58th Annual U.S. Ski & Snowboard Gold Medal Gala Raises $2.35 Million for Athletes
New York, New York (Oct. 28, 2024) — U.S. Ski & Snowboard hosted its 58th Gold Medal Gala in New York City on Oct. 26, 2024 with athletes, supporters, partners and donors kicking off the 2024-25 season by raising a record-breaking $2.35 million for the U.S Ski & Snowboard Team. The year’s theme was “reflection,” which paid homage to the journey to the top and reflecting on what it took to get there. It was the largest audience in Gala history.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Transcendence Award to Toyota U.S. Para Snowboard Team athlete Brenna Huckaby, a three-time Paralympic gold medalist, five-time world champion and winningest Para snowboarder of all time. Known for her record-resetting achievements and advocacy, Huckaby has transcended her sport. Receiving the award in front of her teammates, donors, supporters and others, Huckaby expressed gratitude for the community that helped her reach these heights.
"Thank you for seeing me," said Huckaby on stage. "Thank you to everyone in this room who has made so much of this possible and to the teams behind the Team. We don’t do this alone. Thank you for recognizing me as a person beyond the title of an athlete. When I think about what transcendence means to me, I keep coming back to this question of what other choice did I have? I knew I needed to be more than an athlete. Many years later, I’m a wife, I have two daughters, I am a disability inclusion advocate, an occasional model… but what i've learned through all of this is that I’m successful because my definition of success isn’t defined by what medals I’ve won, or what accolades I’ve achieved - my definition of success is the person I’ve become and the impact I can have on this world."
Another memorable moment was an engaging conversation hosted by Olympic moguls gold medalist Jonny Moseley, featuring Olympic champion freeskier Alex Hall. Together, they discussed the exciting future of the sport and the creative, boundary-pushing energy that fuels the next generation of athletes. They also spoke about the partnership between U.S. Ski & Snowboard and X Games and what it means for the future of competition freeskiing and snowboarding. Hall is an 11-time X Games medalist and is the only skier in history to win an X Games medal in each discipline.
Throughout the evening, the Gala raised $2.35 million through table purchases, a silent auction, and a lively live auction and paddle raise hosted by auctioneer Harry Santa-Olalla. U.S. Ski & Snowboard is a nonprofit that receives no government funding and donations like this directly support its 240 athletes across 10 sports.
“We are endlessly grateful to this community of supporters who make it possible for our athletes to transcend boundaries,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, President and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “Seeing the success and dedication of these extraordinary athletes reminds us why we do what we do. Together, we’re ensuring they can continue reaching new heights, and events like this remind us that we're all on the same team.”
