“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.”
