PARK CITY, Utah (Sept. 16, 2024) - U.S. Ski & Snowboard has announced the 12 athletes who have accepted their nomination to the 2024-25 U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team across all classifications and disciplines.

The team is highlighted by multi-time Paralympic medalists Laurie Stephens and Andrew Kurka, who also had podium finishes on the World Cup last season. Two-time Paralympian and Paralympic silver medalist Thomas Walsh and exciting up-and-comers Jesse Keefe and Audrey Crowley join them. New to the team this year is sit-skier Zach Williams from Medera, California, who earned the 2024 super-G national championship title. 

The 2024-25 FIS Para Alpine Ski World Cup season begins in Steinach am Brenner, Austria in mid-December with three super-G and one alpine combined race. The team will spend most of the season in Europe, with stops in the States for the Huntsman Cup and U.S. Championships.

“I am confident that the team will bring home some great results this season,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Para Sport Director Erik Leirfallom. “This team had a productive off-season with a month-long speed camp in Chile and two strength testing sessions in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Park City, Utah, so I’m excited to see their hard work pay off.” 

The finalized FIS World Cup schedule can be found here.

2024-25 U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team

(Hometown; Club; College; Birthdate)

Women

• Audrey Crowley (Grafton, WI; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 3/1/2007)
• Allie Johnson (Chicago, IL; National Sports Center for the Disabled; Colorado State University; 12/23/1994)
• Laurie Stephens (Wenham, MA; University of New Hampshire; 3/5/1984)

Men

• Matthew Brewer (Huntington Beach, CA; National Ability Center; Saddleback Community College; 5/8/1975)
• Ravi Drugan (Eugene, OR; Oregon Adaptive Sports; 12/19/1989)
• Patrick Halgren (Tolland, CT; National Sports Center for the Disabled; 6/24/1992)
• Andrew Haraghey (Enfield, CT; National Ability Center; Westminster University; 12/16/1995)
• Jesse Keefe (Sun Valley, ID; Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation; University of Colorado Colorado Springs; 3/26/2004)
• Andrew Kurka (Palmer, AK; Alyeska Ski Club; 1/27/1992)
• Thomas Walsh (Vail, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail/Green Mountain Valley School; Savannah College of Art and Design/DeVry University; 1/30/1995)
• Zach Williams (Madera, CA; National Ability Center; John Brown University/California State University Dominquez Hills; 7/26/1979)
• Spencer Wood (Pittsfield, VT; Killington Mountain School; University of Colorado Boulder; 1/17/1997)

2024-25 PARA ALPINE SKI TEAM COACHES AND STAFF

Anouk Patty - Chief of Sport
Erik Leirfallom - Para Sport Director
Ryan Pearl - Head Coach
Lyndsay Strange - Assistant Coach
Sawyer Mattsson, Assistant Coach
Brian Neff - Athletic Development Coach, Para Alpine & Para Snowboard
Ryan Odeja - Para Press Officer

FOLLOW THE U.S. PARA ALPINE SKI TEAM

Instagram: @usparaskisnowboard 
Facebook: @usskiandsnowboard
TikTok: @usskiandsnowboard
Twitter/X: @usskiteam
Threads: @usskiteam 

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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Ryan Odeja - U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team Press Officer
[email protected] 

Audrey Crowley is among the youngest members of any U.S. Ski & Snowboard team at only 17 years old, yet she has already made considerable progress in her athletic career. Growing up, Crowley has raced in both able-bodied and adaptive races across the country, being competitive in every race she starts. She was named to the U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team for the first time last season and made her World Cup debut in January 2024, finishing just off the podium in her first start. Crowley’s accolades are already accumulating, earning Vail Ski & Snowboard Academy’s Athlete of the Year in 2019, becoming the super-G national champion in 2023, and taking home five national championship titles at the 2024 U.S. Para Alpine Championships.  

Audrey is one to keep an eye on. We sat down with her to talk about her journey and goals for the future. 

Q: What initially drew you to skiing?

Audrey Crowley: Growing up in Wisconsin, there was not much to do in the winter, so my family joined a ski club when I was two. We went every weekend. My sister started racing, and when I was old enough, I joined her in the gates. Skiing brings my family together, and for that, I will always be drawn to skiing. 

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

AC: When I was younger, everything about skiing was fun; every time I went to practice or raced my goal was to have fun. As I got older I realized that winning is fun and pushing myself is fun. 

Q: What is one thing that you’re most proud of in your career so far?/what is your biggest accomplishment so far?

AC: Winning the able-bodied SYNC Championship super-G, making me the first Para athlete ever to win a SYNC race, is the one thing I’m most proud of to date. This win came after an especially tough season and proved to myself that even though racing able-body is hard, the struggle is worth it. 

Q: What is your ultimate goal?

AC: My ultimate goal is to get better every day. Pushing myself to reach new challenges is what makes me excited to ski. 

Q: Are there any moments that you’ve experienced in your career that didn’t seem real?

AC: Standing at the top of the Tofana Schuss about to start in my first FIS Para World Cup race still doesn’t feel real. After many years of watching the Cortina races, it felt dreamlike to be able to race it myself. I will never forget my teammates' support and the pure happiness I felt while racing down the first time.  

Q: Who were the athletes that you looked up to when you were younger, or who are they now?

AC: As a little girl from the U.S., I looked up to Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin. Of course, their racing was amazing, but their poise and determination were and are inspiring. I’m lucky to have such strong female role models to learn from. 

Follow Audrey on social media. 

U.S. Ski & Snowboard and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee announced their full support for Dexter Paine in his candidacy for the International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) Council. 

As a visionary leader with a deep commitment to skiing and snowboarding and its athletes, Paine has been involved in governance at both the national and international levels for decades. He served as a member of the FIS Council Executive Committee from 2014-22 and has acted as an ex-officio honorary member from 2022 to the present. Throughout his time with FIS, Paine focused on transparency, communication and inclusivity, including championing for female representation on the Council, longer terms for athlete representatives and the inclusivity of Paralympic sports. 

Paine currently serves as a member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Board of Directors (2021-present), is on the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Foundation Board (2002-24) and is actively involved in the Salt Lake City 2034 Olympic Winter Games bid. Previously, Paine was Chairman of the Board of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Board of Directors (2006-19) and was on U.S. Biathlon’s Board of Directors (2020-24). He has extensive experience in event delivery as an Executive Committee member of the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Vail/Beaver Creek, Colorado and the 2019 Freestyle, Freeski & Snowboard World Championships in Park City, Utah. 

Paine is the chairman at Paine Schwartz Partners and has more than 25 years of investment experience and 35 years in the private equity industry. In addition to his professional achievements, Paine is widely respected for his integrity, vision and dedication to the sport. His collaborative approach and strategic mindset have positioned him as a trusted leader within the skiing and snowboarding community.

The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Board of Directors firmly believes that Paine’s extensive experience and unwavering passion make him the ideal person to represent the interests of athletes and federations worldwide, unanimously putting forward his candidacy. 

"Dexter Paine's dedication to the advancement of skiing and snowboarding is unparalleled,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, President & CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “His leadership has consistently propelled our sports forward, and we know he will bring that same level of commitment and expertise to the FIS Council. We are proud to endorse Dexter and are confident in his ability to advocate effectively for the interests of athletes and federations around the world."

Gene Sykes, Chairman of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, also voiced his support. "As an organization committed to supporting American athletes on the global stage, we recognize the importance of strong leadership within international federations,” said Sykes.
“Dexter’s proven track record of leadership and advocacy aligns perfectly with the values of the Olympic movement. We fully endorse Dexter's candidacy for the FIS Council and believe he will be an outstanding representative for skiing and snowboarding on the international level."

Olympic champion Kikkan Randall, who has served on the IOC Board, USOPC Board and FIS Council, echoed the sentiments: “Dexter has been an incredible leader and advocate for skiing and snowboarding across all levels. He understands the complex needs of all stakeholders and has always championed the athletes' voices in the process. He brings a wealth of experience, tremendous passion and dedication to making sport fair, safe and positioned for growth. Dexter is well respected across the sports universe and has been an excellent collaborator between organizations. I am proud to endorse Dexter’s candidacy.”

The election for the FIS Council takes place at FIS Congress on June 5, 2024.