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!

U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Slopestyle and Big Air National Development Coach Nichole Mason is back at it again, hosting a total of five USASA freeski and snowboard Level 100 and 200 coaching clinics, including two all-female clinics in Aspen Snowmass, Colo., Dec. 2-3 and Vail, Colo., Dec. 11-12. 

“I am truly looking forward to kick-starting the season with another set of USASA coach clinics,” said Nichole. “I always enjoy getting to know all the coaches from around the region and capturing a healthy dose of mental stimulation to set us up for a successful season. The aspect I enjoy most is learning from the participants and helping to strengthen the voices of our female community. If we can continue to learn and train with each other, we will grow stronger as a community.”

The all-female coaching clinics are a result of a deeper U.S. Ski & Snowboard focus to increase participation amongst women throughout the organization. 

“As in most other sports, gender ratios in ski and snowboard coaching do not reflect the ratios of athletes,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Club Development Manager Ellen Adams. “On the athlete side, gender ratios are nearly 50/50. On the coaching side, the total number of women in ski and snowboard coaching is far below the number of men. Less than 24% of coaches at the grassroots level are women, and as you move up through the phases of athlete development to the elite level, that percentage falls significantly. In an effort to recruit, develop and retain more women in coaching, we must work both from the top-down and the bottom-up. This means increasing opportunities for engagement and development at the grassroots level, like the all-female coaches clinics being led by Nichole, where women can share and learn from each other, as well as lead by example with more women coaching at the highest levels. We are committed to making progress on both ends of the spectrum.”

The Level 100 clinic will target intro-level coaches who will be working with Phase 1 and Phase 2 athletes. The Level 200 Clinic targets more experienced coaches who have been working with athletes for a number of years and whose goals are to expand their knowledge and skillset to better work with Phase 3, 4 and 5 athletes. Each clinic contains both on snow and course-based work. In addition, prerequisites differ for the Level 100 and 200 clinics. Click here for more detail on course prerequisites.

The USASA Coaches clinics have been so beneficial, some clubs have chosen to make attendance mandatory for their coaches, including Tori Koski, the Snowboard Program Director at the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. 

“In the past, none of our coaches ever really pursued their USASA certification unless they were coaching at USASA events,” said Tori. “We did our own in-house training. Then we really saw the importance of working with Nichole and USASA Executive Director Mike Mallon. The snowboard department agreed that everyone needs to be certified and we will figure out a way to pay for it to make it easier on our coaches. Immediately after implementing mandatory coaches clinics, we noticed faster progression with the kids. In addition, the clinics also gave the coaches the tools to continue to progress. We even had some level 200-300 coaches have some strong takeaways.”

The benefits of attending USASA Coaching clinics extend far beyond understanding core concepts and continuous learning. The ski and snowboard industry is one that thrives on networking and these clinics provide coaches an opportunity to not just learn from Nichole, but also the coaches around them. This dynamic can create relationships that last throughout a coach’s career. 

“Nichole keeps the connection alive with all the coaches that participate,” Tori added. “It’s cool to see our community grow with such strong relationships,” 

Amanda Poindexter, a coach working out of Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club, echoed Tori’s sentiment. “It’s not only very inspirational being surrounded by other rad women who coach, but it was really helpful to see other’s coaching strategies, drills, and approaches to coaching,” she said. “Nichole has so much knowledge, experience, and a great coaching philosophy. I can say with certainty that you will leave the clinic a much better coach.”

If you are a coach, it’s fair to say that the pure fun of snowboarding is what initially attracted you to the sport and probably what keeps you giving back to the community. Nichole has not forgotten this important philosophy when leading these clinics. 

“It’s a very friendly open atmosphere, with a lot of laughs,’” said Tori. “Frankly, it’s a blast to talk about snowboarding and be surrounded by like-minded people who are all very good at what they do. In addition to Nichole’s expertise, I think a lot of it is us learning from each other.”

USASA has over 25 clinics currently scheduled across the United States. For additional information or to register for another clinic visit the full clinic schedule here. 

MASON’S CLINIC SCHEDULE
Full USASA Clinic Schedule and Registration

Nov. 23-24: Steamboat Springs, Colo. -  level 100 - co-ed
Dec. 2-3: Aspen Snowmass, Colo. -  level 200 - all-female
Dec. 4-5: Aspen Snowmass, Colo. - level 100 - co-ed
Dec. 9 -10:  Vail, Colo. - level 100 - all-female
Dec. 11-12: Vail level 200 - co-ed
 

NormaTec, the industry leader in compression recovery technology for athletes, today announced a four-year partnership with U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the national governing body of competitive skiing and snowboarding in the United States. U.S. Ski & Snowboard provides leadership, direction, and support for tens of thousands of young skiers and snowboarders striving for excellence. NormaTec’s PULSE 2.0 Series systems will help U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes to achieve their goals to be best in the world in their sport by integrating superior recovery into training regimens.

The full team across seven disciplines including alpine, freeski, freestyle, cross country, ski jumping, Nordic combined, and snowboard, will have access to the NormaTec PULSE 2.0 Series Recovery Systems. U.S. Ski & Snowboard will also be constructing a dedicated NormaTec Recovery Room in the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Center of Excellence for the team to use as they train to compete at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

“We are proud to support U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes,” said Gilad Jacobs, CEO of NormaTec. “It is an honor to be partnering with a team that boasts some of the top performing winter sports athletes in the world and providing them the technology they need to continuously reach for their dreams here in the U.S. and around the globe.”

The NormaTec PULSE 2.0 Series Recovery Systems use compressed air and the patented NormaTec Pulse Massage Pattern created by a physician bioengineer to massage limbs, mobilize fluid, increase circulation, and facilitate faster recovery. NormaTec’s technology gives athletes a competitive edge by helping them recover quickly after training sessions and is also used as a high-tech warm up. The technology is relied on by 97% of all pro athletic teams in the United States.

"I have been absolutely loving my NormaTec recovery system,” said Olympic cross country champion Jessie Diggins. “Since opening the box, I’ve used them every single day! I love how the compression massage makes my legs feel after a hard workout, and it helps me recover quickly before second training. I also love how small and quiet they are, and how I can customize exactly what I want, even changing the pressure zones mid-session! These are now my go-to recovery tool."

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. 

With FIS Snowboard and Freeski World Cup competition already underway in some disciplines, the world’s best halfpipe skiers and riders are gearing up to kick off their northern hemisphere season at the Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix at Copper Mountain, Colo. Dec. 11-14. The event will serve as the second halfpipe World Cup stop for the freeskiers and the season opener for the snowboarders. 

“Copper is always the first event of the year and I have never done well at this location,” said 2018 PyeongChang Olympic silver medalist Alex Ferreira. “For that reason, I am extremely motivated to get my first memorable result at Copper. I have been training like a mad man, so when the time comes, I will see if my preparation pays off!” 

The U.S. Grand Prix is more than just another stop on the World Cup Circuit. This is the 24th season of Grand Prix competition and the 11th year of the Copper Mountain Resort Grand Prix partnership. It’s no coincidence that the relationship between Copper Mountain, U.S. Ski & Snowboard, and athletes from across the globe has been so successful. 

“Copper Mountain’s commitment to producing excellent early season conditions, fostering an environment of progression, and opening their arms to world-class athletes is what makes Copper the ideal venue for World Cup halfpipe competition,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Event Director Nick Alexakos. “Year after year, Copper continues to produce a 22-foot Olympic sized superpipe available for training and competition. This is no small feat. Building a quality superpipe demands significant time, resources, and skilled terrain park staff, but Copper has never shied away from the challenge.” 

In addition to their ongoing dedication to on-snow facilities, in February of 2009, Copper furthered their stance as freeski and snowboard paradise by opening the Woodward Copper Barn. Woodward Copper Barn is a 19,400 square foot indoor training facility with skateparks, Olympic-grade trampolines, foam pit jumps, indoor ski and snowboard training and more. Most recently, Copper and Woodward have taken inspiration from the U.S. Snowboard Team’s own Olympic gold medalist Red Gerard with the creation of the hike-to-jib style terrain park called Red’s Backyard set to debut at the end of 2019.

With elite facilities comes elite athletes. In this case, the “if you build it, they will come mentality” certainly rings true. However, one athlete that won’t be making the trip is 2018 PyeongChang Olympic gold medalist and 2019 FIS World Champion Chloe Kim. Chloe is taking the season off from competition in order to give her mind and my body a break, while also attending her freshman year at Princeton University. Even with Kim’s absence, the field at the Grand Prix is as strong as ever. 

Leading the way for the U.S. Freeski Team are Colorado locals Alex Ferreira and Aaron Blunck. Both Alex and Aaron are coming off strong seasons collecting podiums at last season’s pinnacle events. Alex earned X Games and Dew Tour gold, while Aaron collected a Dew Tour podium in addition to defending his FIS World Championship title. Blunck is also the defending champion from last year’s Copper Grand Prix. In addition, Birk Irving already has a World Cup victory under his belt from September in Cardrona, New Zealand after landing a very unique double-cork 720 to cap off his run.

Furthermore, there is potential for some big names to make their return to snow after suffering injuries last season including double Olympic gold medalist David Wise, Olympic bronze medalist Brita Sigourney, and pro team member Carly Margulies. 

Maddie Mastro will lead the way for the women of U.S. Snowboard Team and is focussed on finally earning what has been an elusive first-place finish. She placed second in 2017 and 2018, but has never come in with this much momentum. Maddie finished the season making history at the U.S. Open by landing the first-ever double crippler in the women’s snowboard halfpipe competition besting Chloe for the gold. 

“I’m looking forward to kicking off the season at Copper,” said Maddie. I have done well there in years past, but have yet to take the top spot. I feel I had a strong season last year and can hopefully continue to put my best snowboarding on display. Copper should be a great competition and I look forward to reconnecting with the halfpipe community.”

For the men, Toby Miller and Chase Josey will be looking to repeat their early-season success from 2018. Last year, Toby earned his first-ever World Cup podium with a second-place finish at the Copper Grand Prix alongside teammate Chase Josey in third place. Both Toby and Chase went on to swap podium positions at the Dew Tour only a week later. Miller and Josey both have proved there is no need to shake off the cobwebs early in the year podiuming at the first two events of the 2018-19 season. However, they have some stiff competition with Australian Scotty James looking to defend his title. 

The Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix’s second and final stop will be at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area Jan. 29 - Feb.1. Mammoth Mountain’s Unbound Terrain Park consistently delivers a world-class venue for both training and competition. This season’s Grand Prix will feature both slopestyle and halfpipe competition. 

Join us at Copper Mountain to kick-off your winter with some of U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s biggest stars or tune in below to catch the action from home.

Media Accreditation Application

LAND ROVER U.S. GRAND PRIX - COPPER MOUNTAIN
Event Schedule
*Subject to change

Dec. 11: Freeski Halfpipe qualifications
Dec. 12: Snowboard Halfpipe qualifications
Dec. 13: Freeski Halfpipe Finals
Dec. 14: Snowboard Halfpipe Finals

HOW TO WATCH
All times EST
Preliminary broadcast schedule, subject to change
Streaming schedule TBA
*Delayed broadcast

FREESKI 
December 13, 2019
1:00 p.m. - Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix halfpipe, Copper Mountain - NBC Sports

December 21, 2019
4:00 p.m. - Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix halfpipe, Copper Mountain - NBC*

SNOWBOARD
December 14, 2019
2:00 p.m. - Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix halfpipe, Copper Mountain - NBC Sports

December 21, 2019
4:00 p.m. - Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix halfpipe, Copper Mountain - NBC*
 

NEW YORK, NY – U.S. Ski & Snowboard today announced that Volcom, a modern lifestyle brand rooted in board sports, will be the official apparel partner of the U.S. Snowboard Team. The partnership includes outfitting the snowboardcross, slopestyle/big air, and halfpipe teams through the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games.

Volcom has been a leader in snow sports for more than 20 years, delivering tech-infused products that reflect the brand’s unique design language and providing stylish and functional outerwear that helps riders perform their best under the most challenging conditions. The line features Volcom’s signature technical features, including Zip Tech®, a patented zipper system that allows the wearer to zip the powder skirt of virtually any Volcom Snow jacket into any Volcom snow pant – allowing no gaps for the snow to penetrate. The official U.S. Snowboard Team assortment will also include Volcom’s proprietary Thermal Defense System (TDS®), which features 3-layer jackets with strategically-placed down paneling to maximize warmth without overheating.

“We are so excited to be the official outfitter of the U.S. Snowboard Team. To have the Volcom stone be worn by the best athletes, on the highest of stages in this sport is an honor,” said Todd Hymel, CEO of Volcom. “As we celebrate 20 years of Volcom Outerwear, this partnership ushers in a new era of our history. Performance and innovation are the foundation of everything we do at Volcom. We look forward to working closely with all the athletes to gain insights, so we can continue to create best-in-class, elevated product.”

“Volcom is a brand that has strong ties to snowboarding,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO Tiger Shaw. “We have an opportunity to embark on the journey to the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games together, and I believe that’s powerful. Alongside a strong and balanced roster of riders as well as an elite coaching staff, the Volcom partnership lays the groundwork for the athletes to perform at the highest level and continue to push the boundaries of competitive snowboarding.”

Volcom will outfit both the men and women of the U.S. Snowboard Team, including athletes, coaches, and support staff. The U.S. Snowboard Team uniforms will feature Volcom’s pinnacle product in outerwear, hoodies, gloves, hats, and beanies. The collection design nods to U.S. heritage with pops of red, white, and blue, as well as stylized camo prints. Key styles featured in the official assortment includes Men’s TDS® Infrared Jacket and Women’s Nya TDS® Jacket, both of which incorporate Zip Tech® and Thermal Defense System (TDS®).

Athletes will wear Volcom at World Cup, World Championship, and National events, as well as official training camps globally leading up to and during the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.

To learn more about product offerings and Volcom’s legion of snow athletes, follow @Volcomsnow on social media.

Click here for the official launch video including Shaquille O'Neal, Run The Jewels, and more.

###
 

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 2018, 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

About Volcom:
Inspired by creative spirit, Volcom was founded as a clothing company rooted in skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding. Building upon the foundation of sport culture, Volcom also supports initiatives in music and the arts and lives by the mantra ‘True To This’ as a rallying cry for persistent rebels and creatives that follow their passions.  Volcom creates meaningful products for men’s, women’s and kid’s across a variety of categories, including outdoor, swim, skate, denim, fashion and more. Volcom has more than 100 direct-to-consumer retail outposts globally and has distribution in hundreds of specialty retail and department store locations.

To learn more about Volcom’s deep product assortment visit www.volcom.com.

Follow @Volcom on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

About Authentic Brands Group
Authentic Brands Group (ABG) is a brand development, marketing and entertainment company, which owns a portfolio of global media, entertainment and lifestyle brands. Headquartered in New York City, ABG elevates and builds the long-term value of more than 50 consumer brands and properties by partnering with best-in-class manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers. Its brands have a global retail footprint in more than 100,000 points of sale across the luxury, specialty, department store, mid-tier, mass and e-commerce channels and more than 4,930 freestanding stores and shop-in-shops around the world. ABG is committed to transforming brands by delivering compelling product, content, business and immersive experiences. It creates and activates original marketing strategies to drive the success of its brands across all consumer touchpoints, platforms and emerging media. ABG’s portfolio of iconic and world-renowned brands generates $9.4 billion in annual retail sales and includes Marilyn Monroe®, Mini Marilyn®, Elvis Presley®, Muhammad Ali®, Shaquille O'Neal®, Sports Illustrated®, Dr. J®, Greg Norman®, Neil Lane®, Thalia®, Michael Jackson® (managed brand), Nautica®, Aéropostale®, Juicy Couture®, Vince Camuto®, Herve Leger®, Judith Leiber®, Frederick's of Hollywood®, Nine West®, Frye®, Jones New York®, Louise et Cie®, Sole Society®, Enzo Angiolini®, CC Corso Como®, Hickey Freeman®, Hart Schaffner Marx®, Adrienne Vittadini®, Taryn Rose®, Bandolino®, Misook®, 1.STATE®, CeCe®, Chaus®, Spyder®, Tretorn®, Tapout®, Prince®, Volcom®, Airwalk®, Vision Street Wear®, Above The Rim®, Hind®, Thomasville®, Drexel® and Henredon®.

 For more information, visit authenticbrandsgroup.com.

Follow ABG on Twitter, Linkedin and Instagram.
 

U.S. Ski & Snowboard announces the 2019-20 U.S. Freeski Team and the roster is nothing short of impressive starring seven experienced Olympic medalists, including David Wise, Alex Ferreira, Brita Sigourney, Nick Goepper, Devin Logan, Maddie Bowman, and Joss Christensen. 

“There’s great new energy on the team this year with an influx of young new talent,” said U.S Freeski and Snowboard Halfpipe, Slopestyle and Big Air Head Coach Mike Jankowski. “In addition, we have the right group of veterans on board that not only continue to find success in competition, but also drive a positive team environment that is critical to developing a winning team culture.”

U.S. athletes are coming off of a spectacular 2018-19 season, earning 15 podiums at World Cup events, four World Championship medals, and 10 podiums at X Games and Dew Tour. The U.S. Freeski Team is prepared for a challenging and exciting winter ahead with 25 pro-level and 15 Rookie freeskiers taking to elite international competition. Last season, these rookies collected an impressive six Junior World Championship medals. In addition, the 2019 U.S. Freestyle Junior World Championship Team won the FIS Marc Hodler Trophy awarded to the winningest nation at the event. 

“The 2018-19 season was a big year for the freeski team,” said U.S. Freeski and Snowboard Director Jeremy Forster. “With an experienced coaching staff and a talented group of athletes, we hope we can carry that momentum into the new year. This season is a special one with the inclusion of the Visa Big Air presented by Land Rover at SunTrust Park, the home of the Braves. If the Fenway stadium big air in 2016 was any representation, there should be no shortage of excitement for U.S. Freeski fans this winter.”

The 2019-20 season features a packed schedule of elite-level competition including the Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix at Copper Mountain Dec. 11-14, the Visa Big Air presented by Land Rover Dec. 20-21 at SunTrust Park in Atlanta, Ga., and the Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain Jan. 29-Feb. 1. In addition, invited athletes will also participate in X Games and Dew Tour. 

Complimenting a strong group of athletes is an elite coaching staff. Olympic silver medalist Mike Riddle is taking over for Andrew Woods as U.S. Freeski Head Pro Halfpipe Team Coach. In addition, Dave Euler, former slopestyle/big air national development team coach, has assumed the role of pro slopestyle team coach, joining head coach Skogen Sprang on the snow this season. See a full list of the 2019-20 U.S. Freeski Team and staff below. 

2019-20 U.S. Freeski Team Nominations
(Hometown; Club; USASA Series; Birthdate)

HALFPIPE
PRO TEAM
Men
Aaron Blunck (Crested Butte, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Rocky Mountain Series; 4/12/96)
Alex Ferreira (Aspen, Colo.; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club; Aspen/Snowmass Series; 8/14/94)
Birk Irving (Winter Park, Colo.; Winter Park Freeride Team; Rocky Mountain Series; 7/26/99)
David Wise (Reno, Nev.; 6/30/90)
Torin Yater-Wallace (Basalt, Colo.; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club; Aspen/Snowmass Series; 12/2/95)
Lyman Currier (Boulder, Colo.; Winter Park Freeski Team; Rocky Mountain Series; 8/28/94)
Hunter Hess (Bend, Ore.; Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation; Central Oregon Series; 10/01/98)
Taylor Seaton (Avon, Colo.; 7/16/90)

Women
Brita Sigourney (Carmel, Calif.; Intermountain Series; 1/17/90)
Devin Logan (West Dover, Vt.; Mount Snow Academy; Southern Vermont Series; 2/17/93)
Maddie Bowman (S. Lake Tahoe, Calif.; Sierra-at-Tahoe Education Foundation; South Tahoe Series; 1/10/94)
Annalisa Drew (Andover, Mass.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Southwest Colorado Series; 5/28/93)
Carly Margulies (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.; Mammoth Mountain Freeski Team; Unbound Series; 12/24/97)
Abigale Hansen (June Lake, Calif.; Mammoth Mountain Freeski Team; Unbound Series; 5/26/98)

ROOKIE TEAM
Men
Dylan Ladd (Lakewood, Colo.; Winter Park Competition Center; Rocky Mountain Series; 8/29/01)
Sammy Schuiling (Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Rocky Mountain Series; 7/16/00)
Jaxin Hoerter (Breckenridge, Colo.; Rocky Mountain Series; 7/17/00)
Connor Ladd (Lakewood, Colo.; Rocky Mountain Series; 9/26/03)
Hunter Carey (Winter Park, Colo.; Winter Park Competition Center; Rocky Mountain Series; 6/12/02
Cassidy Jarrell (Aspen, Colo.; Rocky Mountain Series; 8/31/99)

Women
Svea Irving (Winter Park, Colo.; Winter Park Freeride Team; Rocky Mountain Series; 2/27/02)
Hanna Faulhaber (Carbondale, Colo.; Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club; Rocky Mountain Series; 9/04/04)

SLOPESTYLE / BIG AIR
PRO TEAM
Men
Alex Hall (Salt Lake City, Utah; Park City Ski and Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 9/21/98)
Mac Forehand (Winhall, Vt.; Stratton Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 8/4/01)
Nick Goepper (Lawrenceburg, Ind.; Hanley Consulting Inc.; Rocky Mountain Series; 3/14/94)
Colby Stevenson (Park City, Utah; Park City Ski and Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 10/3/97)
Kiernan Fagan (Brownfield, Maine; Wy’East Mountain Academy; Rocky Mountain Series; 1/18/02)
Willie Borm (Chaska, Minn.; Midwest Freeskiing Association; 5/21/97)
Joss Christensen (Park City, Utah; Park City Ski and Snowboard; 12/20/91)

Women
Maggie Voisin (Whitefish, Mont.; Park City Ski and Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 12/14/98)
Julia Krass (Hanover, N.H.; Park City Ski and Snowboard; New Hampshire Series; 6/7/97)
Caroline Claire (Manchester Center, Vt.; Stratton Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 2/2/00)
Darian Stevens (Missoula, Mont.; Missoula Freestyle Ski Team; 10/29/96)

ROOKIE TEAM
Men
Cody LaPlante (Truckee, Calif.; Squaw Valley Freestyle and Freeride Team; North Tahoe Series; 2/15/02)
Richard Thomas (Orono, Minn.; Midwest Freeskiing Association; Upper Midwest Snow; 8/16/01)
Deven Fagan (Brownfield, Maine; Wy’East Mountain Academy; Rocky Mountain Series; 1/18/02)
Hunter Henderson (Madbury, N.H..; Waterville Valley BBTS; New Hampshire Series; 12/28/2002)

Women
Grace Henderson (Madbury, N.H.; Waterville Valley BBTS; New Hampshire Series; 4/28/01)
Marin Hamill (Park City, Utah; Park City Ski and Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 4/5/01)
Rell Harwood (Park City, Utah; Park City Ski and Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 6/1/01)

2019-20 Snowboard & Freeski Staff
Snowboard & Freeski Director: Jeremy Forster
Halfpipe, Slopestyle & Big Air Head Coach: Mike Jankowski
Halfpipe, Slopestyle & Big Air Team Manager: Jess Tamez
Snowboardcross Team Manager: Alexis Williams
Snowboard & Freeski Team Communications Manager: Andrew Gauthier
Snowboard & Freeski Sports Development Senior Manager: Ashley Deibold
Snowboard, Freeski, and Freestyle Sports Development Coordinator: Elise Saarela

Medical & Sports Science Staff
High Performance Dietitian: Allen Tran
Senior Sports Psychologist, USOC: Alex Cohen
Clinical Specialist: David Quammen
Clinical Specialist: Jen Kimball
Freeski Halfpipe Team Physical Therapist: Jill Radzinski
Freeski Slopestyle and Big Air Team Physical Therapist: Sara Chavez
Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air Athletic Trainer: Ben Quigley
Snowboard Halfpipe Team Physical Therapist: Emilie Whittemore
Snowboardcross Athletic Development Manager: Tschana Schiller
Snowboard and Freeski Athletic Development Coach: Matthew Voss
Aerials and Freeski Athletic Development Coach: Houston Deck

Freeski
Slopestyle Pro Team Head Coach: Skogen Sprang
Slopestyle Pro Team Coach: Dave Euler (Park City Ski & Snowboard)
Slopestyle Coach/Technician: Tanner Keim
Halfpipe National Development Team Coach: Ryan Carey (Mammoth Mountain)
Slopestyle/Big Air National Development Team Coach: Ryan Wyble (Park City Ski & Snowboard)
Halfpipe Pro Team Head Coach: Mike Riddle 
Halfpipe Pro Team Coach: Jeremie Livingston (Winter Park Competition Center)
 

OFFICIAL U.S. FREESKI SUPPLIERS
 

FOLLOW THE U.S. FREESKI TEAM
Instagram
@usfreeskiteam
Facebook
@usskiandsnowboard
Twitter
@usskiteam
 

U.S. Ski & Snowboard has announced the 2019-20 U.S. Freestyle Ski Team. Thirty-two athletes will represent the United States in aerials and moguls competition around the world in what is sure to be an exciting season of freestyle skiing. Earning thirteen elite-level medals in the 2018-19 season, the Team will look to build off of last year’s successes.

“Watching the Freestyle athletes train here at the Center of Excellence and the Utah Olympic Park this summer it’s clear they’re putting in the work to get strong and develop their skills,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Freestyle Director Jeremy Forster. “We have a passionate group of athletes and coaches, and I look forward to seeing what they accomplish this season.”

Top-ranked American aerials athletes Ashley Caldwell and Eric Loughran will lead the emerging aerials crew on their World Cup tour, which they kick off in Moscow on Jan. 25. Last season seven U.S. athletes finished in the top-10 in the world: Ashley (4), Madison Varmette (6), Winter Vinecki (7), Megan Nick (10), Eric (7), Chis Lillis (8) and Justin Schoenefeld (10). In addition to three new rookie members, Kaila Kuhn, Quinn Dehlinger, and Megan Smallhouse, the team also has a new head coach, Vladimir Lebedev, after Todd Ossian retired last spring. The Team has been hard at work all summer prepping in the gym and on the water ramps at official training site Utah Olympic Park, they hope to jump on snow by December as long as Mother Nature cooperates.

“I’m really looking forward to the season ahead,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Head Aerials Coach Vladimir Lebedev. “The team has had a very productive summer. All of our athletes have made improvements and the whole team is incredibly motivated to be successful this season.”

2019 World Championships medalists Jaelin Kauf, Tess Johnson, and Brad Wilson head the 18-member moguls roster, which features the deepest field of female moguls talent in the world. Rethinking the standard moguls training process, athletes and coaches have been working hard on developing the whole run and increasing degree of difficulty on airs. Athletes continue to push the boundaries of their sport, last season Olivia Giaccio threw the first cork-10 in moguls competition for women and new members Alex Lewis and Nick Page both have cork-14s in their arsenal. This spring two new World Cup coaches joined the moguls crew: Joe Discoe and Riley Campbell, both former bumps skiers and a collective 15 years of coaching experience between them. The team enters their final prep camp in Sweden ahead of the FIS Open Freestyle in Idrefjäll Nov. 23 & 24 and their first World Cup competition in Ruka, Finland on Dec. 7. 

“Every new season is a reset from the last, and this team is hungry for success and strives to do things better,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Head Moguls Matt Gnoza. “We have the potential to reach peak performance and the athletes are determined to get there. We will continue to keep working, and make every run count, so that we accomplish our desired results this season.”

The U.S. Freestyle Ski Team will criss-cross the globe to compete in 19 World Cups spanning three continents for the 2019-20 season. Stops include an inaugural aerials event in Tbilisi, Georgia, a joint aerials and moguls event in Almaty, Kazakhstan and moguls finals in Idrefjäll, Sweden. Fans hoping to catch some action on home snow will have their chance at the Intermountain Healthcare Freestyle International Feb. 6-8 at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah. Athletes will compete under the lights to thunderous crowds on the 2002 Olympic venues and vie for World Cup glory. 

2019-20 Freestyle Team

(Hometown; Club; Birthdate)

U.S. Aerials Team
Men
Alex Bowen (Springville, N.Y.; Buffalo Ski Club; 5/21/92)
Quinn Dehlinger (Cincinnati, Ohio; Elite Aerial Development Program; 6/8/02)
Chris Lillis (Pittsford, N.Y.; Bristol Mountain Freestyle Team; 4/10/98)
Jon Lillis (Pittsford, N.Y.; Bristol Mountain Freestyle Team; 8/20/94)
Eric Loughran (Pelham, N.H.; Loon Mountain Freestyle; 12/4/95)
Nick Novak (Stafford, Va.; Elite Aerial Development Program; 3/15/96)
Justin Schoenefeld (Lawrenceburg, Ind.; Elite Aerial Development Program; 8/13/98)

Women
Ashley Caldwell (Ashburn, Va.; Elite Aerial Development Program; 9/14/93)
Kaila Kuhn (Boyne City, Mich.; Park City Ski and Snowboard; 4/8/03)
Megan Nick (Shelburne, Vt,; Elite Aerial Development Program; 7/9/96)
Morgan Northrop (Haymarket, Va.; Elite Aerial Development Program; 4/16/94)
Megan Smallhouse (Reno, Nev.; Park City Ski and Snowboard; 1/16/01)
Winter Vinecki (Gaylord, Mich.; Park City Ski and Snowboard; 12/18/98)
Madison Varmette (Stafford, Va.; Elite Aerial Development Program; 5/8/96)

U.S. Moguls Team
Men
Casey Andringa (Boulder, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 10/6/95)
Jesse Andringa (Boulder, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 12/15/97)
Joel Hedrick (Fort Collins, Colo.; Winter Park Competition Center; 5/30/97)
Alex Lewis (Carlisle, Mass.; Killington Mountain School; 11/16/99)
Nick Page (Park City, Utah; Wasatch Freestyle Foundation; 8/1/02)
Thomas Rowley (Long Beach, N.Y.; Hunter Mountain Freestyle Team; 7/2/94)
Emerson Smith (Frisco, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 2/13/97)
Brad Wilson (Butte, Mont.; Wasatch Freestyle; 6/5/92)

Women
Sabrina Cass (Cheshire, Conn.; Wasatch Freestyle Foundation; 3/27/02)
Nessa Dziemian (East Hampstead, N.H.; Park City Freestyle Ski Team; 4/14/94)
Olivia Giaccio (Redding, Conn.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 8/15/00)
Tess Johnson (Edwards, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 6/19/00)
Jaelin Kauf (Alta, Wyo.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 9/26/96)
Kai Owens (Vail, Colo.; Ski and Snowboard Club Vail; 8/16/04)
Kenzie Radway (Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 6/22/03)
Morgan Schild (Pittsford, N.Y.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 8/25/97)
Hannah Soar (Somers, Conn.; Killington Mountain School; 6/4/99)
Avital Shimko (Manhattan, N.Y.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 4/24/96)

2019-20 Freestyle Staff
Freestyle Director: Jeremy Forster
Freestyle Team Manager: Alexis Williams
Freestyle Communications Manager: Lara Carlton
Sport Development Senior Manager: Ashley Diebold
Sport Development Coordinator: Elise Saarela

Moguls Staff
Head Moguls Coach: Matt Gnoza
World Cup Moguls Coach: Riley Campbell
World Cup/NorAm Coach: Joe Discoe

Aerials Staff
Head Aerials Coach: Vladimir Lebedev
World Cup Aerials Coach: Eric Bergoust

Medical & Sports Science Staff
High Performance Dietitian: Allen Tran
Senior Sports Psychologist, USOPC: Alex Cohen
Moguls Team Physical Therapist: Chuck Williams
Moguls Team Athletic Development Coach: Josh Bullock
Aerials Team Physical Therapist: Peter Toohey
Aerials Team Athletic Development Coach: Houston Deck
Freestyle Athletic Development Manager: Tschana Schiller 

Follow the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team:
Instagram: @usskiteam
Facebook: @usskiandsnowboard
Twitter: @usskiteam

OFFICIAL U.S. FREESTYLE SKI TEAM PARTNERS AND SUPPLIERS

U.S. Ski & Snowboard has announced the 20 athletes of the Davis Cross Country National Team Program for the 2019-20 season who will open their World Cup season Nov. 29-Dec. 1 in Ruka, Finland, and the SuperTour season Dec. 6-8 in Canmore, Alberta.

“We’ve been really impressed with the fitness, professionalism, and motivation of all the U.S. Ski Team athletes this summer,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Cross Country Program Director Chris Grover. “The athletes are making big steps forward technically and physiologically. All the personal coaches and club partners have been doing an impressive job of preparing these national team athletes, and we are excited to watch them race this season. We expect American athletes to have some breakthrough performances all season long, from the Norwegian opener in Beitostølen, to the World Junior and U23 Championships, to the Minneapolis, USA World Cup.”

Jessie Diggins and Simi Hamilton will lead an experienced team of athletes heading into the 2019-20 FIS Cross Country World Cup season, which includes the return of World Cup racing to the U.S. for the first time in 19 years on March 17 in Minneapolis, Minn. Other North American World Cup events will also include Quebec City, Canada, March 14-15, and for the second consecutive season, the World Cup Finals will also be held on North American soil in Canmore, Alberta, Canada, March 20-22. All 11 members of the U.S. Cross Country A & B Team will kick off the season in Ruka. 

The 2019-20 team also includes the largest D-Team the United States has fielded in many years with nine athletes, including all four members of the gold-medal-winning 2019 FIS Junior World Ski Championships men’s relay team: Luke Jager, Ben Ogden, Johnny Hagenbuch, and Gus Schumacher. Members of the D-Team will open their competitive season in Canmore. 

2019-20 Davis Family Cross Country National Team Program
(Hometown; Club; Birthdate)

A TEAM
Men
Erik Bjornsen (Winthrop, Wash.; Alaska Pacific University Nordic Center; 7/14/91)|
Simi Hamilton (Aspen, Colo.; Stratton Mountain School Elite Team; 5/14/87)

Women
Sadie Bjornsen (Winthrop, Wash.; Alaska Pacific University Nordic Center; 11/21/89)
Rosie Brennan (Anchorage, Alaska; Alaska Pacific University Nordic Center; 12/21/98
Sophie Caldwell (Peru, Vt.; Stratton Mountain School Elite Team; 3/22/90)
Jessie Diggins (Afton, Minn.; Stratton Mountain School Elite Team; 8/26/91)

B TEAM
Men
Kevin Bolger (Minocqua, Wisc.; Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation; 4/11/93)
Scott Patterson (Anchorage, Alaska; Alaska Pacific University Nordic Center; 1/28/92)

Women
Julia Kern (Waltham, Mass.; Stratton Mountain School Elite Team; 9/12/97)
Caitlin Patterson (Anchorage, Alaska; Craftsbury Nordic; 1/30/90)
Hailey Swirbul (Aspen, Colo.; Alaska Pacific University Nordic Center; 7/10/98)

D TEAM
Men
Johnny Hagenbuch (Ketchum, Idaho; Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation; 10/1/2001)
Luke Jager (Anchorage, Alaska; APU/University of Utah; 1/17/00)
Noel Keeffe (Steamboat Springs, Colo.; SSWSC/University of Utah; 8/24/99)
Zak Ketterson (Bloomington, Minn.; NMU; 4/2/97)
Ben Ogden (Landgrove, Vt.; Stratton Mountain School/University of Vermont; 2/13/00)
Gus Schumacher (Anchorage, Alaska; Alaska Winter Stars; 7/25/00)

Women
Hannah Halvorsen (Truckee, Calif.; Alaska Pacific University Nordic Center; 2/19/98)
Novie McCabe (Winthrop, Wash.; MVNT; 12/15/01)
Kendall Kramer (Fairbanks, Alaska; NSCF-FXC; 6/25/02)

Cross Country Coaches and Staff
Cross Country Program Director:  Chris Grover
World Cup Coach:  Matt Whitcomb                    
World Cup Coach:  Jason Cork                              
D-Team Coach:  Bernie Nelson                                                                        
Cross Country Sport Development Manager:  Bryan Fish            
Cross Country Sport Coordinator: Adam St. Pierre              
Communications Manager: Tom Horrocks

Service Staff
Head of Service:  Oleg Ragilo           
World Cup Service:  Jean-Pascal Laurin
World Cup Service:  Per-Erik Bjørnstad    
World Cup Service:  Tim Baucom                        
World Cup Service:  Eli Brown    
World Cup Service:  Karel Kruuser    

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

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