After a successful first run, the FIS World Cup giant slalom in Semmering, Austria was canceled due to strong winds. The race will not be rescheduled at Semmering.

The wind was calm for first run, but in between the two runs, the breeze picked up, blowing the gates into unsafe positions and called into question potential fairness, which stemmed two 15-minute postponements. But then the wind turned catastrophic, damaging the finish corral and equipment, leading to the race’s official cancelation. The results of the first run do not count.

Coming off her first FIS World Cup win in Courchevel after a long-awaited return to giant slalom, Mikaela Shiffrin sat in fourth position going into second run, just .14 seconds away from the podium. Petra Vlhova of Slovakia was in the lead with Marta Bassino of Italy in second and Michelle Gisin of Switzerland in third.

Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team athlete Nina O’Brien also made the flip in 27th place. Paula Moltzan just missed the top 30, finishing 36th after starting 56th. Keely Cashman and AJ Hurt did not finish.

The slalom is set to take place as previously scheduled on Tuesday evening in Semmering, but keep an eye on our Twitter feed for updates.

RESULTS (canceled run two)
Women's giant slalom - first run

SLALOM STARTERS
Keely Cashman
Katie Hensien
Lila Lapanja
Paula Moltzan
Nina O'Brien
Mikaela Shiffrin
Resi Stiegler

HOW TO WATCH
Dec. 28, 2020 - Jan. 3, 2021
All Times EST

Tuesday, Dec. 29
9:15 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom, run 1 - LIVE, Semmering, AUT, Streaming Peacock
12:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Semmering, AUT, Streaming Peacock

Wednesday, Dec. 29
5:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Downhill - LIVE, Bormio, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
5:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Downhill - LIVE, Bormio, ITA, Streaming Peacock

Sunday, Jan. 3
6:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom, run 1 - LIVE, Zagreb, CRO, Streaming Peacock
9:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Zagreb, CRO, Broadcast Olympic Channel
9:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Zagreb, CRO, Streaming Peacock
3:00 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom - Same-Day Broadcast, Zagreb, CRO, Broadcast NBC
4:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Downhill - Replay From Bormio, Italy, Bormio, ITA, Broadcast NBC
6:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom - Same-Day Broadcast, Zagreb, CRO, Broadcast NBCSN

All streams will be available via desktop as well as mobile, tablet, and connected television platforms. The NBC Sports, Peacock TV, and Olympic Channel app are available on the Apple App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire.

Due to dumping snow and unsafe conditions, the men’s FIS World Cup super-G in Bormio, Italy on Monday morning was postponed until Tuesday, December 29.

The announcement was expected, given that the originally scheduled downhill on Monday was preemptively switched with the super-G because of anticipated heavy snowfall. Both races on the Stelvio track will now be shifted by a day—the super-G will be on Tuesday and the downhill on Wednesday.

“No surprise!” said Marcus Waldner, the FIS Men’s World Cup Chief Race Director. “The forecast was very accurate. Already two days ago, we expected this snow. The front was coming in. The snowfall is quite heavy on the top.”

The snow is supposed to let up Monday afternoon with no precipitation forecasted for Tuesday. Erik Arvidsson, Bryce Bennett, Ryan Cochran-Siegle, Travis Ganong, Jared Goldberg, and Sam Morse will all start for the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team with Ryan and Jared putting in some strong results in the downhill training runs. Both races will be streamed on Peacock.

STARTERS
Erik Arvidsson
Bryce Bennett
Ryan Cochran-Siegle
Travis Ganong
Jared Goldberg
Sam Morse

RESULTS
Men’s downhill training 1
Men’s downhill training 2

HOW TO WATCH
Dec. 28, 2020 - Jan. 3, 2021
All Times EST

Tuesday, Dec. 29
5:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Downhill - LIVE, Bormio, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
5:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Downhill - LIVE, Bormio, ITA, Streaming Peacock
9:15 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom, run 1 - LIVE, Semmering, AUT, Streaming Peacock
12:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Semmering, AUT, Streaming Peacock

Sunday, Jan. 3
6:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom, run 1 - LIVE, Zagreb, CRO, Streaming Peacock
9:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Zagreb, CRO, Broadcast Olympic Channel
9:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Zagreb, CRO, Streaming Peacock
3:00 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom - Same-Day Broadcast, Zagreb, CRO, Broadcast NBC
4:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Downhill - Replay From Bormio, Italy, Bormio, ITA, Broadcast NBC
6:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom - Same-Day Broadcast, Zagreb, CRO, Broadcast NBCSN

All streams will be available via desktop as well as mobile, tablet, and connected television platforms. The NBC Sports, Peacock TV, and Olympic Channel app are available on the Apple App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire.

The Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team downhillers call the Stelvio track in Bormio, Italy a “real-deal downhill”...it’s dark, it’s bumpy, and it’s fast. The American men are also fast...as Ryan Cochran-Siegle has dominated the training runs, winning them by six tenths and three tenths, respectively. On the women’s side, two-time Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin will lead the tech crew at a venue where she’s had a lot of success in Semmering, Austria. 

After snagging his career-best super-G result (eighth) in Val Gardena, Italy last weekend, and backing that up with his career-first podium (second place) in downhill at the same venue, Ryan is coming to the weekend at Bormio with confidence...but he’s not focusing on his results—rather, he’s focusing on his skiing. Ryan has been quick to call a winning training run “fool’s gold” in the past and knows this strong and deep field of downhillers brings the heat on race day. 

“I think I got some confidence from Gardena, but also I’m just trying to focus on my skiing,” Ryan said after the second of two downhill training runs on Sunday, “I mean with training runs, people are just trying to figure out the race line, and I think I’ve been doing a good job in sections, but I still have some time to find. I’m trying to find some really good, fluid skiing throughout the whole course. It’s a fun course to ski, and there’s a certain level of intimidation and just trying to make it all the way down from start to finish, skiing as well as possible...skiing fluidly and connecting the dots.” 

In the second downhill training run, Ryan said there was a rattle that makes it challenging to ski really good, clean turns. He says, “You have to have a good plan top to bottom, and know where the risk is worth it and where you have to back off and just ski through to make it through with speed.” Ryan will go into the two-day series with no expectations. Due to the weather forecast, the downhill and super-G have been swapped, so the men will kick it off with super-G on Monday, followed by downhill on Tuesday. 

Travis Ganong was the last American to win a World Cup downhill, in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany on January 27, 2017. The last American skier to win a World Cup downhill race in Bormio was Bode Miller on December 29, 2007.

Jared Goldberg, who grabbed a career-best sixth place in Val Gardena Italy’s downhill, has also been strong in downhill training, with the fourth-fastest training run on Saturday, and the ninth-fastest on Sunday. Keep an eye on Bryce Bennett and Travis Ganong, who always bring the heat on race day, as well as Sam Morse and Erik Arvidsson. 

Mikaela, who recently won her 67th career victory in Courchevel, France, will lead a deep tech crew in Semmering, Austria, including Paula Moltzan, Nina O’Brien, Keely Cashman, AJ Hurt, Katie Hensien, Lila Lapanja, and Resi Stiegler. Mikaela has had significant career success in this post-holiday series, traditionally held between Lienz and Semmering, Austria. Let’s talk about stats at Semmering for a moment, shall we?! Yes, yes, we know Mikaela doesn’t focus on the stats, but that doesn’t mean we can’t, right?! This is about to get fun...buckle up. 

• Coming into Semmering, Mikaela Shiffrin had won 67 World Cup events, joint-third on the all-time list alongside Marcel Hirscher. Only Ingemar Stenmark (86) and Lindsey Vonn (82) have won more World Cup events. 
• Mikaela has won 43 World Cup slalom events, already an all-time record among men and women. Only Stenmark (46 in giant slalom) and Vonn (43 in downhill) have won at least 43 World Cup events in a specific discipline. 
• The last 28 women's World Cup slalom events were either won by Mikaela (19) or Petra Vlhová (9), since Frida Hansdotter won in Flachau on 10 January 2017. 
• In her last 45 slalom starts, Mikaela finished on the podium 42 times (34 wins).  Shiffrin won each of the last two World Cup slalom races held in Semmering, in December 2016 and in December 2018.
• Mikaela won the most recent giant slalom event in the World Cup, in Courchevel on 14 December. The last time she won back-to-back giant slalom events in the World Cup was four years ago, when she won both giant slalom events in Semmering, on 27 and 28 December 2016.
• Mikaela has claimed a podium finish in nine of her last 11 World Cup giant slalom appearances, with the only exceptions a 17th place in Courchevel last season and a fourth place in Courchevel on 12 December. 
• Mikaela has only participated in technical events this World Cup season. She finished second and fifth in the slalom events in Levi and fourth and first in the giant slalom events in Courchevel. 
• Mikaela has won 12 giant slalom events in the World Cup, second-most among active female skiers after Tessa Worley (13).
• Mikaela won four of the last five women's World Cup events held in Semmering, two slalom events, and two giant slalom events. The only exception was fifth place in the giant slalom on 28 December 2018, when Petra Vlhová won. 
• Mikaela’s four World Cup wins in Semmering are already more than any other skier at this venue. She has won 12 World Cup events in Austria, most among women. Only Hermann Maier and Stenmark have won more World Cup events in Austria (both 15).

When asked about her post-Christmas success in recent years, Mikaela reflected, “I do have quite a few theories about why I tend to have pretty strong races this time of year, in this block just after Christmas through New Year’s and the beginning of the year. A big piece of it is because we know that it’s going to be a big push, even going into the season, so my whole team puts a lot of emphasis on mental and physical preparation going into this period, to know that it’s going to be tiring...and sometimes just being mentally prepared for that makes a big difference...and I think that my coaches do the absolute best job of finding the best preparation so I’m going into this period of time with confidence in my skiing.” 

Speaking of preparation, Mikaela spent the last couple of weeks since Courchevel training in Reiteralm, Austria...which is also where she spent Christmas with her mother and her team. She was quick to add that though a lot of people feel “she’s back” after her win in Courchevel, people think she’s totally back and things are back to normal...she says “I don’t see it that way, and maybe ‘normal’ doesn’t exist...I didn’t come back in Courchevel, it’s always a process—my entire career has been a really long process, and it hasn’t changed just because I won a race again.” She says managing her energy throughout the weekend is something she has to re-learn. In this post-holiday race series of 15 World Cup events between Semmering and Lienz, Mikaela has podiumed 11 times (73% of them) and won seven times (46%)...including a back-to-back victory last year in Lienz, which her late father Jeff was there to witness.   

Follow all of the action on Peacock TV, the Olympic Channel, NBCSN, and NBC...it’s going to be a big week as we head into the new year and kick off the much-anticipated 2021. 

STARTERS

MEN
Erik Arvidsson
Bryce Bennett
Ryan Cochran-Siegle
Travis Ganong
Jared Goldberg
Sam Morse

WOMEN
Keely Cashman
Katie Hensien
AJ Hurt
Lila Lapanja
Paula Moltzan
Nina O’Brien
Mikaela Shiffrin
Resi Stiegler

RESULTS
Men’s downhill training 1
Men’s downhill training 2

HOW TO WATCH
Dec. 28, 2020 - Jan. 3, 2021
All Times EST

Monday, Dec. 28
4:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Giant Slalom, Run 1 - LIVE, Semmering, AUT, Streaming Peacock
5:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Super-G - LIVE, Bormio, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
5:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Super-G - LIVE, Bormio, ITA, Streaming Peacock
7:00 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Giant Slalom, Run 2 - LIVE, Semmering, AUT, Streaming Peacock
3:00 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Super-G - Same Day Delayed Broadcast, Bormio, ITA, Broadcast NBCSN

Tuesday, Dec. 29
5:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Downhill - LIVE, Bormio, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Channel
5:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Downhill - LIVE, Bormio, ITA, Streaming Peacock
9:15 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom, run 1 - LIVE, Semmering, AUT, Streaming Peacock
12:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Semmering, AUT, Streaming Peacock

Sunday, Jan. 3
6:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom, run 1 - LIVE, Zagreb, CRO, Streaming Peacock
9:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Zagreb, CRO, Broadcast Olympic Channel
9:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Zagreb, CRO, Streaming Peacock
3:00 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom - Same-Day Broadcast, Zagreb, CRO, Broadcast NBC
4:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Downhill - Replay From Bormio, Italy, Bormio, ITA, Broadcast NBC
6:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Slalom - Same-Day Broadcast, Zagreb, CRO, Broadcast NBCSN

All streams will be available via desktop as well as mobile, tablet, and connected television platforms. The NBC Sports, Peacock TV, and Olympic Channel app are available on the Apple App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire.
 

U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced on Dec. 23, 2020 that the 2021 Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix FIS Freeski and Snowboard World Cup at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, Calif., originally scheduled for Feb. 3-6 has been postponed.

The International Ski Federation (FIS), U.S. Ski & Snowboard, and Mammoth Mountain are working closely together to reschedule the events and will follow up with more information as it becomes available.

“We have worked closely with Tiger Shaw and U.S. Ski & Snowboard and agree that we must continue to prioritize the health and wellbeing of our employees, athletes, guests, and community,” said Mark Brownlie, President and COO of Mammoth Resorts. “With that in mind, the decision was made to postpone the event to a later date. We look forward to continuing our longstanding relationship and commitment to athletics at Mammoth Mountain and will explore all opportunities to reschedule this season.”

Specific event information will be forthcoming as the local organizing committee works through its detailed protocols with local and state health officials. The U.S. Grand Prix is 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 Mammoth Mountain 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.

In a crash in Friday's FIS Ski World Cup downhill at Val d'Isere, France, two-time Olympian Alice McKennis Duran sustained a fractured right ankle, requiring surgical intervention, and will be out for 8-10 weeks. 

After skiing two strong downhill training runs (first and 11th), Alice was feeling good and strong heading into the weekend. It was a tough day for many of the top speed skiers, with crashes by Austria's Nicole Schmidhofer, Italy's Federica Brignone, and others. Unfortunately, Alice was among them. There are many things Alice would like to say, including some four-letter words, but we'll just leave it at the fact that 2020 has been a challenging year. 

In an Instagram post on Wednesday morning, Alice wrote, 

It’s crushing mentally and emotionally to be back in this place...to feel yet again that I was in the verge of doing great things, and to have it all slip through my fingers once again. It’s hard to make sense of it all. All the hard work and perseverance to be rendered almost meaningless in a flash. I’ve had surgery 9/12 years in my career on the World Cup and it’s my 5th season ending injury, both staggering numbers that make me cringe and feel so much anger and frustration. Why...?
.
I could go on at length about feeling sorry my self but that gets me nowhere-it could have been much,much worse. I am lucky to only have only sustained the injuries I did and I am grateful for that. I was able to ski down (although not all that well😝😬), something others were unable to do. There are many people out there that have overcome worse things in all walks of life, and continue to thrive. They are my inspiration! I believe I will have the opportunity to thrive again it will just take some time.
.
Thank you everyone who has showed me so much support and love, and to those who keep lifting me up when I fall (literally). Perspective is everything and these people are what makes it all feel bearable. Onwards. ❤️ #bettereveryday

Alice is no stranger to comebacks. Her latest injury sustained just after her climb back to the podium in Are, Sweden in 2018, had her sidelined for the 2018-19 season. During the 2017-18 season, the U.S. women’s downhill team was the most successful downhill team on th circuit. Alice returned to competition for the 2019-20 season with a goal to "...enjoy the process of getting better at ski racing, continue working hard, and give my best effort everyday!" She was steadily building towards 2020-21, and had been skiing strong in prep period camps.

Following the crash, Alice traveled back to the States and was evaluated by doctors in Vail, Colo. She underwent ankle surgery on Wednesday morning, which was successful, and now she is on the road to recovery.  

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Alice Mckennis Duran (@thealigator)

Soft snow and big ruts made for tough conditions at the annual Madonna di Campiglio FIS World Cup night slalom in Italy, with no U.S. skiers making a second run.

Under the lights and springlike snow, Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway powered through the ruts and bumps to attack from 12th place first run to take the overall win. His teammate Sebastian Foss-Solevaag was second and hometown boy Alex Vinatzer of Italy of third.

The soft conditions made it difficult for the U.S. men, who all started between bibs 45-55. Neither Luke Winters, Ben Ritchie nor Jett Seymour finished first run. Only three men that wore bibs with numbers higher than 30 made a second run.

While the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team men didn’t make the cut in Italy, their coach Ryan Wilson still has confidence in their progression and future on the World Cup circuit. “The guys have the speed and athletic ability,” he said. “We will be successful ultimately. These guys are young; they ski technically well. We have some work to do, but the guys will continue to be better technical skiers. They’re young and they have a bright future ahead of them.”

And Ryan is serious about the U.S. men being young. The team is the youngest on the circuit with all of the American men under 23 years old. So while the slalom team isn’t seeing the results quite yet, Ryan plans on it happening in the future through diligent work and training. “Quite frankly, they’re young and they don’t pull it out often in World Cup races yet,” he said. “But we’re getting more experience and we’re definitely still focused on being strong technical skiers with the goal of being ultimately consistent enough to be in the hunt in four to seven years.”

The men’s tech team now has a nice break to celebrate the Christmas holiday before heading to Zagreb, Croatia for another night slalom after the new year.

RESULTS
Men’s slalom

Rocky/Central News

Happy Holidays everyone from the RC Staff. We hope you enjoy this time with your families.  We hope this newsletter finds you all happy and healthy. What a year 2020 has been for everyone. We are all looking at everything we do in a different light. 

Most everyone has had a delayed start to the season. I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing. In my discussions with your coaches, every single one is feeling like the extra time to really drill down into the fundamentals of skiing has been very positive.  Most coaches are feeling like the athletes have been extra focused on strengthening their fundamental base. This focus will help our athletes throughout the season and will hopefully pay off in years to come.  

What do you do if your club is unable to train due to government restrictions?  Kathy Okoniewski, Eastern Region Youth Development Coach, wrote a great article to help those parents that are going it on their own right now.  How to "Go Remote" While Having Fun and Improving Your Skiing.  This should be helpful to both parents and coaches.  Thanks to Kathy for sharing her insights with us.  

The RockyCentral staff along with Divisional leaders have been working on the race calendars and making adjustments as required. While we are restricted in the number of athletes we are allowed to have at events (restrictions due to U.S. Ski & Snowboard COVID Guidelines or local health authority guidelines) racing will still look pretty much the same as it has in the past.  

How will races be different from past seasons? Athletes will be required to take a daily COVID health check every morning before they are allowed to start. I think this is part of life for most everyone these days. Races will still need volunteers, this is still a great way to be able to help the sport your child is involved in. In many cases this year it may be the only way you will be able to watch. Many ski resorts have a no spectator policy in place. While we all love to watch our athletes race, this year we might not be able to. With all the restrictions in place, ski areas are very restrictive to the number of people we are allowed to have as a part of the races.  We need to respect these restrictions to keep be able to host races.

I am excited to get the season started in the Rocky/Central Region. RC Staff, Divisional Leadership, Clubs and coaches have been working very diligently to put proper protocols and systems in place to help us navigate current restrictions and move forward to a successful season for our athletes.  

We wish everyone the very best time this holiday season!!

Darlene Nolting
Rocky/Central Regional Director

Patrick Mich
Central Division Manager

Kristina Revello
Rocky/Central Regional Coach

Please join U.S. Alpine Ski Team alumnus Bode Miller on Dec. 29 at 5:00 p.m. EST/3:00 p.m. MST for “Driven: The Tools & Mindset for Ultra High Performance,” a digital webinar moderated by former Squaw Valley, Steamboat Springs, and Intrawest executive Andy Wirth.

The webinar is open to all and will discuss topics the audience can relate to as both an individual living in today’s Covid-19 landscape, as well as an athlete focused on improving their performance. Bode sets out to discuss how best to take advantage of downtime—something we all experience now more than ever. Through Bode’s numerous injuries and subsequent comebacks, he has learned a thing or two about resilience and pushing through adversity.

The webinar will also touch on facing your actual desires in sport head-on. Asking the tough question—What do you really want to accomplish? Thereby, allowing the audience to set their short and long term goals with this vision in mind. What may be right for one person is not for another, depending on what they would like to achieve.

Bode will also speak to the role of sensor technology in today’s ski racing development pipeline as well as PSIA learn-to-ski programs. He believes that the increased availability of objective data to pick up on subtle elements of performance can have a massive impact on an athlete’s ability to perform at a higher level. Furthermore, the webinar will address the advantages of creating a chronology of an athlete’s performance as well as the potential to foster more productive coach-athlete relationships through the use of sensor technology.

This Bode Miller Webinar is designed to encourage athletes to take accountability for their development and engage in a more proactive way with all the resources they have at their disposal. Don’t miss an opportunity to circle up with your family over the holiday season and learn from the most decorated male skier in U.S. history.
 

Register for “Driven: The Tools & Mindset for Ultra High Performance” Today!
 

The Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team men's slalom crew's long-awaited season opener took place on Monday in Alta Badia, Italy. Three Americans started, including 2019 NCAA Slalom Champion Jett Seymour, who made his World Cup debut. 

Though no Americans made the top 30, coach Ryan Wilson still found some positives in the day. "Ben (Ritchie) approached the day with confidence and skied well," he said. "He was loose and fast before he went out. That's my highlight of the day. He showed he's got the speed to hang." Luke Winters and Jett finished but did not qualify for a second run. 

It was a tight race, with Switzerland's Ramon Zenhausern taking the victory by a mere eight hundredths, followed by the Austrian duo of Manuel Feller in second, and Marco Schwarz in third, .12 seconds off the pace. 

Ryan said the guys have been skiing solid and fast in training, and the crew will look forward to another chance on Tuesday night under the lights at Madonna di Campiglio, Italy. The young slalom crew will look to build up to the busy tech run in early January. 

RESULTS
Men’s slalom

HOW TO WATCH
All Times EST

Tuesday, Dec. 22
11:30 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom, run 1 - LIVE, Madonna di Campiglio, ITA, Streaming Peacock
2:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom, run 2 - LIVE, Madonna di Campiglio, ITA, Streaming Peacock
2:30 p.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Men's Slalom - LIVE, Madonna di Campiglio, ITA, Broadcast Olympic Channel

With five athletes on the podium seven times so far this season, the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team is off to their strongest start of the season in years. Yet, there have been some season-ending injuries and brutal crashes that have plagued the speed teams. 

Mikaela Shiffrin, Tommy Ford, Paula Moltzan, Breezy Johnson, and Ryan Cochran-Siegle have all graced the podium on the big stage. Up-and-comers have scored World Cup points for the first time, including AJ Hurt, Keely Cashman, and Sam Morse. Numerous athletes have matched or achieved career bests, including Jared Goldberg, Bryce Bennett, Nina O'Brien, and River Radamus. 

Unfortunately, Kyle Negomir and Sam Dupratt have both suffered season-ending injuries. After a strong downhill training run (eighth-fastest) in Val d'Isere, France, Kyle fell crossing the finish line, sustaining an MCL, ACL, four broken metacarpals, and undiagnosed shoulder pain—all on the right side of his body. He is back home and will sit the rest of the season out. 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Kyle Negomir (@knegomir)

In a violent crash in the second of two downhill training runs in Val Gardena, Italy, Sam sustained bilateral lower extremity injuries. He was treated locally and will return to the U.S. for further care. He amazed everyone with his resilience and positive attitude. 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Samuel DuPratt (@itsliterallysam)

On the women's side, two-time Olympian Alice McKennis crashed in the downhill at Val d'Isere, France on Friday, sustaining a fractured right ankle, requiring surgical intervention and will be out for 8-10 weeks.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alice Mckennis Duran (@thealigator)

Jackie Wiles crashed on Sunday in the super-G, sustaining a broken clavicle, and is getting surgery in Europe. She says, "Ready to get this broken clavicle fixed and get back on snow! Physically down for the moment, but not out!"

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Jacqueline Wiles (@jacquelinewiles)

These athletes are the epitome of resilience and are already well on their way to recovery. Stay tuned for more information.

Learn more about how you can support U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes like Sam, Kyle, Alice, and Jackie this season at KeepTheFlameAlive.org.