U.S. Ski & Snowboard today announced a partnership with Align Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALGN), makers of the Invisalign® clear aligner system, making the Invisalign brand the Official Smile of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the Olympic national governing body of ski and snowboard sports in the United States. The multi-year, worldwide sponsorship includes development of original Invisalign branded content across social media channels and for the U.S. Ski & Snowboard website. As part of the agreement, U.S. Ski & Snowboard will launch a program for athletes to join the Invisalign Smile Squad and receive Invisalign treatment and then share their Invisalign treatment experiences on their social media profiles.

“Smiles, skiing, and snowboarding go hand-in-hand, so we’re excited to connect with athletes from the U.S. Ski, Snowboard, and Freeski teams and their fans around the world,” said Kamal Bhandal, Align Technology vice president, Global Brand and Consumer Marketing. “Our purpose is transforming smiles and changing lives, and we admire these talented and inspirational athletes and their commitment to being the best in the world.  We look forward to working with U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes on the Invisalign Smile Squad and supporting their Invisalign treatment journeys as they come to life in their stories and experiences shared across media platforms.”

“We’re all smiles in announcing Align’s Technology’s Invisalign brand as our first-ever Official Smile Partner,” said Michael O’Conor, chief revenue officer for U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “Smiling confidently is a feeling our athletes know well, whether on the slopes or the top of the podium. We are excited to partner with a brand committed to using technology to change lives for the better, just as we are committed to supporting our athletes in their pursuit of excellence. We look forward to sharing our Invisalign Smile Squad stories and introducing the Invisalign brand to our fans around the world.”

“We welcome U.S. Snowboard Team athletes Jamie Anderson, Maddie Mastro and Red Gerard, and U.S. Freeski Team athlete David Wise to the Invisalign Smile Squad and are excited to support their Invisalign treatment journey as they join over 9.6 million patients around the world who have used the Invisalign system to improve their smiles,” said Frank Quinn, Align Technology vice president and general manager, U.S. “We’re proud to be the Official Smile of U.S. Ski & Snowboard and to help Invisalign trained doctors transform the winning smiles of these great U.S. athletes.”

At 30-years-old, Jamie Anderson continues to raise the bar in women’s competitive snowboarding and beyond. Anderson is a double-Olympic gold medalist, earned silver in the inaugural 2018 Olympic big air, and is the winningest female X Games athlete of all time, with 19 medals. Most recently, Anderson has proven herself in the world of backcountry snowboarding competing in events like the Natural Selection event and filming her own movie Unconditional. Anderson is thrilled to partner with the Invisalign brand to bring her smile to the next level. “My smile is a reflection of my best self!” said Anderson. “I’m excited to partner with the Invisalign brand so I can give my smile that extra boost. Invisalign treatment will help elevate my confidence on and off the snow.”

Maddie Mastro was an Olympian at the age of 17 and has since medaled at two World Championships. She is the first woman to ever land the "double crippler" both in and out of halfpipe competition, putting her at the forefront of women’s snowboard progression. As an elite athlete always in the spotlight, Mastro is excited to partner with Invisalign in making her smile podium-ready. “I absolutely love my Invisalign treatment and am super excited to be a brand athlete ambassador!” Mastro said. “Invisalign clear aligners work great for an active lifestyle and you can’t even tell you are wearing them, which makes for a winning smile.”

Red Gerard became a household name at the 2018 Olympics where he became the youngest male U.S. Olympian to win a gold in 90 years at the age of 17 with his win in snowboard slopestyle. Gerard went on to earn gold at the 2019 Burton U.S. Open and Bronze at X Games Aspen 2020. Gerard is more than a competition snowboarder, his film Joy won Movie of the Year at the 2020 Snowboarder Awards, and he's a star of the 2020 Burton team video "One World." “My partnership with the Invisalign brand is ideal due to my heavy travel schedule competing and filming all year,” said Gerard. “It’s a quick and simple program that allows me to focus on riding while it focuses on my teeth.” 

David Wise is a husband, father, and the only male freeski halfpipe gold medalist in Olympic history winning the inaugural contest at the 2014 Sochi and 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games. Wise also has four X Games gold medals, 16 World Cup podiums, and a World Championship victory to his name. Invisalign clear aligners will provide a perfect solution to help Wise work on his smile while keeping up with his busy home and competitive life. “Looking your best helps give you that extra bit of confidence,” Wise said. “In my sport, confidence is everything. While I’ve always wanted a less crooked smile, I’ve been reluctant to use traditional orthodontics. I’m excited to begin Invisalign treatment because it fits my chaotic lifestyle and won’t make me hide my teeth along the way. I look forward to breaking out a new winning smile.”

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About Align Technology, Inc.

Align Technology designs, manufactures and offers the Invisalign® system, the most advanced clear aligner system in the world, iTero® intraoral scanners and services, and exocad CAD/CAM software. These technology building blocks enable enhanced digital orthodontic and restorative workflows to improve patient outcomes and practice efficiencies for over 200 thousand doctor customers, and is key to accessing Align’s 500 million consumer market opportunity worldwide. Align has helped doctors treat over 9.6 million patients with the Invisalign system and is driving the evolution in digital dentistry through the Align Digital Platform, our integrated suite of unique, proprietary technologies and services delivered as a seamless, end-to-end solution for patients and consumers, orthodontists and GP dentists, and lab/partners. Visit www.aligntech.com for more information.

For additional information about the Invisalign system or to find an Invisalign doctor in your area, please visit www.invisalign.com. For additional information about the iTero systems and services, please visit www.itero.com. For additional information about exocad dental CAD/CAM offerings and a list of exocad reseller partners, please visit www.exocad.com.

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 2021, competing in seven teams; alpine, cross country, freeski, freestyle, snowboard, nordic combined and ski jumping. In addition to the 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

Pending Members

We need your help! We still have almost 1600 members with one or more outstanding requirements. Please help us finish the season strong!! Check the Pending Members tool to see if you or someone you know could use a little nudge! We’re here to help. Instructions for each requirement are noted below. Thank you in advance for your support in ensuring all members have completed these important requirements.

SafeSport Training

Have you completed your SafeSport Training this season? As a reminder SafeSport training is an annual requirement with the core training required every 4 seasons and brief refresher courses required in each of the other three seasons. 

How do I Complete SafeSport Training: 

• Register or login with SafeSport https://safesport.org/authentication/signin
  • Click “SIGN IN” on the top right-hand corner
  • Enter your username or register as a new user
• Please affiliate with U.S. Ski & Snowboard
• Enter your U.S. Ski & Snowboard member ID.
  • Do not include your division code (A, C, E, F, I, N, R or X) when inputting your member ID.
  • Doing so may cause a delay in the updating of your completion status.
• You will receive a confirmation email to activate your account.
  •  Please check your email (including your spam file)
  •  Click the link in the email message.
• For technical assistance please contact SafeSport directly at help.desk@safesport.org.

Coaching Fundamentals

Coaches who have yet to complete Coaching Fundamentals have until April 1 to finish the course. All work done on the course will be cleared out as of April 1. Let’s finish strong! You’re almost there! Just sign into your account on my.usskiandsnowboard.org today. Here are some instructions to help you get started. 

How do I complete the Coaching Fundamentals?

• Login to your U.S. Ski & Snowboard account  https://my.usskiandsnowboard.org/myussa
• If you receive a notice that you cannot enroll yourself, please email membership immediately at membership@usskiandsnowboard.org
• Click the link in the notice at the top of the screen to begin the course. If you are unable to access the course from your account, please click here and sign in with your credentials
• The course takes 3-4 hours to complete
• All 5 sections of Activity 2 must be completed to access the final exam

Introduction to Avalanches

In order to complete Introduction to Avalanches, you need to have an individual my.usskiandsnowboard.org account. Your name and member ID need to appear as the primary member to access the course. If you are not the primary on the account, please log out of this account, open a new page and go to my.usskiandsnowboard.org to create a new account where you are the primary member.

How do I complete the training?

• Login to your U.S. Ski & Snowboard account  https://my.usskiandsnowboard.org/myussa
• Click the link in the notice at the top of the screen to begin the course. If you are unable to access the course from your account, please click here and sign in with your credentials
• The course takes 5-10 minutes to complete 
• If for any reason you are having trouble with course access, please email membership@usskiandsnowboard.org for an alternate means of completing the course. 

Please allow pop-ups for the following website for the course to launch:https://education.usskiandsnowboard.org/. If you need help allowing pop-ups to appear, please click here to find your internet browser and their instructions.

Background Screening

Prior to registering for screening, please check your online account to confirm that you are indeed required to register for screening. If the requirement applies to you, there will be a note at the top of the screen explaining the requirement. Screening is required every two seasons. 

*Please register only once. If you have already registered and are awaiting your screening determination, please disregard these instructions.

How do I register for background screening?

• Please go to NCSI’s Secure Website to register for your background screening. The 8-digit applicant code is 11392848.

Please note you will be required to submit a copy of your valid state/government issued ID (NCSI accepts .jpg, .pdf, .doc, and .png file formats).

• Please allow several weeks for the screening process to be completed. Individual screening times will vary. Foreign screenings may take a month or more.

• Foreign members will be contacted by NCSI, via email, requesting additional documentations and government-issued IDs. Please check your spam folder for this email.
  • verifications@ncsisafe.com
  • clientservices@ncsisafe.com.

 If you have any questions or problems submitting your information, please call NSCI at (866) 833-7100 or by email at clientservices@ncsisafe.com.

March has seen FIS racing resume in all Western Region divisions.  Far West opened up and has held successful series, along with Alaska.  We have seen Western Region athletes travel to Europe to complete in National Development programming.  Now we have to wish for Winter to continue into Spring so that the Western Region Spring Series at Alpine Meadows & Squaw Valley will be held April 6-11 and the Downhill Series at Mammoth Mountain April 14-19.  

Elite FIS Series - March 15 - 19

Athletes and coaches from many western clubs competed in the Lake Tahoe area for the region’s first Tech Elite Series event of the season.  Sugar Bowl watered the SL hill.  Squaw Valley groomed some new snow over a great racing surface.  Official results can be found at these links:  Sugar Bowl Slaloms & Squaw Valley Giant Slaloms.

U.S. Alpine Championship and NJC

The U.S. Alpine Championship will be held in Aspen, April 5 - 16.  The event schedule can be found on the U.S. Ski & Snowboard website.  The NJC has officially been cancelled due to small field sizes and difficulty scheduling a resort.

Western Region U16/U14 Update

Western Region U16 Championship

The U16 Regional Championship has been confirmed for Mammoth Mtn., April 6 - 9.  The field size is reduced to approximately half of the normal championship field size, due to Covid restrictions.  Selection to the championship event is based on each division’s process.  Check your divisional policies for selection procedures, and Covid protocols and restrictions.  The divisional quotas are listed on page A7 of the Western Region Handbook.

Western Region U16 Spring Project

The U16 National Championship was canceled this season due to the pandemic.  In its place, each region will facilitate a U16 project inviting regional athletes with top performances from their respective regional championships.  The projects will provide national development staff with additional information on athletes moving into their FIS years.  Each region’s project will involve common content, including SkilllsQuest, SkillsQuest-Fitness, freeskiing evaluation, and training across two or more disciplines. 

The Western Region project is scheduled for April 20 - 22 at Squaw Valley.  Athletes will be invited to the Western Region project using the pre-Covid 2020 U16 National Championship selection procedure. 15 athletes from YOB 2005 and 2006 will be invited using this method.  Up to five additional athletes from YOB 2005 will be invited based on discretionary requests from the five divisions.  The total project size is 20 women and 20 men. 

Western Region U14 Spring Project

For the 2nd year in a row, Covid-19 has forced the cancellation of the Western Region U14 Championship.  Therefore, the region is conducting a U14 Spring Project at Squaw Valley, April 15 - 18.  A regional task force made up of representatives from each division has been planning this project since the early season to give U14 athletes an opportunity to engage at a regional level.

The project will focus on GS and SG progressions with an emphasis on terrain management, and will end with full-length SG runs.  The project size is 45 women and 45 men.  Each western division will select athletes using their division’s U14 qualification events.  Divisional quotas have been redistributed using a percentage of the championship quotas.  Look for a detailed project announcement in the coming weeks.

Western Region Staff

World Junior Ski Championships

The 2021 World Junior Ski Championships recently concluded in Bansko, Bulgaria, where Team USA celebrated two SL medals: gold from Ben Ritchie (Green Mountain Valley School) and bronze from AJ Hurt (Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows Ski Team), on the way to a 6th place finish overall in the Hodler Cup team ranking.  Other notable performances included Isaiah Nelson (Buck Hill Ski Club) finishing in the top-10 in both SG and GS, Zoe Zimmermann (Burke Mountain Academy) finishing 6th in SL, and Cooper Puckett (Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club) winning the U18 competition in SG.  This year’s WJSC event was shortened due to the pandemic, with the DH, AC, and Team events not contested and nation quotas cut in half.  Still, the organizers successfully created a COVID-safe bubble for the athletes and coaches, and they hosted exceptional races on the same venue where the men’s World Cup races were held in early March. 

College Skiing

In early March, Tiger Shaw, Jesse Hunt, and Chip Knight hosted a video-conference call with EISA and RMISA college coaches to further discuss initiatives that are being taken to build bridges between the U.S. Ski Team, U.S. Ski and Snowboard and college athletes.  Among the key points was to describe how the uniquely American college skiing system fits into the national alpine program as a way for athletes to remain competitively engaged in the sport into their early 20s, and to continue to further their elite development through exposure to the NorAm and Europa Cup levels of competition.  Additional items discussed were: improving channels of communication, advance planning to avoid FIS-UNI and NorAm calendar conflicts; preparation period training opportunities; more transparent World Cup qualification pathways and support; modifications to USST criteria, and some of the notable success stories from the year of collegiate athletes achieving higher-level results in Europe: Paula Moltzan, Katie Hensien, Erik Arvidsson, Alex Leever, Jett Seymour, and Andrew Miller.

National Development Group European Trips

This month, regional coaches Kristina Revello, Rich Smith, and Fletcher McDonald each led National Development trips in Europe.  The goal was to provide junior athletes with higher-level competitive exposure to prepare them for future NorAm, World Juniors, Europa Cup and World Cup competition.  Each of the groups adhered to the U.S. Ski Team COVID policies and procedures, operating within a strict bubble to be as safe as possible.  While many of the athletes achieved podium performances during the trips, Oliver Morgan (Burke Mountain Academy), Benny Brown (Park City Ski and Snowboard), Camden Palmquist (Team Summit), and Jay Poulter (Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club) notably posted race wins on European turf. 

U.S. Alpine Championships

The 2021 U.S. Alpine Championships will be held in Aspen, CO from April 5-16.  This event will take the place of the previously scheduled NorAm Finals, which were unable to be contested due to ongoing Canadian travel restrictions.  The event will be held at 50% of traditional field sizes, and it will be staggered by gender to stay within the 100-athlete maximum COVID field size restriction.  The men will start with technical events, moving into SG and AC, before overlapping with the women for DH.  The Championships will conclude with women’s SG, AC, GS, and SL events.  Second FIS events will also be held in SG, AC, and DH to add additional race opportunities in the speed events.  On behalf of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, we are all looking forward to being in Aspen for the National Championships!

Junior National Championships

U.S. Ski & Snowboard staff worked hard to try to calendar a Junior National Championship this year.  Unfortunately, due to COVID-related concerns, we were unable to gain the necessary approvals to move forward with a viable Championship event.  Special thanks go out to our partners at Loveland and Breckenridge for being willing to host the races.  We will look forward to the 2022 Junior Nationals next year, and to seeing our best juniors from around the country competing together. 

Alpine Guide to Ski Fundamentals

The newly updated version of the Alpine Guide to Ski Fundamentals is now available!  This is a classic coaching resource that has been utilized by coaches across our country for many years. In addition to the drill progressions that coaches have grown to expect, you will also find several updated resources to help your athletes develop their technical and tactical skills. 

Purchase on the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Coaches Shop: 

• Alpine Guide to Ski Fundamentals- Single Guide - $19.99
• Alpine Guide to Ski Fundamentals- 10 pack - $179.99
• Alpine Guide to Ski Fundamentals- 20 pack - $359.99

After 11 years in the World Cup, Simi Hamilton concluded his last World Cup season. His Davis U.S. Cross Country Team colleague Gus Schumacher just concluded his first entire World Cup season.

What advice do they have to share with each other about life on the World Cup circuit? Listen to a wonderful "Behind the Scenes" about a change of generation within a team featuring Simi & Gus!

Sadie Maubet Bjornsen has retired from ski racing, but she is not hanging up her skis. She is simply moving on to new challenges and opportunities in life and to spend more time with her husband Jo, her family, friends, and to enjoy the simple pleasure of gliding across the snow on cross country skis.

We sat down with Maubet Bjornsen at the 2021 FIS Nordic Ski World Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany, to discuss her remarkable career - 12 World Cup Podiums, a World Championships classic team sprint bronze medal she won in 2017 with Jessie Diggins, and two Olympic Winter Games appearances - her approach to her final season, and a look back at the highs and lows of a 10-year professional ski racing career.

USSS: When did you start thinking about retirement?

SMB: Last year, I was thinking about moving on, but we had the season cut so quickly, and I had a new wax technician last year that was providing me with opportunities I had never had before, in addition to a few goals left unaccomplished. I just had this feeling I wasn’t ready to walk away yet, even if I was starting to play with the idea. I look back now, knowing I made the right decision to spend another year ski racing, but am also equally excited to start my next career. (after completing her accounting degree earlier in her ski career, she started working in the public accounting world this summer, and has since started working towards her CPA certification). 

USSS: You took a new approach to the season this year, spending time at home training before joining the team in late January. What did you learn from that approach?

SMB: In my two extra months at home before entering into the World Cup season, I developed a new relationship with skiing. Spending hours skiing through the woods alone, I fell in love with the sport itself again. It wasn’t just about racing, it was about being outside on the snow, a feeling that brought me back to what got me into the sport in the first place. To find those feelings again at the end of your career is a gift. I am lucky I get to walk away just as in love with skiing as I was at five years old. 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Sadie Maubet Bjornsen (@sbjornsen)

USSS: After a couple of World Cup races in Sweden, you and the team enjoyed a two-week pre-World Championships training camp, was there any pressure to use the camp to get into top form for Worlds?

SMB: The Davos prep camp before World Champs was a great example of the balanced feelings that came from my new approach. In the past, these prep camps have been so stressful for me. I have always felt like I needed to do the perfect thing to be in perfect shape to find my perfect result. With the first signs of imperfection, like the fact that I can’t ever sleep in Davos, I lost my happiness and confidence. But this year, for the first time in many years, I released the internal pressure and took the opportunity to look around a bit. In these times of open eyes, I realized just how incredible the experience is to spend my days trying to be the best ski racer I can be. As I skied on the trails I have skied a million times before, I saw them as adventures, rather than a workout to check off the list. I think life works this way. It isn’t until you have something to give you the perspective that you realize just how lucky you are!

USSS: Many athletes talk about leaving a legacy, or something along those lines when they retire. What impression do you want to leave on the next generation?

SMB: More than a legacy, I have always valued leaving a symbol or a memorable lesson. I want to be remembered as a symbol of imperfection that found the way. I don’t believe that there is one path to success, I believe there are many. I think my road was visually rocky, visually different, and visually persistent. When many people imagined there was no way, I always found a way. I hope my story is remembered not for the results that I accomplished, but for the path that I took to get there! 

USSS: When you look back on your career, what will you remember most?

SMB: If you asked me this last year, I think I would have told you a result. But, the things that have become most meaningful to me have shifted, therefore the things that will be most memorable have shifted. Working with a group of people that are all invested in each other, and who want to accomplish equally enormous achievements is a gift and a connection I will remember forever. It is something that felt normal before I stepped into a new world of work this summer, but it is a feeling of comradery that goes above and beyond your standard teamwork. I think I will also remember that amazing connection in sport that makes you feel like someone is always looking out for you. If you have a tough day on the track, or you seem slightly off at training; there is always a coach, a teammate, or your sports psychologist that is there willing to work through the underlying issue. Despite the fact that I have been in an individual sport for the past 15 years, I will remember that that road was anything but individual. 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Sadie Maubet Bjornsen (@sbjornsen)

USSS: You competed in more than 100 World Cup races, six World Championships, and two Olympic Winter Games, what event, or events, will you remember most?

SMB: I’ll remember my first Olympics the most because I had no pressure and I just took everything in. It was a dream even bigger than I could have imagined, only comparable to arriving in Disney World for three weeks straight, where everything is free. While my second Olympics had a bit more pressure and not the same lighthearted memories, there is one I will remember with equal importance to my first Olympics. The night before the event I was focused on the most, I sat down with my coach in a fit of nerves and stress. He forced me to take a second to step outside my head and look in to feel the magnitude of how incredible it was to believe I could win a medal the next day. Whether I win that medal or not was to be determined, but he forced me to feel the strength of the moment, and how rare people on this earth get to feel that feeling to their core. I didn’t end up winning that medal the following day, but the memory the night before of taming my nerves and dreams is lasting! 

USSS: What was the most challenging part of your career?

SMB: During the 2018 Olympics, I was runner up for the team sprint team that went on to win an Olympic gold medal. The moments before, during, and after that race were extremely hard for me. In my mind, I believed I deserved to be on that team, and I had done everything to prove it. But, of course, decisions were made that I accepted. I stood on the sidelines that day screaming my face off, supporting the two girls that got to represent us all. In those tough moments of processing the experience, it felt like the nearest miss of my life. 

USSS: Which led to one of your fondest memories?

SMB: I got pretty beat down by (not making the sprint team at the Olympics), and we had three weeks of World Cup racing following the completion of the Olympics. In the final World Cup of the season, I dug myself out of the deepest pit I knew at the time and achieved my most meaningful podium of my career. I knew what I had been through, and I knew just how hard I had to fight to find my belief again. On top of that, my husband was standing on the sidelines, sharing this most prized achievement with me. In so many ways, this felt like the rollercoaster of events that had painted my path in sport. From lows to highs, and back again. Through all these setbacks, moments of adversity, and loss of confidence, I always found my way. While many of these setbacks on my path have felt like my Achilles heel, they are in fact my greatest strength. The bumps and jumps have made me who I am. In that winter of extreme highs and lows of 2018, I finished the season ranked 6th overall in the World Cup. An achievement that will only be told by my toughest and fondest memories. 

USSS: What is something you won’t miss about being a professional athlete?

SMB: I will miss being away from home the least. That is something that has become harder and harder every year. It is challenging asking everybody to patiently wait for you. As you grow older, there are people that become more important in your life. When you’re young, those people feel disposable. As you grow older, you know those people are your lifeline, so you feel the magnitude of leaving them behind. 

USSS: Jo must have quite a bit of patience?

SMB: Patience is the best way I can describe Jo…independent and patient! When we talk on the phone, we rarely talk about skiing, and I love that. It is really, really helpful to me. In many ways, I feel lucky that many topics come first before the subject of my race comes up.

USSS: What changes have you seen in the sport?

SMB: I am so thankful for programs within the U.S. right now. When I came out of high school, I was coming from an incredible development program in the Methow Valley of Washington but needed to find my next step. I saw the success of Kikkan (Randall) and some other girls, but I didn’t see all these opportunities I see now. I am so thankful that I landed upon APU (Alaska Pacific University) who was creating a system for athletes to make the step between high school and professional racing. This is a challenging time, because you have no money, and sports cost money. I was lucky to have APU support that step, one that in many ways feels incredibly scary to commit to when you have everything to lose! APU gave me access to an education, a program, a community and a team that wanted to train super hard. I walked into APU extremely injured but developed a program of success with the guidance of Erik Flora. In many ways, he could and should have laughed at me when I told him on day one that my goal was to make the World Championships team, but he was willing to find the path.  

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by U.S. Ski Team (@usskiteam)

USSS: What motivated you all these years?

SMB: A lot of my setbacks have been from injuries. I realized this past summer…I’m not motivated solely by winning. Winning is incredible, but it isn’t the only thing that keeps me coming back. In those few moments I have gotten to stand on that podium, I always get this flash picture of my toughest times. One particular memory always jumps out. A few summers ago, I fell while rollerskiing and broke my hand. I was able to continue training but had to wear a cast on my hand. Three weeks into my recovery, I was rollerskiing down a hill, only to find a moose standing in the path at the bottom. I dove off the side of the road since we have no brakes on our rollerskis, in an attempt to avoid the moose. As I fell down, I ended up landing on my cast, bending all my fingers backward around the cast. The moose walked away unscathed, I walked away looking like Edward Scissors Hands. A hand cast, and two finger braces to protect my newly broken fingers. These images and moments are of course challenging, but they provide me with the fuel to fight back. 

USSS: What next?

SMB: Lots! Like my athletic career, I have already set some new goals in my next career. I am currently working on my Certified Public Accounting certification. It is a four-part exam, of which I passed the first one just before heading over for my season of racing. I look forward to spending more time in the amazing communities that have developed me, and welcomed me with open arms. Both the Methow and Anchorage have given me so much, so I look forward to giving a little back. I am lucky I left my professional career with the same love and appreciation for skiing, so I know I will remain part of the skiing community. Being outside at least once a day is my form of morning coffee, so I hope to share that passion with the people around me. Just like the past ten years, I have no true idea of where I am going, but I look forward to giving it my best every day! 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Sadie Maubet Bjornsen (@sbjornsen)

Two-time Olympic champion and six-time world champion Mikaela Shiffrin battled a lot in the last 14 months. From the tragic loss of her father to the global pandemic, and then a back injury that had her sidelined for the first FIS Ski World Cup race of the 2020-21 season, it seemed like nothing was in her control. Except for, maybe, her workouts, and her workout playlist (Taylor Swift, of course).

The Wall Street Journal's Jen Murphy took time ahead of the final races of the season to connect with Shiffrin and talk about everything from her garage workouts to her journey back to the top of the podium.

As Murphy wrote, 

The only thing skier Mikaela Shiffrin could control this past year was her workout soundtrack: Taylor Swift. Due to coronavirus, the two-time Olympic gold medalist and six-time world champion found herself preparing for her comeback season in her home garage using equipment hacks and video coaching. She became one more avid exerciser trying to keep fit without a gym.

The 26-year-old took a mostly involuntary break of 10 months from racing last year. After a six-week hiatus following the February 2020 death of her father, Jeff Shiffrin, she tried to return last March, just as the pandemic shut the world down. An October back injury sidelined her further. After years of domination, she entered the 2020-21 season in unfamiliar territory: coming from behind.

“I’ve had to play catch-up all season,” she says. “For quite a while I was the one being chased. I felt like I was the one writing the playbook and everyone else was reading it. This year I have other skiers to watch. It’s been motivating to be the one chasing.”

While her European competitors trained on glaciers during the North American summer, Ms. Shiffrin barely touched skis. “My training program and schedule changed completely,” she says. Typical training trips to South America were off due to travel bans. And when the state-of-the-art gym where she trains in Avon, Colo., shut down, she scrambled to buy equipment online to create a home gym.

Read the full article at WSJ.com

Aaron Blunck and Brita Sigourney led the U.S. Freeski team in first and third respectively in halfpipe on the final day of the 25th anniversary Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix World Cup at Buttermilk in Aspen, Colo. 

Sunday’s Grand Prix was the first Olympic tryout event for athletes vying for their chance to make the U.S. Team for the  2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games.

Adversity has been no stranger to Blunck this season, especially Sunday, battling varied spring conditions and taking a brutal slam on his first run. In true Blunck fashion, the two-time World Champion dominated the stage with his third run, floating five double cork hits to secure the top spot. Blunck was joined on the podium by Canada’s Brendan Mackay in second and New Zealand’s Nico Porteous in third.

“After my first run fall, I needed to completely regroup and remember that, honestly, I wasn’t supposed to be skiing until this month,” said Blunck, who is rebounding after a bone-crushing crash during training camp last October in Saas-Fee, Switzerland. “I reminded myself to be grateful. After that, I knew my second run wasn’t the best run. So third run, I knew what I had to do. I knew that I had to land. And I honestly couldn’t be more stoked that I landed my third and final run and came out on top.”

Teammate David Wise finished in fourth among a talented field of riders. The two-time Olympic gold medalist made his presence known on his first run landing a switch right 1080 and back-to-back double cork 1260’s to raise the energy level in what was a slow start to the competition.

Birk Irving, who earned World Championships bronze last week, also made a strong appearance finishing in fifth-place after styling a consistent switch 1080 on his first hit to a double flat spin. Aspen local Alex Ferreira took sixth, Lyman Currier seventh, Hunter Hess 10th, and Aspen local Tristan Feinberg took 11th competing in his first World Cup final.

“I am super hyped to be in my first finals,” said Feinberg.” I am a little bummed that I couldn’t put down my run due to speed, but happy to be here. I’m looking forward to the next one and am hungry as ever. I am happy with my performance in qualifiers and super happy that I am here. It’s surreal.”

In the women’s finals, two-time Olympic medalist and halfpipe veteran Sigourney finessed all three runs which included her signature alley-oop mute grab and an off-axis 720. Teammate Devin Logan also completed three consistent runs to earn fifth. Sigourney shared the podium with Canada’s Rachael Karker in first place and Great Britain’s Zoe Atkin in second place. Karker’s win marks her first-ever World Cup victory.

“Obviously, there is a lot of pressure going into this event knowing it’s an Olympic qualifier,” said Sigourney. “I am just really happy to put down three runs to have improved each time. I am stoked to walk away with third place. I think we’re looking really solid (for the Beijing 2022 Olympics). There is a lot of progression happening right now, especially on that younger side.”

RESULTS
Men’s Freeski Halfpipe
Women’s Freeski Halfpipe
 

HOW TO WATCH 
All times EST
 

Monday, March 22
3:30 p.m. Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Freeski Slopestyle - delayed broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN
5:00 p.m. Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Snowboard Slopestyle - delayed broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN

Tuesday, March 23
3:00 p.m. Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Freeski Halfpipe - delayed broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN
4:30 p.m. Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Snowboard Halfpipe - delayed broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN

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Chloe Kim won again, taking her fourth consecutive victory at the Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix halfpipe finals Sunday at Buttermilk in Aspen, Colo in style.

With sunshine and spring conditions on full display in the halfpipe, athletes wrapped the 25th Annual Grand Prix with the Olympic tryout event for athletes vying for a shot at Team USA and the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.

Kim put down a clean first run, wasting no time to take the top seat. With no shortage of flair or smiles, Kim opened her run by floating a backside 360 with an indy grab. She then backed her first hit with a switch Method, clearing 15-feet out of the pipe, and finished with a stylish McTwist on her final hit. Kim’s first run would be all it took to dominate the women’s halfpipe field. Spain’s Queralt Castellet finished second and Japan’s Sena Tomita was third.

“I think that I was in a really bad mental place when I left (for Princeton University after the prior to the 2019-20 season), so I think giving myself the time off and letting myself take a step back and have fun again was really important for me,” said Kim. “I am honestly so happy that I took the year off. I am so grateful to be here right now. I am very surprised with how this season went. It went a lot better than I thought it would.”

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White made his return to the competition scene for the first time since the PyeongChang 2018 Olympics, finishing fourth as the top American. Vying for a chance at his fourth Olympic Games, White made it clear he hasn’t lost his touch despite a three-year break from competition. Showing the kids how it’s done, the halfpipe veteran put down three consistent runs, with a minor fluke in run two. White put down major tricks including a frontside double cork 1440, a cab double cork 1080, and a double mctwist 1260. 

But Japan’s Yuto Totsuka and Raibu Katayama are clearly at the top of the young class, finished first and second respectively.  Germany’s Andre Hoeflich finished in third.

U.S. Snowboard team member Chase Blackwell was fifth, making an appearance among a highly stacked men’s halfpipe final. While runs one and three resulted in falls, Blackwell managed to put down a strong second run including two double corks and a frontside 900.

“I was stoked to put something down,” said Blackwell. “This year my riding really progressed quite a bit. With my line and everything, I’ve been riding at a whole new level than I was before. I am really pumped with how everything turned out this year. Making the finals and putting down a run is all I could ask for. It was a really good day.”

Teammates Lucas Foster gave a respectable showing with two solid runs landing him sixth, while Taylor Gold was seventh. 

RESULTS
Women's Snowboard Halfpipe
Men's Snowboard Halfpipe

HOW TO WATCH 
All times EST
 

Monday, March 22
3:30 p.m. Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Freeski Slopestyle - delayed broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN
5:00 p.m. Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Snowboard Slopestyle - delayed broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN

Tuesday, March 23
3:00 p.m. Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Freeski Halfpipe - delayed broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN
4:30 p.m. Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix Snowboard Halfpipe - delayed broadcast, Aspen, Colo., Broadcast NBCSN

FOLLOW
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Instagram - @usfreeskiteam
Facebook - @usskiandsnowboard
 

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Learn more about how to support the U.S. Freeski & Snowboard Teams.

Mikaela Shiffrin finished out the season with yet another podium, snagging second in the 2021 FIS World Cup Finals giant slalom in Lenzerheide, Switzerland and securing second place in the giant slalom standings. Nina O’Brien was 12th.

19-year-old Alice Robinson of New Zealand—who burst onto the scene in 2019-20 after winning the opening World Cup in Soelden—had struggled to find the podium in 2020-21 until the Jasna World Cup two weeks ago. And she reminded fans that she has returned to form, throwing down a blazing second run to take the win by .28 seconds ahead of Shiffrin. Meta Hrovat of Slovenia was third.

Shiffrin was leading after first run by only .10 seconds, and with the bumpy conditions, she lost a little bit of time to falter to second. But she was still thrilled with another podium to finish off the season. “It was a fight,” said Shiffrin. “Some of it I was having a little bit of trouble, but for the most part, I enjoyed my skiing again. It wasn’t quite enough to win, but it was some really good turns in both runs today. I feel like I have a really good direction with my GS skiing and that’s a really good spot to end the season.”

Nina O’Brien took 12th place with a fast second run to conclude a banner season full of personal best results and seven top-20s for the athlete. She was 17th overall in the giant slalom standings and ended up top-15 on the World Cup Start List.

Surprising only Shiffrin, who wasn’t aware of the standings until a media member reminded her, Shiffrin finished second overall in the giant slalom standings. Marta Bassino of Italy won the giant slalom crystal globe and Tessa Worley of France was third.

Sunday was Shiffrin’s 10th podium in a row, including World Championships. She also scored 10 podiums out of the 16 World Cups she entered throughout the season and won three of the races. At World Champs, she captured four medals. And she was second in both the slalom and giant slalom standings. Her results were particularly impressive, having gone 300 days between races after her father’s death in early 2020, which was difficult emotionally, and battling a COVID-ridden season, which made finding adequate training hard. “It’s been quite wild—a little bit beyond my hopes or dreams even,” she said. “There were a lot of moments I didn’t think we would do the season at all with the pandemic. I was also uncertain about myself personally. It’s quite incredible to be here now and have a good amount of success. It’s also a really big step to get back to this place to be fighting for the podiums in almost every race.”

The overall title was handed to Petra Vlhova of Slovakia. Swiss teammates Lara Gut-Behrami and Michelle Gisin were second and third, respectively. Shiffrin, who had only raced in technical events on the World Cup throughout the season, was fourth.

The men raced slalom Sunday, with Manuel Feller of Austria taking the win with a fast second run. Clement Noel of France was second and his teammate Alexis Pinturault rounded out the podium in third. 2021 World Junior slalom champion Ben Ritchie was the only Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team athlete to start and was skiing fast—ranked in 14th place at the last split—before going out and DNFing. But keep an eye on Ritchie next season; he has been getting faster and faster each race.  

Marco Schwarz of Austria won the slalom crystal globe with Noel in second and Ramon Zenhaeusern of Switzerland in third. Pinturault won the overall globe, having clinched it on Saturday.

The race day marked the end of a strange 2020-21 season. What’s next for Shiffrin? “I’m going to go for some training!” she laughed. “I need a little bit of time to fix some things, but I’m ready to go for next season. I’m a little bit tired, but mostly I feel quite a bit of motivation.”

RESULTS
Women’s World Cup Finals giant slalom
Men’s World Cup Finals slalom

GIANT SLALOM STANDINGS
Women

SLALOM STANDINGS
Men

OVERALL STANDINGS
Women
Men

HOW TO WATCH
*All times EDT.

Sunday, March 21
1:30 p.m. FIS World Cup Finals Women’s Slalom, next-day broadcast, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast NBC

Monday, March 22
12:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Women’s Giant Slalom, next-day broadcast, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast NBCSN
1:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Finals Men’s Slalom, next-day broadcast, Lenzerheide, SUI, Broadcast NBCSN