U.S. Ski & Snowboard is honored to announce that due to the success of the Jeff Shiffrin Athlete Resiliency Fund (JSARF) and support from the Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund, the organization will make a one-time COVID-19 hardship payment of $1300 to every named 2020-21 national team athlete. 

The JSARF was created to honor Jeff Shiffrin’s life and legacy in collaboration with the Shiffrin family and a group of generous donors (six families). The fund has contributed to U.S. Ski & Snowboard in sustaining its training and competition schedule as many funding sources were impacted due to COVID-19. This has translated into one of the most successful seasons in history, with 103 podiums, including 27 victories, across all sports which is a direct result of the consistent funding.

“The Jeff Shiffrin Athlete Resiliency Fund was able to help us support and sustain athlete funding during the COVID downturn we experienced this year,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO Tiger Shaw. “We are thrilled to be able to award athletes this one-time payment. Many of our athletes have faced a personal loss of income and an impeded earning power due to a reduction in events and other opportunities this season. We know this payment may not make up for every missed opportunity, but we hope that it can alleviate some of the financial hardship.”

“We are so grateful to have had the ability and opportunity to train and compete this year,” added Shaw. “Going into this winter we did not know if we were even going to have a season. Because of the support of our generous donors with initiatives such as the Jeff Shiffrin Athlete Resiliency Fund, we were able to keep our athletes on snow and achieved some amazing results. All of our athletes exemplified resiliency this year and I can think of no better way to honor Jeff’s memory than by supporting our athletes in their pursuit of excellence.”

Better days are still ahead, and the thrill and challenge of athletes’ Olympic dreams are worth fighting for. 

For more information about the Jeff Shiffrin Athlete Resiliency Fund, visit keeptheflamealive.org.

In an essay written for Outside Magazine on the topic of legacy, Olympic champion and winningest female alpine ski racer of all-time, Lindsey Vonn, says former teammate and Olympian Breezy Johnson is America's next great downhiller. 

Johnson, who grabbed her first FIS Ski World Cup podium in the downhill at Val d'Isere, France in December, and then went on to grab three more consecutive third-place results, had the best season of her career during the 2020-21 season, ending up ranked fourth in the downhill standings. 

In the essay, Vonn reflects on her career and the meaning of "legacy,"

When you retire from a career as a professional athlete, the most common question people ask is: What is your legacy? That’s an incredibly hard question to answer, but I will try now to find the words.

I met my idol, Picabo Street, when I was nine years old. She was signing autographs at a ski shop in Minnesota. After just two minutes with her, I knew that I wanted to become an Olympian. Little did either of us know that nine years later we would be racing together in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. 

This winter, nearly two decades later, I asked her the same question I have struggled to answer. To my surprise, she said: “You. You are my legacy.” I admit we shared a few tears as we acknowledged the impact we had on each other. 

She goes on to talk about teammate Johnson, and the bright future she has in the sport. 

There are many incredible women in the field right now, but one who I am most excited to watch grow is Breezy Johnson, a 25-year-old from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, who nabbed her first spot on a World Cup podium in December at Val d’Isère, France. 

Johnson Stats

• Career-first World Cup podium, Val d’Isere, France (Dec. 2020). From there, she scored three more consecutive third-place finishes.
• In six downhill starts, she was top five in five starts and only DNFed once
• Despite a big mistake at Cortina in DH, she ended up ninth…but was gunning for the win
• Finished the season with a career-best super-G result of 10th in Val di Fassa, Italy
• She ended up ranked fourth in the world in downhill – her best-ever ranking

Vonn closes with, "Legacy is not what you leave behind, it is how you help push others forward."

Read the full article on OutsideOnline.com

Following what was possibly the most memorable and grit-filled season of her career, two-time Olympic champion and six-time world champion Mikaela Shiffrin stayed in Europe to test equipment in Austria with Atomic immediately following World Cup Finals—a vital opportunity she missed out on after the 2020 season ended abruptly. It was time to get back to work, and Shiffrin is more motivated than ever before. 

Of course, this is something her competitors should be a bit concerned about because despite the tragic year she endured compounded with COVID setbacks, and only one-third of her normal preparation heading into the season, Shiffrin still walked away with 10 podiums in 16 FIS Ski World Cup starts, including three victories, four World Championship medals and records to boot. And yet, fans and the media speculated that the Shiffrin of the past was no longer. 

Mikaela Shiffrin 2020-21 Stats:

• 10 podiums in 16 FIS Ski World Cup starts, including three victories (worst finish sixth)
• Surpassed legend Marcel Hirscher's 67 career victories and ending the season with 69 World Cup victories—third on the all-time World Cup win list behind former teammate Lindsey Vonn (82), and Swede Ingemar Stenmark (86) 
• Second in the world in the giant slalom and slalom standings, and fourth in the overall standings 
• Leader on the World Cup circuit for average World Cup points per race (67.2 points over Swiss Lara Gut's 57.1 points in second) 
• Snagged her 44th career World Cup slalom victory, breaking the women's record for most wins in a single discipline (Stenmark holds the record with 46 in giant slalom)
• Four world championships medals at Cortina 2021 (career-best world champs)
• First skier—male or female—to win four medals at the world championships in 14 years
• Tied with Sweden's Anja Paerson for the most World Championships medals by a woman in the modern era (11)
• Most decorated American alpine skier in World Championships history (11 medals)
• Most World Championship gold medals for American alpine skier (6 gold)
• First American winner of the women’s combined since Tamara McKinney won it in 1989 at the worlds in Vail
• Lara Gut-Behrami beat Mikaela Shiffrin in giant slalom by 0.02 sec, the smallest margin of victory in a giant slalom in world championship history

For anyone else, these numbers would have been an absolute dream, but Shiffrin has shown the world what it's like to be on top so consistently that her 2020-21 results were met with criticism. For Shiffrin, though, not returning to the sport she loved so much after all that occurred in the last 14 months was a very real consideration. Taking that into account, her results deserve to be applauded over and over, and over again. Shiffrin caught up with The New York Time's Bill Pennington after the season to talk shop and make sure people know that she's still very much here, and she's still doing it.

The article reads, 

“It’s true it wasn’t as good a year as I’ve had in the past,” she said, adding that many people around the world, not just ski racers, could say the same thing about the previous 12 months. “But when I look back at this season I’ll be proud. I didn’t even know if there was going to be a World Cup or if I was emotionally ready for it. Then I was injured as the racing was starting, and in bed and not training. I felt like I was playing catch-up.”

Ultimately, her 300-day layoff and atypical results have provided Shiffrin with something significant as the 2022 Beijing Olympics approach: new incentive.

“I’m motivated from what was lacking this year,” Shiffrin, 26, said. “There’s some missing pieces. That’s one of my biggest goals — to get those back.”

So, spending extra time in Europe to equipment test was a no-brainer for the more-motivated-than-ever Shiffrin, who tested both boots and dozens of pairs of skis with Atomic in Kühtai, Austria. What is perhaps most motivating for Shiffrin is the level of depth and consistency across the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team. She noted that the energy throughout the Team has been better than she's ever experienced in her career. 

Shiffrin is encouraged that the focus on American Olympic ski racing prospects will be more diffuse than it was in 2018, when attention was reserved almost exclusively for her and the now-retired Vonn. Several of Shiffrin’s American teammates had breakout performances this winter, including Paula Moltzan, 26, who placed in the top 10 of the last three World Cup slalom races of the season. Moltzan’s teammate, Nina O’Brien, 23, finished 17th in the season-long giant slalom standings.

In December, Ryan Cochran-Siegle, the son of the 1972 Olympic Alpine gold medalist Barbara Cochran, became the first American man to win a World Cup super-G in 15 years.

“The team has shown a level of depth and consistency,” Shiffrin said, “that I haven’t experienced in my career.”

The 2021-22 season will undoubtedly give fans a lot to get excited about, as the Team had the strongest collective result in years heading into the Olympic season. 

Read the Full New York Times Article

U.S. Snowboard Team member and seven-time FIS Crystal Globe Winner Chris Corning closed out his season with a third-place finish on Sunday at the World Cup finals in Silvaplana, Switzerland. 

“This one means a lot to me,” said Corning. “I have had a tough couple contests that haven’t really gone my way. I have landed runs, but haven’t gotten the results I wanted. I’m stoked I was able to make it happen at the last contest of the season. My goal was to make finals and anything that came after was a bonus, so I’m really grateful.”

Corning stomped his first run that included a solid and controlled rail section, a cab 1620, a backside flat spin 1440, a backside triple cork 1440, and a beautiful 50/50 backside rodeo out. Corning would have likely improved on his second run if it wasn't for a minor mistake on the last fail feature. 

Corning’s podium marks his first top-three finish in only two World Cup starts this season. Despite a limited competition season, the result carries significant weight as it relates to the U.S. Snowboard Olympic Team selection criteria, tacking on critical points towards the rankings pathway (World Snowboard Points List), one of two routes to secure an Olympic team nomination. The other route being podium performances at designated U.S. Olympic tryout events.

Corning didn’t sugarcoat the fact he was looking forward to the off-season. Anyone that follows him, knows he loves his summer activities.  

“I’m ready to relax,” he said. “I’m stoked to ride dirt bikes, wakeboard, attend the Mammoth Camp in May with my teammates, and really just unwind ahead of what will be another crazy season.”

U.S. Snowboard Teammate Dusty Henricksen put down his first run to finish fifth. His run included a bit of successful improvisation in the rail section taking him into the jump section where he landed a switch backside 1080, switch backside 1260, as well as a casual backside triple cork on the final jump. Teammate Brock Crouch finished just behind Henricksen in sixth place landing his second run, where he showcased his creative approach to the course as one of the few riders to utilize the final quarterpipe feature. 

Norway’s Markus Kleveand continued his dominance winning the event and securing the FIS Slopestyle and Overall Crystal Globes. Kleveland won two of three slopestyle World Cups this season in addition to claiming the FIS World Championships slopestyle title. Canada’s Liam Brearley was second.

For the women, Japan’s Reira Iwabuchi and Kokomo Murase went one-two, followed by Australia’s Tess Coady in third. 

Four U.S. Men finished in the top-10 of the FIS World Cup slopestyle standings including Dusty Henricksen in fifth, Red Gerard in sixth, Chris Corning in seventh, and Brock Crouch in ninth. For the women, Jamie Anderson finished fourth and Hailey Langland sixth. 

A legacy event on the FIS Freeski World Cup circuit, Silvaplana has proven itself time and time again over the past decade to be one of the most unique and creative slopestyle venues in the world. After a successful event to close out the 2020-21 season, riders will be fiending to return in the future. 
 

WATCH REPLAY ON PEACOCK
 

RESULTS
Men’s snowboard slopestyle
Women’s snowboard slopestyle
 

WORLD CUP STANDINGS
Men’s snowboard slopestyle
Women’s snowboard slopestyle

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Under cloudy skies and with consistent wind, U.S. Freeski Team member Colby Stevenson persevered to cap off a shortened, but stellar 2020-21 season with a victory at the FIS World Cup slopestyle finals in Silvaplana Switzerland, securing both the slopestyle and park and pipe overall Crystal Globes. 

“It all happened pretty fast,” said Stevenson. “We didn’t have many events this year and it was a little weird coming into the season just not knowing if competitions were going to happen. It’s a dream come true to win a globe after coming in second last season, especially with the last World Cup being canceled. I’m just on top of the world right now to have closed out the season with two wins and land a run today and take the globe.”

Stevenson was very close to snagging the slopestyle globe last season but finished second behind Switzerland’s Andri Ragettli. This season, coming into the final event rocking and the golden bib, he was able to finish the job claiming a pair of World Cup titles. Despite challenging conditions, Stevenson didn’t let off the gas with some of the most technical and stylish skiing to grace the course throughout the day.

After his first run, he held down the top spot leading into his second drop, Stevenson didn’t relax, improving on his second run exhibiting tremendous confidence. Stevenson’s skiing included a switch 1620, a massive 1440, and next-level technicality on the rails. 

In classic A-Hall fashion, Alex Hall’s runs included difficult jump tricks, unique grab combinations, and a little extra flavor on the final rail feature with a stylish butter on the landing. Hall would finish third at the event and fifth in the FIS Slopestyle Cup standings.

Hall and Stevenson are close friends, but prior to the 2021 Aspen FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships Visa Big Air presented by Land Rover, where Stevenson and Hall finished second and third respectively, they had never shared a podium. Hall shared his feelings following the event in Aspen on finally getting to share that honor. 

“Colby and I have always talked about being on the podium together,” said Hall. “We have never done it and kind of always have opposite days I feel like, so it’s incredible to finally share a podium with him.”

2018-19 FIS Slopestyle Crystal Globe winner Mac Forehand closed out the season strong finishing in 11th place. Forehand proved with no doubt that he is back from a knee injury sustained at the 2019 Visa Big Air in Atlanta. He displayed creative double grabs and back-to-back 1620’s on his second run. Forehand finished sixth overall in the slopestyle cup standings, marking a very successful return to competition. 

Norway’s Ferdinand Dahl locked in second and U.S. Freeski Team member Willie Borm finished ninth on the day, his best result of the season.

For the women, Rell Harwood and Marin Hamill put on a solid display on behalf of the U.S. Freeski Team landing in fifth and sixth respectively. Harwood put down a solid first run but improved on run two landing a 270 on switch 450 out in the rail section with a solid jump section. Hamill’s second run was representative of her entire season, displaying solid style including double grabs and great flow. As Hamill and Harwood improve their technicality and degree of difficulty, they are sure to be a true threat moving into the 2022 Olympic season.  

France’s Tess Ledeux won the event and claimed the slopestyle as well as the park and pipe overall Crystal Globes. Teammates and Swiss freeskiers Sarah Hoefflin and Mathilde Gremaud finished in second and third place respectively. 

WATCH REPLAY ON PEACOCK

RESULTS
Men’s freeski slopestyle
Women’s freeski slopestyle
 

WORLD CUP STANDINGS
Men’s slopestyle
Women’s slopestyle

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After thick fog caused a course hold at the 2021 Dual Moguls Freestyle National Championships at Snowbird, Kasey Hogg and Joel Hedrick both earned the title of National Champions. Hogg’s career-best finish today adds on to an already impressive second-place finish Thursday in the moguls competition.

Hogg, who skied for Wasatch Freestyle before making the U.S. Ski Team, is no stranger to the course at Snowbird. “This is my home course, so it’s pretty special that I was able to win here. I am used to this course, but it was a little different for Nationals, a little more challenging. It was pretty awesome to walk away with a win.” She added, “It feels really great to end the season on a high note. There were some difficult times this year, but this made it all worth it.”

Hogg shared the podium with fellow U.S. Ski Team athlete, Nessa Dziemian, who finished in second place, and Park City Ski & Snowboard’s Kylie Kariotis, who finished in third. Kenzie Radway finished just off the podium with a Nationals career-best fourth place, Avital Carroll behind her in fifth, Madison Hogg in sixth, Sabrina Cass in ninth place.

On the men’s side, Joel Hedrick won his first National Championship title, adding on to two other wins in this season. Hedrick returned to competition in 2021 after being sidelined by a knee injury in 2018. Speaking on returning after his injury, Hedrick stated, “It feels really good to be back. Having a few wins under my belt this season was huge for me, and I was happy to end it on a good note.”

Wasatch Freestyle's PJ Cass finished second and teammate Cole McDonald rounded out the podium in third. 

Nick Page finished in sixth place after his moguls win Thursday, with Alex Lewis behind him in ninth, and Landon Wendler in 10th.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard World Cup Moguls Coach Joe Discoe has been working with both Hogg and Hedrick this season. “It was a strong performance from both of them. They both skied super solid, super fast, and really did great today.”

Discoe added that he was very grateful to see both days of competition take place this year. “Having an event where the top skiers in the nation are put head to head pushes the younger athletes and shows who the next up and coming skiers will be. It was a great way to end the season.”

The National Championships marked an end to the 2021 season for the U.S. Moguls Freestyle Ski Team. Athletes and coaches are looking forward to getting some much needed rest before getting back to training heading into the 2022 Olympic year.

RESULTS

Women’s Dual Moguls

Men’s Dual Moguls

Olympian and Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team athlete Breezy Johnson just wrapped the best season of her career, which started with grabbing her career-first FIS Ski World Cup podium in Val d'Isere, France in December, and scoring four consecutive podiums from there. 

In six downhill starts, she was top five in five starts and only DNFed once. Despite a big mistake at FIS Ski World Championships in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, where she was the favorite, she ended up in ninth...but was gunning for the win. She finished the season with a career-best super-G result in 10th at Val di Fassa, Italy, and ended up ranked fourth in the world in downhill—her best-ever ranking. Aside from teammate Mikaela Shiffrin, and former teammate and downhill legend Lindsey Vonn, Johnson is the first American to crack the top five in the women’s World Cup downhill standings in the last five years.

Of course, this success wasn't immediate or easy for the downhiller, who came back during the 2019-20 season after back-to-back knee injuries. Johnson recently caught up with journalist Brian Pinelli for an interview with SKI Magazine about persevering through mental and physical challenges on and off the mountain. 

Johnson reflected on her season, 

I both exceeded and didn’t exceed my expectations. I had big goals that I knew were achievable. I wanted to win a World Cup race and medal at the World Championships and those didn’t happen.

My skiing has improved a lot, even during the season, especially in super-G. I’m in the best place as far as my skiing abilities, so that’s really cool, but it’s obviously hard when you feel like you’re about to win two races, take over the downhill standings, and win the downhill globe. Then you have one bad day and a DNF. But I’m happy with where my skiing is, and I’m ready to work to have it pay off in an even bigger way.

Read the full article on SkiMag.com.

U.S. Ski Team athletes Nessa Dziemian and Nick Page each skied to career firsts as they were crowned National Champions on Thursday. For the first time in 25 years, the nation’s best mogul skiers descended on Snowbird for the 2021 Moguls Freestyle National Championships. Athletes were treated to two beautiful Utah-bluebird days of training ahead of the moguls competition, which had light snowfall throughout the day and kept the course interesting. 

Dziemian sustained a season-ending injury in November 2019 that kept her off of the competition circuit - until now. In her first contest back in twenty-four months (her last being the 2019 National Championships in Waterville Valley), Dziemian stomped it out for the win. This is Dziemian’s second National Championship title, but first win in singles. 

“I feel very emotional about the whole thing,” said Dziemian of her feat in the finish area. “There were definitely a lot of challenges along the way. I battled a knee injury, I battled depression and anxiety... I just did not think i was going to come back from it at all, it was the hardest thing. My knee was constantly hurting and I just felt like I was at the lowest of lows. At this moment, it just feels like all of that hard work has finally paid off.”

Results aside, Dziemian was at a loss for words in describing how proud she was of her performance. Her cork mute to cork grab finals run was the highest degree of difficulty for any woman in the field and was a goal she has had in mind for herself for a long time. “I wasn't even going to do it right before the comp run. But for some reason I just pushed out of the gate and said to myself ‘I’m doing it, I’m going to achieve my goal today.’ So even though with all of the practice runs I had where it was not working, having it just work out on the one run where I needed it to was an absolute gift, and I am very thankful for it.”

The #powHERhouse came out to win and Dziemian shared the podium with fellow U.S. Ski Team members Kasey Hogg, who came in second, and Sabrina Cass, who came in third, marking career-best National Championships results for all three U.S. Moguls Team members. Avital Carroll came in fifth, Madison Hogg 11th, and Kenzie Radway 13th.

On the men’s side, U.S. Ski Team member Nick Page earned his first National Championship title, adding another accolade to what has been an outstanding season for the 18-year-old. Page, an alumnus of Wasatch Freestyle, recently earned FIS’ Rookie of the Year award and was thrilled to bring that momentum to home snow. 

“I was thinking about all of the milestone moments I have had here at Snowbird,” said Page. “I did my first cork 7, back full, cork 10, cork 14 and double on snow all on this course. That’s five big milestone jumps. So in that regard, I know the course like the back of my hand. Without Wasatch Freestyle, I would not be the skier or the person I am. It’s a big testament to them and all that they do to achieve this milestone here.”

“The goal coming into this week was to come in and get it done, and win,” added Page. “And I was able to do it. But it was a great field of athletes. The guys I was competing against were right there too, so it wasn’t easy, but it was really fun.”

Page shared the podium with Winter Park Competition Center’s Geroge McQuinn, who came in second, and Wasatch Freestyle’s Ian Beauregard, who came in third, career-best National Championships results for each. 

Landon Wendler finished sixth, a National Championships career-best, Joel Hedrick 10th and Alex Lewis 54th. 

The accomplishment of having a National Championships go off this year was not lost on the moguls community. The 2020 iteration of Moguls National Championships was cancelled due to COVID-19 lockdowns and Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows was unable to host the event this season due to local health and safety protocols. Snowbird and Wasatch Freestyle stepped up in a big way to make sure the event stayed on the calendar. 

“Big thanks to the crew here at Snowbird and Wasatch Freestyle for pulling this together,” said Head Moguls Coach Matt Gnoza. “They had less than a month to prepare for this, and they pulled off an amazing event. Nationals is always a fun way to wrap up the season.”

“For the national team athletes, they are tired,” Gnoza added. “It’s been a long season. While there have not been a ton of events, it has been a lot of stressful events, a lot of stressful travel. So to come back home, to have some beautiful weather on the training days, to have a fun course to go out there and ski, it really allowed them to ski to the highest of their abilities today. Just a great way to wrap up the season.”

The final moguls competition of the 2020-21 season runs Friday with Dual Moguls Freestyle National Championships. The nation’s best will go head-to-head one last time for another chance at National Championship glory.

HOW TO WATCH
Friday, March 26
10:45 a.m. MST, 2021 Dual Moguls Freestyle National Championships - LIVE, Snowbird, Utah, USA, ID One USA Twitch.TV

RESULTS

Women’s Moguls

Men’s Moguls

Fresh off the Aspen 2021 FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships, U.S. Ski & Snowboard alumni Tricia Brynes and Trace Worthington gathered at the iconic Buttermilk slopestyle and halfpipe venues in Aspen, Colo. for the inaugural team fundraiser, hitting the team goal and raising over $50,000.

All funds raised through this fundraiser are used as a means for athletes to help offset travel and training costs. Unfortunately, there was no in-person fundraising event this year, but instead, a virtual event hosted through Facebook Live. Although in person gatherings are greatly missed, having a virtual event had its benefits, as freeski and snowboard supporters from across the globe had the opportunity to join in the fun. 
 

Worthington, who was stationed below the Buttermilk halfpipe, and Brynes, stationed on the final jump of the slopestyle course, began the event by talking about what support means for these athletes and what it meant to them during their competitive careers. They were then joined by Olympic silver medalist and original U.S. Freeski Team member Devin Logan, who shared a little about the support she has received throughout her career and how fundraising makes such a positive impact on athletes like herself. 

Those who watched were encouraged to give a donation, while those who were unable to virtually attend had the option to donate online or bid on unique auction items, including a Taylor Gold exclusive snowboard signed by the entire U.S. Snowboard Halfpipe Team, Spyder freeski team gear, as well as some of Logan’s outerwear from the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games. Through donations and the silent auction, the Team had an amazing first year, raising over $50,000! 

These gifts have a direct impact on our mission of supporting athletes in achieving excellence and becoming Best in the World. The U.S. Freeski & Snowboard Teams wrapped up their weekend in Aspen with the Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix, the first Olympic qualifying event of the season, and both teams put on a show, taking one step closer to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.

The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Foundation is the non-profit fundraising arm of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. To support our athletes on their quest to become the Best in the World, please click here to donate!
 

Support the U.S. Freeski & Snowboard Teams Today!
 

U.S. Ski & Snowboard is working to cultivate an inclusive environment through diversity, equity, and inclusion measures. A large part in improving these areas is breaking  down barriers to participation in order to make skiing and snowboarding more accessible. SOS Outreach is an organization doing just that. They are dedicated to helping children of all socioeconomic backgrounds experience outdoor adventures and get involved in their communities. Through these outdoor experiences, participants learn different life skills including teamwork, discipline, and the courage to overcome obstacles when success does not come right away.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard and SOS Outreach are working together to create memorable experiences for children interested in skiing and snowboarding. In February Olympic athletes Brita Sigourney and Steven Nyman took part in an outdoor adventure at Park City Mountain skiing with 95 of the children in the SOS mentorship program. Reflecting on the experience, Nyman said, “The kids were fantastic. There were a lot of laughs, fun skiing, good crashes. My favorite time was when we went through the mini park in a train all jumping one after another.” Nyman also noted that participants were “very inquisitive and willing to push themselves on the snow.”

Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team member Kyle Negomir led a video call with SOS Outreach, talking to a group of  children about the life skills they have learned through the program and sharing ways he has learned to fight through adversity in his career. “It was sweet seeing how shy many of them were at first, but after hearing my story and how similar the issues all of us face really are, they started to open up and let me really engage with them.” Negomir stated, “There were a lot of thoughtful questions at the end of the meeting which really made it an organic conversation.” Negomir could not say enough about the great work of SOS Outreach. “Abbey and the rest of the mentors within the program are truly helping these kids learn the skills and character needed to become leaders of their own, and giving them a great outlet to come better themselves,” he added.

The positive feedback received from both athletes and participants speaks to the exceptional work being done at SOS Outreach. Both U.S. Ski & Snowboard and participating athletes are looking forward to future opportunities with the organization. Negomir is already planning for the next adventure, “I’m hoping to be able to help out a bit more this year and beyond, and to recruit some more of my teammates to come talk with the kids once the season is over!”

To learn more about SOS Outreach, visit their website here.