The mood in the Olympic Bar at Michel’s Christiania was reflective. In a place steeped in ski racing history, where skis and photographs of hometown legends like Picabo Street and Christin Cooper line the walls, friends, family, athletes, and longtime patrons raised glasses to its namesake, Michel Rudigoz. A Frenchman by birth and beloved son of Sun Valley by choice, Rudigoz was one of the most influential coaches in U.S. Ski Team history. He passed away on May 29 at the age of 81.

Rudigoz helped bring culture, discipline, and belief to the U.S. Ski Team, empowering his athletes to know they could compete against the best in Europe. He built a team founded on trust and shared purpose, where every coach, technician, and athlete understood their responsibility and their value. His women’s alpine team from the early 1980s set an example for others to follow.

His athletes recall the standards he demanded and the confidence he gave them. They remember the laughter, the friendships, and the belief he instilled in them that they belonged among the world’s best. 

And long after medals were won and races forgotten, they never forgot Michel. Above all, they remember a ski coach who cared first about them as people and then about results. 

Under Rudigoz’s leadership, American women began to see themselves not as challengers to Europe, but as equals. He inspired his athletes to believe they belonged among the world’s best, and then helped them prove it. 

In 1982, without a single individual crystal globe winner, nine U.S. women combined their efforts to capture the Nations Cup title for the first time in history. It was a landmark achievement that stood alone for 44 years, until Mikaela Shiffrin, Lindsey Vonn, and their teammates brought the trophy back to America this past season.

A year later, an inspired Tamara McKinney won the overall World Cup title – a feat not matched again for a quarter century. And in 1984, Deb Armstrong and Cooper took gold and silver in the giant slalom at the Olympic Winter Games in Sarajevo – an historic milestone for U.S. women equaled only by Lindsey Vonn and Julia Mancuso in the Olympic downhill in 2010.

“I was extremely lucky to have this coach in my life. As a young athlete, you eventually grow up. And at that time, what you hope to have is friendship, respect, and lifelong stories with the people who helped shape your career. Michel Rudigoz was that kind of person in my life.”
— Deb Armstrong

From Lyon to Val d’Isere

Rudigoz evolved in the French Alpine system, shaped by the teachings and influence of national coach Honoré Bonnet. Bonnet was a central figure in the sport during the 1950s and ‘60s, when Rudigoz was a young racer and later a coach. Together with journalist Serge Lang and American coach Bob Beattie, Bonnet founded the World Cup in 1967.

His pathway began with a joyful life among five siblings with parents who gave their children the opportunity to ski. He grew up in the Lyon area, born in nearby Lentilly, and spent time at the family country home in Meximieux along the Ain River. His parents often took their five children skiing at Chamrousse, the future Olympic venue near Grenoble, and at Le Chinaillon near Le Grand-Bornand. 

He developed a passion for the sport, buoyed by a generation of great French ski heroes like Henri Oreiller, Jean Vuarnet, and Guy Périllat.

That passion evolved into racing with the ski section of Football Club de Lyon before serving and training with the famed 7th Battalion of the Chasseurs Alpins, one of France’s elite mountain military units – including packing courses at Chamrousse during the 1968 Olympics. The military experience immersed him in the disciplined, team-oriented culture that would later define his coaching career.

Rudigoz gravitated to Val d’Isère, France, during the golden age of French skiing after an invitation from friends. He soon earned his Moniteur de Ski Alpin certification under Bonnet by age 21. In 1967, he came to the Eastern USA to teach skiing, followed by a stint in Australia. 

But sport was just one part of the foundational learning he absorbed as a young man. He grew up not only surrounded by skiing but also by French culture and cuisine. It made him understand, as the French say, Joie de Vivre – the joy of life.  His home city of Lyon, widely regarded as the gastronomic capital of France, embodied a culture centered on enjoying life rather than rushing through it. 

It was that sense of joy that he imparted to all those around him, from the kids he coached in Sun Valley to the athletes he led to high levels of personal achievement, to the tens of thousands of guests he welcomed into his restaurant for more than 40 years. As much as he loved seeing his racers go fast, his passion really shone in his hospitality and in welcoming others. And to his very end, nothing gave him more pleasure than tableside conversations at his restaurant, ensuring that his guests felt that same joy.

During his teens and into his twenties, Val d’Isere was the center of French alpine ski racing and the home of the great champion Jean-Claude Killy, who would win all three Olympic gold medals in 1968 at Grenoble. Rudigoz valued his ski instruction and coaching certifications, as well as the life lessons he learned from Bonnet. His coaching role in the Haute-Tarentaise would lead him to coach the British women’s Olympic team at Sapporo in 1972.

A few months after the 1972 Sapporo Games, in nearby Tignes, he caught the eye of Lane Monroe, legendary Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation coach. Monroe and Moose Barrows were coaching at the camp for promising international junior racers, produced by French ski racing star Michel Arpin, a good friend of Killy and Rudigoz.

The camp was a bit of a farewell for Monroe, who was leaving for a role with the U.S. Ski Team. He had a strong group of juniors with him, including Pete Patterson, Billy Shaw, and Abbi Fisher. Part of Monroe’s mission was to recruit a replacement for himself. Rudigoz became his choice.  

En route back to Geneva after the camp, Arpin hosted the coaches for dinner at his home in Thonon-les-Bains, on the shores of Lac Léman. Monroe used the opportunity to extend an invitation to Rudigoz.

“I said, ‘Rudi, would you consider, if you're not doing anything else, to come to Sun Valley and take over the program for me?” said Monroe. “He said no. And so I convinced him that the duck hunting was really good. And that's all I had to mention was duck hunting. And he said, ‘I'm coming. I'll be there.’”

Rudigoz would spend the next 54 years of his life in Sun Valley.
 

Coming to Sun Valley

When the 28-year-old Rudigoz arrived in Sun Valley, he had no idea where his future would lead. And no crystal ball could have predicted the future of the young teens in the SVSEF program. Cooper, who would go on to win Olympic silver, was 13 at the time. Future Olympians Pete Patterson was 15; sister Susie, 17; and Maria Maricich, 11. Picabo Street wasn’t even one yet. Muffy Davis was soon to be born.

Monroe recalls the early days and how Rudigoz brought in a very direct style. “Rudi and Honoré were very well known together,” said Monroe of Rudigoz’ mentor. “Rudi used to say, ‘He’s a tough son of a bitch.’ That’s what he told me. And I said, ‘You know, all of you French (coaches) are a little tough.’ He cracked up.”

Monroe knew that Rudigoz's hard-nosed style would be noticed and felt.

“I had to tone him down,” added Monroe. “When he first came here, he brought that attitude. I finally said, ‘Rudi, listen, I know this is how you do it in Europe, but you've got to tone it down here in the States because these kids don't understand what you're doing. His best line was, ‘You ski like s- -t!’ You could see their ears in their eyes because they didn’t understand what he was saying. But it was a way to get them going!”

Decades later, his athletes recalled those discussions with pride on how he helped them accomplish their dreams.

Cooper values her childhood in Sun Valley and the opportunity she had to grow up on that mountain. She also recognizes how Rudigoz saw the mountain as a key component of athletic success.

We had these great skiers as coaches, like Pat Bauman right off the K2 Demonstration Team,” recalled Cooper. “And, of course, the mountain in Sun Valley is such a great coach, as well. Michel really saw that and knew the mountain would be our best coach. So he had all of his coaches just ski with us.”

Cooper recalls her first trip to Europe with Rudigoz at age 13. Even as a young teen, she recognized the opportunities he was creating. Despite being from a tiny club in the middle of Nowhere America, she saw how he opened doors at Rossignol. Soon, they were getting better skis. Boot designers at Le Trappeur started working directly with the club. Before long, there were summer camps on European glaciers.

“When I went to that first camp, it was like, I want to do this. I want to come back here,” said Cooper. “I want to race over here. It opened up this new world to me. And I learned French with him, and I got to know his family. We went to Lyon, and I was in the kitchen with his mom.

“He taught us to get comfortable in Europe. I did well in the big events because it was ‘This is where you want to be’ and not ‘I’m away from home.’”
 — Lane Monroe

“It was just one of those situations where the right guy ends up at the right place at the right time,” recalled Bill Marolt, who became alpine director in 1980. “He had the skills to lead, to inspire, and create a really good team atmosphere at Sun Valley. He had an amazing run during his time with the Sun Valley Ski Educational Foundation. That's why the U.S. Ski Team looked at him and ultimately hired him.”
 

Jump to the U.S. Ski Team

In 1977, Rudigoz made the jump to the men’s national team, working the 1977-78 season as head downhill coach under coach Harald Schönhaar. The highlight was a bronze medal in combined for Rudigoz’ Sun Valley star, Pete Patterson, at the World Championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

The next season, Rudigoz transitioned to the women’s downhill team under coach Hermann Göllner for two seasons, including the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid. Cindy Nelson took silver in the World Championship combined (combined was not an Olympic event at the time). In the Olympic downhill, 18-year-old Heidi Preuss was fourth. Nelson was seventh.

“Michel had a really interesting way with people,” said Hank Tauber, who was alpine director until 1980. “He had a pretty good technical understanding and a good way to communicate with people, especially with 18 to 21-year-old ladies.”

After the Lake Placid Olympics in 1980, the U.S. Ski Team recognized his abilities and put him in charge of a young but promising group of women, some of whom were from his own program at Sun Valley. Under his tutelage, they would go on to make history over the next four years.

“Michel was really a good leader,” said Marolt. “He understood how to create and build a team. He did that with his staff. He was one of the few guys who you could watch actually delegate responsibility to staff and let them run their part of the program. Michel functioned as a head coach, ensuring they were on track in terms of the plan.

“And when you have a cohesive staff, that translates down to the kids – they see that, they feel that!”

All the while he was with the U.S. Ski Team, Sun Valley never left his heart. Local camps in the late ‘70s with national team athletes opened the eyes of young Sun Valley racers. “That was the first time I had seen so many athletes in person in skiing,” said Street, who wasn’t even 10 when she had her first exposure to the national team. “And I was like, ‘Oh, yeah, that’s what I want to do.’”
 

Setting a New Standard

Today, we measure success by the depths of Mikaela Shiffrin’s 110 World Cup wins, or Lindsey Vonn’s 20 crystal globes. In 1980, the U.S. women had heroes like Gretchen Fraser with her 1948 Olympic slalom gold, or Andrea Mead Lawrence with double Olympic gold in 1952 – truly extraordinary accomplishments. But there had been no true camaraderie-building team-wide success like the men had had in 1964 with Billy Kidd and Jimmie Heuga.

The success of the U.S. Ski Team’s women’s alpine squad under Rudigoz from 1980-84 would carry on to future generations. It would establish a new standard, one that would springboard future stars like Street and help the next generation see what’s possible.

Going into the 1980-81 season, veteran World Cup winners Nelson and Abbi Fisher, and rising downhill star Holly Flanders, anchored a rapidly evolving team. Behind them came a group of hard-charging youngsters. Cooper, who had followed Rudigoz from Sun Valley, was 21. Tamara McKinney, who earned her first World Cup podium at 16, was still a teen at 18. Heidi Preuss, who just missed a medal in Lake Placid, was only 19.

That year would become a breakout for the teen McKinney, a Tahoe transplant from the Kentucky horse country. She would win her first three career World Cups in 1981. Cooper would earn her first podium – and do it eight times! Veteran Nelson would continue to score, and Flanders would land her first downhill podium.

John McMurtry, the head technical coach at the time, points to the team mentality Rudigoz brought in. “We realized we had tremendous talent on the team,” said McMurtry. “And we also had some young talent starting to bubble up. It was that whole team dynamic. Everybody trained together. When we trained on snow or had conditioning camps, we didn’t have one elite skier training on their own. It was all together. And the younger athletes coming up who were invited to the camp got to train with Cindy Nelson, Viki Fleckenstein, or other top team members. Everyone trained together, was part of the team, and their participation was valued.”

“For me, he's the first coach who came with unconditional love for us and the sport. And taught us – a gaggle of a dozen very independent, very talented girls.”
 — Tamara McKinney

Looking back on that Nations Cup title season, now 44 years ago, Cooper ties that success to Rudigoz’s team building and simple organizational skills.

“His great genius as a coach was not technical,” said Cooper. “It was about keeping things simple.”

For technical advice, athletes went to slalom/giant slalom coach McMurtry or downhill coach Ernst Hager, an Austrian who knew all the nuances of every course in Europe.

“What he did was try to ensure that we were having fun so we could always look for speed and want to be out there,” she said. “Whether the weather was good or the weather was bad. How do we embrace this sport in all of its various guises – when you're tired, when you're not? I mean, he could tell!”

He created a team where everyone had their role – no one was expected to know it all.

“He was like that duck on the pond that you know is smiling and yapping, but underneath, he’s paddling furiously!”

On the athletic side, one of the keys to success for the women from the 1980-84 season was a focus on strength and conditioning. John Atkins, a Vietnam vet who earned his athletic trainer certification from the University of Utah, brought an NFL strength mentality to the team.

“We physically trained harder than the Ski Teams had previously – harder and differently,” said McKinney. “We were the first ones to use free weights. John Atkins, coming in from the NFL background, brought that expertise.”

The focus on strength had a significant impact on the athletes' physical abilities. But Rudigoz also used it to get at the Europeans. Suddenly, the foreign teams wanted to train with the Americans. But he also messed with their minds.

“We were in Pfronten (Germany), and the foreign World Cup coaches had set up a volleyball tournament for the women,” reminisced Atkins. “Michel said, ‘Hey, JA, why don’t you warm up our girls with some taekwondo? And bring your pajamas with that black belt.’”

Atkins dutifully got the athletes in a circle with the European teams all watching. “We did an easy warm-up, then got in a circle for some hardcore taekwondo. They finished with 25 knuckle push-ups on the cement floor – perfect form. Then they all stood up and smiled.”

The next day, Rudigoz was laughing as all the European coaches were saying, “My goodness, the women’s trainer, he is so brutal!”

“At the time, we were setting a new standard for women’s fitness,” said Cooper. “We just changed our physical approach, and we got bad ass! And the other teams noticed it. We did karate sessions at the start – not because we necessarily needed to, but it was a good way to warm up, brought in team building, and it blew the European teams’ minds like what are they doing and why are they having so much fun?”

McKinney recalls a time in the 1981 season when she failed to finish more than a dozen races. She was in a cycle and knew that something had to change. Some coaches feel that when an athlete is talented, they need to be harder on them. Rudigoz had a unique approach.

“Michel had a way of saying things straight and honestly, but in a paternal way,” said McKinney. “So, he came to me and said: ‘You fell in the last gate, you fell in the first gate, and you’ve fallen in every gate in between. So, that’s it. It’s over. When you make a mistake, you think about it, learn from it, and then you let it go.’”

Right away, things started happening for McKinney. She took her first career victory a few days later in Haute Nendaz, Switzerland, won again two days later at Les Gets, France, and added a third victory six weeks later in Aspen.

“He instilled tactics in me which no one had ever done,” she said. 

Amidst the 1982 Nations Cup chase, the women went to Schladming, Austria, for the World Championships, emerging with four medals, including two silver and a bronze for Cooper, and a silver for Nelson. 

Through the season, yet another storyline played out as Flanders chased the downhill globe – something never achieved by an American woman until Street’s 1995 title. Looking back on that time, Flanders credits Rudigoz for the atmosphere he created that allowed athletes, like her, to reach their maximum potential.

“Michel was really important because he set the tone for the whole team. The biggest support for me was just the consistency and the fact that the coaches were all united. There was a sense of solidarity.”
— Holly Flanders

In a two-race finale that season in Arosa, Switzerland, Flanders won the first downhill to take a strong lead for the globe, needing only a ninth the following day. In that final race, she missed gate and lost the title by a mere three points to France’s Marie-Cécile Gros-Gaudenier.
 

Culture of a Team

In a 2017 blog piece, journalist and Olympic ski racer Edie Thys Morgan dissected some of the U.S. Ski Team’s greatest squads where the central and defining aspect was – team! “The best coaches are 'Environmental Engineers' who create an atmosphere that leads to a positive and productive team culture, where little successes are acknowledged, incremental confidence builds on itself, and the whole is far more powerful than the sum of its individual parts,” she wrote. 

“Culture comes from the top, yet it can’t be dictated. Rather, it is a consequence of values and daily habits nurtured with intention and authenticity.”
— Edie Thys Morgan

That is precisely what Michel Rudigoz employed as a leader. And it is the aspect that is most remembered today, more than four decades later.

It was a team in every sense of the word. As a teammate, you traveled and had dinner together. You attended every awards ceremony for your teammates. And you waited at the finish until every one of your teammates had finished their race. And it wasn’t so much that it was a rule. It was just what you did.

McKinney saw that culture played out in how he treated everyone on the team. “He had a way of creating this ambiance of a team,” she said. “Yes, we had winning days. But he was also a coach on the days when we weren’t winning. He didn’t just ride the coattails of the winners.”
 

Coach and Restaurateur in Sun Valley

Some look back at the end of the 1984 season and ask,’ Why?’ After four remarkable years, that chapter was over. Some, like Cooper, would follow Rudigoz into retirement from the grind of the White Circus. Others, namely McKinney and Armstrong, would go on to achieve further glory, taking the lessons they learned with them. And a new crew of rookies, in the likes of Diann Roffe and Eva Twardokens, would arrive as part of the next generation.

Rudigoz’s departure from the U.S. Ski Team after the 1984 Olympic season ushered in a new chapter for the team and for himself. Returning to Sun Valley, he took up his coaching role locally again, helping guide the next generation of SVSEF athletes, such as young teens Street and Davis.

“The biggest thing that he taught me was humility first and foremost. And then, secondly, were the fundamental basics of skiing that created a solid enough foundation for me to ski any discipline, however I wanted. It was prepare between the turns and ski foot-to-foot. He would just repeat that to me and repeat that to me and repeat that to me until it was ingrained in me and I was technically as sound as I could be.”
— Picabo Street

Still just a teen when Rudigoz returned to coach in Sun Valley, Street took away life lessons that would help her as she matured into one of the best downhill racers in the world, winning the 1995 downhill crystal globe, Olympic downhill silver, and Olympic super-G gold.

“Be coachable, be humble, be kind,” said Street. “There was a style about him for me that allowed me to see that if I was kind and humble to everybody all the time, that earned me the right to click into race mode and kick everybody’s ass. He’s probably where I figured that one out.”

True to his passion for cuisine and hospitality, he opened a small restaurant, Chez Michel, in Trail Creek Village. A decade later, he would take over the legendary Christiania, or Christy to locals. Since 1994, Michel’s Christiania restaurant has become the centerpiece of both cuisine and ski racing culture in Sun Valley. 

As a Sun Valley native, Street has long memories of Chez Michel. It was there that she signed her first sponsorship contract with Fred Leadbetter of Marker Ski Bindings.

Over time, Street returned often to visit her old coach. “We didn’t really reminisce a lot about racing,” she said. We just had a comfort and familiarity with one another. He loved his restaurant. He loved his food. He loved to serve people delicious food. There was something about the gleam in his eye and the skip in his step that he had when people from his past in the ski industry came in.”

In 2024, as a last salute, coaches and athletes gathered to celebrate Rudigoz’s 80th birthday. It was a celebration filled with stories, punctuated by laughter, and brought together by tears.  It was also a storyline of how this team – every component of it – had stuck together over four decades in support of the man who put them onto a pathway for life.

This month, through text threads and social posts, Michel's world came alive once again following his passing. Tributes poured in, evoking a blend of tears and laughter. 

McKinney wrote: 
Au revoir Michel💔
Voyagez bien- À la prochaine.                                             
Salut à toi mon cher ami, Entraîneur & petite Papa.🥂🤗

Cooper perhaps summed it up best, with a smile in her heart, hearkening back to the years of her youth, when a small Frenchman helped her become the person she became in life.
“May we all "ski like s..t” … and then be inspired to ski a little better.
Aren’t we the fortunate ones?”

MICHEL RUDIGOZ COACHING TIMELINE

1972 - Head coach for the British Women’s Alpine Olympic Team|
1972 - Recruited to Sun Valley by Lane Monroe
1972-77 - Coaching at SVSEF
1976 - Lane Monroe returns to SVSEF from the U.S. Ski Team
1977-78 - Joins U.S. Ski Team as head men’s downhill coach for one season
1978 - Pete Patterson wins bronze in World Champs combined at Garmisch
1978-80 - Head women’s downhill coach for two seasons, working under head women’s coach Hermann Göllner
1980 - Cindy Nelson silver in the 1980 World Champs combined at Lake Placid
1980-84 - Head women’s coach for four seasons
1982 - Christin Cooper and Cindy Nelson combine for four medals at the World Championships
1982 - Women take Nations Cup for the first time
1984 - Deb Armstrong and Christin Cooper win gold and silver in the Sarajevo Olympic GS
1984 - Returns to Sun Valley, continuing to coach locally
1984 - Opens Chez Michel in Trail Creek Village; continues coaching at SVSEF
1994 - Leases legendary Christiania restaurant in Ketchum, naming it Michel’s Christiania

U.S. Ski & Snowboard and Stifel announce the 2026 Stifel U.S. Ski Team Stifel Award winners for the 2025-26 season. Winners in each category were selected through a voting process by their teammates and staff. 

Now in its fourth year, the Stifel Awards celebrate athletes and staff members from across the Stifel U.S. Ski Team. Awards range from Athlete of the Year to Best Comeback, Most Improved and Rookie of the Year, as well as Coach of the Year in each sport. Each recipient is awarded a cash prize courtesy of Stifel, title partner across eight sports under the Stifel U.S. Ski Team flag.

“Stifel is proud to continue recognizing the outstanding athletes and staff of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team through the annual Stifel End of Year Awards,” said Ron Kruszewski, Chairman and CEO of Stifel. “Our ‘Where Success Meets Success’ motto continues to reflect the dedication and excellence of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team and we’re grateful for the opportunity to celebrate their achievements while continuing to grow the impact of these awards each year.”

“The winners of the Stifel Awards are incredibly deserving of this recognition for everything they accomplished throughout the 2025-26 season,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Chief of Sport Anouk Patty. “This season was marked by outstanding performances across all of our teams and that success would not be possible without the dedication of the athletes, coaches and staff working behind the scenes every day. We’re grateful to Stifel for continuing to celebrate and support the people who make these achievements possible.”

Demonstrating their dedication to the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, the Stifel Awards underscore their commitment to supporting athletes both on and off the slopes. 

Award Winners

Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team

• Athlete of the Year: Lindsey Vonn, Ryan Cochran-Siegle
• Rookie of the Year: Elisabeth Bocock, Jevin Palmquist
• Most Improved: Mary Bocock, Kyle Negomir
• Best Comeback: Lindsey Vonn, Erik Arvidsson
• Coach of the Year: Kip Spangler 

Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team

• Athlete of the Year: Jessie Diggins, Ben Ogden
• Rookie of the Year: Sammy Smith, Murphy Kimball
• Most Improved: Kendall Kramer, Zak Ketterson
• Best Comeback: Novie McCabe, Ben Ogden
• Coach of the Year: Matt Whitcomb

Stifel U.S. Freeski Team

• Athlete of the Year: Grace Henderson, Mac Forehand
• Best Comeback: Rell Harwood, Hunter Hess
• Most Improved: Avery Krumme, Konnor Ralph
• Rookie of the Year: Avery Krumme, Henry Townshend
• Coach of the Year: Ryan Wyble

Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team - aerials

• Athlete of the Year: Chris Lillis
• Rookie of the Year: Kyra Dossa
• Most Improved: Connor Curran
• Best Comeback: Winter Vinecki
• Coach of the Year: Walter Crijanovschi

Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team - moguls

• Athlete of the Year: Olivia Giaccio
• Rookie of the Year: Abby McLarnon
• Most Improved: Landon Wendler
• Best Comeback: Liz Lemley
• Coach of the Year: Bryon Wilson

Stifel U.S. Nordic Combined Team 

• Athlete of the Year: Alexa Brabec, Niklas Malacinski
• Best Comeback: Tara Geraghty-Moats, Erik Lynch
• Most Improved: Alexa Brabec, Niklas Malacinski
• Coach of the Year: Emil Vilhelmsen

Stifel U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team

• Athlete of the Year: Patrick Halgren
• Rookie of the Year: Meg Gustafson
• Most Improved: Anna Soens

Stifel U.S. Ski Jumping Team 

• Athlete of the Year: Annika Belshaw, Kevin Bickner
• Best Comeback: Josie Johnson, Kevin Bickner
• Most Improved: Sandra Sproch, Jason Colby
• Rookie of the Year: Josie Johnson, Jason Colby
• Coach of the Year: Karl Vegard Andersen

Park City, Utah (June 2, 2026) - U.S. Ski & Snowboard is proud to announce that Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team staff members Alex Hoedlmoser and Regan Dewhirst have been recognized by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) as part of its 2025 Coaches and Support Staff of the Year Awards.

Hoedlmoser is the head Speed Coach of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team women's alpine team, while Dewhirst is the Sports Medicine Manager/Physiotherapist to the winningest alpine skier of all time, Mikaela Shiffrin. Hoedlmoser was named Olympic Coach of the Year while Dewhirst earned the Sports Medicine Support Staff honor. 

The annual USOPC recognition program honors outstanding coaches and support staff across the Olympic and Paralympic Movement who have made significant contributions to athlete performance, development and well-being. Winners are selected by an independent panel following nominations from National Governing Bodies. 

Previous U.S. Ski & Snowboard recipients of Olympic Coach of the Year include snowboard coaches Pete del’Giudice (2001), Bud Keene (2006) and Rick Bower (2010), as well as freeski coach Skogen Sprang (2014) and cross country coach Jason Cork (2018). Additionally, the current Senior Vice President of High Performance, Gillian Bower, was recognized as Service Provider of the Year in 2020. 

"These honors reflect the incredible work Alex and Regan do every day behind the scenes with our alpine programs," said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Chief of Sport, Anouk Patty. "Our athletes benefit tremendously from their expertise, leadership and dedication. We are proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition."

Olympic Coach of the Year, Alex Hoedlmoser
Alex Hoedlmoser led the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team women's speed group through a historic 2025 season. Athlete Breezy Johnson captured two world championship titles at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Saalbach, Austria, including a downhill gold medal and a team combined gold alongside teammate Mikaela Shiffrin. Hoedlmoser also guided Lauren Macuga to a breakout season that included her first career World Cup victory and a bronze medal at the World Championships in super-G.

Apart from the standout season of 2025, Hoedlmoser has been a longtime staple of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, spanning two decades worth of coaching women’s speed from Europa Cup to World Cup. As a former elite alpine racer with the Austrian Ski Team, he has brought technical expertise to the organization time and time again. He notably helped develop Lindsey Vonn and Julia Mancuso into Olympic champions. Known for his athlete-centered approach and emphasis on team culture, Hoedlmoser's leadership fostered an environment that enabled athletes to perform at their highest level while building a strong and cohesive team. 

Sports Medicine Support Staff, Regan Dewhirst
Dewhirst was recognized for her exceptional impact on Stifel U.S. Ski Team athletes through her expertise in injury rehabilitation, return-to-sport programming, load management and athlete wellness.

Throughout the season, Dewhirst played a critical role in supporting athletes returning from injury, most notably helping Mikaela Shiffrin successfully recover and return to competition during the same season, culminating in Shiffrin's historic 100th FIS Alpine Ski World Cup victory and ultimately her 101st World Cup victory on home soil in Stifel Sun Valley Finals in Sun Valley, Idaho. Her collaborative approach, innovative mindset and commitment to athlete well-being continue to elevate the standard of care across Team USA.

Prior to joining U.S. Ski & Snowboard, Regan built extensive experience in private practice expansion, clinic management and clinician education, serving as a clinical instructor for emerging physical therapy professionals. Regan earned both her Bachelor of Science and Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Vermont, where she was also a four-year member of the NCAA Division I women’s soccer team.

Other recognized coaches and service providers include those from USA Hockey, speed skating, wrestling, track & field and baseball. See the full list of winners in Team USA’s press release here. 

The Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team officially announces four new hires, including a World Cup Coach, two Service Team members and a Development Coach. 

“We are very excited to start working with all four of these new hires,” said Chris Grover, Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team program director. “Ville will already be working with the Stifel U.S. Ski Team athletes in our upcoming training camp in Sjusjoen and Sognefjell, Norway, beginning June 6. Our service team will join the Sognefjell camp on snow for a testing project, during which both Esben and Simen will be introduced to the Team. Meanwhile, Lizzie will join development projects already starting in June. We are so thankful to have these four very talented and knowledgeable people joining our ranks as we embark on the journey towards the French Alps in 2030 and the Salt Lake City Games in 2034. Each of them brings new and varied experiences that we all can learn from.”

Ville Oksanen joins the team as the new World Cup Coach. Oksanen has been instrumental in guiding Finnish skiers to top-tier international success, including preparing athletes during major events like the World Cup, World Championships and the Olympic Winter Games. Holding multiple roles within the association, Oksanen recently led the Finnish National Team and World Cup program. From 2019-22, he led the women's national team; from 2022-26, the men’s national team, specializing with the sprint athletes. Under Oksanen's leadership, many of his athletes medaled at major championships. Alongside coaching, Oksanen led the support team, including medical and physiotherapy professionals. His coaching is high standard, athlete-centered, with emphasis on teamwork, trust and the process. Oksanen is pursuing a degree at the premier Finnish institution for sports sciences, the University of Jyväskylä. He lives in Helsinki, Finland, with his family. 

Lizzie Larkins joins the Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team as the Development Coach. A competitive skier herself, Larkins competed on the D1 collegiate circuit at the University of Vermont and graduated with a degree in Nutrition and Food Science. She began her coaching career at the Auburn Ski Club (ASC), then pursued a Master of Science in Sport and Coaching Sciences and an Assistant Coaching position at Montana State University. Recently, Larkins has been a part of several U.S. Ski & Snowboard projects, including leading Team USA’s trip to the 2024 Youth Olympic Games, directing western Regional Development Camps, serving as a key staff member on the World Junior Championships team and participating in the Trail to Gold fellowship program. Larkins was among the coaching staff at the Paralympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina, supporting the U.S. Paralympic Nordic Team. Larkins lives in Bozeman, MT. 

Esben Tøllefsen joins the service staff as a World Cup technician. Throughout his career, Tøllefsen worked for the Norwegian service team, spending nine years as a full-time staff member and the last three, part-time. In recent years, Tøllefsen split his time working for Norway and Iceland. Tøllefsen lives in Tromsø, Norway. 

Simen Finjord also joins the service staff as a World Cup technician. Finjord joins the team after critical years leading the Aker Dæhlie wax team in Ski Classics. This past winter, Finjord supported the Aker Dæhlie team at the Olympic Winter Games in Predazzo, Italy, where he spent critical time with the Stifel U.S. Ski Team staff observing their process. When not working on skis, Finjord is currently pursuing a law degree in Tromsø, Norway. 

Kade Martin of the Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team is the first athlete for the 2026 Zions Bank 'On the Rise' series. 

U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s “On the Rise” series, presented by Zions Bank, highlights athletes throughout the season. Through community service, sponsorships and charitable donations, Zions Bank is committed to fueling economic growth and enhancing the quality of life in Idaho, Utah and Wyoming.

Securing his career-first nomination on the halfpipe pro team for the 2026-27 season, Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team’s Kade Martin is one to watch heading into the next Olympic quad.

With 11 World Cup starts to his name, Martin's best result came at the 2026 Calgary Snow Rodeo, where he punched a ticket to his first career World Cup final and earned a respectable 11th place against the best in the world. Later in the season and back on home snow, Kade took back-to-back wins at the Mammoth & Aspen Nor-Ams to secure a personal World Cup spot for the upcoming year.

Known for boosting huge out of the pipe, Martin's determination to succeed at the highest level of the sport is what sets him apart from his peers. Always composed yet intensely focused, his work ethic is primed to take him to the next level in his young career.

Martin's younger brother is 2026 Olympian Ollie Martin, who competed in snowboard slopestyle and big air in Milano Cortina. The two are each other’s biggest supporters and enjoy mountain biking, skateboarding, motocross and playing with their cats when they’re not strapped to their snowboards.

We caught up with Martin at the start of the off-season to discuss his goals and aspirations as he heads into his first season on the Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team pro team roster.

Q: What initially drew you to the sport?
KADE MARTIN: My mom and dad were both snowboarders, so naturally, I became one as well. I was also lucky enough to live in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, so of course, I either had to ski or snowboard.

Q: When you were younger and getting into the sport, what were your goals?
KM: All I wanted to do was to be a pro and win all the competitions. I looked up to the pros and imagined what it would be like to be them. I really didn’t have any goals for new tricks I wanted to try.

Q: What is your biggest accomplishment?
KM: My biggest accomplishment is paving the way for my younger brother, Ollie, to be a snowboarder as well, so he could eventually ride better than me.

Q: What is your ultimate goal?
KM: My ultimate goal within the sport is to go to the Olympics, but after that, I want to live a life where I can snowboard for as long as I can. Outside the sport, I want to be an airline pilot or an astronaut and travel the world or explore unknown places. (And of course make lots of money!) 

Q: Who are your heroes? Both in & out of the sport.
KM: My biggest heroes in the sport are Scotty James, Travis Rice and Arthur Longo — I’ve looked up to them for a long time. Outside the sport, my heroes are still my parents and my cat, and very unrelated to snowboarding: people like Neil DeGrass Tyson and Hank Green, who have shaped the philosophies that I live by every day.

Questions sponsored by Zion's Bank.

Q: You win $5,000 in prize money: What do you do with it?
KM: Definitely invest it and save it for my future.

Q: Do you budget or follow any structure related to spending?
KM: The main spending-related structure I follow is that I put any money I don’t need to spend in my brokerage account to save it. This helps me cut costs and save money.

Q: What’s one money habit you follow?
KM: A big money habit that my mom taught me was that whenever I really wanted something new, I should wait a week or two and see if I really wanted it. This has helped me numerous times in not making unnecessary purchases of things I wanted in the moment.

Keep up with Kade on Instagram, HERE!

U.S. Ski & Snowboard has officially announced John Farra as the organization’s Para Sport Director. Starting June 1, Farra – who has more than 18 years of experience in the Olympic and Paralympic movement across multiple sports – will lead the Stifel U.S. Para Nordic Ski Team, Stifel U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team and Toyota U.S. Para Snowboard Team.

Farra is no stranger to U.S. Ski & Snowboard. A 1992 Olympian, Farra led the U.S. nordic program from 2008-11, where he was responsible for creating and executing high-performance plans for cross country skiing, nordic combined and ski jumping. During his tenure, the program won four Olympic medals and six World Championship medals.

Outside of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, Farra held prominent positions with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) as high-performance director of Para nordic skiing and high-performance general manager for USA Triathlon – leading the programs to 24 Paralympic medals. Farra competed in cross country skiing at the 1992 Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, France, was a member of the U.S. World Championships team, a U.S. national champion and an NCAA All-American. Most recently, Farra was the Director of Sport Development for U.S. Biathlon, leading sport development initiatives, coaches education, talent identification and event development.

“We are excited to welcome John back to U.S. Ski & Snowboard,” said Anouk Patty, U.S. Ski & Snowboard chief of sport. “John has a wealth of experience in the Olympic and Paralympic space, as well as a background as an elite athlete himself, and is well-positioned to lead these three programs to new heights.”

“After speaking with U.S. Ski & Snowboard athlete representatives and leadership, I found myself highly motivated to contribute, with a tremendous opportunity to build a strong foundation across all four disciplines as we work toward 2030 and our home Games in 2034,” said Farra. “It makes it especially meaningful to return to U.S. Ski & Snowboard as an alumni athlete and to the organization where I started my high-performance career. I am fired up to work with, and for, the athletes starting June 1.”

Farra will be based at the USANA Center of Excellence powered by iFIT in Park City, Utah.

After years of competing at the highest level, Andrew Kurka has announced his retirement from alpine ski racing. His career closes not just with medals and podium finishes, but with a profound impact on Para alpine skiing and the community that surrounds it.

Kurka quickly emerged as one of the most dominant athletes in the men’s Para alpine sitting class, representing the United States on the world stage starting in 2010. After a poorly timed injury kept him from racing at the 2014 Games, his comeback moment came at the 2018 Winter Paralympics, where he captured gold in men’s downhill, cementing himself as a star in the sport. 

Known for his aggressive skiing style, Kurka became a constant podium threat across World Cup and international events. His “bad boy line” mentality led to numerous injuries throughout his career, including over 20 broken bones, but they never stopped him from pushing the limits in his comebacks. He continued on to earn two more Paralympic team nominations, and wrapped up his career at the 2026 Games with a bronze medal in super-G. 

He was also instrumental in promoting the sport both to the next generation of athletes and in growing the visibility of Para sports. Through his work as an athlete mentor for Classroom Champions, Kurka spent time with students and teachers in underserved communities, talking about sport and disability. He is also the proud owner of a bed and breakfast in his home state of Alaska, geared towards helping people with disabilities experience the outdoors that have impacted his career so profoundly. Along with his success on the snow, Kurka has also served as a mentor to many young Para alpine athletes, guiding their careers throughout his time on the team.

As he puts away his race skis, Kurka leaves behind a sport that is stronger, faster, and more visible than when he entered it. His career helped bridge the gap between sport and culture, and he consistently delivered both on the snow and off it. 

While his time in the start gate may be over, his impact on Para alpine skiing will continue to shape the sport for years to come.

Thank you, Andrew.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard is proud to announce the winners of the annual U.S. Ski & Snowboard Congress Awards, honoring individuals and organizations that have significantly impacted the world of elite skiing and snowboarding. The list of winners from the 2025-26 season includes those who have demonstrated talent in athletics, coaching, governance and more, fostering the growth of skiing and snowboarding in the United States and worldwide. 

Dr. Tom Hackett, who has spent decades in the medical field and helping assist U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes and disciplines, took home the most prestigious prize: the Julius Blegen Award. In years past, Tom Kelly, Walt Evans, Bruce Crane, Bob Dart, Thelma Hoessler, Dexter Paine, Chuck Heckert, Spencer Eccles and others have been recognized with the Julius Blegen award. 

Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team athlete and three-time Olympic medalist, Lindsey Vonn, is the 2026 recipient of the Beck International Award. The Coach of the Year award was won by Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team moguls coach Bryon Wilson. And, Mt. Mansfield Academy took home the Club of the Year award due to its strength in development, coaching and academics. 

Other noteworthy recognitions include Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team athlete Jessie Diggins (2026 Buddy Werner Award), Bjorn & Kathy Borgen (2026 John J. Clair Jr. Award) and many others who continue to inspire the current and next generation of skiers and snowboarders. 

Find the complete list of winners below. 

DIAMOND AWARD

U.S. Ski & Snowboard Julius Blegen Award: Dr. Tom Hackett 
The Julius Blegen Award is given annually to the U.S. Ski & Snowboard member who has contributed outstanding service to skiing or snowboarding in the United States. It is designed to recognize individuals who have made a significant contribution over a sustained period on behalf of U.S. Ski & Snowboard's vision and mission. The award began in 1946 in memory of Julius Blegen, a former treasurer of the NSA from 1937-42 and the first president of the Central U.S. Ski & Snowboard, as well as the American Olympic coach in 1932. 

Dr. Tom Hackett has dedicated more than a decade of extraordinary service to U.S. Ski & Snowboard, volunteering his expertise at training camps, World Cup races and multiple Olympic Winter Games, while consistently prioritizing athlete health, safety and success. Widely regarded as one of the top orthopedic surgeons in sports medicine, Dr. Hackett has treated and operated on countless elite athletes, helping preserve and extend careers at the highest level of competition.

Beyond his surgical accomplishments, Dr. Hackett is respected for his limitless dedication to the U.S. Ski & Snowboard community, making him a deserving recipient of the Julius Blegen Award.

GOLD AWARDS

2026 Beck International Award: Lindsey Vonn
U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Beck International Award, its highest athletic award, is presented to a competitor based on outstanding performance in international competition during the past season. The Beck award was inaugurated in 1931.

Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team athlete and three-time Olympic medalist Lindsey Vonn had a historic season, making an incredible comeback after over five years of retirement. During the 2025-26 season, Vonn earned two World Cup wins and seven World Cup podiums, led the FIS Crystal Globe downhill standings until her crash at the Olympic Winter Games in Cortina and made an impact far beyond the snow. 

2026 Development Club of the Year: Bridger Ski Foundation
Bridger Ski Foundation (BSF) delivered an exceptional 2025-26 season, highlighted by back-to-back U.S. Junior National Club Championships, 18 national qualifiers and 17 All-American honors from eight athletes. The program placed athletes on the international stage, with qualifiers heading to the World Cup circuit, U23 World Championships, U18 World Championships and U18 Nordic Nations trip. 

2026 Inclusion and OpportunityAward: The Chill Foundation
The award recognizes a person, group, organization, or program that has contributed significantly and sustainably to advancing inclusion, opportunity and diversity in skiing and snowboarding. 

Founded in 1995 by Jake and Donna Carpenter, the Chill Foundation has served more than 30,000 young people and now works with more than 2,000 youth annually through partnerships with community organizations across the country. By providing all equipment, instruction and access to board sports at no cost, Chill helps participants build confidence, develop new skills and foster a lifelong connection to the outdoors. 

U.S. Ski & Snowboard Club of the Year Award: Mt. Mansfield Academy 
Mount Mansfield Academy (MMA) delivered an outstanding 2025-26 season, showcasing success at every stage of its athlete development pipeline. Junior athletes recorded multiple podium and top 10 finishes throughout the season, with numerous athletes qualifying for the Eastern Region Championships and U16 Nationals. At the elite level, MMA alumni continued to compete internationally on the World Cup and NorAm circuits, highlighted by Ryan Cochran-Siegle earning an Olympic silver medal at the Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard Development Coach of the Year Award: Karl Denney 
Karl Denney’s leadership during the 2025-26 season was transformative for U.S. nordic combined and ski jumping, extending far beyond his club program. Drawing on his background in Exercise Science and Psychology, Denney guided athletes to strong performances at the 2026 Junior World Championships and the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. He also led a high-performance European Development Tour across World Cup venues in Slovenia and Austria, mentoring 22 athletes and providing invaluable international experience. 

U.S. Ski & Snowboard International Coach of the Year Award: Bryon Wilson
Four Olympic medals, Nations Cup award and the Overall Crystal Globe were just part of the impact of Bryon Wilson’s coaching this season. A driving force behind the success of the U.S. moguls program, Wilson brings elite-level experience, technical expertise and a deep understanding of the sport to his role. An Olympic medalist himself, he has translated his competitive knowledge into world-class coaching, helping guide athletes to success on the World Cup stage and beyond. His leadership, dedication and passion for the sport have made him an invaluable figure within the moguls community and a deserving recipient of Coach of the Year honors.

2026 Westhaven Award: Curt Hammond
The Westhaven Award is a lifetime achievement award that recognizes an outstanding FIS technical delegate for their service. Nominations come from the pool of current FIS TDs.

Curt Hammond was recognized for his decades of leadership and lasting impact on U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the Western Region and the Pacific Northwest Ski Association (PNSA). Involved in the sport since the 1960s, Hammond has served as a coach, official, administrator and mentor at every level of alpine skiing. A former PNSA Executive Director and U.S. Ski Team men’s coach, he played a key role in establishing U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s three-region structure that remains in place today.

SILVER AWARDS

2026 Bud & Mary Little Award: Paul Van Slyke
The Bud and Mary Little Award is presented to an individual who has contributed significantly to U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team skiing or snowboard interests through a long-term involvement in the FIS or Olympic sports communities, internationally or nationally. Dr. Amos R. “Bud” Little was a noted ski racer, coach and U.S. Ski Team doctor, and he served as an influential leader with the International Ski Federation and U.S. Ski & Snowboard.

Paul Van Slyke is widely recognized as a respected leader within U.S. Ski & Snowboard and the international officiating community, dedicating countless hours to mentoring and educating officials on current rules, procedures and best practices. A strong advocate for safety and education, Paul has been instrumental in advancing initiatives such as the “Clean Hill Initiative,” helping shape a safer future for snow sports for generations to come. 

2026 Buddy Werner Award: Jessie Diggins
The Wallace “Buddy” Werner Award is given to the outstanding U.S. Ski & Snowboard competitor who demonstrated leadership and good sportsmanship in national or international competition. It is presented in memory of Buddy Werner, an outstanding U.S. alpine racer who was killed in an avalanche after the 1964 Olympics at the height of his ski career.

Jessie Diggins is the most decorated American cross country in U.S. history, but it’s her efforts off the snow that matter most. During the fall of 2026, NYSEF hosted the ‘Climb to the Castle’ rollerski race, where Jessie Diggins exemplified the spirit of the award throughout the entire weekend. She consistently went out of her way to connect with young athletes, sign autographs, offer encouragement and serve as a positive role model both on and off the course. Her humility, generosity with her time and genuine engagement with the ski community left a lasting impression on athletes, families and coaches alike.

2026 Eileen Shiffrin HERoic Development Coach of the Year Award: Diann Roffe
U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Eileen Shiffrin HERoic Development Coach of the Year Award is given to the female coach who has a significant impact on her athletes throughout the season. The coach provides leadership, guidance and support in technical, tactical and programmatic ways for her athletes. This award is inspired after Eileen Shiffrin, Mikaela Shiffrin's mother who consistently goes above and beyond in helping her achieve her dreams.

As Junior Program Director at Burke Mountain Academy, Diann Roffe has built one of the nation’s premier junior programs by creating an environment centered on fun, teamwork and athlete development while leveraging Vermont’s Flexible Pathways Initiative for success. A two-time Olympic medalist, Roffe brings firsthand experience and a deep understanding of what it takes to compete at the highest level. Working daily with nearly 50 U12 and U14 athletes, she is passionate about fostering a lifelong love for the sport and guiding young athletes on a path of continuous growth, confidence and improvement.

2026 John J. Clair Jr. Award: Bjorn & Kathy Borgen
U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s John J. Clair Jr. Award is given for outstanding service that benefited the U.S. Ski or Snowboard Team. The award was established by the Long Island Ski Club in memory of John Clair.

Bjorn Erik Borgen is recognized for his longstanding leadership, philanthropy and meaningful impact on U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes. Through his service as a Trustee of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Foundation and the family’s continued support of initiatives such as the Bob Beattie Athlete Travel Fund, Bjorn Erik Borgen has helped provide critical resources that enable athletes to train and compete at the highest level. Kathy’s extensive nonprofit leadership and stewardship have further strengthened the organization and its culture of giving.

Their support is also deeply personal, with their granddaughters, Liv and Kjersti Moritz, currently competing on the Stifel U.S. Ski Team and Solveig Moritz progressing through the development pipeline. Bjorn Erik exemplifies the spirit of the John J. Clair Jr. Award through his sustained generosity, leadership and dedication to the future of the sport.

2026 Paul Bacon Award: New York Ski Educational Foundation & Olympic Regional Development Authority (NYSEF/ORDA)
U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Paul Bacon Award is given to an individual or group for the most significant contribution to U. S. Ski & Snowboard in race organization. It was founded by the Bacon family and the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Rocky Mountain Division in memory of Paul Bacon, an outstanding race organizer.

The New York Ski Educational Foundation (NYSEF) and the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) partnered throughout the 2026 season to deliver a premier slate of regional, national and international events. ORDA successfully hosted two FIS World Cup aerials competitions in January, as well as the Stifel World Cup Finals for cross country, bringing elite competition to the upstate New York region. NYSEF organized an 11-day, four-event NorAm Cup series, highlighted by the development of a brand-new downhill track at Whiteface Mountain. Together, NYSEF and ORDA also hosted dozens of additional events, including the NYSSRA Championships, U.S. Ski & Snowboard Eastern Championships, HoleShot SX/BX competitions and many more.

2026 Russell Wilder Award: Forest Carey
U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Russell Wilder Award is given annually to recognize the most outstanding effort in focusing the interests of American youth on the sports of skiing or snowboarding. 

Former U.S. Ski Team member, NCAA All-American and three-time USSA International Coach of the Year Forest Carey has brought decades of elite coaching experience to the grassroots level at Park City Ski & Snowboard (PCSS). In 2025-26, serving as Technical Director and Youth Program Coach, Carey grew the Utah Olympic Park-based youth racing program to 125 athletes with a waitlist of more than 100 children. His programming has created one of the country’s most in-demand youth ski racing programs. By combining elite-level coaching with an emphasis on fun, development and broad access to the sport, Carey is helping build the next generation of American ski racers ahead of the 2034 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

2026 Team Athletes Giving Back Award: Tristan Feinberg - Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club
Many U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team athletes donate time, money and their persona to various charitable and nonprofit endeavors. The award includes a $5K grant to the athlete's charitable cause or organization and was made possible by the generosity of an anonymous Trustee donor. 

Last year, Stifel U.S. Freeski Team athlete Tristan Feinberg launched the inaugural Halfpipe Rodeo, an event focused on building mentorship, community and opportunity for Aspen’s youth. Through a partnership with the Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club (AVSC), the event raised enough funds to provide a full-program scholarship and a season pass for a local child. Centered on inclusivity and mental health awareness, the Halfpipe Rodeo reflects Feinberg’s commitment to breaking down barriers in sport while creating a supportive and welcoming environment for young people.

2026 West Family Award: Troy Price
The West Family Award is given annually to recognize an outstanding, dedicated U.S. Ski & Snowboard certified official for the year and/or over numerous years, from the 'grass root' membership – the lowliest gatekeeper on up. The donor of this award is the Fraser and Teddy West family.

For decades, Troy Price has been a leader in the alpine officiating community, known for his commitment to developing the next generation of officials. This 2025-26 season, he led training for more than 50 officials, hosted supplemental clinics across the division and volunteered additional time to administer Level 3 exams for rising technical delegates. Price served with distinction as a technical delegate at the Mont Tremblant World Cup while continuing to mentor officials and volunteers at Snowbasin Resort in preparation for future major events, including the 2034 Olympic Winter Games. Through his leadership, collaboration and dedication to education and relationship building, Troy has made a lasting impact on the sport.

2026 Sosman Award: Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher
U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s J. Leland Sosman Award is presented to a member of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Physicians’ Pool who has made great contributions as a volunteer medical provider.  In recognition of Doc Sosman and his endless commitment as a volunteer for the U. S. Ski & Snowboard, this award is given to an exceptional member of the "medical support team" who has provided outstanding medical coverage and service to the U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes.

Dr. Kutcher has distinguished himself as an exceptional medical professional serving the U.S. Ski & Snowboard teams, playing an instrumental role in the organization’s success throughout the season and at the highest levels of international competition. He consistently demonstrated extraordinary dedication and accessibility, ensuring athletes had immediate access to expert medical care while providing trusted concussion-related guidance across the organization. During the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, Dr. Kutcher further exemplified his commitment by stepping in to provide additional medical coverage when it was needed most, ensuring uninterrupted, high-quality care for athletes during the most demanding moments of competition. 

U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

2026 Adaptive Athlete of the Year: Patrick Halgren
Stifel U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team athlete Patrick Halgren delivered one of the standout performances of the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, earning a silver medal in super-G. His achievement showcased not only world-class skill but unrivaled determination on the biggest stage in sports. 

2026 Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team Athletes of the Year: Lindsey Vonn & Ryan Cochran-Siegle
Lindsey Vonn made a historic comeback season, earning seven World Cup podiums and becoming the oldest skier to win a World Cup race, all while leading the downhill standings before her injury in the Olympic downhill. 

Ryan Cochran-Siegle captured his second Olympic medal in super-G and added two downhill World Cup podiums to his resume, leading the men’s alpine team through one of the strongest seasons of his career.

2026 Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team Athletes of the Year: Jessie Diggins & Ben Ogden
Jessie Diggins capped off her historic career in U.S. cross country history with 11 World Cup podiums, a Tour de Ski title, an Olympic bronze medal and the overall and distance FIS Crystal Globes. Diggins retired at the end of the 2026-27 season as the most decorated American cross country skier in history. 

Ben Ogden ended his season as the most decorated male cross country skier in U.S. history, winning two Olympic silver medals. In Milano Cortina, Ogden became the first American male to win an Olympic medal since Bill Koch in 1972 in the men’s classic sprint, and then days later, secured his second medal of the Games in the men’s team sprint with long-time teammate, Gus Schumacher. 

2026 Stifel U.S. Freeski Team Athletes of the Year: Grace Henderson & Mac Forehand
Grace Henderson overcame multiple injuries to earn an Olympic team spot while demonstrating resilience, progression and outstanding sportsmanship throughout the season. 

Mac Forehand delivered a breakthrough year highlighted by an Olympic silver medal with a never-before-seen trick, X Games gold and multiple World Cup podiums – cementing himself as one of the sport’s most progressive athletes.

2026 Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team Athlete of the Year: Olivia Giaccio (moguls) & Chris Lillis (aerials)
Olivia Giaccio captured the moguls Overall World Cup title in 2026, establishing herself as the world’s top moguls athlete, while helping her team take home the Nations Cup for the fourth year in a row. Giaccio also recently graduated from Columbia University. 

Chris Lillis continued his success as one of the world's top aerial skiers. At the Olympic Winter Games, Lillis defended his 2022 Olympic gold medal and brought home the gold once again in the team event alongside Kaila Kuhn and Connor Curran. Lillis is the most decorated U.S. aerialists in history. 

2026 Stifel U.S. Ski Jumping Athletes of the Year: Annika Belshaw & Kevin Bickner
Annika Belshaw delivered a historic season for the Stifel U.S. Ski Jumping Team, earning a career-best seventh-place World Cup finish, competing in all Olympic events and setting a women’s program record with a 196-meter ski flying jump. 

Kevin Bickner continued to lead the men’s program with veteran leadership and strong international results, including four top-15 World Cup finishes and his third Olympic appearance.

2026 Stifel U.S. Nordic Combined Team Athletes of the Year: Alexa Brabec & Niklas Malacinski
Alexa Brabec had a breakthrough season and her best season to date, with eight World Cup podiums, including her first career victory, finishing second overall in the World Cup standings. 

Niklas Malacinski earned his first Olympic team selection, his first World Cup top-10 result and qualified for the sport’s first ski flying event, marking a major step forward in his career.

2026 Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team Athletes of the Year: Chloe Kim & Jake Canter
Despite battling a serious shoulder injury ahead of the Olympics, Chloe Kim earned her third consecutive Olympic medal with a silver in halfpipe, reinforcing her legacy as one of the greatest riders in snowboard history. 

Jake Canter broke through with his first World Cup victory in Aspen before earning an Olympic bronze at his first Games, a testament to his resilience throughout the years after suffering a near-life-ending injury at age 13.

U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD DEVELOPMENT COACHES OF THE YEAR

2026 Alpine Development Coach of the Year: Matt Underhill
As head coach of the men’s Regional Development Program, Matt Underhill helped launch the Regional Development Program as the Rocky Region Coach leading elite boys across the country. This 2025-26 season, his athletes earned two World Junior Championship medals, including silver in team combined and bronze in slalom, while Maximilien Hoder captured the NorAm Cup slalom title and Jevin Palmquist finished second. Five RDP athletes are also on track for Stifel U.S. Ski Team nominations next season, highlighting Underhill’s impact on the U.S. alpine development pipeline.

2026 Cross Country Development Coach of the Year: Piotr Bednarski
As head coach of Loppet Nordic Racing, Piotr Bednarski has left a lasting impact on nordic skiing development in the Midwest. This season, his athletes excelled internationally, including Linnea Ousdigian, who won the overall U18 Scando Cup. Piotr also coached multiple LNR alumni at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games and has spent decades mentoring thousands of athletes through the Loppet Foundation.

2026 Freeski Development Coach of the Year: Dave Zweig
Dave Zweig led an outstanding season at AVSC, coaching athletes to success across Rev Tour, NorAm, Junior Worlds and World Cup events. Highlights included multiple World Cup halfpipe finals appearances by Hunter Maytin and strong Junior World performances from several athletes. With more than 20 years of coaching experience, Zweig is recognized for combining technical expertise, mentorship and athlete-centered development.

2026 Freestyle Development Coach of the Year: Sean Ennis
Sean Ennis, currently a dedicated moguls couch out of Gould Academy, guided a successful moguls program with athletes qualifying for Junior Nationals, U.S. Nationals, NorAms and Junior World Championships. Known for his technical expertise and supportive coaching style, Ennis plays a key role in athlete development at all levels and contributes extensively to course development. 

2026 Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined Development Coach of the Year: Karl Denney
Karl Denney led a historic season for SSWSC, helping athletes earn medals at the 2026 Junior World Championships. Combining expertise in exercise science and psychology, Denney has elevated athlete development through an athlete-first approach focused on performance and resilience. He also led a European Development Tour and continues to shape the future of ski jumping and nordic combined in the U.S.

2026 Snowboard Development Coach of the Year: Casey Lehmicke
Casey Lehmicke has played a major role in growing the midwest freestyle snowboard scene through Buck Hill Freestyle. A longtime coach and mentor, he has helped athletes progress from grassroots competition to international events and professional opportunities. Lehmicke is known for building an inclusive, hard-working culture that emphasizes skill development, confidence, creativity and a lasting love for snowboarding.

U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD NATIONAL COACHES OF THE YEAR

2026 Alpine National Coach of the Year: Kip Spangler
Kip Spangler played a critical role in the success of the women’s alpine speed team this year, leading both strength and conditioning and on-hill coaching efforts year-round. His dedication in the gym and at the USANA Center of Excellence powered by iFIT helped drive the team’s strong performance throughout the season.

2026 Cross Country National Coach of the Year: Matt Whitcomb
Over 20 years with the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, Matt Whitcomb has been instrumental in the growth of U.S. cross country skiing as a development coach, World Cup coach and Head Coach. Known for both his expertise and genuine care for the community, Whitcomb has helped shape the culture and long-term success of cross country skiing in the United States and this 2025-26 season, helped guide the team to three Olympic medals in Milano Cortina – the most medals won by the cross country program in Olympic history. 

2026 Freeski National Staff Member of the Year: Ryan Wyble
Ryan Wyble’s strategic leadership and analytical coaching helped guide the Pro Team to two Olympic silver medals and several additional World Cup and X Games podiums during the 2025-26 season. His professionalism, preparation and athlete management were key to the team’s success.

2026 Freestyle National Coach of the Year: Walter Crijanovschi
In his first season with the Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team aerials team, Walter Crijanovschi made an immediate impact by implementing a comprehensive strength and conditioning program focused on durability, power and consistency. His athlete-centered leadership helped elevate the team’s high-performance environment.

2026 Ski Jumping Coach of the Year: Karl Vegard Andersen
In his first season with the program, Karl Vegard Andersen quickly became a key leader for the Stifel U.S. Ski Jumping Team women’s program, bringing technical expertise, consistency and professionalism. His impact earned him a role on the Olympic staff and helped drive the team’s progression throughout the season.

2026 Nordic Combined National Coach of the Year: Emil Vilhemsen
Emil Vilhemsen made an immediate impact in his first season as head coach, building a culture of trust, accountability and performance. Under his leadership, the program achieved its most successful World Cup season in more than a decade.

2026 Snowboard National Coach of the Year: Ben Bright
Ben Bright made a major impact in his first season with the halfpipe program, helping athletes secure six World Cup podiums and Snow League podiums. His experience, technical insight and commitment to athlete progression were especially valuable in supporting Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team athlete Maddie Mastro and the broader team throughout the season.

U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD SPORT CLUBS OF THE YEAR

2026 Alpine Club of the Year: Mt. Mansfield Academy 
2026 Cross Country Club of the Year: Bridger Ski Foundation
2026 Freestyle Club of the Year: Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club
2026 Freeski Club of the Year: Waterville Valley BBTS
2026 Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined Club of the Year: Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club
2026 Snowboard Club of the Year: Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club