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Masters Welcomes Coaches with a Complementary Membership

By Lauren Beckos
June, 8 2023
Willy Camp Coaches at the Masters Summer Fun Nationals Race on Mt. Hood
Willy Camp Coaches at the Masters Summer Fun Nationals Race on Mt. Hood

All U.S. Ski & Snowboard Alpine Coaches can add a complementary Alpine Master membership to their cart when they renew their membership or contact member services to have it added. Thank you for your hard work and dedication in your sport! We hope you will check out the Masters schedules and events and join us for a race.

There are many benefits to participating in a masters race as a coach:

  • Participation in one masters race earns you 2 continuing education credits. This can be used once every two years. Submit using the continuing education request form after the race. See the framework instructions for more information about continuing ed credits that you are required to get to maintain a current coach's certification.
  • Practice what you preach. Doing what you teach your athletes gives you insights that you don't get from the sidelines. It is informative, valuable, and makes you a better coach.
  • It’s YOU time! Have fun! Remember how exhilarating it is to feel the speed, rhythm, and adrenaline of a ski race. Reconnect with why you first fell in the love with alpine ski racing.
  • Set a course and then get to race it! Contact the masters event organizer to see if a course-setter is needed if you would like to set. (The masters course-setting matrix is available here.)
  • No special gear needed besides a FIS-legal helmet! Masters do not have ski requirements. Throw down on those cheater GS skis or any other skis you've got in your quiver that you love!

Masters racing provides opportunities for adults of all ages and abilities to compete against their peers in alpine ski races across the United States. Masters is a multi-generational, passionate, fun-loving group. Come for the races, stay for the life-long friendships and love of the sport.

For more information about the Masters group in your area:

Division    Website
Central Division    midwestmasters.org
Eastern Division (New England)    nemsracing.org
Eastern Division (Mid-Atlantic)    mamasters.org
Eastern Division (Southern)    saraski.org
 Far West    farwestmasters.org 
Intermountain/Northern    intermountainmasters.org 
Pacific Northwest    pnwdivision.org/masters 
 Rocky    rmmskiracing.org  

 

For more information regarding the Masters program please visit usskiandsnowboard.org/masters.

Sustainability

U.S. Ski & Snowboard, a national and global leader in snow sports, is committed to addressing climate change and stewarding sustainability of winter sports. Millions globally are inspired by winter sports and enjoy healthy, active lifestyles in winter environments. Climate change threatens our winter environments with receding glaciers, rising sea levels, volatile weather cycles and less snowfall.

Remembering Trevor Wagner

By Courtney Harkins
April, 24 2025
Trevor Wagner

U.S. Ski & Snowboard is saddened by the loss of Trevor Wagner—a visionary ski coach, technical delegate and cherished member of the alpine community—who passed away on April 22, 2025 after a private battle with an illness.​

Trevor hailed from Seattle, Washington, but grew up in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Whitefish, Montana. He raced for and graduated from Sierra Nevada College before taking on a coaching role with the Squaw Valley Ski Team. He then moved to the U.S. Ski Team in 1998, where he coached the Europa Cup tech team until 2002 and the World Cup team until 2005. 

In 2005, Trevor was named head coach for the women's slalom and giant slalom teams, recognized for revitalizing these disciplines and fostering a culture of excellence. His leadership was instrumental during the 2006 Olympics, where under his guidance, Julia Mancuso secured a gold medal in giant slalom. 

After leaving the national team, Trevor continued to influence the sport at the grassroots level at the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) as a U16 coach. Alongside his fiancée Glady Weidt, SVSEF’s assistant alpine director and U16 coach, he dedicated six seasons to mentoring young athletes, instilling in them the same passion and commitment that defined his own career. Even while facing health challenges, Trevor remained a steadfast presence on the hill.

Beyond coaching, Trevor continued as a technical advisor for U.S. Ski & Snowboard, building and shaping World Cup and NorAm venues around the country. His efforts were central to bringing the World Cup Finals to Sun Valley, marking the return of World Cup speed events to the region for the first time since the 2002 Winter Olympics. Collaborating with some of the greatest leaders in the sport, he helped design world-class downhill and super-G courses, leaving a lasting legacy for future competitions.​

Trevor's legacy is etched in the countless athletes he coached, the colleagues he inspired, and the vibrant ski racing community he helped cultivate. His passion and unwavering commitment have left an indelible mark on his colleagues, friends, family, athletes and the sport he loved.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Trevor’s memory to the SVSEF Alpine Development Fund at svsef.org/donate. Messages of condolence can be sent to 2741 Winterhaven Dr, Hailey, ID 83333.

Stifel U.S. Ski Team Finds New Highs in 2024-25 Season

By Sierra Ryder - Stifel U.S. Ski Team
April, 24 2025
oib
Stifel U.S. Ski Team celebrates in Sun Valley. (U.S. Ski & Snowboard)

The Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s alpine program had pivotal moments in the 2024-25 season that included historic highs, new venues and emerging stars. In total, the alpine team brought home 13 podiums and five wins across the men’s and women’s World Cup teams, including four World Championships medals. 

The season was strong, but was made even stronger by the historic 100th World Cup win for the most successful skier of all time, Mikaela Shiffrin. She notched her centennial win in Sestriere, Italy, after battling a severe injury she sustained earlier in the season at the Stifel Killington Cup. Shiffrin not only won her 100th World Cup, but she also achieved this milestone with teammate Paula Moltzan on the podium beside her. Shiffrin then went on to end her season with her 101st World Cup win at the Stifel Sun Valley Finals. 

Looking back through the winter, the breakout star was speed skier Lauren Macuga. Park City Native Macuga catapulted herself to a World Cup threat when she won the super G in St. Anton - the first U.S. woman to win a super G at this specific venue. Macuga did not stop there – not long after her first win, she claimed another World Cup podium in Kvitfjell, Norway, where she finished second in the downhill. 

This season’s marquee event was the World Championships, where the U.S. team showed up and dominated in nearly every event. With four medals being won by the women’s athletes, it was a strong testament to the depth of this team. It all started with Breezy Johnson becoming the 2025 World Champion in downhill, yet Johnson did not stop there. Just a few days later, Johnson and Shiffrin teamed up for the Team Combined event, where one athlete raced in the downhill event and one in the slalom. After two dominant runs by both, there was another World Championships gold medal to bring home - Johnson’s second and Shiffrin’s first of the week. The haul continued, with Macuga once again showing her best skiing, winning a bronze in the super-G, and Moltzan with a bronze in the giant slalom. 

Following the World Championships, the team kept the momentum going and continued to find success at nearly every subsequent World Cup event. Apart from the top tier of Shiffrin, Macuga, Moltzan and Johnson, it was a massive season with the return of speed queen, Lindsey Vonn. Vonn made her official World Cup return in St. Moritz in December and immediately took control of the circuit. Vonn completed her season, qualifying for the World Cup finals in super-G, where she landed her first podium since retirement in second place and became the oldest woman to ever podium in a World Cup event. Vonn’s comeback podium marked 2,565 days since her previous World Cup podium before her retirement. A storybook ending to her comeback season. 

The women also showed immense depth. On the tech team, Katie Hensien and Nina O’Brien posted great results after coming back from injury, with each athlete landing multiple top-10s in giant slalom. Young rising star Elisabeth Bocock also turned heads in giant slalom, scoring World Cup points numerous times and finishing the season as national champion as well. 

The men’s World Cup season presented highs and lows. The speed team started the year on a high note with two back-to-back podiums at their team's favorite venue in Val Gardena, Italy. Longtime Stifel U.S. Ski Team member Jared Goldberg claimed his first World Cup podium just 0.01 off the win in super-G and the following day, Ryan Cochran-Siegle landed third in the downhill, his first podium in over a year. 

On the men’s tech side, the slalom team was revived with the help of new staff, propelling slalom standout Benjamin Ritchie to the best results of his career. Ritchie made a name for himself in the 2024-25 season as he captured multiple top-10 finishes, finishing the slalom season within the top 20. Giant slalom force River Radamus had another consistent season, landing in the top 15 in the world for the discipline. 

On the development side, the Stifel U.S. Ski Team achieved strong results both at the NorAm level and secured multiple medals at the Junior World Championships. The development side was highlighted by Elisabeth Bocock, Liv Moritz, Stanley Buzek and Hunter Salani. All four of whom walked home with medals at the Junior World Championships. Moritz and Bocock also ended the season with the slalom and giant slalom NorAm Cup titles. 

In addition to the success on snow, U.S. Ski & Snowboard held two historic new domestic alpine events.  This included the first ever women’s Birds of Prey races in early December, then the World Cup season ended at the Stifel Sun Valley Finals - the first time the U.S. hosted finals since 2017 and the first time ever in Sun Valley. Both events were incredibly successful and proved to the world that the U.S. can continue to host top tier alpine events. 

Overall, it was a strong building year for the team across all levels. As they transition from the season to training, the athletes are gearing up to make their mark on the world for the upcoming Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. 

In Memory of Chuck Ferries (1939–2025)

By Courtney Harkins
April, 23 2025
ferries

Two-time Olympian, World Cup winner and American ski racing legend Chuck Ferries passed away on April 17, 2025. 

Born in Houghton, Michigan in 1939, Ferries grew up in the Keewanaw Penninsula where he was introduced to skiing as a child. Racing under legendary coach Fred Lonsdorf out of the tiny Mt. Ripley Ski Area, Ferries climbed the ranks in the Central Ski Division before running away from home west—infamously jumping a train from Chicago to Sun Valley and then to Alta, Utah, where he worked at the Peruvian Lodge and took powder skiing lessons from Alf Engen. 

In 1958, he moved to Aspen, Colorado for his senior year of high school before heading to University of Denver, racing for a year under famed ski coach Willy Schaeffler. He was named to the U.S. Ski Team in 1960 under the leadership of former University of Colorado ski coach Bob Beattie, with whom he created a lifelong friendship—despite their difference in college choices. Ferries' teammates included former U.S. Ski & Snowboard CEO Bill Marolt, Buddy Werner, Gordi Eaton, Dave Gorsuch, Billy Kidd, Jimmie Heuga and other trailblazers of ski racing. 

Ferries' historic 1962 victory in the Hahnenkamm slalom in Kitzbühel—one of the most revered races in alpine skiing—marked a turning point for U.S. athletes on the world stage. He remains the only American man to win the Kitzbuhel slalom. He also competed in the 1960 Olympic Games at Squaw Valley, California and the 1964 Olympics in Innsburck, Austria, and was a member of the World Championships team in 1962 in Chamonix, France. He also appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1963. 

chuck ferries

Ferries' contributions extended far beyond the race course. After retiring, he served as head coach of the U.S. Ski Team, coaching the women’s alpine team through the 1968 Olympic Games. He also worked for HEAD Skis, helping to develop a better ski that still has an impact on ski racing today. He then went to K2 Skis, developing skis for Marilyn Cochran, and in 1969, she became the first skier to win on an American-made ski. He eventually became the VP of marketing at K2 and is considered responsible for the creative marketing that launched K2 into prominence in the early 1970s, at one point capturing 25% of U.S. sales. He also owned Scott USA, Schwinn bikes and Chums throughout his career. 

In the mid-1990s, Ferries served alongside Beattie in hands-on management consulting roles with the U.S. Ski Association (now U.S. Ski & Snowboard), helping the organization through a difficult period. He was also chair of the organization’s Board of Directors from 2002-06. His strategic mind and deep love of the sport helped usher in new levels of professionalism and success for the teams.

ferries, heuga and beattie
Jimmie Heuga, Chuck Ferries and Bob Beattie (left to right) watch the Birds of Prey combined in 2006.

He was elected to the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame in 1989 and in 2007, received the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Blegen Award, the most prestigious honor for service to the organization. He was also inducted to the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame in 2008.

Chuck is survived by his wife Nancy Ferries, son Tom Ferries, his wife Ginger and their sons Spencer and Sully, daughter Ann Neary and her husband Mike Neary, as well as his sisters Mary Anne Metternick and Barbara Ferries Henderson.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard Wraps Successful 2024-25 Season

By Leann Bentley
April, 14 2025
usa

U.S. Ski & Snowboard Wraps Successful 2024-25 Season

PARK CITY, Utah (April 15, 2025) — The 2024-25 season was a milestone year for U.S. Ski & Snowboard, marked by historic achievements, record-breaking performances and success both athletically and commercially. U.S. athletes delivered on snow and the world stage—taking home 12 FIS Crystal Globes, 23 World Championship medals and 34 World Cup victories across the organization’s 10 sports. Athletes achieved 103 podiums throughout the season and four teams took home the Nations Cup award, marking them as the best teams in the world. The organization also hosted a record 12 domestic World Cups, two of which were inaugural events.

Among the season’s most notable moments were the first-ever women’s downhill on the legendary Birds of Prey course in Beaver Creek, Colorado for the Stifel Birds of Prey presented by United, and the debut of the women’s ski jumping World Cup on U.S. soil in Lake Placid, New York. Para snowboard athletes also had the opportunity to compete in a World Cup in the U.S. for the first time in eight years in Steamboat, Colorado. The alpine World Cup Finals returned to the U.S. for the first time since 2017 with the Stifel Sun Valley Finals and were a massive success, full of energetic crowds and fun ancillary events. 

From an athletic standpoint, Mikaela Shiffrin returned to racing following an injury sustained at the Stifel Killington Cup to claim an incredible 100th World Cup win in Sestriere, Italy. She closed her season with her 101st win at the Stifel Sun Valley Finals, reinforcing her status as the most dominant alpine skier in history. Lindsey Vonn staged a very impressive comeback this season after retiring in 2019. She returned to the World Cup podium with a second-place finish in the super-G at Sun Valley at age 40, becoming the oldest woman to podium in a World Cup race.

Breakout athletes also made headlines - 22-year-old alpine skier Lauren Macuga earned a World Championships bronze and two World Cup podiums. 21-year-old aerials athlete Kaila Kuhn transitioned to throwing triples and became the youngest aerialist to win gold at the World Championships. Cody Winters of the snowboard cross team reached the podium in two different sports: snowboard cross and parallel slalom. At just 16 years old, Snowboarder Ollie Martin took home two World Championships medals across two disciplines. 

Several veterans continue to lead the charge. Jessie Diggins overcame an injury to capture two Crystal Globes—the overall and distance titles—capping off a strong season with seven podiums, six wins and a World Championships silver medal. Nick Goepper walked away from the freeski halfpipe season with four podiums and a World Championships silver, while Alex Ferreira continued his reign with five World Cup podiums and a bronze at World Championships. Freeskier Alex Hall secured his first slopestyle Crystal Globe and moguls athlete Jaelin Kauf took home three Crystal Globes, becoming the first American woman to do so since 2015. Snowboarder Chloe Kim returned to dominance with three halfpipe wins and her record-setting third career World Championships gold. At the same time, Para snowboarder Noah Elliott earned both the banked slalom and overall Crystal Globes in the LL1 classification. Brenna Huckaby once again proved her dominance in Para snowboarding by taking home the FIS Para Snowboard LL Crystal Globe, alongside teammate Isabelle Hicks, who won the UL snowboard cross Crystal Globe. Then, Maddie Mastro clinched her career-first halfpipe Crystal Globe, topping off her standout season. 

Twelve Crystal Globes

  • Jessie Diggins (overall, distance)
  • Noah Elliott (overall, banked slalom - LLI) 
  • Jaelin Kauf (overall, moguls, duals)
  • Alex Ferreira (freeski halfpipe)
  • Alex Hall (freeski slopestyle) 
  • Isabelle Hicks (snowboard cross - UL)
  • Brenna Huckaby (snowboard cross - LL)
  • Maddie Mastro (snowboard halfpipe)


Four Nations Cups
 

  • Moguls: moguls, dual moguls 
  • Freeski: park & pipe 
  • Para snowboard
     

On the business side, U.S. Ski & Snowboard deepened existing partnerships with Stifel and Toyota, securing naming rights for the Stifel U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team and the Toyota U.S. Para Snowboard Team. New partner Cloudflare joined the team as the Official Technology Partner and at the end of the season, a multi-year, first-of-its-kind partnership with J.Crew was announced. Alpine, cross country and snowboard cross athletes raced in climate change-themed suits, highlighting a collaboration with Protect Our Winters to raise environmental awareness alongside the Easy Green Initiative. As part of the HERoic initiative, the Stifel HERoic Cup also debuted, with Stifel awarding $50,000 to the woman alpine skier who scored the most FIS points throughout the domestic World Cup events: the Stifel Killington Cup, Stifel Birds of Prey and Stifel Sun Valley Finals. 

Outside of athletics and partnerships, the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team had exponential growth on media front, including social, earned media and content. Over the season, social media channels impressions grew over 65% from last year. This season, the social media team focused more on telling the story behind the athlete and going beyond the results, highlighted by a successful female focused snowboard mini series with Togethxr. The sports and athletes also received more exposure than ever with expanded broadcast coverage in the U.S., in addition to further growing their profile via more extensive earned media across general sports and business industry outlets.

"This season was one to remember—on and off the snow,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, President and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “This season, we had success across the board. Athletically, our athletes broke records, and on the business side, we matched that success by adding new partners to our team and expanding on existing relationships with others, while staying true to our mission of championing competitive snow sports and developing U.S. champions. With eyes already on next season and Milan Cortina, we’re working hard to carry this momentum forward.”

As U.S. Ski & Snowboad looks ahead to next season, the focus is on the 2026 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games. With momentum from one of its most successful seasons in history, the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team is ready for a summer of training and preparing for what’s to come. 

U.S. Wins Freestyle 2025 Marc Hodler Trophy

By Ryan Odeja - Stifel U.S. Ski Team
April, 9 2025
podium
Reese Chapdelaine and Abby McLarnon on the dual moguls podium at Junior World Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan. (FIS Freestyle // KSA)

The 2024-25 international junior competition season has officially wrapped, and the United States brought home the 2025 freestyle Marc Hodler Trophy, awarded to the nation with the best cumulative results across all FIS Junior World Championship freestyle events. This is the eighth win for the United States since 2014. The U.S. won by just seven points over the second-place nation, China, which dominated the aerials events, while the U.S. athlete shone in moguls and ski cross. 

The action began earlier this season with the freestyle moguls and aerials Junior World Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan. In moguls, the team was led by Porter Huff, who finished fourth and Abby McLarnon, who also took fourth. On duals day, the women were on fire finishing in second, third, fourth and seventh place with Reese Chapdelaine and Abby McLarnon taking silver and bronze. The event came to a close with the dual moguls team event, where Jiah Cohen and Reese Chapdelaine (USA 2) took home gold and Anabel Ayad and Chase Littlefield (USA 3) rounded out the podium in third place. At the end of the events in Almaty, the U.S. sat second in the trophy standings behind China. 

The best junior ski cross athletes flocked to Isola, France at the beginning of April to wrap up their season with ski cross and ski cross team events. Morgan Shute continued her international tear in women's ski cross with a third-place performance, becoming the first U.S. ski cross athlete to earn a Junior World Championships medal since 2018. Her podium moving the U.S. ahead of China in the overall standings. However, the battle for the trophy wasn’t done yet, and it all came down to the ski cross team event, where the U.S. finished in ninth place to earn two points and secure the 2025 Marc Hodler Trophy. 

HIGHLIGHTS

(Hometown; Club; Date of Birth)

  • Gold, dual moguls team - Reese Chapdelaine (Vail, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 9/3/2005), Jiah Cohen (Minturn, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 05/28/2006)
  • Silver, dual moguls - Reese Chapdelaine (Vail, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 9/3/2005)
  • Bronze, dual moguls - Abby McLarnon (Steamboat Springs, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 10/16/2006)
  • Bronze, dual moguls team - Anabel Ayad (Steamboat Springs, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 9/1/2005), Chase Littlefield (Yarmouth, ME; Wasatch Freestyle; 3/9/2006)
  • Bronze, ski cross - Morgan Shute (Allendale, NJ; Carrabassett Valley Academy; 9/13/2006)
RESULTS

Women’s moguls
Men’s moguls

Women’s dual moguls
Men’s dual moguls

Dual moguls team

Women’s ski cross
Men’s ski cross

Ski cross team

Marc Hodler Trophy standings

2025 HYBRID Club Excellence Conference - REGISTRATION OPEN!

By U.S. Ski & Snowboard
April, 8 2025
club excellence
2025 Hybrid Club Excellence Conference

“The Power of Team” 

  • Thursday, May 15th, 2024 - 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM + Post-Conference Reception until 6:30 pm
  • Friday, May 16th, 2024 - 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

This year’s conference will be held at the Westgate Resort & Spa in Park City, UT, from Thursday, May 15 - Friday, May 16, 2025. The venue also hosts the 2025 U.S. Ski & Snowboard Congress (May 12-16), providing an exciting opportunity to be part of a larger sports community gathering. There will also be a virtual option for those who are unable to make it in person and all sessions will be recorded so you can view them at a later date if you cannot make the live sessions. Whether you're joining us onsite or logging in remotely, get ready to dive into a world of practical insights and collaborative opportunities across all disciplines. 

You must be subscribed to the Sport Education Academy (SEA) to register. We cannot accommodate group registrations, please register individually for the conference. Prior to selecting a registration link below, please ensure that you are logged in to the Sport Education Academy and presently subscribed at the corresponding tier (i.e. the GOLD SEA SUBSCRIBER link will only work if you currently have a Gold subscription). 

IN-PERSON OPTIONS

*Includes continental breakfast on both days, lunch, and a post-conference reception, raffle, and networking on Thursday. 

LODGING INFORMATION 

VIRTUAL OPTIONS - ZOOM

CERTIFIED COACHES CONTINUING EDUCATION 

Get ahead on next year’s Continuing Education (CE) requirement! Certified coaches (Level 100 or higher) may meet the 2025-26 CE requirement in FULL by participating in this conference.

  • Attendee participation is recorded automatically and will be added to your coach education records this summer. 
  • Our normal CE calendar is July 1 - June 30. The annual Club Excellence Conference is a special exception that allows coaches to get ahead on CE credits for the coming season. Online and external CE completed in May/June otherwise applies to the previous season’s requirement.
  • Please note all sessions will be recorded so if you are interested in registering for the sessions but cannot make the live dates, register for the virtual option and we will provide you with all of the webinar recordings, all of the resources, and you will still qualify for continuing education credits.
  • Attendance will earn you 10 continuing education credits to keep your coach certification current for the 2025-26 season. 

Thank you to our Title Sponsor, World Cup Supply, for making this conference possible.

We hope you will join us! 

Best,
U.S. Ski & Snowboard Sport Education
sporteducation@usskiandsnowboard.org

 

Pare Takes Third in Mt. St. Anne

By Sadie Texer - Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team
April, 8 2025
Nathan Pare

In the final FIS snowboard cross World Cup of the 2024-25 season and first official qualifier for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team’s Nathan Pare earned his first career World Cup podium with a third place finish at Mt. St. Anne.

Pare found himself in an unfamiliar spot during Thursday’s qualifications, leaving it up to his second run to earn a spot in finals. An aggressive second run earned him the 26th fastest time of the day and a coveted spot in Friday’s big show and the young American looked to redeem himself infrant of the loud Canadian 

Joining pare in the round of eight finals was top American qualifier Senna Leith, with the 10th fastest time in qualifications, Olympic Gold medalist Nick Baumgartner and Olympian Jake Vedder. Leith and Baumgartner were taken out in the first round of heats but Pare and Vedder kept the American hopes alive, making it all the way through to the quarterfinal round where the two teammates were forced to race in the same heat. Pare bested veteran Vedder to take second place in the heat and moved to the round of semis, where another second place results set up the 20 year old for the first World Cup big final of his career. Up against the likes of Austria’s Jakob Dusek and Canada’s Eliot Grondin, Pare took to the start gate and put on a show, racing toe-to-toe with the world’s best riders and edging out France’s Loan Bozzolo for a spot on the podium.

Earning such an accomplishment at the Mt. St. Anne track is special for Pare, who won the 2023-24 Rookie of the Year honor at the same track last season despite not being able to race in the World Cup due to a broken jaw.

“This race is so special and it means so much to podium here after last season,” said the Maine native. “It made me so hungry to come back and crush it this year and to have my friends, family and everyone who has supported me my whole life here to watch me earn my first podium- it just means everything”

The Canadian double header caps off a successful season for the snowboard cross team, who will now take a well deserved break before heading into summer training camps ahead of the 2025-26 season.

2025 Stifel Alpine Awards Announced

By Sierra Ryder - Stifel U.S. Ski Team
April, 2 2025
stifel awards
The Stifel Awards were given out to the alpine winners at the Toyota U.S. Alpine Championships presented by Stifel. (Joshua Duplechian)

The annual Stifel Awards were handed out to the nine recipients at the Toyota U.S. Alpine Championships presented by Stifel. The awards honor athletes and staff from the season ranging from best comeback to rookie of the year and staff member of the year. 

The Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team athletes voted on the categories through two rounds of voting and each winner received a $1,000 check - made possible by Stifel. 

“The recipients of this year's awards are well deserved. Whether it was an impressive comeback story or just a valued member of our team, it is a great way to cap off a successful and long season,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Chief of Sport Anouk Patty.

o Best Comeback (Men): Bridger Gile

Gile has been plagued with back problems for the last several years. This season, he was able to manage the pain and complete a full season, during which he scored his first World Cup points in giant slalom. 

o Best Comeback (Women): Breezy Johnson

Johnson has had a difficult past few seasons but overcame the challenges to capture golds in downhill and the team combined at the World Championships. Johnson then went on to capture another World Cup podium in Kvitfjell. 

o Most Improved (Men): Ben Ritchie

Ritchie has always shown promise in slalom, but this season he catapulted himself to new success. Ritchie scored multiple personal bests and ended the season in his best slalom rank to date, capping off the season with a new personal best at the Stifel Sun Valley Finals. 

o Most Improved (Women): Lauren Macuga

Macuga has had an incredible breakout season on the World Cup circuit, including a World Cup win and a World Championships medal. It was a huge improvement from the previous season when her best result was fifth place. 

o Rookie of the Year (Men): Stanley Buzek

Buzek consistently showed strength in slalom as a young rookie and this season was no different. Buzek helped lead the Junior Worlds team to two medals with his talent in the team parallel and team event. 

o Rookie of the Year (Women): Elisabeth Bocock

Bocock continued to impress this season on the World Cup tour, claiming personal bests and a top-10 World Cup result in giant slalom. 

o Athlete of the Year (Men): Ryan Cochran-Siegle

Cochran-Siegle is always a speed skier to watch. He continued his build this season with a strong start in Val Gardena where he garnered another podium result in downhill.

o Athlete of the Year (Women): Lauren Macuga

Macuga has had a laudable breakout season on the World Cup circuit, which included a World Cup win and a World Championships medal. 

o Staff Member of the Year: Zan Spilar

Spilar, the women’s tech World Cup coach, took on a huge load this season and did it with confidence and grace. His athletes and the alpine program appreciate Spilar and his efforts.