On the first day of racing in Courchevel, the final stop of the French Tour, Stifel U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team athletes Audrey Crowley and Saylor O’Brien battled the fog, rain and snow to finish on the podium, each in third place. This is Crowley’s first career podium in only her seventh World Cup start. 

The stage was set at the famed Emile Allais Stadium in Courchevel, and run one began in a thick cloud of fog. The technical course set by the French coach proved challenging for many, with DNFs plaguing run 1. Throughout the day, the conditions deteriorated, and with an extremely turny run two course set, run two times were roughly 10-20 seconds longer than run one. 

The weather and turns were no match for the women. Crowley, the youngest on the team in only her third World Cup event, delivered a career-best performance, landing on her first World Cup podium. The women’s standing podium was completed by Ebba Aarsjoe (SWE) and Anna-Maria Rieder (GER). Allie Johnson of the U.S. finished sixth.

“[This] podium means everything to me; competing against the best women in the world is truly special,” said Crowley. “This podium not only reflects my skiing today but the hard work throughout the season and over the summer. This past season, I’ve been working on becoming more consistent, trying to have good runs more often, and using the strength I’ve gained over the summer to be able to recover when mistakes do happen. Congratulations to Ebba [Aarsjoe] and Anna-Maria [Rieder]; they skied great. And to my teammate/roommate, Saylor O’Brien, I am so proud of you.”

O’Brien, who is back skiing on the World Cup circuit for the first time in over a year, landed on her first podium since 2022 in the women’s sitting classification. Anna-Lena Forster (GER) and Momoka Muraoka (JPN) ended the day first and second overall. Laurie Stephens did not finish run two. 

On the men’s standing side, Patrick Halgren led the way finishing 10th, closely followed by Jesse Keefe in 11th and Tyler McKenzie in 17th. Zach Williams was the only U.S. sitting man to finish both runs, ending the day 13th.

Tomorrow, the team wraps up the French Tour with a second giant slalom race. Tune in to run one at 3:30 am ET on FIS TV and run two at 7:00 am ET on FIS TV. 

Giant Slalom Day One Results
Men
Women

The stage was set this morning in Steinach am Brenner, Austria for the first Para alpine World Cup of the season, where Andrew Kurka led the way for the Stifel U.S. Para Alpine Ski Tea, finishing fourth in super-G. 

It was a beautiful bluebird day with a perfect compact racing surface to kick off the season in Austria. The women started the action, and Saylor O’Brien put down a consistent run to finish fifth overall in her first World Cup start in over a year. 

On the men’s side, Kurka finished just 0.6 seconds off the podium in fourth place in the men’s sitting class. Matthew Brewer was just behind, finishing eighth. Patrick Halgren shined in the men’s standing classification, earning one of his best World Cup finishes in fifth. 

“It feels like the universe is conspiring to help me achieve my dreams! To start this well is an omen that means there is more to come; Para alpine is such a commitment-based sport, so anything that boosts confidence is huge,” said Halgren. “[Moving forward] I’ll be focusing on consistency, and that starts with mobility. Health is wealth, and I’m going to be rich when I’m covered in gold!!”

Spencer Wood ended the day in 16th, followed by Andrew Haraghey in 17th, Jesse Keefe in 18th, and Tyler McKenzie 20th. 

Next up, the team takes on alpine combined tomorrow, Dec. 12 in Steinach am Brenner starting at 4:00 a.m. ET.

RESULTS
Men
Women

Zach Williams of Madera, CA, is a newcomer to the Para alpine scene, skiing for the first time just six years ago. Williams is the newest member of the U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team following an impressive 2023-24 season, during which he became the U.S. super-G champion. He found himself on the podium eight additional times last season, cementing himself as a name to remember on the circuit. 

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

Q: What initially drew you to skiing?

Zach Williams: I saw an announcement for an adaptive ski event called “Ski-Able” at the Arizona Snowbowl in Flagstaff, AZ.  I was curious to try out a new sport, and now we’re here.  

Q: When you were younger, getting into the sport, what were your goals?

ZW: I skied for the first time in my life at age 39. I was immediately hooked. Surfing has come close throughout my life, but nothing has ever let me move my body with the kind of freedom, speed, and control that skiing does. It wasn’t long before I started asking my adaptive instructors if the Paralympics were possible for me. They told me it would take a lot of work, but it was possible. 

Q: What is one thing that you’re most proud of in your career so far?/what is your biggest accomplishment so far?

ZW: I left a career as a Prosthetist/Orthotist and sold my home in California to train full-time to make the U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team. That dream came true a few month ago when I got the call from coach Ryan Pearl inviting me onto the team. 

Q: What is your ultimate goal?

ZW: To be “the best skier on the mountain.” I want to see how far I can develop my abilities and ski against the best athletes in the world on the World Cup and the Paralympics.  

Q: Are there any moments that you’ve experienced in your career that didn’t seem real?

ZW: Becoming the super-G National Champion last season was a real surprise. GS is my favorite event, and I’m newer to the speed disciplines, but it all came together for me in that race.  

Q: Who were the athletes that you looked up to when you were younger, or who are they now?

ZW: I’m inspired by the other U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team athletes. Seeing them day after day, week after week, working hard at the USANA Center of Excellence Powered by iFit to make gains and prepare for the upcoming season.  Their commitment to “the grind” helps motivate me to keep pushing. I’m also a big fan of Formula 1. I love the mindset of the drivers and teams looking for every little thing they can do to shave tenths and thousandths off a lap time in the pursuit of speed. I’m pulling for Williams Racing to work their way back to their former glory days.

Follow Zach on social media. 

PARK CITY, Utah (Sept. 16, 2024) - U.S. Ski & Snowboard has announced the 12 athletes who have accepted their nomination to the 2024-25 U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team across all classifications and disciplines.

The team is highlighted by multi-time Paralympic medalists Laurie Stephens and Andrew Kurka, who also had podium finishes on the World Cup last season. Two-time Paralympian and Paralympic silver medalist Thomas Walsh and exciting up-and-comers Jesse Keefe and Audrey Crowley join them. New to the team this year is sit-skier Zach Williams from Medera, California, who earned the 2024 super-G national championship title. 

The 2024-25 FIS Para Alpine Ski World Cup season begins in Steinach am Brenner, Austria in mid-December with three super-G and one alpine combined race. The team will spend most of the season in Europe, with stops in the States for the Huntsman Cup and U.S. Championships.

“I am confident that the team will bring home some great results this season,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Para Sport Director Erik Leirfallom. “This team had a productive off-season with a month-long speed camp in Chile and two strength testing sessions in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Park City, Utah, so I’m excited to see their hard work pay off.” 

The finalized FIS World Cup schedule can be found here.

2024-25 U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team

(Hometown; Club; College; Birthdate)

Women

• Audrey Crowley (Grafton, WI; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 3/1/2007)
• Allie Johnson (Chicago, IL; National Sports Center for the Disabled; Colorado State University; 12/23/1994)
• Laurie Stephens (Wenham, MA; University of New Hampshire; 3/5/1984)

Men

• Matthew Brewer (Huntington Beach, CA; National Ability Center; Saddleback Community College; 5/8/1975)
• Ravi Drugan (Eugene, OR; Oregon Adaptive Sports; 12/19/1989)
• Patrick Halgren (Tolland, CT; National Sports Center for the Disabled; 6/24/1992)
• Andrew Haraghey (Enfield, CT; National Ability Center; Westminster University; 12/16/1995)
• Jesse Keefe (Sun Valley, ID; Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation; University of Colorado Colorado Springs; 3/26/2004)
• Andrew Kurka (Palmer, AK; Alyeska Ski Club; 1/27/1992)
• Thomas Walsh (Vail, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail/Green Mountain Valley School; Savannah College of Art and Design/DeVry University; 1/30/1995)
• Zach Williams (Madera, CA; National Ability Center; John Brown University/California State University Dominquez Hills; 7/26/1979)
• Spencer Wood (Pittsfield, VT; Killington Mountain School; University of Colorado Boulder; 1/17/1997)

2024-25 PARA ALPINE SKI TEAM COACHES AND STAFF

Anouk Patty - Chief of Sport
Erik Leirfallom - Para Sport Director
Ryan Pearl - Head Coach
Lyndsay Strange - Assistant Coach
Sawyer Mattsson, Assistant Coach
Brian Neff - Athletic Development Coach, Para Alpine & Para Snowboard
Ryan Odeja - Para Press Officer

FOLLOW THE U.S. PARA ALPINE SKI TEAM

Instagram: @usparaskisnowboard 
Facebook: @usskiandsnowboard
TikTok: @usskiandsnowboard
Twitter/X: @usskiteam
Threads: @usskiteam 

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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Ryan Odeja - U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team Press Officer
ryan.odeja@usskiandsnowboard.org