Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team’s Bea Kim made a thrilling return to the FIS Snowboard World Cup circuit, delivering a breakthrough performance to secure third place at the 2025 Toyota U.S. Grand Prix in Copper Mountain, Colorado.

The world's best halfpipe snowboarders were back in the U.S. for the final stop before holiday break in Copper Mountain, Colorado. After days of repetitions in the halfpipe and a solid round of qualifers, it was all on the line for the snowboard halfpipe finals. 

And for Kim, it was time to make her comeback. 

After falling on the final trick of her first run, the 18-year-old headed back up to the top of the halfpipe, determined to make a statement in front of the home crowd. With everything on the line, Kim put together a heater of a second run - a switch back 9, cab 7, front 5, back 5 and crippler 7 - that put her into podium position with only five riders left to go. The American watched as her competitors continued to drop, unable to best her 75.25 run two score, until Korea’s Gaon Choi put down a massive second run that earned a 94.50 and the top spot on the podium, cementing Kim’s third-place finish - her second career World Cup podium. Japan’s Sena Tomita took home second place.

“What just happened?!” said a stunned Kim. “Wow, this means a lot... I’ve competed here tons over the years in everything from nationals to Dew Tour, so getting a podium in front of this crowd is super special.”

After sitting out her sophomore year on the World Cup season due to injury, Kim’s podium finish in Copper is a significant confidence booster -- giving her a massive step up towards qualifying for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games.

Teammates Maddy Schaffirck and Maddie Mastro joined Kim in the final and took home fifth and sixth place, respectively. Two-time Olympic champion Chloe Kim was the top qualifier heading into finals, but withdrew from the contest after a crash in training. She is OK. 

The men’s side of the competition saw six Americans drop into the final. Copper Mountain’s own Chase Blackwell was the top finisher for the Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team, taking home fifth place with a massive first run that wowed his home crowd. 2018 Olympian Jake Pates took sixth, Ryan Wachendorfer finished seventh, Joey Okesson ninth, Alessandro Barbieri 10th, and two-time Olympian Chase Josey finished 12th.

With the first halfpipe Olympic qualifier done and dusted, the Hydro Flask U.S. The Snowboard Team will take a well-deserved break for the holidays before setting their sights on Aspen for another Toyota U.S. Grand Prix, Jan. 7-10. 

RESULTS
Women
Men

In the first of two downhill races in Val Gardena, Italy, Stifel U.S. Ski Team skier Kyle Negomir delivered the strongest downhill performance of his career, charging to an impressive 11th-place finish from bib 52.

“It feels really good,” said Negomir. “I've had a lot of slow results and I think a lot of skiing was under what I felt like my potential was.” 

Conditions on the iconic Saslong course were challenging throughout the day with heavy fog causing multiple delays and long holds for the athletes. By the time Negomir left the start gate—nearly 4 p.m. CET—it required patience and sharp focus to stay mentally locked in after hours of waiting.

Despite a thinning crowd by late afternoon, Negomir’s concentration never wavered. Running in the green midway down the course, he made a small mistake but stayed aggressive and composed, keeping his time within a second of the leaders. The result marked a significant breakthrough and the best downhill finish of his career, a moment punctuated by a celebratory embrace in the finish area from teammate and close friend Erik Arvidsson.

“I didn't do my first free run today, besides inspection, until probably one 2pm and so I think you just put it off. Try to keep your heart rate low, the intensity low, until it's time to go,” said Negomir. “I think we're looking for two big days for the U.S. team.” 

Swiss skier Marco Odermatt claimed the victory, followed by teammate Franjo von Allmen in second, with Italy’s Dominic Paris rounding out the podium in third.

The men will look to carry the momentum forward with a super-G on Friday and a second downhill on Saturday on the classic Saslong track.

RESULTS
Men's downhill

Kelsey O'Driscoll may be in her rookie season, but she doesn't have a rookie mentality. Within just a few years of starting to ski again after injury, O'Driscoll was introduced to racing, and is now named to the Stifel U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team for the first time. Last season, she was named to her first World Championships team, where she earned an impressive sixth-place finish. Just last week, Kelsey made her World Cup debut, finishing fourth, and by the end of the weekend, she had earned her first World Cup win. O'Driscoll's trajectory is astounding, and she isn't stopping anytime soon.

Between her work as a nurse and ski patroller, O'Driscoll is highly motivated to do everything the best she can on and off the slopes. 

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

We caught up with O'Driscoll dive into her background, reflect on a season of milestones, and look ahead to her goals for 2025-26.

Q: What initially drew you to the sport of skiing?

A: I’ve been on skis since I was two and was in love from the start!

Q: When you were younger and getting into the sport, what were your goals? 

A: I wanted to ski race as a kid, but my parents said no, so I switched directions and dreamed of becoming a ski patroller. I became a ski patroller at 21, a nurse at 25, and then broke my back at 27. After I broke my back, I was determined to get back to being a ski patroller and nurse. Once I had done that, I started thinking about para ski racing and decided to give it a go!

Q: What is your biggest accomplishment?

A: Getting back to work as both a ski patroller and as a pediatric nurse after sustaining my spinal cord injury.

Q: What is your ultimate goal? 

A: To create visibility for disabled people working in both the ski and healthcare industries.

Q: Who are your heroes? Both in & out of the sport?

A: Mike Olsen is the person who showed me life keeps going after a spinal cord injury (SCI). He showed me what was possible with an SCI. Without him, I wouldn’t be doing any of this. He’s my hero!!

Q: You win $5,000 in prize money: What do you do with it?

A: Put half aside to go towards buying a house, and give the other half to the adaptive programs who have helped me get where I am now.

Q: Do you budget or follow any structure related to spending?

A: I keep track of my skiing expenses on a spreadsheet, and everything else in an app. I have a monthly budget for groceries, outings, bills, etc. I only put things that give me cash back on my credit card and I pay it off in full every month. 

Q: What’s one money habit you follow?

A:  I put 15% of my paycheck pretax into my employer-sponsored savings account, and 1/4 to 1/3 of my paycheck after taxes into my regular savings account. 

Follow Kelsey on her social media channels. 

The Stifel U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team spent the last two days racing the downhill World Cup opener in Santa Caterina, Italy, where Kelsey O’Driscoll and Andrew Kurka both continued their hot streaks, both landing on the podium in third place. 

On day one, O’Driscoll led the way for the U.S. ,finishing third, her second career podium. Audrey Crowley was right behind in fourth place in the women’s standing category. On the men’s side, Kurka finished fifth followed by Andrew Haraghey in seventh, Jesse Keefe in 13th, Patrick Halgren in 14th, Spencer Wood in 15th, Tyler McKenzie in 17th and Noah Bury in 22nd. 

The following day, Kurka found himself back on the podium for the first time this season. O’Driscoll finished just off the women’s standing podium in fourth followed by Crowley in fifth. Wood finished the event 11th, Keefe 14th and McKenzie 18th. 

Next up the crew is on their way to St. Moritz, Switzerland for the first tech events of the season Dec. 19-21.

RESULTS
Downhill 1
Women
Men

Downhill 2
Women
Men

On Tuesday’s night slalom in Courchevel, France Stifel U.S. Ski Team athlete Mikaela Shiffrin dominated the field to take her 105th World Cup victory and fourth slalom victory of the season. Stifel U.S. Ski Team teammate Paula Moltzan skied strong to fifth - winning the second run. 

“I need to push every race, and I feel the pressure in the start, but when it goes right, it goes right,” said Shiffrin. 

It was a nice, clear-skied evening in France for the women’s slalom team. After a couple of weeks off from slalom, the women were ready to send under the lights. First up for the American team was none other than Mikaela Shiffrin, who has shown incredible dominance in the discipline from the start of the season in Gurgl. She did not fail to prove her talent on run one as she fought through each tricky section with grace. Her determination was unmatched as she crossed the finish line in first by almost a second. 

“I have really high-quality skiing right now, so when I am nervous, I know how to focus,” said Shiffrin. “But it takes so much precision to do this, and I don’t take that for granted.” 

Then teammate Paula Moltzan skied strongly to land in the top ten. However, it would come down to the second run to determine the top spots. 

“I am so thankful and proud of the work that my team has done it’s been really phenomenal work which makes it easier for me to do a good performance,” said Shiffrin. 

On the second run both Moltzan and Shiffrin brought their A game. Moltzan with a classic second run send, not only winning second run but moving up to fifth place. Shiffrin skied strong and fast to extend her slalom lead to 1.55 seconds over second place Camille Rast of Switzerland and Germany’s Emma Aicher. 

“I’m happy to have found some consistency in my slalom but I’m definitely looking for more speed on first run,” said Moltzan. “All there is to do is keep moving forward and pushing. Excited to have more racing soon.” 

Stifel U.S. Ski Team athletes Elisabeth Bocock, Nina O’Brien and Liv Moritz also raced but did not qualify for run two.

The women’s tech team will now enjoy the Christmas holiday before heading to Semmering, Austria Dec. 27-28 for a giant slalom and slalom race. 

RESULTS
women's slalom

On the final day of the St. Moritz World Cup,  Lindsey Vonn led the way for the Stifel U.S. Ski Team once again in fourth place. It capped off an incredible weekend of races for the 83-time World Cup winner, with two podiums, including a win on Friday, Dec. 12 and a second place, Saturday, Dec. 13. Teammate Keely Cashman was next on the docket in 14th place. 

“I'm a little bit disappointed in myself that I didn't push hard enough and was too conservative in some sections,” said Vonn. “I think overall it was a great weekend, and I take a lot of confidence from it but I definitely have things to fix for next weekend.”

The weather was, once again, perfect. Blue skies and sun overhead showed a smooth, consistent surface for all the racers. Cashman was first out of the gate for the women’s team and skied well to sit in the leaderboard chair for a few racers - her first time to do so. 

“I was pretty excited for a clean course, but also nervous because I didn't really know how I was gonna run. But I'm pretty happy with how I executed most of it,” said Cashman.

Then it was time for Vonn. She skied strongly throughout the course but needed a touch more flow for the top spot. Nonetheless, she has a lot to be happy with this weekend and skied away with a fourth-place finish. 

The second half of the race was just as lively for the U.S. team as three more women punched it into the top 30. First, it was Tricia Mangan who was skiing well until she made a costly error at the bottom - still sliding into 21st. Then, Mary Bocock came down flying at top speed and snagged 18th, her first World Cup points. Finally, it was Haley Cutler who also skied with grit to land in 23rd. 

“I'm very happy I got to race,” said Bocock. “It felt good in some parts but it definitely wasn't perfect. I think it really speaks to how important it is to just send it.” 

Mikaela Shiffrin raced her first speed race in two seasons, but did not finish. She is OK. Bella Wright landed just outside the top 30 in 33rd and Allison Mollin was 37th. 

St. Moritz was fantastic for the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, with two podiums for Vonn, two Stifel Bibbo Awards for Allison Mollin, nearly all women in the top 30 and strong skiing. Next, the women’s tech team will take the reins for a night slalom in Courchevel, France. 

RESULTS
Women's super-G

Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team's Ollie Martin stepped onto the podium at the Visa Big Air presented by Toyota at Steamboat, taking third place and a big stride forward to qualifying for the Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games in February. Jamie Anderson was the top American woman in sixth place. 

It was a beautiful sunny day in Colorado with a packed crowd for Saturday's finals. Martin threw down his first two tricks flawlessly- a front triple 18 and a contest first cab 16 pull back, a trick the 17 year old first landed at a training camp in Stubai. He finished behind Japanese teammates Hiroto Ogiwara in first and Kira Kimura in second. American Judd Henkes was sixth, stomping his signature butter 14 & hardway back 10 mute en route to another top-8 result.

On the women’s side, Anderson led the charge for the Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team women. It was her first FIS competition since the 2022 Olympic Winter Games. Her daughters greeted her in the finish, and joined her on the podium as she was crowned national champion for big air alongside Martin. Martin also won the Visa Best Trick Award for his NBD cab 16 pull back. 

Lily Dhawornvej, Rebecca Flynn, Jess Perlmutter, Giada Brienza, Kaitlyn Adams and Courtney Rummel did not qualify to finals for the women. Jake Canter, Brooklyn Depriest, Sean Fitzsimons, Fynn Bullock-Womble, Dusty Henricksen, Liam Johnson, Lucas Ferry, Caleb Dhawornvej, Will Solomon, Lys Fedorowycz, Evan Wrobel, Brock Crouch and Brian Rice did not qualify for the men.

Next up, the halfpipe team will compete at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Copper Mountain, Dec. 17-20, while the slopestyle/big air team will look toward the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Aspen after the new year. Both events are Olympic qualifiers. 

RESULTS
Women’s big air
Men’s big air 

The Visa Big Air presented by Toyota returned to Steamboat for the first time since 2021, and Stifel U.S. Ski Team athlete Troy Podmilsak brought home the win, with teammate Konnor Ralph in second place. 

Steamboat showed off for finals, sunny and 40 degrees for some prime spring skiing conditions. Podmilsak did not come to play today, lacing his first two runs to score a 182.50 and using his third as a victory lap. On run one, Podmilsak put down the highest scoring jump of the day: a switch right triple 1980 with a safety grab that was given a 92.00. For run two, Podmilsak laced a right triple 1800 with a mute grab. 

This win secured Podmilsak's spot on the slopestyle and big air team for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games. For more information on how freeski athletes qualify, please read the criteria here.

Reflecting on his win today and on securing his 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games spot, Troy said, 

"It hasn't hit me yet, honestly, that I'm going to the Games. I'm really proud of my skiing and I'm just happy that my parents got to watch me today. To win in front of them was a dream come true."

Ralph also had an outstanding day, finishing in second with a 179.50. The judges loved Ralph's style, rewarding him with a 90.00 for his switch left triple 1800 with a Japan grab and a 89.50 for his left triple 1800 with a mute grab. Ralph skied in a Raiders sweatshirt all week, sending good vibes to his favorite team. This was Ralph's best World Cup result and he was stoked with how the day went, saying,

"The skiing was sick, the jump was nice. It was so sick to have such a big crew out here supporting."

Keagan Supple finished the day in fifth, also his career best result. Supple wowed the crowd and judges with his switch left double 1800 stale and his left nose butter double 1260 safety. This was Supple's first big air finals.

Joining Podmilsak and Ralph on the podium was New Zealand's Luca Harrington in third.

On the women's side, Avery Krumme was the top American, finishing just off the podium in fourth with a score of 142.00. The judges loved her switch left bio 900 with a mute grab. This was Krumme's best World Cup result and first big air World Cup, proving her as someone to watch. 

Krumme was pleased with the day, saying,

"I'm really stoked! This is my first big air World Cup, my first finals and coming out fourth was so great. I'm so happy to be here and so happy with my result."

Rell Harwood finished eighth. She put down an epic run one, but fell on her second run and did not start run three. Harwood received the Visa Best Trick Award for her left double 1260 with a safety on run one.

The women's podium was made up of Canada's Naomi Uress in first, Ukraine's Kateryna Kotsar in second and China's Ruyi Yang in third.

The Stifel U.S. Freeski Team continues their action-packed December with halfpipe back on home snow at Copper Mountain for the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix, December 18-20. The slopestyle and big air team will have some well-earned time off for the holidays, and will be back in action at Aspen, January 8-10, 2026.

RESULTS
Women
Men

Ben Ogden marked his 100th World Cup start with his best result of the season, finishing fifth in Friday’s skate sprint in Davos, while Jack Young delivered a breakthrough performance with a career-best fourth place in his first-ever World Cup sprint final.

It was another sunny day in the Swiss Alps, where the third World Cup of the season landed in Davos, Switzerland. With three races for the weekend, today was the second, and the first skate sprint of the 2025-26 season. Six Americans advanced through to the sprint heats, including Ogden, Young and JC Schoonmaker on the men’s side, along with Jessie Diggins, Julia Kern and Alayna Sonnesyn for the women. 

The day started out with fast results in the quarterfinals, with Ogden crossing the line in second in a blistering 2:20.70 seconds. Young finished sixth. Based on those results, everyone knew it was going to be a big day. Fast forward to the final lunge across the finish, it was two U.S. men in the top five... and not only two top-five results, but a career best by Young and a season's best by Ogden. 

Young, the Vermont native, quietly emerged onto the international scene after an unconventional path to elite cross country skiing. A former football quarterback and baseball outfielder, Young chose to focus on skiing in high school before competing collegiately at Colby College, where he became the program’s first athlete to earn a spot on the Stifel U.S. Ski Team.

Now a regular World Cup starter, Young showed that he belongs here. 

In the quarterfinals, Ogden controlled his heat, taking the win, with Young close behind in second, moving both athletes into the semifinals. A notable moment came in the men’s heats when Norway’s Johannes Høsflot Klæbo failed to move on after a near-fall in the final corner — an uncharacteristic exit for the multiple-time Olympic and world champion.

Then, it was onto the semis. Ogden and Young lined up together again and both advanced through. 

In the final heat, Ogden and Young, who stayed composed, positioned themselves patiently before launching a late surge down the finishing straight. Young edged past Ogden in the final meters to a fourth-place finish. Ogden followed closely in fifth, capping a memorable day for the Stifel U.S. Ski Team. The race was ultimately won by France's Lucas Chanavat, who surprised everyone by missing most of fall training due to injury. Second place was won by Italy's Federico Pellegrino and third was Norway's Oskar Opstad Vike. For the Americans in the heat, Schoonmaker, who had an unfortunate crash that took him out of contention in the heats, was 27th. 

"This result means so so much," said Young. "It really feels like proof that I can make it to the top on this sport. If I told myself just 3 years ago that I would have a 4th place on the World Cup I would have thought I was insane. I still don’t think today has really set in."

For the women, though Diggins, Kern and Sonnesyn did not advance out of the quarterfinals, it was a step in the right direction and a good race to get the legs heated up for tomorrow's 10k skate. 

"I’m proud of making a detailed race plan and starting faster in the qualifier today!" said Kern. "I felt much more like myself out there today, and played the tactical game, with some good moves, and unfortunate outcomes with an obstruction by another athlete. I’m excited to take this fresher energy into tomorrow, and the endurance base I feel to build on my momentum in a distance race and see what happens tomorrow."

The women's podium was topped by Sweden's Jonna Sundling, with Norway's Mathilde Myhrvold in second and Nadine Faehndrich third in front of her home crowd. Diggins was 15th, Julia Kern 16th, and Sonnesyn 27th.

Results: 
MEN
WOMEN

On day one of Val d’Isère’s men’s tech series, Stifel U.S. Ski Team athletes River Radamus and Ryder Sarchett punched it into sixth and 10th place. The skiers notably had some of the fastest second runs of the day. 

“It's a privilege to race here,” said Radamus.  “You need to battle with this hill.”

On the first run, Radamus kicked out of the start first for the Americans and did not execute the way he knows he can, holding back a bit and settling for 21st. 

“The first run got the better of me," admitted Radamus.  

But make way for young star Ryder Sarchett. Sarchett, fresh off his first World Cup points at the Stifel Birds of Prey at Beaver Creek, was ready to send. From Bib 52, he skyrocketed to 23rd place in the first run. 

“It was a great day," said Sarchett. "This is the best ski race I think I have ever had."

It would come down to run two for the true test. But if the U.S. men know how to do anything, it’s win a second run. 

“I think the whole team is building some momentum," said Radadmus. "Too often with the U.S. team, we've just been taking part, but right now our motivation is that every time we're in the start, we want to put on a show and we want to risk it. It's not going to work every run, but I think we're starting to put some good runs together."

And then men did risk it. Sarchett took advantage of an early start and linked his turns flawlessly to sit in the leaderboard chair. Then Radamus, just a few skiers behind, annihilated the second run to not only move up 15 spots but also win the second run. Sarchett placed third on the second run. Radamus landed sixth overall and Sarchett took 10th, a career best result for the young skier. It was a truly magnificent performance by both men. 

The men’s team will now switch gears to slalom Sunday. 

RESULTS
Men's giant slalom