Stifel U.S. Ski Team alpine skier Hunter Salani is making his mark on the professional circuit. A Colorado native and standout from Ski & Snowboard Club Vail, Salani had a breakout 2024-25 season with the national team, highlighted by a bronze medal in the Team Combined event at the FIS Junior World Ski Championships.

A rising star in multiple disciplines, Salani continues to push the limits of his potential. This fall, he will take the next step in his journey both academically and athletically, enrolling at the University of Colorado Boulder and joining the CU Buffs ski team.

Salani is the latest athlete featured in U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s “On the Rise” series, presented by Zions Bank. Through community service, sponsorships and charitable donations, Zions Bank is committed to fueling economic growth and enhancing quality of life in Idaho, Utah and Wyoming.

We caught up with Salani to dive into his background, reflect on a season of milestones, and look ahead to his goals for 2025-26.

Q: What initially drew you to this sport?
HUNTER SALANI: During my first couple of years at the ski club, we would freeski in the mornings and begin to train gates in the afternoon. I loved free skiing, but when I would train gates, I fell in love with it. I thoroughly enjoyed skiing around the gates with my small giant slalom skis on and I became obsessed really fast. 

Q: When you were younger and getting into the sport, what were your goals?
HS:  After I realized I was very talented on skis I started to think about goals. When you are young doing a sport you don't think about goals you are just doing it and having fun. When it hit me that I could go places in skiing, I set out goals. A huge goal of mine is to race on the World Cup. The World Cup is the pinnacle of ski racing and to compete would be amazing.

Q: What is your biggest accomplishment?
HS: My biggest accomplishment came last year at the Junior World Championships. During the super-G and slalom combine Stanley Buzek and I earned bronze. This was such an amazing experience and to do it with my teammate Stanley was special. 

Q: What is your ultimate goal?
HS: My ultimate goal is to win World Cups. Aside from that, I would love to grow the sport and be a good mentor to the next generation. I looked up to ski racers when I was young and they were a huge part in my success. I want to be the person young skiers look up to and get inspired to race. 

Q: Who are your heroes?
HS: My heroes are Anthony Edwards and Bode Miller. Anthony Edwards has the mindset I strive to gain, he wants to be the best and he wants to beat everyone he goes against. He also does not care what other people think - he is just being himself. What  I loved about Bode was he was also fearless when it came to skiing, especially downhill.

Q: You win $5,000 in prize money: What do you do with it?
HS: I would save the money and spend it very carefully. I also have stocks right now so I would probably put some of it into those. 

Q: Do you have a budget or follow a spending structure?
HS: I don't have a budget, but I try to spend my money carefully. Since I am not working right now it is important to not blow through all my money. My grandfather is very good at saving his money and I have learned a lot from him. 

Q: What’s one money habit you follow?

HS: I try not to spend a lot of money on food, especially when it is not necessary. Food can add up very quickly, so I try to eat in when I can.

Follow Hunter on social media here

FIS News

• For Season 2025-26, to be implemented starting with the Base List for Season 2026-27:

  • An 8-point adder will be applied to the calculated penalty of Level 2, 3, and 4 FIS events

  • An athlete’s FIS seed points in SL and GS will be calculated by the average of the best three results in that event

• Additional shin pads are not allowed to be worn inside the boot. To treat medical issues, additional protection pads, as soft padding, can be approved by FIS.

• For season 2025-26, using an Airbag is mandatory in DH and SG at World Cup, Olympic Winter Games, and Europa Cup events. Airbags are strongly recommended in DH and SG at South America Cup, NorAm Cup, Far East Cup, and World Junior Championship events.

• Cut resistant lower-body underwear, rated three stars or higher, are required for all Level 0 and 1 FIS events.

Regional Development Team qualified athletes 2025-26

The following athletes have met the high level criteria to be named to the Regional Development Team for the 2025-26 season.  These athletes will be invited to all regional and most national projects (depending on their age), and they will be eligible to receive 50% funding support for their continued development toward the U.S. Ski Team.

Women - East

Kira Hiebert - 2010 (BMA)

Beatrice May - 2006 (DAR) 

Abby Olson - 2007 (BMA) 

Katie Rowekamp - 2009 (BMA) 

Women - Rocky/Central

Paige Dehart - 2005 (CU)

Men - East

Julian Arthur - 2005 (MID) 

Cameron Blatz - 2009 (SMS)

Troy Boissonneault - 2007 (BMA) 

Tor Borgia- 2007 (WMR) 

Colin Hanna - 2004 (BC) 

Sawyer Reed - 2005 (DAR) 

Harper Sargent - 2006 (BMA) 

Men - Rocky/Central

Adrian Beauregard - 2007 (SSWSC) 

Caman Beauregard - 2007 (SSWSC) 

Stewart Bruce - 2006 (SSCV) 

Carson Hume - 2005 (SSCV) 

Fletcher Hutto - 2007 (AVSC) 

Alex Krupka - 2006 (SSCV) 

Aksel Lindenmeyr - 2005 (APEX) 

Jevin Palmquist - 2007 (SUM) 

Trevor Palmquist - 2009 (SUM)  

Men - West

Finnigan Donley - 2005 (UU) 

Carl Ottosson - 2006 (SBSTA)
 

Eastern Region coaching staff update

I would like to introduce our new Eastern Regional Team Men's coach- Daniel Sanz! 
 daniel.sanz@usskiandsnowboard.org

Dani hails from Spain and has an impressive resume well suited to our Regional & National Development alpine athletic program.  
Most recently Daniel has been 2 seasons with USST WC Men's speed team as assistant coach and lead Strength and conditioning coach. 
He has coached at the U14/U16 club level, coached FIS level athletes with the International Racer Program and was Head Olympic coach for the Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee at the Beijing Winter Olympics. 
Daniel holds an MBA in Sports Management from the Universidad Europea - Real Madrid Graduate School;
A Bachelor's Degree in physical activity and sports science and;
A Level 3 ISIA  alpine ski instructor (TD3 Alpine skiing Spanish qualification) certification.

Daniel will be in the East July 20-23 for a (3) day Regional Team conditioning camp hosted by GMVS- Green Mountain Valley school alongside Women's coach Roger Kimball and Regional Alpine Director (me) in attendance. 

Welcome Dani!

Insightful and educational podcast to listen to by Arc City- 
Highly recommend!  (link below)

Dane Spencer, Former World Cup Racer and Coach, on... Everything
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4dT64kzb0w9vbyOdYIAg9K?si=9ZjdOJIARUqlC4kNnICLnw

That's all for now. Look for the next late Summer update and news soon. 

Please keep in touch and keep chasing the dream! 

Sincerely,
Martin (Spencer, Roger & Dani) 

The Eastern Region is excited to share the 2025-26 Calendar Re-Design.

See below for details.

U.S. Ski Team legend Bode Miller was inducted into the United States Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame as a part of the class of 2025 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, CO. Miller is a six time Olympic medalist and five time World Championships medalist, and has 33 World Cup wins and two overall World Cup titles. 

“We’re proud to welcome the Class of 2025 into the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame and to honor the extraordinary accomplishments they’ve made as representatives of Team USA. This induction celebrates not only their remarkable performances and lasting impact but also acknowledges the essential contributions of those who supported their journeys every step of the way,” Sarah Hirshland said, CEO of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), in a press release.

Miller’s induction marks his ascension into a select echelon among 210 inductees since 1983 with the 2025 inductees including Olympic greats Serena Williams, Allyson Felix and Gabby Douglas. 

Miller's story reflects more than medals—it’s about innovation, individualism and a relentless pursuit of speed. He is the most successful men’s alpine skier for the United States, having collected the most Olympic medals of any American skier and was the only U.S. man to win in all five major alpine disciplines (downhill, super-G, giant slalom, slalom and combined). He was also labeled as a rebel, consistently pushing the limits both in the sport and outside of it.

Miller officially hung up his race skis in 2017, but continues to have a massive impact on the sport, with many current champions saying they continue to idolize the skier. 

On July 5 in Vail, Colorado, the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team held its annual alpine fundraiser hosted by longtime supporters Karen and John Arnold. The annual event raised over $200,000 with more than 40 guests and seven Stifel U.S. Ski Team athletes in attendance.  

"The event was great! It was fun to meet everyone and chat with the people that help us in so many ways," said Stifel U.S. Ski Team athlete Camden Palmquist.

Athletes in attendance included two-time World Champion Breezy Johnson, World Cup winner Lauren Macuga, 2022 Olympian Bella Wright, along with younger athletes Jay Poulter, Camden Palmquist and sisters Kjersti and Liv Moritz. There was also a strong alumni presence, including two-time Olympian Alice McKinnis Duran. 

"We don’t always get to say thank you directly, and these events make it possible. It is great to see the backbone of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team and how much belief there is in the athletes. I am beyond grateful for all the support and I am super excited for this season," said Palmquist. 

The alpine program is one of the biggest sports under the U.S. Ski & Snowboard umbrella; therefore, support from donors is essential as the athletes work to be the best in the world. It is a very important season, with the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games on the horizon, and the skiers are ready to lay it all on the line for a chance at Olympic medals. 

Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team athlete Lindsey Vonn and U.S. Toyota Para Snowboard Team athlete Noah Elliott were nominated for an Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly (ESPY) award in the categories of “Best Comeback” and “Best Athlete with a Disability” formally announced on June 26, 2025. The ESPY awards are an annual sports award show that highlights the best athletes, teams and change-makers in sports, ranging from basketball, football, soccer to Olympic sports like gymnastics, track & field and more. This year, athletes nominated include Simone Biles, Caitlin Clark, Josh Allen, A'ja Wilson, among several other notable athletes. 

Vonn Nominated for "Best Comeback"

In the "Best Comeback" category, Vonn was nominated alongside Mallory Swanson of the U.S. Womens National Soccer Team, Gabe Landeskog of the Colorado Avalanche, gymnist and Olympian Suni Lee. This 2025-26 season, Vonn came out of retirement after six seasons away from the sport of alpine ski racing. Vonn completed her comeback season on a high when she claimed her 138th World Cup podium on home snow at the Stifel Sun Valley Finals in super-G. Not only did Vonn reclaim her momentum on the course but she marked a new record - oldest female skier to stand on the podium in alpine skiing. Vonn is one of the most decorated alpine skiers of all time, with three Olympic gold medals, including a gold and two bronze medals. She holds the record for the most FIS Crystal Globes won by an alpine athlete and is also a eight-time World Championship medalist. 

Vonn is a past ESPY winner and if she were to be called on stage this July, this would mark her fifth ESPY win. Vonn holds four ESPYs in “Best Female Athlete,” “Best U.S. Female Olympian,” and “Best Moment”. 

Elliott Nominated for "Best Athlete with a Disability"

For Elliott of the Toyota U.S. Para snowboard Team, the ESPY nod shows that many tuned into his historic season. Elliott is nominated for the title of "Best Athlete with a Disability", alongside Paralympic gold medalist Ezra Frech of the Track & Field team, track athlete Tatyana McFadden and Paratriathlete Grace Norman. Elliott, a Paralympic gold medalist and four-time World Championships medalist, is at the top of his game and is going into the Paralympic season ready to defend his title, and is doing this with momentum from the 2024-25 season, where he came out on top, claiming the FIS overall Crystal Globe. 

The ESPY Awards, known as the "Oscars of Sports," celebrate the best of the best in the world of athletics. Each year, athletes from various sports disciplines are recognized for their exceptional performances and contributions to the sporting world. 

Your vote helps decide the winners! Cast it now and tune in July 16, 2025 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. 

Follow THIS LINK to vote.