ISHPEMING, MI  (Oct. 30) – The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame announced ten athletes and sport builders as inductees elected to the Hall of Fame who will make up the Class of 2014. Among the inductees are Olympic champion snowboarder Ross Powers, World Alpine Championship medalist Erik Schlopy, noted big mountain skier Chris Davenport, ski instruction pioneer Curt Chase, and goggle innovator Bob Smith.

From local ski hills to the PyeongChang Olympics, the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) encompasses all athletes that share a passion for skiing and snowboarding. We explore what makes each skier and rider a champion with stories from the U.S. Ski Team, U.S. Snowboarding and U.S. Freeskiing, next to kids winning a NASTAR medal, landing their first cork 7 or joining a club team. Alongside USSA’s mascot Champ, take a look at how all of these athletes strive to be Best in the World.

ALTA BADIA, Italy (Dec. 20, 2015) – Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) led a recharged men’s tech team, just missing the podium, as the Americans rebounded from a disappointing first run performance. Ligety led the way, finishing fourth, followed by Tim Jitloff (Reno, NV) in seventh, and Tommy Ford (Bend, OR) in 12th.

Austria’s Marcel Hirscher won his third-straight Audi FIS Alpine World Cup giant slalom, and became the only racer in history to win three times at Alta Badia. Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway was second, followed by Victor Muffat-Jeandet of France in third.

VAL D’ISERE, France (Dec. 19, 2015) – Laurenne Ross (Bend, OR) cracked the top 10 as Lindsey Vonn’s (Vail, CO) bid for a record-tying downhill victory hit a bump in the road Saturday.

Vonn, the current overall World Cup leader, was .13 faster than Switzerland’s Lara Gut at the first split time when she hit a bump midway down the Audi FIS Alpine World Cup downhill course and briefly became airborne. She eventually landed and skied safely off the course for a DNF. That ended her bid for a record-extending 72nd World Cup win and record-tying 36th downhill victory.

DENVER (Jan. 26, 2017) – One of the U.S. Ski Team's most progressive new equipment suppliers, Swiss ski manufacturer Stckli, has been honored by the Team and SnowSports Industries America (SIA). Stckli was presented with the Doc DesRoches Award at the SIA Snow Show Thursday (Jan. 26) for its promotion of the U.S. Ski Team and its athletes.

Stckli is the newest U.S. Alpine Ski Team ski supplier, joining in 2014 and supporting a half-dozen athletes including Olympic champion Julia Mancuso and World Cup veteran Stacey Cook.

VAL D’ISERE, France (Dec. 9, 2016) – It’s like Groundhog Day here in Val d’Isere, only we’re on the other side of Olympic Avenue this weekend, skiing on the relentless Stade Olympique de Bellevarde. Welcome to the real “Criterium de la Premiere Niege.” Last week was just a tease to the big event this weekend and the French are sure to once again put on a show for the home crowd.

PARK CITY, UT (Feb. 3, 2017) – The best aerialists in the world put on a fantastic show in front of thousands fan on Friday night at the Visa Freestyle International. Kiley McKinnon (Madison, CT) landed her first podium of the season, finishing second on her home turf and putting herself one step closer to the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

PARK CITY, UT (March 21) – The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association named a group of 35 talented athletes who are currently competing at the 2013 FIS Freestyle Junior World Championships March 26-31 at Valmalenco, Italy. Headlining the team are U.S. Team members Mac Bohonnon (Madison, CT) in aerials, Ali Kariotis (Tiburon, CA) in moguls, Alexi Micinski (Meridian, ID) and Jess Breda (Marshfield, MA) in slopestyle. Athletes attending hail from USSA club programs as well the U.S. Freeskiing Rookie Team.

PARK CITY, UT (March 21) – The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association named a group of 35 talented athletes who are currently competing at the 2013 FIS Freestyle Junior World Championships March 26-31 at Valmalenco, Italy. Headlining the team are U.S. Team members Mac Bohonnon (Madison, CT) in aerials, Ali Kariotis (Tiburon, CA) in moguls, Alexi Micinski (Meridian, ID) and Jess Breda (Marshfield, MA) in slopestyle. Athletes attending hail from USSA club programs as well the U.S. Freeskiing Rookie Team.

Winning is tough. Winning consistently over time is even tougher. It was a best in the world weekend for U.S. athletes around the globe. And what made it even sweeter was the depth beyond the stars.

To Lindsey Vonn, winning 50 World Cups was almost inconceivable. But Saturday at Garmisch, she did it – matching the great Alberto Tomba and moving ever closer to Vreni Schneider (55) and Annemarie Moeser Proell (62) on the all time women’s win list. A day later, it was Julia Mancuso’s turn to win, taking her first super G victory in five years.