It was a big week in Los Angeles featuring both the 2019 ESPY Awards and the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Sport Awards on Wednesday and Thursday nights, respectively, and U.S. Ski & Snowboard alumna and winningest female alpine ski racer in history Lindsey Vonn (Vail, Colo.) took home the ESPY for Best Moment and the Nickelodeon "blimp" in the Need for Speed category. 

The ESPYS were hosted by former Saturday Night Live comedian Tracy Morgan at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, Calif. The ESPYS Awards show highlights the most significant moments over the past year in athletics and attracts some of the top personalities in sports and entertainment. The event celebrates athletes overcoming challenges, breaking barriers and pushing their sports. 

Vonn didn't just have one moment, rather she capped off her career with 82 World Cup victories; eight World Championship medals, including two gold in downhill and super-G at the 2009 World Champs in Val d’Isere, France; three Olympic medals, including the downhill gold at the 2010 Games in Whistler, Canada; and a record 20 FIS Ski World Cup titles. 

The Nickelodeon Kids Choice Sport Awards were hosted by former NFL star Michael Strahan at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif. The show, which honors athletes for their incredible work in the sports world over the last year, is a lighthearted, playful and fun show where kids and athletes get to hang out in a laid-back environment and enjoy entertainment by athletes and musicians both. This year, Vonn took home the Need for Speed award. 

After winning the Best Female Action Sports Athlete ESPY, U.S. Ski & Snowboard star Chloe Kim (Torrance, Calif.) backed that up with a Nickelodeon blimp for Famous Action Sports Star.

It was a big night, once again, for Co-Captain of the U.S. Women's National Team and two-time World Cup champion Megan Rapinoe received the Generation Change Award for 2019 at tonight’s ceremony. The award, presented by 13-year-old pro soccer player Olivia Moultrie, honors Megan’s passion to create positive changes, build social movements, and make sports and the world a more equal playing field when it comes gender, race and LGBTQ+ rights.

Make sure to catch the 2019 Kids’ Choice Sports awards on Aug. 10 at 8/7central on Nickelodeon to see Vonn and the "Team Slime Slammers" get slimed as two star-studded teams went head to head in the first-ever Kids' Choice Sports Championship - a mega-competition made up of sports-themed challenges.

The 2019 ESPY Awards Ceremony took place Wednesday night and U.S. Ski & Snowboard star Chloe Kim (Torrance, Calif.) took home her second-consecutive Best Female Action Sport Athlete Award.

“I am so happy to win another ESPY and I just feel so humble and grateful to be in the same category as these other incredible athletes,” Kim said. 

The show was hosted by former Saturday Night Live comedian Tracy Morgan at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, Calif. The Awards show highlights the most significant moments over the past year in athletics and attracts some of the top personalities in sports and entertainment. The event celebrates athletes overcoming challenges, breaking barriers and pushing their sports. 

The current Olympic and FIS World Champion Chloe Kim (Torrance, Calif.) topped the podium at five out of six events she entered, winning at a rate of 83%. In doing so she completed over a full year of victories by winning every major competition she entered from the 2018 X Games to the 2019 FIS World Championships. If her prowess in the halfpipe wasn’t impressive enough,  the motivated 18-year-old phenom plans to take on a new challenge this fall by starting her college academic career at the prestigious Princeton University. 

Kim was not the only U.S. Ski & Snowboard athlete nominated for a 2019 ESPY Award. U.S. Alpine star Mikaela Shiffrin (Avon, Colo.) was nominated for Best Female athlete and for good reason. Shiffrin had a record-setting 2019 season including 17 FIS Ski World Cup victories, four World Cup titles and three World Championship medals - two golds and one bronze - including becoming the only athlete in the history of ski racing to win four successive World Championship gold medals in a single discipline (slalom). However, the night belonged to Alex Morgan of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team, who took home the award. With the ESPYS following close behind the U.S. Women’s National Team World Cup victory, the sports world was still buzzing at the 27th Annual ESPY Awards ceremony. Morgan and the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team also won the Best Team Award after a tremendous performance over the course of the past month of World Cup competition.

Shiffrin and Kim continued their red carpet tour at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards on Thursday evening. Once again, Kim took home the Favorite Action Sports Star Award completing an excellent week for the young superstar. 

Kim and Shiffrin’s award nominations solidify what was a very well rounded and successful season for U.S. Ski & Snowboard teams and athletes. Click here for more highlights and milestones from the 2018-19 season. 

Chloe’s Winning Reaction
Shiffrin & Morgan at ESPY Awards
 

It may be sizzling outside, but the 2019-20 ski season officially gets underway on July 1 for U.S Ski & Snowboard membership. For those athletes attending summer/fall camps or competing in the southern hemisphere, renewing your U.S. Ski & Snowboard membership early should be at the top of your to-do list.

For the 2019-20 competition season, all U.S. Ski & Snowboard adult members and athletes, excluding short term and some alpine masters members, are now required to complete periodic background screening and annual SafeSport training. 

“Renewing members are encouraged to get ahead of the curve by registering early - before the snow actually falls!” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Director of Member Services Sheryl Barnes. “That way athletes can get their SafeSport training and background screening completed and still have time for summer fun.”

Renewing athletes can get a jump on the season by taking their annual SafeSport training prior to renewing their membership by visiting www.SafeSport.org and signing in to their account and completing available courses. Just make sure to affiliate your U.S. Ski & Snowboard membership by providing your 7-digit membership number when you log into SafeSport. By doing this, SafeSport will provide U.S. Ski & Snowboard Member Services with updates on your progress and online course completion.

Seventeen-year-old athletes who will be turning 18 during the upcoming season may also complete their SafeSport training and get a jump start on their background check by registering early too. When you renew your membership, you’ll find a link on the final page of online registration. If you miss the link, Member Services will send an email with instructions within 1 business day of renewal/registration.

All renewing athletes are also eligible for a host of member benefits, including significant discounts on top winter, and summer, sports brands through U.S. Ski & Snowboard partners, and through U.S. Ski & Snowboard ExpertVoice platform. 

The early deadline for membership renewal is Oct 15. To renew your 2019-20 U.S. Ski & Snowboard Membership now simply log into your U.S. Ski & Snowboard account. You’ll find a link to register for background screening on the final page of online registration after payment. Don’t worry if you miss the link we’ll email instruction on both SafeSport training once your registration is complete. 

U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced the addition of three new regional staff members in a continued effort to offer athletes in the development pipeline both a positive environment as well as talented coaches with vast experience. 

In the Eastern Region, Nate Bryant has been hired as a coach, as former Eastern Region coach Brad Farrell has decided to go back to school to pursue a degree in law. Bryant grew up as a ski racer in the East, attending St. Michael’s College. He began his coaching career in 2012, first at Ski & Snowboard Club Vail (SSCV) as a U14 coach, then as a FIS coach, and moving on to Green Mountain Valley School (GMVS) in 2016 as a FIS coach. Bryant comes highly regarded by Eastern Region Alpine Development Director Sam Damon who said, “He’s been working with the men’s FIS program at GMVS since then, traveling a lot with their guys who are trying to make the jump through Eastern Cup to NorAm and D-Team level programming. He rules!” 

In Rocky/Central, Kristina Revello has joined the team, bringing a “...wealth of experience at all levels of the development pipeline,” noted Rocky Central Alpine Development Director Darlene Nolting. “She is organized and thoughtful in her approach and will be a great addition to our Rocky/Central Regional staff.” Revello takes the reigns from Ian Dunlop, who took a coaching job that will allow him to be closer to home. Revello has been a part of various regional projects in both Rocky/Central and the West for over 10 years and has a long history of excellence in coaching. Most recently, she was coaching SSCV’s men’s FIS and U14 programs, and has worked as a guest coach with both the D Team at FIS Alpine Junior World Ski Championships and the women’s national World Cup speed team. 

Finally, Fletcher McDonald has joined the Western Region staff as the region’s FIS Development Coach. McDonald assumes the role from Mike Prado, who had a successful year with the region but, with the birth of his second child, took a coaching position that would allow him to be closer to home. A native of Colorado hailing from the slopes of Copper Mountain Resort, McDonald comes from a ski racing family with a grandfather that fought with the 10th Mountain Division in WWII. His parents each had successful ski racing, and then coaching, careers and his mother directs the children’s ski and ride school at Vail Ski Resort. 

Attending the University of Colorado, McDonald was a key member of the school’s alpine team, leading them to win two NCAA championships. Following graduation, he coached for CU before settling at SSCV, where he coached the men’s FIS Performance Team. “With a large, friendly personality, and a broad smile, Fletcher is well respected by his peers and the athletes who he has coached,” noted Western Region Alpine Development Director Bill Gunesch. “At Vail, Fletcher helped build a successful and passionate ski racing culture and, along with his staff, helped move several athletes to collegiate teams and the national team. Fletcher is moving from Colorado to Idaho this summer, following personal pursuits. We’re extremely fortunate to have him in the West, and joining the Western Region staff.”

Each of these new hires will hit the ground running at camps this summer, and will be extremely impactful as the organization strives to develop the next generation of alpine talent in each of the three regions, working up into D-Team programming with Head Women’s Development Coach Marjan Cernigoj and Head Men’s Development Coach Sasha Rearick.

With Monday’s announcement from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) awarding the 2026 Olympic Winter Games to Milano-Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, current and future U.S. Ski & Snowboard Olympic Champions are reacting with excitement toward competing in Italy.

“A huge congratulations to Milano-Cortina for winning the 2026 Olympic Winter Games,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO Tiger Shaw. “U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes have a history of success in Cortina d’Ampezzo, most notably Lindsey Vonn’s 12 World Cup wins there, a record for the venue, and most recently when Mikaela Shiffrin won her third career World Cup victory there this past January. The Olympics are the pinnacle of our sports and what drives each of our elite athletes across our seven teams to put in the hard work to train and compete towards being Best in the World. We are already well underway preparing for Beijing 2022, and look forward to competing in three new events: Freeski Big Air, Mixed Team Aerials and Mixed Team Snowboardcross.

“The Olympic movement pushes athletes to the best of their abilities to progress their sports and we are hopeful for even more opportunities for our fans to watch them in action, perhaps with the addition of a dual moguls event for 2026. Italy is a nation steeped in winter sports tradition and as Cortina d’Ampezzo will also play host to the 2020 FIS Ski World Cup Finals and the 2021 FIS Alpine World Championships, we look forward to bringing our athletes, staff, and supporters there leading into and in 2026.”

    - Tiger Shaw, U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO

The 2026 Olympics will mark the return to the European continent of the Games last held in the small Italian city of Turin in 2006.

The Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games will see U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes compete at a number of venues that have previously hosted FIS Ski & Snowboard World Cup competitions. The women’s alpine skiing events will take place at Cortina d’Ampezzo, site of the 1956 Olympic Winter Games, and a highly-anticipated annual stop on the women’s FIS Ski World Cup circuit with downhill and super-G events. Mikaela Shiffrin (Edwards, Colo.) took her third career World Cup super-G victory at Cortina this past January.

“A big congratulations to Milano-Cortina on winning the 2026 Olympic bid!” exclaimed Shiffrin. “From the first moment I saw the Olympia delle Tofane track, I knew it was going to be one of my favorites. First of all, the Dolomites are a sight for sore eyes - the landscape is absolutely stunning, and the Cortina organizing committee does an incredible job prepping the surface. The sun always seems to be shining, and the Italian fans are among the most passionate on the tour. In my first World Cup super-G start at Cortina in 2017 I was fourth, and what stands out most about that day is that I just had SO much fun. Last year I won my third career super-G victory there. It’s a pure joy to ski on that track.”

Cortina d’Ampezzo is also scheduled to host the 2020 FIS Ski World Cup Finals and the 2021 FIS Alpine World Championships as a lead up to the 2026 Games. Bormio will host the men’s Olympic alpine events - featuring the Stelvio, one of the most spectacular, technical and difficult tracks in the world - having twice hosted the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in 1985 and 2005 and many editions of the FIS World Cup.

Cross country, nordic combined and ski jumping will all take place at Val di Fiemme where Jessie Diggins (Affton, Minn.) and Kikkan Randall (Anchorage, Alaska) won the first-ever FIS Cross Country World Championships gold medal for the United States in 2013.

“I have so many fond memories of racing in Val di Fiemme, so I’m thrilled to see the Olympics come to Milano-Cortina!” said Diggins. “Italy is one of my favorite countries to live, train and race in, so this will be an exciting Games!”

Livigno will host snowboard, freeski, and freestyle competition, providing the small Italian village the opportunity to host international competition for the first time leading up the 2026 Games.

“Thinking all the way to 2026 seems a bit hard for me to grasp. I’m still enjoying my Olympic experience from 2018 in South Korea and have my eye’s set for 2022 in Beijing,” said 2018 Olympic snowboard slopestyle gold medalist Red Gerard. “It’s hard to get too much further than that for my goals, but I am sure Italy will be a cool change and it’s nice to see the Winter Olympics back to another part of the world. I hope to have the chance to represent the U.S. in Italy and look forward to the opportunity.”

The 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympic Winter Games will provide an inspirational urban setting of a modern metropolis united with the uplifting and traditional mountain-setting of the spectacular Italian Alps: the Dolomites. Athletes, spectators and the Olympic Family will experience Italy’s passion and enjoy the cultural and social pleasures that draw millions of visitors to Milano and the Dolomites every year. Milano’s storied 80,000-seat Stadio Giuseppe Meazza soccer stadium is slated to host the opening ceremony, with the closing ceremonies taking place in a Roman amphitheater in Verona.

Breezy Johnson (Victor, Idaho) was feeling stronger than ever, returning to snow and tackling 2019-20 prep period camps, when she sustained a left knee injury during a training camp at official training site Mammoth Mountain Ski Area in California, forcing Johnson to once more rehab before she can return to the FIS Ski World Cup circuit.

On June 13, Johnson tore her left posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) after catching an edge and crashing hard in giant slalom training. Johnson missed the 2019 season due to a right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear sustained in September 2019, working tirelessly in the gym to get strong and return to snow.

Throughout her rehab, she chronicled the highs and lows of the experience in a series entitled “Patient Notes.”

During the 2018 season, Johnson had more success than ever. Of her 15 downhill and super-G starts, she was in the points 10 times, top-15 five times, top-10 four times, and narrowly missed her first podium in Garmisch, Germany, finishing in fourth place. At her first Olympic bid in  PyeongChang, South Korea, she grabbed a solid 14th-place result in super-G and a seventh in the downhill. Incredible results for the first-time Olympian.

Never one to mince their words, Johnson’s feelings about the injury are poignant and powerful.

Devastated, gutted, shattered. These adjectives don’t do justice to how I’m feeling right now. Training GS last week I randomly caught an edge, crashed hard, and tore my PCL and MCL. This was not the leg that sustained an ACL tear last September. I honestly do not believe that it had anything to do with my injury from last year. I just had some absolutely sh*t luck. Again.

I’ve already said I don’t believe everything happens for a reason. This injury disproves that hard work always pays off. I am lucky enough to have the resources to help me overcome this injury. But trying to find meaning in what happened doesn’t do justice to the awfulness of the situation. It sucks; I won’t lie.

I just returned from my ACL. I put everything I had into that recovery. I don’t mean this as a brag; I don’t mean this to criticize anyone else rehabbing, but I feel a bit like I worked harder on that ACL recovery than anyone ever has. And let me tell you it was NOT easy. And this one will require even more. I already know this. And though I know everyone wants to say ‘you’ve already done this, you can do it again!’ To be honest this doesn’t help me, it even terrifies me a bit. Because I was, I am, still worried I can’t. I just had a somewhat miraculous ACL recovery, I was back on snow at four months, skiing gates at five and a half, skiing downhill 7 months after surgery. And more than that I felt good doing it. I knew I was stronger and hungrier than ever. And though I hope beyond hope I can do it again I will make no guarantees about returning quickly or well (at least in the short term). I learned from this injury that there‘s a lot of work involved, there’s a lot to do with the amazing staff and the great support, but there’s also a bit of luck involved.

But what I do know is that there’s no going back. There’s only through. And I love this sport so I’ll give it everything I have, and more. And I ask that rather than telling me that I will do it again, say, ‘when you feel like you can’t, I’ll be here. When you need that extra bit of strength, take some of mine.’ And maybe, maybe then, I can, we can, defy the odds one more time, and set new records on what can be accomplished.

Johnson will undergo surgery next Tuesday, and then will begin the long, arduous road to recovery. Again, she is incredibly thankful to the community for the support and wants everyone to know - from sponsors to fans and beyond - that she will return. Stay tuned here and to Johnson’s Instagram for frequent updates from Johnson as she experiences the highs and lows of returning to the mountain.

BRADFORD, VT/VAIL, CO – World Cup Supply and 1to3go are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2018-19 Berlack/Astle Memorial Fast Skier Awards. NYSEF/Northwood School athlete Madison Kostoss and Jonathan Davis from the Green Mountain Valley School were each awarded the prize for U16 racers.

Madison Kostoss is a U16 out of Wilmington N.Y., where her passion for skiing was born on Whiteface Mountain. A top racer in New York, her coach Patrick Purcell describes Kostoss' “I can do it” attitude that puts her in a special league. “She is self-driven, willing to take chances and knows clearly that her path is one of success” noted Patrick.

“Ski racing has taught me the importance of a balanced lifestyle along with many other lessons," said Kostoss. "Ronnie and Bryce captured the essence of this during their lives. I am honored to be a recipient of this award and will continue to be inspired by their charisma throughout my ski racing career.”

Green Mountain Valley School (GMVS) skier Jonathan Davis from Waitsfield, Vt. knows adversity. Last year he suffered a life- threatening ski edge laceration and has been very active in raising awareness for this ever-increasing problem facing many ski racers. Like the Berlack and Astle families, Davis has learned to turn a tragic situation into a way to help others.

“I am both excited and humbled to win the Berlack/Astle award," reflected Davis. "Everything I have heard or read about each of them, tells me they learned at an early age to live their life with a passion for their sport, their family and their community. I hope to live up to the honor of this award by, working hard, constantly challenging myself, staying positive even in tough times, and just being the best person I can be.“

Both athletes will receive a $1,000 cash award, race products from SYNC and a backpack and t-shirt from World Cup Supply.

This is the 10th year the “Fast Skier Award” has been awarded and the fourth year that the award has been presented in memory of Ronnie Berlack and Bryce Astle, two up-and-coming U.S. Ski & Snowboard alpine athletes whose lives were lost tragically in an avalanche in Soelden, Austria in January 2015. The award is based on race results, academic excellence, coach’s recommendations and community involvement...the type of qualities that both Ronnie and Bryce exhibited. This award gives us a chance to recognize excellence in the U16 community and also continue to remember Ronnie and Bryce, two gifted athletes whose character on and off the hill was an inspiration to others.”

World Cup Supply and 1to3go congratulates Madison and Jonathan and we wish them all the best in their future endeavors. We’d also like to thank SYNC and Atomic, N.A. for their generous donations and help recognizing Madison’s and Jonathan’s achievements.

Learn more about the award at www.berlackastleaward.com.

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About World Cup Supply
Founded in 1991, World Cup Supply is a respected supplier of ski racing, ski area and event supplies. Located in Bradford, Vermont the company is the exclusive North American distributor of the SPM line of hill supplies for alpine ski racing, resorts and events. http://www.worldcupsupply.com/

About 1to3go
1to3go is a consultancy started by Barry Levinson, founder of SYNC Performance and SRD/Ski Racing Development. 1to3go provides a variety of marketing and creative services to the ski and outdoor industries. http://www.1to3go.com/

Release courtesy of Barry Levinson, founder of SYNC Performance, SRD/Ski Racing Development and 1to3go.