U.S. Ski & Snowboard and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee announced their full support for Dexter Paine in his candidacy for the International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) Council. 

As a visionary leader with a deep commitment to skiing and snowboarding and its athletes, Paine has been involved in governance at both the national and international levels for decades. He served as a member of the FIS Council Executive Committee from 2014-22 and has acted as an ex-officio honorary member from 2022 to the present. Throughout his time with FIS, Paine focused on transparency, communication and inclusivity, including championing for female representation on the Council, longer terms for athlete representatives and the inclusivity of Paralympic sports. 

Paine currently serves as a member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Board of Directors (2021-present), is on the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Foundation Board (2002-24) and is actively involved in the Salt Lake City 2034 Olympic Winter Games bid. Previously, Paine was Chairman of the Board of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Board of Directors (2006-19) and was on U.S. Biathlon’s Board of Directors (2020-24). He has extensive experience in event delivery as an Executive Committee member of the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Vail/Beaver Creek, Colorado and the 2019 Freestyle, Freeski & Snowboard World Championships in Park City, Utah. 

Paine is the chairman at Paine Schwartz Partners and has more than 25 years of investment experience and 35 years in the private equity industry. In addition to his professional achievements, Paine is widely respected for his integrity, vision and dedication to the sport. His collaborative approach and strategic mindset have positioned him as a trusted leader within the skiing and snowboarding community.

The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Board of Directors firmly believes that Paine’s extensive experience and unwavering passion make him the ideal person to represent the interests of athletes and federations worldwide, unanimously putting forward his candidacy. 

"Dexter Paine's dedication to the advancement of skiing and snowboarding is unparalleled,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, President & CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “His leadership has consistently propelled our sports forward, and we know he will bring that same level of commitment and expertise to the FIS Council. We are proud to endorse Dexter and are confident in his ability to advocate effectively for the interests of athletes and federations around the world."

Gene Sykes, Chairman of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, also voiced his support. "As an organization committed to supporting American athletes on the global stage, we recognize the importance of strong leadership within international federations,” said Sykes.
“Dexter’s proven track record of leadership and advocacy aligns perfectly with the values of the Olympic movement. We fully endorse Dexter's candidacy for the FIS Council and believe he will be an outstanding representative for skiing and snowboarding on the international level."

Olympic champion Kikkan Randall, who has served on the IOC Board, USOPC Board and FIS Council, echoed the sentiments: “Dexter has been an incredible leader and advocate for skiing and snowboarding across all levels. He understands the complex needs of all stakeholders and has always championed the athletes' voices in the process. He brings a wealth of experience, tremendous passion and dedication to making sport fair, safe and positioned for growth. Dexter is well respected across the sports universe and has been an excellent collaborator between organizations. I am proud to endorse Dexter’s candidacy.”

The election for the FIS Council takes place at FIS Congress on June 5, 2024. 

Stifel U.S. Freeski Team rookie Henry Townshend and Killington Mountain School's Eleanor Andrews took home silver medals in slopestyle competition at the 2024 FIS Slopestyle and Big Air Junior World Championships.

Due to weather concerns, officials were forced to hold finals in a double-up format and leave out scoring the final jump due to gusty winds making the course unsafe for competitors.

Townshend showed composure in the difficult weather conditions and immediately set himself up for a podium position with a first run score of 89.00. Norway’s Frank Wahlstroem was the only competitor to top the young American's score, securing Townshend a second place finish and cementing the young American as one to watch on the freeski World Cup circuit over the next few years.

After landing on the podium in her first World Cup appearance in February’s Toyota U.S. Grand Prix in Mammoth Mountain, Andrews continued her successful season with a second place performance in the women’s slopestyle. Stifel U.S. Freeski Team rookie Kate Gray finished just off the podium in fourth.

Qualifications for the Junior Worlds big air are set to drop Friday, March 29. 

RESULTS
Women's slopestyle
Men's slopestyle 

Due to gusty winds and worsening weather conditions, the highly anticipated 2023-24 freeski slopestyle season finale in Silvaplana was canceled Sunday morning. With results from qualifications standing as final, Jay Riccomini (he/him) was the top finisher for the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team, taking home third overall for the women. Teammate Hunter Henderson earned fourth overall on the men’s side of competition.

Despite a season plagued with cancelations and rescheduled competitions, the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team still managed to put on a show all season, capturing the 2023-24 FIS Freeski Nations Cup and sweeping the overall men’s park and pipe standings. 

After an impressive showing all season, Mac Forehand secured the 2023-24 FIS World Cup slopestyle Crystal Globe with teammate and 2023-24 FIS World Cup big air Crystal Globe winner Alex Hall close behind in second. The two join 2023-24 FIS World Cup halfpipe Crystal Globe winner Alex Ferriera to complete the American sweep of the men’s overall podium, with Ferreira taking the top spot after a perfect five-for-five wins World Cup season. Hall landed in second and Forehand was just five points behind in third.

With podiums in Laax, Copper and Silvaplana, Riccomini finished the season third overall in the 2023-24 FIS World Cup women’s slopestyle standings.

“This season has been one for the books,” said Stifel U.S. Freeski Team sport director Skogan Sprang. “I can’t express how proud I am of all the athletes on both the slopestyle and halfpipe teams for supporting each other and creating a positive environment that breeds success.”

“We’ve had the most podiums ever, by the most variety of athletes ever and the most first time podium athletes ever,” Sprang continued. “The coaches have done an amazing job of fostering this environment while the athletes are pushing innovation and creativity and still having fun and enjoying every moment.” 

The Stifel U.S. Freeski Team heads back to the states (with extra luggage in tow) for a well-deserved break before they carry this season’s momentum into summer training.

RESULTS
Women’s slopestyle 
Men’s slopestyle

OVERALL RANKINGS 
Women
Men

U.S. Ski & Snowboard has announced the eight freeski athletes who will represent the United States at the 2024 FIS Slopestyle and Big Air Junior World Championships in Mottolino Livigno, Italy, March 22-30. 

With both top Stifel U.S. Freeski Team members and athletes from clubs across the country, this year’s team consists of heavy hitters who have already made appearances on the World Cup stage along with up and comers looking to prove themselves on an international level. The venue is also the location of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games slopestyle and big air. 

Stifel U.S. Freeski Team’s Kate Gray and Henry Townshend highlight a roster of notables, including Killington Mountain School’s Eleanor Andrews, who earned her first World Cup podium in her first World Cup start at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix in Mammoth Mountain earlier this season. Joining the athletes in Mottolino Livigno are Stifel U.S. Freeski Team rookie coach Leah Stroud and Wy’East Academy’s Brian McCarthy.

Stifel U.S. Freeski Team’s Walker Woodring and Ellie Derosier were also named, but will not be attending. 

The 2024 FIS Snowboard and Big Air Junior World Championships kicks off freeski competition with slopestyle qualifications on Monday, March 25 with finals to follow on Tuesday, March 26. The event shifts gears to big air competition with qualifications on Friday, March 29, and will conclude with big air finals on Saturday, March 30.

2024 FIS Slopestyle and Big Air Freeski Junior World Championships Team
(Hometown; Club; Birthdate)

Women
Ella Andrews (Killington, VT; Killington Mountain School; 2/23/2007)
Ellie DeRosier (Bend, OR; Stifel U.S. Freeski Team/Park City Ski & Snowboard; 10/24/2006)*
Kate Gray (Crowley Lake, CA; Stifel U.S. Freeski Team/Mammoth Mountain Freeski Team; 06/29/2006)
Marley Leavitt (Park City, UT; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 2006)

Men
Hugh MacMenamin (Hudson, WI; Wy’East Mountain Academy; 01/23/2006)
Walker Woodring (Sun Valley, ID; Stifel U.S. Freeski Team/Park City Ski & Snowboard; 3/13/2010)*
Anders Chapman (Hood River, OR; Wy’East Mountain Academy; 10/7/2006)
Henry Townshend (Park City, UT; Stifel U.S. Freeski Team/Park City Ski & Snowboard; 2/16/2006) 

*declined invite due to conflict or injury 

A stellar course and spring-like conditions set the scene for Saturday morning's slopestyle finals at the Tignes World Cup and the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team looked primed and ready to throw down.

The men’s final featured five Americans, including Mac Forehand, Konnor Ralph, Troy Podmilsak, Hunter Henderson and Alex Hall, who took home the Tignes World Cup big air title and 2023-24 big air Crystal Globe just 12 hours prior.

Coming off his Spring Battle win, Henderson was first to drop for the Americans and threw two 1620s to earn him a solid score of 69.15. Podmilsak and Hall, the two Park City natives, nailed their first runs top-bottom and were the first two competitors of the day to crack into the 80s.

After an impressive showing in qualifications, Ralph put down an explosive first run, capping it off with a double cork 18 with a safety grab and noting, “that’s the best run i’ve ever done!” said Ralph to the cameras in the finish. His clean run was rewarded with a 83.95, putting him just behind teammate Podmilsak.

After seeing his teammates throw down, the pressure was on for top American qualifier Forehand to deliver, and the X Games gold medalist put on a show. Forehand’s first run was a masterclass in slopestyle skiing, throwing a massive switch right double cork 1440 safety and a near-perfect switch left double cork 1620 cuban on the first two jumps and nailing a switch left 630 back 270 on the second rail feature. Forehand was ecstatic with his result in the finish as the judges awarded his run an 85.21, which would hold on to be the top-scoring run of the day in Tignes to secure Forehand his first World Cup slopestyle victory since 2019.

“It’s been a long road and I’ve been working super hard this year,” said Forehand in a post-contest interview, “It’s been five years since my last slopestyle win and it just means the world when all the hard work finally pays off.”

Joining Forehand in the top three was teammate Ralph, who earned his first World Cup podium of his career. Norway’s Tormod Frostad took second place, Hall ended his Tignes campaign in fourth and Podmilsak finished the day in fifth. Henderson took 13th.

Rell Harwood represented the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team on the women’s side and finished the day eighth overall.

The Stifel U.S. Freeski Team heads to Silvaplana for the final slopestyle World Cup of the season. With both overall and discipline-specific Crystal Globes on the line, it will certainly be an entertaining season finale.

Results
Women
Men

Olympic gold medalist Alex Hall rose to the occasion under Friday night lights at the Mountain Shaker World Cup big air final in Tignes, adding another World Cup victory and the 2023-24 big air Crystal Globe to his already impressive resume.

After a disappointing 18.00 first run score, the Park City native was forced to bank his chances on a successful big air season finale showing on his final two runs. Hall attempted the same trick on run two, stomping a right double-cork 1080 bring-back to 900 that scored a massive 90.50 to put him back into podium contention. With a three run, low-score drop format, the pressure was on for Hall to nail his final attempt—and did he deliver.

In front of a rambunctious crowd in Tignes, Hall’s switch left tailbutter 1800 that he premiered at X Games in February made its World Cup debut, earning a monster score of 96.00 to secure Hall the top spot in the final big air competition of the season, as well as the big air Crystal Globe—the first of his career.

After considering pulling out of the final World Cup competitions to focus on personal filming projects, Hall was noticeably surprised with his achievements. “I didn’t really know I was in the running before this. I wasn’t sure,” said Hall. “I’ve been competing a long time but haven't won a Globe, so it feels pretty sick to get one.”

When asked about his gutsy decision to throw the 18 on his third attempt, Hall knew he had to go big in order to beat the likes of Norway’s Leo Landroe and Switzerland’s Andri Ragettli. “Everyone was killing it so I knew I had to throw something down, but I didn’t know if I was going 14 or 18 until about seconds before dropping,” Hall joked. “I was a little unsure of the speed too, but I figured I’d just point ’em from the top and go for it. I’m hype to land that one; it’s one of the better jumps I’ve done for sure.”

Landroe finished second overall in Tignes and Ragettli took third, earning the Swiss the runner-up big air Crystal Globe. Italy’s Miro Tabanelli rounded out the big air World Cup standings, finishing third overall for the 2023-24 season.

Mac Forehand was the only other American to join Hall in men’s finals and finished the day seventh overall as well as earning fifth place in the overall 2023-24 big air World Cup standings. On the women’s side, Rell Harwood represented the Stifel U.S. Ski Team and was just off the podium in fourth place and finished ranked ninth in the world in big air this season. 

Hall, Forehand and Harwood will be joined by teammates Hunter Henderson, Cody Laplante, Troy Podmilsak and Konnor Ralph on Saturday, March 15 for the Tignes Mountain Shaker World Cup slopestyle final. 

RESULTS
Women
Men

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

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

How the process works

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

How to nominate

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

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT NOMINATIONS: Friday, March 29, 2024

PUBLIC NOMINATION CATEGORIES

Paul Bacon Award (event organization)

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

PAUL BACON AWARD Nomination Form

John J. Clair Award (service to national teams)

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

JOHN J. CLAIR JR. AWARD Nomination Form

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

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

BUD & MARY LITTLE AWARD Nomination Form

Buddy Werner Award (sportsmanship)

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

BUDDY WERNER AWARD Nomination Form

Russell Wilder Award (service to youth)

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

RUSSELL WILDER AWARD Nomination Form

OFFICIALS NOMINATION AWARD CATEGORY*

West Family Award (outstanding official)

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

WEST FAMILY AWARD Nomination Form

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

FIS TECHNICAL DELEGATE NOMINATION AWARD CATEGORY^

Westhaven Award (outstanding FIS technical delegate)

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

WESTHAVEN AWARD Nomination Form

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

Alex Ferreira did what no other freeskier has done before, winning seven out of the seven halfpipe events on Saturday. He took his seventh victory at the men’s freeski superpipe at the 2024 Dew Tour to cement his place in the record books, lacing together the most dominant season in freeski history.

Along with a perfect World Cup season where he won all five events he entered, Ferreira’s X Games victory in February put him in the position to accomplish the 7/7 feat. With history on the line, Ferreira dropped into the Dew Tour superpipe under sunny skies and in front of a crowd of excited fans hoping to witness the seemingly impossible.

Ferreira seemed to have history locked in after only run one, scoring a huge 92.66, ending with his signature pole swing. But in typical Ferreira fashion, he had more tricks up his sleeve and one-upped himself on run two, scoring a 94.33 in what would ultimately be the history-making run. 

“The season started with a dub and ended with a dub,” said Ferreira, “I can’t believe it, perfect season? I’m in awe and just so grateful. Best day of my life.”

Ferreira was unable to land a double-cork 18 on his final run, a trick that has never been done in freeski halfpipe competition, but the attempt left an impression, showing he has no signs of slowing down heading into the 2024-25 season.

2013 Dew Tour freeski slopestyle champion Nick Geopper earned his first Dew Tour halfpipe podium with a second place finish, scoring a 91.00 to put him just behind teammate Ferreira. Sporting his signature pair of Lucky jeans, Geopper debuted a new final hit to earn himself a spot on the Dew Tour podium to end his highly anticipated comeback season.

Stifel U.S. Freeski Team teammates Hunter Hess, Tristan Feinberg and Dew Tour legend David Wise joined Ferreira and Goepper in the field of eight competitors. Hess finished fifth, Feinberg landed in sixth and Wise rounded out the field in eighth.

RESULTS
Men's superpipe

It was déjà vu at Friday night's 2024 Dew Tour Men's Ski Streetstyle competition, with defending champion Colby Stevenson reclaiming the top spot and Stifel U.S. Freeski Team teammate Alex Hall taking third for the second year in a row. American Tucker Fitzsimons, brother of Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team's Sean Fitzsimons, defended his second place position from last year's contest. 

In route to the title, Stevenson qualified in the top spot out of heat three, took out USA's Andrew Egan in a close round of duals and won the final with a high score of 96.00. 

The atmosphere was electric, with DJ Ship Wrek performing right next to the course to hype up fans and spectators. 

"Honestly, this is one of the best crowds we get. I was feeding off the energy for sure," said Stevenson. "With everyone chanting, I was stoked. 

"This is such a sick event, Dew Tour is one of the biggest in our sport so this means a lot to have everyone out here to support."

The 20th year of Dew Tour continues Saturday, March 9, with the men's ski superpipe, women's snowboard superpipe, women's ski streetstyle and men's snowboard streetstyle. The women's ski superpipe, originally scheduled for Friday afternoon, was postponed to Sunday morning, March 10.