Racing for the Open Class riders wrapped up on Tuesday at the USASA National Snowboard Championships at Copper Mountain Resort with slalom competition taking to the perfectly prepared Copperopolis slope, where 2019 U.S. World Championships Team members Abby Champagne (Park City, Utah) won her first career National Championships title, and Robbert Burns (Mount Shasta, Calif.) made it two-for-two after taking the giant slalom win on Monday. 

“It was a really good day,” said Champagne after receiving her gold medal. “The course was really nice today, a little bit easier but still with a lot of terrain. I was pretty tired after competing in the giant slalom yesterday and racing today in the big final was tough. But it was just like, ‘Ok, two more runs…’ And Lexi (Alexa Bullis) gave me a serious run for first in the final; I think I just beat her by a very small fraction of a second. I’m very happy though. I’ve been to almost every Nationals since I was 16 and I’m 33 now, and this is my first win. It’s awesome.

“I think every athlete has their competition that they go to but they can never really get the result that they want and Nationals has been like that for me, so for me to finally push past that here feels great.”

The slalom silver medal went to 19-year-old Alexa Bullis (Slinger, Wis.) in an extremely tight battle with Champagne, while Dana Albers of the Netherlands rounded out the podium with her second-straight bronze medal performance.

Over on the men’s side, Burns proved once again his mastery of the Copper Mountain venue, as the 28-year-old who races out of Steamboat Springs, Colo., kept the momentum from his giant slalom victory on Monday rolling right into Tuesday’s race where he once again claimed top spot. 

“I was hanging around to celebrate with all these beautiful people, but I’ve gotta go back to work tonight. 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 tomorrow morning…not really looking forward to it,” smiled Burns, who works as a nighttime security guard to fund his riding, “But, to win double-gold here at Nationals this year, a lot of things had to go right. There was a little bit of a smaller group this year, a few less athletes, but that almost makes it so people think maybe I should win. But in our sport, anybody can win it on any given day. So when I get in the start gate against Everett (McEwan) or one of these young kids who are gunning hard, I look at it like, I’ve got my head out there and they’re just ready to take it off. It’s a different sort of intimidating.

“To win both titles this year, it’s really special,” he continued. “I’ve had a lot of people reach out, and that’s a testament to the overwhelming support from this community. My heart’s full and I can’t wait to be back at the USASA’s and do it again next year."

Incredibly, Burns’ double gold performance at this year’s National Championships almost didn’t happen, after a crash last week resulted his goggles smashing into his face and opening up a deep cut near his eye. 

“I actually called Zippy (Neil) last week and told her I wasn’t going to be racing this week,” Burns explained, “But a bunch of people were like, ‘Hey, the snow’s really good at Copper right now. Just go out there and feel the snow,’ so I said ‘Ok’ and on Sunday I took some runs with my team and thought, ‘Ok, my head feels good, my eye doesn’t hurt, let’s do this.’ It’s weird how it all works. I wasn’t even planning on racing, but I turned it around and I did race and it’s just been a wonderful experience here, like always.”

Runner up to Burns on Tuesday was Canada’s Jacob Farber, who did one better than his bronze medal performance in the giant slalom on Monday to score Tuesday’s silver, while 46-year-old Everett McEwan (Morrison, Colo.) earned his first Nationals podium with a bronze medal finish. 13-year-old Veda Hallen (South Lake Tahoe, Calif.) of the South Tahoe series pulled off one of the most impressive feats see so far at the 2019 USASA National Championships on Tuesday, winning the Breaker girls silver medal in slopestyle competition to add to her halfpipe bronze and rail jam gold from Monday, completing the full set of Nationals hardware in just two days of competition.

RESULTS
Men's snowboard parallel slalom open class
Women's snowboard parallel slalom open class

U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced today the addition of Ski & Snowboard Club Vail (SSCV) as the newest member of its High Performance Center (HPC) Partnership Program. The HPC program was initiated in 2017 to share knowledge, systems and processes of athlete development between ski and snowboard clubs and U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s High Performance Department.

The program encourages certified Gold and Silver Clubs, who have excellence in athletic development, sports science, and sports medicine, to become a designated High Performance Center with U.S. Ski & Snowboard to maintain strong and robust talent pathways that can consistently identify and develop world-class athletes.

“The High Performance Center partnership program is critical to our success in developing our future athletes and we are delighted to have Ski & Snowboard Club Vail officially on board,” said Troy Taylor, Director of High Performance for U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “This is something really special and Vail, along with our other elite partnerships and High Performance Centers, will play a key role in our athlete development strategies and the effectiveness of a shared, collaborative system for years to come.”

Ski & Snowboard Club Vail has a long and storied history of developing champions and mentors more than 650 young athletes who participate in its on-snow programs across five disciplines: alpine, freeski, moguls, Nordic and snowboard. In 2019, SSCV also announced the launch of a full-time cycling program for dedicated, year-round competitive mountain bikers. 

SSCV’s Minturn Fitness Center (MFC) opened its doors in 2014 as the first club-run facility to provide full human performance and medical services to its athletes. The 9,000-square-foot facility has been training SSCV and U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes, as well as the general public, for the past five years, developing a reputation as an industry leader in the area of human performance.

The MFC requires its staff to have and maintain the highest standard of education, including all of the following certifications: National Strength and Conditioning Association, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists, Certified Personal Trainers, and EXOS/XPS Performance Specialists. The MFC is also a club leader in developing programs using periodization and a 12-month collaboration with on-hill staff.

This new HPC designation will further ensure SSCV is able to provide world-class services to its athletes, coaches and clients.

“We are overwhelmed by this accolade from U.S. Ski & Snowboard, which recognizes SSCV’s expertise and dedication to the health and performance of its athletes,” said John Cole, Ski & Snowboard Club Vail’s Director of Human Performance. “As we continue to innovate our training and periodization systems, we will look forward to our new partnerships and collaborations, not only with the Center of Excellence in Park City, but also our fellow High Performance Centers throughout the U.S.”

“It’s an honor to officially partner with U.S. Ski & Snowboard,” said Jimmy Pritchard, Ski & Snowboard Club Vail’s Director of Strength and Conditioning. “We are thrilled to further support the athletes with highest level of service and expand our educational relationships with the staff.”

Ski and Snowboard Club Vail’s commitment to athlete development culminates annually during Mountain-Con, a sport performance conference geared specifically for the mountain sport athlete professional that provides access to information from the most highly-acclaimed sport performance professionals in the industries of physiology, strength and conditioning, performance psychology, nutrition and altitude/sea level performance. Participants of Mountain-Con may use their attendance as continuing education credits with U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s coaching certification program.

For more information about U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s High Performance Partnership Program, please contact Tom Webb, Director of Marketing and Communications at tom.webb@usskiandsnowboard.org.

###

About Ski and Snowboard Club Vail
Founded in 1962, Ski & Snowboard Club Vail (SSCV) is the Vail Valley’s oldest nonprofit. Today, the club remains true to its roots by instilling the values of “character, courage and commitment” through mentorship of more than 650 young athletes who participate in its on-snow programs. The organization provides training and competition services for aspiring snow-sport athletes across five snowsport disciplines: alpine, freeski, moguls, Nordic, and snowboard. A U.S. Ski & Snowboard Gold Certified Club, SSCV has received numerous accolades form the national governing body, including Club of the Year (2010, 2014), Alpine Club of the Year (1999, 2010, 2014-16), Cross Country Club of the Year (2013), Freeski Club of the Year (2013-14), Freestyle Club of the Year (2014), and Snowboard Club of the Year (2014). Over the years, SSCV has helped cultivate numerous champions. Three Olympic gold medalists — Lindsey Vonn, Mikaela Shiffrin, and Kaitlyn Farrington — all booted up at the SSCV clubhouse during their formative years, as did X Games gold medalist Aaron Blunck, world champion Chris Del Bosco, and Olympic bronze medalist Toby Dawson.

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 2019, 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.

Day two of competition at the 2019 USASA National Snowboard Championships at Copper Mountain Resort dawned sunny and cold, and despite the occasional wind gust, it was perfect for another full day of competition.

Monday’s competition line-up was highlighted by giant slalom racing in the Open Class group, where two long-time USASA competitors earned their first Nationals titles, as U.S. Snowboard Team Alumnus Lynn Ott (Bend. Ore.) and Robbert Burns (Mount Shasta, Calif.) were both able to achieve a goal they had been chasing through more than a dozen Nationals showings by taking the 2019 PGS gold medals. Ott and Burns both represented the 2019 U.S. FIS World Championships Team back in February where Burns made finals, but could not find the podium.

At 51-years-old, Ott is a force both on and off the slope, proving that age ain’t nothing but a number with her performance on Monday, while also working tirelessly behind the scenes supporting the future of alpine snowboarding. 

“The Nationals have always been amazing, but it’s always been my little nemesis,” a clearly hyped Ott said just after awards, “No matter what I would do, I would either make a mistake or do something crazy and blow it for myself. But this year I was able to keep it together the entire time and I pulled it off and won the race. Winning today, it was just like…thank god, finally! Perseverance definitely pays off!”

“I’m amazed at how many kids are out here on race boards, I wish I could talk to every single one of them,” Ott went on when asked to describe what she’s hoping to accomplish with her work off the slope, “It’s just proof for anyone who’s like, ‘Oh, alpine snowboarding is dying,’ well, look at all these kids. There’s way too many kids riding alpine boards and loving every minute of it for alpine to be dying.”

Second place and the silver in the ladies’ Open group went to the USA’s current top World Cup rider Abby Champagne (Park City, Utah), while the Netherlands’ Dana Albers made her trip across the pond worthwhile with a third-place finish.

Meanwhile, on the men’s side of things, a rider with even more National Championships starts than Ott finally scored his first win, as Burns earned top honors and the gold medal with a determined performance on the day.

“It’s a little bit like a dream,” Burns smiled, “I’ve been coming to USASA Nationals for 14 years now and this is the first time I’ve made it on to the top step and took first place, so it’s amazing. I had some of my best friends at the top of the course supporting me, and my family still here supporting me 14 years on…it’s awesome. 

“There’s definitely an element of self-efficacy in my win today. That’s something that we try and instill in every kid that comes through USASA, is that belief in yourself that you can accomplish whatever you set out to. No matter where you’re at in your progression you always have the opportunity to win, and that’s maybe the funnest part about it.”

When asked to reflect upon what the USASA has meant to him throughout his snowboard career, 28-year-old Burns was unequivocal in his response.

“USASA has truly been a blessing in my life. It’s been so much fun to be a part of it ever since I was a kid. The reason this community is so great is because it’s built upon families from all across the United States. Those families make up the volunteers, they make up the coaches, they make up the directors, and when we come out to nationals we get to see that family in action. It’s built on family and the most important thing is fun, and that’s the future of our sport. Together we’re a force, and it’s just been growing. I think Chuck would be proud.”

Taking the men’s PGS silver medal was 21-year-old Dylan Udolf (West Hartford, Conn.), while third place went to Canada’s Jacob Farber. 

RESULTS
 

U.S. Snowboard Pro Team member Julia Marino (Westport, Conn.) finished off her competition season with her second consecutive victory, and first slopestyle win, in the El Tarter Snowpark at the 15th edition Total Fight Masters in Grandvalira, Andorra, Saturday.

“Total Fight was an awesome event,” said Marino. “The conditions were great with warm and sunny weather every day and everyone looked like they were having a great time. It was the perfect end to my competition season and I’m stoked I got the win.”

Marino has had a successful season collecting podiums at four different events, including second-place in slopestyle at Dew Tour in Breckenridge, Colo., second-place in slopestyle at the Burton U.S. Open at Vail, Colo., and just before the win in Andorra, first place at the Quebec City, Canada, World Cup. Overall, Julia’s first slopestyle win at the event in Andorra capped off what was a successful season of competition.

Yuka Fujimori of Japan finished second, and Brooke Voigt of Canada closed out the podium in third place.

For the men, U.S. Snowboard Team members, Lyon Farrell (Haiku, Hawaii), Luke Winkelmann (Blowing Rock, N.C.) and Judd Henkes (La Jolla, Calif.) finished in fourth, fifth and sixth respectively. Switzerland’s Michael Schaerer won the event, Canada’s superstar Mark McMorris finished second, and Bendik Gjerdalen of Norway finished in third.

Competition will continue at Total Fight as El Tarter Snowpark transforms into the epicenter of the world’s best freeskiers April 4-6 as athletes take to the course in Grandvalira. Returning champion and U.S. Freeski Pro Team member McRae Williams (Park City, Utah) will be looking to defend his title against an elite crew of the world’s best freeskiers. Tune in live Saturday on Facebook Grandvalira to catch all the action.

RESULTS
Men’s snowboard slopestyle
1. Michael Schaerer (Switzerland)
2. Mark McMorris (Canada)
3. Bendik Gjerdalen (Norway)

Women’s snowboard slopestyle
1. Julia Marino (USA)
2. Yuka Fujimori (Japan)
3. Brooke Voigt (Canada)

VIDEO
Julia Marino’s winning run
Snowboard highlights
Full snowboard finals replay

HOW TO WATCH
Live stream available on Facebook

FREESKI
Saturday, April 6.
6:00 a.m. - Men’s and women’s slopestyle - Total Fight Masters - Grandvalira, Andorra - Facebook

SNOWBOARD
Men's and women's slopestyle - full replay
 

The first day of competition at the 30th anniversary of the USASA National Snowboard Championships went down on Sunday at Copper Mountain Resort, where a typically jam-packed day of riding saw action across all six Nationals venues.

The top-tier Open riders highlighted the day over on the boardercross course, where a strong field duked it out on the tricky Copper track and Anna Miller (Orem, Utah) and U.S. Snowboardcross Development Team member Cole Johnson (Reno, Nev.) took top honors in the respective women’s and men’s fields. 

Last season’s third-overall rider on the Nor-Am circuit, 22-year-old Miller came into competition in Copper fresh off her first full season on the World Cup tour, and on Sunday her rise to the upper echelon of the SBX world was on full display as she put on a dominant performance. 

By the middle of the course in Sunday’s big finals, Miller had opened up a lead of nearly a second over her competitors, and was able to cruise home through the course’s bottom section to claim victory in her first time competing at the Open level in her National Championships career.

“It was awesome out there today,” said Rocky Mountain Series rider Miller at the awards ceremony, “I thought the conditions were really nice and the course was running a little bit smoother than it has been. Getting a good start was important, but if not there was a little room to make some passes down at the bottom. 

“I’ve been doing USASA Nationals since I was 12 years old. I think this is probably my eighth time coming here. Being here and being in this environment I get all this nostalgia, seeing all the young kids like I once was, coming up. It’s really awesome to win here today.”

Second place for the women went to Yoshi Kohlwes (Mill Valley, Calif.), while Katie Wilson (Mchenry, Ill.) rounded out the podium in third, with Felicia Turcotte (Park City, Utah) was the odd-rider-out in fourth place. Meanwhile, seventh place on the day went to a well-known but unexpected name, as halfpipe rider par excellence Arielle Gold (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) dropped in on her first ever SBX event and showed that she just might have a future in head-to-head racing if she ever gets tired of the pipe life.

Over on the men’s side it was South Tahoe Series representative Johnson taking the win in what was hotly-contested race that featured a handful of World Cup regulars and a long list of top Nor-Am riders.

The Nor-Am overall SBX winner back in the 2015/16 season and a nine-time Nor-Am race winner, Johnson was able to put down the top time in the seeding run before hitting the finals, where he used strong starts and aggressive lines on the snaking Copper track to lead every heat on his way to the big final.

In the big final he faced his toughest challenge of the day from Paul Kamisky (Davis, Calif.), as the two were neck-and-neck though much of the final run, but eventually Johnson was able to pull away and take the win.

“Awesome riders out here today and I think we had a great day,” smiled Johnson, “I was able to put down a fast time in seeding and then fortunately I was able to get out front in all my heats. Things definitely got a little tighter in the semifinal and finals, but fortunately I was able to keep it on my feet and get across the line out front in the finals.

“I’ve been competing at USASA Nationals since I was 12, so it’s always special to come back here and see all the kids out here having fun. Hopefully I can help keep them stoked.”

Kaminsky held on for second place on the day, while Matthew Mostoller (Johnstown, Penn.) claimed third, and U.S. Snowboardcross Pro Team memberJonathan Cheever (Saugus, Mass.), a regular on the World Cup team, would have to settle for fourth place after crashing in his big final run. 

RESULTS
 

The 2019 USASA National Snowboard Championships are set to take to the slopes of Colorado’s Copper Mountain Resort this weekend to begin five jam-packed days of competition, as well over 1000 of the nation’s best amateur riders have gathered to square off in halfpipe, slopestyle, slalom, giant slalom, snowboard cross, and rail jam competitions.

While the USASA National Championships already holds the distinction as the largest such snow-sports event in the world, the 2019 iteration of the event is made extra special by the fact that this season we celebrate 30 years as an organization. And, with the USASA’s dedication to growing snowboarding at a grassroots level by facilitating competitions, fostering a community amongst our members, and helping to build the next generation of leaders and champions, the next 30 years are looking bright. 

In fact, when you look back through the USASA alumni ranks, you’ll find that since the 2006 season every single rider who has gone on to represent the USA in Olympic competition cut their teeth at some point on the USASA level, which goes to highlight just how successful the USASA has been over the past 30 years in helping to teach and aid the next generation of riders.

When you break down this year’s Championships by the numbers, the size and scope of what the event has become over the past 30 years is truly incredible.

Of the USASA’s 5000+ members spread across our 32 regional series, close to 1400 of the top riders from across the country have qualified to compete in Copper. Those riders are divided into age groups from the 7-and-under Ruggies all the way up to Methuselah 60+ category, as well as the top-tier “Open” class, the adaptive and specially abled categories, and all the other age brackets in between, with all groups featuring competitions for both women and men.

There is truly a staggering amount of snowboarding to be done in Copper this week, and excitement on and around the hill is only growing stronger. The six main venues here on site at Copper will play host to over 150 competitions over the coming days, as the 30 different age and ability groups square off for the 450 medals up for grabs. And, in the evenings, a further 24 medals are set to be decided over the course of four evenings’ rail jam events.

This will be the 12th-straight season that Copper has hosted the USASA National Championships, and with an agreement in place to continue hosting the event through to at least 2022, the Championships are in excellent hands in a good home for the foreseeable future.
 

The U.S. Freeski Team concluded the 2018/19 FIS Freeski World Cup season in SIlvaplana, Switzerland on a very creative slopestyle course Saturday at Snowpark Corvatsch as Colby Stevenson (Park City, Utah) earned a spot on the podium finishing second and Mac Forehand (Winhall, Vt.) took home the Crystal Globe.

U.S. Rookie Team member and 2019 FIS World Cup Slopestyle Champion Forehand finished 12th and put the cherry on top of what was a breakthrough season for the young freeskier.

“It feels crazy,” said Forehand. “I didn’t think I would have a chance to podium this year, nevermind take home the Crystal Globe at the end of the season. I want to thank all the guys back home at SMS (Stratton Mountain School) and U.S. Ski & Snowboard for supporting me all year long. The Silvaplana World Cup may be the best slopestyle competition that’s ever gone down in my opinion. The course was amazing, the weather was amazing, and I’m hyped with how everything worked out.

Forehand kicked off the season by earning the 2018 Junior World Championship title in big air at Cardrona, New Zealand in August and carried that momentum into the season. Forehand continued his impressive performance into November where he earned his first-ever World Cup podium with a second-place finish in Stubai, Austria. Furthermore, only a few weeks ago, he earned his first-ever World Cup victory at the Mammoth Mountain, California, World Cup.

"I’m so excited, I can’t believe it,” Stevenson said of his second-place finish. “I kept telling myself that this just wasn’t my year as I just haven’t been able to land a run in finals at any other competitions. Maybe because of the weather, maybe because my head game wasn’t there, but this week we have had perfect weather and everyone is skiing at their highest ability. I think just being part of the energy here in Silvaplana contributed to my success. Coming into the competition I just wanted to land my run for me, I didn’t care if I podiumed or won. It was one of the craziest runs I have ever thought of or attempted to do, so to put it together is a blessing. The fact my dad and stepmom are here makes this experience extra special.”

Swiss freeskier Andri Ragettli topped the podium in Silvaplana, followed by Stevenson in second, and Fabian Boesch of Switzerland closing out the podium in third. For the women, Megan Oldham of Canada won the event, Tess Ledeux of France finished second, and Silvia Bertagna of Italy finished third. U.S. Freeski Pro Team member Caroline Claire (Manchester Center, Vt.) finished in a respectable seventh.

The future of the American slopestyle freeskiing is undeniably strong. U.S. Freeski Team members Alex Hall (Salt Lake City, Utah), Stevenson, Forehand, and American Kiernan Fagan are all 21 years old or younger and all finished in the top 10 of the slopestyle World Cup standings. For the women, U.S. Freeski Team members Eileen Gu (San Francisco, Calif.) finished in third, Julia Krass (Hanover, N.H.) seventh, and Caroline Claire (Manchester Center, Vt. finished in eighth completing a great season for U.S. freeskiers.

RESULTS
Men’s freeski slopestyle
Women’s freeski slopestyle

WORLD CUP STANDINGS
Men’s freeski slopestyle
Women’s freeski slopestyle

Live streaming will bring all the action from this week’s U.S. Ski & Snowboard SuperTour Finals and L.L.Bean U.S. Cross Country Championships to fans around the world. CXC TV will produce live streaming coverage available exclusively from U.S. Ski & Snowboard in partnership with Central Cross Country Skiing Friday, March 29 through Tuesday, April 2.

The live stream will be available on the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team Facebook channel and the SuperTour Finals page on USSkiandSnowboarg.org.

The event will bring together top athletes from U.S. Ski & Snowboard clubs around the country, vying for titles in the season-long SuperTour as well as national championship medals in both long distance events and relays. Among the field will be top World Cup athletes skiing for their home clubs.

CXC TV has been producing live streaming of all major cross country ski events in America for the few seasons to help grow exposure for the sport, including the U.S. Super Tour, and Junior World Championships. U.S. Ski & Snowboard is providing free coverage of the entire U.S. Ski & Snowboard Super Tour series for the second-straight season.

Action begins Friday, March 29 with freestyle sprints, then shifting to classic distance mass start racing on Saturday, March 30. Sunday, March 31 will be a highlight event with relays as clubs vie for national titles. Medals will be on the line again in long-distance U.S. Championships mass start freestyle Tuesday, April 2 to wrap up the season.

SuperTour and L.L.Bean U.S. Cross Country Championship
Live Streaming Schedule
(all times EDT and subject to change)

Friday, March 29
10:00 a.m. - Women’s freestyle sprint qualifying
10:15 p.m. - Men’s freestyle sprint qualifying
11:30 a.m. - Junior men’s freestyle sprint
12:00 p.m. - Men’s and women’s freestyle sprint finals
12:55 p.m. - Junior women’s freestyle sprint

Saturday, March 30, 2019
10:00 a.m. - Men’s 15k classic mass start
11:45 a.m. - Women’s 10k classic mass start

Sunday, March 31, 2019
10:00 a.m. - Mixed gender/technique relay

Tuesday, April 2, 2019
9:00 a.m. - Women’s 30k/junior women’s 20k freestyle mass start
11:15 a.m. - Men’s 50k/junior men’s 30k freestyle mass start

U.S. Ski & Snowboard has nominated a strong team of young athletes to compete at the 2019 FIS Freestyle and Snowboard Junior World Championships competing this week across four different international venues. The U.S. will be sending 36 snowboarders and 30 skiers to fight for their chance at taking home the coveted Marc Hodler Trophy - awarded to the best overall nation throughout the series.

"We are proud to send a very talented team of athletes to Sweden and Slovenia to compete in the Junior World Championships where we will be vying for the Marc Holder Trophy for the second year running in snowboarding,” said Halfpipe, Slopestyle, Big Air, and Parallel Giant Slalom Sport Development Leader Ashley Deibold. “In addition, the athletes will be competing to secure a personal World Cup spot for the 2019-20 season."

The Freestyle and Snowboard Junior World Championships competition began Jan. 26 in Leysin, Switzerland with the halfpipe program. The second round of Junior World Championships competition continues with snowboardcross and skicross in Reiteralm, Austria, March 28-April 2. Next, alpine snowboarders will hit the gates April 2-4 in Rogla, Slovenia, and slopestyle/big air athletes will compete April 7-13 in Klappen, Sweden. Meanwhile, the aerials and moguls athletes are set to compete April 4-6 at Chiesa in Valmalenco, Italy, which has hosted Junior Worlds events five times since 2012.

“The talent exhibited at the junior level from the aerials, moguls, ski and snowboardcross disciplines is very promising,” said Moguls, Aerials, Skicross and Snowboardcross Sport Development Manager Katie Fieguth. “We’re excited to send such a robust group of athletes to compete at these events in Junior Worlds.”

“It’s an incredible opportunity for me to compete with the world's best juniors,” said aerialist Kaila Kuhn (Boyne City, Mich.), “As an athlete, it means the world to me to be competing with such an amazing group of people. I hope this competition will not only bring experience but a spot on the podium!”

The U.S. Snowboard Junior World Championship Team claimed the Marc Hodler Trophy at the 2018 Junior World Championships in Cardrona, New Zealand, but the U.S. freeskiers fell just short behind Russia. With a strong U.S. contingent of young snowboard and freestyle athletes heading to Europe, the 2019 U.S. Snowboard and Freestyle Junior World Championships Team will be looking to close the season on a strong note.

“It’s an honor to represent U.S. Ski & Snowboard in Sweden at the Junior World Championships,” said U.S. Snowboard Rookie Team member Jade Thurgood (Salt Lake City, Utah). “It has been a progressive season for me and to wrap it up with a chance to help the team win the Marc Hodler Trophy means a lot. The Junior World Championships are an important event in my season and I hope I can make it to the podium.”

2019 U.S. SNOWBOARD & FREESTYLE JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM
(Hometown, Club, USASA Series, Birth Year)

SNOWBOARD
Slopestyle/Big Air
Men

• Jake Canter (Evergreen, Colo.; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club; Aspen Snowmass Series; 7/19/03)
• Dusty Henricksen (Mammoth Lakes, Calif; Mammoth Mountain Snowboard Team; Unbound Series; 2/2/03)
• Eli McDermott (Wells, Vt.; Maine Mountain Series; 4/23/2002)
• Will Healy (Riverside, Conn.; Kirk’s Camp; Southern Vermont Series; 3/11/2002)
• TJ Fitzgerald (West Dover, Vt.; Stratton Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 9/14/2001)
• Alex Atno (Lavallette, N.J.; Kirk’s Camp; Southern Vermont Series; 1/14/2001)

Women

• Addison Gardner (Riegelsville, Penn.; Maine Mountain Series; 2/19/2002)
• Courtney Rummel (West Bend, Wisc.; Wisconsin Advanced Ski and Snowboard Program; Midwest Best Series; 11/12/03)
• Jade Thurgood (Salt Lake City, Utah; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 1/27/02)
• Isabella Gomez (Issaquah, Wash.; Stevens Pass Alpine Club; Inland Northwest Series; 9/11/2001)
• Ty Schnorrbusch (Monroe Township, N.J.; Tom Anderson, Rocky Mountain Series; 1/27/02)
• Ellie Duchow (Breckenridge, Colo.; Rocky Mountain Series; 2/15/2002)

Snowboardcross
Men

• Kurt Hoshino (Huntington Beach, Calif.; International Snowboard Training Center; Rocky Mountain Series; 2/20/2001)
• Zachary Stewart (Cape Elizabeth, Maine; Carrabassett Valley Academy; Maine Mountain Series; 2/10/2001)
• Michael Martin (Freeman Township, Maine; Carrabassett Valley Academy; Maine Mountain Series, 3/9/2000)
• Theodore McLemore (Pittsburgh, Penn.; Carrabassett Valley Academy, Maine Mountain Series; 12/30/2002)
• Liam Maguire (Bethel, Maine; Maine Mountain Series; 8/2/2000)
• Benjamin Smith (Shrewsbury, Mass.; Killington Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 8/3/2002)

Women

• Emma Downing (Carrabassett Valley, Maine; Carrabassett Valley Academy; Maine Mountain Series; 7/19/2001)
• Olivia Shively (Jeffersonville, Vt.; Westminster College Snowboard Team; Northern Vermont Series; 2/20/1999)
• Madeline Lochte-Bono (Durango, Colo.; international Snowboard Training Center; Southwest Colorado Series; 1/7/2003)
• Montana Braden (Gypsum, Colo.; Ski and Snowboard Club Vail; Rocky Mountain Series; 11/26/2000)
• Payton Bacca (Ketchum, Idaho; Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation; Big Mountain West Series; 7/12/2001)
• Helen French (Cumberland, Maine; Gould Academy Competition Programs; Maine Mountain Series; 6/3/2001)

Parallel Slalom & Parallel Giant Slalom
Men

• Mika Kizuka (Sinking Spring, Penn.; Ski Roundtop Racing Club; Mid Atlantic Series; 1/22/2002)
• Nate True (Hampstead, N.H.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; Rocky Mountain Series; 11/12/2000)
• William Taylor (Wayzata, Minn.; G Team; Upper Midwest Snow Series; 4/12/2001)
• Cody Winters (Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 4/20/2000)
• Jacob McCarthy (Edina, Minn.; G Team; Upper Midwest Snow Series; 12/27/2000)
• Winston Vaughan (Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 8/23/2001)
• Tate DePaepe (Eden Prairie, Minn.; G Team; Upper Midwest Snow Series; 5/20/2002)

Women

• Lily Janousek (Greenwood, Minn.; G Team; Upper Midwest Snow Series; 7/24/2003)
• Rose Bransford (Minneapolis, Minn.; G Team; Upper Midwest Snow Series; 12/8/2002)
• Olivia Bellek (Whitehouse Station, N.J.; Catskill Mountain Series; 5/16/2001)
• Iris Pflum (Minneapolis, Minn.; G Team; Upper Midwest Snow Series; 7/13/2003)
• Kaiya Kizuka (Sinking Spring, Penn.; Ski Roundtop Racing Club; Mid Atlantic Series; 5/26/1999)

FREESTYLE
Slopestyle/Big Air
Men

• Kiernan Fagan (Brownfield, Maine; Wy’East Mountain Academy; Rocky Mountain Series; 1/18/2002)
• Deven Fagan (Brownfield, Maine; Wy’East Mountain Academy; Rocky Mountain Series; 1/18/2002)
• Hunter Henderson (Madbury, N.H..; Waterville Valley BBTS; New Hampshire Series; 12/28/2002)
• Troy Podmilsak (Park City, Utah; Park City Ski and Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 8/23/2004)
• Rodney Koford (Ogden, Utah; Park City Ski and Snowboard; 5/11/2001)
• Zane Severson (Park City, Utah; Park City Ski and Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 3/25/2002)

Women

• Rell Harwood (Park City, Utah; Park City Ski and Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 6/1/01)
• Grace Henderson (Madbury, N.H.; Waterville Valley BBTS; New Hampshire Series; 4/28/01)
• Montana Osinski (Fairfield, Conn.; Stratton Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 4/1/2003)

Skicross
Men

• Noah Giron (Carson City, Nev.; North Tahoe Series; 9/11/1999)
• Eli Derrick (Harrisburg, Va.; Carrabassett Valley Academy; Maine Mountain Series; 7/29/2002)
• Stuart Whittier (Cape Elizabeth, Maine; Carrabassett Valley Academy; Maine Mountain Series; 2/10/2001)
• Aidan Steffe (Hummelstown, Penn.; Blue Mountain Race Team; Mid Atlantic Series; 7/28/2002)
• Jake Roney (Laurel Springs, N.J.; Adirondack Series; 7/27/1999)

Moguls
Men

• Kalman Heims (Westborough, Mass.; Killington Mountain School; 4/10/00)
• Ian Beauregard (Wilmington, Mass.; Killington Mountain School; 5/12/99)
• Alex Lewis (Carlisle, Mass.; Killington Mountain School; 11/16/99)
• Landon Wendler (Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 10/12/00)

Women

• Sabrina Cass (Cheshire, Conn.; Wasatch Freestyle Foundation; 3/27/02)
• Kai Owens (Vail, Colo.; Ski and Snowboard Club Vail; 8/16/04)
• Madison Hogg (Park City, Utah; Wasatch Freestyle Foundation; 2/15/01)
• Kasey Hogg (Park City, Utah; Wasatch Freestyle Foundation; 1/8/03)

Aerials
Men

• Quinn Dehlinger (Cincinnati, Ohio; Elite Aerial Development Program; 6/8/02)
• Derek Krueger (Cincinnati, Ohio; Elite Aerial Development Program; 6/2/03)
• Cole Kozlowski (Knoxville, Tenn.; Elite Aerial Development Program; 2/5/02)
• Evan Dermott (Hingham, Mass.; Elite Aerial Development Program; 2/19/04)

Women

• Kaila Kuhn (Boyne City, Mich.; Park City Ski and Snowboard; 4/8/03)
• Megan Smallhouse (Reno, Nev.; Park City Ski and Snowboard; 1/16/01)
• Tasia Tanner (Park City, Utah; Park City Ski and Snowboard; 7/26/02)
• Dani Loeb (Montgomery, Ala.; Park City Ski and Snowboard; 8/10/01)

Snowboard Marc Hodler Trophy Standings:
Leysin, Switzerland: HP - Jan. 26 - Complete
Reiteralm, Austria: SBX - April 1-2
Rogla, Slovenia: PGS, PSL - April 2-4
Klappen, Sweden: SS, BA - April 8-13

Freestyle Marc Hodler Trophy Standings:
Leysin, Switzerland: HP - Jan. 26 - Complete
Reiteralm, Austria: SX - March 28
Valmalenco, Italy: MO, AE - April 4-6
Klappen, Sweden: SS, BA - April 7-13

Since women’s cross country skiing was added to the Olympic Winter Games in 1952, a passionate group of 50 American women have been named to Olympic teams since the U.S. began fielding teams in 1972. Those women have come together under the banner of U.S. Nordic Olympic Women (US NOW) to begin recognizing the stars of today with a new award. The Inga Award draws on noted cross country skiing heritage dating back to the 13th century.

The Inga Award is named in honor of Inga Varteig, the legendary mother of the Norwegian child prince Haakon IV who was carried to safety on cross country skis by Birkebeiner soldiers, known for their birch bark leggings, during a civil war in the winter of 1205-06. The first Inga Award was presented to Rosie Brennan (Park City, Utah/Alaska Pacific University Nordic Center) during the FIS World Cup Finals in Quebec City to close out the 2019 season. Brennan was honored during a reunion of women’s Olympians.

Brennan had a career-best season coming back from a bout with mononucleosis that wreaked havoc with her a year earlier. She was a unanimous selection, being cited for her diligent and patient efforts working back from illness, showing courage, fortitude, grit, determination and raw talent to achieve an extremely high level of success on the international ski racing circuit this season.

“This is extremely special to me,” said an emotional Brennan. “This group is incredibly accomplished and has been through so much.To be recognized by them is incredibly meaningful to me - it means much more than any race result could mean.”

What’s really cool is starting a plan to get this group together and recognizing the great history we have in women’s skiing. A lot of it has been this perseverance spirit. Marty Hall came up with this idea of the Inga Award and presented it to Alison a year ago. We thought this should be a revolving tradition.

“As we thought about performances this year we right away honed in on Rosie,” said recently-retired Olympic champion Kikkan Randall (Anchorage). “Rosie bounced back from frustration last year - having to change the way she came into the season not being on the national team, having to find support. “She really came through with some fantastic performances. That really embodies the Inga Award.”

The legend of the Birkebeiners is well known across the sport of cross country skiing. The rescue of the child prince is re-created each year with the Birkebeiner Rennet between Lillehammer and Rena, Norway, and was the inspiration for American visionary Tony Wise when he started the American Birkebeiner in 1973.

Legend has it that the child prince was the son of Inga Varteig and King Haakon III, who died before the child’s birth. During a brutal civil war between Bagler and Birkebeiner factions for control of Norway, Inga showed the courage and grit to entrust her baby boy to a group of Birkebeiner soldiers and to ski along with them during a brutal winter from Lillehammer over the mountains to safety. He went on to become one of Norway’s most beloved kings.

The concept of the award came from Olympian Alison Owen Bradley, who won the very first FIS Cross Country World Cup in December, 1978. She presented a photograph of Inga from Varteig to U.S. Cross Country Ski Team coach Marty Hall to celebrate his induction into the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame in April, 2018.

“Marty played an enormous role in getting U.S. nordic women racing in international events and onto training programs that would make it possible to compete with the best women in the world,” said Bradley. “The Inga Award represents the spirit and grit that our coach instilled in us.”Hall was the U.S. head coach in the mid-70s, playing a significant role in the birth of the FIS World Cup and increased prominence for U.S. women on the international circuit.

Hall, his wife Kathy and Bradley established the basis of an award to continue honoring U.S. Nordic Olympic Women with the presentation of an Inga photograph, and monetary gift, each year. “Alison and the entire group of U.S. nordic women in the 70s were inspirational,” said Hall. “This award will be a great way to bring together generations of skiers who keep that spirit alive.”

Owen Bradley, a native of Wenatchee, Wash., made history winning a FIS World Cup in December, 1978 at the Telemark Ski Area in northern Wisconsin. Kikkan Randall (Anchorage) opened new doors winning three season-long World Cup sprint titles. Randall combined with Jessie Diggins (Afton, Minn.) to win Olympic gold in 2018. In the past decade, the depth of the U.S. women’s program has expanded dramatically, with today’s female stars very cognizant of their nordic roots dating back to the 1970s.

“I think it’s so awesome that we can finally be able to more publicly recognize that women’s cross country skiing didn’t just pop up out of nowhere,” said Olympic champion Jessie Diggins (Afton, Minn.). “All of these women paved the way for us. Their hard work and perseverance are why we get to be here today. Rosie winning the Inga Award is so well deserved.”

Around 30 of the 50 Olympians attended the first reunion, where they watched current stars like Diggins and Sadie Bjornsen (Winthrop, Wash.). Leading into the 2018 Olympics, U.S. coach Matt Whitcomb organized a project where current team athletes reached out to those of the past to develop a sense of history. So for the current team, it was an opportunity to get face-to-face with their own heroes of the past.
 

U.S. NORDIC OLYMPIC WOMEN

Listing of all U.S. women who have competed in Olympic Winter Games

• Morgan Arritola, 2010, Bend, Ore./Ketchum, Ida., Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation
• Leslie Bancroft-Krichko, 1980, 1988, Paris, Maine, Oxford Hills High School/Univ. of Vermont
• Tessa Benoit, 2002, South Pomfret, Vt., Mansfield Nordic Club/Univ. of Vermont
• Sadie Bjornsen, 2014, 2018, Winthrop, Wash., Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center
• Rosie Brennan, 2018, Park City, Utah, Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center
• Barbara Britch, 1972, Anchorage, Nordic Ski Club of Anchorage
• Holly Brooks, 2010, 2014, Redmond, Wash., Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center
• Ingrid Butts, 1992, 1994, Denver, Crested Butte Nordic Council
• Sophie Caldwell, 2014, 2018, Peru, Vt., Stratton Mountain School
• Caitlin Compton Gregg, 2010, Duxbury, Vt.
• Dorcas DenHartog-Wonsavage, 1988, 1992, 1994, Hanover, N.H., Ford Sayre Ski Club
• Jessie Diggins, 2014, 2018, Afton, Minn., Stillwater High School/Stratton Mountain School
• Rebecca Dussault, 2006, Gunnison, Colo.
• Nancy Fiddler, 1988, 1992, Schenectady, N.Y., Bates College
• Sue Forbes, 1992, Fairbanks, Alaska
• Rosie Frankowski, 2018, Minneapolis, Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center
• Betsy Haines, 1980, Anchorage, Nordic Ski Club of Anchorage
• Twila Hinkle, 1976, Denver, Summit Nordic Ski Club
• Jana Hlavaty, 1976, Keystone, Colo.
• Trina Hosmer, 1972, Watertown, N.Y., Kongsberg Ski Club
• Kristina Joder, 2002, Springfield, Vt., Mansfield Nordic Club
• Barb Jones, 2002, Stillwater, Minn., St. Paul Central/Dartmouth College
• Nina Kemppel, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2002, Anchorage,  Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center
• Suzanne King, 1994, 1998, Bend, Ore.
• Sarah Konrad, 2006, Hanover, N.H., Dartmouth College
• Abby Larson, 2006, Saint Paul, Minn.
• Susan Long, 1984, Mountain Lakes, N.J., Stratton Mountain School/Middlebury College
• Margie Mahoney, 1972, 1976, Anchorage, Nordic Ski Club of Anchorage
• Laura McCabe, 1994, 1998, Bozeman, Montana
• Kelly Milligan, 1984, Livingston, Montana
• Alison Owen, 1972, 1980, Wenatchee, Wash.
• Caitlin Patterson, 2018, McCall, Ida., Univ. of Vermont / Craftsbury Green Racing Project
• Beth Paxson, 1980, Burlington, Vt.
• Aelin Peterson , 2002, Unalakleet, Alaska, Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks
• Karen Petty, 1994, 1998, Townshend, Vt.
• Terry Porter, 1976, Cambridge, Mass.
• Judy Rabinowitz, 1984, Fairbanks, Alaska, Harvard University
• Kikkan Randall, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, Anchorage, Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center
• Martha Rockwell, 1972, 1976, Putney, Vt., Putney Ski Club
• Patricia Ross, 1984, Middlebury, Vt., Univ. of New Hampshire
• Ida Sargent, 2014, 2018, Barton, Vt., Craftsbury Green
• Liz Stephen, 2010, 2014, 2018, East Montpelier, Vt., Burke Mountain Academy
• Leslie Thompson, 1988, 1992, 1994, Stowe, Vt., Stratton Mountain School/Dartmouth College
• Lynn von der Heide-Spencer-Galanes, 1976, 1980, 1984, Anchorage, Nordic Ski Club of Anchorage
• Wendy Wagner, 2002, 2006, Park City, Utah, Western State College
• Lindsey Weier, 2006, Saint Paul, Minn., Minneapolis Ski Club
• Brenda White, 1992, Burlington, Vt., Univ. of Vermont
• Lindsay Williams, 2006, Saint Paul, Minn., Northern Michigan University
• Laura Wilson, 1994, 1998, Montpelier, Vt., Sun Valley Ski Club/University of Vermont
• Betsy Youngman, 1988, 1992 , Cleveland, Ohio, Bowdoin College