EDITORS NOTE: Three additional athletes have been named to the Davis U.S. Cross Country Ski Team that will compete at the 2021 FIS Cross Country World Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany, Feb. 22 - March 7 following the competition of the Junior/U23 Cross Country World Championships:

• Sophia Laukli
• Hunter Wonders
• Ben Ogden

U.S. Ski & Snowboard has announced the first 14 athletes of the Davis U.S. Cross Country Ski Team that will compete at the 2021 FIS Cross Country World Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany, Feb. 22 - March 7.

“We will be nominating more athletes to this team,” said Davis U.S. Cross Country Program Director Chris Grover. “Many of our best domestic performances this season have come from some of our younger athletes, and because of this, we want to evaluate performances at the upcoming Junior and U23 World Championships (Feb. 8-14 in Vuokatti, Finland) and name additional athletes to this World Championships Team on Feb. 15.”

Additional athlete considerations will also be evaluated following this weekend’s FIS Cross Country World Cup in Ulricehamn, Sweden, as well as the FIS World Cup in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic, Feb. 20-21. Grover anticipates the total team size will be closer to 18 athletes. 

World Cup leader Jessie Diggins leads a team stacked with veteran and up-and-coming talent, including 2020 Junior World Champion Gus Schumacher, who has scored World Cup points in his past 10-consecutive starts while competing in his first World Cup season. Based on this season’s success, the team is highlighting a number of events in Oberstdorf, including the classic sprint on Feb. 25; the team sprint on Feb. 27; the women’s 10k freestyle on March 2; the women’s 4x5k team relay on March 4; and the men’s 4x10k relay March 5.

NBC’s streaming platform, Peacock Premium, will live stream all the events of the 2020-21 FIS Cross Country tour this season. NBCSN, Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA will broadcast select World Championships events. Cross Country broadcast and streaming listings will be available throughout the season at USSkiandSnowboard.org.

2020-21 Davis U.S. Cross Country World Championships Team
Oberstdorf, Germany, Feb. 22 - March 7
(Hometown; Club; Birthdate)

Women

• Sadie Maubet Bjornsen (Winthrop, Wash.; Alaska Pacific University Nordic Center; 11/21/89)
• Rosie Brennan (Anchorage, Alaska; Alaska Pacific University Nordic Center; 12/21/98
• Sophie Caldwell Hamilton (Peru, Vt.; Stratton Mountain School Elite Team; 3/22/90)
• Jessie Diggins (Afton, Minn.; Stratton Mountain School Elite Team; 8/26/91)
• Sophia Laukli (Yarmouth, Maine; Middlebury/Bridger Ski Foundation; 6/8/00)
• Julia Kern (Waltham, Mass.; Stratton Mountain School Elite Team; 9/12/97)
• Katharine Ogden (Landgrove, Vt.; Stratton Mountain School/Dartmouth College; 11/17/97)
• Hailey Swirbul (Aspen, Colo.; Alaska Pacific University Nordic Center; 7/10/98)

Men

• Kevin Bolger (Minocqua, Wisc.; Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation; 4/11/93)
• Simi Hamilton (Aspen, Colo.; Stratton Mountain School Elite Team; 5/14/87)
• Logan Hanneman (Anchorage, Alaska; Alaska Pacific University Nordic Center; 6/2/93)
• David Norris (Anchorage, Alaska; Alaska Pacific University Nordic Center; 12/12/90)
• Ben Ogden (Landgrove, Vt. (Stratton Mountain School Elite Team/University of Vermont; 2/13/00)
• Scott Patterson (Anchorage, Alaska; Alaska Pacific University Nordic Center; 1/28/92)
• Gus Schumacher (Anchorage, Alaska; Alaska Winter Stars; 7/25/00)
• JC Schoonmaker (Tahoe City, Calif; Auburn Ski Club; 8/12/00)
• Hunter Wonders (Anchorage, Alaska; Alaska Pacific University Nordic Center; 8/7/98)

The 2021 Intermountain Healthcare Freestyle International World Cup is scheduled to return to Deer Valley Resort Feb. 2 – 6 and marks the 23rd year that Deer Valley will host elite-level freestyle competition. This event will be the first domestic World Cup level competition on U.S. snow for the 2020-21 season and will feature the first domestic Olympic Winter Games qualifier for any of our athletes with Aerials on Feb. 6. We are thrilled to be back home at Deer Valley!

Due to COVID-19 event and resort operations protocols and taking into consideration the health and safety of resort staff, event staff and the athletes, this year’s event will look different from year’s past. Events will be held during the day and venue access is limited to essential personnel only. There will be no spectator access and all media coverage must be conducted remotely. 

We are working through the logistics of shifting our media operations to a virtual experience with access to photography and video assets each day of training and competition, as well as remote access to athletes. More details will be provided in the coming weeks. Those interested in having virtual access to the 2021 Intermountain Healthcare Freestyle International should register here: https://www.deervalley.com/media-center/media/press-accreditation-form. 

Find updates throughout the week at our online media center here: https://usskiandsnowboard.org/media-center/2021-intermountain-healthcare-freestyle-international-media-center

We thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding. Please reach out with any questions, we want to ensure you have what you need to cover the event. Without valuable media partners such as yourself, we would not be able to tell the stories of our athletes as successfully. 

The 2021 Intermountain Healthcare Freestyle International is contingent on local and state health department approvals based on existing and future COVID-19 rules and regulations. FIS, U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the local organizing committee, and Deer Valley Resort are taking a unified approach consistent with guidance from federal, state, and local health authorities.  We appreciate everyone’s cooperation. 

Virtual media accreditation for the 2021 Intermountain Healthcare Freestyle International: https://www.deervalley.com/media-center/media/press-accreditation-form

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lara Carlton
Freestyle Communications Manager, U.S. Ski & Snowboard
lara.carlton@usskiandsnowboard.org

U.S. Ski & Snowboard, together with all stakeholders, have come to a joint decision to cancel the 2021 U16 Alpine National Championships due existing domestic calendar conflicts. The reconfiguration of divisional racing calendars across the country has created challenges within the potential qualification period, compressing it into a very short window. In Lieu of the U 16 National Championship event, U.S. Ski & Snowboard is planning to host development projects in the spring in each region, shifting focus from competition to skill progression. Thank you for your understanding and please visit usskiandnowboard.org for the latest information on upcoming alpine development opportunities.

Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team athlete Breezy Johnson grabbed her first FIS Ski World Cup super-G points of the season, landing in 20th, to lead three into the points in the second of two super-G races on Monday in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Bella Wright was 27th, and the young up-and-comer, AJ Hurt, was 30th. 

Switzerland’s Lara Gut won her fourth-straight super-G victory of the season, showing she’s in top form heading into the upcoming FIS Ski World Championships in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Slovakia’s Petra Vlhova, who is leading in the overall standings but has been inconsistent of late, was a surprising second, just .28 seconds off of Gut, to grab her first World Cup super-G podium. This was Vlhova’s first podium since she won the Zagreb, Croatia slalom, early in January. Austria’s Tamara Tippler rounded out the podium in third, .74 off the pace.

Johnson has struggled to find the points in super-G so far this season but has grabbed five top-five results in downhill, including four successive podiums (third-place finishes). With warm temperatures and rain/snow in the forecast in Garmisch, organizers were forced to cancel the originally scheduled downhill and replace it with another super-G. Johnson was bummed about that, seeing as though she was a favorite for the downhill heading into the weekend. Not only did Johnson score her first World Cup points at the German venue, but she also scored her first top-five there. After just missing the points in Saturday’s super-G, Johnson showed on Monday she can hang with the best in super-G too. 

“I feel very relieved,” she reflected in the finish. “Super-G has been a bit of an enigma to me this season, but it's good to be back in the 30 and feel like I had some good skiing again. I am definitely looking forward to the Cortina super-G. That track is really fun and I've only ever raced it once because of a number of things including the race getting cancelled three people from me. So, both excited to go back for that super-G and a little bit of a bone to pick with that super-G, too.” she laughed.

Wright continues to show consistency, finding her home in the points for a seventh straight time on Sunday. The young 20-year-old AJ Hurt also was in the points for the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team, grabbing 30th. Hurt has scored in an impressive four events this season, including parallel, slalom, giant slalom, and super-G. 

Unfortunately, on Sunday, Italy’s Sofia Goggia fell while skiing on the slope next to the Garmisch-Partenkirchen race slope and the FISI medical committee confirmed that she suffered a compound fracture of the lateral tibial plateau in her right knee. The International Ski Federation (FIS) said in a post on Instagram that the injury was season-ending. Having won four-straight downhill races this season, Goggia was a clear favorite for the downhill title on home turf in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Johnson is currently sitting second in the downhill standings behind Goggia with three opportunities left on the calendar. 

Also starting for the Americans on Monday were Jackie Wiles in 33rd, just missing the points, and Laurenne Ross in 36th. 

The women will now shift their focus to the much-anticipated World Championships at Cortina d’Ampezzo—a favorite track of the Americans. 

RESULTS
Women’s super-G

STANDINGS
Overall
Super-G

Fidelity Investments®, Official Sponsor of U.S. Ski & Snowboard since 2019, has extended its sponsorship through the creation of two new programs as athletes embark on their qualifying process for Beijing 2022. 

Beginning this 2020-21 season, athletes from across all U.S. Ski & Snowboard disciplines will shift their focus to the Fidelity Path to Qualify during select domestic elite-level events. Each team has their own specific process for qualifying for the largest sporting event in the world, and the Fidelity Path to Qualify will guide fans and viewers through the milestones. In addition, stay up to date with the latest rankings by following updates on U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s website and social channels for the Fidelity U.S. Ski & Snowboard Qualifying Rankings. The Qualifying Rankings will reference existing points lists relevant to each sport and highlight the latest and most critical results to the qualification process.

The two new Fidelity programs will debut at the 2021 Intermountain Healthcare Freestyle International FIS Ski World Cup at Deer Valley Resort. The Feb. 6 Aerials World Cup marks the first domestic Olympic qualifying event for American ski athletes. U.S. aerial skiers who perform well will be one step closer to representing their nation in Beijing in 2022. 

“We are thrilled to work with Fidelity Investments on these new programs,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Chief Revenue Officer Michael O’Conor. “Fidelity has been a key sponsor for us since 2019 and we are grateful for their continued commitment to our athletes as they push the boundaries of their sports. Through these programs we will be able to bring the excitement of the qualifying process to our fans and supporters as we ramp up to Beijing 2022 despite not being able to celebrate at domestic events together this season.”

###

About Fidelity Investments
Fidelity’s mission is to inspire better futures and deliver better outcomes for the customers and businesses we serve. With assets under administration of $9.8 trillion, including discretionary assets of $3.8 trillion as of December 31, 2020, we focus on meeting the unique needs of a diverse set of customers: helping more than 35 million people invest their own life savings, 22,000 businesses manage employee benefit programs, as well as providing more than 13,500 institutions with investment and technology solutions to invest their own clients’ money. Privately held for more than 70 years, Fidelity employs more than 47,000 associates who are focused on the long-term success of our customers. For more information about Fidelity Investments, visit https://www.fidelity.com/aboutfidelity/our-company.

About U.S. Ski & Snowboard
U.S. Ski & Snowboard is the Olympic National Governing Body (NGB) of ski and snowboard sports in the USA, based in Park City, Utah. Tracing its roots directly back to 1905, the organization represents nearly 200 elite skiers and snowboarders in 2021, competing in seven teams; alpine, cross country, freeski, freestyle, snowboard, nordic combined and ski jumping. 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 has named the U.S. Teams for the 2021 FIS Cross World Championships, taking place in Idre Fjäll, Sweden Feb. 11-13.

Following the cancellation of the original Zhangjiakou, China World Championships due to regulations implemented by the Chinese health authorities and government, the Swedish Ski Federation, the organizing committee of Idre Fjäll, and FIS agreed to reschedule the event. According to FIS (International Ski Federation), all stakeholders involved feel extremely confident that the World Cup organizer will be able to hold a successful World Championships. 

“We feel very fortunate that U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes will have the chance to compete in world championship cross competition this season amidst a challenging event landscape,” said U.S. Snowboard & Freeski Director Jeremy Forster. “U.S. skicross and snowboardcross athletes have been off to a strong start and will surely be accompanied by some momentum when they arrive in Idre Fjäll.

The resort is not new to the cross community, and has served as a regular stop on the FIS Skicross World Cup tour since the 2015-16 season. California native and U.S. skicross athlete Tyler Wallasch will be returning to the world championship venue just three weeks after earning the best World Cup result of his career with a fifth place finish in Idre Fjäll.

“I think I can carry momentum from the World Cup into World Champs,” said Wallasch. “Obviously, I think there will be some changes to the course, but Idre Fjäll definitely has a consistent style that I feel very confident on. I’ve been based out of Sweden since June of last year, so this almost feels like coming home.” 

The U.S. Snowboardcross Team is coming into the event ready to defend multiple titles. Mick Dierdorff is the defending individual 2019 World Champion as well as represents one half of the inaugural mixed snowboardcross Championship Team alongside teammate and six-time World Champion Lindsey Jacobellis. 

However, it’s been three-time Olympian Faye Gulini that’s on fire this season earning back-to-back podiums at the first stop of the snowboardcross World Cup circuit at Chiesa in Valmalenco, Italy.

“After being couched for the last World Championships in 2019 due to injury, I couldn’t be more excited to race in Sweden,” said Gulini. “The skicross tour has made a few stops in Idre over the years, and the mountain has always produced a great course. I think the course will favor my style of riding with big jumps and technical start features. I can’t wait to see what Team USA can accomplish!”

With a rock-solid venue and U.S. athletes coming in with confidence, the 2021 FIS Cross World Championships are setting up to be a spectacle. 

The individual snowboardcross competition is set for Feb. 11, snowboardcross team competition on Feb. 12, and the skicross competition will close out the program on Feb. 13. Tune in on the Olympic Channel to catch all the action live!

2021 U.S. Cross World Championship Teams
(Name, Hometown, Club, USASA Series, Birthdate, World Champs Teams)

Snowboardcross
Men

• Hagen Kearney - (Norwood, Colo.; International Snowboard Training Center; Rocky Mountain Series; 11/06/91; 2013, 2017)
• Alex Deibold - (Manchester, Vt.; Stratton Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 5/8/86; 2007, 2011, 2015, 2017)
• Jake Vedder - (Pinckney, Mich.; International Snowboard Training Center; Rocky Mountain Series; 4/16/98; 2019)
• Senna Leith - (Vail, Colo.; International Snowboard Training Center; Rocky Mountain Series; 4/8/1997)
• Mick Dierdorff - (Steamboat Springs Colo.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; Rocky Mountain Series; 4/30/91; 2019)

Women

• Faye Gulini - (Salt Lake City, Utah; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Rocky Mountain Series; 3/24/92; 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017)
• Lindsey Jacobellis - (Stratton Mountain, Vt.; Stratton Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 8/19/85; 2005, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2019)
• Meghan Tierney - (Eagle, Colo.; Board Stars Race Team; Rocky Mountain Series; 1/15/97; 2019)
• Stacy Gaskill - (Golden, Colo.; Winter Park Snowboard Team; Rocky Mountain Series; 5/21/00; 2019)
   

Skicross
Men

• Tyler Wallasch - (Los Angeles, Calif.; Mammoth Mountain Ski & Snowboard Club; The Unbound Series; 6/8/94; 2015, 2017, 2019)

HOW TO WATCH
All times in EST
Delayed Broadcast*

Thursday, Feb. 11
8:30 a.m. FIS Snowboarding World Championships Snowboard Cross - LIVE, Idre Fjall, SWE, Streaming Peacock
10:30 a.m. FIS Snowboarding World Championships Snowboard Cross - same-day broadcast, Idre Fjall, SWE, Broadcast Olympic Channel

Friday, Feb. 12
6:30 a.m. FIS Snowboarding World Championships Snowboard Cross - LIVE, Idre Fjall, SWE, Broadcast Olympic Channel, Streaming Peacock

Saturday, Feb. 13
6:30 a.m. FIS Freestyle Skiing World Championships Ski Cross - LIVE, Idre Fjall, SWE, Streaming Peacock
11:30 a.m. FIS Freestyle Skiing World Championships Ski Cross - same-day broadcast, Idre Fjall, SWE, Broadcast Olympic Channel

FOLLOW
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Instagram - @usfreeskiteam
Facebook - @usskiandsnowboard
 

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Learn more about how to support the U.S. Freeski & Snowboard Teams.
 

Under bluebird skies and perfect conditions, two-time Olympic slopestyle medalist Nick Goepper stepped up on the final day of X Games Aspen 2021 to earn his fourth slopestyle gold and his first X Games podium since 2017. 

”This win feels incredible and it’s validating,” said 26-year-old Goepper. “Especially with all the hard work I’ve been putting in. After a few years off the podium, a little self-doubt started to creep in, but my body feels great, my mind sharp, and I’m stoked to keep going and represent the over 25 crowd. My friends and teammates have played a major part in keeping me going. I also got married a couple of years ago and my wife has been incredibly supportive. Life has really changed over the last few years and I’m loving it - being grown-up that is!”

During the post event podium interviews, there seemed to be a consensus amongst the field that this year’s X Games course was difficult but enjoyable. 

“I think this course, in particular, was really challenging, which I think is really fun,” said Goepper. "Some of our best tricks were tough to throw, especially on the quarterpipe take-offs, but you just have to adapt. I think with the long challenging course, physical stamina played a big part, and I tried to spend my energy wisely.“
 

According to X Games, Goepper’s win has him surpassing freeskiing legend Tanner Hall in the record books to become the only skier to win X Games slopestyle four times. 

Norway’s Ferdinand Dahl took silver and Canada’s Evan McEachran went home with the bronze. 

The freeskiers closed out their X Games program with the crowd favorite knuckle huck, where Sweden's Henrik Harlaut earned his first-ever knuckle huck gold. 
 

RESULTS
Men’s ski slopestyle
Men’s ski knuckle huck

REPLAY
Men’s ski slopestyle
 

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Facebook - @usskiandsnowboard
 

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17-year-old Dusty Henricksen broke a 12-year American men’s slopestyle X Games gold medal drought Sunday during the final day of X Games Aspen 2021, collecting his second win of the weekend. 

“This doesn’t feel real,” said Henricksen. “I feel like I’m going to wake up soon. I’m absolutely speechless and it’s been an amazing week. My run today was probably my favorite snowboard lap I have taken all season. Just being able to ride that course, cruise, and have fun was epic.” 

The last time an American man won the event was Shaun White in 2009. Reminiscent of the 2020 U.S. Open, Henricksen was looking casual on course wearing a t-shirt and displaying effortless style while maintaining a high degree of difficulty.

“After hearing the announcer mention that I wasn’t in my T-shirt today, I thought to myself, why am I not in a t-shirt,” he reflected with a smile and a laugh. “It was pretty nice out and I just decided to stay cool out there.”

Norway’s Mons Roisland earned silver following a banger last run and Finnish snowboarder Rene Rinnekangas rounded out the podium with the bronze. U.S. Snowboard Pro Team member Judd Henkes also put on a solid performance finishing fourth place and landing a massive backside 1080 on the shark fin in his fourth X Games appearance. 

Following her win in slopestyle on Friday, Jamie Anderson continued her domination of X Games Aspen 2021 earning her first-ever X Games big air gold. This brings her total X Games medal tally to 19, eight of which are gold. Anderson landed two beautiful jumps including a front double cork 1080 and a cab double cork 1080, which held down the top spot for the entire competition. 

“The level out here is insane and honestly can be pretty intimidating,” said Anderson. “Coming out today I knew I just wanted to do my front 1080 and cab 1080. I knew the girls would be sending it. I am so impressed with Miyabi (Onitsuka) with that cab 1260 right out of the gate. I think it took consistency, trying to be clean, and having fun to come out with the win today. It was a perfect jump, picture-perfect weather, and I’m so glad how today turned out.“
 

The competition was arguably the most progressive X Games women’s snowboard big air in the history of the event, with the entire field trying two different doubles cork variations. Japan’s Miyabi Onitsuka took silver and New Zealand’s Zoi Sadowski-Synnott earned bronze. 

Anderson and Henricksen have each walked away with two gold medals over the course of X Games 2021. Although there have not been many events this season, the U.S. Snowboard Team made this X Games weekend at Buttermilk count! 

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

REPLAY
Men’s snowboard slopestyle
Women’s snowboard big air

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Facebook - @usskiandsnowboard
 

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Four Davis U.S. Cross Country Ski Team athletes qualified for Sunday’s FIS Cross Country World Cup classic sprint heats in Falun, Sweden, with Jessie Diggins leading the team finishing eighth and maintaining her World Cup overall lead.

"Whew, today was exhausting!" Diggins said. "I think all the all-out efforts in the cold finally started to catch up to me, as I was definitely getting pretty tired in my semifinal. But I was really proud of how I skied today - especially in really tricky kicking conditions with steep hills and tracks that were deteriorating, and a ton of herringbone out there. It’s a very encouraging step forward in my classic technical skiing. We also had great skis which are always important."

Along with Diggins, Sophie Caldwell Hamilton, Rosie Brennan, and JC Schoonmaker qualified into the quarterfinal round of heats. Diggins, however, was the only one to advance to the semifinals after finishing second in her quarterfinal heat. She finished fourth in her semifinal heat and did not advance to the finals. Overall, Caldwell Hamilton finished 16th, while Brennan was 19th. Schoonmaker was 18th.

For the U.S. men, Kevin Bolger, Luke Jager - competing in his first World Cup - and Logan Hanneman just missed qualifying for the heats, finishing 31st, 32nd, and 33rd respectively. The top 30 men and women from the qualifications advance to the heats.

Sweden’s Linn Svahn won Sunday’s Sprint - her second-consecutive victory after taking Saturday’s 10k classic. Slovenia’s Anamarija Lampic was second, followed by Sweden’s Jonna Sundling in third. In the men’s race, Norway’s Johannes Klaebo took the victory. Sweden’s Oskar Svensson was second, and Norway’s Solass Taugboel was third.

Diggins maintained her lead in the World Cup overall standings with 1,174 points. Russia’s 9 Yulia Stupak is second with 904 points, while Brennan is third with 879 points.

Up next, the World Cup tour moves to Ulricehamn, Sweden, for a freestyle sprint and team sprint, Feb. 5-6. Then it is on to Davos, Switzerland to prepare for the FIS Nordic World Championships from Feb. 22-March 7 in Oberstdorf, Germany. 

RESULTS
Women’s classic sprint
Men’s classic sprint

STANDINGS
Women’s World Cup overall
World Cup overall
Women’s World Cup sprint
Men’s World Cup sprint
 

Luke Winters led the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team in Sunday’s FIS Ski World Cup slalom in Chamonix, France, taking 19th place and matching his best-ever World Cup finish.

Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway came out firing after straddling in the first slalom in Chamonix on Saturday, winning the race in the French sunshine. Ramon Zenhaeusern of Switzerland was second—but the story of the day was his Swiss teammate Sandro Simonet, who wore bib 35 and finished 30th first run. Running bullet, Simonet put down a blazing second run and maintained his lead for much of the second run to eventually take his first career World Cup podium in third place.

Wearing bib 48, Winters sat in 28th place after first run in the race—one of only five skiers outside of the top 30 to make a second run—and skied tactfully through the soft snow to secure 19th place. The result was Winters’ second points score of the season, having snagged 23rd place in Adelboden in mid-January, and matched his best-ever result of 19th in Val d’Isere in the 2019-20 season. In just his 24th World Cup start, the promising 23-year-old skier has scored now in five races.

Sunday's result was particularly sweet, after Winters missed the top-30 and a chance at a second run on Saturday by mere hundredths, landing in 31st. The men's slalom circuit is incredibly deep and talented and feels like a "battle" as Winters noted. Winters skied strong and within himself second run to grab a solid result. "I'm really happy with where my skiing is going...throughout the month of January there have been a lot of ups and downs and I've figured some stuff out, so I'm looking forward to World Champs. Got some good mojo with the team, it'll be good to have a little break, then get back to work and see what we can do the rest of the season."  

Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team's men's slalom coach, Ryan Wilson, said that he's proud of the result, but looking forward to more to come in the future for this young slalom team. "First run was incredibly difficult, Luke was the highest bib number to get into the second run, and he did it with some seriously athletic skiing first run, but also good technical skiing," reflected Wilson. "First run today definitely benefited him...that was an impressive first run. More impressive, Luke has not yet had what I would call a 'complete race.' Of course, there was more in the tank second run, but very excited that he was able to ski down smart...it shows that he's in there and ready for more. It should prove to be a big confidence booster for him...at the end of a long month like this, it really shows his character and his ability to push through adversity and come out better for it." 

Rounding out the Americans, Jett Seymour and Alex Leever did not qualify for a second run. Ben Ritchie did not finish first run.

This result sends Winters into his first-ever FIS Ski World Championships, which kicks off February 8. The men’s speed team heads to Garmisch for one last super-G and downhill Friday and Saturday prior to the World Champs.  

RESULTS
Men’s slalom

HOW TO WATCH
*All times EST

Monday, Feb. 1
4:50 a.m. FIS Alpine World Cup Women's Super-G - LIVE, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, GER, Streaming Peacock