With the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Season in full swing and heading to Levi, Finland this weekend, Outside TV is thrilled to release its original series, A Matter of Time, across their entire digital footprint, available November 20, 2019. The series is now streaming on the Outside TV app, Outside TV+, and OutsideTV.com.  

This seven-part documentary series chronicles the accomplishments of the most dominant alpine skier on the planet, Mikaela Shiffrin. From breaking onto the World Cup scene at the age of 15 to amassing three medals - including two golds - at the World Championships in Åre, Sweden in 2019, Mikaela quickly became the face of the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team and one of the top female athletes on the planet.

The series gives the audience a glimpse inside Mikaela's training over this summer in Colorado, as she reflects on last season’s shattering of the record books. While trying to prioritize her requirements to stay on top, Mikaela has learned to embrace her fame and obligations. Always radiating with authenticity and focus, she desires to be a role model to youth around the globe and help bring the sport of ski racing to new heights.

Stream A Matter of Time on outsidetv.com or head to watch.outsidetv.com to download on your favorite streaming device and find additional ways to watch Outside TV for FREE through your connected TV and streaming platforms.

See the A Matter of Time Microsite for details on all episodes and additional assets.

Release courtesy of Outside TV. 

VERNON, N.J. – Winter4Kids at the National Winter Activity Center, the nation’s first and only fully dedicated youth winter sports facility, announced today a partnership with U.S. Ski & Snowboard and the International Federation of Skiing (FIS) to host the first ever NorAm Cup parallel event in the United States. Taking place in Vernon, New Jersey at Winter4Kids, the NorAm Cup will offer a new format with head-to-head competition featuring some of the best alpine athletes in the world.

• U.S. Ski & Snowboard and its partner Winter4Kids have signed an agreement to host the NorAm Cup parallel event in Vernon, NJ on February 14, 2020.
• This partnership brings the competition to the NorAm Cup in the United States for the first time.
• The NorAm Cup will feature the parallel format twice this year with head-to-head competitions featuring some of the best alpine athletes in North America.
• This NorAm Cup event at Winter4Kids will feature more than 60 male and 60 female athletes competing for $75,000 – the largest prize offering yet.

The NorAm Cup strives to prepare athletes for the FIS Ski World Cup, and U.S. Ski & Snowboard is promoting this format at the grassroots level, in an effort to develop future World Cup parallel champions. The event features a head-to-head slalom with a knockout format each round. It is an exciting event for spectators and a unique opportunity from a broadcast standpoint, showcasing multiple world class athletes from North America. Winter4Kids is the nation’s only nonprofit dedicated winter activity program and facility for youth only, serving school age children of all economic backgrounds.

“Head-to-head parallel competition is an exciting event and we are thrilled to host with U.S. Ski and Snowboard to showcase the sport under the lights of our state-of-the-art facility,” stated Schone Malliet, Founder and CEO of Winter4Kids. “By hosting the NorAm Cup parallel event, we have been granted a unique opportunity to utilize our facility as an international stage for winter sports. In addition to introducing winter activities to children throughout the tri-state area, our goal is to bring top-notch competitive events to the NY Tri-State area and help grow the sport.”

“U.S. Ski and Snowboard is very excited to team up with Winter4Kids at the National Winter Activity Center to bring this Cup event to the NY Tri-State area,” stated Tiger Shaw, President and CEO at U.S. Ski and Snowboard. “It’s exciting to partner with a like-minded organization dedicated to increasing the visibility of our sport as we lead up to the 2022 Olympics in China.”

“I’m psyched to hear that Winter4Kids and the National Winter Activity Center will be hosting this NorAm parallel event,” said double Olympic champion Ted Ligety. “Winter4Kids’ mission is great, and accessibility to skiing is super important for the future health of the sport of alpine ski racing. The parallel format makes for an exciting spectator event, and the prize purse is an added bonus that should draw elite-level athletes and create some good, healthy competition.”

“This NorAm event sounds like so much fun!” exclaimed three-time Olympic medalist and three-time reigning World Cup overall champion Mikaela Shiffrin. “I’ll be competing on the World Cup tour in Europe, otherwise I’d for sure be there. It is vital that we find ways to make the sport more accessible, and the mission of Winter4Kids and the National Winter Activity Center is just what our sport needs in order to grow and thrive. On top of that, fans love the head-to-head atmosphere and that dual format will be showcased more and more in the coming years, so this should be a great event for both athletes and spectators!”

U.S. Ski & Snowboard has had a long relationship with the National Winter Activity Center and Winter4Kids since its first season in 2015.

We Are Winter4Kids!
Winter4Kids is a youth-focused, nonprofit organization that changes lives through winter activities. We provide mentor-based, experiential learning and encourage kids to have FUN while mastering Snowboarding, Nordic and Alpine skiing. Our programs deliver incremental physical activity and have been designed to inspire our participants and build confidence in an educational environment. Winter4Kids is located at the National Winter Activity Center in Vernon, NJ. This facility is totally dedicated to making unimaginable dreams inevitable opportunities for youth.  For more information about Winter4Kids, please visit www.winter4kids.org.

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 

On the tail-end of a long and productive week of on-hill training at the U.S. Ski Team Speed Center at Copper Mountain and off-hill responsibilities, including media and sponsor activities - featuring the Spyder uniforming unveiling, Team autograph signing, and more - the alpine team held their annual fundraiser in Vail, raising a record of nearly $200,000. 

Every year, athletes use this fall fundraiser as a means to raise funding to defray travel costs. Once again, Randy and Heather Viola and Chalie and Ariane Viola have generously hosted at Yama, providing sushi for the athletes and supporters. This year, there was a record crowd, filling the space with good energy and great conversation.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO, Tiger Shaw, thanked attendees for their support, followed by alpine athlete Thomas Biesemeyer, who took the lead from the athletes' side to organize the fundraiser. Thomas introduced teammates Olympian and Junior World Downhill Champion Alice Merryweather and local Vail Valley double Junior World Champion River Radamus, who each shared powerful storytelling about their careers with the crowd. 

Attendees were encouraged to give a donation, while those who were unable to physically attend had the option to donate online and/or bid on unique auction items, including double Olympic champion and five-time World Champion Mikaela Shiffrin's historic gold medal-winning Spyder slalom suit as well as two pairs of her signature Oakley goggles. Through donations and the silent auction, the Team had a record year, raising nearly $200,000. These gifts have a direct impact on our mission of supporting athletes in achieving excellence and becoming Best in the World. 

The Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team will finish up their final prep period camp at Copper Mountain, with tech athletes traveling to Levi, Finland for the FIS Ski World Cup slalom kickoff on Nov. 23-24 followed by Killington, Vt., while the speed teams put the final touches on their downhill and super-G skiing as they prepare for North American tour in Lake Louise, Canada and Beaver Creek, Colo. 

The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Foundation is the non-profit fundraising arm of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. To support our athletes on their quest to become the Best in the World, please click the donation button below. 

Donate today!

STAMFORD, Conn. – NBC Sports will showcase over 150 hours of 2019-20 FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup programming across NBC, NBCSN, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA, NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports app, OlympicChannel.com and the Olympic Channel app.

The season will kick off in 10 days in Levi, Finland, with the Women’s Slalom on Saturday, Nov. 23. Live coverage will air at 7 a.m. ET on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA, which will televise 100+ hours of FIS Alpine coverage this season, and will re-air later in the day at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

Additional FIS Alpine Skiing coverage will also be available on NBC Sports Gold’s “Snow Pass” and the Olympic Channel digital platforms. Among the events exclusive to NBC Sports Gold are the Giant Slalom and Slalom events in Lienz, Austria, on December 28-29, and the Hahnenkamm downhill race from Kitzbühel, Austria, on January 24. “Snow Pass” can be purchased here.

U.S. Olympic gold medalists Mikaela Shiffrin and Ted Ligety, as well as Steven Nyman, Travis Ganong, Bryce Bennett and Tommy Ford headline the U.S. Ski Team this season. Shiffrin, the three-time defending overall World Cup champion, returns to World Cup competition following a dominant performance last season in which she captured a record 17 victories, becoming the first skier to win the overall, super-G, giant slalom and slalom World Cup titles in a single season.

NBC Sports’ 2019-20 FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup schedule spans three continents and is highlighted by events in Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada (Nov. 30–Dec. 1, Dec. 6–8); Killington, Vermont (Nov. 30 – Dec. 1); Beaver Creek, Colorado (Dec. 6–8); Wengen, Switzerland (Jan. 17–19); and the concluding event of the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup season in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy (Feb. 17–22), which will also host the 2021 World Championships and 2026 Winter Olympics.

Over the course of the 2019-20 FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup season, a number of NBC Sports Olympics commentators will call the action including Dan Hicks, Steve Porino, Steve Schlanger, Cara Banks, and U.S. Ski & Snowboard alumnus and Olympic medalist Andrew Weibrecht.

STREAMING COVERAGE OF FIS ALPINE SKIING WORLD CUP
NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app — NBC Sports Group’s live streaming platforms for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs — will provide streaming coverage of the 2019-20 FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup events airing on NBC, NBCSN and Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA via “TV Everywhere,” giving consumers additional value for their subscription service, and making high quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms.

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app are powered by Playmaker Media and available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store, Apple TV and Amazon Fire.

All linear coverage on NBCSN will stream on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. All linear coverage on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA will stream on OlympicChannel.com and the Olympic Channel app, in addition to NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app.

***

Below is NBC Sports’ telecast schedule for the 2019-20 FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup season:
(All times EST)

11/23/19
7 a.m., Women’s Slalom – Levi, Finland, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
6 p.m., Women’s Slalom – Levi, Finland*, NBCSN

11/24/19
7 a.m., Men’s Slalom – Levi, Finland, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

11/30/19
9:40 a.m., Women’s Giant Slalom (Run 1) – HomeLight Killington Cup, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
12:30 p.m., Women’s Giant Slalom – HomeLight Killington Cup, NBCSN
2 p.m., Men’s Downhill – Lake Louise, Alberta, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
3:30 p.m., Women’s Giant Slalom – HomeLight Killington Cup*, NBC
5 p.m., Women’s Giant Slalom – HomeLight Killington Cup*, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
9 p.m., Men’s Downhill – Lake Louise, Alberta*, NBCSN

12/1/19
9:40 a.m., Women’s Slalom (Run 1) – HomeLight Killington Cup, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
12:30 p.m., Women’s Slalom – HomeLight Killington Cup, NBC
2 p.m., Men’s Super-G – Lake Louise, Alberta, NBC
5:30 p.m., Women’s Slalom – HomeLight Killington Cup*, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
7:30 p.m., Women’s Slalom – HomeLight Killington Cup*, NBCSN
10:30 p.m., Men’s Super-G – Lake Louise, Alberta*, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

12/6/19
12:30 p.m., Men’s Super-G – Xfinity Birds of Prey, NBCSN
2:30 p.m., Women’s Downhill – Lake Louise, Alberta, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
7:30 p.m, Men’s Super-G – Xfinity Birds of Prey*, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
11 p.m., Women’s Downhill – Lake Louise, Alberta*, NBCSN

12/7/19
1 p.m., Men’s Downhill – Xfinity Birds of Prey, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
2:30 p.m., Women’s Downhill – Lake Louise, Alberta, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
11 p.m., Men’s Downhill – Xfinity Birds of Prey*, NBCSN

12/8/19
11:40 a.m., Men’s Giant Slalom (Run 1) – Xfinity Birds of Prey, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
1 p.m., Women’s Super-G – Lake Louise, Alberta, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
2:30 p.m., Men’s Giant Slalom – Xfinity Birds of Prey, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
5 p.m., Men’s Giant Slalom – Xfinity Birds of Prey*, NBC
6 p.m., Women’s Super-G – Lake Louise, Alberta*, NBCSN

12/13/19
4:30 a.m., Women’s Super-G – St. Moritz, Switzerland, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

12/14/19
7 a.m., Men’s Giant Slalom – Val d’Isere, France, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
9:30 p.m., Women’s Super-G – St. Moritz, Switzerland*, NBCSN

12/15/19
6:30 a.m., Men’s Slalom – Val d’Isere, France, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
7:30 a.m., Women’s Parallel Slalom – St. Mortiz, Switzerland, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
8 p.m., Women’s Parallel Slalom – St. Mortiz, Switzerland*, NBCSN

12/17/19
7:30 a.m., Women’s Giant Slalom – Courchevel, France, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

12/18/19
6 p.m., Women’s Giant Slalom – Courchevel, France**, NBCSN

12/19/19
5:30 a.m., Men’s Super-G – Val Gardena, Italy, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

12/20/19
4:30 a.m., Women’s Downhill – Val d’Isere, France, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
5:45 a.m., Men’s Downhill – Val Gardena, Italy, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

12/21/19
8:30 p.m., Men’s Downhill – Val Gardena, Italy*, NBCSN

12/22/19
7 a.m., Men’s Giant Slalom – Alta Badia, Italy, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
8 a.m., Women’s Combined – Val d’Isere, France, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
7:30 p.m., Women’s Combined – Val d’Isere, France*, NBCSN

12/23/19
12 p.m., Men’s Parallel Giant Slalom – Alta Badia, Italy, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

12/27/19
5:30 a.m., Men’s Downhill – Bormio, Italy, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

12/29/19
7:30 a.m., Men’s Combined – Bormio, Italy, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

1/4/20
10 a.m., Women’s Slalom – Zagreb, Croatia, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
2 p.m., Women’s Slalom – Zagreb, Croatia*, NBCSN

1/5/20
11:30 a.m., Men’s Slalom – Zagreb, Croatia, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
1 a.m., Men’s Slalom – Zagreb, Croatia*, NBCSN

1/8/20
2:30 p.m., Men’s Slalom – Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

1/11/20
7:30 a.m., Men’s Giant Slalom – Adelboden, Switzerland, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
11:30 p.m., Men’s Giant Slalom – Adelboden, Switzerland*, NBCSN

1/12/20
7:30 a.m., Men’s Slalom – Adelboden, Switzerland, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
1 a.m., Men’s Slalom – Adelboden, Switzerland*, NBCSN

1/17/20
8 a.m., Men’s Combined – Wengen, Switzerland, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

1/18/20
6:30 a.m., Men’s Downhill – Wengen, Switzerland, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
8 a.m., Women’s Giant Slalom – Sestriere, Italy, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
8 p.m., Men’s Downhill – Wengen, Switzerland*, NBCSN
9 p.m., Women’s Giant Slalom – Sestriere, Italy*, NBCSN
5:30 a.m. Women’s Parallel Slalom – Sestriere, Italy, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

1/19/20
7 a.m., Men’s Slalom – Wengen, Switzerland, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
8 p.m., Women’s Parallel Slalom – Sestriere, Italy*, NBCSN
9 p.m., Men’s Slalom – Wengen, Switzerland**, NBCSN

1/24/20
3:30 a.m., Women’s Downhill – Bansko, Bulgaria, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

1/25/20
9 a.m., Women’s Downhill – Bansko, Bulgaria*, NBCSN
3 a.m., Women’s Super-G – Bankso, Bulgaria, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

1/26/20
12:30 p.m., Women’s Super-G – Bansko, Bulgaria*, NBCSN

1/27/20
1 p.m., Men’s Downhill & Men’s Super-G – Kitzbuehel, Austria**, NBCSN
3 p.m., Men’s Slalom – Kitzbuehel, Austria**, NBCSN

1/31/20
3:30 a.m., Women’s Downhill – Rosa Khutor, Russia, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
5:30 a.m., Men’s Downhill – Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

2/1/20
12:30 a.m., Men’s Downhill – Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany*, NBCSN
3 a.m., Women’s Super-G – Rosa Khutor, Russia, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

2/2/20
7:30 a.m., Men’s Giant Slalom – Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
4 p.m., Men’s Giant Slalom – Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany*, NBCSN

2/7/20
5:30 a.m., Women’s Downhill – Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

2/8/20
7 a.m., Men’s Slalom – Chamonix, France, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
2 p.m., Women’s Downhill – Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany*, NBCSN
5 a.m., Women’s Super-G – Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

2/9/20
7 a.m., Men’s Parallel Giant Slalom – Chamonix, France, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
4:30 p.m., Women’s Super-G – Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany*, NBCSN

2/14/20
10 p.m., Men’s Downhill – Yanqing, China, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

2/15/20
7 a.m., Women’s Giant Slalom – Maribor, Slovenia, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
10 p.m., Men’s Super-G – Yanqing, China, NBCSN
11:30 p.m., Women’s Giant Slalom – Maribor, Slovenia*, NBCSN

2/16/20
7:30 a.m., Women’s Slalom – Maribor, Slovenia, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
9:30 p.m., Women’s Slalom – Maribor, Slovenia*, NBCSN

2/21/20
11 p.m., Men’s Giant Slalom – Yuzawa Naeba, Japan, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
4:30 a.m., Women’s Downhill – Crans Montana, Switzerland, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

2/22/20
11 p.m., Men’s Slalom – Yuzawa Naeba, Japan, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
11:30 p.m., Women’s Downhill – Crans Montana, Switzerland*, NBCSN

2/23/20
7:30 a.m., Women’s Combined – Crans Montana, Switzerland, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
4:30 p.m., Women’s Combined – Crans Montana, Switzerland*, NBCSN

2/28/20
4:30 a.m., Women’s Super-G – La Thuile, Italy, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

2/29/20
12 a.m., Women’s Super-G – La Thuile, Italy*, NBCSN

3/1/20
8 a.m., Women’s Combined – La Thuile, Italy, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

3/6/20
5 a.m., Men’s Downhill – Kvitfjell, Norway, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

3/7/20
6:30 a.m., Women’s Giant Slalom – Ofterschwang, Germany, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
12:30 a.m., Women’s Giant Slalom – Ofterschwang, Germany*, NBCSN
1:30 a.m., Men’s Downhill – Kvitfjell, Norway*, NBCSN
5:30 a.m., Men’s Super-G – Kvitfjell, Norway, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

3/8/20
7 a.m., Women’s Slalom – Ofterschwang, Germany, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
1 a.m., Women’s Slalom – Ofterschwang, Germany*, NBCSN

3/10/20
1:30 p.m., City Event – Stockholm, Sweden*, NBCSN

3/13/20
12 p.m., Women’s Giant Slalom – Are, Sweden, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
5 p.m., Women’s Giant Slalom – Are, Sweden*, NBCSN

3/14/20
10 a.m., Men’s Giant Slalom – Kranjska Gora, Slovenia*, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
11 a.m., Women’s Slalom – Are, Sweden*, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

3/15/20
10 a.m., Men’s Slalom – Kranjska Gora, Slovenia*, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

3/17/20
4:30 a.m., World Cup Finals: Men’s Downhill – Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

3/18/20
6 a.m., World Cup Finals: Women’s Downhill – Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
3:30 p.m., World Cup Finals: Women’s Downhill – Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy*, NBCSN
1 a.m., World Cup Finals: Men’s Downhill – Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy*, NBCSN
5 a.m., World Cup Finals: Women’s Super-G – Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA

3/19/20
6:30 a.m., World Cup Finals: Men’s Super-G – Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
11 a.m., World Cup Finals: Women’s Super-G – Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy*, NBCSN

3/20/20
6:30 a.m., World Cup Finals: Team Event – Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
11 a.m., World Cup Finals: Team Event – Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy*, NBCSN

3/21/20
7 a.m., World Cup Finals: Men’s Giant Slalom – Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
8:30 a.m., World Cup Finals: Women’s Slalom – Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
12 a.m., World Cup Finals: Women’s Slalom – Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy*, NBCSN
1 a.m., World Cup Finals: Men’s Giant Slalom – Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy*, NBCSN

3/22/20
7 a.m., World Cup Finals: Women’s Giant Slalom – Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
8:30 a.m., World Cup Finals: Men’s Slalom – Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA
12 a.m., World Cup Finals: Women’s Giant Slalom – Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy*, NBCSN

*Same-day delay
**Next-day delay

Note: All televised events to stream across NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app, OlympicChannel.com, and Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA app

***

Release courtesy of NBC. 

The 2019-20 Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team has kicked off their final prep period camp at the U.S. Ski Team Speed Center at Copper Mountain, Colorado with hard snow, sunshine and bluebird days. The conditions have made for both a picturesque and productive setting as U.S. Ski & Snowboard officially announces the 2019-20 Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team, featuring Olympic champions Mikaela Shiffrin and Ted Ligety as well as a lot of depth and up-and-coming talent.  

The season kicked off yet again in Sölden, Austria on Oct. 26-27 with women’s and men’s giant slalom races. Mikaela opened the season with a bang, and quite the show as she fought for second place by just .06 behind the 17-year-old kiwi Alice Robinson - who scored her first World Cup victory. Alice became the youngest athlete since Mikaela seven years ago to win a World Cup. This was Mikaela’s best result at Sölden since 2016 when she was second, and is just one stop on a very long journey that has Mikaela skiing in six disciplines. Nina O’Brien scored a career-best 21st, showing that all of that hard work in the prep period has paid off. 

For the first time in three seasons, the weather cooperated and the men were able to race in Sölden. And what a race it was! The Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team had the best collective team result in years, with Tommy Ford grabbing a career-best fourth, Ted on his heels in fifth, and Ryan Cochran-Siegle in 11th. This bodes well for the Team as they head into their final prep period camp at Copper Mountain. 

Speaking of Copper, the training at the U.S. Ski Team Speed Center at Copper Mountain has been better than it’s been in the eight years of the partnership. With cold temperatures and snow guns a’ blazin’ - winter is here and it’s here to stay! The full Team descends upon Copper on November 6, but Mikaela and the women’s tech team have been training for the last week, and the conditions have been supreme - including extremely productive top-to-bottom super-G training for the reigning super-G titleholder,  Mikaela. The venue hasn’t seen top-to-bottom training this early in years. 

Mikaela, along with American slalom star/teammate Paula Moltzan will lead the crew as they head to Levi, Finland for the World Cup slalom kickoff, which will also feature Luke Winters on the men’s side. From there, all eyes are on the North American tour, starting with the women’s tech series in Killington, Vermont - where athletes have been welcomed into the finish by record-breaking crowds the last three seasons - and the men’s speed kickoff in Lake Louise, Canada on Thanksgiving weekend. 

First, let's get you acquainted with the TV broadcast schedule. 

It’s not an Olympic year or a World Championship year...so while many may say “HO-HUM,” the hardcore fans know that this is actually - in many ways - the most exciting season. Why, you may ask? Because a non-Olympic, non-World Championship year means there’s time for athletes to experiment a bit with the schedule. Will Mikaela ski more speed events? Will traditionally speed-focused athletes, who have bridged speed/tech in the past, ski more giant slalom events? 

During - and after - the 2018-19 season, the FIS Ski World Cup circuit said many goodbyes, including stars like the seemingly unbeatable Austrian Marcel Hirscher, Viking god Aksel Lund Svindal, German heartthrob Felix Neureuther, and the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team’s own Queen of Speed Lindsey Vonn - the winningest female ski racer of all time. As such, everyone is asking who will emerge as the next star, alongside the likes of Mikaela...and it will certainly be an action-packed season in that regard. Will France’s Alexis Pinturault or Norway’s fiery Henrik Kristoffersen rise to the top, in the wake of Marcel’s retirement? Will kiwi giant slalom specialist/phenom Alice Robinson - at just 17-years-young - be able to maintain consistency at the top, after her second place in Andorra last year and her first victory in Sölden this year? With Slovenia’s Ilka Stuhec and Italy’s Sofia Goggia fully healthy heading into the season, what will the speed disciplines look like on the women’s side? Will the tallest man on the circuit - Bryce Bennett - taste the podium? 

Most certainly, all eyes will be on 24-year-old double Olympic champion, five-time World Champion, and reigning slalom, giant slalom, super-G and overall champion Mikaela Shiffrin. There may be no Olympics or World Championships this year, but Mikaela’s focus will be on trying to strike the tricky balance of skiing all six disciplines without burnout in that grueling January tech series heading into speed events. In 2019, she realized her goal to win the giant slalom globe, she surprised even herself with super-G dominance both at FIS Ski World Championships and on the World Cup circuit, and now she’ll look to simply find more balance. In 2019, Mikaela shattered records seemingly every weekend, including Vreni Schneider’s season win record, which was 14. In fact, she blew that out of the water with 17 victories in one season. And so it may seem hard to top 2019 for Mikaela. Good thing she is not driven by the numbers, and is therefore not expecting to top 2019 although, she says, “anything is considered 'impossible' until someone achieves it, so who knows?!”. She is aiming to find balance and continue to strive for the perfect turn. 

With 60 career World Cup victories, Mikaela brings 40 slalom victories into Levi - tied with the Swede great Ingemar Stenmark. A win in Levi would have her breaking yet another record: most slalom World Cup victories - male or female. Does she know she’s about to break another record? Honestly, unlikely. However, Mikaela knows she’s got tough competition. Mikaela, Paula, and Nina are joined by the young Squaw Valley duo of AJ Hurt and Keely Cashman, who are two to watch this season too. Switching gears to speed, Alice McKennis and Jackie Wiles - who were both sidelined due to injury in 2019 - will return to competition and join their teammate and Junior Worlds downhill champion Alice Merryweather on the mountain. They’ll look to find their dominating ways once again, having been the fastest women’s downhill team in the world in 2018. 

On the men’s side, Olympic champion Ted Ligety showed at Sölden that he still has the speed to hang with the top dogs and the young guns. Tommy is podium-hunting in his cool, calm, and collected style, and we are confident he’ll bring it home this winter. On the speed side, big man duo Bryce Bennett and veteran Steven Nyman will look once again to find the consistency they’ve seen in recent seasons. Bryce finished last season ranked seventh in the world, and was just off the podium numerous times - not just at his favorite track of Val Gardena, Italy - but on other real-deal downhills like Bormio, Italy - which resembled a vertical ice hockey rink last year - and the classic Lauberhorn at Wengen, Switzerland. No one-trick pony here, folks! To put it quite simply, he knows he has what it takes to stand on the top step.  

Last season was the first season back from injury for 2015 World Championships downhill silver medalist Travis Ganong. This year, with a full prep period under his belt, he’s healthy, strong, and fired up heading into the season. Ryan Cochran-Siegle has been training a high volume of speed events in the prep period and his natural gift paired with his intense focus is a winning combo, while Jared Goldberg will look to pick up where he left off in Kvitfjell, Norway - with a top-10, his best finish all season. Double Junior Worlds Champ River Radamus, Junior World Championships medalists Luke Winters and Ben Ritchie, and 2019 NorAm Overall Champion Kyle Negomir are the up-and-comers to keep an eye on this season. Keep in mind that the American men's team - which included many of these guys, and a cast of characters on the Development Team - was the best in the world last year at FIS Ski Junior World Championships in Val di Fassa, Italy.  

“We are all looking forward to a great season with this newly named team,” said Alpine Director Jesse Hunt. “We have experienced athletes who are leading this team, combined with young hard-charging athletes, and proven talents returning from injury. The team worked hard on the fundamentals this preparation period with the goal to re-emerge as a team bound for the top...the Sölden World Cup was a great start to the journey.”

A highlight of the 2019-20 season will be the first of two alpine Olympic test events in Beijing. The men test out the Olympic track in Beijing this winter, as they stage men’s downhill and super-G World Cup races on Feb. 15-16, 2020. 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. The women will follow with their speed test event at Yanqing in 2021. Additionally, this year will feature the 2020 Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne, Switzerland, starting on January 9, 2020. The 2020 Youth Olympic Games will showcase some of the best youth talents in winter sport across the world, and U.S. nominations will be shared in December. 

2019-20 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)
Tommy Ford (Bend, OR; 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)
Alice McKennis (New Castle, Colo.; Sunlight Winter Sports Club/Rowmark Ski Academy; 8/18/1989)
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)
Jacqueline Wiles (Aurora, Ore.; White Pass Ski Club; 7/13/1992)

B TEAM
Men
Ryan Cochran-Siegle (Starksboro, Vt.; Cochran’s/Mount Mansfield Ski & Snowboard Club; 3/27/1992)
Jared Goldberg (Holladay, Utah; Snowbird Sports Education Foundation; 6/15/1991)
Brian McLaughlin (Waitsfield, Vt.; Dartmouth College/Green Mountain Valley School; 6/24/1993)
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)
Luke Winters (Gresham, Ore.; Sugar Bowl Academy; 4/2/1997)

Women
Keely Cashman (Strawberry, Calif.; Squaw Valley Ski Team; 4/4/1999)
AJ Hurt (Carnelian Bay, Calif.; Squaw Valley Ski Team; 12/5/2000)
Alice Merryweather (Hingham, Mass.; Attitash Race Team/Stratton Mountain School; 10/5/1996)
Paula Moltzan (Prior Lake, Minn.; University of Vermont/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)

C TEAM
Men
Cooper Cornelius (Glenwood Springs, Colo.; Aspen Valley Ski Club; 6/20/1999)
Bridger Gile (Aspen, Colo., Aspen Valley Ski Club and Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 10/15/1999)*
George Steffey (Lyme, N.H.; Stratton Mountain School; 8/8/1997)

Women
Abi Jewett (Ripton, Vt.; Green Mountain Valley School; 1/10/2000)
Katie Hensien (Redmond, Wash.; Rowmark Ski Academy; 12/1/1999)
Galena Wardle (Aspen, Colo.; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club; 4/24/1998)

DEVELOPMENT TEAM
Men
Jacob Dilling (Vail, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail, 10/19/1999)*
Kellen Kinsella (Edwards, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 8/7/2001)*
Isaiah Nelson (Wayzata, MN.; Buck Hill Ski Racing Club; 4/3/2001)
Jack Smith (Sun Valley, Idaho; Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation; 4/24/2001)*

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)
Emma Resnick (Vail, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 7/23/2003)*
Alix Wilkinson (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.; Squaw Valley Ski Team; 8/2/2000)*
Zoe Zimmermann (Gilford, N.H.; Burke Mountain Academy; 5/16/2002)

*Newly named to the U.S. Ski Team

2019-20 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

Men’s World Cup Speed
Head Coach: Randy Pelkey
Assistant Coach: Scotty Veenis
Assistant Coach: Urban Planinsek
Assistant Coach: Chris Beckmann
Fischer Ski Service: Leo Mussi
Physiotherapist: Sam Eiler

Men’s World Cup Technical
Head Coach: Forest Carey
Assistant Coach: Ian Garner
Assistant Coach/Strength and Conditioning Coach: Will Courtney
Assistant Coach (Slalom): Ryan Wilson
Head Ski Service: Alex Martin

Men’s Europa Cup
Head Coach: Matt Underhill
Assistant Coach: Josh Benge
Strength and Conditioning Coach: Michael Bingaman
Ski Service: Max Lamb

Men’s Development
Head Coach: Sasha Rearick

WOMEN
Head Coach: Paul Kristofic
Team Manager: Colleen Jamieson

Women’s World Cup Speed
World Cup Speed Head Coach: Chip White
Assistant Coach: Karin Harjo
Assistant Coach: Alex Hoedlmoser
Assistant Coach: Daniel Dejori 
Strength and Conditioning Coach: Bob Poehling
Physiotherapist: Torey Anderson

Women’s World Cup Technical/Speed 
Mikaela Shiffrin
Coach: Mike Day
Coach/Strength and Conditioning Coach: Jeff Lackie
Atomic Ski Service: Johann Stroebl
Physiotherapist: Regan Dewhirst

Women’s World Cup Technical and Europa Cup
Head Coach: Magnus Andersson
Assistant Coach: Kris Shampeny
Assistant Coach: Katie Twible

Women’s Development
Head Coach: Marjan Cernigoj

Follow the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team on Social Media:
Instagram: @usskiteam
Facebook: @usskiandsnowboard
Twitter: @usskiteam
Hashtag: #LandRoverUSAlpineSkiTeam

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

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HEY! Would you like to sign up for Megan Harrod's World Cup Notes—a behind-the-scenes race day communication? Yeah?! Click here, fill out the form, and tick the "Alpine World Cup Notes from Megan Harrod" box. 

STAMFORD, Conn. – NBC Sports Group and U.S. Ski & Snowboard have renewed their media rights agreement through the 2021-22 season, both parties announced today. Under the agreement, NBC Sports will present 40+ hours of coverage of U.S. Ski & Snowboard events across NBC, NBCSN, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA, NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports app, and its subscription service NBC Sports Gold. NBC Sports and U.S. Ski and Snowboard have been partners since 1998.

Coverage will include seven U.S.-based events for the next three seasons: including the FIS Alpine World Cup events at Killington, Vt, for the women, and Beaver Creek, Colo., for the men; FIS Freestyle World Cup events at Copper Mountain, Colo., Mammoth Mountain, Calif., and Deer Valley, Utah; and two new events – the Visa Big Air presented by Land Rover in Atlanta, and the FIS Cross Country World Cup in Minneapolis.

“We are proud to continue our long-standing partnership with U.S. Ski and Snowboard, featuring some of the world’s fastest, most creative, and gravity-defying athletes,” said Gary Quinn, Vice President, Programming, NBC Sports Group. “And any time these exciting competitions are happening across some of America’s greatest resort destinations, fans will be able to watch whenever, and wherever, they want.”

“We are thrilled to extend our agreement with longstanding partner NBC Sports through the 2021-22 season,” said Tiger Shaw, U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO. “Our relationship with NBC Sports is a valuable platform to be able to share our sports and athletes with fans across the nation as they prepare for Beijing 2022. We have an amazing season ahead and between the HomeLight Killington Cup – which has drawn record numbers on the World Cup circuit in both attendance and viewership – as well as new events on the calendar like the Visa Big Air presented by Land Rover, and the FIS Coop Cross Country World Cup in Minneapolis, we have a big opportunity to share the excitement with the world through the eyes of NBC Sports.”

2019-20 SEASON
For the 2019-20 season, 12 hours of coverage will be presented on NBC, 21.5 on NBCSN, and 10 on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA.

Coverage begins on Saturday, Nov. 30, at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, with a live presentation of the first run of the women’s slalom at the HomeLight Killington Cup in Killington, Vt.. Coverage on NBC begins shortly thereafter with the second women’s slalom run at 3:30 p.m. ET. Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA begins its U.S. Ski & Snowboard coverage on Saturday, Dec. 7, with the Xfinity Birds of Prey men’s downhill from Beaver Creek, Colo., at 1 pm ET.

The full NBC schedule is available on the WATCH tab at USSkiandSnowboard.org

All coverage on NBC and NBCSN will live stream via authentication on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. Coverage airing on Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA will live stream on NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports app, OlympicChannel.com, and the Olympic Channel app.

NBC Sports Gold – NBC Sports’ direct-to-consumer product – will also stream all U.S. Ski & Snowboard events via “Snow Pass,” which provides fans access to live and on-demand domestic and international competitions of seven Olympic winter sports. Click here for more information.

NOTE: NBC Sports’ entire alpine schedule for the 2019-20 season, including international FIS events, will be released soon. Click here for NBC Sports’ coverage of the 2019-20 FIS Snowboarding World Cup schedule.

Release courtesy of NBC. 

The snow has started to fall in Summit County and the athletes of the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team just kicked off FIS Ski World Cup action in Sölden, Austria, with their best collective team result in a long time. The men and women’s speed teams have wrapped up their camps in the southern hemisphere recently and training in North America will soon commence as the world-class U.S. Ski Team Speed Center opens in early November at Copper Mountain, Colorado.

To celebrate the upcoming season, and for the third year in a row, we're opening the doors on Saturday, November 10th for 50 fans to come to a private meet-and-greet with the U.S. Alpine Ski Team athletes training at Copper. For each winner, we'll provide bibs to be signed, as well as U.S. Ski Team stickers and pins. 

To enter:

1. Follow @usskiteam and @coppermtn on Instagram (we’ll be checking!)
2. Like this photo we've posted
3. Tag a friend you’d like to join you for the event, and share a question you have for your favorite U.S. Ski Team athlete.

We’ll pick the winners on November 8, and see you at Copper Mountain!

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IN ORDER TO ENTER THIS CONTEST YOU MUST AGREE TO ALL THE RULES, TERMS, AND CONDITIONS LISTED BELOW:

1. No Purchase Necessary To Enter Or Win. A Purchase Will Not Increase Your Chances Of Winning.

To Enter: Like the U.S. Ski Team and Copper Mountain’s Instagram pages and submit a comment tagging one other Instagram account, including a question you have for the Team. 1. The sweepstakes is open between October 30 and November 8, 2019. Limit one entry per person. 2. Drawings: 50 winners will be selected in random drawings from among all eligible entries received, by the U.S. Ski Team and Copper Mountain, whose decisions in all matters relating to this sweepstakes are final. Winners will be notified via both public and private message, and instructed on how to receive their prize. Should winner not comply with instructions in a timely manner, alternate winners may be selected. Odds of winning are dependent upon the total number of eligible entries received. 3. Prizes: Entrance into a private autograph signing session with U.S. Ski Team athletes. Prizes may not be transferred or redeemed for cash. No substitution for prizes. Each winner is solely responsible for all applicable Federal, State, and local taxes on the value of his/her prize. 4. Eligibility: the sweepstakes is open to all entrants. If under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must be present at venue. Must provide own transportation to specified venue. Void where prohibited by law or regulation. Not open to employees and their families of U.S. Ski & Snowboard and Copper Mountain, their subsidiaries, affiliates, participating retailers, prize suppliers, advertising and production agencies. All Federal, State, and local laws and regulations apply. 5. Limitation of Liability: sponsor and judging organization are not responsible for typographical errors in any sweepstakes related materials; for technical, hardware, software, or telephone failures of any kind; or for lost or unavailable network connections or failed, incomplete, garbled, or delayed computer transmissions that may limit or interfere with a participant’s ability to take part in the sweepstakes. Entrants agree that the Sponsor, its promotional partners, related companies, agencies, respective employees or officers shall not be liable for losses, injury, death, damages or costs of any kind resulting from participation in this sweepstakes or acceptance of or use or misuse of a prize or parts thereof. By entering, participants agree to be bound by these Official Rules. 6. Disclaimer of Correspondence: we value your privacy. We do not sell or provide any of the information you provide us to unaffiliated companies, marketers, magazines or any other unaffiliated third parties. By officially entering you consent to be contacted by U.S. Ski & Snowboard and Copper Mountain and/or our affiliates to include (but not limited to) the prize providers.
 
If you do not wish to accept these Terms & Conditions do not enter the contest. Your data will not be saved.

As a national and global leader in snow sports, U.S. Ski & Snowboard is committed to fostering, cultivating and maintaining a culture of diversity and inclusion throughout its organization. 

Almost 50% of the total ski and snowboard competitors in the United States are female, from the grassroots level through to the elite teams. However, this number is not reflected in the overall snow sport coaching population. U.S. Ski & Snowboard has committed to working toward more gender equity in all ranks of coaching, by removing barriers to women in coaching and working toward recruiting, developing and retaining more women in the field of coaching.

“Our mission is to lead, encourage, and support athletes in achieving excellence by empowering national teams, clubs, coaches, parents, officials, volunteers, and fans,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Club Development Manager Ellen Adams. “We are dedicated to organizational excellence. One of the keys to achieving excellence across an organization is creating an environment in which diversity is valued, equity is striven for and inclusion is embraced.”

This fall, the Norwegian Ski Association invited all women involved with coaching or sports administration to the inaugural Ski Leaders of Tomorrow International Female Seminar held September 13-15 in Oslo. U.S. Ski & Snowboard embraced the opportunity and sent a contingent of four women to provide a unique and meaningful educational and professional development experience, including Senior Manager of Sports and Athletes Kate Anderson; Snowboard Big Air Slopestyle National Development Coach Nichole Mason; Women’s Alpine Assistant Coach Katie Twible; and Adams.

In February 2018, the Norwegian Ski Federation started a strategic, sustainable development program called Ski Leaders of Tomorrow. The three-year program offered 25 participants a personal mentor. The main objective of the program is to develop more women in elite coaching and executive sports management. After seeing the success of this program, Norway invited its international counterparts to share its findings and learn from international views. The conference featured presentations and keynote addresses from Marit Bjørgen, the most decorated Winter Olympian of all time, FIS Secretary General Sarah Lewis, and Sports Manager Alpine in the Norwegian Ski Association Claus Ryste. 

“Norway’s willingness and ability to really take a critical and unbiased look at themselves to see what they were doing well and what they weren’t was really inspiring,” said Anderson. “They were really open about saying ‘Here’s where we were disappointed with ourselves and here’s how we’re going to change it.’ It was nice to know we’re not working in a vacuum, there’s a whole global network of people that have the same goals and same passion to move us forward in terms of women in coaching, women in leadership and gender balance.”

“Meeting and seeing the twenty-two different countries with 72 women from all different backgrounds come together to empower, support, tell individual stories, and learn from each other on how to keep improving ourselves in not only our jobs, but in everyday life was so impactful,” said Twible. “This conference is a starting point, but after attending it, I realized that the U.S. is definitely becoming a leader in recognizing and hiring capable females in the same roles that may have been more male-dominated. In my role as a coach, I hope to keep showing my athletes that they are capable and it doesn’t matter whether they are male or female, they just need to be good humans and work hard.”

Although hosted by a ski federation, the conference was open to all women in sport. There was representation from rowing, swimming, and other sports outside of skiing. “The lessons are universal,” said Anderson. “It wasn’t hyper-technical, it wasn’t exclusive. Everyone was there to build each other up, which was really cool.” 

Women in coaching and leadership positions in sport is important because it provides diversity of thought and perspectives. “You really get different perspectives with a diverse staff,” said Ellen. “It will push your club or organization forward to have women and men in a balanced proportion.”

Key takeaways from the conference were actionable steps U.S. Ski & Snowboard can take to positively impact gender balance, including hiring practices, women specific trainings and a more formal mentorship program. 

“My big key takeaway from this conference is switching my mindset from seeking mentorship to becoming a mentor,” said Nichole. Growing up with an older brother and competing in snowboarding when there was less of a female presence than there is now taught Nichole to push herself outside of her comfort zone. “I hope to share my past experiences while fostering a more nurturing environment to gain higher retention rates from not only the female coaching community but the female athlete pool as well. This experience made me open up my scope of awareness from the snowboard community to the global female community. We can be powerful working with each other. This conference has truly inspired me to embrace my love for coach education and become a leader in doing what I love.”

In a commitment to work toward continual improvement and a more inclusive and diverse community, U.S. Ski & Snowboard has created two working groups: An internal Diversity and Inclusion Committee focused on overall organizational principles, practices and culture, and a Gender Inclusion in Ski and Snowboard Coaching Task Force focused on recruiting, developing and retaining more women at all levels of coaching from grassroots to elite. Both of these groups are passionate about educating our stakeholders on why diversity and inclusion matter, as well as positively impacting organizational culture and performance for the benefit of all staff, coaches and athletes.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard raised nearly $2 million at its 53rd annual New York Gold Medal Gala, October 24 at the Ziegfeld Ballroom. It was a night to remember as 27 athletes across all seven teams showed the 500 guests what it meant to be “Inspired by the Stars,” this year’s event theme. 

“It’s pretty incredible to be able to share [this night] with athletes that I don’t normally get to see during the year, and the supporters that support us, that we never get to see,” noted first-time Gala attendee and cross country athlete Kevin Bolger. “It’s super special.”

American Olympic teams receive no government funding and thanks to the generous donations of those in attendance and at home, the athletes of U.S. Ski & Snowboard will directly benefit from the funds raised as they ski and snowboard to podiums this competitive season. 

The night was hosted by Olympic champion and favorite ski-personality Jonny Moseley, who never fails to wow the crowd with his wit and passion for sliding on snow. Guests were treated to top moments in U.S. Ski & Snowboard history through an immersive video mapping multimedia experience, transforming the Ziegfeld Ballroom into some of the top ski and snowboard competition venues around the world. Highlights of the evening included a record-setting fund-a-need and a heated live-auction that featured once in a lifetime experiences such as box seats to a New Jersey Devil’s hockey game with Lindsey Vonn.  

The room raised a toast to Lindsey, who announced her retirement after last season and was honored at the event for her storied career. 

“I just want to say thank you, all of you, for the support,” Lindsey said to the crowd. “I know many faces [here], many people that have supported me along the way and I wouldn’t have accomplished any of this without your support. It’s obviously been an up-and-down road for me, I’ve experienced a lot. But I know that my teammates have gone through a lot, and they’re still continuing to race. I won’t be following as avidly as I want to because I still have a bit of FOMO, but I am going to be following my teammates and their progress, and because of you they are able to keep following their dreams. So thank you again, for everything, for all of the years and I look forward to the future.” 

Jonny welcomed Lindsey into the alumni club and fellow teammates Alice McKennis, Laurenne Ross, Katie Hensien, Paula Moltzan and Alice Merryweather made it even more special by presenting Lindsey with flowers on stage. 

Olympic champion, cross country alumna and cancer survivor Kikkan Randall delivered the keynote address, during which she painted the picture of the long-game she trained and competed for to make history in winning the United States’ first gold medal in cross country skiing at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. Kikkan noted the importance of supporters and events like the Gala, that help raise critical funds so that American athletes can have access to world-class training, coaches and competitions. 

“If we can capture even half of the enthusiasm that’s in this room tonight, we are going to have the best season yet!” she declared while ending her speech. 

This year’s Gala featured the most diverse representation of athletes yet, and those in attendance were given the celebrity treatment while in New York. On Wednesday Paragon Sports hosted a VIP shopping experience and athletes were able to connect with some of their East Coast fans while signing autographs. Thursday the men and women of U.S. Ski & Snowboard were styled by Authentic Brands Group and dressed in Hickey Freeman suits, Herve Leger and Vince Camuto dresses and Nine West accessories before turning their beanie-hair White Carpet ready at Paul Mitchell’s Raika Studio. “It’s nice to meet other athletes and other disciplines and get to know what our team looks like and how diverse it is,” said halfpipe snowboarder Maddie Mastro.

“What a night!” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO Tiger Shaw. “This year’s Gala was an incredible success. Each year I am humbled and amazed at the generosity of our supporters - we couldn’t do what we do without them. The funds raised at this event will have a direct and tangible impact on our athletes in their journeys to podiums this season. Thank you to our team behind the team, our staff. This event gets better each year and that is thanks to their dedication and tireless hours put in to make sure the evening is one to remember. We have a lot to look forward to this season but we can’t wait to be back for our 54th New York Gold Medal Gala!”

The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Foundation is the non-profit fundraising arm of U.S. Ski & Snowboard! To support U.S. Ski & Snowboard on their quest to become the Best in the World!  Donate Today!