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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST

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

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

Check out the full alpine streaming and broadcast schedule.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST.

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Panelists

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team speed specialist and Olympian Laurenne Ross announced on Friday that she has sustained a left knee injury while training giant slalom at U.S. Ski Team Speed Center at Copper Mountain, Colo. last week.  

Laurenne, who sat out the 2019-20 season to rehab a left knee injury sustained during a warm-up run prior to her downhill training run at the 2019 FIS Ski World Championships in Are, Sweden, had just returned with her team for a full—albeit odd, in the wake of a global pandemic—prep period starting with a camp at Copper Mountain in June. 

Laurenne suffered a severe knee injury at U.S. Alpine Championships late in the 2017 season, worked tirelessly to make a comeback in time to qualify for the 2018 Olympic Team. She was a part of the fastest downhill team in the world in 2018. She struggled to find her groove early in the 2018-19 season but had made considerable steps forward in the month of January, scoring inside of the points in every single start from the new year to World Championships - including three top-15 results. 

Clearly heartbroken, once again, Laurenne expressed her feelings on social media, 

I cannot express my heartbreak here, through words on a screen…I crashed training GS the other day. It hurt. A lot. I tweaked my left knee when I hit the fence, and devastation flooded over me like a tsunami.

Thankfully, her hope is that she will recover without undergoing surgery, and she is able to be back on skis sometime in the next few weeks. The first FIS Alpine Ski women's speed event is a pair of super-G races slated for St. Moritz, SUI on Dec. 5-6.

 

 

 

 

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Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team athletes will take on the rescheduled 2020 U.S. Alpine Championships at Official Training site Copper Mountain, Colo. starting on Monday, Nov. 16 and running through Sunday, Nov. 22. The schedule is tentative and subject to change. 

Copper Mountain is closed to the public and plans to open on Nov. 30 for the 2020-21 ski season. Due to COVID-19, U.S. Ski & Snowboard together with Copper Mountain has created protocols to ensure consistency with local and state regulation, including no spectators or media on site. A massive amount of planning and energy went into creating the COVID-19 protocol, led by U.S. Ski & Snowboard High-Performance Director Troy Taylor and Lead Physical Therapist Gillian Bower in collaboration with Copper Mountain’s staff to create a safe environment for athletes and staff. 

This event will replace the 2020 U.S. Alpine Championships, which were scheduled for last March in Panorama, CAN, and Aspen, Colo. Both events were cancelled due to COVID-19. U.S. Alpine Championships at Copper Mountain, Colo. are slated to include the disciplines of men’s and women’s slalom, giant slalom, super-G, and downhill. 

U.S. Alpine Championships Event Schedule 
(Subject to change)

November 16, Giant Slalom – Women – Copper Mountain, Colo.
November 17, Giant Slalom – Men – Copper Mountain, Colo. 
November 18, Downhill Training – Men and Women – Copper Mountain, Colo. 
November 19, Downhill – Men and Women – Copper Mountain, Colo. 
November 20, Super-G – Men and Women – Copper Mountain, Colo. 
November 21, Slalom – Women – Copper Mountain, Colo. 
November 22, Slalom – Men – Copper Mountain, Colo.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard events are contingent on local and state health department approvals based on existing and future COVID-19 rules and regulations. U.S. Ski & Snowboard sanctioned event attendance is optional. U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes and staff should not feel pressure to travel to train or compete. All sanctioned training camp and event policies and protocols are subject to change based on local, state, and federal public health orders, updated guidance from the USOPC, or updated U.S. Ski & Snowboard policies.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced a deep 43-athlete roster for the 2020-21 season’s Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team. The U.S. Ski Team is currently on snow at U.S. Ski Team Speed Center at Copper Mountain, Colo. prepping prior to heading over to Europe to dive into the full FIS Ski World Cup schedule, starting with two women’s slalom races in Levi, Finland, Nov. 21-22.

First, let's get you acquainted with this season’s TV broadcast schedule. 

The 2020-21 season kicked off yet again in Soelden, Austria, on Oct. 17-18 with women’s and men’s giant slalom races. While two-time Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin sat Soelden out due to a nagging back injury, 2017 NCAA Slalom Champion Paula Moltzan blew everyone away when she skyrocketed from bib 62 to finish 10th—her best-ever World Cup finish to date. “Slalom specialist” no more, folks! Teammate Nina O’Brien was close behind, with her first-ever top-15 World Cup giant slalom finish. On the men’s side, 2019 Xfinity Birds of Prey victor Tommy Ford, who had been dealing with both a shoulder and back injury in the offseason, led the crew in 22nd, while River Radamus ran bullet second run and skied a smart, safe run to finish 27th and start his season strong with his second giant slalom World Cup points.

Mikaela and Tommy headline the list of both accomplished and emerging athletes heading into the 2020-21 season. The 2019-20 season was a step in the right direction for the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team, with 15 FIS Ski World Cup podiums, one Junior World Championship medal, and seven NorAm titles. Mikaela led the way with 13 podiums and six victories in 19 World Cup starts, despite missing nine races. She’ll head into 2020-21 as the winningest slalom skier of all-time, with 43 slalom victories, and ranked fourth on the all-time win list behind Marcel Hirscher (67), U.S. Ski Team alumni and Land Rover ambassador Lindsey Vonn (82), and Ingemar Stenmark (86). When she steps into the start gate in Levi, Finland on Nov. 21, it will have been exactly 300 days since she last stood in a World Cup start gate. Think about that for a second. 

The men’s team was highlighted by Tommy, with solid and consistent skiing, finishing his career-best season ranked fifth in the world in giant slalom with six top-15 results, four top-five results, two podiums, and a massive victory by .80 seconds in Beaver Creek, Colo. He is joined by a men’s team with considerable depth, specifically the men’s speed team—which had four athletes finish in the top-20 in the world in downhill for the first time ever: Travis (13th), Ryan Cochran-Siegle (14th), Bryce Bennett (16th) and Steven Nyman (20th). 

The 2020-21 season will feature the much-anticipated FIS Ski World Championships in Cortina d’ Ampezzo, Italy, February 8-21, 2021. Following the premature end to the 2019-20 season with the cancellation of the FIS Ski World Cup Finals in Cortina d’Ampezzo due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the athletes are looking forward to competing in the Dolomites. Cortina d’Ampezzo is a favorite classic venue on the women’s World Cup circuit where the U.S. women’s speed team has enjoyed a lot of success, while the men have never skied at the venue. 

Another highlight of the 2020-21 season will be the women’s Olympic test event in Beijing. The men were supposed to test out the Olympic track in Beijing last winter, but it was cancelled due to COVID-19. According to Olympic course designer Bernhard Russi, the track should be about 1 minute, 55 seconds, and equate more to Sochi’s Olympic course than the 2018 Olympic track in PyeongChang. Additionally, this year the FIS Alpine Junior World Ski Championships will be in Bansko, Bulgaria, from March 2-11, 2021. 

“This group of athletes includes a healthy mix of World Cup performers as well as young guns we are developing to be tomorrow’s champions,” said Alpine Director Jesse Hunt. “This is one of the largest and deepest teams we have fielded and funded in years. Although we are navigating through a pandemic, we are determined to make this the best season possible. We owe it to the athletes and the nation to be resilient in our pursuit of safe, high-quality opportunities in training and competition. We will keep focused on improvement with this impressive and dedicated group of athletes.”

NBC’s new streaming platform, Peacock Premium, will live stream the 2020-21 FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup Tour this season. NBC, NBCSN, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA and

NBC Sports’ digital platforms will also air World Cup alpine skiing coverage all season. Alpine broadcast and streaming listings will be available throughout the season at USSkiandSnowboard.org.

Each athlete named to the U.S. Ski Team receives world-class program support, along with access to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Center of Excellence, as well as athletic benefits including elite coaching, sport science, sports medicine, and high-performance staff, and education opportunities. Additionally, A, B, and C team athletes are fully travel-funded once again this season, and the organization has also made significant headway in our efforts to decrease travel costs at the development team level, where members will be responsible for no more than $10,000 in travel and training costs with their team.

You can be assured that whatever happens this season, the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team will roll with the punches and be ready to throw down on race day! 

2020-21 Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team
(Hometown; Club; Birthdate)

A TEAM
Men
Bryce Bennett (Squaw Valley, Calif.; Squaw Valley Ski Team; 7/14/1992)
Ryan Cochran-Siegle (Starksboro, Vt.; Cochran’s/Mount Mansfield Ski & Snowboard Club; 3/27/1992)
Tommy Ford (Bend, Ore.; Mt. Bachelor Ski Education Foundation; 3/20/1989)
Travis Ganong (Squaw Valley, Calif.; Squaw Valley Ski Team; 7/14/1988)
Ted Ligety (Park City, Utah; Park City Ski and Snowboard; 8/31/1984)
Steven Nyman (Sundance, Utah; Park City Ski and Snowboard/Sundance Ski Team; 2/12/1982)                     

Women
Breezy Johnson (Victor, Idaho; Rowmark Ski Academy; 1/19/1996)
Laurenne Ross (Bend, Ore.; Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation; 8/17/1988)
Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, Colo.; Burke Mountain Academy/Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 3/13/1995)

B TEAM
Men
Sam DuPratt (Park City, UT; Park City Ski Education Foundation; 11/28/1993)  
Bridger Gile (Aspen, Colo., Aspen Valley Ski Club and Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 10/15/1999)
Jared Goldberg (Holladay, Utah; Snowbird Sports Education Foundation; 6/15/1991)
Jimmy Krupka (Waitsfield, Vt.; Dartmouth College and Green Mountain Valley School (7/15/1998)*
Sam Morse (Carrabassett Valley, Maine; Carrabassett Valley Academy; 5/27/1996)
Kyle Negomir (Littleton, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 10/3/1998)
River Radamus (Edwards, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 2/12/1998)
Ben Ritchie (Waitsfield, VT; Green Mountain Valley School; 9/5/2000)
Jett Seymour (Steamboat, Colo.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club/University of Denver Ski Team; 11/5/1998)
George Steffey (Lyme, N.H.; Stratton Mountain School; 8/8/1997)
Luke Winters (Gresham, Ore.; Sugar Bowl Academy; 4/2/1997)

Women
Keely Cashman (Strawberry, Calif.; Squaw Valley Ski Team; 4/4/1999)
Alice McKennis (New Castle, Colo.; Sunlight Winter Sports Club/Rowmark Ski Academy; 8/18/1989)
Alice Merryweather (Hingham, Mass.; Attitash Race Team/Stratton Mountain School; 10/5/1996)
Paula Moltzan (Prior Lake, Minn.; Buck Hill Ski Team/Ski and Snowboard Club Vail; 4/7/1994)
Nina O’Brien (Edwards, Colo.; Burke Mountain Academy/Squaw Valley Ski Team; 11/29/1997)
Jacqueline Wiles (Aurora, Ore.; White Pass Ski Club; 7/13/1992)

C TEAM
Men
Cooper Cornelius (Glenwood Springs, Colo.; Aspen Valley Ski Club; 6/20/1999)
Isaiah Nelson (Wayzata, MN.; Buck Hill Ski Racing Club; 4/3/2001)

Women
Katie Hensien (Redmond, Wash.; Rowmark Ski Academy; 12/1/1999)
AJ Hurt (Carnelian Bay, Calif.; Squaw Valley Ski Team; 12/5/2000)
Nicola Rountree-Williams (Edwards, Colo.; Loveland Ski Area; 7/7/2002)
Zoe Zimmermann (Gilford, N.H.; Burke Mountain Academy; 5/16/2002)

DEVELOPMENT TEAM
Men
Jacob Dilling (Vail, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail, 10/19/1999)
Kellen Kinsella (Edwards, Colo.; Dartmouth College and Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 8/7/2001)
Trent Pennington (Shalimar, Fla.; Ski and Snowboard Club Vail; 5/8/2002)*
Jack Smith (Sun Valley, Idaho; Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation; 4/24/2001)
Bradshaw Underhill (Newbury, N.H.; Killington Mountain School; 3/10/2000)*

Women
Lauren Macuga (Park City, Utah; Park City Ski & Snowboard; 7/4/2002)
Ainsley Proffit (St. Louis, MO; Sugar Bowl Ski Team & Academy; 3/21/2001)
Allie Resnick (Vail, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 9/1/2001)*
Emma Resnick (Vail, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 7/23/2003)
Alix Wilkinson (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.; Squaw Valley Ski Team; 8/2/2000)
Isabella Wright (Salt Lake City, UT; Snowbird Sports Education Foundation; 2/10/1997)*

*Newly named to the U.S. Ski Team

2020-21 ALPINE STAFF
Alpine Director: Jesse Hunt
Alpine Development Director: Chip Knight
Alpine Communications Manager: Megan Harrod
Alpine World Cup Medical Coordinator: Gillian Bower
Alpine Europa Cup Medical Coordinator: David Quammen

MEN
Team Manager: Gwynn Watkins
Athletic Development Coordinator: Michael Bingaman

Men’s World Cup Speed
Head Coach: Randy Pelkey
Assistant Coach: Urban Planinsek
Assistant Coaches: Scott Veenis/Chris Beckmann
Assistant Coach/Strength and Conditioning Coach: Ben Black
Physiotherapist: Ben Scheu

Men’s World Cup Technical
Head Coach: Forest Carey
Assistant Coach: Ian Garner
Assistant Coach/Strength and Conditioning Coach: Will Courtney
Slalom Coach: Ryan Wilson

Men’s Europa Cup
Head Coach: Matt Underhill
Assistant Coach: Max Lamb
Ski Service: Tristan McInnis
Ski Service: Jay Vestich

Men’s Development
Head Coach: Sasha Rearick
Assistant Coach: Nathan Bryant
Ski Service: Josh Benge

WOMEN
Head Coach: Paul Kristofic
Team Manager: Colleen Jamieson
Athletic Development Coordinator: Bob Poehling

Women’s World Cup Speed
World Cup Speed Head Coach: Alex Hoedlmoser
Assistant Coach: Karin Harjo
Assistant Coach: Daniel Dejori
Physiotherapist: Torey Anderson

Women’s World Cup Technical/Speed
Mikaela Shiffrin
Head Coach: Mike Day
Coach/Strength and Conditioning Coach: Jeff Lackie
Physiotherapist: Nick Franssen

Women’s World Cup Technical
Head Coach: Magnus Andersson

Women’s Europa Cup Technical
Head Coach: Casey Puckett
Assistant Coach: Katie Twible

Women’s Development
Head Coach: Marjan Cernigoj
Assistant Coach: Ali Spencer

Follow the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team:
Instagram: @usskiteam
Facebook: @usskiandsnowboard
Twitter: @usskiteam

OFFICIAL LAND ROVER U.S. ALPINE SKI TEAM PARTNERS AND SUPPLIERS

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

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Twenty-three pro-level and 15 rookie freeskiers are ready to take on a season that will look different from years past. Ski fans and athletes across the world are ready for snow and the return to competition. The U.S. Freeski Team is prepared to give the people what they want as they take on the world’s best with an all-star roster. 

In an unfamiliar world, there will still be familiar faces such as Olympic medalists David Wise, Alex Ferreira, Brita Sigourney, Nick Goepper, Devin Logan, as well as 2020 X Games medalists Alex Hall, Colby Stevenson, and Maggie Voisin. With a hungry group of rookies that continue to push their boundaries, the team dynamic is as strong as ever. 

Although training opportunities were challenging to come by due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there was tremendous success in running training camps at official training sites of Timberline Lodge and Ski Area, Ore., The Stomping Grounds Park in Saas Fee, Switzerland, and Copper Mountain, Colo. this off-season. With last season cut short, these opportunities were critical to get athletes on snow and comfortable ahead of entering the competition environment. 

“Our teams are super grateful to have so much solid skiing under our belts from Timberline this summer as well as October on the glaciers in Europe,” said U.S. Freeski and Snowboard Head Coach Mike Jankowski. “We will be starting the competition season off next week back in Stubai, Austria and could not be more excited to get it going. With this being a World Championship season and having the opportunity to compete at the Olympic venues in China, it adds another layer of stoke across the team.”

The U.S. Freeski Team will kick off their season in Stubai, Austria, Nov. 20-21 with the FIS World Cup slopestyle competition. From there, both the slopestyle and halfpipe teams plan to make their way to Copper Mountain, Colo. for training as well as the first domestic World Cup of the season. The 2020-21 Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix is expected to celebrate its 25th anniversary with halfpipe athletes set to compete from Dec. 16-19 at Copper Mountain, Colo. pending local and state approvals. The second annual Visa Big Air presented by Land Rover is also planned for Copper Mountain from Dec.17-19, pending local and state approvals.

From Feb. 3-6, the Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix is set to return to Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, Calif. and the famed Unbound Terrain Parks for slopestyle and halfpipe competition, pending local and state approvals. It’s only fitting that on it’s 25th anniversary, there is something special about the grand prix series. The Grand Prix at Mammoth will serve as the first U.S. Freeski Olympic Tryout Event and provides a pathway towards qualifying for the 2022 U.S. Olympic Freeski Team. 

“We are incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to host events on home soil this season,” said U.S. Freeski and Snowboard Director Jeremy Forster. “We are thankful to our Grand Prix host resorts, Copper Mountain and Mammoth Mountain, for their dedication and commitment in working with numerous stakeholders as we continue to navigate this landscape.”

The U.S. Freeski Team will also head to Zhangjiakou, China Feb. 18-28 for the 2021 FIS Freestyle, Freeski, and Snowboard World Championships. Athletes will have the chance to compete at the site of the 2022 Beijing Winter Games as the pinnacle event of the season. At the 2019 edition of the FIS Freestyle, Freeski, and Snowboard World Championships held in U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s home state of Utah, Aaron Blunck claimed his second consecutive halfpipe title, alumnas Julia Krass earned silver in big air, as well as Nick Goepper and Brita Sigourney taking bronze in slopestyle and halfpipe respectively. 

NBC’s new streaming platform, Peacock Premium, will live stream the 2020-21 FIS Freeski World Cup this season. NBC, NBCSN, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA and NBC Sports’ digital platforms will also air World Cup coverage all season. Freeski broadcast and streaming listings, including the Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix and Visa Big Air, will be available throughout the season at USSkiandSnowboard.org.
 

2020-21 U.S. Freeski Team 
(Hometown; Club; USASA Series; Birthdate)

HALFPIPE
PRO TEAM
Men

• Aaron Blunck (Crested Butte, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Rocky Mountain Series; 4/12/96)
• Alex Ferreira (Aspen, Colo.; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club; Aspen/Snowmass Series; 8/14/94)
• Birk Irving (Winter Park, Colo.; Winter Park Freeride Team; Rocky Mountain Series; 7/26/99)
• David Wise (Reno, Nev.; 6/30/90)
• Lyman Currier (Boulder, Colo.; Winter Park Freeski Team; Rocky Mountain Series; 8/28/94)
• Hunter Hess (Bend, Ore.; Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation; Central Oregon Series; 10/01/98)
• Taylor Seaton (Avon, Colo.; 7/16/90)
• Jaxin Hoerter (Breckenridge, Colo.; Rocky Mountain Series; 7/17/00)
• Cassidy Jarrell (Aspen, Colo.; Rocky Mountain Series; 8/31/99)

Women

• Brita Sigourney (Carmel, Calif.; Intermountain Series; 1/17/90)
• Devin Logan (West Dover, Vt.; Mount Snow Academy; Southern Vermont Series; 2/17/93)
• Annalisa Drew (Andover, Mass.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Southwest Colorado Series; 5/28/93)
• Carly Margulies (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.; Mammoth Mountain Freeski Team; Unbound Series; 12/24/97)
• Abigale Hansen (June Lake, Calif.; Mammoth Mountain Freeski Team; Unbound Series; 5/26/98)

ROOKIE TEAM
Men

• Hunter Carey (Winter Park, Colo.; Winter Park Competition Center; Rocky Mountain Series; 6/12/02
• Connor Ladd (Lakewood, Colo.; Rocky Mountain Series; 9/26/03)
• Dylan Ladd (Lakewood, Colo.; Winter Park Competition Center; Rocky Mountain Series; 8/29/01)
• Sammy Schuiling (Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Rocky Mountain Series; 7/16/00)

Women

• Svea Irving (Winter Park, Colo.; Winter Park Freeride Team; Rocky Mountain Series; 2/27/02)
• Hanna Faulhaber (Carbondale, Colo.; Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club; Rocky Mountain Series; 9/04/04)
• Riley Jacobs (Oak Creek, Colo.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; Rocky Mountain Series; 8/14/03)

SLOPESTYLE / BIG AIR
PRO TEAM
Men

• Alex Hall (Salt Lake City, Utah; Park City Ski and Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 9/21/98)
• Mac Forehand (Winhall, Vt.; Stratton Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 8/4/01)
• Colby Stevenson (Park City, Utah; Park City Ski and Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 10/3/97)
• Nick Goepper (Lawrenceburg, Ind.; Park City Ski and Snowboard; Rocky Mountain Series; 3/14/94)
• Willie Borm (Chaska, Minn.; Midwest Freeskiing Association; 5/21/97)
• Cody LaPlante (Truckee, Calif.; Squaw Valley Freestyle and Freeride Team; North Tahoe Series; 2/15/02)

Women

• Maggie Voisin (Whitefish, Mont.; Park City Ski and Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 12/14/98)
• Caroline Claire (Manchester Center, Vt.; Stratton Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 2/2/00)
• Darian Stevens (Missoula, Mont.; Missoula Freestyle Ski Team; 10/29/96)

ROOKIE TEAM
Men

• Hunter Henderson (Madbury, N.H..; Waterville Valley BBTS; New Hampshire Series; 12/28/02)
• Richard Thomas (Orono, Minn.; Park City Ski and Snowboard; Upper Midwest Snow; 8/16/01)
• Troy Podmilsak (Park City, Utah; Park City Ski and Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 8/23/04)

Women

• Rell Harwood (Park City, Utah; Park City Ski and Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 6/1/01)
• Marin Hamill (Park City, Utah; Park City Ski and Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 4/5/01)
• Grace Henderson (Madbury, N.H.; Waterville Valley BBTS; New Hampshire Series; 4/28/01)
• Bella Bacon (Ellicottville, N.Y.; Agenda Freeski; Western New York Series; 1/29/04)
• Jenna Riccomini (Port Matilda, Penn.; Team Summit Colorado; Rocky Mountain Series; 3/12/04)

2020-21 Snowboard & Freeski Staff

• Snowboard & Freeski Director: Jeremy Forster
• Halfpipe, Slopestyle & Big Air Head Coach: Mike Jankowski
• Halfpipe, Slopestyle & Big Air Team Manager: Jess Tamez
• Snowboardcross Team Manager: Alexis Williams
• Snowboard & Freeski Team Communications Manager: Andrew Gauthier
• Snowboard & Freeski Sports Development Senior Manager: Ashley Deibold
• Snowboard, Freeski, and Freestyle Sports Development Coordinator: Elise Saarela

High Performance Staff

• Senior Sports Psychologist, USOC: Alex Cohen
• Freeski Halfpipe Team Physical Therapist: Jill Radzinski
• Freeski Slopestyle and Big Air Team Physical Therapist: Sara Chavez
• Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air Athletic Trainer: Ben Quigley
• Snowboard Halfpipe Team Physical Therapist: Emilie Whittemore
• Snowboardcross Athletic Development Manager: Tschana Schiller
• Snowboard and Freeski Athletic Development Coach: Matthew Voss
• Aerials and Freeski Athletic Development Coach: Houston Deck

Freeski

• Slopestyle Pro Team Head Coach: Skogen Sprang
• Slopestyle Pro Team Coach: Dave Euler (Park City Ski & Snowboard)
• Slopestyle Technician: Tanner Keim
• Halfpipe National Development Team Coach: Ryan Carey (Mammoth Mountain)
• Slopestyle/Big Air National Development Team Coach: Ryan Wyble (Park City Ski & Snowboard)
• Halfpipe Pro Team Head Coach: Mike Riddle 
• Halfpipe Pro Team Coach: Jeremie Livingston (Winter Park Competition Center)
• Halfpipe Pro Team Technician: Dave Coombs
• Videographer: Richard Mangum

OFFICIAL U.S. FREESKI SUPPLIERS

FOLLOW THE U.S. FREESKI TEAM
Instagram - @usfreeskiteam
Facebook - @usskiandsnowboard
Twitter - @usskiteam

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

The world has changed dramatically since the beginning of the 2019-20 winter competition season. However, one thing has remained the same - the unwavering dedication and skill that U.S. riders are prepared to bring to 2020-21 FIS World Cup and elite-level slopestyle, big air, halfpipe, and snowboardcross competition. The U.S. Snowboard Team will field 32 pro-level and 16 rookie and development level riders.

This season will have no shortage of excitement as the U.S. Snowboard Team’s Olympic gold medalists get ready to drop in. Chloe Kim will make her return to the halfpipe competition circuit after a year studying at Princeton University, Red Gerard will take his first steps towards 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games qualification, and veteran Jamie Anderson will set out to continue her timeless and undeniable dominance of the sport. 

Although training opportunities were challenging to come by due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, there was tremendous success in running camps at official training sites of Timberline Lodge and Ski Area, Ore., The Stomping Grounds Park in Saas Fee, Switzerland, and Copper Mountain, Colo. this off-season.

The U.S. Snowboard Team is planning to kick off their season on home turf at Copper Mountain, Colo. with men’s and women’s World Cup competition. The 2020-21 Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix is expected to celebrate its 25th anniversary with halfpipe athletes set to compete from Dec. 16-19 at Copper Mountain, Colo. pending local and state approvals. The second annual Visa Big Air presented by Land Rover is also planned for Copper Mountain from Dec.17-19, pending local and state approvals.

From Feb. 3-6, the Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix is set to return to Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, Calif. and the famed Unbound Terrain Parks for slopestyle and halfpipe competition, pending local and state approvals. It’s only fitting that on it’s 25th anniversary, there is something special about the grand prix series. The Grand Prix at Mammoth will serve as the first U.S. Snowboard Olympic Tryout Event and provides a pathway towards qualifying for the 2022 U.S. Olympic Snowboard Team. 

“While the World Snowboard Points List plays a significant role within our 2022 snowboard Olympic selection criteria, designated tryout events in 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons will be a pathway to U.S. Olympic Team qualification,” said U.S. Snowboard & Freeski Director Jeremy Forster. “The 2021 Mammoth Grand Prix is the sole tryout event for the upcoming season and will serve as a great kick-off to the U.S. Olympic Team selection process.

While the U.S. Freeski and Snowboard Teams will spend some time competing stateside, the U.S. Snowboardcross Team will spend the bulk of their season in Europe competing in seven World Cups across six countries. Snowboardcross athletes will join the park and pipe crew in Zhangjiakou, China, the site of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games for the 2021 FIS Freestyle, Freeski, and Snowboard World Championships Feb 18-28. Expectations will be high in China with Mick Dierdorff defending his individual title from the 2019 FIS World Championships as well as his team-mixed snowboardcross title earned alongside teammate and six-time world champion Lindsey Jacobellis. 

“We weren’t able to get the training block we had hoped for in the southern hemisphere this summer, but we ended up getting some really high quality training in Saas Fee, Switzerland during our September and October block, said U.S. Snowboardcross Team Head Coach Peter Foley. “it feels great to have that in the books and to have the athletes riding at a really good level already  in November. We are looking forward to making the trip to China for Worlds. We really want to get familiar with the Olympic course and the whole scene of competing in China.” 

NBC’s new streaming platform, Peacock Premium, will live stream the 2020-21 FIS Snowboard World Cup this season. NBC, NBCSN, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA and NBC Sports’ digital platforms will also air World Cup coverage all season. Snowboard broadcast and streaming listings, including the Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix and Visa Big Air, will be available throughout the season at USSkiandSnowboard.org.
 

2020-21 U.S. Snowboard Team
(Hometown; Club; USASA Series; Birthdate)

HALFPIPE
PRO TEAM
Men

• Chase Josey (Hailey, Idaho; Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation; Big Mountain West Series; 3/31/95)
• Toby Miller (Mammoth Lakes, Calif; Tahoe Select Snowboard Team; North Tahoe Series; 2/14/00)
• Taylor Gold (Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; Rocky Mountain Series; 11/17/93)
• Chase Blackwell (Longmont, Colo.; Jim Smith Club; Rocky Mountain Series; 2/27/99)
• Joey Okesson (Southbury, Conn.; Okemo Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 8/23/02)

Women

• Chloe Kim (Torrance, Calif.; Mammoth Mountain Snowboard Team; Unbound Series; 4/23/00)
• Maddie Mastro (Wrightwood, Calif.; Mammoth Mountain Snowboard Team; Unbound Series; 2/22/00)
• Arielle Gold (Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; Rocky Mountain Series; 5/4/96)
• Sonora Alba (San Pedro, Calif.; Mammoth Mountain Snowboard Team; Unbound Series; 7/16/06)

ROOKIE
Men

• Jack Coyne (Edwards, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Rocky Mountain Series; 01/17/02)
• Jason Wolle (Winter Park, Colo.; Jim Smith Club; Rocky Mountain Series; 11/30/99)
• Lucas Foster (Telluride, Colo.; Telluride Ski and Snowboard Club; Rocky Mountain Series; 9/17/99)
• Fynn Bullock-Womble (Mebane, N.C.; BK Pro; Rocky Mountain Series; 2/3/05)

Women

• Tessa Maud (Carlsbad, Calif.; Mammoth Mountain Snowboard Team; Unbound Series; 10/10/03)
• Alexandria Simsovits (Calabasas, Calif.; Mammoth Mountain Snowboard Team; Unbound Series; 9/30/04)

SLOPESTYLE / BIG AIR
PRO TEAM
Men

• Red Gerard (Silverthorne, Colo.; Rocky Mountain Series; 6/29/00)
• Chris Corning (Silverthorne, Colo.; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club; Rocky Mountain Series; 9/7/99)
• Dusty Henricksen (Mammoth Lakes, Calif; Mammoth Mountain Snowboard Team; Unbound Series; 2/2/03)
• Kyle Mack (West Bloomfield, Mich.; Great Lakes Snow Series; 9/6/97)
• Judd Henkes (La Jolla, Calif.; Mammoth Mountain Snowboard Team; Unbound Series; 4/3/01)
• Brock Crouch (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.; Mammoth Mountain Snowboard Team; Unbound Series; 8/22/99)
• Luke Winkelmann (Blowing Rock, N.C.; Kirk’s Camp; Rocky Mountain Series: 12/18/00)
• Lyon Farrell (Haiku, Hawaii; Rocky Mountain Series; 11/22/98)
• Sean FitzSimons (Hood River, Ore.; Mount Bachelor Sports Education Foundation; Central Oregon Series; 9/22/00)

Women

• Jamie Anderson (S. Lake Tahoe, Calif.; South Tahoe Series; 9/13/90)
• Julia Marino (Westport, Conn.; Southern Vermont Series; 9/11/97)
• Hailey Langland (San Clemente, Calif.; Tahoe Select Snowboard Team; Tahoe Series; 8/2/00)
• Ty Schnorrbusch (Monroe Township, N.J.; Tru Snowboarding, Rocky Mountain Series 5/15/02)

ROOKIE
Men

• Jake Canter (Evergreen, Colo.; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club; Aspen Snowmass Series; 7/19/03)
• Fynn Bullock-Womble (Mebane, N.C.; BK Pro; Rocky Mountain Series; 2/3/05)
• Liam Johnson (Savage, Minn.; G Team; Upper Midwest Snow Series; 11/26/04)

Women

• Courtney Rummel (West Bend, Wisc.; Midwest Best Series; 11/12/03)
• Jade Thurgood (Salt Lake City, Utah; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 1/27/02)
• Addie Gardner (Riegelsville, Penn.; Auburn Ski Club; Maine Mountain Series; 2/19/02)
• Isabella Gomez (Issaquah, Wash.; Auburn Ski Club; Inland Northwest Series; 9/11/01)

SNOWBOARDCROSS
Men

• Mick Dierdorff (Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; Rocky Mountain Series; 4/30/91)
• Jake Vedder (Pinckney, Mich.; International Snowboard Training Center; Rocky Mountain Series; 4/16/98)
• Nick Baumgartner (Iron River, Mich.; Superior Series; 12/17/81)
• Alex Deibold (Manchester, Vt.; Stratton Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 5/8/86)
• Hagen Kearney (Norwood, Colo.; International Snowboard Training Center; Rocky Mountain Series; 11/6/91)
• Senna Leith (Vail, Colo.; International Snowboard Training Center; Rocky Mountain Series; 4/8/97)
• Mikey LaCroix (Shrewsbury, Mass.; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Maine Mountain Series; 7/12/98)

Women

• Lindsey Jacobellis (Stratton Mountain, Vt.; Stratton Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 8/19/85)
• Faye Gulini (Salt Lake City, Utah; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Rocky Mountain Series; 3/24/92)
• Rosie Mancari (Anchorage, Alaska; Steamboat Spring Winter Sports Club; Big Alaska Series; 1/22/94)

DEVELOPMENT GROUP
Women

• Meghan Tierney (Eagle, Colo.; Board Stars Race Team; Rocky Mountain Series; 1/15/97)
• Livia Molodyh (Hubbard, Ore.; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Mt. Hood Series; 6/30/99)
• Stacy Gaskill (Golden, Colo.; Winter Park Snowboard Team; Rocky Mountain Series; 5/21/00)
• Anna Miller (Orem, Utah; International Snowboard Training Center; Rocky Mountain Series; 7/16/1996)

2020-21 Snowboard & Freeski Staff

• Snowboard & Freeski Director: Jeremy Forster
• Halfpipe, Slopestyle & Big Air Head Coach: Mike Jankowski
• Halfpipe, Slopestyle & Big Air Team Manager: Jess Tamez
• Snowboardcross Team Manager: Alexis Williams
• Snowboard & Freeski Team Communications Manager: Andrew Gauthier
• Snowboard & Freeski Sports Development Senior Manager: Ashley Deibold
• Snowboard, Freeski, and Freestyle Sports Development Coordinator: Elise Saarela

High Performance Staff

• Senior Sports Psychologist, USOC: Alex Cohen
• Freeski Halfpipe Team Athletic Trainer: Jill Radzinski
• Freeski Slopestyle and Big Air Team Physical Therapist: Sara Chavez
• Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air Athletic Trainer: Ben Quigley
• Snowboard Halfpipe Team Physical Therapist: Emilie Whittemore
• Snowboardcross Athletic Development Manager: Tschana Schiller
• Snowboard and Freeski Athletic Development Coach: Matthew Voss
• Aerials and Freeski Athletic Development Coach: Houston Deck

Snowboard

• Halfpipe, Slopestyle & Big Air Head Coach: Mike Jankowski
• Slopestyle/Big Air Pro Team Head Coach: Mike Ramirez (Mammoth Mountain Snowboard Team)
• Slopestyle/Big Air Pro Team Head Coach: Dave Reynolds (Mt Bachelor Sports Education Foundation Snowboard Team)
• Slopestyle Wax Tech: Bryan Taylor
• Halfpipe Pro Team Head Coach: Rick Bower
• Halfpipe Team Coach: Rick Shimpeno
• Halfpipe Team Coach: JJ Thomas
• Halfpipe Wax Tech: Parker Rockwood
• Snowboardcross Head Coach: Peter Foley
• Snowboardcross Coach: Rob Fagan

OFFICIAL U.S. SNOWBOARD SUPPLIERS

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