The 2019-20 FIS Snowboard World Cup season opened up in spectacular fashion for the U.S. Snowboard Team at the Winter Games NZ big air in Cardrona, New Zealand as Chris Corning (Silverthorne, Colo.) defended his title by once again landing a backside quad cork 1800 melon grab on his second run. 

“Being able to defend the Winter Games NZ title feels amazing, but I am happier we just got to ride,” said Corning. “If we did not get to compete today, the contest would have likely been canceled due to weather. Also, I’m really happy to share the podium with Red. It’s moments like these that we work so hard for. Everyone rode really well and I was stoked to watch everyone charge.”

U.S. Snowboard Teammate and Olympic gold medalist Red Gerard (Silverthorne, Colo.) finished second, and Kalle Jarvilehto of Finland finished was third. 

With relatively high winds causing a small delay at the start of the competition, event organizers and riders came to the joint decision to run the men’s competition, but with safety in mind, the women would use their qualification results from Friday as the final results. Top qualifier Enni Rukajarvi of Finland was awarded her first World Cup win since 2017, and the fourth of her career, followed by Great Britain’s Katie Ormerod in second, and Norway’s Silje Norendal in third.

The 75-foot kicker was the stage for impressive performances from all riders. Corning was the first to drop for the U.S. and landed a perfect flat spin 1440 melon, a trick that is very difficult to stop the rotation. Gerard followed suit stomping one of the most stylish tricks of the day, a frontside 1440 tail grab.

Rookie pro team rider Luke Winkelmann (Blowing Rock, N.C.) also started the competition strong landing a frontside 1260 tail grab displaying great control in his landing. Lyon Farrell (Haiku, Hawaii) continued the U.S. streak of stomped landings with a skillful backside 1620 melon showing the rest of the field the speed necessary to take it to the sweet spot of the landing.

The energy at Cardrona Alpine Resort rose to a whole new level in run two as Corning stomped his signature backside quad cork 1800. Last season at the Winter Games NZ, Corning became the first rider ever to land a quad cork in the southern hemisphere. With a score of 95, Corning would move comfortably into the top spot. Gerard continued the strong U.S. performance by executing a clean backside 1440 triple cork mute grab complete with a very stylish late backside shifty to the satisfaction of the Kiwi crowd. Winkelmann and Farrell would both struggle to bring their tricks to their feet on run two.

Heading into the final run, Americans held down the top-three positions, but the strong international field stepped it up on their last jump making for an exciting finish. First, Australian Mathew Cox would bump Farrell out of the top-three. Then Canadian Nicolas Laframboise landed backside triple cork 1440 with massive amplitude to bump Gerard into third place. Jarvilehto followed with a switch backside 1440, a very difficult rotation, to overtake Laframboise and bump Gerard into fourth place. Finally, Just as he did in qualifications, Gerard showed his ability to be clutch when it matters most and landed a beautiful backside triple cork 1440 to overtake second-place. Corning would remain the top position and claim the yellow bib after the first big air World Cup.

The Cardona World Cup big air was a stellar start to the season for the U.S. Snowboard Team. From all five Americans performing well in the qualifier, to a great finish by Corning and Gerard in the finals, U.S. riders will undoubtedly be fun watch this competition season. Stay tuned for more action from Winter Games NZ as members of the U.S. Freeski team will take to the halfpipe Sept 6-7.

RESULTS
Men’s snowboard big air finals
Women’s snowboard big air finals

EVENT REPLAY 
Men’s snowboard big air finals
 

Lyon Farrell (Haiku, Hawaii) led four U.S. Snowboard Team riders in the qualifying round at the opening FIS Snowboard World Cup big air of the season at Cardrona Alpine Resort in New Zealand Friday. 

Farrell qualified third, followed by Luke Winkelmann (Blowing Rock, N.C.) in sixth, Red Gerard (Silverthorne, Colo.) seventh, and 2018-19 FIS Snowboard overall champion Chris Corning (Silverthorne, Colo.) in ninth. 

“I feel great,” said an elated Farrell. “I was so stoked to put my first run down. I had a hard time in practice and almost missed my run, but was able to put it all together when I dropped in. Also, I could not be happier to see all my teammates ride well and make it through. I’m looking forward to hopefully getting finals in the books this weekend.”

Under a blue sky with virtually no wind, Farrell secured his place in finals by putting down a beautiful backside 1620. First-year U.S. Snowboard Pro Team rider Winkelmann landed both of his runs, gradually improving throughout the competition. This is a great trend for the pro team rookie heading into the first World Cup final of the season.

“It feels super good to get that contest rust out of the system,” said Winkelmann. “It’s always nice to land both of my runs at the first contest of the season. Also, it’s insane that there are three other U.S. riders heading into the finals. No other country got more than one, so really excited to ride with my teammates and make a run at the podium. My strategy is to mainly have fun with it and hope to put down another couple of solid tricks.” 

Olympic gold medalist Gerard put the pressure on by falling on his first run, and in a very rare scenario, found himself sitting 28th heading into his second run. On Gerard’s final opportunity, he put his clutchness on display and earned a top-10 score. Corning, who was arguably the favorite coming into the event, landed a solid first run, but it would only be good enough for ninth place. Corning, who won the event last season, will need to put together two strong runs in the finals to catch the competition.

American rider Storm Rowe (Jamaica, Vt.) landed his first backside triple cork in a contest and finished 11th, just missing finals by one position. Rowe held is own in a diverse international field of 35 athletes. Safe to say the future is bright for this young rider. 

Finals are scheduled to take place on Saturday, Aug 24. Tune in on the Olympic Channel to catch the action live.

RESULTS
Men’s big air qualification
Women’s big air qualification

START LIST
Men’s big air finals
Women’s big air finals

HOW TO WATCH
*All times EST
Subject to change

SNOWBOARD
Friday, August 23
5:15 p.m. - World Cup men’s and women’s big air - Cardrona, New Zealand - Olympic Channel-TV & OlympicChannel.com
 

U.S. Snowboard Team athletes will compete in the first FIS World Cup big air event of the season this week in Cardrona, New Zealand Aug 23-24. 

U.S. Pro Team riders Chris Corning (Silverthorne, Colo.), Luke Winkelmann (Blowing Rock, N.C.), Lyon Farrell (Haiku, Hawaii), Red Gerard (Silverthorne, Colo.), and American Storm Rowe (Jamaica, Vt.) are all scheduled to compete.

“I am excited to be back in New Zealand," said Corning. “I hope to bring home a win again. The jump is usually pretty great and if the weather holds out it should be a good contest. Being in a contest after the summer can always be more nerve-wracking than one in the middle of the season, but I’m looking forward to it.”

Big air will serve as one of the marquee events in the Winter Games NZ program, which also hosts freeski, alpine, and cross-country competitions. It has become a tradition to kick off the freeski and snowboard World Cup competition season in the southern hemisphere. Last year, on Corning’s 19th birthday, he stunned the crowd and his fellow athletes with a perfectly stomped backside quad-corked 1800 melon grab on his second run. That was the first time the trick was landed in World Cup competition. Corning’s performance earned him the top spot on the podium. His teammate and PyeongChang Olympic big air silver medalist Kyle Mack (West Bloomfield, Mich.) just missed the podium, finishing fourth. 

Corning is coming off yet another impressive season where he earned his fifth and sixth FIS Crystal Globes in March by winning the snowboard slopestyle and overall titles. He is certainly a favorite this weekend, but there are plenty of contenders ready to put up a fight including teammate and Olympic gold medalist Gerard. Gerard also had a successful season last winter taking home the gold at the 2019 Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain, as well as at the 2019 Burton U.S. Open Slopestyle finals. In addition, first-year pro team member Luke Winkelmann is searching for his first World Cup podium. U.S. Snowboard slopestyle and Big Air Pro Team Head Coach Dave Reynolds is excited about the team he has on the ground in New Zealand. 

“We are excited to be back on snow down here in New Zealand,” said Reynolds. “We have a small, but very capable crew out here with four out of our top five ranked riders competing. We don’t get many on snow big airs (vs. scaffolding) and the crew is pumped to get the first big air of the season in the books.”

While this weekend’s original schedule called for qualifications on Saturday, Aug 24, and finals on Sunday the 25th, a winter storm front approaching means that that is all very likely to change. The one window of good weather projected for this weekend appears to be for Friday, Aug 23, when blue skies and mellow winds are expected. With this forecast in mind, organizers and officials have decided to move qualifications up to Friday. And while hopes are high that a fitting finals will be able to go down sometime between Saturday and the Monday weather day, there is the distinct possibility that those qualification results may have to stand in as official results should finals not be possible.

Don’t miss your chance to watch the first snowboard World Cup event of the season. Tune in on the Olympic Channel to catch the action live.

HOW TO WATCH
*All times EST
Subject to change

SNOWBOARD
Saturday, August 24
8:00 p.m. - World Cup men’s and women’s big air - Cardrona, New Zealand - Olympic Channel-TV & OlympicChannel.com
 

Four U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes took time out of their busy training schedules to give back and inspire the next generation of skiers and snowboarders with Harper For Kids (HFK), a children’s non-profit organization.

HFK was founded by Tim & Peanut Louie Harper in 2008. HFK’s Character Education program is based upon legendary UCLA Coach John Wooden’s “Pyramid of Success,” and their mission is to teach youth essential character traits that will help them achieve their personal best in life. 

“It has been such an honor and thrill for Harper for Kids to team up with several of U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s athletes,” said Peanut Harper. “All of these athletes are such inspiring role models and great examples of what success is all about. The students were so excited to meet them and to learn not only what they do to be the best athlete they can be, but more importantly, the best person they can be. We hope by having these champion athletes share the steps they've taken to be successful, how they handle pressure and expectations, and other challenges in life, that the students can be inspired to believe in themselves, go after their dreams and goals and never give up.”

A special part of HFK programming is the “Pyramid of Success” presentations they provide to schools through video conferencing. HFK brings in great role models to share their positive definition of success and other valuable life lessons that can inspire the students to be the best person they can be. This is where U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes Maggie Voisin (Whitefish, Mont.), Tess Johnson (Vail, Colo.), Winter Vinecki (Gaylord, Mich.) and Toby Miller (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.) stepped in to offer their expertise. Combined, the athletes were able to reach 1,360 students from 11 of the participating schools, sending messages of empowerment, positivity, ambition, and individuality. 

“I really enjoy sharing my story with kids because I know they look up to it as something they could do one day,” said Johnson. “Being a professional athlete opened up this platform to make a difference, and I want to show the younger generation that they should have the confidence to be themselves, make mistakes, and chase their dreams. It’s so important to me that I prioritize being a role model because if I can inspire confidence in kids, they will go on to do amazing things for the world. My experience with Harper For Kids embodied everything I stand for, and it was an amazing opportunity that every professional athlete should take advantage of to share their story.”

Picture yourself as an elementary school student. The world is your oyster and here come four U.S. National Ski & Snowboard Team athletes ready to share key lessons and experiences to help you succeed. This was by no means a mandatory experience for Voisin, Johnson, Vinecki, or Miller, but rather a chance for them to support a group of wide-eyed students who are hungry for knowledge. U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes do more than just train and compete, they give back, they inspire, and they represent their sport and fellow teammates to the best of their ability. 

For more information about HFK and to learn how you can support their organization, visit http://www.harperforkids.org. 
 

From July 8-12, nine U.S. Snowboardcross Team athletes led by Head Snowboardcross Coach Peter Foley headed to the acclaimed Whistler Bike Park in British Columbia for an innovative summer training camp. Athletes arrived in Whistler to the team house where they would all stay together for the course of the team cohesion camp or ‘rad camp’ as the riders like to call it. With clear goals and high expectations, the camp turned out to be special and productive focused on athletic, cultural, and personal development.

“In my mind, there were three main goals heading into this trip,” said Foley. “From a team culture standpoint, I wanted to continue to shift perspectives with the athletes, focusing not just on themselves as individuals, but rather as members of a team with a common mission. In regards to the mountain biking element, moving downhill through terrain at speed is a critical skill that applies directly to snowboardcross. Being able to learn and pick up new skills is something that everyone can benefit from. My hope is that everyone takes the culture of learning to the snow and other aspects of their lives.”

There was a wide variety of mountain biking experience and skill levels amongst the participating members of the team including 2019 FIS World Champion Mick Dierdorff (Steamboat Springs, Colo.), Olympic medalist Alex Deibold (Manchester, VT.), Hagen Kearney (Telluride, Colo.), Faye Gulini (Salt Lake City, Utah), Nick Baumgartner (Iron River, Mich.), Senna Leith (Vail, Colo.), Mike Lacroix (Shrewsbury, Mass.), Livia Molodyh (Hubbard, Ore.), and 2018 Junior World Champion Jake Vedder (Pickney, Mich.). 

Although the trip was centered around mountain biking at one of the best bike parks in the world, Foley had more in store for the group upon their arrival. Luckily these athletes are no strangers to speed and heights in their line of work because their first adventure was not for the faint of heart. Athletes headed straight up to the top of the Sasquatch Zipline, North America’s longest zipline which reaches a top speed of over 90 miles per hour and travels a distance of 1.36 miles. The zipline starts at about 5000 feet and connects Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. This definitely got the blood flowing to kick off the camp. 

The following morning, the group came together for a team culture session to align individual goals with a team mission for success. This is a novel idea for athletes who, by the nature of their sport, are constantly competing against each other for World Cup starts, Olympic team nominations and even for a spot on a podium at any given race. The baseline concept is that the better the team works together, the stronger the dynamic, the better everyone will perform. For many, the team-building exercises could be considered uncomfortable for introverted individuals, but the team persevered and in doing so developed strong relationships.

“To truly develop trust within a team, it means increased understanding and empathy while working your teammates,” said Foley. “To some extent, this means being vulnerable and completely transparent with the group.”

The exercise began with athletes openly and willingly answering difficult questions. For example, “If only one person were successful on the team, how would the morale be?” The questions even dove into their personal lives discovering what keeps everyone up at night and how everyone feels about where they are at in their careers. If there was any veil over the true fears, aspirations, and feelings of the team, they were long gone by the end of the discussion. 

Following the discussion, athletes jumped into an improvisation exercise where each individual would act as if they were in another team member's shoes. To act like someone else, you must do your research. Therefore, the task acted as a catalyst to ask discovery questions with each other and truly explore things they never knew about their teammates. Some questions were about snowboarding, some about family, and even childhood. After the discovery session, athletes were asked to report back and ‘perform’ as the other individual. The general vibe after the discussion and improvisation exercise was one of unification and understanding. In addition, you can imagine there was a comedic element as professional snowboarders tried their hand at character acting. 

“I was super stoked for the opportunity to come to Whistler and spend time working together as a team off the snow, said Vedder. "We have a lot of talent and in an individual sport where we are constantly competing against each other,  it's important we find the right way to all work together. I was really happy with the outcome of the camp and we are all excited for the season.”

After the team culture meeting, the riders got to do what they do best, go fast and have fun. They hired two professional instructors, including ZEP Techniques Professional Instructor Ross Dunlop, who quickly became engrained in the group throughout the team’s stay in Whistler and stuck with the athletes far beyond his initial time commitment. The team rode lift access trails from 1 to almost 7 p.m., enjoying every second of what the terrain had to offer. 

Following a heavy day of riding and instruction, athletes headed out on their own on day three to ride. Another team session followed the morning of riding, this time led by Cecily Elmas, the former Mindful Performance Manager at Lululemon, and Co-Founder of BeGuided. In this session, athletes focussed creating a document that clearly outlined on goals, values, and standards as it related to team culture. After the meeting, everyone finished off the day with more lift access riding.

The team meeting in Whistler was dubbed ‘rad camp’ by coach Foley and the athletes, but it’s not the first of its kind. Perhaps the greatest rad camp of all time was 2011 in New Zealand, where athletes trained on snow both on course and freeriding, visited the major bungee jumps in the area, and even went heliboarding. If that wasn’t enough, they stopped in Fiji on their return home to catch some waves and do some jetski assisted surfing.

To the untrained eye, you may think a trip to Whistler or New Zealand for an action sports athlete is just a vacation. The reality is these world-class snowboardcross athletes get approximately only six hours per year on an actual boardercross course with not much room for growth. This begs the question - how do you get better when you are off-snow both mentally and physically? Foley answers this with creative solutions that former coach Jeff Archibald and Foley have been pumping out for years. It’s about keeping athletes sharp, out of their comfort zones, and ready to learn. This summer’s Whistler rad camp accomplished these goals from an athletic, cultural and personal development perspective. 

“Rad camp was the most fun,” said three-time Olympian Gulini. “It was the perfect combination of team building, cross-training, and pushing the boundaries of our comfort zone. From North America’s longest zip line, to Whistler’s world-famous bike park. We laughed, learned, and grew tremendously as a team. Rad camp has started our 2019-20 U.S. Snowboardcross Team off to an epic start.”

Follow the U.S. Snowboardcross athletes this summer as they prepare for their competition season ahead.

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Mick Dierdorff - FB: @mickdorff, IG: @mickdorff, TW: @mickdorff
Alex Deibold - FB - @alex.deibold, IG: @adeibold, TW: @adeibold
Hagen Kearney - FB: @hagenkearneysbx, IG: @hagenkearney, TW: @hagenkearney
Faye Gulini - FB:  @faye.gulini, IG: @fayegulini, TW: @fayegulini
Jake Vedder - FB: @jakeveddersbx, IG: @jake_vedder, TW: @jake_vedder
Nick Baumgartner - FB: @nickbaumgartner12 , IG: @nickbaumgartner, TW:@nickbaumgartner
Senna Leith - FB: @sennaleithsbx, IG: @sennaleith
Mike Lacroix - FB: @mike.lacroix.73, IG: @mlacroix12
Livia Molodyh - FB: @livia.molodyh, IG: @liviamolodyh

Over a week of U.S. freeski and snowboard summer training camp is in the books and it’s been anything but boring for U.S Team athletes. Thanks to U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s official training partners Timberline Lodge and Ski Area, Windells Camp, and High Cascade Snowboard Camp, skiers and riders were not only able to get multiple repetitions on the amazing terrain at Mt Hood, but athletes also had a chance to unwind, build team comradery, and experience the mountain in a very unique way. From an overnight team BBQ at 7,000 feet to a sunset photo and video shoot, athletes took full advantage of their time on the Palmer Glacier. 

On the evening of Friday, July 12th, 17 athletes across the U.S. Snowboard slopestyle and the  U.S. Freeski slopestyle and halfpipe teams enjoyed a night at the famed Silcox Hut. The Silcox Hut at Timberline Lodge and Ski Area is the ultimate bed & breakfast experience at elevation and is open all year for overnight stays for groups of 12 to 24 people. 

“Once we saw the amazing set up at the Silcox Hut, we decided we had to set up a BBQ and overnight for the athletes in 2019,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Head Freeski and Snowboard Coach Mike Jankowski. “It was truly an awesome experience that we definitely plan to do in the coming years with more of the teams.”

The BBQ wasn’t just burgers and dogs, but also offered learning opportunities for athletes. During the BBQ, Wade Gilbert from the USOPC (United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee) Apollo Project shared some ideas and information with athletes and coaches in regards to the National Team Coach Education Program. In addition, athletes had the chance to pick the brains of the top former athletes including U.S. Snowboard Team alumnus and Olympian Louie Vito as well as former U.S. Snowboard Team member and Olympic snowboard halfpipe coach Elijah Teter - who recently took on a new role as Director of Snowboarding for Wy’East Mountain Academy and High Cascade Snowboard Camp - in a Q&A format. After the Q&A, athletes were then shuttled via snowcats to a freshly groomed and salted park setup complete with two rope tows and three hours of sunset riding.

“The overnight at Silcox Hut was an incredible experience for the athletes,” said U.S. Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air National Development Coach Nichole Mason. “The stoke was indescribable on the top of a mountain while the sun was setting. To have all the rookie kids intermixed from the freeski and snowboard teams interacting in such a positive way was amazing to witness. It was a priceless experience to see friendships blossom that will last throughout their careers.”

The sunset shoot has been a tradition for seven years at U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Mt. Hood training camp. Some might not consider a photo and video shoot part of an athlete’s training, but it is very much an important part of what makes them a true and well-rounded freeski and snowboard athlete. A recent report conducted by U.S. Ski & Snowboard called the Athlete Project unveiled the fact that athletes desire additional resources when it comes to capturing and producing content, especially at training camps. Access to more quality content allows athletes to take the lead in building their own brand and audience, which benefits the entire sport as a whole. Not to mention, their busy competition schedules often don’t allow them to collect as much content as they would like, so filming at a training camp is a major benefit for freeskiers and riders who are constantly trying to balance these two worlds. 

“Filming is really important to me and my career as a freeskier,“ said U.S. Freeski Pro Team member Colby Stevenson (Park City, Utah). “Content is what can build your audience, set you apart from other skiers, and also keeps you motivated as competition can sometimes be frustrating. It’s really cool that the U.S. Team and Timberline invested in the opportunity for athletes to capture some great content in a beautiful environment in the midst of an official training camp.”

After the sunset shoot, athletes returned to Silcox Hut. Some of the team woke up for sunrise followed by a delicious waffle and fruit breakfast. After they refueled from their busy night at the park, the team booted up and walked right over to the Palmer chair for another busy day of training at Timberline’s Pro Park. It was on-snow convenience at its finest.

There is something special about breaking out of the box and adding these unique elements to U.S. Ski & Snowboard training camps and it would not be possible without the support of Timberline Lodge & Ski Area, which provided amazing terrain, facilities, and went above and beyond by offering access to the Silcox Hut for the athletes. Stay tuned for more content coming out of U.S. freeski and snowboard summer training camp at Mt. Hood.
 

FOLLOW MT. HOOD SUMMER CAMP
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The 2019 ESPY Awards Ceremony took place Wednesday night and U.S. Ski & Snowboard star Chloe Kim (Torrance, Calif.) took home her second-consecutive Best Female Action Sport Athlete Award.

“I am so happy to win another ESPY and I just feel so humble and grateful to be in the same category as these other incredible athletes,” Kim said. 

The show was hosted by former Saturday Night Live comedian Tracy Morgan at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, Calif. The Awards show highlights the most significant moments over the past year in athletics and attracts some of the top personalities in sports and entertainment. The event celebrates athletes overcoming challenges, breaking barriers and pushing their sports. 

The current Olympic and FIS World Champion Chloe Kim (Torrance, Calif.) topped the podium at five out of six events she entered, winning at a rate of 83%. In doing so she completed over a full year of victories by winning every major competition she entered from the 2018 X Games to the 2019 FIS World Championships. If her prowess in the halfpipe wasn’t impressive enough,  the motivated 18-year-old phenom plans to take on a new challenge this fall by starting her college academic career at the prestigious Princeton University. 

Kim was not the only U.S. Ski & Snowboard athlete nominated for a 2019 ESPY Award. U.S. Alpine star Mikaela Shiffrin (Avon, Colo.) was nominated for Best Female athlete and for good reason. Shiffrin had a record-setting 2019 season including 17 FIS Ski World Cup victories, four World Cup titles and three World Championship medals - two golds and one bronze - including becoming the only athlete in the history of ski racing to win four successive World Championship gold medals in a single discipline (slalom). However, the night belonged to Alex Morgan of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team, who took home the award. With the ESPYS following close behind the U.S. Women’s National Team World Cup victory, the sports world was still buzzing at the 27th Annual ESPY Awards ceremony. Morgan and the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team also won the Best Team Award after a tremendous performance over the course of the past month of World Cup competition.

Shiffrin and Kim continued their red carpet tour at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards on Thursday evening. Once again, Kim took home the Favorite Action Sports Star Award completing an excellent week for the young superstar. 

Kim and Shiffrin’s award nominations solidify what was a very well rounded and successful season for U.S. Ski & Snowboard teams and athletes. Click here for more highlights and milestones from the 2018-19 season. 

Chloe’s Winning Reaction
Shiffrin & Morgan at ESPY Awards
 

Coming hot on the heels of Project Gold Camp at Timberline Lodge and Ski Area, an official training site for U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes, U.S. National Team freeskiers and snowboarders are arriving at Mt. Hood, Ore. for their summer training camp. On top of looking forward to getting time on snow in some of the best off-season conditions available, athletes have another reason to be excited with the news that former U.S. Snowboard Team member and famed Olympic snowboard halfpipe coach Elijah Teter will be on-site in a new position.

On July 2, Wy’East Mountain Academy and High Cascade Snowboard Camp, an official training camp partner of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, announced the addition of Teter as their Director of Snowboarding. He is tasked with setting the vision and directing the high-performance snowboard coaching program for both the academy and camps. Teter not only brings a wealth of competitive riding experience, but also successfully coached U.S. rider Kaitlyn Farrington (Sun Valley, Idaho) to an Olympic snowboard halfpipe gold medal in 2014 and Japanese rider Ayumo Hirano to two Olympic halfpipe silver medals in 2014 and 2018. Wy’East Academy and High Cascade Camp are excited to have Teter on board and rightfully so. 

“Elijah joining our academy is the next step in Wy’East Mountain Academy becoming the world’s premier action sports academy,” said Academy President Kevin English. “Not only does Elijah have the years of coaching experience and Olympic medals on his resume, but he is a true mentor to young students and his peers alike.”

The enthusiasm for the new position is shared by Teter and surely the rest of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard community. 

“I flipping love snowboarding!” said Teter. “I love teaching, I love progression in athletics, and most importantly, I love reaching your highest potential as a person. I have been part of and worked alongside some great programs around the world, and to have the opportunity to lead the direction of this snowboard program, shaping it into something I can really be proud of, it gives me goosebumps thinking of the possibilities.”

Teter was a member of the U.S. Snowboard Team from 2003-10 and also participated in U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Project Gold development camps prior to joining the team. As previously mentioned, Elijah was not the only member of the Teter family to find success in the snowboard industry. His younger sister Hannah reached the top of the sport at the 2006 Torino Olympic Games claiming the gold medal in snowboard halfpipe and silver at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. Their older brother Abe was also a member of the U.S. Snowboard Team and competed in elite international level competition. If this wasn’t already a family affair, the oldest of the five Teter children, Amen, is a successful sports agent and is currently Octagon’s Global Director of Action Sports. 

During Teter’s time as a coach, he earned the 2014 Team USA Best U.S. Snowboard Halfpipe Coach Award, as well as the 2014 U.S. Ski & Snowboard Domestic Coach of the Year Award. During this time Teter served as the Head Halfpipe and Slopestyle Coach with Ski & Snowboard Club Vail. In addition, he has also judged at the highest level of the sport including five years with Winter X Games. If his accolades and experience are any indicators, he will no doubt find success in his new role.

U.S. Snowboard Team alumnus and Olympian Louie Vito (Sandy, Utah) has known Teter since the beginning. They were peers, teammates and Teter has even served as Vito’s coach. 

“Elijah is someone who truly understands snowboarding and the mental aspect of being an athlete,” said Vito. “Since he has been at the top level himself, he has great knowledge and is constantly learning and challenging himself as a coach. He really pays attention to the athlete's body, mind, and of course their individual goals. He is one of the best coaches I have ever worked with.”

Timberline Lodge and Ski Area along with the U.S. Ski & Snowboard partners High Cascade and Windells Camp, who call Mt. Hood. Ore. home, have the knack for attracting the industry’s best coaches and staff from around the United States. As in illustration, in 2015 Windells Camp named Jason Arens as their director of marketing. Arens is a top tier international level freeski judge, former athlete, and overall fan of freeskiing who is currently serving as the Director of Marketing for We Are Camp, LLC, where he manages the High Cascade Snowboard Camp, Windells Camp, and Wy’East Academy brands. It’s no surprise that talent finds their way to Mt. Hood. Professional level instruction and guidance deserve professional-level facilities and that's exactly what Timberline Lodge & Ski Area and the Wy’East camp brands bring to the table. 

However, a mountain needs it’s athletes and there are plenty of amazing skiers and riders that venture towards Mt. Hood every season. One of these athletes is U.S. Snowboard Pro Halfpipe Team member Ryan Wachendorfer (Edwards, Colo.), who shared his thoughts on Teter’s new fitting role. 

“I met Elijah in Vail when he coached for Ski and Snowboard Club (Vail), but had always looked up to him when he was pro and competing,” said Wachendorfer. “I think Elijah will do really well at Wy’East because he’s passionate about snowboarding and is an awesome coach and mentor for up and coming riders. Elijah is one of the most positive people I know and always has a smile on his face. He’s a great person to have on the hill and never takes snowboarding too seriously.”

U.S. Ski & Snowboard wishes Elijah Teter the best of luck in his new role and selfishly are very happy he will remain as a core member of the snowboard community and a familiar face at Mt. Hood over the course of U.S. Ski & Snowboard Training Camp. 

Official Elijah Teter Press Release
Timberline Lodge & Ski Area
WeAreCamp.com

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