(Salt Lake City, UT) - July 24, 2024 — Salt Lake City, Utah has been selected to host the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, a decision made during the 142nd International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Paris, France, on July 24, 2024. The historic decision marks the fifth time the Winter Olympic Games have been held in the USA and 32 years since Utah last hosted the world.

The anticipation for the 2034 Games is already building, with the Olympics tentatively scheduled from February 10-26 and the Paralympics from March 10-19, 2034. This nomination places Utah in a unique position, continuing America's proud legacy of hosting the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, with previous events in Lake Placid (1932, 1980), Olympic Valley (1960), and Salt Lake City (2002).

U.S. Ski & Snowboard has a strong history with the Games. More than 40% of Team USA is made up of U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes and U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes traditionally win more than 60% of medals earned at the Games. The Utah Olympics are particularly exciting, as U.S. Ski & Snowboard is headquartered in Park City, Utah at the USANA Center of Excellence powered by iFit. 

The 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are scheduled to use 13 existing venues from the 2002 Games alongside a single temporary venue. The venues will span the state, with skiing and snowboarding events expected to be hosted at Deer Valley Resort, Solider Hollow Nordic Center, Park City Mountain, Snowbasin Resort, the Utah Olympic Park, and a temporary structure for freeski and snowboard big air in downtown Salt Lake City. 

“We are thrilled to have Salt Lake City, Utah formally selected to host another Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, President and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, who was at the bid announcement in Paris. “We know that the Games helps to inspire the world and the next generation of athletes, and we are looking forward to being strong supporters and ambassadors of the Games in our home of Utah.”

“I'm so excited and honored to be part of the team officially bringing the Olympics back to Salt Lake City!” said Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn, who was part of the presentation in Paris and is Chair of Athlete Experience for the Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 bid committee. “This feels like a full circle moment for me, remembering the magic of my first Olympics here in 2002. As Chair of Athlete Experience for Salt Lake City-Utah 2034, my focus is on creating an unparalleled experience not just for the athletes, but for the families who support them every step of the way. Salt Lake City is such a special place, and I'm excited to share it with the world again."

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For further information, please contact:
Leann Bentley
Communications Manager, U.S. Ski & Snowboard
leann.bentley@usskiandsnowboard.org

Kasey Hogg, an up-and-comer on the Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski team moguls team, had a breakout 2023-24 season. Hogg, who just wrapped up her best season yet, hails from Kensington, New Hampshire and Killington Mountain. While competing both on the Nor-Am and World Cup circuits, Hogg earned the moguls, dual moguls and overall Nor-Am champion titles while also becoming the first woman to ever compete a cork 1080 in a World Cup qualification run. 

Kasey is a fierce competitor and an athlete to watch this season. She will compete on the World Cup circuit full-time for the first time. We sat down with her to talk about her background and goals in moguls skiing. 

Q: What initially drew you to moguls?

KASEY HOGG: I was initially drawn to moguls when I saw the mogul program at Killington Mountain. My sister signed up, but until I was old enough my cousin, parents and I shredded the moguls on our own! It was so much fun that as soon as I was old enough, I joined the program and began competing. 

Q: When you were younger, getting into the sport, what were your goals?

KH: When I first started moguls skiing, my goal was always to try and win the regional competitions and beat my sister! As soon as I learned that moguls skiing was bigger than just that, I had always dreamed of being on the Stifel U.S. Ski Team and representing the United States. It was a crazy feeling when I achieved that goal and saw how hard work truly pays off! 

Q: What is one thing that you’re most proud of in your career so far?

KH: I am beyond proud of myself for winning the Nor-Am tour this year. I have come so far from the first Nor-Am tour that I competed in. After getting second on the tour twice, the overall win felt that much better. I was finally ready this year, and I am really proud of the work I put in to get there. Also, competing on the Nor-Am tour this year while competing in many World Cups before and after was a cool experience!

Q: What is your ultimate goal?

KH: My ultimate goal is to represent Team USA at the Olympics. When I first watched moguls skiing in the Olympics, I thought it was the coolest thing for these athletes to do what they love on the world’s biggest stage. I have many other goals as well, such as World Cup titles, pushing the sport of women’s moguls, and of course, having fun!

Q: Are there any moments you’ve experienced in your career that didn’t seem real?

KH: Making my first final under the lights at Deer Valley was the most unreal moment! I had always dreamed of skiing under the lights in front of a huge crowd, but standing at the top of the course and seeing all the people watching below was so special. Also, the fact my family was there to watch meant the world as well!

Q: Who were the athletes you looked up to when you were younger, or are they now?

KH: I always looked up to my older sister, Maddie. We were inseparable when it came to skiing, and being able to train, compete and travel with her is something not many siblings get to do. We made the Stifel U.S. Ski Team the same year, and it was so crazy seeing how far we had both come. She always pushed me, whether we were dueling each other, working out together, or simply doing anything. She did two years of the team and is now retired, but our competitiveness has led us to do a half IronMan together. No matter what, I will always look up to her on and off the hill!

Follow Kasey on social media.

The Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team just wrapped up their most successful season in history, with both men and women finding unprecedented success weekend after weekend, highlighted by the younger athletes on the team, including Zanden McMullen. McMullen is featured as the next On The Rise athlete, a U.S. Ski & Snowboard campaign highlighting athletes from each team rising to the top. McMullen has put together a string of solid races in the last couple of seasons, highlighted by multiple career-best World Cup results, four U.S. National Championships podiums, and a breakout performance in the Drammen, Norway classic sprint. 

This 2023-24 season, McMullen recorded 14 top-30 results – a feat not easily achieved at the sport's highest level – including a top-20 result in the classic sprint in Drammen, Norway. At the season's culmination, McMullen was ranked third in the World for men under-23 (U23 category). McMullen is succeeding on and off the snow in a strong U.S. men’s team. 

McMullen is from Anchorage, AK. He trains with the Alaska Pacific University (APU) Elite Team alongside many Stifel U.S. Ski Team athletes and is working towards the 2024-25 season. We caught up with McMullen to chat about his career highlights, goals, and what success means to him. 

Q: “What initially drew you to this sport?” 

ZANDEN: “I have always enjoyed being active outdoors and doing it with friends. My mom used to take me skiing when I was really young, and I enjoyed ripping across the snow and through the woods. The more I skied over the years, the more I realized it was the sport for me.”

Q: “When you were younger, getting into the sport, what were your goals?” 

Z: “I didn’t have any goals until high school. Even then, my goals were to make varsity or a junior national team. Every year, I surprise myself and set my goals higher and higher.” 

Q: “Are there any moments you’ve experienced in your career that didn’t seem real?” 

Z: “I flew into Ruka, Finland, with the team to prep for the start of the season, and everything felt pretty normal. I had raced overseas before and already knew the whole team well, so nothing felt different. It wasn’t until the venue was completely set up and the fans poured into the stands that I started to feel something different. Seeing the other World Cup skiers suit up and lock in for the race made me realize I wasn’t watching them through a screen anymore. I went through all my normal motions for a race day and was ready. When I went through the starting wand and down the first hill, I started laughing and thinking, “I’m racing a World Cup.” I was in disbelief- waiting to wake up at any second.”

Q: “What was it like to race in Minneapolis? And be part of a moment that was a defining moment in the history of American ski racing?” 

Z: Racing in Minneapolis has genuinely been the most exciting part of my career so far. Some venues in Europe occasionally have the same crowd size, but NEVER the same energy and stoke. For the first time in my career, I felt like an NBA superstar walking onto the arena floor for a playoff game. It was also the first time in a race I couldn’t feel ANYTHING. The crowd was so loud the whole way around the course that I couldn’t hear myself think (if that makes any sense). I was just floating out on the skis, trying to embrace the moment and focus on the race.

When you’re racing in Europe all winter and only see one or two American flags in the crowd every weekend, it’s hard to believe that there is a whole country of crazy ski fans in your corner. After Minneapolis, I can confidently race over the ocean, knowing so many people have our backs and are cheering for the USA.

Q: “What is one thing you’re most proud of in your career so far?/what is your biggest accomplishment?”

Z: “My proudest moment in my ski career was achieving my first World Cup top 30. It wasn’t my best race ever (in terms of performance to potential), but it was a true ‘holy cow I’ve made it’ moment that I’ll never forget.” 

Q: “What is your ultimate goal now that you achieved your earlier career goals?”

Z: “I want to become one of the most successful American skiers in history and inspire future generations of skiers and athletes.” 

Q: “Who were the athletes you looked up to when you were younger, or are they now?”

Z: “Luke Jager and Gus Schumacher have inspired and motivated me more than any other skier. I started racing them back in my late elementary school years in Alaska. They were only one year older than me, but they were already vetted Olympians. I had the privilege of watching and racing them as I grew up and trying to learn as much as possible from them. Eventually, I became competitive with them and practiced daily as teammates.” 

Follow Zanden on Instagram and Facebook to get a first-hand look into his training, life outside of the sport, and everything in between. 

Three-time Paralympic gold medalist, five-time World Champion and one of the most decorated Para snowboard athletes of all time, Brenna Huckaby has won the 2024 “Best Athlete with a Disability” ESPY at the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles, California. This is her second ESPY win and third nomination. 

The U.S. Para Snowboard Team athlete is coming off of one of the best seasons of her career, and one that she says she is “most proud of.” Huckaby’s impressive 2023-24 season included seven World Cup wins and 10 podiums across snowboard cross and banked slalom disciplines, which led to her taking home all three FIS Crystal Globes, marking her the best woman Para snowboarder of the season. 

Brenna was first nominated to the U.S. Para Snowboard Team in 2015, an opportunity that she took and ran with. By 2017, she had already been crowned World Champion three times, and was on the way to her first Winter Paralympic Games in 2018 in Pyeongchang, South Korea. She brought home two gold medals in snowboard cross and banked slalom from her first games before taking a break from the sport to give birth to her second daughter in 2020. Less than a year later, she was back on the World Cup circuit and earned two more World Championships medals (one gold, one silver) in 2021. Since then, she has earned another gold and a bronze medal at the 2022 Winter Paralympics all while continuing to fight for opportunities for Para athletes. Vying for the win in every event she start, Huckaby’s accolades are a testament to her strength and consistency as an athlete.

“We are thrilled to see Brenna win her second ESPY,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, President and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “Brenna is a champion of Para sport and a role model for so many on and off the snow. We are lucky to have athletes like her in our organization and I’m excited to see what is to come for her heading into a World Championship season.” 

Brenna was nominated alongside Para cycling/Para nordic skier Oksana Masters and Para track and field athletes Ezra Frech and Haydin Blackwell. 

Congratulations, Brenna!

The Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team has announced the addition of a Freestyle Development Manager to the freestyle staff.

Madison (Maddie) Hogg, a former U.S. moguls team member, has been appointed the new Freestyle Development Manager. After spending two years on the World Cup circuit with the national team, Hogg retired in 2020 to pursue a degree in Business Management with a minor in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism from the University of Utah. 

As the newly appointed Freestyle Development Manager, Hogg’s primary goal will be to not only grow but also maintain the freestyle development pipeline in the United States. This crucial role includes implementing talent identification programs, building event selection criteria, and being the primary contact point for regional clubs, coaches, parents, resorts, judges, officials, etc, at U.S. Ski & Snowboard. 

With her athletic background and expertise in coaching, human resources, and recruiting, Hogg will prove to be a valuable addition to the growing freestyle team. 

“Maddie’s strengths come from her experience growing up in the sport, training and competing at every level,” said Matt Gnoza, U.S. Ski & Snowboard Freestyle Sport Director. The pathways and progressions she oversees will replicate her route to the national team. Her background will allow her better to understand the needs of development athletes and clubs.”

We are excited to welcome Maddie back to the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team!

Steamboat Springs and U.S. Ski Team legend Jim "Moose" Barrows passed away on June 28, 2024 at 80 years old after a long battle with cancer.  

He was born on April 25, 1944 in Los Angeles, California and moved to Steamboat Springs, Colorado with his family and two brothers in 1950. He began skiing for the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, coached by Olympian Gordy Wren, where he excelled at both ski jumping and alpine skiing. 

He enrolled in the University of Colorado in 1982, coached by famed CU and U.S. Ski Team coach Bob Beattie, becoming an NCAA four-way contender and champion. Beattie gave him the name "Moose," named for both Barrows' attitude and large stature. Barrows lettered three times and became one of the nation's premier four-event skiers in both alpine and nordic events. 

Barrows joined the U.S. Ski Team in 1960 and competed in the first ever World Cup downhill in the United States at New Hampshire's Cannon Mountain in 1967, landing on the podium in third. He ended the season placed seventh in the FIS downhill rankings and qualified for the 1968 Olympic team. While he raced in the 1968 Grenoble Olympics, he did not finish, having a spectacular crash that has lived on in infamy.

After retiring from the U.S. Ski Team, he skied on the pro circuit in the 1970s before coaching for the U.S. Ski Team men's downhill team. He also taught a course on the history of skiing at Steamboat's Colorado Mountain College and was eventually inducted into the Colorado Ski Hall of Fame in 1996.

Apart from skiing, he had a passion for flying, golfing, playing poker and working on his Yampa Valley ranch, dubbed JASDIP (Just Another Sh*tty Day in Paradise). Moose's legacy lives on through the Moose's Loose Golf Tournament, which he started in 1984 to support the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club scholarship fund, helping to fund young competitive skiers and snowboarders. 

The annual Alpine Fundraiser for the Stifel U.S. Ski Team was a massive success. The fundraiser almost doubled the initial goal of $100,000. The event is a staple for the alpine team helping raise additional funds for the program as the team competes to be the best in the world. 

The event was held at long time alpine donors Karen and John Arnold’s beautiful home in Vail Colorado where they hosted over 40 guests. Those in attendance ranged from donors, trustees, ski team alumni and a group of current team athletes. The list included Olympic silver medalist Ryan Cochran-Siegle, Olympians Nina O’Brien and Katie Hensien as well as the giant slalom Junior World Champion Ryder Sarchett. Alumni in attendance included Drew Duffy, Karen Ghent, Cindy Nelson, Brenda Kirwood and Alice Duran. 

“The Alpine Fundraiser was once again a reminder of the incredible ski racing community that supports our athletes on the Alpine team,” said Olympian and Stifel U.S. Ski Team alumna Alice Duran. 

Vail Valley Foundation’s Mike Imhoff also made an appearance where he spoke on the excitement the local area has for the upcoming men’s and women’s Stifel Birds of Prey World Cups presented by United Airlines. This season is notably the first year that the women will compete on the famed Birds of Prey super-G and downhill tracks. 

Guests mixed and mingled touching upon the program's strengths highlighted with a Q&A session moderated by Duran. The athletes spoke to their own stories with the team as well as answering Duran’s thoughtful questions. 

“I was struck by how people showed up from every facet of the sport to lend their support both with their dollars, and time dedicated to the sport. A big thank you to Karen and John Arnold for hosting, the athletes that attended and all the donors that chose to support! GO USA,” said Duran.

The alpine team is now in a large gym prep period before they hit the snow across the world. The alpine team's World Cup schedule kicks off in Sölden, Austria on October 26-27 with a pair of giant slalom races. 

Stifel U.S. Ski Team alpine skier Allison Mollin is on the rise within the alpine circuit. The Truckee, California native and former Palisades Tahoe skier completed her first rookie season with the national team in the 2023-24 year and did not disappoint, claiming both the super-G and downhill NorAm Cup titles as well as second place in super-G at the U.S. Alpine Championships. Mollin is one of the team’s up-and-coming speed skiers and has already made her debut on the World Cup stage in Crans Montana, Switzerland. Mollin will be one to watch in future seasons. 

We sat down to ask her a few questions about her background, her most recent success, and her goals for the coming seasons.

Q: What initially drew you to this sport?
ALLISON MOLIN: I fell in love with skiing before I fell in love with ski racing. I would take part in ski school on Fridays while my parents worked from home. I then went on to do my first Kinder Cup races at six years old and never looked back. 

Q: When you were younger and getting into the sport, what were your goals?
AM: My goal as a kid was always to be on the Stifel U.S. Ski Team and to win a FIS Crystal Globe. 

Q: What is your biggest accomplishment?
AM: One of my proudest achievements thus far was winning the downhill and, more importantly, super-G NorAm Cup titles. In the previous season, my best standing in NorAm super-G was 15th, so winning that title felt like a tangible way to see my progress since being named to the team. 

Q: What is your ultimate goal?
AM: My ultimate goal is to win the FIS Crystal Globe in downhill. 

Q: Can you describe a particularly emotional moment? 
AM: Standing in the start of my first World Cup last season in Crans Montana felt surreal. Having watched countless World Cups on TV growing up, standing in the start felt like a ride at Disneyland that’s based on your favorite movie. 

Q: Who are your heroes?
AM: Growing up, I always idolized Daron Rahlves. For me, winning Kitzbühel was the coolest thing ever. I continue to look up to him now because he was able to maximize his skiing as one of the smaller guys in the field. I have learned a lot from that because it's super applicable to me.

Follow Allison on social media here.

The Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team has announced that Steve Desovich will join the moguls coaching staff for the upcoming 2024-25 season. 

Desovich, hailing from Killington, Vermont, had an incredibly successful World Cup career, including nine wins and 18 podium finishes. Following a fifth-place finish at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympic Games, the first time moguls appeared in the Olympics, Desovich made the pivotal decision to transition to coaching. His coaching journey began with the Canadian National Team, a role he held for eight years. In 1998, he took his expertise to Melbourne, Australia, where he coached the Australian National Team until 2022. His leadership led to significant milestones, including coaching the first Australian woman to win a World Cup medal in 2001 and guiding Australian stars Dale Begg-Smith to an Olympic victory in 2006 and Matt Graham to a silver medal in PyeongChang in 2018. 

“Desovich’s strengths lie in his extensive coaching knowledge and experience, which will profoundly impact the performance management of the athletes he works with,” said Matt Gnoza, U.S. Ski & Snowboard Freestyle Sport Director. “We are confident that his collaboration and ability to teach at the micro level will elevate our team to new heights.”

The team’s performance in the 2023-24 season was outstanding, earning the Nations Cup and securing 32 podiums across eight athletes, five women and three men. This remarkable achievement sets a high standard for the upcoming season.

Desovich will serve as the primary coach for the men’s World Cup moguls team alongside Head Moguls Coach Bryon Wilson.

The moguls team will kick off their season in Ruka, Finland, on Nov. 30, 2024. The athletes will spend a few additional weeks competing in Europe before heading back stateside for the North American tour, stopping in Waterville, NH, Val St. Come, Quebec, CAN, and Deer Valley, UT, from Jan. 24 to Feb. 8, 2025.

The best freestyle athletes from around the world will gather in Engadin, Switzerland, for the 2025 FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships from Mar. 18-30. Each country will nominate four athletes per gender, per discipline. Complete nominations will be made later this season; however, this year, the U.S. athletes had the opportunity to prequalify based on their standings from the 2023-24 season. According to prewritten criteria, ‘U.S. Ski & Snowboard will nominate the top one (1) U.S. athlete, respective of gender, ranked in the top three (3) on the 2025 FIS Base List.’

The 2025 FIS Base List has been released, so let’s look at the first athletes nominated to the 2025 Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team World Championships Team.

MOGULS

(Hometown; Club; College/University; Birthdate)

Jaelin Kauf

(Alta, WY; Grand Taghee Ski & Snowboard Foundation/Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; University of Utah; 9/26/1996)
2022 Olympic silver medalist - moguls
2023-24 season standings: 2nd - moguls, dual moguls, overall

Olympic silver medalist Jaelin Kauf of Alta, Wyoming, is a force to be reckoned with on the moguls World Cup circuit. Her relentless pursuit of victory in every event she competes in is truly inspiring. Kauf’s track record is a testament to her skill and dedication, with eight World Cup victories, 36 World Cup podiums, four World Championship podiums, seven U.S. Championship titles, and an Olympic silver medal. 

Off the slopes, Kauf is a passionate advocate for women and girls in sports, actively supporting the Women’s Sports Foundation. In 2019, she achieved a personal milestone by being featured in a Warren Miller film, “Timeless’. Her motto, “Deliver The Love,” serves as a constant reminder to enjoy the sport and stay focused on her passion and love for skiing.

Kauf finished the 2023-24 season ranked second in the moguls, dual moguls, and overall standings, with a win and 10 additional podium finishes. 

AERIALS

(Hometown; Club; College/University; Birthdate)

Winter Vinecki

(Gaylord, MI; Park City Ski & Snowboard; St. Mary’s University School of Law; 12/18/1998)
2022 Olympian
2023-24 season standings: 2nd Overall

Winter Vinecki, from Gaylord, Michigan, is not just an aerials skier but an all-around athlete. Her achievements extend beyond the slopes, as she holds two World Records: the youngest person to run a marathon on seven continents and the first mother-daughter duo to do so. Her determination and versatility are truly admirable. She has earned multiple podiums, Olympic and World Championship starts, and more in aerial skiing. In 2021, she snagged her first World Cup podium in Moscow, Russia, and stood on the podium three more times that same season. 

Outside of skiing and running, Winter is the founder of Team Winter, a non-profit organization for prostate cancer research and awareness in honor of her late father, who passed away from an aggressive form of the disease. 

During the 2023-24 season, Vinecki made waves in aerials, becoming one of the only women to compete triples on the World Cup circuit. She finished the year ranked second overall, tying her career-best finish. 

Chris Lillis

(Rochester, NY; Bristol Mountain Freestyle Team; 10/4/1998)
2022 Olympic Champion - aerials team
2023-24 season standings: 3rd Overall

Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team aerials athlete Chris Lillis made a significant mark on the world of aerial skiing when he won an Olympic gold medal in the aerials team event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games. 

Not only was Chris the youngest man to win a FIS aerials World Cup, claiming the top spot as a 17-year-old in 2016, but he also earned 13 NorAm podium finishes, four of which he took first place. Chris has been on the podium eight times on the World Cup circuit, winning two. Lillis is also a three-time World Championship medalist, winning the gold in 2023 in the aerials team event and a silver and bronze in 2021. Fun fact: Chris is the first American since Jeret “Speedy” Peterson to complete a quintuple (five twists, three flips) in a competition.

This season was a roller coaster for many aerials athletes, but Lillis brought home two individual podiums and a team win to finish third overall. 

“The early qualification process is designed to allow top performing athletes to best prepare for peak performance at the event,” said Matt Gnoza, U.S. Ski & Snowboard Freestyle Sport Director. “Early nomination allows the athletes ample time to prepare mentally and physically for large stake events. The freestyle staff and I are excited to see how this procedure can enhance our World Championship outcomes.” 

This early qualification process will be implemented again in preparation for the 2025-26 season to secure spots for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina, Italy. Four athletes (one per gender, per discipline) will have the chance to qualify for the 2026 Olympics based on their performance in the 2023-24 overall season standings. 

Tentative Freestyle World Championships Schedule

Moguls Qualification - Tuesday, March 18
Moguls Finals - Wednesday, March 19
Dual Moguls - Friday, March 21
Mixed Team Aerials - Thursday, March 27
Aerials Qualification - Saturday, March 29
Aerials - Sunday, March 30