PARK CITY, Utah (May 16, 2024) – U.S. Ski & Snowboard is proud to announce the winners of its annual awards program, honoring individuals and organizations that have greatly impacted the world of elite skiing and snowboarding. This year’s list of winners includes those who have shown talent in sports, coaching and more to foster the growth of skiing and snowboarding. 

The highest honor of the evening, the Julius Blegen Award, was given to Walt Evans. The award is presented annually to the U.S. Ski & Snowboard member who contributed his or her outstanding service to the sports of skiing or snowboarding in the United States. Evans has been in the ski industry for more than 50 years, impacting all aspects of the sport. He has a rich history in alpine racing, where he was part of the University of Wyoming’s NCAA championship team. After his racing career, Evans spent time as the national sport director for the U.S. Ski Association and Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs, eventually becoming the development director for the U.S. Ski Team. More recently, Evans has made a lasting impact as the Aspen Valley Ski Club program director. He officially took a step back from the industry in 2016. In years past, Bruce Crane, Bob Dart, Thelma Hoessler, Dexter Paine, Chuck Heckert, Spencer Eccles and many others have been recognized with this award. 

Stifel U.S. Cross Country athlete and three-time Olympic medalist Jessie Diggins won the highest athletic award, the Beck International Award, based on outstanding performance in international competition. Diggins took home the FIS overall and distance Crystal Globe for the second time in her storied career. It was her most successful season to date and included setting a record for the winningest World Cup season in U.S. history for a cross country athlete. She also took home the Stifel Cross Country Athlete of the Year award and the Team Athletes Giving Back Award for her work with Share Winter Foundation. 

The 2024 U.S. Ski & Snowboard Coach of the Year award went to Stifel U.S. Cross Country Team coach Kristen Bourne. Bourne, a former professional cross country athlete herself, has helped propel this team to new heights in the 2023-24 season. 

The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, under the leadership of Scott McGrew, took home the Club of the Year award due to its program strength across development and coaching.

Other noteworthy recognitions include alpine athlete River Radamus (2024 Buddy Werner Award), Foreste Peterson (2024 Eileen Shiffrin HERoic Development Coach of the Year Award), Jeremy Forster (2024 John J. Clair Jr. Award) and many others who continue to inspire the current and next generation of skiers and snowboarders. Find the full list of winners below. 

DIAMOND AWARD

U.S. Ski & Snowboard Julius Blegen Award: Walt Evans

The Julius Blegen Award is given annually to the U.S. Ski & Snowboard member who contributed his or her outstanding service to the sports of skiing or snowboarding in the United States. It is designed to recognize individuals who have made a significant contribution over a sustained period of time on behalf of the vision and mission of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. The award began in 1946 in memory of Julius Blegen, a former treasurer of the NSA from 1937-42 and first president of the Central U.S. Ski & Snowboard, as well as the American Olympic coach in 1932. 

Walt Evans has been in the ski industry for more than 50 years, impacting all aspects of the sport. He has a rich history rooted in alpine racing, where he was part of the University of Wyoming’s NCAA championship team. After his racing career, Evans spent time as the national sport director for the U.S. Ski Association and Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs, eventually becoming the development director for the U.S. Ski Team. More recently, Evans has made a lasting impact as the Aspen Valley Ski Club program director. He officially took a step back from the industry in 2016. 

GOLD AWARDS

2024 Beck International Award: Jessie Diggins 

U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Beck International Award, its highest athletic award, is presented to a competitor based on outstanding performance in international competition during the past season. The Beck award was inaugurated in 1931.

Jessie Diggins, a three-time Olympic medalist, capped off her historic season winning the overall and distance FIS Crystal Globe. She won six World Cups and landed on the podium 12 times throughout the season along with winning the famed Tour de Ski, the cross country ski version of the Tour de France. Her leadership within her team is also highlighted by the Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team’s best season in history. 

2024 Westhaven Award: Jill Firstbrook 

The Westhaven Award is a lifetime achievement award, recognizing an outstanding FIS technical delegate for his or her service. The donors of this award are Fraser and Teddy West.

Jill Firstbrook has worked in almost every area of the ski industry, from coaching to program direction. Firstbrook now acts as the alpine program director at Mount Sunapee, New Hampshire where she continues to lead the program with force.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard International Coach of the Year Award: Kristen Bourne

Kristen Bourne is the D Team and World Cup coach for the Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team. She was a competitive skier herself in college on the D1 circuit. After college, Kristen moved to Oslo, Norway where she continued racing and interning at the Norwegian School of Sports Science. She began coaching with the national team in 2022.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard Development Coach of the Year Award: Colin Delaney

Colin Delaney is the head coach of ski jumping and nordic combined with the New York Ski Education Foundation. His leadership within the program has helped his athletes soar to new heights. 

U.S. Ski & Snowboard Club of the Year Award: Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation - Scott McGrew 

The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, under the leadership of Scott McGrew, is the 2024 U.S. Ski & Snowboard Club of the Year. SVSEF has consistently produced strong athletes across all disciplines, many moving to the national team and beyond. 

2024 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Champion Award: Schone Maillet - Winter4Kids 

The award is focused on recognizing a person, group, organization, or program that has contributed significantly and sustainably to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in skiing and snowboarding. 

Winter4Kids, headed up by Schone Maiilet in Vernon, New Jersey, was founded out of a Share Winter initiative with a mission to introduce 100,000 kids to winter activities. The main values of the program include creating a safe space, empathy, embracing individuality and fostering a sense of belonging. 

2024 Development Club of the Year: Mt. Bachelor Ski Education Foundation 

Mt Bachelor Ski Education Foundation’s success across its development programs speaks volumes about the culture, staff and structure of the club. It has programs across alpine, cross country, freeski and snowboard. 

SILVER AWARDS

2024 Paul Bacon Award: PJ Jenick

U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s 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. It was originated by the Bacon family and U. S. Ski & Snowboard Rocky Mountain Division in memory of Paul Bacon, an outstanding contributor in the field of race organizing.

PJ Jenick is the alpine race coordinator with Ski & Snowboard Club Vail. He is a former NCAA racer for Western State College, as well as a USSA Level 4 certified technical delegate and chief of race. He also sits as the Vice President on the Rocky Mountain Ski Race Officials board. 

2024 John J. Clair Jr. Award: Jeremy Forster

U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s John J. Clair Jr. Award is given for outstanding service that benefited the U.S. Ski or Snowboard Team. The award was originated by the Long Island Ski Club in memory of John Clair.

Jeremy Forster has worked within the ski industry for more than 20 years with two decades stemming from time at U.S. Ski & Snowboard ranging from event manager to the sport director of snowboard, freeski and freestyle. Forster has a longstanding commitment to the industry and bettering athletes.

2024 Bud & Mary Little Award: Dexter Paine

The Bud and Mary Little Award is presented to an individual who has contributed significantly to U.S. Ski & Snowboard skiing or snowboard interests through a long-term involvement in the FIS or Olympic sports communities, internationally or nationally. Dr. Amos R. “Bud” Little was a noted ski racer, coach and U.S. Ski Team doctor, and he served as an influential leader with the International Ski Federation and U.S. Ski & Snowboard.

As a visionary leader with a deep commitment to skiing and snowboarding and its athletes, Dexter 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. He was also 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). 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. 

2024 Buddy Werner Award: River Radamus 

The Wallace “Buddy” Werner Award is given to the outstanding U.S. Ski & Snowboard competitor who demonstrated leadership and good sportsmanship in national or international competition. It is presented in memory of Buddy Werner, an outstanding U.S. alpine racer who was killed in an avalanche after the 1964 Olympics at the height of his ski career.

River Radamus had his career-best World Cup season in 2023-24, securing his first podium, had his best results in super-G and giant slalom and made a surprise comeback in the slalom discipline. Not only is Radamus’ career on the rise but he is also an excellent teammate, regularly supporting and promoting others over himself.

2024 West Family Award: Lucy Conklin 

The West Family Award is given annually to recognize an outstanding dedicated U.S. Ski & Snowboard certified official for the year and/or over numerous years, from the 'grass root' membership – the lowliest gatekeeper on up. The donor of this award is the Fraser and Teddy West family.

Lucy Conklin spent decades of her life working in the ski industry wearing a number of different hats, including as a race administrator with the Far West division for many years. Conklin’s skillset, organization and knowledge of the industry helps the division run effortlessly. 

2024 Russell Wilder Award: Bill Van Gilder

U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Russell Wilder Award is given annually to recognize the most outstanding effort in focusing the interests of American youth on the sports of skiing or snowboarding. 

Bill Van Glider has been a technical advisor with U.S. Ski & Snowboard and a technical delegate with FIS for decades. It is Gilder’s dedication to the sport that helps events and athletes succeed. 

2024 Team Athletes Giving Back Award: Jessie Diggins - Share Winter Foundation 

Many U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team athletes donate time, money and their persona to various charitable and nonprofit endeavors. The award includes a $5K grant to the athlete's charitable cause or organization and was born through the generosity of an anonymous Trustee donor. 

Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team athlete Jessie Diggins serves on the board of the Share Winter Foundation where she helps kids discover snow sports for the first time. The program enables kids to learn, build confidence and more in the world of skiing and snowboarding.

2024 Eileen Shiffrin HERoic Development Coach of the Year Award: Foreste Peterson 

A former Stifel U.S. Ski Team athlete and NCAA All American, Foreste Peterson uses her expertise to elevate the careers of talented women development athletes, many of whom had their first World Cup starts this season. Peterson is well-loved by her athletes and staff and continues to be an inspiration.

U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD ATHLETES OF THE YEAR 

2024 Adaptive Athlete of the Year: Brenna Huckaby 

Paralympic medalist Brenna Huckaby had seven wins and 10 podiums across the 2023-24 season, winning the banked slalom, snowboard cross and overall Crystal Globes. Huckaby is a leader in the Para snowboard world, serving as a mentor and advocate for women in the sport. A mom of two young daughters, she uses her platform to speak openly about parenting, overcoming cancer, mental health and body positivity. 

2024 Stifel Alpine Athlete of the Year: AJ Hurt 

AJ Hurt had a tremendous breakout season on the World Cup tour, consistently shattering her personal bests. She ended the season with two World Cup podiums: a third in slalom and a third in giant slalom. She was key in helping the women’s tech team secure one of their best seasons, winning the Nations Cup in slalom for the second year in a row. 

2024 Stifel Cross Country Athletes of the Year: Jessie Diggins & Gus Schumacher

Jessie Diggins had a career-best and historic season, winning the overall and distance FIS Crystal Globe, the Tour de Ski and capturing 12 podiums. She was a pivotal member of the cross country team, leading the team to their best ever season. 

Gus Schumacher made a splash on the cross country tour this season, consistently finishing in the top 10. Then in front of a home crowd, Schumacher won the Stifel Loppet Cup in Minneapolis, securing his first victory and the first U.S. men’s cross country World Cup win since 1982. 

2024 Stifel Freestyle Athlete of the Year: Olivia Giaccio (moguls) & Winter Vinecki (aerials)

Olivia Giaccio had the season of a lifetime with consistent performances, personal bests and never-before-dones across the board, including attempting and landing the first cork 1080 in women’s competition history. She stepped on the podium nine times and finished third in the moguls, dual moguls and overall season standings. 

Winter Vinecki won three individual World Cups and helped lead the U.S. to a team win in Changchun, China. On top of competing triples consistently, a rarity among women, Vinecki also perfected her doubles technique to make her hard to beat in all aspects of the sport. Vinecki finished the season second overall, only 42 points behind first place. 

2024 Stifel Freeski Athletes of the Year: Rell Harwood & Alex Ferreira 

Rell Harwood landed in the top 10 of every World Cup she entered this season, secured two X Games medals, taking second place in the knuckle huck and third in big air.

Alex Ferreira had a perfect World Cup season, winning all five World Cup events, along with the Dew Tour and X Games. It was the first time for anyone to achieve the feat in freestyle skiing. He rightfully took home both the overall and halfpipe Crystal Globes.

2024 Stifel Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined Athlete of the Year: Erik Belshaw 

Erik Belshaw had a strong year on the ski jumping circuit where he placed second overall in the individual HS102 event at the 2024 FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships, taking home the silver medal and becoming the first ever American man to reach a ski jumping podium at Junior Worlds.

2024 Snowboard Athlete of the Year: Maddie Mastro 

Maddie Mastro had a dominant comeback season after injury. She podiumed in every World Cup final she competed in and was second overall in the World Cup halfpipe rankings. She also took first at the Dew Tour, her first time back on top of the podium in five years.

U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD COACHES OF THE YEAR

Alpine International Coach of the Year: Ian Garner

Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team Men’s Head World Cup Tech Coach Ian Garner has been with the organization for more than 15 years, consistently pushing the athletes to be their best. He capped off the 2024 season aiding River Radamus to his career-best season.

Alpine Development Coach of the Year: Lisa Perricone 

Lisa Perricone, a first-team All-American from the University of Colorado Boulder, has been a coach with Ski & Snowboard Club Vail for over a decade. Her commitment and passion for the sport are evident in the success and drive of the club’s athletes. 

Cross Country International Coach of the Year: Kristen Bourne 

Kristen Bourne, the D Team and World Cup coach on the Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team, helped the team to their best season to date. A former cross country skier herself, her expertise shines through, along with her enthusiasm and passion for the sport. 

Cross Country Development Coach of the Year: Adam St. Pierre

Adam St. Pierre helped the Montana State University cross country team achieve new heights. The bobcats achieved multiple second team All-America honors at the NCAA Championships as well as placing fifth overall for the team. One of the cross country athletes on the team also won the RMISA MVP for women’s nordic skiing. 

Freestyle International Coach of the Year: Stanislav Kravchuk 

Stanislav Kravchuk helped the Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team aerials team soar to new heights and wins this past season, seeing eight podiums from five athletes.

Freestyle Development Coach of the Year: Laurie Mooney 

Laurie is the director of Winter Park’s Freestyle & Freeski Team. She is currently the development coach for the freestyle team, helping to build the next generation of moguls athletes. 

Freeski International Coach of the Year: Matt Voss

Matt Voss, the athletic development manager at U.S. Ski & Snowboard, works closely with the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team on strength and conditioning. And the conditioning is working, with the team collecting three Crystal Globes from Alex Ferreira, Mac Forehand and Alex Hall, as well as the Nations Cup this season. 

Freeski Development Coach of the Year: Brian McCarthy

Brian McCarthy, the freeski program director for Wy’East Mountain Academy in Oregon, works with the athletes and staff, regularly moving kids up to Project Gold and national team-level camps and projects. 

Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined Development Coach of the Year: Colin Delaney

The head ski jumping/nordic combined coach with the New York Ski Education Foundation, Colin Delaney is known to bring his club’s participants from development to national team status. 

Snowboard International Coach of the Year: Danny Kass

Danny Kass, an Olympic halfpipe silver medalist himself, has been a big source of expertise for the Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team this season. Kass led the 2023-24 halfpipe team to five World Cup podiums and did so while fostering a positive team environment, known for being the go-to DJ at the top of the pipe.

Snowboard Development Coach of the Year: Chris Laske 

Chris Laske is currently the freeski and snowboard director with Ski & Snowboard Club Vail. He is a crucial part of the club’s development pipeline, helping his athletes reach new heights in their development. 
 

U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD SPORT CLUBS OF THE YEAR

Alpine Club of the Year & Snowboard Club of the Year: Ski & Snowboard Club Vail

Under the direction of John Hale, Ski & Snowboard Club Vail is recognized as both the alpine and snowboard club of the year. The program consistently produces strong athletes that feed into the national team pipeline and the NCAA circuits. It is clear that their development programs thrive with the club’s alpine skiers claiming multiple podiums at the recent SYNC Series U16 Juinor Championships qualifiers as well as the club’s snowboarders claiming multiple top-10 finishes at the FIS Junior World Championship big air competitions. This is the fifth time the club has won the alpine award and the second time it has won the snowboard award.

Cross Country Club of the Year: The Loppet Foundation

The Loppet Foundation works hard to connect people to the outdoors and grow experiences in various sports, including cross country. The Loppet Foundation was integral in the success of the Stifel Loppet Cup this past season. 

Freestyle Club of the Year: Northstar Freestyle Team

Under the leadership of Nat Schirman, Northstar at Tahoe has found a strong system in the development of its freestyle athletes through strong staff, terrain and more.

Freeski Club of the Year: Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club

Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club has seen strength amongst its coaches and development strategies under Erik Knight, with shining athletes such as Olympic medalist Alex Ferreira and world champion Hanna Faulhaber emerge from the program.

Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined Club of the Year: Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club

The Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club and Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined Program Director Todd Wilson consistently produce strong ski jumping and nordic combined athletes, utilizing its renowned venues to produce national team athletes. Seven national team athletes on the U.S. Ski Jumping Team and U.S. Nordic Combined Team hail from the program. 

In recognition of her outstanding performance and versatility, Sammy Smith of the Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team has been awarded the US Nordic Olympic Women (US NOW) Gold Rush Award. The Gold Rush Award is an annual award that celebrates exceptional achievements and versatility among cross country athletes and is awarded to a World Cup woman athlete who demonstrates outstanding qualities of grit and grace throughout the year.

The accolade celebrates Smith's exceptional achievements, highlighting her as a standout athlete of the season. Previous winners include Smith's teammates Novie McCabe, Julia Kern, Rosie Brennan and Jessie Diggins, who have demonstrated exemplary performance and dedication to their sport.

"The award is not meant to recognize what happens on the race course directly," said Alison Owen-Bradley, the founder of the Gold Rush award and a pioneer of elite level women's cross country skiing in the U.S. said in an interview with FasterSkier. "Rather, the recipient is selected for the award by exemplifying and showing grit and the grace that it takes to be successful. It's what happened behind the scenes to get the result, not the result itself."

Smith has firmly established herself as a regular contender on the World Cup circuit. Notable accomplishments include securing a silver medal at the World Junior Championships in Planica, Slovenia the 2023-24 season and eight top 30 finishes on the World Cup stage. In Smith's first World Cup sprint, she made it to the heats, a feat rarely achieved by athletes so young on the circuit. From there, her results kept getting better, marking her as one of the team's top sprinters. While Smith gives it her all out on the snow, she is constantly striving to be better and brings those with her in the process. Using her grit to turn her frustration into a learning opportunity is one of Smith's many strengths. 

"She is a teammate we knew we could always count on," said Kern, a past-recipient of the award and a current teammate of Smith. "Her grit, grace and poise inspire us to believe we can chase after multiple dreams and always be present for the team."

Smith's ability to navigate challenges with composure and determination has been commendable. Smith is a once-in-a-generation athlete. Outside of skiing, she is an elite soccer player who will begin her college career this fall at Stanford University. In high school, Smith represented the U.S. at the Under-17 Women's World Cup as a member of the U.S. Soccer Under-17 Women's National Team and then competed with the U20 Women's U.S. National Soccer team. She took home Idaho Soccer Player of the Year in 2022-23, Idaho Girls Cross Country Player of the Year and Idaho Girls Track and Field Player of the Year in 2020-21. Alongside her sisters, she is also a founder of GO BIG Inc., a nonprofit that provides resources and opportunities for underprivileged youth. 

"I’m so grateful to have received the Gold Rush award," said Smith. "It was such a privilege to get to compete on the World Cup circuit this season and to really get to know the other athletes. It truly is the most fun, inspiring and humble group of people I have ever been around, and I hope to have many more seasons competing with them!"

Balancing commitments between skiing, soccer and academic pursuits, she has demonstrated a remarkable capacity for time management and dedication, but beyond her achievements, Smith has proven herself to be a valuable team player, offering support and encouragement to her teammates at every turn. 

"Sammy handled the pressure of racing on the highest cross country ski level, balancing school and soccer, traveling to a new country every week, all while being incredibly thoughtful and a present teammate," said Kern. "She was always the first one to offer help to anyone needing an extra hand, join for a team jog or try out group tactics with teammates during race preparation. On the tough days, Sammy brought her positive energy to lift up the spirits and introduced soccer juggling circles to change up the monotony of life on the road for the team." 

In recognition of Sammy's exemplary performance and dedication to her sport, she is a deserving recipient of the US Nordic Olympic Women Gold Rush Award. Congratulations, Sammy!

Every year the release of the Masters National Speed Series schedule is highly anticipated. Speed races require more setup and resources to execute so the opportunities to race speed as an adult are limited. Masters speed racers plot out their season trying to hit as many of the speed races as possible, often having to adjust plans on a moments when races are rescheduled or canceled do to heavy snowfall. Just a few inches of snow with the right conditions can make a speed track unsafe for competition. As the saying goes... if you want snow, schedule a downhill! It is near impossible to pull off a full season of speed without any hiccups. 

The 2024 US Ski & Snowboard Alpine Masters National Speed Series, sponsored by A Racer's Edge, consisted a series of 23 SG and DH speed events, with races held in six divisions (PNSA, Far West, Intermountain, Rocky, Central, and Eastern). Heavy snow in the Far West and wet snow in the East and Pacific Northwest forced some cancelations we still had a solid 15 SG races at 8 resorts (Sun Valley, Granite Peak, West Mountain, Beaver Creek, Gore Mountain, Northstar, Breckenridge, and Mt. Bachelor) to contest the series. Unfortunately we were unable to host any of the DH races in 2024.

The 2024 A Racer's Edge National Speed Series overall champions are the top competitor in the overall group rankings for each group based on total world cup points accumulated in the series. Congratulations to the 2024 A Racer's Edge Speed Series Group Champions: Top finishers in overall standings

• Group C (all women): Andrea Levy (W02, EA).
• Group A/B (men age 20-64): Chris Maxwell (M08, IM)
• Group D (men age 65-80+): Jesse Scroggins (M09, PN)

The 2024 A Racer's Edge National Speed Series age class belt buckles are given to the top three competitors based on total world cup points accumulated in the series. Competitors must have at least three starts to be eligible for series awards.

• A/B men class champions
• D men class champions
• C women class champions

 

For full series results go to: usalpinemasters.org/2024/nss

Thank you to A Racer's Edge for sponsoring this year's speed series!

 (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

 

 

 

 

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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.”

This weekend, the country’s best up-and-coming moguls athletes flocked to Utah, for the second annual Snowbird Open hosted by Wasatch Freestyle at Snowboard Ski Resort. Over two days, 80+ athletes competed in moguls and dual moguls events. The results from this event have direct implications for next year’s NorAm tour start group, which will be finalized this summer. 

Jackson Crockett of Park City Ski & Snowboard took the top box in the men's moguls event. He was joined by Jack Petrone of Wasatch Freestyle in second and Jameson Kust of Ski & Snowboard Club Vail in third. Petrone had a great season, finishing ninth at the U.S. championships last month. 

On the women’s side, Emma Bosco, representing Australia and Park City Ski & Snowboard, set the standard with consistent performances all day to finish on top. August Davis of Telluride Freestyle took second place, followed by Isabel Powell of Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. Davis had an impressive run at U.S. championships in Waterville Valley, finishing seventh against extremely tough competition. 

On day two, the athletes took on dual moguls. Camden Lewis of the Gould Academy, who has made great strides on the NorAm circuit this year, won for the men. Lewis recently represented the United States at the 2024 FIS Freestyle Junior World Ski Championships in Chiesa in Valmalenco, Italy. The podium was completed by Issac Alva and Stephen Boone of Wasatch Freestyle in second and third, respectively. 

Julia Coors of the Winter Park Competition Center led the way for the women in duals, followed by Katie Dreitlein of Ski & Snowboard Club Vail in second and Anabel Ayad of Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club in third. 

This is the final domestic moguls event of the season across all levels, and the athletes will now head into their summer preparations for next year. 

RESULTS
Men's Moguls
Women's Moguls
Men's Dual Moguls
Women's Dual Moguls

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. 

The cross country ski season has officially wrapped and the Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team is celebrating the most successful season in history. 

Looking back at the first World Cup of the season in Ruka, Finland, Rosie Brennan was on the podium twice, alongside teammate Jessie Diggins. The season was clearly off to a strong start, but if you were to tell the 20+ athletes and coaching staff that they were on the way to their most successful season in history, well, they likely already knew. 

This season, there were no World Championships and Olympics, but there was one race that felt like the two of them combined - the Stifel Loppet Cup in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Head Coach Matt Whitcomb, in an interview with FasterSkier, remarked, "We often talk about athletes peaking for big events, but I'd never considered that our American ski culture could peak for an event." This was the first time in over 23 years that a World Cup cross country event have been held in the United States and was the first time that the U.S. athletes would get the opportunity to race a World Cup on home snow. 

Jumping into the season, with 15 World Cups and over 35 races, the Stifel U.S. Ski Team achieved remarkable success: 22 World Cup podiums, spanning 38 races with six different athletes on the podium, an overall FIS Crystal Globe, a distance Globe, fourth place in the Nations Cup, third place in the U23 Rookie of the Year category, numerous first World Cup starts, and career-best results nearly every race.

Breaking down the numbers:

• 40 American athletes started a World Cup, with six standing on the podium.
• Jessie Diggins secured the FIS Overall Crystal Globe and distance globe for the second time in her career, boasting 12 podiums and six victories in a single season, setting a record for most wins in a single American season.
• Jessie Diggins won the Tour de Ski for the second time in her career. 
• Gus Schumacher achieved the first distance victory by a U.S. male in 43 years, dating back to the Bill Koch era, with his win in the 10k skate in Minneapolis.
• JC Schoonmaker earned his career-first podium in the Östersund World Cup classic sprint, becoming the first U.S. man in seven years to reach the podium.
• Ben Ogden clinched his first podium during the Tour de Ski, securing third place in the Toblach World Cup skate sprint.
• Rosie Brennan secured five individual podiums, including two in one weekend in Ruka, Finland.
• Sophia Laukli claimed her first World Cup win and second podium, dominating the Alpe Cermis hill climb on the final stage of the Tour de Ski.
• Zanden McMullen achieved several career-best races, finishing the season ranked third in the world for men under 23.
• Sammy Smith won a silver medal at the Junior World Championships in Planica, Slovenia, becoming the first American to win a sprint medal at this event.
• John Steel Hagenbuch earned a sprint bronze medal at the U23 World Championships.
• Haley Brewster secured second place in the U23s 20k skate race.

While the points above are highlights, the 2023-24 season was bright beyond podium finishes and top 10 rankings. The Stifel Loppet Cup in Minneapolis showcased the vibrant culture of cross-country skiing in America and offered a glimpse into the future. With approximately 40,000 fans attending the Saturday and Sunday races, the world took notice of the event. Statements like "I couldn't hear myself breathe it was so loud," "This is what all World Cups should look like," and "Magic in Minneapolis" echoed from the world's best athletes as they visited the U.S. for the first World Cup in over 23 years. Then, to have six different athletes on the podium throughout the season, met by the first World Cup starts from several young Americans to career-best results at nearly every race, the Stifel U.S. Ski Team showed that they are the team to beat. 

As the season drew to a close, it became evident that the 23 athletes making up the roster had raised the bar for what is achievable in American skiing and as athletes return to training, the 2024-25 season has already begun, with the door wide open for what can happen next. 

 

As the sun shines and the snow starts to melt off the mountains, it's time to reflect on the success of the 2023-24 season for the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team. 

In total, the alpine team brought home 10 World Cup wins, 21 podiums and 51 top 10 results across the men and women’s World Cup teams. With multiple career best seasons, overall ranks, first-time podiums and stellar comeback seasons, let’s take a look at how it all shook out. 

Men’s Alpine 

On the men’s tour this season, the Stifel U.S. Ski Team bagged three podiums, one World Cup win and 17 top 10 results. The season started off with a bang in Val Gardena, Italy for the men’s speed team when two-time Olympian Bryce Bennett won the first downhill of the season, his second World Cup win. Bennett did it in style coming from behind to upset speed superstars Marco Odermatt of Switzerland and Aleksander Kilde of Norway. (If you haven't seen the reaction video of this moment, it's worth a look.) Bennett followed up his win with a third place result just two days later on the same track. Also to note - Bennett made the second largest downhill rank leap this season from 37th to fifth in the world. 

Teammate and Olympic silver medalist Ryan Cochran-Siegle also had a strong and consistent season. His best result was a fourth place in Kitzbühel, Austria in the first of two downhills, finishing just 0.01 seconds off a podium result. Both Bennett and Cochran-Siegle finished their downhill season with career best rankings: Bennett fifth in the discipline and Cochran-Siegle eighth. Younger athlete Kyle Negomir also made positive strides, finishing in the top 30 for super-G.  

Overall, it was a step in the right direction for the men’s speed team as a unit, closing the season with six men in the top 20 in the final downhill in Kvitfjell, Norway. The team finished fifth in the Nations Cup for downhill—just a few points off Austria in fourth. 

On the men’s tech side, River Radamus had his best ever season. Radamus consistently posted strong giant slalom results, all leading up to his first World Cup podium on home snow at the Stifel Palisades Tahoe Cup where he scored third place. Radamus also dabbled in slalom, shooting up from bib 70 to 19th place in Adelboden, Switzerland and showed solid super-G results with a top 10 result in Garmisch, Germany. He finished his giant slalom season ranked 11th, his best rank to date. 

On the men’s slalom team, Jett Seymour continued to show his speed in the stacked men’s field with his best result coming at the Stifel Palisades Tahoe Cup in 15th. 

It was an exciting season for the team’s young guns too. Up-and-coming tech skier Ryder Sarchett won gold at Junior Worlds in the giant slalom, the United States’ first gold in the discipline since Radamus in 2019. This victory enabled him to make his World Cup debut at World Cup Finals, when he scored the third fastest second run in the giant slalom, proving that he is ready for the big leagues. Jack Smith also made his World Cup debut this season in the super-G in Garmisch, Germany. 

Women’s Alpine

The women’s alpine season was highlighted by the winningest alpine skier of all time, Mikaela Shiffrin, claiming her record-equaling eighth slalom Crystal Globe—despite being out of the circuit for six weeks due to a knee injury. This season, Shiffrin again won more World Cups than any other woman on the circuit—nine victories across three disciplines, including a downhill, a giant slalom and seven wins in slalom. She now has 97 World Cup wins to her name, with an astounding win number 100 just around the corner.

AJ Hurt had a tremendous breakthrough year on the World Cup circuit, securing her first two World Cup podiums: one in slalom and one in giant slalom. She proved that she is a force on the women’s tech circuit across both disciplines. Teammate Paula Moltzan also showed immense speed and consistency this season, highlighted by her third career World Cup podium in the Soldeu, Andorra slalom race. Moltzan closed out her season with her best giant slalom result to date at World Cup Finals when she scored a sixth place result, her eighth top 10 result in the discipline. 

Although the women’s tech team was smaller this season due to injury setbacks, the women still won the Nations Cup for slalom for the second year in a row with three different women standing on the podium in slalom. A feat that has not happened since 1970 when Barbara Ann Cochran, Kiki Cutter and Jody Nagel all stepped on the podium in slalom that season. 

The women’s World Cup speed circuit was highlighted by Jackie Wiles who made a tremendous comeback this season, landing on the podium in the World Cup downhill in Cortina—the 2026 Olympic venue. Lauren Macuga also had a breakout season, with three top 10 results in super-G, including a fifth place in Kvitfjell, Norway. Macuga ended her season ranked 13th in the women’s super-G standings and qualifying for her first World Cup Finals. 

Tricia Mangan also had a great season on the Europa Cup circuit, securing two super-G podiums and one downhill podium. 

Young Talent

The Stifel U.S. Ski Team brought a few fresh faces to the World Cup tour this season. In the opener in Soelden, Austria, sister duo Elisabeth and Mary Bocock made waves in the ski racing world as they debuted together as the first sisters to make their World Cup debut together since 1999. Dasha Romanov also made her first World Cup start in the Levi, Finland slalom and Allison Mollin made her speed World Cup debut in Crans Montana, Switzerland. 

The future is bright for the Stifel U.S. Ski Team. Along with the impressive World Juniors result by Sarchett and the number of World Cup debuts, the Stifel U.S. Ski Team claimed two NorAm Cup titles this season. Allison Mollin won both the super-G and downhill titles. 

Now the Stifel U.S. Ski Team looks to the future with a World Championships season looming and an Olympics year on the horizon. The team is fired up for a summer of prep and training to continue the fight to be the best in the world. 

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.