Park City, UT (August 23, 2023) - U.S. Ski & Snowboard is thrilled to announce the 10 athletes nominated to represent the U.S. Para Snowboard Team across sport classes for the 2023-24 season.

This year’s roster is highlighted by the 2023 “Best Athlete with a Disability” ESPY Award winner Zach Miller. Miller wrapped up last season with three medals at the 2023 World Championships in La Molina, Spain with a gold in banked slalom team, silver in dual banked slalom and snowboardcross bronze. Also headlining the team with Miller are two-time Paralympic gold medalist Brenna Huckaby and two-time Paralympic medalist Keith Gabel. 

New to the pro team this year are athletes Peggy Martin and Darian Haynes. Martin has been a staple and trailblazer on the U.S. Para Snowboard Team scene for the past 30 years as one of the first competitive snowboarders in the world. Haynes is a surfer by trade but swapped the ocean for the mountains and made a huge impact in her first competitive season, becoming the 2022-23 FIS World Cup overall Para banked slalom champion. 

“Our Para Snowboard team has had great achievements the past few years and we are excited to now have these athletes on board with U.S. Ski & Snowboard,” said Anouk Patty, U.S. Ski & Snowboard's Chief of Sport. “The team has the ability to find success on the slopes and we can’t wait to see how they do this upcoming season.”

The U.S. Para Snowboard Team is led by Para Sport Director Erik Leirfallom and newly hired Head Coach Mark “Skiddy” Kelly. Kelly has been in the Para sports world for more than 20 years, including coaching and working as the alpine and snowboard team service tech with the USOPC since 2010. 

“I believe the team has what it takes to be very competitive this season,” said Leirfallom. “This group has a lot of great talent and the ability to push each other on and off the slopes. I’m excited to see what we can accomplish with the new resources available to us to help the athletes improve.” 

The 2023-24 FIS Para Snowboard World Cup season is scheduled to start with a set of banked slalom races for men and women in Landgraaf, Netherlands at the end of November. Additionally, the team will make stops in Finland, Italy and Germany before finishing up the season in Mt. Sima, Canada. Find the finalized FIS World Cup schedule here. 

2023-24 U.S. Para Snowboard Team

(Hometown; Club; Birthdate)

Women

Darian Haynes (Muncie, IN; Adaptive Action Sports; 1/3/2000)

Brenna Huckaby (Baton Rouge, LA; Team Utah Snowboarding; 1/22/1996)

Peggy Martin (Elgin, IL; 5/25/1964)

Men

Noah Elliott (St. Charles, MO; Team Panasonic; 7/12/1997)

Keith Gabel (Ogden, UT; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club; 7/20/1984)

Zach Miller (Silverthorne, CO; Adaptive Action Sports; 3/10/1999)

Mike Minor (Scranton, PA; Adaptive Action Sports; 7/28/1990)

Joe Pleban (Fredericksburg, VA; Adaptive Action Sports; 8/7/1990)

Mike Schultz (St. Cloud, MN; 8/27/1981)

Evan Strong (Haiku, HI; Adaptive Action Sports; 11/13/1986)

FOLLOW THE U.S. PARA SNOWBOARD TEAM

Instagram: @usparaskisnowboard

Facebook: U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team

Twitter: @usskiteam

TikTok: @usskiandsnowboard

The Stifel U.S Freestyle Ski Team moguls team held their annual fundraiser this past Friday, August 19, at Red Sky Ranch in Wolcott, Colorado. Thank you to the hosts, Jim and Jeffy Benedict, the evening wrapped up on a good note with the original $150,000 goal being overwhelmingly exceeded. 

The fundraiser, which is in its fourth consecutive year, included an evening where trustees, local ski fans, parents of athletes and alumni were able to mingle with the Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team moguls athletes and raise funds for the upcoming 2023-24 season. 

The event started with a silent auction and featured autograph signings, mingling with the athletes, coaches and more. The support from the evening - and beyond - helps provide the necessary resources, training opportunities and coaching to help our athletes reach their full potential, on and off the mountain, for the number one moguls team in the world. 

Make a gift to support the Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team Moguls Athletes! 

U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced today the first snowboard title partnership in history with Hydro Flask, an award-winning leader in high-performance, insulated stainless steel flasks and soft goods innovations and a Helen of Troy Limited (NASDAQ: HELE) brand, officially naming the team the Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team. 

The Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team includes athletes such as two-time Olympic champion Chloe Kim, the most decorated snowboard cross athlete of all time and two-time Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Jacobellis, and X Games champion and FIS Crystal Globe winner Dusty Henricksen. 

“I’m super excited about Hydro Flask coming on board as the title partner of the Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team,” said Chloe Kim, two-time Olympic gold medalist and Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team member. “This type of support is so important for our sport. The future of snowboarding looks very bright!”

“We are delighted to have Hydro Flask on board as the new title partner of the Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, President and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “This is the most significant partnership we’ve ever had for the snowboard team and also the perfect brand alignment. We are excited to work together and further support our incredible snowboard athletes.”

The partnership will bring additional financial and marketing support to the snowboard program over the next three years, extending through the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. This groundbreaking partnership unites two brands that hold mutual values, including a passion for the outdoors, a commitment to sustainability and a strong sense of community.  

“We are thrilled to be a part of the U.S. Snowboard Team. These athletes are creative and passionate, bringing an unrivaled level of energy to the outdoors, which we love to see,” said Larry Witt, President of Helen of Troy’s Home & Outdoor segment. ”With a shared dedication to style and performance, we are excited to help support and hydrate this talented group of individuals as they begin their journey toward the 2026 Winter Olympics."

“I’m stoked on this partnership with Hydro Flask,” said Dusty Henricksen, X Games champion and Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team athlete. “It’s a great brand and a great fit for our team. I’m hyped for all of the athletes, and for the sport in general.”

Hydro Flask’s title sponsorship broadens a pre-existing partnership with U.S. Ski & Snowboard. The brand has been a named supplier to the team since 2019 and produced co-branded bottles and gear throughout the last four years. 

Expanding beyond the title partnership, Hydro Flask will also take on the role of associate partner at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix events held at Copper Mountain, Colorado and Mammoth Mountain, California. Additionally, Hydro Flask will be involved in the Visa Big Air event taking place in Copper Mountain, Colorado.

### 

About Hydro Flask 

Hydro Flask® is the leader in high-performance insulated products that help people enjoy the things they love to do in the places they love to be. From the number one-selling water bottle* to soft goods innovations like the Day Escape™ Soft Coolers to the Outdoor Kitchen dining collection, Hydro Flask’s delightfully simple designs and go-anywhere durability delivers the perfect temperature when you need it. Founded in 2009 in Bend, Oregon, Hydro Flask inspires active outdoor lives with two simple words: Let’s Go! Its giving program, Parks For All, supports nonprofit organizations focused on building, maintaining, restoring, and investing in public green spaces so people everywhere can live healthier, happier, and more fulfilled lives. To learn more about Hydro Flask, Parks For All, and to see the full lineup of award-winning products, visit  www.hydroflask.com.

*According to third-party data

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 2023, competing in ten teams; alpine, cross country, freeski, freestyle moguls, freestyle aerials, snowboard, nordic combined, para snowboard, para alpine, and ski jumping. In addition to the fully-funded 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.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

U.S. Ski & Snowboard
Courtney Harkins
Director, Marketing & Communications
courtney.harkins@usskiandsnowboard.org

Hydro Flask
TURNER PR
hydroflask@turnerpr.com
212-889-1700

Park City, UT (August 21, 2023) - U.S. Ski & Snowboard is excited to announce the 13 athletes nominated to represent the U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team across sport classes for the 2023-24 competition season.

This year’s roster is filled with talent, including seven-time Paralympic medalist Laurie Stephens, two-time Paralympic medalist Andrew Kurka and Paralympic silver medalist Thomas Walsh. Andrew Haraghey and Spencer Wood also return this year after posting consistent results last season. Jesse Keefe is new to the A team this year, moving up from the B team following a successful 2022-23 season and World Championship effort. 

B team nominations include Allie Johnson, who, only in her second season of full-time racing, showed incredible promise last year on the World Cup circuit. Along with Johnson is Saylor O’Brien, who quickly added impressive results among intense competition to her resume. Moving up from the development team is Audrey Crowley, a nod to her impressive accolades and consistent results. 

“We are thrilled to have named such an accomplished Para alpine ski team this season,” said Anouk Patty, U.S. Ski & Snowboard's Chief of Sport.  “This team plays an integral role in our organization and we are excited to see what these amazing athletes can achieve this season.” 

The U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team is led by Para Sport Director Erik Leirfallom and new U.S. Para Alpine Ski Head Coach Ryan Pearl. Pearl comes to U.S. Ski & Snowboard from the Australian Para Alpine Team, bringing the team to two Paralympic Winter Games and was named the 2019 Australian Paralympic Coach of the Year.

“We are extremely excited to continue building off of the successful season we had last year and to implement new resources to help these athletes achieve more big results,” said Leirfallom. “With a combination of great young talent and seasoned Paralympians on this team, we know they will be able to pass on their knowledge and skills to the next generation as we grow and build under U.S. Ski & Snowboard.” 

The 2023-24 FIS Para Alpine Ski World Cup season is set to kick off with downhill races for the men and women in St. Moritz in mid-December. The team will make additional stops in Austria, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Japan and Slovakia throughout the season. You can find the finalized FIS World Cup schedule here.

2023-24 U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team

(Hometown; Club; Birthdate)

A Team

Women

Laurie Stephens (Wenham, MA; 3/5/1984)

Men

Andrew Haraghey (Enfield, CT; National Ability Center; 12/16/1995)

Andrew Kurka (Palmer, AK; Alyeska Ski Club; 1/27/1992)

Jesse Keefe (Sun Valley, ID; Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation; 3/26/2004)

Thomas Walsh (Vail, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 1/30/1995)

Spencer Wood (Pittsfield, VT; National Sports Center for the Disabled; 1/17/1997)

B Team

Women

Allie Johnson (Chicago, IL; National Sports Center for the Disabled; 12/23/1994)

Saylor O’Brien (Woodland, UT; National Ability Center; 4/28/2003)

Audrey Crowley (Vail, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 3/1/2007)

Men

Matthew Brewer (Huntington Beach, CA; National Ability Center; 5/8/1975)

Connor Hogan (Foxborough, MA; National Sports Center for the Disabled; 6/6/1997)

Ravi Drugan (Eugene, OR; Oregon Adaptive Sports; 12/19/1989)

Patrick Halgren (Tolland, CT; National Sports Center for the Disabled; 6/24/1992)

FOLLOW THE U.S. PARA ALPINE SKI TEAM

Instagram: @usparaskisnowboard

Facebook: U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team

Twitter: @usskiteam

TikTok: @usskiandsnowboard

The next generation of the world’s best snowboarders, aged 15-18, will be competing in the 2023 FIS Park and Pipe Junior World Championships in Aotearoa, New Zealand, August 25 to September 5, 2023. 

Alongside the freeski athletes traveling across the world, 18 snowboard athletes were called up to represent the U.S. in the slopestyle, big air and halfpipe at the Cardrona Alpine Resort. Many athletes competing at Junior Worlds are looking to secure a spot for the 2024 Youth Olympic Winter Games, to be held in Korea in January of 2024. Athletes named to the snowboard roster were chosen based on predetermined selection criteria. 

The U.S. roster features U.S. Snowboard Team members Rochelle Weinberg, Noah Avallone, Alessandro Barbieri, Kade Martin, Sumner Orr, Rebecca Flynn, Fynn Bullock-Womble, Brooklyn Depriest and Evan Wrobel along with several promising newcomers on the snowboard circuit. The past 2022-23 season, these athletes made an impact on the circuit and are now headed to the next level to represent the U.S. on the junior world stage. 

Similar to freeski, the championship will not host the snowboard halfpipe contest due to low snow conditions. 

Live streaming is free and available for the public for all events. Live coverage schedule specifics below.

2023 FIS PARK AND PIPE JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM

(hometown; club; USASA series; birthdate)

Women’s Slopestyle & Big Air Snowboard Team:

• Rebecca Flynn (Victoria, MN; G Team; Upper Midwest Snow Series; 07/24/2006)
• Veda Hallen (South Lake Tahoe, CA; One Team Dream; South Tahoe Series; 05/21/2005)

Men’s Slopestyle & Big Air Snowboard Team:

• Fynn Bullock-Womble (Mebane, NC; One Team Dream; Rocky Mountain Series; 02/03/2005)
• Connor Cavanagh (Bondville, VT; Stratton Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 05/10/2005)
• Brooklyn DePriest (Edwards, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Rocky Mountain Series; 02/21/2006)
• Oliver Martin (Wolcott, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Rocky Mountain Series; 06/15/2008)
• Hayden Tyler (Dillon, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Rocky Mountain Series; 09/23/2006)
• Evan Wrobel (Bozeman, MT; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Rocky Mountain Series; 12/30/2005)

Women’s Halfpipe Snowboard Team:

• Lola Cowan (Pacifica, CA; Tahoe Select Snowboard Team; Rocky Mountain Series; 6/7/2005) 
• Zoe Guerrero (Ridgefield, CT; Okemo Mountain Snowboard Team; Southern Vermont Series; 3/29/2008)
• Kaylie Neal (Sandy, OR; Mt. Hood Series; 4/25/2006) 
• Kaylee Tippit (Mammoth Lakes, CA; Mammoth Mountain Ski & Snowboard Teams; The Unbound Series; 09/04/2009) 
• Rochelle Weinberg (Steamboat Springs, CO; Summit Action Sports; Rocky Mountain Series; 4/13/2009) 

Men’s Halfpipe Snowboard Team:

• Noah Avallone (Montauk, NY; Stratton Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 5/16/2007) 
• Alessandro Barbieri (Portland, OR; Tahoe Select Snowboard Team; Mt. Hood Series; 10/5/2008) 
• Orion Casas (Mammoth Lakes, CA; Summit Action Sports; The Unbound Series; 09/22/2009) 
• Connor Cavanagh (Bondville, VT; Stratton Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 05/10/2005)
• Kade Martin (Wolcott, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Rocky Mountain Series; 01/21/2006) 
• Sumner Orr (Weston, VT; Okemo Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 03/22/2006)

2023 FIS Park and Pipe Junior World Championships Live Coverage Schedule 

FIS Schedule 

For more information on the event, click here. 

Snowboard Slopestyle 

• Monday, Aug. 28: Snowboard qualifications
• Tuesday, Aug. 29: Snowboard finals

Snowboard Big Air 

• Saturday, Sep. 2: Snowboard qualifications
• Sunday, Sep. 3: Snowboard finals

Follow The U.S. Snowboard Team 

Instagram: @ussnowboardteam
Facebook: @usskiandsnowboard
TikTok: @usskiandsnowboard
Twitter: @usskiteam

On August 26, the Utah Olympic Park will welcome several of the best aerials athletes in the world to Park City, Utah for the 2023 U.S. Freestyle Ultimate Airwave competition. 

The free event, running from 11 am - 6 pm on August 26, will feature most of the athletes from the Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team aerials roster and athletes from Canada, Switzerland, China and Australia. Olympic champions Chris Lillis and Justin Schoenefeld are slated to compete alongside 2023 World Champion Quinn Dehlinger.

Also unique to the program - a number of athletes on the competition start list were invited based on their submissions to the Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team Aerials Pipeline: Digital Combine, which was organized by GMTM. Young athletes from around the country were given the opportunity to submit videos showcasing their aerial talent, which was then shown to U.S. national team coaches. The jumps were reviewed and scored by US Freestyle Judges from across the country.  Once the judges submitted the scores the top-ranked athletes were invited to compete in the U.S. Freestyle Ultimate Airwaves competition - five accepted the invitation and will now jump among some of the world's best. 

On August 19, Switzerland hosted the first ramp event, and Chris Lillis took home a third-place medal. Now, the competition is back stateside for the second stop of the FIS Grand Prix World Tour. Next up: Australia. 

Following the FIS Grand Prix event will be the Flying Aces show on the water ramps - a unique opportunity to watch the U.S. athletes showcase world-class tricks to the public. Come to the U.S. Freestyle Ultimate Airwave competition, stay longer for the Flying Aces!

More information for the U.S. Freestyle Ultimate Airwave competition and the Flying Aces show can be found, here. 

The next generation of the world’s best freeskiers, aged 15-18, will be competing in the 2023 FIS Park and Pipe Junior World Championships in Cardrona, New Zealand, August 25 to September 5, 2023. 

20 freeski athletes were called up to represent the U.S. in the slopestyle, big air and halfpipe disciplines at Cardrona Alpine Resort. Many athletes competing at Junior Worlds are looking to secure a spot for the 2024 Youth Olympic Winter Games, to be held in Korea in January 2024. Athletes named to the U.S. team were chosen based on predetermined selection criteria. 

The Junior World Championships are an opportunity for the up-and-coming generation to compete against the best junior athletes in the world and to experience an international-level event. The U.S. roster includes Stifel U.S. Freeski Team athletes Kate Gray, Ellie Derosier, Ben Fethke and Henry Townshend, along with several promising newcomers on the freeski circuit. 

Due to low snow conditions at the Cardrona Alpine Resort, Junior Worlds will not host the halfpipe portion of the competition. 

Live streaming is free and available for the public for all events. Live coverage schedule specifics are below.

2023 FIS PARK AND PIPE JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM

(hometown; club; USASA series; birthdate)

Women’s Slopestyle & Big Air Freeski Team:

• Eleanor Andrews (Killington, VT; Killington Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 02/23/2007) 
• Ellie Derosier (Bend, OR; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 10/24/2006)
• Kate Gray (Crowley Lake, CA; Mammoth Mountain Freeski Team; Unbound Series; 06/29/2006)
• Elaina Krusiewski (West Dover, VT; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Southern Vermont Series; 04/04/2005) 
• Alex Thisted (Frisco, CO; Team Summit; Rocky Mountain Series; 07/22/2006) 

Men’s Slopestyle & Big Air Freeski Team:

• Daniel Hough (Frisco, CO; Cork Tech Freeski; Rocky Mountain Series; 09/06/2005) 
• Hugh MacMenamin (Hudson, WI; Wy'East Mountain Academy; Mt Hood Series; 01/23/2006) 
• Cael McCarthy (Steamboat Springs, CO; Cork Tech Freeski; Big Mountain West Series; 05/18/2005)
• Henry Townshend (Park City, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 2/16/2006)

Women’s Halfpipe Freeski Team:

• Piper Arnold (South Lake Tahoe, CA; Sierra at Tahoe Competition Team; South Tahoe Series; 06/01/2007) 
• Kate Gray (Crowley Lake, CA; Mammoth Mountain Freeski Team; Unbound Series; 06/29/2006)
• Marley Leavitt (Park City, UT; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Rocky Mountain Series; 08/03/2006) 
• Kaitlyn Reital (Park City, UT; Team Summit; Big Mountain West Series; 08/01/2007)
• Tatym Smith (Bend, OR; Mt. Bachelor Ski Education Foundation; Central Oregon Series; 03/20/2008)  
• Izzy Worthington (Park City, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 10/28/2006) 

Men’s Halfpipe Freeski Team:

• Bennett Balogh (Jackson, WY; Cork Tech Freeski; Big Mountain West Series; 03/01/2005) 
• Liam Brogden (Vail, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Rocky Mountain Series; 06/08/2007) 
• Ben Fethke (Boise, ID; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 04/14/2006) 
• Hunter Maytin (Aspen, CO; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club; Aspen Snowmass Series; 04/08/2008)
• Cael McCarthy (Steamboat Springs, CO; Cork Tech Freeski; Big Mountain West Series; 05/18/2005) 
• Evan Wischmeyer (Dillon, CO; Team Summit; Rocky Mountain Series; 07/26/2007) 

2023 FIS Park and Pipe Junior World Championships Live Coverage Schedule: FIS Schedule 

For more information on the event, click here. 

Freeski Slopestyle 

Sunday, Aug. 27: Freeski qualifications
Tuesday, Aug. 29: Freeski finals

Freeski Big Air 

Friday, Sep. 1: Freeski qualifications
Sunday, Sep. 3: Freeski finals

Follow the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team 

Instagram: @usfreeskiteam
Facebook: @usskiandsnowboard
TikTok: @usskiandsnowboard
Twitter: @usskiteam

U.S. Ski & Snowboard is highlighting HERoic trailblazers throughout our winter sports, both past and present. A HERoic trailblazer is a woman athlete who has gone above and beyond in her sport, moving the sport forward through grit and determination and inspiring the next generation of women athletes. 

U.S. Para Snowboard team alumna Amy Purdy was one of the first female Para snowboarders, and has used her platform to raise awareness and create opportunities for future generations through her foundation, Adaptive Action Sports. Amy is a HERoic Trailblazer not only for her athletic achievements but for her long-lasting commitments to the adaptive community and winter sports as a whole.

The Beginnings

Amy’s journey to success was not always linear. She grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada with a love for the outdoors, wellness and traveling. When she started snowboarding at 15, she instantly fell in love and spent as much time as she could on the slopes. However, at age 19, Purdy’s life was changed after she fell into septic shock and was placed on life support. The doctors made the difficult decision to amputate both of her legs below the knee. Despite multiple surgeries, a ruptured spleen and a kidney transplant, Amy’s biggest goal was to get back on her snowboard. Just seven months after her amputation, she was back where she belonged on the slopes and within a year, she was reaching the podium in competitions—an unheard-of feat for a double-leg amputee. 

Athlete and Advocate

Six years after her amputation, Purdy founded Adaptive Action Sports (AAS), an organization with the mission of giving individuals with disabilities the opportunity to participate in sports, specifically focused on snowboarding. AAS was instrumental in getting adaptive events included in both the summer and winter X Games. Amy continued to dominate the competition during this time and was named to her first Para Snowboard World Championships team in 2012. The creation of AAS and Amy’s personal efforts led to snowboarding being included in the 2014 Paralympic Games for the first time. 

Beyond her advocacy for Para snowboarding’s inclusion in the Paralympics, Purdy was also a member of the first U.S. Paralympic Snowboard Team, winning the first-ever bronze medal in snowboardcross for the United States. Then in 2017, she took home the World Championship bronze medal in banked slalom. Amy added a silver medal in snowboardcross and a bronze in banked slalom to her resume at the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang the following year. Across her 13-year competitive career, she pushed the boundaries of what was possible for a double-leg amputee athlete and changed the landscape of Para snowboarding forever. 

Changing the Narrative

Amy’s career is filled with firsts, and they didn’t stop coming when she stepped off the slopes. Immediately after the 2014 Paralympics, Purdy became the first Paralympian to compete on Dancing with the Stars—and she did more than just dance. Amy and her partner Derek Hough finished in second place, transforming how the media and the world perceive Para athletes. 

Over the years, Purdy made a name for herself professionally and has become a world-renowned motivational speaker, author, actress and thought leader even before she retired from competitive snowboarding in 2022. She has been recognized by Oprah as one of the top 100 thought leaders in the world, was featured in a Super Bowl ad and in the 2014 ESPN Body Issue with the goal of normalizing prosthetics and showing their strength. 

Amy has dedicated herself and her career to sports and creating opportunities for adaptive athletes to succeed. She has worked closely with the International Olympic Committee and the World Health Organization to promote inclusivity, sustainability and sport for development and peace. As one of the most successful U.S. Para snowboarders, Purdy has used her platform to give back to the adaptive and snowsport communities time and time again. 

Without Amy, Para snowboarding would not be the sport it is today.

Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team athlete and professional trail runner Sophia Laukli secured another historic victory at the 50th edition of the Sierre-Zinal trail race, becoming only the fourth American to win the race and the first since 2014. She now leads the Golden Trail World Series overall rankings. 

Battling through rugged terrains and challenging elevations in the picturesque Swiss landscape, Laukli showcased her dominance in the strong field by crossing the finish line four minutes ahead of the second-place finisher and eight minutes ahead of third place. Laukli now leads the Golden Trail Series leaderboard. Only four Americans had won the mountain race before Laukli, dating back to its inception in 1974. 

“I’m really still quite shocked by the result, but it feels so good,” said Laukli. “I’m definitely very proud of this result because I think it totally exceeded my expectations - along with everyone else’s - which is always pretty fun… for it to be a surprise.”

Laukli, a 2022 Winter Olympian and a regular on the FIS World Cup, has been training in Oslo, Norway, this summer while also competing regularly on the Golden Trail World Series. Compared to skiing, Laukli has not been a competitive trail runner long, but now, she is making an impact in every race she enters. After a breakthrough 2022 running season where she placed fifth in the overall standings, she burst onto the scene in the 2023 season by winning the first race - the prestigious Marathon du Mont-Blanc, where she beat her competitors by another significant margin of 12 minutes. Just weeks later, she was back on the podium in second place at the DoloMyths Run in the Italian Dolomites.

As her familiarity with international trail racing grows, Laukli is cementing herself as the one to beat. For now though, Laukli has her sights set on the next race, the Mammoth 26k back in her home country, and will continue her training for the other sport she is a professional athlete in - cross country skiing.

As she traveled from Switzerland back home to Oslo, Norway, to gear up for a Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team national team camp, Laukli sat down to answer a few questions about how all of this feels, how skiing has contributed to her overall trail running success, and what’s next.

How are you feeling after your win in Switzerland? 

I’m really quite shocked. But, beyond the result and winning the race, I’m also just excited about how I executed the race. I didn’t have a huge tactical plan, but it seemed I came up with some tactics on the way and they worked out just right.

How do you feel like your cross country ski training is playing into your running right now? Or vice versa? 

I’m honestly quite surprised at how well my ski training has prepared me for these races. This summer, I’ve actually been doing a bit less running and more roller skiing instead. So, naturally, I’ve been a bit hesitant or worried coming into each of these races because I’m so unsure of my running shape. But obviously, it seems to be working great. I think the main reason is that I’ve been able to train at a much higher volume with all the roller skiing (less impact/toll on the body compared to running), which has really built up my endurance even more to excel in these running races. I also think that having so much training outside of running helps the body be much more rested and recovered for the races.

You’re first in the standings of the Golden Trail World Series and the first American since 2014 to win this race. What’s your mindset right now? 

It is definitely looking very good for the overall position in the series, but I don’t want to get too confident now because a lot can still happen. I am obviously hoping to win the overall in the end, so I will have to pick and choose a bit for the next few races to make sure I can peak for the finals in October and hopefully secure the overall win then. Also, knowing that there are not often Americans winning the overall, it really adds some extra motivation. Even in the individual races, it’s fun to put the U.S. more on the map, especially with some of the other U.S. women making it into the top.

What’s your stoke level right now? 

In general, I know it’s good to move on from races, whether they’re good or bad, but the stoke from this one is something I am going to hold onto for a while. I have had some great races before, but I do think this is one of my best performances both in skiing and running combined, so it’s safe to say that my stoke level is incredibly high. It’s easy to be excited about a result when it’s a win, but I am just extra proud of this race because of how I paced and approached the race from start to finish. It was the first time I felt that I had actually grown as a runner and put into practice what I have learned over the past couple of years. In other words, it was the first time I didn’t feel like a newbie in trail running.

(PARK CITY, UTAH - August 15, 2023) – U.S. Ski & Snowboard formally announced the extension of its partnership with Intermountain Health as its Official Healthcare Partner through 2027. Intermountain Health, a leading healthcare provider, will continue providing world-class care and support for the teams, as well as title naming to the Intermountain Health Freestyle International at Deer Valley through the next Olympics. 

"We are delighted to continue our partnership with Intermountain Health,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, President and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. "Together, we are fostering a culture of excellence, ensuring that athletes receive the highest standard of care and support. They remain steadfast in providing various resources to our team, and we’re excited to continue our relationship. I look forward to what we can accomplish as we gear up for next season!” 

Building upon the success of the partnership since 2019, Intermountain Health will once again serve as the title partner of the 2024 Intermountain Health Freestyle International at Deer Valley. The annual event is one of the most highly anticipated World Cups on the FIS Freestyle circuit, where the best moguls and aerials athletes in the world compete under the lights at Deer Valley Resort. 

Intermountain Health will remain as the title partner of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Certified Center of Excellence Program, a program that marries the expertise of both Intermountain Health and U.S. Ski & Snowboard systems and implements them into various locations across Utah. Currently, three Utah locations exist: Intermountain Health Park City Hospital; Intermountain TOSH (The Orthopedic Speciality Hospital) in Murray; and the Intermountain McKay Dee Hospital in Ogden. 

New to the partnership, Intermountain Health will assume the role of title partner of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Performance Medical Team, a new asset that focuses on providing unparalleled medical expertise and care to athletes. With this, all athletic trainers and physical therapists traveling with the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team will wear co-branded Intermountain Health Performance Medical Team patches and branding on their outerwear. 

“Our partnership with U.S. Ski & Snowboard furthers Intermountain Health’s mission of helping people live the healthiest lives possible,” said Rob Allen, Intermountain Health President and CEO. “The freestyle event, Certified Center of Excellence Program, and the medical experts on the Performance Medical Team all underscore our joint commitment to health and the highest standard of excellence in care for athletes and our communities.” 
 

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 the fully-funded 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.

ABOUT INTERMOUNTAIN HEALTH 
Headquartered in Utah with locations in seven states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 33 hospitals, 385 clinics, medical groups with some 3,900 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called SelectHealth with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs.