Park City, Utah (Dec. 6, 2024) — U.S. Ski & Snowboard is proud to announce President and CEO Sophie Goldschmidt has been named to Sports Business Journal’s (SBJ) 2024 Power Players in Women’s Sports, an honor recognizing individuals driving significant progress and innovation in women’s sports. 

This recognition comes as women’s sports reach new heights, with projected revenues surpassing $1 billion in 2024 and groundbreaking milestones across leagues, teams and individual athletes. In her three years at the helm of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, Goldschmidt’s leadership has cemented U.S. Ski & Snowboard as one of the many leaders in advancing gender equity in sports, particularly through the launch of the HERoic initiative in 2022, an initiative focused on empowering women in skiing and snowboarding.

Under Goldschmidt’s direction, HERoic has already had a significant increase in women coaches at the elite level, addressing the imbalance of only 1 in 4 coaches in the sport. Alongside the success at the coaching level, U.S. Ski & Snowboard reflects this commitment, with 67% of its executive team comprised of women.

Goldschmidt’s extensive experience and accolades underscore her transformative impact on the sports industry. She has held executive roles at globally renowned organizations, including the World Surf League, National Basketball Association, Women’s Tennis Association, Rugby Football Union, PGA European Tour and Adidas. Throughout her career, she has been at the forefront of global sports, media and entertainment industries.

Her achievements have been widely recognized, with honors including one of Forbes’ Most Powerful Women in Sport, AdWeek’s Most Powerful Women in Sport, Sports Business Journal’s Forty Under Forty, Sport360’s Most Powerful Woman in Sport and Marketing Week’s Vision Award.

“It’s an honor to be included in Sports Business Journal’s Power Players in Women’s Sports alongside so many trailblazers pushing boundaries and creating opportunities,” said Goldschmidt. “At U.S. Ski & Snowboard, we are committed to empowering women at every level of our sport. HERoic is a testament to what’s possible when we prioritize equity and inclusion.”

Goldschmidt’s vision and commitment to empowering women in sports continue to set the tone at the organization and within the industry as women's sports continue to thrive at all levels.

Park City, UT (Dec. 5, 2025) – The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team is proud to announce the launch of Insider, a unique fan club for winter sports enthusiasts to connect more deeply with the action, athletes and excitement of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team. Designed for passionate fans, the program offers exclusive benefits, pro deals from some of the world’s biggest brands and unforgettable experiences with athletes for the inaugural price of $60.

“The Insider Fan Club celebrates the spirit of our incredible community, offering fans VIP-level access to our domestic World Cup events and the chance to interact and cheer on the world’s best athletes,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO. “Insider is a step forward in bringing the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team closer to the community that has supported our 240+ athletes and 10 teams for years.”

What is an Insider?

As an Insider Fan, members gain:

• Exclusive Welcome Pack: This pack includes a collectible enamel pin, custom neck gaiter, sticker pack and welcome card.
• Partner Perks:
  • Ikon Pass: 30% off U.S. Ski & Snowboard Insider membership for all Ikon pass holders.
  • Backcountry: 20% off your entire cart, with more discounts on the way. 
  • Outside+: A complimentary 90-day trial. Watch all domestic World Cups live and on-demand, more than 75 Warren Miller films and unlimited access to articles, videos and stories from Outside magazine and affiliated brands like Backpacker, Climbing, Ski, Trail Runner, VeloNews, and more.
  • Protect Our Winters (POW): Free membership and 15% discount on all merchandise. 
  • United Airlines: 5% off select flights for MileagePlus members to dozens of domestic snow destinations. 
• VIP Experiences: Custom credentials to domestic World Cup events, providing exclusive viewing spots. 
• Sweepstakes: Entry to win the coveted U.S. Ski & Snowboard ultimate lift pass, an unrestricted, with no blackout dates, ski and snowboard pass to more than 200 resorts throughout the U.S.

How to Join

Becoming an Insider Fan is easy:

1. Visit our Insider webpage. 
2. Complete the sign-up process.
3. Once payment is confirmed, members will receive a welcome email with access to benefits, the Welcome Pack, a personalized web page with partner discount codes, and more.

Eligibility: The program is open to U.S. residents aged 18 and older.

Park City, UT (Nov. 26, 2024) -  U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced the athletes that won and landed in the top three results for the SkillsQuest-Fitness program for 2024. Each year the organization recognizes the overall top 3 performers and each event-specific winner. This year, sport-specific winners were added. 

The overall winners are highlighted by Apex2100 club athlete Viktoria Zaytseva and Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team athlete Isaiah Nelson. 

SkillsQuest-Fitness is a comprehensive fitness assessment consisting of eight individual events, including a 20-meter sprint, long jump, box jumps and more. Physical fitness is essential for snow sport athletes providing the foundation to handle the training volumes needed throughout various development phases to enhance technical skills. With more than 7,500 tests conducted nationwide to date, this test establishes benchmarks and age-specific norms to support athlete progress.

2024 SkillsQuest-Fitness Overall Podium
(Name; Score; Club)

Female:
1st – Viktoria Zaytseva; 733 points; Apex2100
2nd – Lauren Macuga; 727.5 points; Stifel U.S. Ski Team
3rd – Tricia Mangan; 714 points; Stifel U.S. Ski Team

Male:
1st – Isaiah Nelson; 917 points; Stifel U.S. Ski Team
2nd – Caman Beauregard; 879.5 points; Steamboat Spring Winter Sports Club
3rd – Curtis Zanni / Adrian Beauregard; 872.5; both Steamboat Spring Winter Sports Club

2024 SkillsQuest-Fitness Sport Winners
(Name; Club)

Alpine:
Female – Viktoria Zaytseva; Apex2100
Male – Isaiah Nelson; Stifel U.S. Ski Team

Cross Country:
Female – Antigone Loomis; Steamboat Spring Winter Sports Club
Male – Tristan Thrasher; Steamboat Spring Winter Sports Club

Freeski:
Female – Molly Flynn; Stratton Mountain School
Male – Ben Harrington; Holderness School

Freeride:
Female – Stolle Wannamaker; Sugar Bowl Ski Team & Academy
Male – Anders Leckie; Sugar Bowl Ski Team & Academy

Freestyle:
Female – Kasey Hogg; Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team
Male – Charlie Mickel; Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team

Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined:
Female – Haley Brabec; Steamboat Spring Winter Sports Club
Male – Arthur Tirone; Steamboat Spring Winter Sports Club

Snowboard:
Female – Callen Hwang; Stratton Mountain School and Ski Foundation
Male – Walker Overstake; Steamboat Spring Winter Sports Club

2024 SkillsQuest-Fitness Event Winners

(Name; Results; Club)
20m Shuttle Run:
Female – Tricia Mangan; 61.1 mL/kg/min; Stifel U.S. Ski Team
Male – Matthew Bassin; 66.4 mL/kg/min; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail

Long Jump:
Female – Allison Mollin; 247 cm; Stifel U.S. Ski Team
Male – Carl Ottosson; 319 cm; Sugar Bowl Ski Team & Academy

Triple Jump:
Female – Lauren Macuga; 784 cm; Stifel U.S. Ski Team
Male – Carl Ottosson; 1006 cm (New Record); Sugar Bowl Ski Team & Academy

20m Sprint:
Female – Vika Zaytseva; 2.99 sec; Apex2100
Male – Carl Ottosson; 2.61 sec (New Record); Sugar Bowl Ski Team & Academy

Strict Pull Up:
Female – Summer Duda; 15 reps; Stratton Mountain School
Male – Isaiah Nelson; 19 reps; Stifel U.S. Ski Team

Push Up:
Female – Summer Duda; 54 reps; Stratton Mountain School 
Male – Matteo Padoan; 65 reps; Waterville Valley BBTS

Box Jump:
Female – Brynn Hanley; 73 jumps; Team Palisades Tahoe
Male – Isaiah Nelson; 84 jumps; Stifel U.S. Ski Team

For more information:
Bob Poehling
High Performance Manager
U.S. Ski & Snowboard
C: +1 (435) 602-9536

Stifel U.S. Ski Team Announces New Trophy and Prize for North American World Cups

Park City, UTAH — (Nov. 21, 2024) - The Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team and title partner Stifel Financial together announce the Stifel HERoic Cup, part of the organization’s HERoic initiative celebrating women’s sports. The Stifel HERoic Cup will be awarded to the woman athlete with the most World Cup points after the three North American stops on the women’s FIS Alpine World Cup tour: the Stifel Killington Cup, Tremblant World Cup and Stifel Birds of Prey presented by United Airlines.

“We are thrilled to announce the Stifel HERoic Cup this season and further our commitment to amplifying women in sports through our HERoic initiative,” said President and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard Sophie Goldschmidt. “Stifel’s commitment to the athletes is second to none and this award is a testament to that. It will be a weekend of firsts in Beaver Creek, and we look forward to awarding the first Stifel HERoic Cup following the first women’s Stifel Birds of Prey presented by United Airlines.”

The cup winner will be awarded $50,000 at an award ceremony following the final race in Beaver Creek. The victor will also receive the newly designed and produced Stifel HERoic Cup trophy. The prize money will be deposited in a Stifel investment account and the athlete may choose to withdraw the money, leave it invested with Stifel’s guidance, or combine both. If there is a tie, the athletes will split the award. 

“We’re excited to help the Stifel U.S. Ski Team celebrate and empower women competing in North America this winter through our sponsorship of the Stifel HERoic Cup,” said Ron Kruszewski, Chairman and CEO of Stifel. “As the firm Where Success Meets Success, we continue to align the Stifel brand with individuals who share our commitment to greatness, and we look forward to supporting these dedicated female athletes as they compete for the first ever Stifel HERoic Cup.”

The Stifel HERoic Cup was created to promote excellence in women’s alpine skiing further while showcasing Stifel’s commitment to supporting the sport and its athletes. It aligns with U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s broader goals of women's empowerment within the organization's HERoic initiative. 

 “Ron and Stifel have been incredible supporters of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team,” shared 98-time World Cup winner Mikaela Shiffrin. “Their support of the Stifel HERoic Cup is yet another example of their passion for ski racing and their determination to bring more support to our team and awareness to our sport. We are all so thankful for Stifel’s commitment to supporting the first-ever Stifel HERoic Cup.” 

A leaderboard will be created based on World Cup points as tracked by FIS. Eligibility is for athletes competing at the Stifel Killington Cup, Tremblant World Cup and Stifel Birds of Prey presented by United Airlines. The first opportunity kicks off in Killington, VT, Nov. 30 - Dec. 1, 2024, with a women’s giant slalom and slalom race. 

STIFEL HEROIC CUP-ELIGIBLE RACES

• Nov. 30, 2024 – Stifel Killington Cup, Killington, VT – giant slalom
• Dec. 1, 2024 – Stifel Killington Cup, Killington, VT – slalom 
• Dec. 7, 2024 – Tremblant World Cup, Tremblant, CAN – giant slalom
• Dec. 8, 2024 – Tremblant World Cup, Tremblant, CAN – giant slalom 
• Dec. 14, 2024 – Stifel Birds of Prey presented by United, Beaver Creek, CO – downhill
• Dec. 15, 2024 – Stifel Birds of Prey presented by United, Beaver Creek, CO – super-G

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Courtney Harkins, Director of Communications & Marketing
U.S. Ski & Snowboard
[email protected] 

Park City, UT (Nov. 14, 2024) – U.S. Ski & Snowboard is excited to announce that alpine great Lindsey Vonn will rejoin the Stifel U.S. Ski Team.

Vonn’s decision to try and return to ski racing comes after careful consideration following successful knee surgery earlier this year. She has been able to get back to training and test her knee over the past couple of months and will be continuing her progression with the Stifel U.S. Ski Team in Colorado and beyond, representing a new exciting chapter in her already storied career.

“Getting back to skiing without pain has been an incredible journey,” said Vonn. “I am looking forward to being back with the Stifel U.S. Ski Team and to continue to share my knowledge of the sport with these incredible women.”

Vonn’s return comes off the back of a strong season for the women’s Stifel U.S. Ski Team. Her presence will bring an extra layer of experience to the already successful alpine program. 

“Lindsey has made an indelible mark on alpine skiing and our organization throughout her career. We’re delighted to welcome her back,” said President and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard Sophie Goldschmidt. “Her dedication and passion towards alpine skiing is inspiring and we’re excited to have her back on snow and see where she can go from here.”

Vonn recorded her first World Cup victory in 2004 and continued on to win three Olympic medals, 20 World Cup titles (including four overall Crystal Globes), eight World Championship medals, 137 World Cup podiums and 82 World Cup victories. However, she suffered multiple injuries during her career and despite her ability to persevere and come back from those injuries, it eventually was the reason for her retirement after 18 seasons on the World Cup tour. Following a partial knee replacement surgery in April, she feels stronger than ever.

Vonn also continues to work with her personal foundation, the Lindsey Vonn Foundation, which supports underserved girls through scholarships and empowerment programs, and is still a mentor to current Stifel U.S. Ski Team athletes. She hopes she can continue to inspire the next generation of women in sports.

“Lindsey is someone who has really been there for me throughout my time on the World Cup circuit,” said Stifel U.S. Ski Team athlete Bella Wright. “I never got the opportunity to be Lindsey’s teammate in the past, so the opportunity to ski alongside her is extremely exciting! I can’t wait to see what the U.S. women can do this season.” 

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Assets:
Video assets are available for media here. Photos are available for media here.
Credit: Stifel U.S. Ski Team 

For more information:
Courtney Harkins
Director of Marketing & Communications, U.S. Ski & Snowboard
[email protected] 

For Lindsey Vonn Media Inquiries: 
Liz Logan, [email protected]

Press release courtesy of Tony Harrison & Soldier Mountain

Park City, UT & Fairfield, ID (Nov. 13, 2024) — The Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals at Sun Valley Resort in March isn’t the only event drawing members of U.S. Ski & Snowboard to Idaho this winter. Nearby Soldier Mountain just signed an agreement with the slopestyle teams for the Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team and the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team to host the inaugural annual training camps in December and late March.

The Southern Idaho ski area, best known as the resort actor Bruce Willis used to own, will build a training facility for the slopestyle teams to train on as part of the Soldier Mountain Snow Training Center, which serves competitive athletes throughout the Western U.S. Designed by world-renowned terrain park builder Charles Beckinsale, the site will support the slopestyle teams’ needs for large-scale jumps, which are part of competition but not widely available to train on. Beckinsale will personally construct the training facility on the run Canyon underneath the High Trail Express Lift (Chair 1).

The three-year partnership has allowed Soldier Mountain to enhance its snowmaking system, with the resort recently acquiring new state-of-the-art TechnoAlpin TR10 snow guns. The move doubles Soldier Mountain’s snowmaking capacity and will ensure skiers and riders enjoy full top-to-bottom coverage on the runs North Ridge and Canyon.

“This is a huge win for a small, independent ski resort like Soldier Mountain,” GM David Alden said. “One of the things that makes Soldier Mountain so attractive is that we’re small enough to be nimble and eager to try new things. And U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s financial and philosophical commitment to a small ski area like Soldier Mountain will ensure we offer a sustainable domestic training venue for the world’s best snowsports athletes for many years to come.”

Leadership at U.S. Ski & Snowboard concur.

Teaming up with a small mountain complements U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s affiliation with the Indy Pass, with Soldier Mountain one of seven Idaho Indy Pass partners. And the resort’s proximity to Utah — Soldier Mountain is less than 5 hours by car from U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s headquarters in Park City — eases logistics and is a good fit with the team’s Easy Green environmental initiative by reducing the carbon footprint of its training.

Soldier Mountain has presented us with a unique opportunity to build world-class jumps in the USA at a time of year that will give our Slopestyle teams a huge advantage going into the competition season,” Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team Sport Director Rick Bower said.

Stifel U.S. Freeski Team Sport Director Skogen Sprang agreed, adding the teams are “excited to explore a new location that is so passionate about freeskiing and snowboarding and are looking forward to seeing what kind of magic Soldier Mountain can make up there.”

Alden is super stoked about the impact the new training facility will have on rising stars on the snowboard and freeski scene.

“U.S. Ski & Snowboard is dedicated to creating training opportunities at the grassroots level,” Alden said. “Bringing a training venue of this magnitude to the western region gives up-and-coming snowboarders and freeskiers who are looking to compete at a higher level but can’t afford to travel far to train an unprecedented opportunity to hone their big-air skills. It’s like the major leagues building a new stadium for the minor leagues because they realize they need to nurture the next generation of pros.”

For more information, please contact:

David Alden, 208.541.8738, [email protected]

Courtney Harkins, 978.314.1019, [email protected]

Tony Harrison, 208.880.9814, [email protected]

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ABOUT U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD
U.S. Ski & Snowboard is the Olympic and Paralympic National Governing Body of ski and snowboard sports in the USA, based in Park City, Utah. Started in 1905, the organization now represents nearly 240 elite skiers and snowboarders competing on 10 teams: alpine, cross country, freestyle moguls, freestyle aerials, snowboard, freeski, Nordic combined, ski jumping, Para alpine and Para snowboard. In addition to the elite teams, U.S. Ski & Snowboard also provides leadership and direction for tens of thousands of young skiers and snowboarders across the USA, encouraging and supporting them in achieving excellence. By empowering national teams, clubs, coaches, parents, officials, volunteers and fans, U.S. Ski & Snowboard is committed to the progression of its sports, athlete success and the value of team. Visit usskiandsnowboard.org for more information.

ABOUT SOLDIER MOUNTAIN
Established in 1947, Soldier Mountain is a family friendly mountain resort located near Fairfield, Idaho, at 1043 N. Soldier Creek Rd. in the Soldier Mountains of the Sawtooth National Forest. It is about two hours from Boise, 80 minutes from Sun Valley, and 90 minutes from Twin Falls. The resort offers skiing and snowboarding on 35 named trails and a terrain park on the frontside comprising 1,150 lift-served skiable acres and 2,000 acres of snowcat-accessible backcountry. Soldier Mountain has two chairlifts reaching an altitude of up to 7,177 ft., a magic carpet, and a tubing hill. In the summer it offers five mountain biking trails, a skills park, and a nine-hole disc golf course. Its lodge restaurant serves homemade fare while The Fox Den Pub provides guests with a cozy spot to hang out after a great day on the mountain. Camping spots are available at the end of the resort’s parking lot at Pioneer Campground and along the road beyond, and motel lodging and vacation rentals are available in Fairfield about 10 miles away. As an Indy Pass partner, Soldier Mountain also offers season passholders discounted Indy Passes as an add-on. Visit soldiermountain.com for more details.

HOVERAir X1 PRO and PROMAX to capture extreme winter sports performances in stunning 8K and 4K video

PARK CITY, Utah (November 1, 2024) – Today, HOVERAir and U.S. Ski & Snowboard are proud to announce their collaboration for the 2024-25 season as the X1 PRO and PROMAX flying cameras become available for direct to sales. This exciting partnership will provide athletes and fans with unprecedented aerial perspectives of elite snowboarders and freeskiers, thanks to the HOVERAir X1 PRO and PROMAX. The HOVERAir brand is now designated as the official flying camera of U.S. Ski & Snowboard for the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Copper Mountain, Colorado, December 18-21, 2024.

The Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Copper Mountain, part of the longest-running elite-level competition in the United States, serves as a key stop on the FIS Freeski and Snowboard World Cup tour. World-class athletes will compete for podiums in the resort’s 22-foot pro halfpipe. HOVERAir will be an official partner of the event and will have an on-site activation for fans to see and experience their products.

Zero Zero Robotics’ HOVERAir X1 PRO and X1 PROMAX are the ultimate flying cameras for capturing high-adrenaline winter sports. Designed for extreme environments, both models feature hands-free, AI-powered filming, enabling athletes to focus on their performance while recording stunning footage in 8K and 4K resolution. With their rugged design and OmniTerrain capabilities, these cameras can fly effortlessly over snow, water, and steep cliffs, making them ideal for skiers and snowboarders tackling the toughest courses. The cameras also offer advanced tracking and collision detection, ensuring precise shots at speeds of up to 26 mph, even in the most challenging conditions.

“We are beyond excited to partner with U.S. Ski & Snowboard and their incredible athletes at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix," said MQ Wang, Founder and CEO of Zero Zero Robotics. "Winter sports push the limits of speed, precision, and agility—values we’ve built into the HOVERAir X1 PRO and PROMAX. As the official flying cameras of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, we can't wait to help athletes capture their performances from stunning new perspectives, bringing their moments of brilliance to life in breathtaking detail.”

The HOVERAir X1 PRO and PROMAX flying cameras are now available worldwide at hoverair.com for USD $499 and $699, respectively.

"We’re thrilled to partner with HOVERAir around the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix, and use its innovative solutions to elevate the fan experience and athlete performance,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Chief Revenue and Philanthropy Officer Trisha Worthington. “U.S. Ski & Snowboard is committed to staying at the forefront of technology, and this partnership allows us to do just that while showcasing some of the world’s most exciting competitions."

About U.S. Ski & Snowboard
U.S. Ski & Snowboard is the Olympic and Paralympic National Governing Body of ski and snowboard sports in the USA, based in Park City, Utah. Started in 1905, the organization now represents nearly 240 elite skiers and snowboarders competing on 10 teams: alpine, cross country, freestyle moguls, freestyle aerials, snowboard, freeski, nordic combined, ski jumping, Para alpine and Para snowboard. In addition to the elite teams, U.S. Ski & Snowboard also provides leadership and direction for tens of thousands of young skiers and snowboarders across the USA, encouraging and supporting them in achieving excellence. By empowering national teams, clubs, coaches, parents, officials, volunteers and fans, U.S. Ski & Snowboard is committed to the progression of its sports, athlete success and the value of team. For more information, visit www.usskiandsnowboard.org.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard Media Contact
Courtney Harkins, Director of Marketing & Communications, [email protected]

About Zero Zero Robotics
Zero Zero Robotics was co-founded in 2014 by Stanford PhDs MQ Wang and Tony Zhang, specializing in embedded AI technology for intelligent devices. Known for its innovative machine vision and high-precision control systems, ZeroZero has team members who are dreamers, engineers, inventors, and builders hailing from top universities and research institutions around the world. Zero Zero Robotics holds more than 140 core patents and has pioneered technologies like fully enclosed portable propeller designs and bi-copter designs, cementing its place as a leader in intelligent device development.

HOVERAir Media Contact
Zero Zero Robotics PR Team
[email protected]

The Viessmann FIS Ski Jumping 2024-25 World Cup season is officially set, with the highly anticipated Lake Placid World Cup returning to the U.S. on Feb. 6-9, 2025. 

Lake Placid, NY will host a World Cup event for the third consecutive year and will include the women’s event in the U.S. for the first time in history. The World Cup will showcase the world's top athletes on Lake Placid’s legendary Olympic jumps.

All three days of jumping will be held on the large hill, an HS128. The women's qualification will begin on Thursday. They will have one round to qualify, and the top 40 athletes will move on to the competition on Friday. 

On Saturday, the men will have their first individual event, starting with qualification, from which the top 50 will move directly into the competition. Afterward, the women will take the stage for their second and final individual event in the same format as a qualification round that leads right into the competition rounds. The day will culminate with the mixed team event, where two male and two women jumpers from each nation will compete against the other nations. 

The men will return to the ski jump for their last individual event on Sunday, the final day of the Lake Placid World Cup. Athletes must requalify, and the top 50 will advance to the competition later that day. 

“We’re delighted to welcome ski jumping back to ‘home turf’ for the Lake Placid World Cup for what promises to be a groundbreaking event,” said Anders Johnson, USA Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Sports Director. “With both men’s and women’s competitions included this year, we expect an exciting few days of competitions that will inspire fans and future generations of jumpers.”

More on how to tune into our events can be found HERE. 

New York, New York (Oct. 28, 2024) — U.S. Ski & Snowboard hosted its 58th Gold Medal Gala in New York City on Oct. 26, 2024 with athletes, supporters, partners and donors kicking off the 2024-25 season by raising a record-breaking $2.35 million for the U.S Ski & Snowboard Team. The year’s theme was “reflection,” which paid homage to the journey to the top and reflecting on what it took to get there. It was the largest audience in Gala history. 

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Transcendence Award to Toyota U.S. Para Snowboard Team athlete Brenna Huckaby, a three-time Paralympic gold medalist, five-time world champion and winningest Para snowboarder of all time. Known for her record-resetting achievements and advocacy, Huckaby has transcended her sport. Receiving the award in front of her teammates, donors, supporters and others, Huckaby expressed gratitude for the community that helped her reach these heights. 

"Thank you for seeing me," said Huckaby on stage. "Thank you to everyone in this room who has made so much of this possible and to the teams behind the Team. We don’t do this alone. Thank you for recognizing me as a person beyond the title of an athlete. When I think about what transcendence means to me, I keep coming back to this question of what other choice did I have? I knew I needed to be more than an athlete. Many years later, I’m a wife, I have two daughters, I am a disability inclusion advocate, an occasional model… but what i've learned through all of this is that I’m successful because my definition of success isn’t defined by what medals I’ve won, or what accolades I’ve achieved - my definition of success is the person I’ve become and the impact I can have on this world."

Another memorable moment was an engaging conversation hosted by Olympic moguls gold medalist Jonny Moseley, featuring Olympic champion freeskier Alex Hall. Together, they discussed the exciting future of the sport and the creative, boundary-pushing energy that fuels the next generation of athletes. They also spoke about the partnership between U.S. Ski & Snowboard and X Games and what it means for the future of competition freeskiing and snowboarding. Hall is an 11-time X Games medalist and is the only skier in history to win an X Games medal in each discipline. 

Throughout the evening, the Gala raised $2.35 million through table purchases, a silent auction, and a lively live auction and paddle raise hosted by auctioneer Harry Santa-Olalla. U.S. Ski & Snowboard is a nonprofit that receives no government funding and donations like this directly support its 240 athletes across 10 sports. 

“We are endlessly grateful to this community of supporters who make it possible for our athletes to transcend boundaries,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, President and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “Seeing the success and dedication of these extraordinary athletes reminds us why we do what we do. Together, we’re ensuring they can continue reaching new heights, and events like this remind us that we're all on the same team.”

PARK CITY, Utah (October 21, 2024) — U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced today a multi-year partnership with Cloudflare (NYSE: NET), the leading connectivity cloud company, as the Official Technology Partner of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team. As part of the partnership, Cloudflare will provide Internet security, reliability and performance tools to help accelerate, protect and secure the U.S. Ski & Snowboard website and its internal network used by coaches and athletes.  

“We’re thrilled for Cloudflare to join as a partner,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, President and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “Cloudflare is one of the world’s most trusted Internet platforms, with services that not only connect the entire world but provide security to millions. As we enter into this new partnership, I am excited to collaborate with an organization that also puts performance, speed, reliability and safety at the forefront of what they do.” 

With a mission of helping to build a better Internet, Cloudflare powers one of the world’s largest and most interconnected networks that spans more than 330 cities in over 120 countries. The company blocks billions of online threats for millions of its customers every day—from the largest brands to entrepreneurs and small businesses to nonprofits, humanitarian groups and governments across the globe.

This is Cloudflare’s first sports partnership. U.S. Ski & Snowboard and Cloudflare will amplify the partnership through branding on the highly valued alpine, cross country, moguls, aerials, Para alpine and Para snowboard uniforms, along with various content opportunities and hospitality experiences. Additionally, Cloudflare will provide the U.S. Ski & Snowboard team with the technology needed to make their coaches, athletes, applications and networks faster and more secure online, while reducing complexity and cost. This technology implementation will ensure the U.S. Ski & Snowboard website and internal operations stay reliable, fast, secure and performant, no matter where fans or athletes are accessing it from on their travels across the globe. 

“Skiing and snowboarding are the rare sports that have a truly global community, and attract the most technical, disciplined athletes,” said Matthew Prince, co-founder and CEO of Cloudflare. “Speed, safety, reliability and performance are values that define both Cloudflare and the U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes. We’re excited to support the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team with the technology needed to secure the organization and its athletes so they can focus on winning medals and pushing the boundaries of the sport safely and securely, on the slopes and online.” 

“As an alpine skier, innovation is critical to my success,” said Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team athlete and world champion River Radamus. “It’s necessary for me to push boundaries, stay ahead of the competition and perform at my best. I’m excited to have a cutting-edge company like Cloudflare partnering with us as we take on the World Cup and World Championships. Precision and performance are everything—both on the slopes and in the digital world.”

With the announcement, Cloudflare joins a strong and growing roster of high-level partners that have joined U.S. Ski & Snowboard throughout the last two years, including Stifel Financial, Hydro Flask, Kappa Sportswear, iFit and United Airlines.

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About U.S. Ski & Snowboard
U.S. Ski & Snowboard is the Olympic and Paralympic National Governing Body of ski and snowboard sports in the USA, based in Park City, Utah. Started in 1905, the organization now represents nearly 240 elite skiers and snowboarders competing on 10 teams: alpine, cross country, freestyle moguls, freestyle aerials, snowboard, freeski, nordic combined, ski jumping, Para alpine and Para snowboard. In addition to the elite teams, U.S. Ski & Snowboard also provides leadership and direction for tens of thousands of young skiers and snowboarders across the USA, encouraging and supporting them in achieving excellence. By empowering national teams, clubs, coaches, parents, officials, volunteers and fans, U.S. Ski & Snowboard is committed to the progression of its sports, athlete success and the value of team. For more information, visit www.usskiandsnowboard.org 

About Cloudflare
Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET) is the leading connectivity cloud company on a mission to help build a better Internet. It empowers organizations to make their employees, applications and networks faster and more secure everywhere, while reducing complexity and cost. Cloudflare’s connectivity cloud delivers the most full-featured, unified platform of cloud-native products and developer tools, so any organization can gain the control they need to work, develop, and accelerate their business.

Powered by one of the world’s largest and most interconnected networks, Cloudflare blocks billions of threats online for its customers every day. It is trusted by millions of organizations – from the largest brands to entrepreneurs and small businesses to nonprofits, humanitarian groups, and governments across the globe.

Learn more about Cloudflare’s connectivity cloud at cloudflare.com/connectivity-cloud. Learn more about the latest Internet trends and insights at https://radar.cloudflare.com.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

U.S. Ski & Snowboard
Courtney Harkins
Director, Marketing & Communications
[email protected]

Cloudflare
Daniella Vallurupalli
Vice President, Communications
[email protected]