Central Cross Country Skiing's (CXC) Nordic Rocks Program has been announced as one of eight global finalists for the FIS SnowKidz Award.

The SnowKidz Awards showcase the world’s top kids' snow programs, recognizing best efforts to bring youth to the snow. Each national ski association gets a chance to submit one program from their country, and U.S. Ski & Snowboard chose Nordic Rocks as the submission for the USA. The Top 8 programs were announced on May 4 and include:

• Australia: Torah Bright Mini Shred
• Czech Republic: SnowKidz Tour & SnowKidz Park
• Finland: Snow Moves!
• Greece: Seek a Snowflake Tour
• Portugal: Ski4All
• Spain: Schools Promotions Programme
• Sweden: Everyone on Snow
• USA: Nordic Rocks

FIS will announce the winners of the SnowKidz Award 2020 on June 1.

Howard Peterson, an influential leader of the U.S. Ski Association and later the Soldier Hollow Legacy Foundation, passed away Monday (May 11) in Heber City, Utah. His four decades of service to skiing and snowboarding was marked with a keen focus on providing support to athletes at every turn.

He cared deeply for the teams and was extremely passionate about our sports. He was always quiet and thoughtful, but never without an opinion.
- Tiger Shaw, President & CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard

Peterson was a pivotal figure in pushing a legacy concept that resulted in the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, and the resultant venues for athlete training. He was a key individual in the movements to bring freestyle and snowboarding into the Olympics. And he single-handedly pioneered cash prizes for athletes through his exertion of international influence.

“As an athlete on the U.S. Ski Team (in the early ‘90s), I remember Howard toting around his huge leather handbag full of papers,” recalled U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO Tiger Shaw. “He was always there for us if we had questions, concerns, or problems. He cared deeply for the teams and was extremely passionate about our sports. He was always quiet and thoughtful, but never without an opinion.”

A noted rock climber and cross country skier from Maine, Peterson was a founder of the National Ski Touring Association (now Cross Country Ski Areas Association) before moving to a role with the U.S. Ski Association (USSA) in 1978 that would change the face of the sport globally over the next decades. 

In his early days with USSA, Peterson worked out of the organization’s Brattleboro, Vt. office, developing programs like the Great American Ski Chase and Bill Koch Youth Ski League. He raised the level of member programs through clever marketing and corporate partnership. In 1984 he was tapped to head the organization, helping USSA out of a deep financial hole and to a period of prosperity.

In 1988, Peterson engineered a deal to bring together the U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Ski Association into one entity, moving the organization from its base at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to Park City.

As secretary general of USSA in the late 1980s, Peterson pushed the U.S. Olympic Committee to select a candidate city based on its willingness to develop legacy facilities for athletes. His efforts resulted in Salt Lake City winning over Anchorage in 1989 by two votes and venues that continue to serve athletes and the public today.

In his longtime engagement with the International Ski Federation (FIS), he advocated for integration of adaptive skiing, freestyle skiing and snowboarding into the Olympic and Paralympic programs. He also pioneered cash prizes for athletes in 1990. Peterson was also a vanguard of ethics in sport, boldly tackling the issue with both the U.S. Olympic Committee and FIS. He served for many years as the head of the FIS Advertising Matters Committee where he took on the seemingly uninteresting task of writing rules with an eye on how commercial marking parameters could be used to help fund athletes.

Peterson retired from the USSA in 1994. Five years later, he led an initiative to form the Soldier Hollow Legacy Foundation. The venue proved to be one of the most engaging of all the 2002 sites. Its legacy resulted in training facilities for athletes used yet today, as well as a regional outdoor recreation center that continues to thrive. He retired from that role in 2014.

Soldier Hollow became his pride and joy, helping raise $1-million to build the Day Lodge, starting the Soldier Hollow Charter School in 2002 and bringing events like the Sheepdog Classic to the region, generating millions in economic impact to Wasatch County.

“He was a loyal soldier for the USSA and FIS, making a difference for both organizations,” said former U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO Bill Marolt.  “He was always a positive proponent.”

“We will miss Howard as a friend, a colleague and a leader,” said Luke Bodensteiner, now chief of sport development for the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation and general manager of Soldier Hollow Nordic Center. “He was steadfast in his vision that the Olympics in Utah would leave a legacy for winter sport for generations to come. And we continue to enjoy the impact of his tireless efforts today, particularly at Soldier Hollow, which became so near and dear to him, and into which he invested so much of himself.”

U.S. Ski & Snowboard awarded Peterson its highest honor, the Julius Blegen Award, in 2004. He also received the Bud & Mary Little Award for service to FIS and USOC in 1999. Just two years ago he was recognized by Utah Ski Archives with its S.J. Quinney Award for contribution to sport in the state. Cross Country Ski Areas Association gave him its Founders Award in 2018.

Peterson, who was 69, died after a long illness. His wife, Susan, passed in 2016. The two met ice climbing on New Hampshire’s Mount Washington in 1976. They were married in 1989, enjoying a life of travel and adventure - visiting 80 countries together. Peterson was also a noted climber, pioneering many first ascents. Family and friends will plan an appropriate tribute when conditions are appropriate in the future.

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Kindness Wins, a collaborative engine for kindness, announced today the addition of two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time overall World Cup champion alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin to its lineup of Champions. With the addition of Shiffrin, Kindness Wins will greatly expand its platform of influence, furthering its mission to spread kindness to the masses.

Launched in early 2020 by Founding Champion Madison Keys, Kindness Wins is a nonprofit that acts as an umbrella organization for kindness initiatives, working with professional athletes as champions to demonstrate that even in the most competitive environment, deeds and actions of generosity and compassion are possible and the outcomes are highly impactful.

With special emphasis on kindness to self, kindness to youth, and kindness to others in times of struggle, the organization is proving its importance and its impact now more than ever. Most recently, the organization launched Kindness In Crisis: an online auction led by Keys, Shiffrin, and other athletes that gave professional athletes the opportunity to auction off signed memorabilia and raise funds for COVID-19 relief.

 

 

 

 

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🙏 THANK YOU to all of you who have donated or bid in the #KindnessInCrisis auction! Together, we (@madisonkeys, @jessiediggins and @kateplusfate) have raised over $50,000 for COVID-19 relief needs in our respective communities. 100% of the proceeds from my items will be donated to the Colorado Covid Relief Fund and @foodbankrockies. I still have a couple of items up for grabs (my training bib and a full access @ikonpass) until this evening, and you are still able to make a donation on the website until this Friday. Check out the link in my bio to bid and/or donate. 💛 @kindnesswinsfoundation

A post shared by Mikaela Shiffrin ⛷💨 (@mikaelashiffrin) on Apr 14, 2020 at 10:47am PDT

“Following our work together on the Kindness In Crisis auction, I am thrilled that Mikaela is joining the organization as a Champion,” said Madison Keys. “Kindness Wins focuses not just on those who talk about kindness, but those who take action and put kindness into practice, and Mikaela is the embodiment of this mission. I have truly enjoyed getting to know her better in recent weeks and cannot wait to see the great things she has in store for this organization, and for society, in her role as Champion.”

Kindness Wins has started a kindness movement, using its website, kindnesswins.org, and social channels (@KindnessWinsFoundation) as a hub of kindness activity where such deeds and gestures, big or small, are shared and celebrated, inspiring society to actively be more thoughtful, considerate and compassionate.

“I’m so excited to dive into Kindness Wins with Madison,” said Mikaela Shiffrin. “I am an introvert by nature, and it has taken a lot of work just to develop any level of comfort sharing myself and my life with the world, especially on social media. I actually feel like my sport and the media have been a tool that have helped me become more comfortable with myself, but I also have seen and felt how the media and the internet can have an incredibly negative impact on peoples’ confidence and self-worth. As social media platforms grow, cyberbullying continues to escalate— people often say incredibly hurtful things while hiding behind their screen—but I do believe that the online world has the potential to be a place of positivity and support rather than a hub for cyber-bullying and we have the ability to make that transformation happen starting with this message of spreading Kindness.”

In February of 2020, Shiffrin’s world came to a screeching halt, as she suffered the loss of her father Jeff. “One of the mottos my dad lived by was ‘Be nice, think first, and have fun’—and I will take that with me throughout my entire life. My parents both instilled in me that I should treat other people who I want to be treated and, even more importantly, to hold others accountable for the way they treat those around them. For this reason and more, the Kindness Wins’ message has resonated with me. I love that this organization is structured as a collaborative engine for kindness and will provide a platform for me and other athletes to pursue our own Kindness projects within its framework. Being kind will never go out of style, and I really believe that we can have a powerful impact on society in spreading this message.”

In addition to its own platform, Kindness Wins also supports the individual kindness-related endeavors of its Champions. Working together to rally behind kindness, Kindness Wins Champions will collaboratively support their fellow champions in the specific areas each Champion supports.

“I’m looking forward to exploring and announcing my own passion projects that I will pursue with Kindness Wins,” said Shiffrin. “Meanwhile, my first official act as one of the ‘Founding Champions’ will be participating in Kindness Wins Day on May 22—a day where we will recognize and celebrate acts of kindness that we find inspiring, and I encourage everyone to participate along with us.”

Kindness Wins Day, taking place on May 22 is a movement to help change the world: one day, one post and one individual at a time. Participants are challenged to tag and recognize deeds and actions of generosity and compassion, big or small, on social media, using the hashtag #KindnessWinsDay and tagging @KindnessWinsFoundation for a chance to be featured. More information can be found at kindnesswins.org.

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About Kindness Wins
Kindness Wins is a 501©3 nonprofit that acts as a collaborative engine for kindness, with special emphasis on kindness to self, kindness to youth, and kindness to others in times of struggle. We know that through identifying and supporting champions, spreading their efforts, and supporting and elevating the efforts of organizations and individuals who meet the nonprofit’s kindness criteria, Kindness Wins amplifies the powerful impact that kindness has on society. For more, visit ​https://www.kindnesswins.org/​ and follow Kindness Wins on Facebook (​facebook.com/KindnessWinsFoundation​) Twitter ​(@KindnessWinsFdn​) and Instagram (​@KindnessWinsFoundation​).

About Madison Keys
25-year-old Madison Keys is a Grand Slam finalist (2017 US Open), two-time Grand Slam semifinalist (2018 Roland Garros and 2015 Australian Open), and holds five WTA titles. She achieved a career-high ranking of No. 7 in the world in October 2016 and has been consistently ranked inside the top 25 by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) since early 2015.

About Mikaela Shiffrin
Double-Olympic champion, five-time World Champion, and winningest slalom skier of all-time Mikaela Shiffrin has elevated women’s ski racing globally​—​both on and off the mountain. At a mere 25-years-old, Mikaela has 66 World Cup victories across six disciplines to her name and is the only athlete to win in all six disciplines. In Sochi in 2014, Mikaela won Olympic gold, becoming the youngest slalom champion in history. In 2016, she broke the record for the largest win margin in slalom for women (3.07 seconds). During the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, Shiffrin reached the top of the podium in the giant slalom at the Olympics, with gold in giant slalom and silver in the alpine combined. As well as being the youngest skier, male or female, to win 50 World Cup race before the age of 24, she is also the first athlete to win four successive World Championship titles in a single discipline and holds the record for wins in one season with 17 victories (shattering the previous 30-year record of 14).

Release courtesy of Kindness Wins.

The Beck International Trophy is the highest athlete honor from U.S. Ski & Snowboard, recognizing the top athletes in international competition for the year. It’s also the organization’s oldest, dating back to 1931. The 68 recipients over nearly a century represent a remarkable cross section of the greatest U.S. Olympic ski and snowboard champions of all time. For only the second time in history, two athletes tied for the penultimate honor - Mikaela Shiffrin, whose World Cup tally is now at 66, and cross country junior world champion Gus Schumacher.
 

Beck International Trophy

Alpine Athlete of the Year
Mikaela Shiffrin
(Edwards, Colo./Ski & Snowboard Club Vail)

It’s an incredible honor to share the award with three-time World Junior Champion cross country skier Gus Schumacher.
   - Mikaela Shiffrin

The 2019-20 story of Mikaela Shiffrin (Edwards, Colo./Ski & Snowboard Club Vail) was told less in her six World Cup wins and 13 podiums, and more in how she fought through professional and personal challenges that tested her at every turn. Shiffrin was honored with the Beck International Trophy as overall athlete of the year, along with the comparable award in alpine. 

It was a season of highs, including a late January weekend in Bansko, Bulgaria where she won two speed events and amassed 250 World Cup points in front of her parents, to the deepest of lows with the death of her father a week later. While the entire World Cup family grieved with her, she fought back courageously to return to the tour a month later, only to have the season end prematurely a day before her return. It is the fourth time Shiffrin has won the Beck International Trophy, and the fifth time she has won Alpine Athlete of the Year.

“Wow. I am SO humbled,” said Shiffrin. “It’s an incredible honor to share the award with three-time World Junior Champion cross country skier Gus Schumacher. It’s super impressive to see a junior athlete receive this prestigious award, and I’m looking forward to following Gus’ success throughout his career with the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team. I’d also want to thank my team and teammates, U.S. Ski & Snowboard, and the ski community as a whole for your outpouring of love and support through what has been an unimaginable time in my life. Your words and thoughts lifted me up when I needed it most.”
 

Beck International Trophy

Cross Country Athlete of the Year
Gus Schumacher
(Anchorage/Alaska Winter Stars)

Wow, I didn’t know how big it was until I realized Mikaela was the other recipient.
   - Gus Schumacher

At just 19, Alaskan Gus Schumacher (Anchorage/Alaska Winter Stars) is rewriting the cross country skiing history book in America! He becomes the first junior skier to win the Beck International Trophy since cross country skier Bill Koch won in 1975. At the Junior World Championships, Schumacher took the first individual gold by an American junior in the 10k classic. To top it off, he anchored the USA men to their second straight relay gold and third straight medal performance in the team event. A product of the Alaska Winter Stars program, Schumacher has been a catalyst on a junior team that has been winning Junior Worlds medals over a three-year span.

“Wow, I didn’t know how big it was until I realized Mikaela was the other recipient. After that call, I realized it was a super big deal. It was cool because she’s just a regular person - she was so nice and seemed genuinely interested in my skiing. I’m honored to be sharing the Beck Award with her.”
 

Sport Athletes of the Year

Freeskiing Athlete of the Year 
Maggie Voisin
(Whitefish, Mont./Whitefish Mountain Resort Freestyle Team)

Strength and determination overcame uncertainty for two-time Olympian Maggie Voisin (Whitefish, Mont./U.S. Slopestyle Pro Team), who came back from knee surgery to score five consecutive podiums. She was recognized with the Freeskiing Athlete of the Year Award.

Her hard work led to exponential progression through the X Games tour, winning slopestyle bronze in Aspen, then hitting big air silver and slopestyle gold in Norway. Her X Games medals came on the wings of landing a perfect double cork 1260 safety to close out a season that also saw her on the Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix and Dew Tour podiums. Voisin’s positivity and encouragement has positioned her as a team leader.

“I can’t thank the U.S. Ski & Snowboard community enough for this award. I don’t know what my life would look like without skiing and it’s truly hard to express the kind of love and excitement it gives me every day. To keep it simple, I absolutely love what I do and am so grateful for the support and love to all the people who helped me along the way.” 
 

Freestyle Athlete of the Year
Jaelin Kauf
(Alta, Wyo./teamboat Springs Winter Sports Club) 

Veteran moguls skier Jaelin Kauf (Alta, Wyo./U.S. Freestyle Moguls Team) scored four World Cup podiums including a win to close out the season ranked third in the world. She was honored with the Freestyle Athlete of the Year Award. Kauf is consistently one of the fastest women on the moguls World Cup circuit and this season brought two new tricks to competition - a cork 7 and a back mute. Her athletic progression is a tribute to her strong work ethic and her desire to be the best at what she does - all contributing to her confidence on the course. Known as a team leader, she attributes much of her success to the strength of her teammates in always pushing each other. Kauf also won the award in 2018.

"There is so much that goes into what we do,” said Kauf. “I have an amazing support group of family, friends, sponsors and this entire organization that make it possible for me to do what I love and have fun with it! I love skiing and competing, and my passion for the sport is what continues to drive me."
 

Nordic Combined Athlete of the Year 
Tara Geraghty-Moats
(West Fairlee, Vt./New York Ski Education Foundation) 

A second straight season title came to Tara Geraghty-Moats (West Fairlee, Vt./New York Ski Education Foundation) this season, on the wings of five Continental Cup wins and two podiums. She was recognized as U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Nordic Combined Athlete of the Year. Along the way she impacted the youth of the world, serving as a sport ambassador for the International Olympic Committee at the Youth Olympic Games and was named Nordic Combined Athlete of the Year by the International Ski Federation. Women make their FIS World Cup debut next winter, as well as being a part of the World Championships next February in Oberstdorf, Germany. Geraghty-Moats has established herself as a notable international figure in the push for Olympic inclusion. It was the second straight year she has earned the athlete of the year recognition.

"To see my hard work translate into a graceful step forward for gender equality at the Youth Olympic Games, that was special and will give me motivation for years to come. I am honored to receive this award and thank my coach, Tomas Matura, my family and my supporters around the globe, especially those at U.S. Ski & Snowboard and USA Nordic.”
 

Ski Jumping Athlete of the Year
Andrew Urlaub
(Eau Claire, Wis./Flying Eagles Ski Club)

Wisconsin teen Andrew Urlaub had a breakout season at every level of international competition. Urlaub, an 18-year old out of the Flying Eagles Ski Club in Eau Claire, Wis., scored five top-30 finishes on the FIS Cup, including a fourth in Zakopane, Poland - just a point off the podium. He also notched it up a level with five top-30s on the higher level Continental Cup. And he came away with a top-20 finish at the Junior World Championships in Oberwiesenthal, Germany.

“To win this award shows me that my dreams as a kid are coming true,” said Urlaub. “I owe it to my parents, teammates, and supporters who constantly push me to be my best. Thanks to everyone who followed my season through the ups and downs, and cheered from home.”
 

Snowboard Athlete of the Year
Dusty Henricksen
(Mammoth Lakes, Calif./Mammoth Mountain Snowboard Team) 

Wow, what a breakout season 17-year-old Dusty Henricksen (Mammoth Lakes, Calif./U.S. Snowboard Rookie Team) had! Henricksen made history at the U.S. Open, landing the first-ever backside quad cork 1800 in slopestyle competition. He also took Youth Olympic Games gold in slopestyle and earned his first World Cup win at the Land Rover U.S. Grand Prix at his home of Mammoth Mountain. What stood out all season was his maturity, optimism and positivity as he solidified himself as a top contender in the world of competitive snowboarding.

“This season was huge for me and I realized how much I love snowboarding. There’s nothing that can beat the adrenaline rush when you learn a new trick or land your full run. I am incredibly thankful for everyone that contributes to this development process, which is so important to my success and the pursuit of my dreams.”

Ever wonder if athletes on the FIS Ski World Cup circuit hang out or stay connected in the offseason? Wonder no more. Olympian Travis Ganong recently lifted the curtain for a Fireside Chat: North American Edition, hosting an Instagram Live that featured he and his Alpine Canada girlfriend Marie "Mitch" Michele-Gagnon (yes, their last names really ARE that close) and competitor/teammate Manny Osborne-Paradis spoke about everything from returning from injury to Manny's famous helmet collection, and beyond. 

For nearly an hour, Travis, Mitch, and Manny allowed fans to see what life is like for them on the World Cup tour in this inaugural cross-national Fireside Chat installation, sharing stories from their careers and giving everyone a sneak-peak into life on the White Circus—which is essentially one big international family.

So sit back, relax, grab a Pacifico...and enjoy! 

 

 

 

 

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ICYMI: Olympian @travisganong and his workout buddy/girlfriend @mmgagnon (who skis for @alpinecanada) recently jumped on an IG Live with @manny_ski to talk about everything from returning from injury to when they think they might be able to return to snow and kick off training for the 2020-21 season, and more (like Manny's famous helmet collection!). Check it out, and let us know if you want to see more of these cross-national chats in the future! 🇺🇸♥️🇨🇦

A post shared by U.S. Ski Team (@usskiteam) on May 11, 2020 at 12:07pm PDT

Editor's Note: U.S. Ski & Snowboard is honoring its Annual Award Winners through June 1, beginning with the Julius Blegen Award for lifetime service to the organization. Upcoming award announcements will include Athletes of the Year, Clubs of the Year, Coach of the Year, and Athlete Service Awards recognizing those who have taken snow sports to new heights.

Dexter Paine was the consummate leader of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, serving as its chairman from 2006 to 2019. Paine was elected by his peers as the 74th recipient of the Julius Blegen Award, the highest organizational recognition, dating back to 1946.

“To be one of those people who is recognized for the passion that they have for the sport, well, I just really appreciate it.”
– Dexter Paine

Paine’s volunteer leadership benefitted the entire organization, from grassroots clubs to Olympic champions. As a vice president of the International Ski Federation, he continues to support the USA as a respected global player. Despite running a global agribusiness, he made U.S. Ski & Snowboard his priority, attending every Olympics and nearly all World Championships over a 17-year span - accounting for 53 Olympic medals.

The award recognizes established history of distinguished service and a lasting contribution to U.S. Ski & Snowboard and its membership. It is named in honor of Julius Blegen, a key leader of the National Ski Association in the 1930s.

Like many U.S. Ski & Snowboard volunteers, Paine’s passion came from his parents. Growing up in New Hampshire’s Mt. Washington Valley, he began going to the ski area at two and took lessons from the Hannes Schneider Ski School. “My dad was a TD (technical delegate), my mom made lunches and was a gatekeeper,” he recalled. Growing up in the 1960s and ‘70s, he had local heroes like Terry and Tyler Palmer, and Abbi Fisher.

While he attended dozens of Olympic, World Championship and World Cup events, Paine’s greatest thrill was handing out annual awards at the spring U.S. Ski & Snowboard Congress.

“The great thing about the awards ceremony is that it’s about the volunteers and the athletes,” he said. “It’s about the people who make our organization successful. I don’t think we step back and appreciate those people as much as we should.”

Paine recounted his youth when there would be 50 parents on the ski hill to make it happen - be it -10 and blowing, or 34 and pouring rain. “You still had these same volunteers - the same ones who met every month to raise money and do all the things to help the club be successful.” 

As chairman, Paine had the honor of giving out the Blegen Award 13 times - a diverse group who all share the same passion. “These Blegen winners share a love for seeing our athletes being successful -  whether that’s a town race or a World Cup. It’s seeing those athletes coming up through our program - who have that chance because of our volunteers,” he said.

“To be one of those people who is recognized for the passion that they have for the sport, well, I just really appreciate it.”

Paine continues to serve in his leadership role on the FIS Council, as well as on the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Board of Directors and its foundation. He is also on the board for US Biathlon.

On May 4, 2020, Toby Miller was featured in a Forbes.com article highlighting his pure passion for the mountains and the sport he loves. Written by Michelle Bruton, the article refers to two different interviews conducted over the past five months, where Toby’s personality undoubtedly shines through. The story covers the biggest challenges of the 2019-20 season, his obsession with video editing, the financial challenges associated with the pandemic, as well his relationships with three-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White and Olympian JJ Thomas.

Outside of Toby’s life on snow, Toby shared how the pandemic and quarantine have allowed him to spend time with his family, which otherwise would not possible. Along these lines, Toby explains how his family has always been the foundation of his success. 

Check out Forbes.com for the full story.

"The past year should have been a victory lap for Mikaela Shiffrin. Instead, it left her on empty after she lost first her Nana, then her dad, then her skiing. But she refused to let it break her, and now her spirit is returning thanks to one very special relationship." ⁠—Mirin Fader, Bleacher Report

Two-time Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin—"a once-in-a-century type athlete," as former teammate and idol Bode Miller refers to her in the piece—recently shared her story of grief, resilience, love, mothers and daughters, and what it is like to be one of the most dominant athletes on the planet recently with Bleacher Report. 

From losing her dear grandmother "nana" in October just days before the start of the 2019-20 season while in Soelden, Austria to dealing with the heavy weight of the world's expectations after an otherworldly and historical 2018-19 season to the unthinkable tragedy in her father Jeff's passing, Mikaela reveals the crushing pain she and her family have experienced in the last several months in an incredibly raw, poignant manner. 

Bleacher Report writer Mirin Fader had originally reached out back in early January, looking to profile Mikaela and elaborate on the struggles an elite level at the top of their game has to stay at the top of their game, how Eileen (Mikaela's mother) plays an important role in that success, and the challenges Mikaela had been facing in the 2019-20 season thus far. 

"There is a critic living inside Mikaela, constantly demanding she reach for a bar she can't ever touch because she is raising it every day.

Every race, every training, she inspects herself. She has to be this way. Because she is after something much deeper, much more difficult than dominance itself: sustaining dominance."

With the Sports Illustrated feature and other big projects mid-season, there simply was no room at the time in her schedule, and then Mikaela's world came to a screeching halt in early February when she faced yet another challenge—the sudden loss of her father, her "family's CEO" and their "mountains, our ocean, our sunrise, our heart, our soul, our everything," as she described Jeff in a post announcing the tragedy. 

Slowly, Mikaela returned to the mountain—a place she felt closer to her father. Slowly, she returned to the start gate. Then, a month later, she got on a plane and traveled to Åre, Sweden for the final World Cup races of the season. She knew that her mother and the coaches didn't expect for her to compete and that just getting on the place was a win in their eyes, but she wanted to race. 

"But Mikaela had her mind made up: She was racing. 'More than the results, or prize money,' she says, 'those races were going to be good for my actual heart.'"

A global pandemic had other plans, as the races were cancelled mere hours after Mikaela had announced her return, but Mikaela showed incredible resiliency in returning to the mountain. And when she returned to Edwards, Colo., Mirin called once again, and Mikaela was ready to share her story. It was not the story either woman had planned on, but it is a beautiful tribute to Mikaela's father Jeff. 

Read the entire piece on bleacherreport.com.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard has announced its U.S. Freestyle Ski Team nominations for the 2020-21 season. Nominations include those active athletes who qualified based on published selection criteria in the prior season. Thirty-one athletes have been nominated to the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team, which includes aerials and moguls. 

Nominations include four new members: Landon Wendler and sisters Madison and Kasey Hogg to the moguls team and Dani (Karyl) Loeb to the aerials team. These young athletes show a promising look at the future of American freestyle skiing. 

2020-21 will bring the freestyle skiers to the FIS Freestyle FIS World Cup Championships in Zhangjiakou, China, which will serve as test events for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games. Athletes will get a preview of what’s to come at their sports’ most prestigious events. 

Each athlete accepting the nomination to U.S. Ski Team receives world-class program support, along with access to the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Center of Excellence, as well as athletic benefits including an elite coaching, sport science, sports medicine, high performance staff, and education opportunities.

An official U.S. Freestyle Ski Team announcement will be made in the fall.

2020-21 Freestyle Nominations

(Hometown; Club; Birthdate)

U.S. Moguls Team

Men
Casey Andringa (Boulder, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 10/6/95)
Jesse Andringa (Boulder, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 12/15/97)
Joel Hedrick (Fort Collins, Colo.; Winter Park Competition Center; 5/30/97)
Alex Lewis (Carlisle, Mass.; Killington Mountain School; 11/16/99)
Nick Page (Park City, Utah; Wasatch Freestyle Foundation; 8/1/02)
Landon Wendler (Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Steamboat Winter Sports Club; 10/12/2000)
Brad Wilson (Butte, Mont.; Wasatch Freestyle; 6/5/92)

Women
Sabrina Cass (Cheshire, Conn.; Wasatch Freestyle Foundation; 3/27/02)
Nessa Dziemian (East Hampstead, N.H.; Park City Freestyle Ski Team; 4/14/94)
Olivia Giaccio (Redding, Conn.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 8/15/00)
Tess Johnson (Edwards, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 6/19/00)
Kasey Hogg (Park City, Utah; Wasatch Freestyle Foundation; 1/8/2003)
Madison Hogg (Park City, Utah; Wasatch Freestyle Foundation; 2/15/2001)
Jaelin Kauf (Alta, Wyo.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 9/26/96)
Kai Owens (Vail, Colo.; Ski and Snowboard Club Vail; 8/16/04)
Kenzie Radway (Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 6/22/03)
Morgan Schild (Pittsford, N.Y.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 8/25/97)
Hannah Soar (Somers, Conn.; Killington Mountain School; 6/4/99)
Avital Shimko (Manhattan, N.Y.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 4/24/96)

U.S. Aerials Team

Men
Quinn Dehlinger (Cincinnati, Ohio; Elite Aerial Development Program; 6/8/02)
Chris Lillis (Pittsford, N.Y.; Bristol Mountain Freestyle Team; 10/4/98)
Jon Lillis (Pittsford, N.Y.; Bristol Mountain Freestyle Team; 8/20/94)
Eric Loughran (Pelham, N.H.; Loon Mountain Freestyle; 12/4/95)
Justin Schoenefeld (Lawrenceburg, Ind.; Elite Aerial Development Program; 8/13/98)

Women
Ashley Caldwell (Ashburn, Va.; Elite Aerial Development Program; 9/14/93)
Kaila Kuhn (Boyne City, Mich.; Park City Ski and Snowboard; 4/8/03)
Dani (Karyl) Loeb (Pintlala, Ala.; Park City Ski and Snowboard; 8/10/2001)
Megan Nick (Shelburne, Vt.; Elite Aerial Development Program; 7/9/96)
Megan Smallhouse (Reno, Nev.; Park City Ski and Snowboard; 1/16/01)
Winter Vinecki (Gaylord, Mich.; Park City Ski and Snowboard; 12/18/98)
Madison Varmette (Stafford, Va.; Elite Aerial Development Program; 5/8/96)

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U.S. Ski & Snowboard has announced the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team nominations for the 2020-21 competition season. Nominations include those active athletes who qualified based on published selection criteria in the prior season.

“In a world of uncertainty, we remain determined and excited to nominate one of the deepest teams we have fielded in years." 
- Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team Director Jesse Hunt

Double-Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin and 2019 Xfinity Birds of Prey victor Tommy Ford headline the list of both accomplished and emerging athletes heading into the 2020-21 season. The 2019-20 season was a step in the right direction for the Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team, with 15 FIS Ski World Cup podiums, one Junior World Championship medal, and seven NorAm titles. Mikaela led the way with 13 podiums and six victories in 19 World Cup starts, despite missing nine races. She’ll head into 2020-21 as the winningest slalom skier of all-time, with 43 slalom victories, and ranked fourth on the all-time win list behind Marcel Hirscher (67), U.S. Ski Team alumna and Land Rover ambassador Lindsey Vonn (82), and Ingemar Stenmark (86). 

The men’s team was highlighted by Tommy, with solid and consistent skiing, finishing his career-best season ranked fifth in the world in giant slalom with six top-15 results, four top-five results, two podiums and a massive victory by .80 seconds in Beaver Creek, Colo. He is joined by a men’s team with considerable depth, specifically the men’s speed team—which had four athletes finish in the top-20 in the world in downhill for the first time ever: Travis Ganong (13th), Ryan Cochran-Siegle (14th), Bryce Bennett (16th) and Steven Nyman (20th). 

The 2020-21 season will feature the much-anticipated FIS Ski World Championships in Cortina d’ Ampezzo, Italy, February 8-21, 2021. Following the premature end to the 2019-20 season with the cancellation of FIS Ski World Cup Finals in Cortina d’Ampezzo due to the coronavirus outbreak, the athletes are looking forward to competing in the Dolomites. Cortina d’Ampezzo is a favorite classic venue on the women’s World Cup circuit where the U.S. women’s speed team has enjoyed a lot of success.  

The 43 athletes nominated will be supported by a strong coaching staff, committed to “winning at every level,” which is Alpine Director Jesse Hunt’s mantra. “In a world of uncertainty, we remain determined and excited to nominate one of the deepest teams we have fielded in years,” noted Jesse. “We have a great mix of veteran athletes and bold young prospects, from World Cup winners Ted Ligety, Steven Nyman, Travis Ganong, Tommy Ford, Alice McKennis, and Mikaela Shiffrin to our recently named development team athletes. We are building a system to win at every level of the alpine pipeline.”

Athletes nominated to the team are scheduled to open the season with their first on-snow training camps this summer, pending COVID-19 considerations. 

Each athlete accepting the nomination to U.S. Ski Team receives world-class program support, along with access to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Center of Excellence, as well as athletic benefits including an elite coaching, sport science, sports medicine, and high-performance staff, and education opportunities.

A 2020-21 staff announcement will be forthcoming, while an official Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team announcement will be made in the fall.

2020-21 Land Rover U.S. Alpine Ski Team Nominations
(Hometown; Club; Birthdate)

A TEAM
Men
Bryce Bennett (Squaw Valley, Calif.; Squaw Valley Ski Team; 7/14/1992)
Ryan Cochran-Siegle (Starksboro, Vt.; Cochran’s/Mount Mansfield Ski & Snowboard Club; 3/27/1992)
Tommy Ford (Bend, OR; Mt. Bachelor Ski Education Foundation; 3/20/1989)
Travis Ganong (Squaw Valley, Calif.; Squaw Valley Ski Team; 7/14/1988)
Ted Ligety (Park City, Utah; Park City Ski and Snowboard; 8/31/1984)
Steven Nyman (Sundance, Utah; Park City Ski and Snowboard/Sundance Ski Team; 2/12/1982)                     

Women
Breezy Johnson (Victor, Idaho; Rowmark Ski Academy; 1/19/1996)
Laurenne Ross (Bend, Ore.; Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation; 8/17/1988)
Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, Colo.; Burke Mountain Academy/Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 3/13/1995)

B TEAM
Men
Sam DuPratt (Park City, UT; Park City Ski Education Foundation; 11/28/1993)   
Bridger Gile (Aspen, Colo., Aspen Valley Ski Club and Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 10/15/1999)
Jared Goldberg (Holladay, Utah; Snowbird Sports Education Foundation; 6/15/1991)
Jimmy Krupka (Waitsfield, Vt.; Dartmouth College and Green Mountain Valley School (7/15/1998)*
Sam Morse (Carrabassett Valley, Maine; Carrabassett Valley Academy; 5/27/1996)
Kyle Negomir (Littleton, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 10/3/1998)
River Radamus (Edwards, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 2/12/1998)
Ben Ritchie (Waitsfield, VT; Green Mountain Valley School; 9/5/2000)
Jett Seymour (Steamboat, Colo.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club/University of Denver Ski Team; 11/5/1998)
George Steffey (Lyme, N.H.; Stratton Mountain School; 8/8/1997)
Luke Winters (Gresham, Ore.; Sugar Bowl Academy; 4/2/1997)

Women
Keely Cashman (Strawberry, Calif.; Squaw Valley Ski Team; 4/4/1999)
Alice McKennis (New Castle, Colo.; Sunlight Winter Sports Club/Rowmark Ski Academy; 8/18/1989)
Alice Merryweather (Hingham, Mass.; Attitash Race Team/Stratton Mountain School; 10/5/1996)
Paula Moltzan (Prior Lake, Minn.; Buck Hill Ski Team/Ski and Snowboard Club Vail; 4/7/1994)
Nina O’Brien (Edwards, Colo.; Burke Mountain Academy/Squaw Valley Ski Team; 11/29/1997)
Jacqueline Wiles (Aurora, Ore.; White Pass Ski Club; 7/13/1992)

C TEAM
Men
Cooper Cornelius (Glenwood Springs, Colo.; Aspen Valley Ski Club; 6/20/1999)
Isaiah Nelson (Wayzata, MN.; Buck Hill Ski Racing Club; 4/3/2001)

Women
Katie Hensien (Redmond, Wash.; Rowmark Ski Academy; 12/1/1999)
AJ Hurt (Carnelian Bay, Calif.; Squaw Valley Ski Team; 12/5/2000)
Nicola Rountree-Williams (Edwards, Colo.; Loveland Ski Area; 7/7/2002)
Zoe Zimmermann (Gilford, N.H.; Burke Mountain Academy; 5/16/2002)

DEVELOPMENT TEAM
Men
Jacob Dilling (Vail, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail, 10/19/1999)
Kellen Kinsella (Edwards, Colo.; Dartmouth College and Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 8/7/2001)
Trent Pennington (Shalimar, Fla.; Ski and Snowboard Club Vail; 5/8/2002)*
Jack Smith (Sun Valley, Idaho; Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation; 4/24/2001)
Bradshaw Underhill (Newbury, N.H.; Killington Mountain School; 3/10/2000)*

Women
Lauren Macuga (Park City, Utah; Park City Ski & Snowboard; 7/4/2002)
Ainsley Proffit (St. Louis, MO; Sugar Bowl Ski Team & Academy; 3/21/2001)
Allie Resnick (Vail, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 9/1/2001)*
Emma Resnick (Vail, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 7/23/2003)
Alix Wilkinson (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.; Squaw Valley Ski Team; 8/2/2000)
Isabella Wright (Salt Lake City, UT; Snowbird Sports Education Foundation; 2/10/1997)*

*Newly named to the U.S. Ski Team

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