SOELDEN, Austria (Oct. 24, 2015) - On an icy injected course in Soelden, Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) threw down two solid runs of giant slalom to walk away with second place at the first Audi FIS Alpine World Cup of the 2015-16 season. She finished behind Italian Federica Brignone, who won her first World Cup. Tina Weirather of Liechtenstein took third.

Brignone had stood on the podium seven times without recording a single victory. All that changed on the Rettenbach glacier as Brignone completed two nearly flawless giant slalom runs down a slope so icy the 14,000 fans in attendance could practically see their reflections while watching the competition.

Brignone held nearly a second lead over Shiffrin—who had won last year’s giant slalom in Soelden—after the first run. Although Shiffrin was pleased with her first run, she knew Brignone would be hard to touch.

“I heard that [Brignone] had nearly a perfect run, and I can’t wait to watch it because it’s probably gorgeous skiing and really powerful,” said Shiffrin between runs. “I looked at the time and was like – what can you do?”

Mikaela Shiffrin celebrates her podium spot in the finish. (USSA-Tom Kelly)

Shiffrin’s valiant effort on the second run shaved one-tenth off Brignone’s lead but was only enough for the second step on the podium. Still, the slalom ace was all smiles at the awards ceremony in the finish area as she struggled to uncork a champagne bottle. Although she’s no longer a teenager, she is still only 20 years old.

This was only Shiffrin’s fifth World Cup GS podium, who has been working hard on her GS and super G during the offseason. “I felt really good with my skiing—I felt like I attacked and I had more confidence than I have had in a GS before,” said Shiffrin in the post-race press conference. “I think it’s a good place to start. Just feeling like I can charge down a course and maybe take some risks and actually pull it off – I’ve never felt that before.”

HIGHLIGHTS

• Mikaela Shiffrin took second place at the season’s World Cup opener giant slalom, .85 seconds behind Federica Brignone of Italy.
• This was Shiffrin’s fifth GS podium in a World Cup race.
• Mikaela Shiffrin and Anna Fenninger tied for the win in this race last season. It was Shiffrin’s only World Cup GS victory.
• Megan McJames finished 48th on the first run and did not qualify for the second run.
• This was the first World Cup race of the 49^th season—the first of 41 women’s races and first of nine women’s giant slaloms. 
• Watch the race recap on Universal Sports at 3 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.
• Men's GS is up next in Soelden on Sunday with Ted Ligety (Park City, UT), Tim Jitloff (Reno, NV), Tommy Ford (Bend, OR), Kieffer Christianson (Anchorage, AK), Hig Roberts (Steamboat Springs, CO) and Nick Cohee (Gardnerville, NV) starting. Watch it live on Universal Sports at 7:30 a.m. ET.

QUOTES
Mikaela Shiffrin
Federica [Brignone] absolutely nailed her first run and her second run. She did a really good job as well. I don’t think anybody could beat her today, obviously. I felt really good with my skiing—I felt like I attacked and I had more confidence than I have had in a GS before. I think it’s a good place to start.

I was nervous. The last couple weeks I’ve been more and more nervous each day. And yesterday and today all of a sudden, I was just sick of being nervous. Let’s just ski well. I just want to ski well. I’m not so worried about if I win or lose. I just want to see where I stack up because it’s always a fun race and it’s a great hill and I want to join that.

Maybe I have more mature goals now. I’m not a teenager anymore! I feel like the same person and I feel like my goals are equally important as they ever were—same amount of focus.  After an Olympic gold medal and a couple World Championship gold medals, I feel like I can kind of relax a little bit. I don’t have that pressure that I have to win a big event—it’s just race-by-race, see how fast I can ski. I’m just working on improving my skiing and trying to be the best in the world.

It’s always been a dream of mine to win the overall globe. This year is a little bit of a gauge to see where I can stack up. Today is a really good start. If my slalom keeps going well, I feel really strong, so I can make points. It’s a little early to tell right now and I don’t want to focus on that. It’s just race-by-race—I’ll see if I can win the races.

Anna [Fenninger] has been an absolute force the last couple years—winning the overall globe and the GS globe, three medals at World Championships. She just seemed absolutely unstoppable. Everybody expected that she would be on fire at this first race and two days beforehand: oops! I guess we’re all human. Anybody could get injured. It was an eye-opening experience to hear that she got hurt. Everybody wishes her the best in recovering because it’s a tough injury. But she’s strong mentally, she’s strong physically and I think one of the greatest skiers of all time. I hope she has some more wins ahead of her.

I did OK carrying my speed, which is good. I struggled a little on the pitch, but on the top flats and bottom flats, I was fairly strong. That’s a good sign for super G and gliding—which is not maybe my strong suit yet, as I’m used to turning a lot. But I’m working on going straighter and slowly progressing in that area.

I think some of it is luck. The past few days I was nervous and today I was still anxious, but more excited and positive. That was a good mentality for this race. I actually ready something that Ted [Ligety] said about this race: that it is really exciting, you don’t really know where you stack up, so you just go out and try your hardest and see. That helped me get the right mindset going, which is good. It’s a hit-or-miss race—some people are really nervous. And this hill today, it’s injected ice. It’s some of the iciest stuff we’ve skied so far. If you’re nervous and tight, you’re not going to have a good time. You have to be as loose as possible and step on your outside ski and let your skis take you down the hill. I tried to do that today and it worked well.

I watched Federica ski and saw how aggressive she was on the pitch, which is really steep up there. It’s easy to back off and think ‘I’ll just wait for it to get a little flatter to keep charging!’ She didn’t back off for one second. Last year, when I watched Fenniger and Reb [Victoria Rebensburg] and [Kathrin] Zettel on the top part, they were charging so hard and attacking so much that they made mistakes. It seems like girls are attacking and learning how to handle it more. You have to keep going or get left behind.

RESULTS
Women’s giant slalom results

COPPER MOUNTAIN, CO (Oct. 23, 2015)—Due to U.S. Ski Team athletes’ training schedule and warmer weather in Colorado, the date of the U.S. Ski Team’s annual Nature Valley First Tracks celebration and team announcement and Putnam Investments NASTAR Pacesetting Trials has been pushed from November 6 to November 21.

The tech teams have found training opportunities in Europe and will remain there until after the first Audi FIS Ski World Cup slalom race in Levi, Finland the weekend of November 14.

SEE HOW TO WIN A TRIP TO COPPER MOUNTAIN TO RACE TED LIGETY

The #WhatMakesAChamp contest, in which the winner will receive a trip to Copper Mountain to race Ted Ligety at the Putnam Investments NASTAR Pacesetting Trials, will end at the previously announced date of October 25. The prize changes as such: The winner will receive a trip for three to Copper Mountain, round-trip tickets to Colorado, transportation and two nights lodging in Copper’s Center Village on November 20-22, three two-day lift tickets and an official U.S. Ski Team uniform and VIP swag bag.

New York (Oct. 23, 2015) – Athletes of the U.S. Ski Team, U.S. Snowboarding and U.S. Freeskiing will join their families, friends and supporters for a night of celebration at the 49^th annual New York Gold Medal Gala on Thursday, October 29 at the American Museum of Natural History. Hosted by the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Foundation, the gala is dedicated to raising funds to support the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association’s (USSA) elite teams and members.

Over 20 athletes are scheduled to attend the event, including Olympic medalists Bode Miller, Kelly Clark and Gus Kenworthy, 2015 World Cup champions Kiley McKinnon and Mac Bohonnon, and Team alumni Trace Worthington, Picabo Street and Jonny Moseley. Athletes will also be attending a season kick-off celebration hosted by Bomber on October 28 as well as a pre-gala style session with Paul Mitchell at Raika Studio on the 29^th.

Held annually since 1967, the New York Gold Medal Gala has become the team’s traditional pre-season kickoff, each year featuring a veritable who’s who of top Olympic, World Cup and Grand Prix champions. More information and tickets for the New York Gold Medal Gala can be found at foundation.ussa.org.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Athletes of the U.S. Ski Team, U.S. Snowboarding and U.S. Freeskiing will celebrate a successful 2014-15 season at the 49^th annual New York Gold Medal Gala on October 29 in New York City.
• Over 20 athletes are scheduled to attend, including Olympic medalists Bode Miller, Kelly Clark and Gus Kenworthy, 2015 World Cup champions Kiley McKinnon and Mac Bohonnon, and Team alumni Trace Worthington, Picabo Street and Jonny Moseley.
• Athletes will also attend a season kick-off celebration hosted by Bomber on October 28.
• Paul Mitchell will treat athletes to a pre-gala style session at Raika Studio on October 29.

Athletes Expected to Attend

Shannon Bahrke - Moguls Alumni
Nick Baumgartner - Snowboardcross
Mac Bohonnon - Aerials
Sophie Caldwell - Cross Country
Dave Chodounsky - Alpine
Kelly Clark – Halfpipe Snowboarding
Alex Deibold - Snowboardcross
Ryan Dyer - Moguls
Kaitlyn Farrington - Halfpipe Snowboarding Alumni
Taylor Fletcher - Nordic Combined
Bryan Fletcher - Nordic Combined
Tommy Ford - Alpine
Faye Gulini - Snowboardcross
Simi Hamilton - Cross Country
Sarah Hendrickson - Ski Jumping
Gus Kenworthy - Halfpipe and Slopestyle Skiing
Kiley McKinnon - Aerials
Bode Miller - Alpine
Tommy Moe - Alpine Alumni
Jonny Moseley - Freestyle Alumni
Steven Nyman - Alpine
Laurenne Ross - Alpine
Morgan Schild - Moguls
Resi Steifler - Alpine
Picabo Street - Alpine Alumni
Seth Wescott - Snowboardcross
Trace Worthington - Freestyle Alumni

SOELDEN, Austria (Oct. 20, 2015) – On Saturday, all eyes will turn to the majestic Rettenbach Glacier in Soelden for the 2015-16 Audi FIS Ski World Cup opener. In the ski racing community, this could very well be considered Mecca.

The excitement and speculation around the season opener is swirling and surging around the glacier. Who will come out on top? Will Mikaela Shiffrin (Vail, CO) prevail, winning her second straight Soelden season opening giant slalom? Will Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) regain his Soelden dominance? Will Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO)—the winningest female in World Cup history—be back in the start hut?

The Audi FIS Ski World Cup opener at Soelden is, in many ways, a testing ground. Until the big show on Saturday and Sunday, it’s a mystery who has podium potential this year. Just ask 2015 World Championships gold medalist Ligety. “I think my set up is good. I made a lot of adjustments this year and I feel like I’ve made a good step forward, so we’ll see,” he told media Tuesday on the Rettenbach Glacier. “It’s the same thing with your skiing—you don’t really know until you test it in a World Cup, so it’s still a little bit of a mystery.”

Though Ligety says that it's possible that fans will enjoy a duel between he and Austrian powerhouse Marcel Hirscher, he is quick to note others who are likely threats, like the Attacking Viking duo composed of Norwegians Aksel Lund-Svindal and Kjetil Jansrud, Frenchman Alexis Pinturault, and even the young Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen. Don’t be fooled, though. With an insatiable appetite for the win, Ligety is gunning for the overall GS title once again. He’s been skiing fast in training and he’s hungry.

Shiffrin is coming into Soelden strong, but will be a target of the top women who saw her win her one and only giant slalom a year ago on the glacier. Shiffrin, who has been training on the Moelltaler Glacier in Austria, has won three straight Audi FIS Ski World Cup slalom titles, but wants to move into more GS and speed this season. Her opening day victory last year caught many by surprise.

"Oh, my gosh, I'm so excited, I really can't wait to race," Shiffrin said in an interview with the Denver Post’s John Meyer. "Soelden went well for me last year, but I almost felt like a lot of those girls just made really big mistakes at the worst time on the course and I just happened to be the girl that made the least amount of mistakes.”

Veteran Julia Mancuso (Squaw Valley, CA) announced that she’s sitting out Soelden this year to continue resting a nagging hip injury. Vonn, who suffered an ankle fracture training on-snow this summer, is headed for Soelden but has not decided on whether she will start on Saturday.

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Ski Team had confirmed two women for Saturday’s opening GS and six men for Sunday’s race, including two first-time World Cup starts for Nick Cohee (Gardnerville, NV) and Hig Roberts (Steamboat Springs, CO).

Universal Sports Network will cover the action live with women's giant slalom on Saturday and men's giant slalom on Sunday.

CONFIRMED SOELDEN STARTERS

Men
Ted Ligety (Park City, UT)
Tim Jitloff (Reno, NV)
Tommy Ford (Bend, OR)
Kieffer Christianson (Anchorage, AK)
Hig Roberts (Steamboat Springs, CO)*
Nick Cohee (Gardnerville, NV)*

Women
Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO)
Megan McJames (Park City, UT)

*First World Cup start

HIGHLIGHTS

• The U.S. Ski Team has confirmed two women and six men to start this weekend in the Audi FIS Ski World Cup opener in Soelden.
• Last year at Soelden Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) bobbled at the bottom before the last flat, and finished a disappointing 10th. In 2013, Ligety won the opening race by an incredible 2.75 second margin.
• Mikaela Shiffrin (Vail, CO), Tim Jitloff (Reno, NV) and Tommy Ford (Bend, OR) are also slated to start. Last year at Soelden, Shiffrin tied with Austria's Anna Fenninger for her first ever Audi FIS Ski World Cup giant slalom victory.
• It is unclear whether or not Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO), who fractured her ankle while training in New Zealand two months ago, will start in Saturday’s giant slalom.
• With a ninth place finish at World Championships, Jitloff is on the cusp of breaking through to the podium. He wants it. Watch him.
• Roberts and Cohee will be making their Audi FIS Ski World Cup debut. After a successful four years of collegiate ski racing for Middlebury and a stint with Team America and new U.S. Ski Team N-UNI Head Coach Peter Lange during the 2015 season, Hig Roberts rocketed to the B Team.
• The weekend opens on the Rettenbach Glacier with a women’s giant slalom on Saturday, followed by the men on Sunday.
• Universal Sports Network will air both races live online and on TV starting at 6:30 a.m. ET on Saturday and at 7:30 a.m. ET Sunday. 

TV SCHEDULE
Universal Sports Network – LIVE
Saturday, Oct. 24, 6:30 a.m. EDT
Sunday, Oct. 25, 7:30 a.m. EDT

Don’t Forget: Inspired by the official U.S. Ski Team mascot Champ, the Team has kicked off a content series asking athletes about the moment they truly felt like a champion. Now, the question has been turned to YOU. Now through October 25 you can enter the #WhatMakesAChamp contest for a chance to ski win a trip to Copper to ski with Ted Ligety in November.

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO (Oct. 20, 2015) – NASTAR announced today that Steamboat has been selected as the site of the 2016 Nature Valley NASTAR National Championships. The popular season-ending championships will return to Steamboat from March 24-27, 2016, first of a planned two-year program. Steamboat played host to championships from 2006-2009. While at Steamboat, NASTAR experienced the highest participation it has ever seen at championships to date.

Rob Perlman, President & Chief Operating Officer at Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp. is looking forward to the return of the Nature Valley NASTAR National Championships. “We are excited to host the 2016 and 2017 NASTAR National Championships and showcase Steamboat-Ski Town, U.S.A.^®, where the spirit of fast-paced ski and snowboard racing along with team camaraderie is an integral part of the community,” said Perlman. “NASTAR racers will no doubt be delighted with the on-mountain improvements since their last visit, including the Four Point Lodge, night skiing, snowmaking and grooming as well as expanded nonstop air access from 11 U.S. cities and numerous dining enhancements throughout town.”

Bill Madsen, Director of NASTAR attributed the increase in participation while at Steamboat to the allure of the destination as a spring getaway, and their commitment to creating an affordable, accessible event. “People were excited to go someplace new,” recalls Madsen. “Steamboat provides a lot of affordable accommodation and they do an incredible job of offering great value for the event with discounted lift tickets and lodging. So, it becomes a really accessible, fun family vacation at the same time.”

Beyond offering participants a great getaway destination and great value, Steamboat offers great spring conditions. “We want to provide the best race experience possible and the best snow conditions,” said Madsen. It’s not easy to find a resort partner that can offer this and manage an event for a thousand people and accommodate them, and Steamboat can.”

NASTAR participants qualify for the championships by earning a top ten national ranking or a top five state ranking within their age, gender and ability group by February 15. Racers can also qualify by earning a top ranking at their favorite resort or at the Regional Championships.

The 2015-16 season will officially kick off in November with the Putnam Investments NASTAR Pacesetting Trials, which will coincide with the U.S. Ski Team’s annual Nature Valley First Tracks celebration. The integration with NASTAR is designed to capitalize on the global success of U.S. Ski Team athletes, bringing greater awareness to the sport and value to the industry, while motivating participants of all ages to get involved in ski racing.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Steamboat has been selected as the site of the Nature Valley NASTAR National Championships from March 24-27, 2016, the first of a planned two-year program.
• Previously, Steamboat hosted championships from 2006-2009 and experienced the highest participation it has ever seen at championships to date.
• Since NASTAR last visited Steamboat, numerous on-mountain improvements have been made, including the Four Point Lodge, night skiing, snowmaking and grooming.
• The 2015-16 season will officially kick off in November with the Putnam Investments NASTAR Pacesetting Trials.

About NASTAR
NASTAR is the acronym for the NAtional STAndard Race and is the largest public grassroots ski race program in the world. More than 165,000 Nature Valley NASTAR racer days are recorded throughout the season at 115 resorts. Participants compete within their age and gender groups to win platinum, gold, silver and bronze medals. In addition, participants are ranked in their medal group and the top ranked racers qualify to compete in the Nature Valley NASTAR National Championships.

About Steamboat
With some of the highest guest service scores within the ski industry, Steamboat is famous worldwide for its authentic western atmosphere, genuine friendliness, Olympian tradition and Champagne Powder^® snow. North America’s Top Family Resort, Steamboat-Ski Town, U.S.A.^® encompasses 165 trails, 3,668 vertical feet and nearly 3,000 skiable acres with six peaks filled with world-class groomed cruisers, bumps, steeps, meadows, legendary trees, four terrain parks and the Steamboat Grand Hotel. Steamboat’s winter season is expected to run from November 25, 2015 through April 10, 2016. Visit www.steamboat.com for more information.

The U.S. Ski Team and Copper Mountain teamed up to give away a chance to race Olympic champion Ted Ligety and other U.S. Ski Team athletes at the Putnam Investments NASTAR Pacesetting Trials by asking the ski community, “What makes you a champion?” Ligety shared his answers, and now U.S. Ski Team member Bryce Bennett explores #WhatMakesAChamp.

At 6’7”, Bryce Bennett (Squaw Valley, CA) towers over his competition. In fact, he’s the tallest guy on the circuit, and looks a little bit like a yeti when charging down mountains at 90 mph. But don’t let that height fool you—he’s not good at basketball (self-proclaimed) and he is a gentle giant with a great attitude, a strong sense of fearlessness and serious love for the sport.

SEE HOW YOU CAN WIN A CHANCE RACE TED LIGETY #WHATMAKESACHAMP

Throwing your body down a gnarly track in crazy wind at a Chile training camp is no problem for Bennett. In fact, he’s one of the few American Downhillers that ran the downhill track from top to bottom in a recent training session at Corralco on a windy day. Head Men’s Coach Sasha Rearick is constantly impressed with Bennett’s will to learn and charge. “Bennett was one of the only guys who wanted to ski the downhill track from the top the other day at Corralco,” Rearick commented. “I like his courage and I like his focus.” With this unconventional approach, it’s no surprise Bennett calls out Bode Miller (Franconia, NH) as one of his role models. He digs that Bode style.

Bryce Bennett and Steven Nyman stand as the twin towers of the U.S. Ski Team in Chile. 

The best advice Bennett has encountered in his career is to listen—pay attention to details and figure things out for himself. It’s about intrinsic motivation for the big guy. “If you were dropped off in the middle of the woods with nothing,” questions Bennett, “would you wait for coach to save you, or would you do something about your situation?" At 23, Bennett might be young, but he knows when to step back and put it all into perspective—and laugh a little bit.

When Bennett is looking for motivation, he looks deep within himself. “I try and step away from the current situation and ask myself deep questions about what my goals are, and why I'm here,” he says. “I also find some appreciation for everything I have in my life.”

If you’re wondering whether Bennett was born this way or if it was a product of his environment, it’s both. His mom and dad both worked in the Squaw Valley parking lot—guiding cars into “perfect parking spots,” which is where they met and fell in love. His mother worked for Alpine before moving over to Powdr Corp. for 30 years managing the books. His father went to work construction. That hard work ethic trickled down to Bennett. He also credits his coach, Konrad Richenbach, for teaching him a thing or two. Or, as Bennett says, “He saved me from myself. He brought me to a point where I believed in myself to become a better person.”

What is most intriguing about this gigantic yeti is his philosophy on the sport itself. “I feel my journey is a bit different than most: I'm not in this sport with the end goal to win World Cup medals or globes or Olympic medals. I'm in this sport because it's incredibly challenging with numerous variables to master, with little to no support from others to help you put down fast skiing,” Bennett notes. “No one truly understands every aspect of this sport. That's what drives me—to understand the ins and outs through self mastery and trial and error, and one day inspire kids to go after fulfillment and passion in their work, instead of just doing whatever it takes to get to the top.”

We spent some time chatting with Bennett—just enough time to give us a kink in our necks from looking up. Here’s what the big guy had to say.

U.S. SKI TEAM: In your words, what makes a champion?
BRYCE BENNETT: Champion defined: A person who has defeated all opponents in a competition or series of competitions, as to hold first place.

Think about it for a second: You put just the right amount of effort towards achieving a final destination to be better than everyone. Cool, congratulations. You won a medal. Here’s your cookie. High five. Do you feel good about yourself now?

I envision a "champion" more like a master craftsman. A craftsman gets a great deal of satisfaction from building his product. He works tirelessly, figuring out ways to make his products more effective, how to make them more efficiently, while never overlooking the even then tiniest of details. He's never focused on the end result; he's always present and in the moment. He learns himself and his craft at the same time while gaining knowledge, wisdom and honing his skills to overcome any problem that may arise. He thinks outside the box and problem solves for himself. He'll take criticism with a positive attitude. He's never scared to fail, because failure is a chance to learn, grow and become better at his craft. That is a "champion" to me. Find your inner master boat builder. 

U.S. SKI TEAM: Do you remember the first time you felt like a champion?
BB: I'm not a champion, nor have I ever felt like one. I am a ski racer; the habits I create for myself today will take care of any external results. Results are a byproduct of the work you do; I just enjoy the work more than the results.

U.S. SKI TEAM: What is the biggest piece of advice you have for aspiring kids who want to be sitting where you are today?
BB: Find your own path.

Catch Bennett on his Instagram this season. If you do, you’ll learn things you never could have dreamed up…like that his spirit animal is a giraffe. “A giraffe's coffee would be cold by the time it reached the bottom of its throat,” concludes Bennett. “Have you ever thought about that?” There’s never a dull moment when the yeti is on the hill.

Now, we want to hear your answers! Tell us what makes you a champion on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and include #WhatMakesAChamp. You could win a trip for three to Copper Mountain in Colorado to race in the Putnam Investments NASTAR Pacesetting Trials with Ted Ligety and hang with the U.S. Ski Team.

PARK CITY, UT (Oct. 19, 2015) – When the Audi FIS Ski World Cup opens this weekend in Soelden, Austria, fans will have the most up-to-date news and information on the U.S. Ski Team in the palm of their hands with a new mobile iOS app from the U.S. Ski Team and Ski Racing International, LLC. The new app has a host of features from news to live timing to athlete profiles and action video.

The free app, developed and designed by Ski Racing International, features alpine, freestyle and nordic skiing, and gives users quick access to the news, videos and photos from usskiteam.com and skiracing.com. For users looking for the latest results from events, the app has an unparalleled mobile experience for viewing competition results, live timing and schedules. Through athlete profiles, fans can learn more about their favorite competitors, view their previous competition results and connect with them on social media.

“Over the past year, the USSA has been in the process of developing new digital tools to better connect our members and fans with our sports,” said U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) President and CEO Tiger Shaw. “The U.S. Ski Team app powered by SkiRacing.com is a new way to engage with our fans and gives us an added tool to help reach new audiences and demographics. Through a strong mobile presence, we can provide our constituents with immediate access to relevant news and information wherever they are.”

SkiRacing.com and the U.S. Ski Team are two of the largest ski racing content providers in America. The app will feature insightful editorial content from SkiRacing.com writers, along with action video from the U.S. Ski Team.

“The collaboration and platform are focused on delivering our global multimedia coverage from the junior levels through the World Cup to our active audience of winter sport enthusiasts and supporters,” said Ski Racing Publisher and COO Claire Abbe Brown. “By covering domestic and international events and athletes as well as providing critical resources for snow sport fans, it is our hope that the U.S. Ski Team app powered by Ski Racing becomes the go-to mobile source for ski racing followers worldwide, including current and future fans of Team USA.”  

The free U.S. Ski Team app is currently available to download in the Apple Store, with new content and updates set to roll out throughout the season.

HIGHLIGHTS

• In anticipation of the coming season, the U.S. Ski Team and Ski Racing International, LLC have developed a new, fan-oriented iOS mobile app.
• The free app features alpine, freestyle and nordic skiing, and gives users access to the most up-to-date information from the World Cup circuit and beyond.
• News and Media: Stay up to date with the latest U.S. Ski Team and Ski Racing news with full articles, photo galleries, videos and push notifications about breaking news.
• Athlete Profiles: Learn about U.S. Ski Team athletes, connect with them on social media and see their recent news and competition highlights.
• Competition Data: The U.S. Ski Team app provides users with an easy way to view the upcoming competition calendar, event results and cup standings.
• Get the App: The free U.S. Ski Team app is currently available to download in the Apple Store.

QUOTES

Tiger Shaw, President and CEO, U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association
Over the past year, the USSA has been in the process of developing new digital tools to better connect our members and fans with our sports. The U.S. Ski Team app, in partnership with skiracing.com, is a new way to engage with our fans and gives us an additional tool to help reach new audiences and demographics. Through a strong mobile presence, we can provide our constituents with immediate access to relevant news and information wherever they are.

Claire Abbe, Chief Operating Officer, Ski Racing International, LLC
The collaboration and platform are focused on delivering our global multimedia coverage from the junior levels through the World Cup to our active audience of winter sport enthusiasts and supporters. By covering domestic and international events and athletes as well as providing critical resources for snow sport fans, it is our hope that the U.S. Ski Team app powered by Ski Racing becomes the go-to mobile source for ski racing followers worldwide, including current and future fans of Team USA. 

SALT LAKE CITY, UT (Oct. 16, 2015)—A host of U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding stars will grace the silver screen in Warren Miller Entertainment’s Chasing Shadows this year, its 66th edition of its annual winter sports film. This installment of the iconic winter sports series celebrates why skiers and snowboarders commit themselves every winter to a passion that’s guaranteed to melt away every spring.

Warren Miller Entertainment’s film follows the world’s biggest names in skiing and snowboarding on a breathtaking cinematic journey. This year, that includes the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team at the Visa Freestyle International World Cup at Deer Valley—the first time a World Cup moguls event has been featured in a Warren Miller film.

“These films represent winter and represent all aspects of our sport of skiing—from people first learning to the people that made it their life,” commented Hannah Kearney (Norwich, VT), who appears in the film with the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team. “To be included is huge. I can’t wait to see the film along with the world and I’m really excited I get to be apart of it.”

Athletes tour the French Alps, Alaska’s Chugach, the Chilean Andes, Utah’s Wasatch and the mightiest range of them all: the Himalaya in this year’s movie. Watch for U.S. Alpine Ski Team athlete Steven Nyman (Sundance, UT) in a segment skiing with his brothers at Utah’s Sundance Resort, and U.S. Snowboarding’s Seth Wescott (Sugarloaf, ME) riding in Nepal.

“This year’s film will inspire viewers to search out their dreams and find freedom,” said Warren Miller’s Director of Cinematography Chris Patterson, who has been making films with Warren Miller for 24 years. “Our athletes show us that anything is possible if your passions and desires are in the right direction.”

The annual Warren Miller Film Tour for Chasing Shadows will kick off in Salt Lake City, UT, on October 16, and will hit cities in the Rockies, Midwest, California, Pacific Northwest, East Coast and Southwest on a national tour October – December 2015. Dates and show times can be found at warrenmiller.com.