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Macuga Shines with a Super-G Bronze Medal at the World Championships

By Sierra Ryder - Stifel U.S. Ski Team
February, 6 2025
cougs
Lauren Macuga claims bronze in her first World Championships super-G race. (Getty Images)

In Thursday’s first World Championships speed race in Saalbach, Austria, 22-year-old Stifel U.S. Ski Team athlete Lauren Macuga won the bronze medal in the super-G. It was her first World Championships start and makes her the youngest skier to win a World Champs medal in a speed event in 12 years.

“It was all about that mentality and you can hear me talk to myself, like ‘come on, give it everything you got,’” said Macuga. “Coming down that course I knew there would be some big jumps and crucial parts, so I was just trusting the line and going for it.” 

It was a beautiful sunny day with a perfect race surface. The women had already skied the slope twice with two downhill training runs earlier in the week, and with their head coach setting the super-G, they were prepared for a big day. 

Macuga was the first U.S. skier for the team wearing bib 14 and she sent it from the top. She lost a little bit of time in the middle, but skied to the line to tie Norwegian Kajsa Lie for third. 

“Coming into this year, I was just hoping to make the team,” Macuga said. “It’s just cool to see that I’m figuring out how to do it more and more consistently.”

Macuga comes from an impressive family, with three daughters all on the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team. While her father and sister Alli are in Park City while Alli competes in moguls at the Intermountain Health Freestyle International presented by Stifel at Deer Valley and her sister Sam competes at the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup in Lake Placid, mother Amy was in the finish in Saalbach. Lauren and her mother had an emotional moment in the finish after her run. 

“Oh my gosh to have my mom in the finish here - it's so fun and such a cool experience,” said Macuga. 

Macuga has become a consistent contender in the speed disciplines this season. She won her first World Cup in the St. Anton super-G in early January, which was also her first World Cup podium. In Beaver Creek at the Stifel Birds of Prey, she also claimed a personal best downhill result in fourth. Now she has earned her first World Championships medal in her first appearance at the biannual event. 

Austrian fans had an exciting day with Stephanie Venier claiming the top spot with a gold. Italy’s Federica Brignone claimed the silver medal position. Stifel U.S. Ski Team athletes Breezy Johnson and Keely Cashman also raced hard in the super-G. Johnson landed in 19th with Cashman in 24th. Teammate Lindsey Vonn had a few strong splits on her run until she hooked a gate with her arm and was thrown out. She did not finish but is OK. 

Next on the docket for the World Championships event is the men’s super-G on Friday. 

RESULTS
Women's super-G

HOW TO WATCH 
5:30 a.m. ET - men’s World Championships super-G, Saalbach, AUT - skiandsnowboard.live  

U.S. Ski & Snowboard, Protect Our Winters Collaborate on Climate Change-Themed Race Suit for 2025 World Championships 

By Courtney Harkins
February, 4 2025
paula moltzan
During a training run, Paula Moltzan is in the new U.S. Ski & Snowboard, Protect Our Winters Collaborate, and climate change race suit. (Ryan Mooney - U.S. Ski & Snowboard).

SAALBACH, Austria (Feb. 4, 2025) – For the second time, U.S. Ski & Snowboard, in partnership with Protect Our Winters (POW) and Kappa, is releasing a race suit designed to bring attention to climate change. The Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team will wear the suit during the 2025 FIS Alpine Ski World Championships in Saalbach, Austria Feb. 4-16, 2025 and the Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team will wear a similar race suit at the 2025 FIS Nordic Ski World Championships in Trondheim, Norway Feb. 26 - March 9, 2025.

In 2023, U.S. Ski & Snowboard partnered with POW, a leading nonprofit organization that rallies the outdoor community in support of systemic solutions to climate change, and Kappa, the team’s technical apparel partner and supplier of the team uniform, to bring to life a unique vision of climate change on the alpine athletes’ speed suits. Laddering up to U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s climate change initiative Easy Green, the 2025 suit is a new version of the 2023 World Championships suit, showcasing melting glaciers. 

In addition to the team partner logos traditionally on athlete race suits, the World Championship suit also showcases the POW logo, a key partner of U.S. Ski & Snowboard in the fight against a warming climate, and the Easy Green logo. 

"Climate change directly impacts our athletes and the mountains we cherish. By incorporating a climate change theme into our race suits for the World Championships again, we hope to continue driving awareness and action,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, President and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “These suits are a powerful reminder that we must protect the future of winter sports and our planet."

The race suit is designed with Kappa and produced in Italy with 100% Italian fabrics in a factory certified in terms of environmental sustainability. 

“POW fights for clean air, clean water and a healthy environment for all; we’re proud to stand alongside the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team as it puts this mission on the global stage,” said POW CEO Erin Sprague. “The suits will spark global awareness and conversations about climate change and further the climate movement in outdoor communities, moving us closer to common-ground, common-sense solutions needed to tackle the climate crisis. We’re all in this together, and we are excited to see the Stifel U.S. Ski Team racing in these suits.”

“Having a World Championship racing suit that reflects the current climate crisis that we are in is such an important part of advocacy that we can bring to sport as humans, not just as athletes,” said Olympic champion and Stifel U.S. Ski Team cross country skier Jessie Diggins. “As an active board member for Protect Our Winters and member of their athlete alliance, using my voice and the power of sport to call attention to our shared need for clean air, clean water and a healthy planet is the most meaningful thing that I could possibly do. It’s so much more than a ski race. My hope is that seeing us race in these suits that visually show the impact of our changing climate will be a reminder of what’s at stake. It can help people remember the small, everyday actions that they can take, as well as the larger policy actions that countries can take in order to swing the needle and protect not only snow sports, but outdoor recreation for everyone in our future.”

About U.S. Ski & Snowboard
U.S. Ski & Snowboard is the Olympic National Governing Body (NGB) of ski and snowboard sports in the USA, based in Park City, Utah. Tracing its roots directly back to 1905, the organization represents nearly 200 elite skiers and snowboarders in 2022, competing in seven teams; alpine, cross country, freeski, freestyle, snowboard, nordic combined, and ski jumping. In addition to fully funding 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.

pow suits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About Protect Our Winters (POW)
Protect Our Winters is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps passionate outdoor people protect the places and lifestyles they love from climate change. Founded in 2007 by professional snowboarder Jeremy Jones, POW is a community of athletes, scientists, creatives and business leaders advancing non-partisan policies that protect our world today and for future generations. For more information, visit www.protectourwinters.org

About Kappa®
Kappa® is one of the brands owned by BasicNet SpA, an Italian company that also owns Robe di Kappa®, Jesus Jeans®, K-Way®, Superga®, Sabelt®, Briko® and Sebago®, leading clothing, footwear and accessories brands for sport and leisure. BasicNet operates worldwide through a network of entrepreneurs who, under license, produce or distribute products with the Group’s trademarks. BasicNet provides these companies with research and development, product industrialization and global marketing services. All business processes take place solely via the internet, which makes BasicNet a “fully web integrated company”. BasicNet, based in Turin, has been listed on the Italian Stock

For more information, please contact:
Courtney Harkins, U.S. Ski & Snowboard, courtney.harkins@usskiandsnowboard.org
Leigh Capozzi, Protect Our Winters, leigh@protectourwinters.org 

Assets
Images available for editorial use.

 

Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team Fourth in Team Parallel

By Sierra Ryder - Stifel U.S. Ski Team
February, 4 2025
parallel
Stifel U.S. Ski Team finishes fourth in team parallel event at World Championships (Getty Images).

On Tuesday night’s first event of the FIS Ski Alpine World Championships the Stifel U.S. Ski Team fell short of a medal in fourth place. 

“I went out there and did the fastest skiing I could,” said Moltzan. “I just want to show the rest of the world that we are some of the fastest skiers in the world - maybe not tonight but I still believe in all of us and there are a lot more medal opportunities.” 

It was a tough battle in Saalbach for the Team Event as the reigning World Champions (the U.S.) fired out of the start to try and claim a medal. 

“It is really special to be skiing alongside these guys. It truly feels like a team event,” said Nelson. “We rely on each other and it is really cool.” 

The race consists of four heats all to make either the big final or the small final to get a coveted medal. First the Stifel U.S. Ski Team squad was able to knock out Poland. However the next heat would be a test. The U.S. against Norway. The same two teams from the big final in 2023. 

The women’s team came out firing. Paula Moltzan and Nina O’Brien consistently scored the fastest times for the women’s field. On the men’s side it was going to be a fierce battle with Norwegian World Cup winners Timon Haugan and Atle Lie McGrath. Isaiah Nelson fell short to Haugan but River Radamus skied his best run to beat McGrath. 

The next round was against Switzerland. It was once again a battle at the end. Moltzan and O’Brien delivered the green. Nelson with a mistake fell short and Radamus was just off the mark. The U.S. would move on to the small final against Sweden. 

In the small final it was down to the last racer, Nelson. Nelson was pushing extremely hard on track to potentially claim the bronze. At the bottom of the course he pushed just a smidge too hard and straddled. The U.S. would have to ski away with fourth. A very solid effort under the lights for the opening race. Italy would claim gold with Switzerland in silver. 

“I love this event, I love racing with this team,” said Radamus. “Isaiah was our newest member and he brought a lot of heart to this in his first World Championships event ever so very cool for him.” 

The next World Championships event will be a woman’s super-G on Thursday Feb. 5. 

RESULTS
team parallel

Stifel U.S. Ski Team Announces 2025 Para Alpine World Championships Team 

By Ryan Odeja - Stifel U.S. Ski Team
February, 4 2025
Laurie Stephens

U.S. Ski & Snowboard is thrilled to announce the 16 athletes that will represent the Stifel U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team at the 2025 FIS Para Alpine World Ski Championships in Maribor, Slovenia, Feb. 5-11, 2025. 

Two time world champion and 18 time World Championship medalist Laurie Stephens will headline the team alongside two time Paralympian and two time World Championship team member Andrew Haraghey. Haraghey has been a leader on the team for years and has already earned multiple new personal bests this season, including two fourth place finishes in Santa Caterina. 

The team veterans are joined by many up-and-comers, including Audrey Crowley, who earned her first career podiums this season in Courchevel at only 17 years old. Jesse Keefe is a rising star and has had multiple top 10 finishes so far this season. Saylor O’Brien of the National Ability Center has had a breakthrough season, securing multiple podium finishes, including her first career win. Between the seasoned team members and the rookies, these athletes have had quite the season so far.

Between the seasoned team members and the rookies, these athletes have had quite the season so far. 

“We are thrilled to announce the Stifel U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team World Championships team,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, U.S. Ski & Snowboard President & CEO. “This is the first Para alpine World Championships we have had since the team has been reintegrated under U.S. Ski & Snowboard, and we couldn’t be more proud of these athletes and to see what they will accomplish on one of the biggest stages.”  

“We have made a lot of progress this year after our first season with Para alpine under our umbrella,” said Anouk Patty, U.S. Ski & Snowboard Chief of Sport. “These athletes have been working incredibly hard on and off the snow and have had great success already this season. I am confident they will continue to build and show the world what they can do.”

2025 FIS Para Alpine World Ski Championships Team

(Hometown; Club; College; Birthdate)
* denotes first World Championships team

Women

  • Audrey Crowley (Grafton, WI; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 3/1/2007)*
  • Allie Johnson (Chicago, IL; National Sports Center for the Disabled; Colorado State University; 12/23/1994)
  • Saylor O’Brien (Woodland, UT; National Ability Center; 4/28/2003)
  • Kelsey O’Driscol (Glens Falls, NY; National Sports Center for the Disabled; SUNY Adirondack; 1/24/1994)*
  • Laurie Stephens (Wenham, MA; University of New Hampshire; 3/5/1984)

Men

  • Matthew Brewer (Huntington Beach, CA; National Ability Center; Saddleback Community College; 5/8/1975)
  • Noah Bury (Salt Lake City, UT; National Sports Center for the Disabled; Weber State University; 1/18/2003)*
  • Ravi Drugan (Eugene, OR; Oregon Adaptive Sports; 12/19/1989)
  • Robert Enigl (Kaukauna, WI; National Sports Center for the Disabled/National Ability Center; Fox Valley Tech; 12/16/1983)*
  • Patrick Halgren (Tolland, CT; National Sports Center for the Disabled; 6/24/1992)
  • Andrew Haraghey (Enfield, CT; National Ability Center; Westminster University; 12/16/1995)
  • Jesse Keefe (Sun Valley, ID; Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation; University of Colorado Colorado Springs; 3/26/2004)
  • Andrew Kurka (Palmer, AK; Alyeska Ski Club; 1/27/1992)
  • Tyler McKenzie (Leominster, MA; National Ability Center; Bates College; 8/20/1991)*
  • Zach Williams (Madera, CA; National Ability Center; John Brown University/California State University Dominquez Hills; 7/26/1979)*
  • Spencer Wood (Pittsfield, VT; Killington Mountain School; University of Colorado Boulder; 1/17/1997)
2025 FIS PARA ALPINE WORLD SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS Live Coverage 

All times ET
Subject to change.

Saturday, Feb. 8
4:00 a.m. - women’s giant slalom run 1 - FIS TV
7:00 a.m. - women’s giant slalom run 2 - FIS TV

Sunday, Feb. 9
4:00 a.m. - men’s giant slalom run 1 - FIS TV
7:00 a.m. - men’s giant slalom run 2 - FIS TV

Monday, Feb. 10
4:00 a.m. - men’s slalom run 1 - FIS TV
7:00 a.m. - men’s slalom run 2 - FIS TV

Tuesday, Feb. 11
4:00 a.m. - women’s slalom run 1 - FIS TV
7:00 a.m. - women’s slalom run 2 - FIS TV

###

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Ryan Odeja - Stifel U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team Press Officer
ryan.odeja@usskiandsnowboard.org 
 

Third USA Halfpipe Podium Sweep 2024-25 Season

By Erin Doyle - Stifel U.S. Freeski Team
February, 3 2025
Nick Goepper, Alex Ferreira, and Matt Labaugh on the podium at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix
Nick Goepper, Alex Ferreira, and Matt Labaugh on the podium at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Aspen Buttermilk

The Stifel U.S. Freeski Team secured their third men's halfpipe podium sweep of the season at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix in Aspen. The men's team went one through four: Alex Ferreira, Nick Goepper, Matt Labaugh, and Hunter Hess. Svea Irving led the charge for the women, as the top finisher in fourth. 

In maybe the most exciting halfpipe final ever, Alex Ferreira secured the win with a near-perfect third run, putting it down when it mattered. Ferreira threw both ways double 1620s, clinching the top spot. This was a huge win for Ferreira in his hometown of Aspen, Colorado after finishing second in X Games just last week behind Nick Goepper. Goepper finished second after a beautiful first run that set the tone for the rest of the competition. He was coming in hot after winning X Games in the same Aspen Buttermilk pipe last week.

Matt Labaugh earned his first World Cup podium with a third place on an awesome run that he capped off by leaping into his friends at the bottom of the pipe. Labaugh's previous best finish was fifth at Mammoth last year, but since finals were cancelled it didn't feel quite real enough. Labaugh was so excited for his first podium, and to podium at such a stacked finals, saying "I didn't have any expectations, it was the run I've been dreaming about putting down for months. I landed the run, and just couldn't believe that went into the podium. The run felt so right, I couldn't believe it when I landed, I was kind of in awe at the bottom. It feels like it's been coming for a long time. The best part was jumping into my friends, everyone being down there cheering me on was awesome". 

The American men did not stop there though, Hunter Hess came in fourth after a great third run earning him a 92.50 and Birk Irving in seventh with a 91.00. Finals was tough, with the top seven finishers all in the 90s. Tristan Feinberg finished in 10th.

Svea Irving finished fourth, after a great first run. She cranked up the intensity, trying some harder tricks for her second and third run but not getting it quite smooth enough for a podium spot. Kate Gray finished seventh, after a clean first run. Great Britain's Zoe Atkin came away with the top spot, with China's Fanghui Li in second and Canada's Amy Fraser in third.

The Ferreira-Goepper dynamic is heating up, with Alex winning two events this year, Copper and Apsen, and Nick winning two events this year, X Games and Secret Garden. It will all come down to the Snow Calgary showdown in Calgary from February 

RESULTS
Women
Men

Hall, Harwood and Stevenson on the Podium

By Erin Doyle - Stifel U.S. Freeski Team
February, 3 2025
Alex Hall, Colby Stevenson and Birk Ruud on the men's slopestyle podium
Alex Hall, Colby Stevenson and Birk Ruud on the men's slopestyle podium

Finals at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Aspen kicked off with men's and women's slopestyle early Saturday morning. After a cold and sunny week of training, conditions changed for finals offering warm temperatures and flat light.

Junior Worlds silver medalist, Ella Andrews, dropped first for the American women. This was only Andrew's second World Cup final, but she handled it with ease. Andrews put down a clean first run that earned her sixth for the day. This was Andrew's second highest finish at a World Cup, after a second place finish in Mammoth last season.

X Games gold medalist Rell Harwood was the other American woman in the final. After qualifying second, Rell dropped towards the end of the pack. Harwood put down a clean first run, but it wasn't enough for the podium. On her second go, she cleaned up her rails and her last hit: a left double 1260 safety. The judges rewarded her with third place, earning Harwood her first World Cup podium. Harwood was extremely happy with the outcome and with her skiing, standing on the podium alongside of France's Tess Ledeux in first and Canada's Megan Oldham in second.

On the men's side, the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team was out in full force with five of 16 competitors: Alex Hall, Colby Stevenson, Mac Forehand, Konnor Ralph, and Cody LaPlante. Alex Hall came out swinging, putting down a beautiful first run that earned him first place, and his first World Cup win of the season. Hall was stoked on the victory, saying, "I was so hyped to put one down today! The Aspen Buttermilk course was really fun and everyone in the field killed it today. I was really happy with my run and was able put it down about as smooth as I could." Colby Stevenson finished second, with a great final run to bump Norway's Birk Ruud to third. LaPlante struggled to put down a clean run, finishing the day in 15th, but was proud of his effort to put together a challenging and stylish run. Forehand and Ralph finished the day in ninth and sixth, respectively, putting down good runs, but not enough to crack the podium. 

The Stifel U.S. Freeski Team is wrapping up their Aspen stint, with the Visa Big Air finals going down on Thursday, February 6. After that, they are taking some much needed time off before heading off to the last North American World Cup of the season in Quebec, Canada.

RESULTS
Women
Men

Bon's Big Day: FitzSimons Third in Aspen

By Sadie Texer - Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team
February, 3 2025
Sean FitzSimons Third in Aspen

Snowboard action at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix wrapped up Sunday morning with slopestyle finals and six members of the Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team were set to drop. Sean FitzSimons secured his second podium of his career. 

Warmer temperatures and a bit of cloud cover set the scene over Aspen’s Buttermilk Park and the athletes took advantage of the early morning weather window and put on a show for the Colorado crowd.

Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team rookie athletes held it down on the women’s side of competition, with 15 year old Lily Dhawornvej making her first domestic slopestyle finals appearance and Hahna Norman earning her first World Cup career final. Although neither Dhawornvej or Norman were able to land a full pull clean, the two young guns proved they belong on the World Cup stage and are true threats to make the Olympic roster in the upcoming cycle.

The men’s side of competition saw four Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team members in the mix. 2022 Olympian FitzSimons put down two clean runs to qualify into finals and was looking to continue his competition full pull streak in Sunday’s competition. Sitting in third place after a solid first run, FitzSimons, better known as "Bon" by his teammates, looked to best his score of 73.76 and hold his place on the podium. Dropping in for the final time in Aspen, FitzSimons kicked things off with a solid rail section into a switch backside 16 melon, backside triple cork 14 weddle and a frontside triple cork 14 weddle, saluting to the Colorado crowd hyping him up in the stands as he slashed into the finish area. FitzSimons was forced to sit through a grueling 11 more runs from riders who are all threats to the podium before he was able to claim third place on the day and secure the second World Cup podium of his career.

"It felt really good to put four for four down and even better to earn a spot on the podium,” said an emotional FitzSimons after the awards ceremony. “If there was an event to podium at this would be the one so I’m psyched to get it done.”

Two-time Olympian Chris Corning, better known as “Captain America” by his teammates, and Jake Canter, straight off a successful big air stint in Austria, took 10th and 11th respectively. Making his first World Cup finals appearance, North Carolinian Fynn Bullock, who doubles as a professional wakeboarder in the off-season, put down a clutch second run, ending with a massive backside 16 nose grab to secure seventh place overall.

The Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Aspen Snowmass was recently added as a pivotal competition towards qualifying for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic Winter Games, making the achievement even more bittersweet for FitzSimons, a Mt. Hood native who spent the last year battling back from a broken pelvis. 

“It’s been a long road coming back from injury,” FitzSimons added. “It feels great to be on the box again. So unreal.” 

Never forgetting where he came from, FitzSimons added one final remark:

“Shoutout Oregon. I better see that in the article.”

With his third place finish in Aspen, FitzSimons locked up the U.S. national snowboard slopestyle Championship title for the men and rookie Lily Dhawornvej earned the honor for the women.

The Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team has two days of training before Wednesday’s qualifications for the Visa Big Air presented by Toyota. Watch all the action from big air finals live from Buttermilk on Outside TV on Thursday, Feb. 6 at 3:00 p.m. ET.

RESULTS
Women
Men

Elliott Takes Banked Slalom Crystal Globe; Schultz Second in Kühtai

By U.S. Ski & Snowboard
February, 2 2025
Noah Elliott with his Crystal Globe in Kuhtai, Austria
Noah Elliott shows off his Crystal Globe after his banked slalom win in Kühtai, Austria. (invisions.at).

On the second day of competition in Kühtai, Austria, Noah Elliott completed his perfect banked slalom season, winning all four events to take home the 2025 FIS Banked Slalom Crystal Globe. 

The beautiful conditions from day one continued into the second day of competition, a great contrast to the past two World Cup stops where weather played a role in the results. Darian Haynes, Mike Schultz and Elliott advanced to the finals for the U.S. after finishing in the top four in their respective classifications in qualifying. In the women’s LL1/LL2 class, Kate Delson led the way in fifth, followed by Brenna Huckaby in ninth, Rebecca Johnston in 11th and Dennae Russell in 13th. In the men’s LL2 classification, Zach Miller finished fifth, securing a third-place finish in the overall banked slalom standings. Joe Pleban followed in 11th and Aleks Godowski ended the day 14th. Colby Fields finished 13th in men’s UL. 

In the finals, Haynes was once again head-to-head with Anna Drobna (POL). Haynes put up a great fight but fell behind and finished the day fourth. Elliott and Schultz went head to head in the big final, fighting for first and second place. Elliott triumphed, earning his fourth banked slalom win of the season, which allowed him to earn the Overall Banked Slalom Crystal Globe. Schultz finished second, earning his fourth podium of the season.

The team is returning to the States for a training block before heading to Steamboat Springs for the first domestic World Cup since 2017. 

RESULTS
Women
Men

Diggins Dominates 10k Skate, Wins 26th Individual World Cup

By Leann Bentley - Stifel U.S. Ski Team
February, 2 2025
jessie diggins
Jessie Diggins celebrates with champagne after her win in the 10k skate in Cogne, Italy. (NordicFocus).

At the first interval of Sunday's 10k skate, it was clear that Jessie Diggins was here to do one thing - win. And she did just that, taking home her 26th individual World Cup victory and her fifth of the 2024-25 season. Adding onto a successful day for the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, Gus Schumacher had a strong day with a 10th-place result, alongside teammates Kendall Kramer and Kate Oldham, who notched their career-best World Cup results. 

The men kicked things off today for the final day of racing in sunny Cogne, Italy. The U.S. team has six men at the start: Walker Hall, Zak Ketterson, Zanden McMullen, Ben Ogden, Schumacher, and Hunter Wonders. With the interval start format, it was an athlete against the clock. But, at the 4.5k mark, it was clear that Schumacher was having a strong race. The young U.S. skier, who captured his first World Cup win a year ago at the Stifel Loppet Cup in Minneapolis, MN, looked determined to make every second count. Through the intervals, Schumacher maintained his position within the top 10. Into the finishing stretch, Schumacher of Anchorage, AK, crossed the line in tenth, collapsing at the finish after a hard day's work. After spending the last few weeks back home in Alaska, Schumacher traveled several time zones and thousands of miles away from home to a quick turnaround to racing. This weekend, his focus was to find his speed. Today, he did just that.

"Today felt really good!" said Schumacher, post-race. I could tell in the warmup that things were kinda in a good place. I still didn’t feel adjusted for altitude racing, but it felt good to ski smoothly and powerfully the whole time. It's nice to have some good feelings going into this camp next week, which finishes off the time at altitude. I'll be able to chill out and hits some races in Falun!"

However, Norway’s Harald Østberg Amundsen stole the spotlight today. Skiing the 10k in an astonishing 19 minutes and 39 seconds, Amundsen made a clear statement about his continued dominance this season. Teammates Iver Tildheim Andersen was second and Martin Loewstroem Nyenget third. Ogden was the second fastest American man today in 24th, Ketterson just outside top 30 in 32nd, McMullen 43rd, Wonders 46th and Hall 48th.  

In the women's 10k skate, Diggins was unstoppable from the start. She controlled the race from the get-go, with her lead growing at every interval. Her performance was remarkable; she clocked a sub-24-minute time— the only woman to ski sub-24 on the day— to claim her 26th individual World Cup victory.

Diggins has been in impressive form this season despite battling an injury earlier in the year, which started during the Tour de Ski, and claims her 21st distance World Cup win across 351 World Cup starts.

“The crowd was amazing — I was so thankful for the cheering,” said Diggins after the race. “It was a beautiful day and I just wanted to go really hard, and I did! It’s nice to know that the hard work in training is paying off. Now, I’m excited for a fun and beautiful training camp before the World Championships.”

For the U.S. women, Oldham was 16th and Kramer was 18th - both career-best results for the young Americans and a confidence boost before the two athletes headed to Italy for the Under-23 World Championships. Kramer, who just wrapped up her collegiate running career, thrives in technical distance races and today's result is a testament to her fitness this season. For Oldham, the Montana State University athlete, the last couple weeks on the World Cup have been nothing short of impressive. 

"I’m still here to learn and focus on process goals, but today’s result is icing on the cake of an amazing first experience at World Cup," said Oldham. "It’s a testament to my support system of coaches, techs, teammates, friends and family. “Career best result” is something we’re always chasing as athletes. It may become more elusive as I accumulate more World Cup starts, but for now it’s just adding to the fun of the racing."

Second place, after Diggins, went to Astrid Oeyre Slind of Norway and Kerttu Niskanen of Finland. 

As the season heats up and the World Championships loom, there is one more weekend of racing at the site of last year's World Cup Finals in Falun, Sweden. 

RESULTS
Women
Men

Kauf Wins, Page Third in Val St. Cöme Dual Moguls

By Ryan Odeja - Stifel U.S. Ski Team
February, 2 2025
Team photo in Val St. Come

The Stifel U.S. Ski Team moguls athletes are on a roll as Jaelin Kauf grabbed another victory and Nick Page landed on the podium in third at Saturday's FIS Freestyle World Cup dual moguls in Canada. 

It was a frigid night in Val St. Côme, Quebec, with temperatures hovering around -3 degrees Fahrenheit. Quebec and Val St. Cöme are known for their freestyle culture, and this World Cup is a favorite to many athletes. The Alexandre Bilodeau course is a perfect mix of fun and challenge, creating exciting events for all involved. 

Eight U.S. athletes advanced from the qualification round, including Kylie Kariotis, who made her first-ever World Cup finals by defeating Japan’s Haruka Nakao, who was ranked seventh in the world coming into Saturday's event, in the round of 32. Kai Owens finished 17th, followed by Dylan Marcellini in 27th, Alli Macuga in 28th and Nash Lucas in 29th. 

Of the eight who continued on to the round of 16, Page, Kariotis, Olivia Giaccio and Kauf moved on to the quarter-finals. Charlie Mickel finished ninth, Tess Johnson 10th, Kasey Hogg in 11th, and Asher Michel 15th. Kauf took on Hinako Tomitaka (JPN), Giaccio was paired with Rino Yanagimoto (JPN), Kariotis with Perrine Laffont (FRA) and Nick Page alongside Matt Graham (AUS). Kariotis ran into some trouble against Laffont but finished the day eighth, a new personal best. Giaccio and Kauf advanced and went head to head in the semi-finals, the round determining placement for the big and small finals. Kauf won the semi-final 18-17 against Giaccio, the closest a dual can get, sending Kauf to the big final and Giaccio to the small final. Page took on the king, Mikael Kingsbury, who was coming off of another win last night in the moguls event. Kingsbury won 21 to 14; meaning Page was headed to the small final. 

In the women’s big final, Kauf was matched against Anastassiya Gorodko (KAZ), who is having quite the season so far. At only 19 years old, this big final would secure her first career World Cup podium. Kauf, known for her speed, continued to push the limits in the bumps, and it was too much for Gorodko to contain, causing her to ski out and DNF. With tonight's result, Kauf earned her 10th World Cup win and continued her podium streak to six in a row. Giaccio took on the current World Cup moguls leader, Laffont, in the small final. Giaccio lost the dual but still finished the day fourth, her best duals result of the season. In the men’s small final, Page battled Filip Gravenfors (SWE). It was an incredible dual with both athletes evenly matched across the board, but in the end, it was Page who took the final spot on the podium, finishing third. This is Page’s best dual moguls result of the season and his eighth career podium. The men’s podium was completed by Kingsbury in first and Ben Cavet (FRA) in second. 

“This was super fun tonight,” said Kauf. “She [Gorodko] definitely had me on my toes in there.”

Next up, the best moguls and aerials athletes in the world are heading to Deer Valley for the Super Bowl of Freestyle Skiing - the Intermountain Health Freestyle International presented by Stifel, Feb. 6-8. 

RESULTS
Women
Men