanner Murphy (Girdwood, AK; Alyeska Ski Club; 3/3/2005) 

Walker Robinson (Frisco, CO; Team Summit; 6/26/2006)

 

Outside Expands Ski and Snowboard TV Coverage to Include International FIS World Cups

By Courtney Harkins
February, 1 2024
outside

New on-demand offering adds to the portfolio of North American races
currently streaming live on Outside Watch.

Park City, UT and Boulder, CO (Feb. 1, 2024) – Outside and InFront officially announced a new agreement expanding the availability of international FIS World Cup events for ski and snowboard fans on Outside Watch.

Already the exclusive home of all World Cups that take place in the United States, Outside Watch will now host international World Cup events (besides Austria) on its on-demand  platform following the live event, giving fans in the United States the opportunity to watch the action in their own time. All international events from Jan. 1, 2024, onwards will be available on the Outside Watch website, which is accessible with an Outside+ subscription.

"This partnership further enhances the accessibility of our international World Cups for our fans in the United States, creating a single destination where they can watch this season’s competitions,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, President and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. "This new agreement reflects a shared commitment to enhancing the viewer experience and bringing the excitement of international ski and snowboard World Cups into our homes in an easier way.”

Outside will continue to live-stream all domestic World Cup events and provide on-demand access for replays of these events immediately following the conclusion of races. “We’re pleased to partner with InFront to make the full range of iconic international competitions available to the Outside audience,” said Robin Thurston, CEO of Outside. “There’s no longer a need to shuffle between different TV platforms to view the performances of Mikaela Shiffrin and other medal favorites.” 

Domestic events will also be on NBC platforms (NBC, CNBC and/or Peacock). International events (outside of Austria) will continue to be streamed live and hosted on demand on skiandsnowboard.live. Austrian events can be streamed on Peacock. Keep up with the TV listings by sport in the links below.

For detailed how-to-watch listings for each World Cup per sport, click the links below.  

Alpine
Cross Country
Freestyle
Freeski
Snowboard

###

ABOUT U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD 
U.S. Ski & Snowboard is the Olympic and Paralympic 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 competing on 10 teams: alpine, cross country, freestyle moguls, freestyle aerials, snowboard, freeski, nordic combined, ski jumping, Para alpine and Para snowboard. In addition to the 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.

ABOUT OUTSIDE
Outside Interactive, Inc. is the premier destination for outdoor inspiration, activation, and reward. Each month, Outside reaches 80 million of the most active consumers in the world across its network of 25 media, digital, and technology platforms, creating an experience for both longtime adventurers and those just getting started. Outside’s mission is to get everyone outdoors, experiencing healthy, connected, and fulfilling lives. Outside’s membership offering, Outside+, bundles best-in-class storytelling, videos, gear reviews, mapping apps, online courses, discounted event access, magazines, and more. Learn more at OutsideOnline.com.

Contact: PR@outsideinc.com

Alterra Mountain Company Community Foundation Makes $1M Commitment to U.S. Ski & Snowboard Mental Health Services and Return-to-Performance Program 

By Leann Bentley
January, 29 2024
Dawsy cover image

(PARK CITY, UT / DENVER, CO - Jan. 29, 2024) - The Alterra Mountain Company Community Foundation announced a $1 million commitment to U.S. Ski & Snowboard to support athlete mental health services and return-to-performance programming. 

Alterra Mountain Company Community Foundation (AMCCF) is a public charity established to provide support to communities in which Alterra operates, including Park City, Utah — home of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team. This new collaboration enhances a longstanding partnership between U.S. Ski & Snowboard and Alterra Mountain Company and highlights a notable shift towards embracing mental health and encouraging outreach for services among elite athletes. 

All people face challenges throughout their lives and world-class athletes are no different. As the National Governing Body for ten ski and snowboard sports, U.S. Ski & Snowboard is committed to offering comprehensive mental health services and education to athletes at every level. The Community Foundation’s investment in mental health and performance recovery resources is unprecedented for U.S. Ski & Snowboard and its impact on the more than 240 athletes named to the national team will be significant. 

“The Alterra Mountain Company Community Foundation is proud to support the dedicated work that U.S. Ski & Snowboard is providing toward mental health initiatives for their athletes,” said Meegan Moszynski, AMCCF’s Executive Director. “This aspect of the sport is such a crucial component of success before, during and after competition, and we are grateful for the partnership in this space.”

This $1 million commitment will markedly increase the scope of services provided by U.S. Ski & Snowboard, including specialized sports psychology and wellness programming, athlete mental health and performance training, and return-to-sport performance programming for athletes who are recovering from injury. 

“As someone who has benefitted from existing mental health resources at U.S. Ski & Snowboard, this commitment from AMCCF makes me incredibly excited,” said Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team athlete Alice Merryweather. “It’s a big step forward for current and future athletes to have access to a more robust set of mental health and wellness resources for all stages of their careers.”

“We are extremely grateful for this Alterra Mountain Company Community Foundation commitment, which was spearheaded by Rusty Gregory, Vice Chairman, partner and former Chief Executive Officer of Alterra Mountain Company and a U.S. Ski & Snowboard Trustee,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, President and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “This helps to further bolster our organization’s commitment to making a lasting impact on the lives of our athletes, fostering a culture of well-being, resilience and high performance. We are now able to increase our investment in mental health services and return-to-performance programs, to continue to help our athletes holistically.” 

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About U.S. Ski & Snowboard
U.S. Ski & Snowboard is the Olympic and Paralympic 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 competing on 10 teams: alpine, cross country, freestyle moguls, freestyle aerials, snowboard, freeski, nordic combined, ski jumping, Para alpine and Para snowboard. In addition to the 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.

About Alterra Mountain Company Community Foundation
The Alterra Mountain Company Community Foundation is a public charity created to provide financial support to members of the communities in which Alterra operates. Founded in 2020, the Community Foundation started by providing emergency relief and hardship assistance grants to those in need within the communities surrounding Alterra’s North American destinations. Grants are available to individuals who live or work in any of Alterra’s communities, and to local community foundations. Moving forward, the Community Foundation is expanding its programming to include support for mental health initiatives in our mountain communities. This work includes initiatives to reduce the stigma around mental health; providing specialized psychotherapies for first responders; and establishing a platform to convene mental health leaders in mountain communities to foster collaboration toward long-term strategic planning and holistic solutions.

Easy Green: U.S. Ski & Snowboard Launches New Sustainability Initiative, Sets Carbon Impact Goals 

By U.S. Ski & Snowboard
January, 24 2024
easy green

U.S. Ski & Snowboard officially announced Easy Green, a new climate change-focused initiative focused on amplifying the conversation around climate and driving widespread commitment to sustainable practices across skiing and snowboarding. 

Named after an “easy green” trail at a resort, the initiative embodies the idea that making sustainable choices when skiing and snowboarding can be easy. Easy Green marks a step forward in U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s dedication to becoming stewards of sustainability in winter sports, knowing millions globally are inspired by snow sports and enjoy healthy, active lifestyles in diverse global settings. As climate change poses a growing threat to these sports, Easy Green drives a collective commitment to sustainable practices through five easy actions and recognizes the urgent need to secure the future of our winters. 

“U.S. Ski & Snowboard is focused on using our platform for the greater good, especially when it comes to the climate,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, President and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “The industry and our audience listen to our voice, and we will begin using it to engage the winter sports community to focus on sustainable practices. To help protect the future of our sports, to continue to be able to witness our athletes compete at the highest level of skiing and snowboarding for years to come and to continue rewriting history, we must act now, be more proactive and do more.”

Under the Easy Green initiative, U.S. Ski & Snowboard outlined three main goals: (1) reduce the organization’s own impact, (2) offset its carbon footprint through credits and (3) utilize its leadership position, working closely with athletes to increase awareness. 

  1. To begin reducing its carbon impact, U.S. Ski & Snowboard created a sustainability task force with leaders in the climate change industry to guide actions. So far, actions have included actively using solar power at U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s headquarters in Park City, Utah, implementing a full hybrid fleet of Toyota vehicles, employing a carpool program and remote work for employees, and continuously promoting sustainable practices at all levels of business, including events and travel.
     
  2. U.S. Ski & Snowboard secured funding to offset 10% of the organization’s carbon footprint this season and has begun a fundraising campaign to offset 100% or more of its carbon footprint by 2030. To do so, the organization is working closely with various partners, including Greenly to continue to measure its carbon footprint and Anew Climate, one of the largest developers of forestry credits, to help offset its carbon impact in the forests of Wisconsin, the home of the nation’s largest cross country ski race, the American Birkebeiner. 
     
  3. Knowing the impact athletes and sports have on and off the snow, U.S. Ski & Snowboard is also utilizing its platform to educate and drive action through unique awareness campaigns. As an example, the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team wore climate change-themed race suits at the 2023 FIS Ski World Championships in collaboration with Kappa and Protect Our Winters, and hosted the World Cup for Climate at the Stifel America’s Downhill at Aspen. These significant efforts led Protect Our Winters to honor U.S. Ski & Snowboard with the prestigious Jake Burton Award, recognizing the organization’s vital role in promoting cultural change toward climate action. With programs like Easy Green, U.S. Ski & Snowboard is committed to continuing and expanding impactful awareness initiatives.

“I’m really proud to see the steps U.S. Ski & Snowboard is taking to collectively use our voices and create positive change,” said Olympic champion and Protect Our Winters board member Jessie Diggins. “We have many hills to climb with regards to climate change, but we’re charging forward and I’m excited to see the focus on offsetting our carbon footprint as well as taking everyday actions to reduce our impact in the first place.” 

The sustainability commitment and launch of Easy Green are supported individually and with the help of U.S. Ski & Snowboard partners, including: Protect Our Winters, an athlete-founded nonprofit that focuses on protecting the places and experiences they love from climate change; the National Ski Areas Association’s Sustainable Slopes, a program for ski areas to commit to sustainable practices across their operations; the Green Sports Alliance, the environmentally focused trade organization that convenes stakeholders from around the sporting world to promote sustainable communities; and the International Ski & Snowboard Federation’s (FIS) IMPACT Program, created to guide FIS and its key stakeholders through the current and future global sustainability challenges. U.S. Ski & Snowboard aims to propel the conversation and take concrete action toward a more sustainable future. 

U.S. Ski & Snowboard remains committed to advancing sustainable practices and instigating a cultural shift towards a greener future. Easy Green is a step in the right direction with more to come. For more information, please visit usskiandsnowboard.org/easy-green

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ABOUT U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD 

U.S. Ski & Snowboard is the Olympic and Paralympic 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 competing on 10 teams: alpine, cross country, freestyle moguls, freestyle aerials, snowboard, freeski, nordic combined, ski jumping, Para alpine and Para snowboard. In addition to the 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.

2024 Under-18 Cross Country Team Announced

By Leann Bentley - Stifel U.S. Ski Team
January, 17 2024
u18 team
The U18 team, minus Oskar Erik Flora. (U.S. Ski & Snowboard)

U.S. Ski & Snowboard formally announced the 12 athletes that will represent the United States at the U18 Scandinavian trip in Falun, Sweden, Jan. 19-21, 2024. 

The 12 athletes called up to the team were selected based on their strong results in the U.S. National Championships held earlier this month in Soldier Hollow, Utah. The qualified athletes who accepted their nomination will be given the opportunity to race against skiers from around the world in three different events, including both sprint and distance races. 

“We qualify this team at the U.S. National Championships and put the sharpness of that racing fitness to the test again, as a team, six days later,” said Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team Development Coach Greta Anderson. “This year, we are at the iconic venue of Falun – the 2027 FIS World Ski Championships venue. For our Under-18 team, it is a great preview of where they could be competing in the future and this all is made possible from the generous support from the National Nordic Foundation (NNF) and the extended cross country community!”

Under-18 Scandinavian Trip Team
(Club, Birth Year)

Women

  • Amelia Circosta (Craftsbury Green Racing Project; 2007)
  • Niki Johnson (Tahoe Endurance; 2007)
  • Maeve Ingelfinger (Glacier Nordic; 2006)
  • Natalie Nicholas (Bridger Ski Foundation; 2006)
  • Lena Poduska (Jackson Hole Ski Club; 2007)
  • Ally Wheeler (Casper Nordic Ski Club; 2007) 

Men

  • Cole Bothner (Bridger Ski Foundation; 2006)
  • Oskar Flora (Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center; 2007)
  • Murphy Kimball (Alaska Winter Stars; 2006)
  • Henry Magill (Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 2006)
  • Daniel McCollor (Minneapolis Ski Club; 2006)
  • Lucas Wilmot (Jackson Hole Ski Club; 2006)

Coaches & Service Staff

  • Trip Leader & Head Coach: Greta Anderson, Stifel U.S. Ski Team
  • Coach: Dr. Katie Eichten, Spooner Nordic
  • Head of Service: Matt Clarke, Team Birkie
  • Service: Adam Westman, Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation
  • Medical Staff: Dr. Katie Eichten

Schedule of Events
More information can be found here

  • Jan. 19: 1.4k Skate Sprint (Men/Women)
  • Jan. 20: 10k Classic (Men/Women)
  • Jan. 21: 10k Skate (Men/Women)

2024 Cross Country Junior World Championships, U23 Team Announced 

By Leann Bentley - Stifel U.S. Ski Team
January, 17 2024
Johnny Hagenbuch
Johnny Hagenbuch competes earlier this season in a FIS Cross Country World Cup. (Nordic Focus)

U.S. Ski & Snowboard has formally announced the 22 athletes representing the United States at the upcoming 2024 FIS World Junior and Under-23 Ski Championships held in Planica, Slovenia, Feb. 5-11, 2024.

The 2024 World Junior and U23 Ski Championships welcome the top junior and U23 cross country skiers from around the nation, including current B and D Team athletes on the Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team roster, to a world class venue to compete against the best in the world. Included in the group is two sixth-year veterans of this event, Novie McCabe and Johnny Hagenbuch, and multi-time top-10 World Juniors athlete Sammy Smith, who just completed the entire Tour de Ski at only 18 years old. 

“We have had an amazing year so far at every level for cross country skiing in the U.S. and we have a higher density of athletes than ever before skiing at a higher level,” said Greta Anderson, Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team development coach. “We are bringing a strong and well-rounded team of 22 athletes to Planica. We’re excited about this trip and are very grateful for the support from the entire cross country community and the National Nordic Foundation (NNF).”

The 2024 team comprises strong club, collegiate and pro athletes from around the nation who have posted top results throughout the 2023-24 season, securing their spot on the team. 

Competing at the same venue as the 2023 FIS World Championships, the 22 athletes representing both the World Junior and U23 teams will contend for the podium in five events, including both sprint and distance races – with races staggered each day between the junior and U23 races. 

2024 FIS Cross Country Junior World Ski Championships Team and U23 Team
(Hometown; Club/College; Birthdate Year)

World Juniors Team

Women

  • Sofia Scirica (Wellesley, MA; Middlebury Ski Team; 2004)
  • Sammy Smith (Boise, ID; Stifel U.S. Ski Team/Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation; 2005)
  • Nina Schamberger (Leadville, CO; University of Utah Ski Team; 2005) 
  • Ava Thurston (Waterbury, VT; Stifel U.S. Ski Team/Dartmouth Ski Team; 2004)
  • Evelyn Walton (Concord, MA; Dartmouth Ski Team; 2004)
  • Ally Wheeler (Casper, WY; Casper Nordic Ski Club; 2007)

Men

  • Wes Campbell (Park City, UT; Michigan Tech University Ski Team; 2004) 
  • Zachary Jayne (Bend, OR; University of Utah Ski Team; 2004)
  • Trey Jones (Steamboat Springs, CO; University of Colorado Boulder Ski Team; 2004)
  • Jack Lange (Lyme, NH; Dartmouth Ski Team; 2004)
  • Matt Seline (Truckee, CA; University of Alaska Anchorage Ski Team; 2004)
  • Lucas Wilmot (Jackson Hole, WY; Jackson Hole Ski Club; 2006)

U23 Team

Women

  • Haley Brewster (Avon, CO; Stifel U.S. Ski Team/University of Vermont Ski Team; 2003)
  • Kendall Kramer (Fairbank, AK; University of Alaska Fairbanks Ski Team; 2002)
  • Novie McCabe (Winthrop, WA; Stifel U.S. Ski Team/Alaska Pacific University Ski Team; 2001)
  • Anabel Needham (Houghton, MI; Michigan Tech University Ski Team; 2001)
  • Nina Seemann (Wheelock, VT; Dartmouth Ski Team; 2002)

Men

  • Brian Bushey (Montpelier, VT; Stifel U.S. Ski Team/University of Utah Ski Team; 2002)
  • John Steel Hagenbuch (Sun Valley, ID; Stifel U.S. Ski Team/Dartmouth Ski Team; 2001)
  • Walker Hall; (Winthrop, WA; Stifel U.S. Ski Team/University of Utah Ski Team; 2002)
  • Logan Moore (Durango, CO; Middlebury College Ski Team; 2002)
  • Elijah Weenig (Jackson Hole, WY; Denver University; 2002)

Coaches

  • Trip Leader & Head Coach: Greta Anderson, Stifel U.S. Ski Team
  • Coach: Bryan Fish, Stifel U.S. Ski Team
  • Coach: Lucy Glanville, Soldier Hollow 

Service Staff

  • Head of Service: August Teague, Aspen Valley Ski Club
  • Service: Bernie Nelson, Auburn Ski Club
  • Service: Will Wicherski, Jackson Hole Ski & Snowboard Club
  • Service: Peter Holmes, Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation
  • Service: Kaelyn Woods, Bridger Ski Foundation
  • Service: Ben Higgins, Great Glen Outdoor Center
  • Service: Paige Ripley, Fairbanks X-Country

Medical Staff

  • Medical Staff: Dr. Katie Eichten, Spooner Nordic
  • Medical Staff: Dr. Jasmine Wiley
  • Physical Therapist: Dr. Elizabeth Smith, Loppet Nordic Racing

SCHEDULE 
(More information can be found here

World Junior Championships 

  • Feb. 5: 1.2k Skate Sprint (men/women)
  • Feb. 7: 20k Mass Start Skate (men/women)
  • Feb. 9: 10k Classic (men/women)
  • Feb. 11: 4.5k Relay, Classic/Skate (men/women)

U23

  • Feb. 6: 1.2k Skate Sprint (men/women)
  • Feb. 8: 20k Mass Start Skate (men/women)
  • Feb. 10: 10k Classic (men/women)
  • Feb. 11: 4.5k Relay, Classic/Skate (men/women)