The U.S. is primed to make history by hosting the Aspen 2021 FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships, featuring the Visa Big Air, at Buttermilk in Aspen, Colo. March 10-16, followed by the Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix March 18-21.

This is the first time that a nation has hosted consecutive FIS World Championships following the 2019 FIS Snowboard, Freestyle, and Freeski World Championships held in Utah. The Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix World Cup slopestyle and halfpipe competitions will serve as the first snowboard and freeski Olympic tryout events.

Due to COVID-19 event and resort operations protocols and taking into consideration the health and safety of resort staff, event staff, and the athletes, venue access is limited to essential personnel only. There will be no spectator access and all media coverage must be conducted remotely. 

Media will have timely access to photo and video assets each day of training and competition, podium interviews, as well as remote access to athletes based on their availability. Those interested in having virtual access to the Aspen 2021 FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships and the Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix should register here by Friday, March 5: https://forms.gle/dMVLSpB4Pg68Di3t6

We thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding. Please reach out with any questions, we want to ensure you have what you need to cover the event. Without valuable media partners such as yourself, we would not be able to share the stories of our athletes and the event successfully. 

The Aspen 2021 FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Championships and the Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix are contingent on local and state health department approvals based on existing and future COVID-19 rules and regulations. FIS, U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the local organizing committee, and Aspen Snowmass are taking a unified approach consistent with guidance from federal, state, and local health authorities.  

Register Here for Virtual Media Accreditation 

Event Announcement

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Andrew Gauthier
Marketing & Communications Director | Freeski & Snowboard Press Officer
andrew.gauthier@usskiandsnowboard.org

Tucker Vest Burton, Jeff Hanle and Xanthe Demas
Aspen Snowmass Communications Team
communications@aspensnowmass.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 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 
 

On yet another day in paradise—a.k.a. Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy—the U.S. men’s slalom team showed some fast skiing, led by 20-year-old Ben Ritchie, with a career-best 13th place finish to lead the way for the young American squad in the Cortina 2021 slalom finale. 

The Attacking Vikings lived up to their name, with Norwegian Sebastian Foss-Solevaag grabbed his second individual career victory, first individual world title, and second World Championship gold (Team Event) at Cortina 2021. Austrian Adrian Pertl put up a good fight, finishing second, .21 seconds back, followed by Norwegian teammate Henrik Kristoffersen in third, .46 off Foss-Solevaag’s pace. The three seemed to be in a league of their own, as hometown favorite Alex Vinatzer was fourth, 1.2 seconds out. 

The International Ski Federation (FIS) made the controversial decision after the women’s slalom was challenged with tough conditions and warm weather on Saturday, to reverse the top-15 rather than the top-30 to “respect the top stars,” as men’s race director Markus Waldner said. Though U.S. Ski Team coaches weren’t exactly on board with the change, the young American squad lived up to the challenge and showed their speed, as 2019 NCAA slalom champion and University of Denver alumnus Jett Seymour had the 10th-fastest time, from bib 43. Teammates Luke Winters and Ben Ritchie were 15th and 17th, respectively. With the new rule, Winters started first the second run and Seymour sixth. 

Winters was skiing a solid run, but straddled and DNFed. Seymour was also ripping a fast and solid run, but straddled and DNFed. “It’s disappointing, for sure, but I went out to go racing and wanted to see what was possible,” reflected Seymour. “That happens sometimes...it’s part of the sport. Worlds was an awesome experience, and I’m looking forward to the next one.”

Starting 17th the second run, Ritchie ended up 13th and grabbed his career-first points, as WCSL points are awarded to the top-15 at World Championships. Ritchie and Seymour, who each raced in their career-first Europa Cups last week and each grabbed podiums—first place for Ritchie and third place for Seymour—came into World Championships feeling confident and were looking to carry that momentum to show what they could do on the big stage. In the end, they proved to the world that, though they are a young squad, they are fast and have a promising future ahead. 

“It was a lot of fun skiing and training together...we’ve spent all year together, so we’ve gone through the ups and downs and figured out how to be fast together,” said Ritchie. “So, when one person does well, the whole team feels positive about it. We’re all trending upwards right now, so I think the future is exciting.” After the first run, the Americans had three in the top-20. “It was awesome to be three in the top-20, obviously I don’t think a lot of people were expecting that coming in, but I think all three of us were, and I personally think that all three of us still could have skied much better than we did. We all have more speed...and it’s just about getting the experience and doing it on race day.”

Though it was a solid result, Ritchie feels he and his teammates have more speed to show and are eager to do so. “I’m happy with my result, first points,” he added. “Like I said, I still think I could ski much better both runs...it was a really hard day out there, a lot of DNFs, a lot of straddles, a lot of big mistakes because the course was so difficult, so I’m happy with it overall.” Ritchie is still a junior and will compete in the World Junior Ski Championships in Bansko, Bulgaria in March. He hopes to ski strong and gain a spot for World Cup Finals at Lenzerheide, Switzerland in late March. 

Alex Leever—also a University of Denver alumnus—started for the Americans as well, but did not finish first run. Up next for the crew is a training block in Cortina, before the next Europa Cup series in Oberjoch, Germany. 

RESULTS
Men’s World Championships slalom

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST

Sunday, Feb. 21
12:00 p.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Women's Slalom - next-day broadcast, Cortina d'Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast NBC

Mikaela Shiffrin took home her fourth medal of the 2021 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships and her 11th career World Championships medal, winning the bronze in the slalom and adding more pages to her jam-packed record book.

“I don’t think I ever would have said that I could win four medals in one World Champs,” said Shiffrin. “If you would have asked me five years ago or even, maybe especially, one year ago..it’s amazing.”

Conditions were tough throughout the day, with temperatures rising and sun baking the snow on the course in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, forcing the women to battle through ruts and bumps to finish. Austrian Katharina Liensberger, who tied for the gold in the parallel earlier in the week but has yet to win a World Cup, came through the lights the fastest to take the win. Petra Vlhova of Slovakia grabbed silver.

Shiffrin sat in fourth place after first run and wasn’t sure she had it in her to climb another spot to the medals, but she reframed her mindset and attacked second run to secure the bronze. While it was the first time in eight years that Shiffrin didn’t win the slalom world title, having won gold in the slalom in 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019 World Championships, it didn’t bother the incredible skier, who has had dealt with a lot throughout the past year, including the death of her father.

“It’s been a lot of ups and downs for sure,” she said. “Very emotional year. Right now, I’m just feeling pretty grateful to be able to smile a lot more often. Every day I feel a little more excited for the next day to come and that’s a good position to be in. Altogether, I’ve come a long way in a year.”

The bronze brings Shiffrin’s medal tally at the 2021 World Champs to four—bronze in the super-G, gold in the alpine combined, silver in the giant slalom and now bronze in the slalom. She is the first skier to win four medals at a World Champs in 14 years, since Anja Pärson of Sweden did it in 2007. No female skier has won more than four medals in a single World Championships.

The result also gives Shiffrin 11 World Championships medals in total—equaling Pärson as the most for a woman in the modern era of skiing. Shiffrin also holds the most medals of any U.S. skier, male or female.

It wasn't a great day for the rest of the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team women, who struggled with the peeling snow conditions. Paula Moltzan and Katie Hensien did not finish first run and Nina O’Brien and AJ Hurt straddled and DNFed second run.

“I was really looking forward to it coming into the day,” said Moltzan. “Now I’m pretty sad and disappointed. It’s kind of tough when World Champs comes around every two years and you miss your opportunity two days in a row. But there are a lot of slalom races left in the season, so I’m going to keep my focus there and keep skiing as fast as I can.”

O’Brien also kept a level head about her slalom result after having a career-best finish in the giant slalom on Thursday. “I’m really happy about the skiing I did in the GS race and 10th in parallel is a good result for me too,” she said. “A lot of good things to take away.”

The slalom was the final event for the women, while the men have one last slalom on Sunday to wrap up the 2021 World Championships in Cortina.

RESULTS
Women’s World Championships slalom

HOW TO WATCH 
All times EST

Saturday, Feb. 20
5:00 p.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Women's Slalom - same-day broadcast, Cortina d'Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN

Sunday, Feb. 21
4:00 a.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Men' Slalom - run 1 - LIVE, Cortina d'Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
6:30 a.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Men's Slalom - run 1- same-day broadcast, Cortina d'Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN
7:30 a.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Men's Slalom - run 2 - LIVE, Cortina d'Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN
12:00 p.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Women's Slalom - next-day broadcast, Cortina d'Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast NBC

In partnership with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), U.S. Ski & Snowboard is working to combat mental health issues prevalent in elite sport. Both organizations are taking a three-step approach to create awareness, remove stigma, and effectively communicate the resources available. The mental health concerns surrounding athletics have heightened following the release of Podium Pictures’ HBO film, Weight of Gold, which showcases the highs and lows of elite athletes’ mental health. Director Brett Rapkin, explained, “I started researching post-Olympic depression and was blown away when I discovered how common it was. My intention was to talk about this rollercoaster and the struggles faced by athletes. The reaction was incredibly powerful and served as an inspiration to me to do more of this kind of work.”

In addition to the complimentary Weight of Gold viewing access provided to all U.S. Ski & Snowboard national team athletes by Podium Pictures and HBO, U.S. Ski & Snowboard held a panel webinar on Dec. 30 in collaboration with the USOPC, Podium Pictures, and the Speedy Foundation. The panel discussed the film and provided resources for athletes seeking help. One of the panel members, Dr. Alex Cohen, Senior Sport Psychologist at the USOPC, who works closely with U.S. Ski & Snowboard out of the USANA Center of Excellence in Park City, Utah shared, “There is no wrong door to go through, and there should not be a dozen steps to get the resources needed. We are more than happy to help athletes navigate these resources.” Along with sharing resources, the panel provided an honest discussion on the topic with the hopes of decreasing some of the stigma surrounding mental health. 

Recent efforts of U.S. Ski & Snowboard include requiring Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) Training for all staff members. QPR Training teaches three simple steps to help save a person from committing suicide. In addition to having all staff trained on this topic, U.S. Ski & Snowboard plans to require QPR training of all athletes prior to the start of competition next year. The USOPC has also taken strides to combat mental health issues with the hiring of Dr. Jessica Bartley as its Director of Mental Health Services. Dr. Bartley now serves as both an advocate and a resource for any athlete struggling with mental health. “I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to be a resource for athletes, and it is my mission to build an infrastructure that athletes can access at all times.”

Although both organizations are taking steps to improve mental health resources, there is still more to be done. “Raising awareness, decreasing stigma and providing best practice mental health resources to U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes is a top priority,” said  U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Director of High Performance and Co-Chair of its Mental Health Committee,Troy Taylor. “Research shows that more than 35% of professional athletes suffer from a mental health crisis, so it is imperative that we create an environment where we can talk about mental health openly, honestly and ensure everyone gets the support they need, when they need it.” Over the coming months, U.S. Ski & Snowboard plans to further improve the organization’s understanding of the main obstacles for athletes and create feasible solutions to support athletes in the best ways possible.

Mental Health Resources
United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee: www.teamusa.org/mentalhealth
The Speedy Foundation: https://www.thespeedyfoundation.org
Michael Phelps Foundation: https://michaelphelpsfoundation.org
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: https://afsp.org
Crisis Text Line: https://www.crisistextline.org
Mental Health First Aid: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org  
 

If you or someone you know is experiencing an urgent mental health issue, we encourage you to text HOME to 741741, or call (800) 273-8255 to speak to a mental health professional. In the process of helping yourself, you may be inspiring courage in others to seek help as well.

If you are a U.S. Ski & Snowboard athlete, member, or staff, and feel you need support or would like to talk, don’t hesitate to reach out to USOPC Sr. Sport Psychologist Alexander Cohen or USOPC Director, Mental Health Services Jessica Bartley as resources.
 

Alexander Cohen, Ph.D., CMPC
Sr. Sport Psychologist
United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee
alexander.cohen@usoc.org
(M) +1 719-216-6376

Jessica Bartley, Ph.D., CMPC
Director, Mental Health Services
United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee
jessica.bartley@usopc.org
(o) +1 719-866-2125
 

Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team athlete River Radamus had a banner day at his FIS World Alpine Ski World Championships giant slalom debut, skiing into 11th place.

Conditions were bright and sunny yet again, pushing away the memories of postponements and cancelations from early in the World Champs, but the course still presented challenges with conditions varying throughout the track. Frenchman Mathieu Favre powered through to take the gold—his second gold medal at the World Champs and his first time on the giant slalom podium in two years. Luca De Aliprandini of Italy was second for his first podium ever, thrilling the hometown Italian fans watching from their homes. Marco Schwarz of Austria took the bronze for his second medal of the World Champs. Alexis Pinturault of France, the favorite coming into the race, was leading after first run but fell and did not finish.

River shred the first run of giant slalom in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, taking ninth place and came out confidently into the second run. But he made a few errors and lost time throughout the course, which pushed him back to 11th place. “As they say, everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face," said Radamus. "I felt like I was behind it up top and never really got going and attacking it the rest of the way,” he said.

River was disappointed in himself but now turns his eyes toward the future, where he knows there’s more to come for him. “It’s weird to be disappointed with a personal best, but I felt like I just had so much more in me today,” he said. “Didn’t quite execute the way I wanted to on second run and left a lot of time there, but it’s a good steppingstone I think.”

The 23-year-old Radamus, who has a decorated past as a two-time World Juniors champion and three-time Youth Olympic Games gold medal winner, has had a solid 2020-21 season so far, nailing top-20 and points-scoring results throughout the year, including an eighth place in the parallel and sixth place in team parallel at these World Championships. He knows the potential is there to perform in these big events and is hunting for more. “I’ve learned that it takes a lot to be fast,” said Radamus. “I’ve learned how bad I want to be there. I’m going to go back to work, finish the season out strong and hopefully prepare myself for the next Olympics or next World Championships to be able to execute better than I did today.”

Sadly missing in the World Champs giant slalom were talented Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team athletes Ted Ligety, Tommy Ford and Ryan Cochran-Siegle, who all had the potential to take home medals in the event, but were back in the states due to injury, leaving Radamus as the sole U.S. man in the race.

The World Champs GS was supposed to be Ligety’s final event in his storied career, having announced his retirement at the beginning of the World Championships, but back problems made it impossible for him to race. His legacy lives on though, with an impressive five World Championships golds, seven World Champs medals, and two Olympic golds. His rivals and friends, such as Bode Miller, Marcel Hirscher, and Felix Neureuther, paid tribute to him throughout the day, congratulating him on such an impressive career and wishing him luck with his future endeavors.

Ford, who had snagged a giant slalom podium and multiple top-10 results in GS earlier this season, was injured in early January after a bad crash in Adelboden. Cochran-Siegle had a bad crash in Kitzbuehel, Austria that broke his cervical spine and he is also recovering at home.  

Only the slalom races remain in the 2021 World Championships, with the women racing on Saturday and men on Sunday.

RESULTS
Men’s World Championships giant slalom

HOW TO WATCH 
All times EST

Saturday, Feb. 20
4:00 a.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Women's Slalom - run 1 - LIVE, Cortina d'Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
7:30 a.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Women's Slalom - run 2 - LIVE, Cortina d'Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
5:00 p.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Women's Slalom - same-day broadcast, Cortina d'Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN

Sunday, Feb. 21
4:00 a.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Men' Slalom - run 1 - LIVE, Cortina d'Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
6:30 a.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Men's Slalom - run 1- same-day broadcast, Cortina d'Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN
7:30 a.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Men's Slalom - run 2 - LIVE, Cortina d'Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN
12:00 p.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Women's Slalom - next-day broadcast, Cortina d'Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast NBC

The 2021 Phillips 66 Eastern Regional Championship event was held February 12-14 at West Mountain in Queensbury, NY. The event included two SG, one GS, and one SL race. The overall regional class champions awards are scored on total world cup points in SG1,GS and SL, with a minimum of 2 starts required. Full results can be found at usalpinemasters.org/er.

Both SG races were part of the 2021 Phillips 66 National Speed Series.  The National Speed Series standings after 9 of 13 events are now posted on usalpinemasters.org/nss. There are four races remaining in April with two at Mammoth Mountain, CA and two at Mt. Bachelor, OR.

In the wrap-up message to the event participants, Mid-Atlantic Masters Division Chair, Carol Tomassetti, recapped the event: "The weather was picture perfect, the snow was beyond amazing and it was just joyful to be together racing in such great conditions.  We completed all three days of racing with no injuries which is the best part of the report.  We pulled off two SG's, one counted for the Easterns, while both counted for the speed series.  The GS and SL's both went off without a hitch. ...The racing was great, the weather was great, but the people that came were the BEST"  

Though racers were unable to gather physically for awards, racers gatherer twice via zoom the congratulate the winners with a Virtual Podium Presentation.

Pictures of SL
Pictures of GS

The 2021 Phillips 66 FIS Masters Cup and Western Regional Championships event was held February 5-7 in Big Sky, Montana hosted by the Big Sky Ski Education Foundation (BSSEF). The event was two SG races, two (one-run) GS races (typical for FIS Masters), and one (two-run) SL race. The Big Sky Ski Education Foundation has been a long-time supporter of Masters events and offered three days of training prior to the event through their recently expanded Masters training program.

As we were packing our bags and traveling to Big Sky, mother nature was gearing up for Big Sky’s biggest powder dumps of the season. After three days of great training with a few inches of manageable snowfall for SG training, the first race day on Friday was postponed due to heavy snowfall leaving the hill unsafe for a SG event. The organizers quickly adapted the Saturday schedule to include one SG race in addition to the originally scheduled two GS runs. With an eager field of racers, and a short period of respite from mother nature, Saturday’s schedule delivered 3 runs of action with the final run finishing up just at the next storm was moving in. All were hopeful with SL planned for the Sunday schedule, but mother nature had other plans. When all was said and done, the snowfall during the event was more than the resort had gotten the entire season up to that point. Many took advantage of the powder! In the end, the chance to have the event was a bright spot many were not sure we would get to have in 2021. With 3 races completed, age class and overall champions were awarded.

Results on FIS Website

U.S. Ski & Snowboard Results on usalpinemasters.org/wr (Western Region Champs)

National Speed Series Current Standings on usalpinemasters.org/nss

Virtual Podium Images

Photos at bigskyphotos.com - thank you Crystal Images!

After eleven cancelled weekends, the FIS Masters international community is hoping that events in Big Sky (USA) are part of eight straight weekends of events for a strong finish to the FIS Masters calendar.

Mikaela Shiffrin snagged the silver medal in the 2021 FIS World Ski Championships giant slalom—her third medal of the World Championships in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, and the 10th World Championships medal in her career. Nina O’Brien finished 10th.

It was a thrilling race, with the stateside U.S. fans waking up to see Shiffrin leading after the first run and fellow Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team teammate O’Brien just .02 seconds behind her in second place. Lara Gut-Behrami of Switzerland was in third, only .09 seconds off the lead.

The two women hugged and screamed after O’Brien’s fast first run, with Shiffrin telling reporters that this was how O’Brien usually trained—and that she’s always been one to keep an eye on in races. Visions of Bode Miller and Daron Rahlves going 1-2 in the 2005 World Champs danced through U.S. ski racing fans’ heads and Burke Mountain Academy students gathered around screens at school to watch their two famous alumna duke it out for the medals.

Running 29th in the second run, O’Brien attacked out of the gate and built on her time, continuing to show green at each split, until she made a small mistake just a couple gates from the finish and lost all of her speed. She ended up in 10th place—still the best giant slalom finish in her career.

“I didn’t quite bring it across the line on the second run, but I’m really happy,” said O’Brien. “I’m glad I went for it. I was definitely pushing the whole way down and I made some good turns. It’s actually still my best GS finish ever—a good day! It feels good to see that my speed stacks up against those girls, so that’s cool—something to hold on to.”

Then it was Shiffrin’s turn, who hammered down the turny second run, but finished just .02 seconds behind Gut-Behrami, who won her second medal of the World Championships. However, Shiffrin wasn’t disappointed in her performance, which brought her medal total to three at the 2021 World Championships—one of each color.

“It’s always like, what could I have done that was two-hundredths faster?” she said. “I’m actually pretty excited. The last two GS races, I was losing a lot more time the second run…I just kept thinking, keep pushing! Keeping a silver and being so close and hanging on to a medal when there’s a really big competition for the podium together with so many girls within three tenths or five-tenths of a second, it was really not guaranteed, so that’s pretty cool.”

Shiffrin wasn’t exaggerating about how close the race was: It was the closest World Championships victory in history. Just .09 seconds separated the medals, with Katharina Liensberger of Austria taking third place with the fastest second run—even after going down on her hip near the finish.

This brings Shiffrin’s medal total to 10 during her World Championships career, placing her third on the all-time list of World Champs medal winners of the modern era, and was her third time medaling in giant slalom. She claimed silver in 2017 and bronze in 2019.

AJ Hurt and Paula Moltzan also started for the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team in the giant slalom. Neither finished first run and are OK.

Next, the men race giant slalom on Friday before slalom wraps up the World Championships over the weekend. “I’m looking forward to it,” said Shiffrin on defending her slalom title. “Just gotta get a little bit of recovery before that and then go for it one more time at this World Champs.”

RESULTS
Women’s World Championship giant slalom

HOW TO WATCH 
All times EST

Thursday, Feb 18
4:30 p.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Women's Giant Slalom - same-day broadcast, Cortina d'Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN

Friday, Feb. 19
4:00 a.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Men's Giant Slalom - LIVE, Cortina d'Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN
6:30 a.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Men's Giant Slalom - same-day broadcast, Cortina d'Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN
7:30 a.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Men's Giant Slalom - LIVE, Cortina d'Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN

Saturday, Feb. 20
4:00 a.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Women's Slalom - LIVE, Cortina d'Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
7:30 a.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Women's Slalom - LIVE, Cortina d'Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
5:00 p.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Women's Slalom - same-day broadcast, Cortina d'Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN

Sunday, Feb. 21
4:00 a.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Men' Slalom - LIVE, Cortina d'Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
6:30 a.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Men's Slalom - same-day broadcast, Cortina d'Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN
7:30 a.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Men's Slalom - LIVE, Cortina d'Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN
12:00 p.m. FIS World Alpine Championships Women's Slalom - same-day broadcast, Cortina d'Ampezzo, ITA, Broadcast NBC

U.S. Snowboardcross Teammates Lindsey Jacobellis and Mick Dierdorff finished second and third respectively at the World Cup in Reiteralm, Austria Thursday on an icy and fast course, reminiscent of east coast conditions. 

“I love the speed and I love the ice because it’s very east coast and where I’m most comfortable and confident,” said Jacobellis, a Stratton Mountain School graduate. “I did have some trouble with the start because I’m dealing with some injuries with my hamstring and my hip, so those compressions are a little challenging. I knew I had to just try to be in the mix because I was running the bottom half of the course really fast. I absolutely loved turn two. It was pretty hairball to go through and it helped to ignite my energy throughout the rest of the course.”

Jacobellis’s podium marks her 54th World Cup Podium in 97 starts. However, to Jacobellis standards, the winningest snowboardcross athlete of all time has recently experienced a World Cup podium drought, earning her last podium in 2019. 

“It feels really good to be back on the podium,” she said. “It’s been a long haul with injuries and racing mileage adding up on my body. It feels good to know I’m still in the mix and not falling off the back end.”

2019 FIS World Champion Dierdorff, claimed his third World Cup podium. He also felt the course gave him a competitive edge. 

“The courses I have thrived on in my career have been gnarly and a bit sketchy,” said Dierdorff. “That’s when I feel like I have an edge because I love to just send it. I never had the lead going into turn two, but moving towards turn three and four I felt like I was out working some people with better lines. Today was such a fun day.”

The U.S. Snowboardcross Team has collected five podiums from four different athletes in only three World Cup races this season. The culture and team camaraderie is as strong as ever. 

“It’s been a while since our whole team has vibed so well together,” said Dierdorff. “We are all pushing each other, supporting each other, and everyone’s riding so well. On any given day, anyone on our team could end up on the podium.

Hometown favorite Alessandro Haemmerle of Austria won the event and Spain’s Lucas Equibar took second. U.S. Snowboardcross Team member and 2018 Junior World Champion Jake Vedder raced well making it to the small final and finishing seventh. 

For the women, Italy’s Michela Moioli won the event and France’s Chloe Trespeuch rounded out the podium in third. Three U.S. riders broke the top-20 with Faye Gulini in 10th, Meghan Tierney in 12th, and Stacy Gaskill in 13th. 

Next up, the U.S. Snowboardcross Team will head to the Bakuriani, Georgia, World Cup March 3-5 for a two-race program. 

WATCH THE REPLAY ON PEACOCK

RESULTS
Women’s Snowboardcross Finals
Men’s Snowboardcross Finals
 

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U.S. Ski & Snowboard has named 16 athletes to represent the United States at the 2021 FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships in Kazakhstan March 8-11. 

The 2021 iteration of Freestyle World Championships was originally scheduled to take place in Zhangjiakou, China, as well as serve as test events for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games. However, due to COVID-19 health and safety measures implemented by the Chinese health authorities and government, those events were cancelled. The Kazakhstan Ski Association is putting in an enormous amount of effort to host this major event on short notice. All stakeholders involved feel confident that as experienced World Cup organizers, they will hold a successful World Championships. 

“Losing the 2020-21 Freestyle World Championship and Olympic test events in China this season was a blow, but we are grateful for FIS and the Kazakhstan Ski Association’s willingness to relocate and still provide the competition opportunity,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Freestyle Director Jeremy Forster. “This season has been like none other and I am incredibly impressed not only at the resilience our athletes have shown, but the success they have achieved on the World Cup level.” 

Shymbulak Mountain Resort will host both aerials and moguls competitions. The resort is one of the most modern resorts in Central Asia and has a rich history of hosting sporting events. Shymbulak played host to the 2017 Winter Universiade and has hosted Freestyle World Cup competition in 2020 and 2019. Immediately following World Championships, Kazakhstan is also scheduled to host aerials and dual moguls FIS World Cup Finals.

The U.S. Freestyle World Championships Team boasts an impressive roster of World Championships medalists as well as up-and-coming talent. 

For moguls, double World Championships medalists Jaelin Kauf and Brad Wilson, as well as youngest American Freestyle World Championships medalist Tess Johnson will lead their team of eight. Hannah Soar, Kai Owens and Nick Page, all who have podiumed in World Cup events this season, will make their World Championships debut. Dylan Walczyk will make his fourth World Champs appearance. Jesse Andringa earned his first World Championships team spot, but unfortunately due to an injury sustained at the 2021 Intermountain Healthcare Freestyle International, is unable to compete. Alex Lewis will round out the men in his first World Championships appearance.

2017 Aerials World Champion and World Record Holder for hardest acrobatic trick ever landed by a woman Ashley Caldwell will make her fifth World Championships appearance. Caldwell leads a deep field of women, who have collectively been on a podium streak in 2021, in Kaila Kuhn, Megan Nick (2021 marks her first World Championships team) and Winter Vinecki. Veterans Chris Lillis and Eric Loughran will chase World Championships hardware for the second time in their careers. Justin Schoenefeld and Quinn Dehlinger will make their World Championships debut. 

2021 U.S. FREESTYLE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM
(Name; hometown; club; birthdate; past World Championships Teams)

Moguls
Women

• Tess Johnson (Edwards, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 6/19/00; 2019)
• Jaelin Kauf (Alta, Wyo.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 9/26/96; 2017, 2019)
• Kai Owens (Vail, Colo.; Ski and Snowboard Club Vail; 8/16/04)*
• Hannah Soar (Somers, Conn.; Killington Mountain School; 6/4/99)*

Men

• Jesse Andringa (Boulder, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 12/15/97)** 
• Alex Lewis (Carlisle, Mass.; Killington Mountain School; 11/16/99)*
• Nick Page (Park City, Utah; Wasatch Freestyle Foundation; 8/1/02)*
• Dylan Walczyk (Rochester, N.Y.; Ski and Snowboard Club Vail; 6/25/93;2013,2017,2019)
• Brad Wilson (Butte, Mont.; Wasatch Freestyle; 6/5/92; 2013, 2017, 2019)

Aerials
Men

• Chris Lillis (Pittsford, N.Y.; Bristol Mountain Freestyle Team; 10/4/98; 2019)
• Justin Schoenefeld (Lawrenceburg, Ind.; Elite Aerial Development Program; 8/13/98)*
• Eric Loughran (Pelham, N.H.; Loon Mountain Freestyle; 12/4/95; 2017, 2019)
• Quinn Dellinger (Cincinnati, Ohio; Elite Aerial Development Program; 6/8/02)*

 Women

• Ashley Caldwell (Ashburn, Va.; Elite Aerial Development Program; 9/14/93; 2011, 2015, 2017, 2019)
• Kaila Kuhn (Boyne City, Mich.; Park City Ski and Snowboard; 4/8/03; 2019)
• Megan Nick (Shelburne, Vt,; Elite Aerial Development Program; 7/9/96)*
• Winter Vinecki (Gaylord, Mich.; Park City Ski and Snowboard; 12/18/98; 2019)

*Denotes first World Championships team
**Sidelined with injury, but met team criteria

COMPETITION SCHEDULE
2021 FIS Freestyle Ski World Championships
Shymbulak, Kazakhstan

Monday, March 8
Moguls

Tuesday, March 9
Dual Moguls

Wednesday, March 10
Aerials

Thursday, March 11
Mixed Team Aerials