“I learned that I don’t enjoy winter if I don’t ski,” laughed DuPratt. “There’s not much to do.” 

Sam DuPratt, World Cup speed skier on the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team is ready to return to snow after  yet another road to recovery when he sustained a knee injury in the Bormio World Cup of last season. However, he is no stranger to a triumphant return, facing major injury setbacks in the past. 

“I made it healthy for 25 years of ski racing and then injuries have been piling on,” recalled DuPratt, now 30 years old, as he ran through his workout of the day at the USANA Center of Excellence powered by iFit. “I broke my legs three years ago and then I unfortunately tore my ACL in one of my early World Cups back last season, so here we are round two of rehab.”

The past five years have not been easy – to say the least – yet one theme remains abundantly clear with DuPratt, he does not intend to walk away from a challenge. 

THE BACKSTORY 

In 2020, DuPratt suffered an extreme injury while racing the Val Gardena, Italy downhill training run, breaking both of his legs. This resulted in countless hours of surgeries, repairs and rehab, and left him out of the start gate for two full seasons. 

The road to recovery was long, challenging and at times dark, but he fought his way back to good health and good shape. DuPratt skied the full NorAm circuit in the 2022-23 season, winning the super-G title and earning his spot back on the World Cup speed team. 

Fast forward to December 2023, his first World Cup back paradoxically took place in Val Gardena, where he injured himself years earlier. 

“It was pretty poetic to have my first World Cup back be in Gardena where I went down three years ago,” said DuPratt while racing in Val Gardena this past season. 

One training run…two training runs…and race day. He made it down unscathed with teammates in the finish ready to greet him. 

“The fear of crashing again is definitely something I thought about, but it happens and I just need to accept it and work on my skiing. I'm happy to be back,” commented DuPratt after his first official World Cup back on the circuit. 

DARK AND BUMPY BORMIO

After two solid races, it was onward to the next speed series in Bormio, Italy, a track famous for being dark, bumpy and difficult, and the host of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. Several skiers before DuPratt in the start order crashed, including the overall World Cup leader at the time, Austrian Marco Schwarz. 

“It's a scary track but it caters to the smaller guys and I was really excited and maybe overamped,” recalled DuPratt. 

DuPratt, running later in the field, had plenty of time to think about his run. He was confident and ready to go, however the race had other plans. 

“I crashed on the third gate, the first jump,” he said. “I guess I just wasn't ready for it and it kicked me funny.” 

The fall in Bormio led to a torn knee, which meant yet another round of rehab. 

“To be honest, I lost motivation after this injury. I thought this was going to be it,” said DuPratt. “I was ready to be done with the sport. It's taken a lot from me but also given me everything.” 

The choice to keep burning the ski racing flame or call it a day did not come easy. 

IT’S WORTH IT

One phrase that DuPratt keeps in mind is “it’s worth it,” three words that have become a defining anecdote in his career—so much so that his teammates have also grabbed hold of its weight. 

“This year in Bormio, I was sitting in the start hut with Sam,” said teammate River Radamus. “We were sitting up there watching helicopter after helicopter come waiting because all these kids keep getting injured. Then it's our turn, and the thing he says to me right before we go is that ‘it’s worth it.’ This was just before he crashed and sent himself on another recovery season.”

The mantra has also taken hold of Radamus, who recalled an emotional moment at the Stifel Palisades Tahoe Cup. 

“Flash forward to Palisades. I am in a position you dream about,” he said, referring to a stellar first run that put him in line for a podium finish. “To get to the start, you have to walk through a slew of people. So as I am snaking my way through the crowd, someone taps me on the shoulder and says, ‘It's worth it.’ I look back and it's Sam on crutches. I smile back, get on the lift crying and accept the moment and everything I put into this and all that is always on the line with the opportunity I have been given.”

Radamus went on to take his first career World Cup podium in Palisades that day with DuPratt cheering him on in the crowd.

A GOOD TEAM BEHIND HIM

Months later in the gym and just a few days from a return to snow camp in South America, DuPratt still has the fire of an American Downhiller dream in his eyes. 

“It’s a good group right now,” smiled DuPratt when speaking of the men’s speed team. “We actually travel with a Nintendo 64. It's something we are very proud of, and when I got hurt, Bryce Bennett told me he left it in Austria so I had to come back. And now that’s part of what motivates me through this workout.” 

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

Months of rehab later, DuPratt is ready now more than ever to ski again, taking the next step in his fight to accomplish his athlete pursuits. 

“I’m looking forward to taking it slow, spending two weeks with coach Ian Garner doing drills, free skiing and having fun. I think that will be good for me.”

For DuPratt, chasing down the dream will always be worth it. 

“It’s absolutely worth it. It seems like the more fun and intoxicating it is…the more it's worth it for your soul.” 

Stanley Buzek, of Silverthorne, CO is a young up-and-coming alpine tech skier on the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team. Before getting the call up to the National team, he spent years skiing and training with Team Summit. Buzek impressed the world in his first season with the national team when he earned a fifth-place result at the Junior World Championships slalom race, shooting up from bib 38. His result turned heads all around, including FIS, who featured him as their “Warrior of the Day.” Buzek also succeeded on the NorAm circuit this past season, earning a podium in the slalom discipline. 

We sat down to ask him about his background, most recent successes and goals for the coming seasons. 

Get to know Stanley! 

Q: What initially drew you to this sport?

STANLEY BUZEK: I started skiing when I was little because my parents loved skiing, so they would take me with them at a young age. I quickly grew to love it and have been skiing as much as possible ever since.

Q: What were your goals when you were younger and getting into the sport?

SB: When I was younger, my goal was to be on the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, so it is very exciting to be living that dream right now!

Q: What is your biggest accomplishment?

SB: I am most proud of my slalom result at the Junior World Championships last year when I achieved fifth place. That result gave me a lot of confidence for the rest of the season, and it helped me realize what I was capable of.

Q: What is your ultimate goal?

SB: My ultimate goal is to win the Overall FIS Slalom Crystal Globe.

Q: Can you describe a particularly emotional moment? 

SB: An emotional moment for me was getting fifth at the World Junior Championships in the slalom. That was one of the best runs I have ever had, and it was unreal sitting in the leader's chair at the bottom, watching people come down after me. 

Q: Who are your heroes?

SB: When I was younger, I looked up to Austrian legend Marcel Hirscher and loved watching his highlight videos. These days, I watch a lot of Clement Noel because we have a more similar build. However, I am super excited to watch Hirscher come back this year.

Follow Stanley on social media here. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Follow Allison on social media here.