After her triumphant return to the podium in Saturday’s slalom, Mikaela Shiffrin put together another stellar result in Sunday's slalom, skiing into fifth place in Levi, Finland.

The race was held under the lights in the dark Finnish Lapland and a light fog settled in throughout the day. Petra Vlhova continued her dominance, taking her fifth slalom victory in a row and second of the weekend. Michelle Gisin of Switzerland was second and Katharina Liensberger, who was third on Saturday, finished third again.  

Mikaela admitted she was tired after Saturday’s emotional result and jet-lagged from the overseas travel but still put together two solid runs. She sat in fourth place after the first run and while she didn’t make any major mistakes, had trouble finding the next gear to land her on the podium again. But she wasn’t disappointed with a fifth-place finish. “It’s incredible to be here,” said Mikaela. “I had two really solid races and it was an incredible weekend. I feel really grateful that I’m able to do these races and I was able to participate again.” Sometimes, the simple act of stepping into the start gate can be a victory. In that sense, she was also victorious today. 

She also took a moment to thank her mom, as she did on social media. "My entire career I wouldn’t be here without her—especially right now and this year," said Mikaela. "She’s just the strongest person that I know and the kindest and most caring and smartest. She’s my best friend and my mom and my favorite coach—and I have a lot of really great coaches!"

Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team athlete Paula Moltzan, who started the season strong with a career-best 10th place finish in Soelden, continued her points-scoring trend, taking 23rd place—even with a major mistake. Expect to keep seeing this woman in the points all season long; she’s skiing fast!

Lila Lapanja was also thrilled to put down a strong race to start the season, finishing 25th—her first slalom points since 2016. “I had a lot of fun skiing that course today," Lila said after the race. "My equipment felt great, and body felt strong, especially on the top flats. Levi did an incredible job with the slope preparation. I think these conditions were the best I’ve ever experienced in a World Cup. I feel like I came full-circle with Levi in so many ways. It’s been over four years since I scored my first World Cup points in Flachau so the result tonight is extra special for me. This step back into the Top 30 was a huge win for my team and their belief in what I am doing. This one was for them as much as for me.”

Nina O'Brien was having a solid first run before she straddled and DNFed, while Resi Stiegler did not qualify for the second run.

Next up, the women take a charter flight back to Europe for some training before the men and the women head to Lech, Austria for parallel races November 26-27.

RESULTS
Women's slalom

FOLLOW
Instagram - @usskiteam
Facebook - @usskiandsnowboard 
Twitter - @usskiteam

Learn more about how you can support U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes this season at KeepTheFlameAlive.org.

After 300 days away from the World Cup circuit, Mikaela Shiffrin barely missed a beat, stepping back on the podium in second place at the FIS Ski World Cup slalom in Levi, Finland.

The weather was chilly in the Finnish Lapland, with the second run taking place under the lights to make up for the lack of sunlight 100 miles north of the Arctic Circle in December. Conditions were ideal for Mikaela, who finished just .18 seconds behind Slovakian rival Petra Vlhova. Katharina Liensberger of Austria was third. (Fun fact: The last 27 World Cup slaloms have been won by Mikaela or Petra. Frida Hansdotter was the last female to win a World Cup slalom apart from the pair…in 2017!)

Saturday’s slalom in Levi was the much-anticipated return of Mikaela, who had not had a World Cup start since her last win in Bankso, Bulgaria on January 26, 2020. Shortly after, her father died unexpectedly and she took a leave of absence from the World Cup to be with her family. By the time Mikaela decided to race again, COVID-19 was taking hold and ultimately canceled the rest of the FIS season. And while she had looked forward to racing the opening giant slalom in Soelden, she tweaked her back and sat out the weekend.

Mikaela kept expectations low of Saturday's race, warning reporters to not anticipate much of her skiing, but those caveats proved unnecessary, as Mikaela set down two aggressive runs to take her seventh podium in Levi.

As important as a result, Mikaela said she found the joy in ski racing again. “It felt like my first victory,” she said. “It’s a really special day.”

“I think a good thing was that a lot of the feeling today was similar to what I felt in the past,” Mikaela continued. “Maybe that means I didn’t lose it all—my ability to ski fast or to try to be strong and come back and be hungry and competitive. One of the big reasons I wanted to come back and race was to see if this was something I could still do. And we’re here and it was okay. I still enjoyed it. That’s good.”

While she’s looking forward to seeing what else she can do, Mikaela did acknowledge that her mindset is different after her father’s death.

“When I was nervous, I would think what’s the worst that could happen when I don’t win,” she mused. “The media or my friends and family are disappointed? Or they’re happy because they’re cheering for someone else? Those aren’t bad things. I know that now. I’d like to get back to the point where I care enough to be really fired up when I’m second by .18, but I’m pretty happy right now and pretty proud.”

Lila Lapanja, Resi Stiegler and Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team athletes Paula Moltzan and Nina O’Brien all started first run, but finished just out of the top 30 and did not make second run.

The women get another go on the same track in Levi on Sunday with a second slalom race.

RESULTS
Women's slalom

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST

Sunday, Nov. 22
12:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom - Same Day Delayed Broadcast, Levi, FIN, Broadcast, NBCSN
4:15 am - FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom first run - LIVE, Levi, FIN, Streaming Peacock
7:00 a.m. - FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom - LIVE, Levi, FIN, Broadcast Olympic Channel
7:15 a.m. - FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom second run - LIVE, Levi, FIN, Streaming Peacock

Check out the full alpine streaming and broadcast schedule.

FOLLOW
Instagram - @usskiteam
Facebook - @usskiandsnowboard 
Twitter - @usskiteam

Learn more about how you can support U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes this season at KeepTheFlameAlive.org.

The U.S. Freeski Team came out strong at the first FIS Freeski Slopestyle World Cup of the season in Stubai, Austria. Under a blue sky and with fresh snow blanketing the surrounding peaks, two-time Olympic medalist Nick Goepper led the way for the U.S. finishing just off the podium in fourth place. 

“Competing with all the skiers again felt great, even though we were six feet apart," said Nick. "It’s hard times for a lot of people right now, but the first World Cup of the season went off gracefully. Hopefully we keep this momentum going and have a safe and successful rest of the season!” 

Consistency was the name of the game for the U.S. athletes in the season opener with Nick, Colby Stevenson, and Willie Borm all putting together two complete runs. U.S. Freeski Slopestyle Pro Team Head Coach Skogen Sprang believes the competition should serve as a great building block moving into the heart of the 2020-21 season. 

“I’m stoked on the landed runs and healthy bodies that came out of today’s competition,” said Skogen. ”They stuck with their runs through mistakes and improvised really well. I didn’t expect too much here with the lack of skiing throughout the spring, summer, and fall. All the athletes had great attitudes and we will continue to build on their performances.”

Defending, and three-time FIS Slopestyle Crystal Globe, winner Andri Ragettli from Switzerland took top honors for the men. Norway’s Christian Nummedal and Ferdinand Dahl finished in second and third respectively.

For the women, France’s Tess Ledeux topped the podium, Norway’s Johanne Killi finished second, and China’s Eileen Gu rounded out the podium in third. U.S. Freeski Team veteran Darian Stevens qualified for the finals but was unable to compete due to a fall during training the previous day.

The U.S. Freeski Team will resume the FIS Freeski World Cup season in Kreischberg, Austria, Jan. 7-8 with big air competition followed by the second slopestyle competition of the season in Font Romeu, France Jan. 14-18.

RESULTS
Men’s Freeski Slopestyle
Women’s Freeski Slopestyle 

FOLLOW
Instagram - @usfreeskiteam
Facebook - @usskiandsnowboard
Twitter - @usskiteam

Learn more about how you can support U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes this season at KeepTheFlameAlive.org
 

The 2020-21 FIS Freeski and Snowboard World Cup events scheduled for Copper Mountain, Colo. Dec. 17-19 have been cancelled given the current, dynamic situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic in Colorado. 

Copper Mountain’s priority is to provide guests the opportunity to safely enjoy skiing and riding this winter starting Nov. 30. Copper Mountain is focused on working through season readiness, risk mitigation, as well as executing an adaptable plan they can scale based on local and state health regulations. 

U.S. Ski & Snowboard is working closely with the International Ski Federation (FIS) and other domestic resort partners to secure replacement venues for the first stop of the Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix as well as the Visa Big Air that were scheduled for Copper Mountain. 

“While it’s unfortunate that we are unable to host World Cups at Copper Mountain this season, we understand that the resort must prioritize regular ski and ride operations throughout the ever changing COVID-19 landscape,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO Tiger Shaw. “U.S. Ski & Snowboard would like to express gratitude to everyone at Copper Mountain for their dedication, planning, and collaboration throughout the planning process for these events. We remain hopeful and confident in our ability to work with our resort partners for the remaining domestic World Cups planned for this season.”

Decisions for all other domestic FIS World Cup events, including the 2021 Intermountain Healthcare Freestyle International at Deer Valley Resort, Utah, planned for Feb. 4-6 and the Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain, Calif., planned for Feb. 3-6, will be made independently and based on an assessment of each unique set of circumstances that include the risks and travel requirements related to every event, host county, and host state. 

U.S. Ski & Snowboard recognizes that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has impacted areas of the country in different ways, and therefore specific event information will be forthcoming as each local organizing committee works through its specific protocols with local and state health officials. All events are contingent on local and state health department approvals based on existing and future COVID-19 rules and regulations. FIS, U.S. Ski & Snowboard, local organizing committees, and host venues are taking a unified approach consistent with guidance from federal, state, and local health authorities.

###

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 2020, 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.

This year would have marked the 54th annual New York Gold Medal Gala and is the first time in the organization’s history that its marquee event was not hosted in person. Due to the ongoing global pandemic, U.S. Ski & Snowboard has shifted all fundraising efforts to virtual experiences and reimagined this year’s Gala as a live, virtual broadcast. On Thursday, Nov. 19, Olympic Champion and freestyle personality Jonny Moseley and X Games Gold Medalist Maggie Voisin hosted A Night At the USANA Center of Excellence.

Going virtual had its benefits as all ski and snowboard fans were invited to attend. Guests were treated to entertainment, antics, a behind-the-scenes look at what training is like for Olympic hopefuls, as well as a special appearance from two-time Olympic Champion Mikaela Shiffrin, all from the comfort of their own couches.  

The fun isn’t over as the online auction is open until Monday, Nov. 23 at 10 a.m. MST/ 12 p.m. There is time to still bid on exclusive team gear and one-of-a-kind experiences, such as a ski day with American actor and racecar driver Patrick Dempsey and Olympic Champion Hannah Kearney. New items have been added since the broadcast, including current U.S. Ski Team apparel.

“Although we were unable to kick off the season in New York City this year, A Night At The USANA Center of Excellence was an incredible success and a testament to how we have become a more nimble community in the face of uncertainty” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO Tiger Shaw. “I am humbled and amazed at the generosity of our supporters, especially during these difficult times. We couldn’t do what we do without them and we are so grateful for their support. The funds raised will have a direct impact on our athletes and their access to coaching, competition and training camps in this crucial season in the lead up to Beijing 2022.”

To support American Olympic dreams, consider bidding on exclusive experiences and team gear. The online auction closes Monday, Nov. 23 at 10 a.m. MST/ 12 p.m. EST. 

FIS Ski World Cup action returns this weekend, with a double-header slalom for the women on Nov. 21-22 in the Finnish Lapland of Levi, Finland. Not only are Santa and his reindeer excited, but the athletes are anxious to get back into the swing of things up here, 110 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Brrr, it’s cold up here...and the anticipation for World Cup action is rising, along with the stoke levels. 

Two-time Olympic champion and Land Rover ambassador Mikaela Shiffrin will return to the World Cup start gate for the first time in 300 days. Yes, you read that correctly. The last time Mikaela stepped into the start gate was January 26, 2020, in Bansko, Bulgaria. She walked away from that weekend amassing an impressive 250 World Cup points, with a downhill victory and a fourth place, as well as a super-G victory...on a speed track that was new to her before the weekend. That was win number 66, just one shy of Marcel Hirscher’s 67 victories (who sits third on the all-time win list). Shortly thereafter, Mikaela’s father Jeff tragically passed away. Mikaela returned to competition in Åre, Sweden, for the final race of the season, only to have it cancelled due to COVID-19. 

Despite missing nine races, Mikaela ended up second in the overall standings, second in the slalom standings (by just 20 points), third in the giant slalom standings, fifth in the downhill standings, and seventh in super-G standings. For the fourth-straight season, (again, despite missing nine races), Mikaela was the top earner in prize money on the World Cup circuit, among the men and women. During the offseason, Mikaela and her family (mother Eileen, and brother Taylor) worked with U.S. Ski & Snowboard and six generous families to launch the Jeff Shiffrin Athlete Resiliency Fund, in her father’s honor. This fund will help all athletes across all sports at U.S. Ski & Snowboard. After sitting the Soelden, Austria World Cup giant slalom out due to a back injury, Mikaela had a solid slalom training block at Official Training Site, Copper Mountain, Colo., and is looking forward to returning to World Cup action. 

The theme for Mikaela now is not only resilience, but also gratitude. When asked about her expectations for this weekend in a press conference on Thursday, she reminded media that she tries to "keep expectations really low, but my standards for the level of skiing that I want to bring are high. I want to ski well, which includes skiing fast." She continued, "No matter what, if I ski well, if I put in a good effort but it doesn’t go as I hoped, it is hard to be disappointed with that after everything,” in regards to her approach to the weekend. 

Though last season ended abruptly, she's not angry and it's not about settling scores for Mikaela. “I am incredibly angry, but not about the way last season ended. I am angry that my dad died, I am angry how lonely I feel most days,” she said. “But on the flip side, I am incredibly grateful that I have my mom here with me so often. I have never been a person to be motivated by anger...If I learned something over the last 300 days, it is that you really have to take what life serves you. It might not taste good, but you have to eat it anyway.”

Paula Moltzan earned herself a career-best top-10 at Soelden, Austria in the giant slalom, making it loud and clear she shall no longer be deemed a “slalom specialist,” and teammate Nina O’Brien—who had a career-best 15th-place giant slalom result in Soelden, both had an excellent training block in Europe. Prior to their journey to the Arctic Circle, they trained in Soelden, Austria, Schnalstal, Italy, Solda, Italy, and then when Italian ski resorts closed due to COVID-19 precautions, traveled onward to Davolezza, Switzerland. While in Solda, Paula and Nina competed in Italian Nationals, and Nina snagged a win in giant slalom, while Paula won the slalom and Nina followed in second place. 

The World Cup Tour has a new look amidst the global pandemic—one that involves safety protocol including mask-wearing, a FIS charter flight for the circuit, testing prior to departure and upon arrival at the Kittilä airport, social distancing, creating a “bubble” and more. When arriving at Kittilä, athletes and staff were briefed by the organizing committee, then underwent COVID-testing, waiting for the results prior to departure to their hotels. The gratitude of athletes and staff to the local organizing committee for creating a safe environment for racing was palpable. 

Paula mentioned on Thursday after training in Levi, that Levi resembles Lutsen, Minnesota—a venue in northern Minnesota (Paula grew up racing at Buck Hill in Minnesota). Coach Magnus Andersson said the surface is looking good, and with colder temperatures and a solid weather forecast on its way, it will set up nicely for race day. Paula and Nina worked hard in the gym in the offseason, building muscle and confidence that has set them up nicely for the season, and their training and race pace speaks for itself. Paula said she’s “looking forward to our couple’s retreat after Lech,” as new fiance and technician Ryan Mooney and Nina’s boyfriend (and U.S. Ski Team alumnus) Drew Duffy—who is helping on-hill—are traveling together as a little family this winter. 

2020 NorAm slalom champion Lila Lapanja and three-time Olympian Resi Stiegler will also be starting in Levi this weekend, having earned their World Cup start spots for 2020-21 through their 2019-20 NorAm results. Both women are so happy to be back on the World Cup circuit, after focusing their efforts on NorAms with their eyes on the prize of those coveted World Cup start spots. Resi would like to add that she and her German boyfriend David Ketterer (2017 GS and Slalom National Champion GS with the CU Buffs), who was formerly on the German National Team, have been living out of their van (named "DSCHINGIS") to socially distance and stay safe while training across European glaciers this summer/fall.

With five starters this weekend, it’ll be a deep crew and everyone is excited to be back in action! Make sure to tune in on NBCSN and the Olympic Channel, as well as Peacock for live streaming, to catch all of the action. 

STARTERS
Lila Lapanja
Paula Moltzan
Nina O'Brien
Mikaela Shiffrin
Resi Stiegler 

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST

Saturday, Nov. 21
4:15 a.m. - FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom first run - LIVE, Levi, FIN, Streaming Peacock
7:00 a.m. - FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom - LIVE, Levi, FIN Broadcast Olympic Channel
7:15 a.m. - FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom second run - LIVE, Levi, FIN, Streaming Peacock

Sunday, Nov. 22
12:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom - Same Day Delayed Broadcast, Levi, FIN, Broadcast, NBCSN
4:15 am - FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom first run - LIVE, Levi, FIN, Streaming Peacock
7:00 a.m. - FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom - LIVE, Levi, FIN, Broadcast Olympic Channel
7:15 a.m. - FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom second run - LIVE, Levi, FIN, Streaming Peacock

Check out the full alpine streaming and broadcast schedule.

FOLLOW
Instagram - @usskiteam
Facebook - @usskiandsnowboard 
Twitter - @usskiteam

Learn more about how you can support U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes this season at KeepTheFlameAlive.org.

Update: Nov. 19, 2020- The first of a five-part 2020-21 FIS Freeski World Cup slopestyle saga is slated to begin on Nov. 20-21 in Stubai, Austria. Seven men and four women will represent the U.S., including 2019-20 World Cup slopestyle runner-up Colby Stevenson, two-time Olympic medalist Nick Goepper, and U.S. Freeski Team veteran Willie Borm, who is back from injury and feeling better than ever. 

“I’m extremely stoked to be going back to Stubai for a World Cup,” said Willie. “I feel fortunate we’re about to compete in Austria with all of the craziness going on in the world. The last time I was in Stubai for the World Cup I ended up in fourth, just missing the podium by one spot. I’m healthy and in great shape, so I believe that I can get the job done and land on the podium this time around. I’m also stoked on this year as a whole. It’s been a while since I’ve gone into a season not recovering from an injury or being in pain. I look forward to what the season has in store for me.”

Americans Tim Ryan, Ryan Stevenson, Quinn Wolferman, and Peter Raich are also set to compete for the men. 

Olympians Caroline Claire and Darian Stevens will lead the way for the women alongside rookie team members Rell Harwood and Marin Hamill. Marin mirrored Colby’s World Cup slopestyle ranking last season finishing second overall. Coming out of successful training camps this off-season, these young freeskiers are ready to put the field on notice. 

"Stubai always delivers," said Caroline. "The course is in perfect shape and it's always a really progressive competition."
 

Despite increased restrictions imposed by the Austrian government due to COVID-19, the Stubai Zoo is still scheduled to host the world’s best. The Austrian government declared that elite-level sporting events, such as FIS World Cup events, would be exempt from the four-week partial lockdown imposed on the country. With the go-ahead from the Austrian authorities, the local organizers in Stubai were able to focus their efforts in preparing for a safe and successful competition.

“We are all very grateful to be returning to Stubai for the first World Cup Slopestyle of the season,” said U.S. Freeski Slopestyle Head Coach Skogen Sprang. “Just being able to kick off the season and get an event going under the current circumstances speaks to how much hard work has been put into pulling this off for the athletes and the sport. After the event was canceled last year due to 12 feet of snow falling in three days, we are very excited to get back to some of the sunny skies the Stubai Zoo is known for. The course preview looks awesome and the builders always do an amazing job there. The crew is hungry to get out and do what they love to do and we are looking forward to a great event.“

Due to weather concerns, the qualifying round of competition was moved up one day to Thursday, Nov. 19. This meant only one practice day to train on a tricky rail set up. That didn't stop U.S. Freeski Team members Colby Stevenson, Nick Goepper, Willie Borm, and Darian Stevens from stepping up and earning their spot in the finals. Stubai served as Darian's first competition back from two years of not competing due to injury, but she was not phased.  With a couple more days of training for the athletes, the finals are setting up to be a show. 

Tune in on Peacock to watch Colby, Willie, Nick, and Darian take a run at the podium in the first freeski World Cup of the season. 

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST.

Saturday, Nov. 21
5:30 a.m. - FIS Freeski World Cup Slopestyle Finals - LIVE, Stubai, AUT, Streaming Peacock

FOLLOW
Instagram - @usfreeskiteam
Facebook - @usskiandsnowboard
Twitter - @usskiteam


Learn more about how you can support U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes this season at KeepTheFlameAlive.org
 

American actor and race car driver Patrick Dempsey has joined the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Foundation Board of Trustees. 

“I am thrilled to join the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Foundation Board of Trustees,” said Patrick. “I’ve been a passionate, lifelong skier and it was a childhood dream to make the U.S. Ski Team. I am excited to now be part of the team behind the team and support these athletes in their incredible endeavors.” 

To date, Patrick has competed in pro-am events such as the Le Mans, the Rolex 24 at Daytona, as well as the Baja 1000 and IMSA TUDOR United Sports Car Championship. In addition, his focus on motorsports extends beyond the driver’s seat. Patrick is the owner of Dempsey Racing, and is co-owner of the Vision Racing team in IndyCar. 

Patrick is also an avid cyclist. As a result of Patrick’s positive involvement in the sport, he was named an honorary captain of the U.S. Cycling Team in February of 2020. Patrick’s role is part of USA Cycling’s effort to help promote both the sport overall and the U.S. Team at the upcoming 2021 Tokyo Olympics. 

In addition to Patrick’s work in sport and acting, his most impressive achievements have been philanthropic. He founded the Dempsey Center in Lewiston, Maine, an organization committed to making life better for those managing the impact of cancer. The Dempsey Challenge, an annual run, walk and cycling experience, is the primary fundraiser for the Dempsey Center, enabling the organization to provide its services at no cost. Patrick also serves as a national spokesperson for Positive Tracks, a national youth-centric nonprofit that helps the next generation get active and give back using the global power of sport.

As a child, Patrick dreamt of being a member of the U.S. Ski Team and pursuing the Olympic dream. This dream led him to win a Maine High School State Slalom Championship. However, his on-screen and other athletic pursuits took him in a different direction. Patrick never lost his love for the sport and makes sure to get on his skis regularly during the winter, averaging 24 days on the slopes. His favorite places to ski include the Austrian and Swiss Alps, Deer Valley Resort in Utah, and Sugarloaf in Maine. Last season Patrick added an impressive accolade to his name when he skied the Streif, considered to be one of the most challenging downhill courses on the FIS Alpine World Cup Tour, during the course inspection at the 2020 Hahnenkamm. 

His competitive spirit, passion, and respect for the pursuit of greatness are qualities that also resonate among U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes, members, staff, fans, and beyond. In a 2014 interview with the New York Times, Patrick said, “there’s something very satisfying about training. Psychologically and emotionally, the process and the inner desire that it takes and the mental focus it takes to be competitive is far more satisfying to me in many ways than acting.”

As a member of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Foundation Board of Trustees, Patrick’s involvement will directly support the same dreams and pursuits of U.S Ski & Snowboard athletes that he shared as a child. Patrick’s experience in sport, philanthropy, as well as his extensive network of like-minded individuals, will help support our athletes’ Olympic dreams for years to come. Welcome to the team Patrick.

Patrick on Social Media
Instagram: @patrickdempsey
Twitter: @patrickdempsey
Facebook: @patrickdempseyofficial
 

Olivia Giaccio was on track to have a breakout season in 2019-2020 when she tore her left ACL during official training for the Thaiwoo Dual Moguls World Cup last December. She had made history the season before as the first woman to throw a cork 1080 in FIS Moguls World Cup competition and had been training the highest degree of difficulty run for women. That day in December was the last of a six-week long trip, so although Olivia returned home with her team, she would not return to competition in 2020. 

On January 2, Olivia underwent surgery at the Steadman Clinic in Vali, Colo., with Dr. Hackett, and has since been dedicated to her rehab process. Not knowing what 2020 had in store for the world, Olivia planned to be back on snow in September. However, due to travel restrictions brought on by COVID-19, it wasn’t until November that Olivia finally put skis to snow. 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by og ☺️⚡️ (@oliviagiaccio)

“One thing I knew that would be super important, and proved to be so, has been to take it day by day,” Olivia said. “That lesson really helped out during COVID with so much unknown. You can only control what’s going on right in the present. That aspect of knowing what I could control was important for me early on.”

Going from skiing at the highest competitive level to crutches was not an easy pill to swallow.

“The first six weeks were probably what felt like the longest six weeks of my life. I had never been on crutches before. One thing I found super annoying was having to ask people for help. I couldn’t even carry my lunch from the buffet to the table [at the COE]. It was infuriating. Two weeks prior I was skiing on a mountain doing big tricks and going fast through moguls, and here I was [unable to carry my lunch]. It left me feeling very helpless. But that was another lesson: there’s a lot to be learned in asking for help.”

By the time Olivia was off crutches, the moguls team had departed overseas to finish out the competitive season. Her recovery progressed well through February and March. Even off crutches she was still restricted in some of her movements due to the nature of her injury. “Even though it’s a slow process, once off crutches, to see that slow bit of improvement every single day kept me motivated throughout those early stages.”

When COVID-19 forced worldwide lockdowns, Olivia had to shift her workouts and physical therapy home. She felt lucky in the timing, “I didn’t necessarily need manual therapy [during April and part of May]. I was more focused on strengthening everything, getting my movement back, and building myself back up.”

Her focus throughout the summer was relearning motor patterns, strengthening and getting her power back. She passed her water ramp testing in September and was able to get 17 days in at Utah Olympic Park - an unexpected silver lining from moguls’ training schedule changes due to COVID-19. 

Besides training to be back as one of the world’s top mogul skiers, Olivia took advantage of the new normal of online schooling. As student-athlete undergraduate at Columbia University, Olivia knew she would be chipping away slowly at her degree. However, with the time and new online offerings, Olivia took a full course load this fall semester and plans to do the same in the spring if everything is still virtual. By the end of next summer she will be roughly done with her sophomore year of college. 

Olivia reflected that her time away from competition and training enabled her to build a stronger mental fortitude.

“I had to figure out that helpless feeling. I had to figure out who I was without being a mogul skier. I started competing when I was nine, and I haven’t not competed for this long since. Mentally, it was nice to be able to take a step back, figure out why I was doing what I was doing, and what I need when I come back. It all sounds cliche, but I feel a new perspective on sport and performance and what I want out of mogul skiing, what I want out of myself as a performer and competitor.”

Coming back from injury proved to be a lesson in flexibility. “Yes, there is importance in setting goals, but there’s also importance in understanding how to be flexible, knowing my expectations aren't always going to be reality, and figuring out how I can respond to that.”

Olivia remembered her last steps in getting back to water ramping, “I was short of the benchmark by just 1% in one part of meeting criteria to ramp at one point. Testing proved how hard I had been working, but showed how much farther I needed to go. It was an interesting place to be, very challenging.”

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by og ☺️⚡️ (@oliviagiaccio)

Once back on the water Olivia “felt like an athlete again.” Going off of the ramps in her first straight airs she was ecstatic. “I generally strongly dislike straight jumps. But my first times down the ramp into the water I just had this huge smile on my face. I was so excited to be back. And even when I was frustrated with myself in training, it was an exciting kind of frustration. Because working through a challenge on the ramps or on snow is so much more fun than trying to make my knee bend in the PT room with tears streaming down my face.”

Olivia’s return to snow came on Nov. 7 with the team’s return to snow in Ruka, Finland, during their first on-snow camp since Timberline in July. The team was able to get two ski sessions in over four days before they made the long drive to Idre Fjäll, Sweden, which has a full mogul course open. “It was awesome. Everything went super smoothly. I had a ton of fun, I’m still having a ton of fun.” 

She reflected, though, that the moment her clicking into ski boots meant she was where she needed to be came earlier in the summer. “When I clicked into my skis to water ramp, before I clicked into my left ski, I had this flashback to China. The last time I tried to click into my left ski is when I knew something was really wrong. But in that moment in September I knew all of my hard work paid off, I could click into my skis and feel confident and ready to go.”

2020 was not the year Olivia expected but one she knows has made her stronger. Being back on the road with her team she realizes how full circle she has come and how happy she is to be back. The Moguls Team is a tight-knit group and being away from that dynamic was hard. 

“Our sport is interesting in that it's individual but we’re also a team. We spend SO much time together. We all push each other a ton. Coming back to the ramps I really enjoyed seeing everyone push themselves which in turn pushed me to perform to the best of my ability.”

With this big milestone in her rehab process behind her, Olivia looks forward to the future. She still has a lot of build up work to do in the flats before she thinks about getting back to crushing bumps or in any start gates but is happy to be engaged in the process. “I’m taking my training day by day and will make [the decision to get back in the bumps] with my coaches. We’ll see, I don’t want to have a ton of expectations as to when it will happen. It will be a decision based on feeling.”

Read more about Olivia’s journey back to skiing on her website, and follow her back to bumps and competition via her Instagram, @oliviagiaccio.

To support the U.S. Moguls Freestyle Ski Team, please click here for more information. 

On July 15, 2020, Henri Rivers, CEO, President and Founder of Drumriver Consultants, President of the National Brotherhood of Skiers, hosted a virtual panel “Discussing Racial Diversity in Snowsports.” The panel brought industry leaders and participants together for a frank conversation about the current landscape of racial diversity in the snowsports industry and began to talk through ways we can create a more inclusive community. Panelists included Snowsports Industries America Board Chair, Wendy Carey; NSAA CEO, Kelly Pawlak; Ski Coach and National Competition Director, Forrest King-Shaw; Winter4Kids
 CEO & President, Schone Malliet; Share Winter Foundation
 CEO, Constance Beverley; as well as U.S. Ski Team alumna, Lauren Samuels.

Please join us on Monday, Nov. 23, for our second panel in U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s diversity, equity, and inclusion event series: “Diversity in Ski Racing: The Athlete Perspective.” Henri (moderator) and Lauren (panelist) return and will be joined by a talented group of African American ski racers to dive deeper into the topic of diversity in snowsports from the athlete perspective. Panelists include three-time Paralympian and 11-year member of the U.S. Paralympic Ski Team Ralph Green, U.S. Ski Team alumni Andre Horton and Suki Miller, as well as Dartmouth College Ski Team alumnus and former U.S. Ski & Snowboard employee Justin Samuels. 

“Diversity in Ski Racing: The Athlete Perspective” sets out to shine a spotlight on issues we otherwise may ignore or fail to recognize as a predominantly white industry. This panel will seek to take the audience on an educational journey by creating awareness through shared athlete experiences, highlight  common themes of racism that existed throughout these athletes’ ski racing careers, as well as discuss ideas on how we, as a community, can address these particular issues and create a more inclusive space within the snowsports industry. The audience will get to know the athletes, and understand how their athletic achievements have translated into professional success in their current pursuits. The conversation will not be easy, but one that leads to positive discussion.

Please register here and join us for what should be an illuminating event and a unique opportunity for the snowsports community. 
 

Panelists

Henri Rivers (moderator):
Henri Rivers is a native New Yorker and an avid skier and outdoor enthusiast for over 45 years. He is a professional ski instructor, certified master teacher and children’s specialist as well as a U.S. Ski & Snowboard Alpine coach, jury advisor, referee and official. He coaches in the Alpine race program at Windham Mountain in the Catskill region of New York.

Henri attended Marist College and received a B.S. in Biology in 1982. He worked for several companies as a construction engineer and project manager before founding and managing the Drumriver Companies.

Henri became involved with the National Brotherhood of Skiers in 1996 and has held many positions within the organization. He started as a club president and moved on to become the mid-west regional competition director. In 2003 he became a coach for the national team of NBS and in 2008 was appointed the Olympic Scholarship Fund Administrator. During his tenure as OSF administrator, he grew the national team to 15 athletes. In 2016 he was appointed the National Competition Director and in 2018 was voted in as the Executive Vice President of the National Brotherhood of Skiers. He served for two years and was elected National President of the NBS in March of 2020.

Ralph Green:
Ralph Green is an 11-year member of the U.S. Paralympic Ski Team and a three-time U.S. Paralympian (2006, 2010, 2014). While active as a ski racer he partnered with Cox, United Airlines, The Home Depot and Rocket Fuel as a sponsored athlete and brand ambassador. A former board member of Disabled Sports USA, Ralph is a motivational speaker with a strong emphasis on youth violence. He has an MBA with a marketing concentration from Keller Graduate School of Management. Currently, Ralph is a market sales manager at Frito Lay. His clients include King Soopers, Walmart, Safeway, Sam's Club, Target and the Air Force Academy. Ralph also serves on the Adaptive Spirit Board of Directors.

Suki Miller:
Suki Miller was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska and is a graduate of the University of Alaska Anchorage with degrees in journalism and mathematics. She started skiing at a young age at a very small ski area, Hilltop. Suki and her brother Andre qualified for the U.S. Ski Team with support from the National Brotherhood of Skiers. 

After ski racing, Suki worked in the private, government and non-profit sectors creating and communicating policies that promote healthy, culturally empowered communities. She is a passionate advocate for victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Her time working on statewide initiatives cultivated an authentic appreciation for the vastness of Alaska, geographically, culturally and ideologically.

When not at work, Suki enjoys the outdoors and spending time with her family, especially watching her toddler and the cousins “send it” down driveways and sledding hills. 

Andre Horton:
Born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, a quarter-mile from a nordic ski track, and a mile from a nordic ski jump and ski area, Andre Horton learned it all at a young age. He eventually focused on alpine racing and in his first out-of-state competition, finished on the podium. After graduating from high school Andre left for Wyoming to ski for the Jackson Hole Ski Club with his sister, Suki. Andre was named to the U.S. Ski Team and competed on the Nor-Am and Europa Cup circuits. He retired from the U.S. Ski Team in 2004 and joined the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Board of Directors as an athlete representative through 2008. 

Andre has an MBA in entrepreneurialism from the University of Alaska College of Business & Public Policy - Anchorage. He launched his own software development company with a close friend, focused on Alaska’s prolific oil and gas industry. He launched various other companies before taking a mid-career detour from entrepreneurialism and executive consulting to become Firefighter/EMT in early 2019. Andre sits on the Board of Directors for Credit Union 1 still consults for various Alaska-based firms and ANC’s (Alaska Native Corporations). He is a talented photographer (www.andrehorton.net) and enjoys spending time with his family. 

Justin Samuels:
Justin Samuels was born and raised in Minneapolis and learned to ski at a very young age growing up in a ski family. Justin earned his BA in Engineering Sciences from Dartmouth College and his BE in Mechanical Design from the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth. He skied for Rowmark Ski Academy and competed in J2 Nationals (what is now similar to U16 Nationals). Justin also competed in NCAA Division 1 ski racing as part of the Dartmouth Ski Team. 

After earning his BE, Justin developed PointsStalker, an iOS app that makes it easy to access any athlete’s FIS data. His professional history includes working for U.S. Ski & Snowboard as mobile systems manager, Brydge Keyboards as product manager, and BodyGuardz as director of product development. Justin recently took a new position with Fictiv as senior product manager. 

Lauren Samuels:
Lauren Samuels was born and raised in Minneapolis and learned to ski at age two. She started racing with Team Gilboa out of Hyland Hills, MN, and developed as a ski racer until she was named to the U.S. Ski Team’s development team in 2009 after winning J2 Nationals Overall and Super-G titles. During the 2010 season Lauren was cut from the U.S. Ski Team but dropped everything and moved to Utah to ski and attend school with Rowmark Ski Academy and competed on the World Junior Championship Team. For the next two seasons Lauren competed as an invitee to the U.S. Ski Team’s C Team racing on the NorAm and Europa Cup circuits. From 2013-2017 Lauren skied for the University of Utah’s NCAA Division 1 Ski Team and became a National Champion her senior year, during which she was Team Captain. 

She earned a BS in Athletic Training and completed her medical school prerequisites. After finishing undergrad, Lauren coached for two years at Team Gilboa, then Rowmark. Currently Lauren is pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Oregon - Lundquist College of Business, studying sports product management with the intentions of pursuing a career in the sports and outdoor industry. She is also a member of both the University of Oregon - Portland and U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committees.

For more information on U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s pursuit of diversity, equity, and inclusion in snowsports, please visit usskiandsnowboard.org.