U.S. Ski & Snowboard is saddened by the loss of Trevor Wagner—a visionary ski coach, technical delegate and cherished member of the alpine community—who passed away on April 22, 2025 after a private battle with an illness.​

Trevor hailed from Seattle, Washington, but grew up in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Whitefish, Montana. He raced for and graduated from Sierra Nevada College before taking on a coaching role with the Squaw Valley Ski Team. He then moved to the U.S. Ski Team in 1998, where he coached the Europa Cup tech team until 2002 and the World Cup team until 2005. 

In 2005, Trevor was named head coach for the women's slalom and giant slalom teams, recognized for revitalizing these disciplines and fostering a culture of excellence. His leadership was instrumental during the 2006 Olympics, where under his guidance, Julia Mancuso secured a gold medal in giant slalom. 

After leaving the national team, Trevor continued to influence the sport at the grassroots level at the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) as a U16 coach. Alongside his fiancée Glady Weidt, SVSEF’s assistant alpine director and U16 coach, he dedicated six seasons to mentoring young athletes, instilling in them the same passion and commitment that defined his own career. Even while facing health challenges, Trevor remained a steadfast presence on the hill.

Beyond coaching, Trevor continued as a technical advisor for U.S. Ski & Snowboard, building and shaping World Cup and NorAm venues around the country. His efforts were central to bringing the World Cup Finals to Sun Valley, marking the return of World Cup speed events to the region for the first time since the 2002 Winter Olympics. Collaborating with some of the greatest leaders in the sport, he helped design world-class downhill and super-G courses, leaving a lasting legacy for future competitions.​

Trevor's legacy is etched in the countless athletes he coached, the colleagues he inspired, and the vibrant ski racing community he helped cultivate. His passion and unwavering commitment have left an indelible mark on his colleagues, friends, family, athletes and the sport he loved.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Trevor’s memory to the SVSEF Alpine Development Fund at svsef.org/donate. Messages of condolence can be sent to 2741 Winterhaven Dr, Hailey, ID 83333.

The Stifel U.S. Ski Team’s alpine program had pivotal moments in the 2024-25 season that included historic highs, new venues and emerging stars. In total, the alpine team brought home 13 podiums and five wins across the men’s and women’s World Cup teams, including four World Championships medals. 

The season was strong, but was made even stronger by the historic 100th World Cup win for the most successful skier of all time, Mikaela Shiffrin. She notched her centennial win in Sestriere, Italy, after battling a severe injury she sustained earlier in the season at the Stifel Killington Cup. Shiffrin not only won her 100th World Cup, but she also achieved this milestone with teammate Paula Moltzan on the podium beside her. Shiffrin then went on to end her season with her 101st World Cup win at the Stifel Sun Valley Finals. 

Looking back through the winter, the breakout star was speed skier Lauren Macuga. Park City Native Macuga catapulted herself to a World Cup threat when she won the super G in St. Anton - the first U.S. woman to win a super G at this specific venue. Macuga did not stop there – not long after her first win, she claimed another World Cup podium in Kvitfjell, Norway, where she finished second in the downhill. 

This season’s marquee event was the World Championships, where the U.S. team showed up and dominated in nearly every event. With four medals being won by the women’s athletes, it was a strong testament to the depth of this team. It all started with Breezy Johnson becoming the 2025 World Champion in downhill, yet Johnson did not stop there. Just a few days later, Johnson and Shiffrin teamed up for the Team Combined event, where one athlete raced in the downhill event and one in the slalom. After two dominant runs by both, there was another World Championships gold medal to bring home - Johnson’s second and Shiffrin’s first of the week. The haul continued, with Macuga once again showing her best skiing, winning a bronze in the super-G, and Moltzan with a bronze in the giant slalom. 

Following the World Championships, the team kept the momentum going and continued to find success at nearly every subsequent World Cup event. Apart from the top tier of Shiffrin, Macuga, Moltzan and Johnson, it was a massive season with the return of speed queen, Lindsey Vonn. Vonn made her official World Cup return in St. Moritz in December and immediately took control of the circuit. Vonn completed her season, qualifying for the World Cup finals in super-G, where she landed her first podium since retirement in second place and became the oldest woman to ever podium in a World Cup event. Vonn’s comeback podium marked 2,565 days since her previous World Cup podium before her retirement. A storybook ending to her comeback season. 

The women also showed immense depth. On the tech team, Katie Hensien and Nina O’Brien posted great results after coming back from injury, with each athlete landing multiple top-10s in giant slalom. Young rising star Elisabeth Bocock also turned heads in giant slalom, scoring World Cup points numerous times and finishing the season as national champion as well. 

The men’s World Cup season presented highs and lows. The speed team started the year on a high note with two back-to-back podiums at their team's favorite venue in Val Gardena, Italy. Longtime Stifel U.S. Ski Team member Jared Goldberg claimed his first World Cup podium just 0.01 off the win in super-G and the following day, Ryan Cochran-Siegle landed third in the downhill, his first podium in over a year. 

On the men’s tech side, the slalom team was revived with the help of new staff, propelling slalom standout Benjamin Ritchie to the best results of his career. Ritchie made a name for himself in the 2024-25 season as he captured multiple top-10 finishes, finishing the slalom season within the top 20. Giant slalom force River Radamus had another consistent season, landing in the top 15 in the world for the discipline. 

On the development side, the Stifel U.S. Ski Team achieved strong results both at the NorAm level and secured multiple medals at the Junior World Championships. The development side was highlighted by Elisabeth Bocock, Liv Moritz, Stanley Buzek and Hunter Salani. All four of whom walked home with medals at the Junior World Championships. Moritz and Bocock also ended the season with the slalom and giant slalom NorAm Cup titles. 

In addition to the success on snow, U.S. Ski & Snowboard held two historic new domestic alpine events.  This included the first ever women’s Birds of Prey races in early December, then the World Cup season ended at the Stifel Sun Valley Finals - the first time the U.S. hosted finals since 2017 and the first time ever in Sun Valley. Both events were incredibly successful and proved to the world that the U.S. can continue to host top tier alpine events. 

Overall, it was a strong building year for the team across all levels. As they transition from the season to training, the athletes are gearing up to make their mark on the world for the upcoming Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. 

Two-time Olympian, World Cup winner and American ski racing legend Chuck Ferries passed away on April 17, 2025. 

Born in Houghton, Michigan in 1939, Ferries grew up in the Keewanaw Penninsula where he was introduced to skiing as a child. Racing under legendary coach Fred Lonsdorf out of the tiny Mt. Ripley Ski Area, Ferries climbed the ranks in the Central Ski Division before running away from home west—infamously jumping a train from Chicago to Sun Valley and then to Alta, Utah, where he worked at the Peruvian Lodge and took powder skiing lessons from Alf Engen. 

In 1958, he moved to Aspen, Colorado for his senior year of high school before heading to University of Denver, racing for a year under famed ski coach Willy Schaeffler. He was named to the U.S. Ski Team in 1960 under the leadership of former University of Colorado ski coach Bob Beattie, with whom he created a lifelong friendship—despite their difference in college choices. Ferries' teammates included former U.S. Ski & Snowboard CEO Bill Marolt, Buddy Werner, Gordi Eaton, Dave Gorsuch, Billy Kidd, Jimmie Heuga and other trailblazers of ski racing. 

Ferries' historic 1962 victory in the Hahnenkamm slalom in Kitzbühel—one of the most revered races in alpine skiing—marked a turning point for U.S. athletes on the world stage. He remains the only American man to win the Kitzbuhel slalom. He also competed in the 1960 Olympic Games at Squaw Valley, California and the 1964 Olympics in Innsburck, Austria, and was a member of the World Championships team in 1962 in Chamonix, France. He also appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1963. 

Ferries' contributions extended far beyond the race course. After retiring, he served as head coach of the U.S. Ski Team, coaching the women’s alpine team through the 1968 Olympic Games. He also worked for HEAD Skis, helping to develop a better ski that still has an impact on ski racing today. He then went to K2 Skis, developing skis for Marilyn Cochran, and in 1969, she became the first skier to win on an American-made ski. He eventually became the VP of marketing at K2 and is considered responsible for the creative marketing that launched K2 into prominence in the early 1970s, at one point capturing 25% of U.S. sales. He also owned Scott USA, Schwinn bikes and Chums throughout his career. 

In the mid-1990s, Ferries served alongside Beattie in hands-on management consulting roles with the U.S. Ski Association (now U.S. Ski & Snowboard), helping the organization through a difficult period. He was also chair of the organization’s Board of Directors from 2002-06. His strategic mind and deep love of the sport helped usher in new levels of professionalism and success for the teams.

Jimmie Heuga, Chuck Ferries and Bob Beattie (left to right) watch the Birds of Prey combined in 2006.

He was elected to the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame in 1989 and in 2007, received the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Blegen Award, the most prestigious honor for service to the organization. He was also inducted to the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame in 2008.

Chuck is survived by his wife Nancy Ferries, son Tom Ferries, his wife Ginger and their sons Spencer and Sully, daughter Ann Neary and her husband Mike Neary, as well as his sisters Mary Anne Metternick and Barbara Ferries Henderson.

The annual Stifel Awards were handed out to the nine recipients at the Toyota U.S. Alpine Championships presented by Stifel. The awards honor athletes and staff from the season ranging from best comeback to rookie of the year and staff member of the year. 

The Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team athletes voted on the categories through two rounds of voting and each winner received a $1,000 check - made possible by Stifel. 

“The recipients of this year's awards are well deserved. Whether it was an impressive comeback story or just a valued member of our team, it is a great way to cap off a successful and long season,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Chief of Sport Anouk Patty.

o Best Comeback (Men): Bridger Gile

Gile has been plagued with back problems for the last several years. This season, he was able to manage the pain and complete a full season, during which he scored his first World Cup points in giant slalom. 

o Best Comeback (Women): Breezy Johnson

Johnson has had a difficult past few seasons but overcame the challenges to capture golds in downhill and the team combined at the World Championships. Johnson then went on to capture another World Cup podium in Kvitfjell. 

o Most Improved (Men): Ben Ritchie

Ritchie has always shown promise in slalom, but this season he catapulted himself to new success. Ritchie scored multiple personal bests and ended the season in his best slalom rank to date, capping off the season with a new personal best at the Stifel Sun Valley Finals. 

o Most Improved (Women): Lauren Macuga

Macuga has had an incredible breakout season on the World Cup circuit, including a World Cup win and a World Championships medal. It was a huge improvement from the previous season when her best result was fifth place. 

o Rookie of the Year (Men): Stanley Buzek

Buzek consistently showed strength in slalom as a young rookie and this season was no different. Buzek helped lead the Junior Worlds team to two medals with his talent in the team parallel and team event. 

o Rookie of the Year (Women): Elisabeth Bocock

Bocock continued to impress this season on the World Cup tour, claiming personal bests and a top-10 World Cup result in giant slalom. 

o Athlete of the Year (Men): Ryan Cochran-Siegle

Cochran-Siegle is always a speed skier to watch. He continued his build this season with a strong start in Val Gardena where he garnered another podium result in downhill.

o Athlete of the Year (Women): Lauren Macuga

Macuga has had a laudable breakout season on the World Cup circuit, which included a World Cup win and a World Championships medal. 

o Staff Member of the Year: Zan Spilar

Spilar, the women’s tech World Cup coach, took on a huge load this season and did it with confidence and grace. His athletes and the alpine program appreciate Spilar and his efforts.