Golden Ski Award 2025

The New England Ski Museum has announced the 2025 recipient of the Eastern Ski Writers Golden Ski Award: Annika Hunt of Burke Mountain Academy. After a successful 2025 season, Hunt will be honored for a 3rd consecutive year. 

Hunt’s hard work resulted in 1st place finishes at Sugarloaf in both Downhill and Super G and eight total Nor Am podiums, making her the overall Nor Am winner with 938 points. Hunt’s success this season has culminated to sixteen podiums, six wins across North America and Europe and an impressive sub-100 ranking across three disciplines.

Read more about Hunt’s success and the Eastern Ski Writers Golden Ski Award Here.

Hunts World Rank Progression: 2025 Season

2025 U.S. Ski & Snowboard Congress Update

It was great to have so many people together in-person at the annual U.S. Ski & Snowboard Congress in Park City. Those in attendance heard meaningful reporting from staff, coaches, officials, and volunteers from around the country. There was much discussion about the state of our sport and key issues to address as we move forward for the 2026 season. For anyone looking for a recap, meeting minutes and reports have been posted online here. Below is a summary of action items that were passed by the Alpine Sport Committee along with other important information.

Alpine Sport Committee (ASC) Operating Procedures

The new ASC Operating Procedures were approved by the ASC and the Board of Directors (BOD), reducing Sport Committee membership from 25 to 18 and the number of subcommittees from 4 to 3.

Alpine Development Playbook

The Performance Task Force’s Alpine Development Playbook was presented, discussed, and endorsed. A plan was established to implement its recommendations through working group meetings this summer.

U18 Start Limitation

The U18 FIS start limitation of 30 technical events for first-year athletes and 35 technical events for second-year athletes was repealed (U607.2).

Out-of-Region Quotas for FIS Events

Flexibility was allowed for U.S. Ski & Snowboard regional directors to expand out-of-region quotas beyond 10 when possible, depending on field size and race organizer approval. 

Live Timing at U14 and Younger Races

Real-time “live timing” services will not be allowed during U.S. Ski & Snowboard races with U14 and younger athletes. Unofficial results can be posted online after the completion of a race run.

Gate Height for U14 Athletes

Flexibility was allowed for 72-inch gates to be used at events with U14 athletes.

Alternating Gate Colors

Flexibility was allowed for gates to be contrasting and alternating colors - not just red or blue (680.2.1.1).

Officials Education

Alpine Official (AO) updates will be required annually beginning with season 2026.

TD Daily Allowance

The daily allowance for National Alpine TDs will rise from $120 to $150.

Next Meeting

The ASC will next meet in October of 2025: specific date and time to be announced.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard is saddened by the loss of Trevor Wagner—a visionary ski coach, technical delegate and cherished member of the alpine community—who passed away on April 22, 2025 after a private battle with an illness.​

Trevor hailed from Seattle, Washington, but grew up in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Whitefish, Montana. He raced for and graduated from Sierra Nevada College before taking on a coaching role with the Squaw Valley Ski Team. He then moved to the U.S. Ski Team in 1998, where he coached the Europa Cup tech team until 2002 and the World Cup team until 2005. 

In 2005, Trevor was named head coach for the women's slalom and giant slalom teams, recognized for revitalizing these disciplines and fostering a culture of excellence. His leadership was instrumental during the 2006 Olympics, where under his guidance, Julia Mancuso secured a gold medal in giant slalom. 

After leaving the national team, Trevor continued to influence the sport at the grassroots level at the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) as a U16 coach. Alongside his fiancée Glady Weidt, SVSEF’s assistant alpine director and U16 coach, he dedicated six seasons to mentoring young athletes, instilling in them the same passion and commitment that defined his own career. Even while facing health challenges, Trevor remained a steadfast presence on the hill.

Beyond coaching, Trevor continued as a technical advisor for U.S. Ski & Snowboard, building and shaping World Cup and NorAm venues around the country. His efforts were central to bringing the World Cup Finals to Sun Valley, marking the return of World Cup speed events to the region for the first time since the 2002 Winter Olympics. Collaborating with some of the greatest leaders in the sport, he helped design world-class downhill and super-G courses, leaving a lasting legacy for future competitions.​

Trevor's legacy is etched in the countless athletes he coached, the colleagues he inspired, and the vibrant ski racing community he helped cultivate. His passion and unwavering commitment have left an indelible mark on his colleagues, friends, family, athletes and the sport he loved.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Trevor’s memory to the SVSEF Alpine Development Fund at svsef.org/donate. Messages of condolence can be sent to 2741 Winterhaven Dr, Hailey, ID 83333.