There’s nothing more American than football, and while the U.S. Ski Team is inherently American, there isn’t much relation between the NFL and ski racing. However, in 1994, the two sports merged and it resulted in Tommy Moe taking home two medals at the Lillehammer Olympics. Read the story about how Mike McCoy, a cornerback for the Green Bay Packers and University of Colorado alum, helped train the U.S. Ski Team for the Olympic season.

Ski Racing, “How a Football Player Helped Tommy Moe Win Gold”

Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) is a name you hear constantly in the ski racing world. And the rest of the sports world is starting to take notice. Red Bull explored her past, her undeniable dominance in the tech World Cups and where she’s heading next in their piece “Find out the fascinating story of Mikaela Shiffrin.”

READ RED BULL’S ARTICLE ABOUT MIKAELA SHIFFRIN

From local ski hills to the PyeongChang Olympics, the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) encompasses all athletes that share a passion for skiing and snowboarding. We explore what makes each skier and rider a champion with stories from the U.S. Ski Team, U.S. Snowboarding and U.S. Freeskiing, next to kids winning a NASTAR medal, landing their first cork 7 or joining a club team. Alongside USSA’s mascot Champ, take a look at how all of these athletes strive to be Best in the World.

As we continue to explore what makes USSA athletes champions, we’re learning more than we ever expected. To be a champion is holistic – it goes beyond the medals and the titles. It’s someone with great character and an undying belief in themselves; it’s someone who loves their sport with an unmatched passion—whether they’re still actively pursuing it or not. We are honored to share these stories with you. In this installation, Content Manager Courtney Harkins sits down with U.S. Ski Team alumnus Cody Marshall to discuss #WhatMakesAChamp.

You may have heard of Cody Marshall because of his mile-long list of skiing accolades—including winning NorAm titles and podiuming at Europa Cups. Or you might be familiar with his family—well-known in the ski racing world with two of his three siblings also having made the U.S. Ski Team.

Or, if you’ve heard of Cody Marshall, it might be because of his accident a few years ago. And it’s not easy to forget; he sports a glaring reminder on the top of his shaved head—a gnarly scar that stretches from the top of his forehead to the back of his skull.

“It effectively ended my skiing career,” Marshall said. “It was a stupid mistake that had huge consequences.”

Marshall was horsing around with his friends on a broken-down escalator late at night in Park City in 2009 when he fell three stories to the ground, crushing his skull. He was rushed to the hospital, where he lay in a coma—his family unaware if he would ever come out of it.

But with boundless determinism he was well-known for in ski racing, Marshall woke up. And little by little, he recovered, shattering every goal the doctors set for him. But it wasn’t enough for him.

“A big thing for me after my head injury was dealing with the changes and limitations that come along with sustaining massive brain trauma,” said Marshall. “Things were never going to be the same and I had to learn to accept that. I needed to re-understand who I was and part of that was ski racing.”

Cody lies in the hospital after his accident in 2009.

He attempted a comeback, but his processing speed was different. “It’s like your internet is really slow. It was noticeable,” said Marshall. “I was in touch with my body, but the biggest thing for me was I knew I wasn’t going to be able to take a lot of risk and put myself on the line physically. I’m much more calculated now.”

He finished his skiing career on a high note, winning two USSA races at Snowbird and calling it good. But, ski racing was what he knew—he’d been racing since he was 10—and he started coaching with the Park City Ski Team. Soon after, he met Bob Bennett, a local guy who owns a financial firm and wanted to be a competitive ski racer. Bob offered to pay Cody to coach him.

“So, I started private coaching him,” said Marshall. “We would drive back and forth to camps and races, and eventually we got bored of just talking about skiing. So we started talking about business.”

Cody smiles in the finish at Zagreb in 2008 after scoring World Cup points.

Bennett owns a private equity firm called GroundSwell Resources, but was working on a side project to teach college-aged kids about finance and private equity. It was a boot camp format with an apprenticeship-like model, in which students would finish the school and have the potential to buy a business and run it with Bob, or get job placement opportunities with businesses needing their skills. They’d do between 800-1000 hours of class time, and in conjunction, be working hands-on with real companies on the scenarios about which they were learning. Marshall volunteered to be Bennett’s test subject.

“I stopped the traditional education model when I was 11 years old,” said Marshall. “I was mostly homeschooled while ski racing. So this nontraditional program made sense to me.”

With the gritty resolution Marshall is known for, he jumped in and started learning from Bennett. His first project using his newly acquired skills was working with Bryon Friedman (read Bryon’s #WhatMakesAChamp profile here) and his company SoulPoles. “I did consulting work with Bryon through GroundSwell and helped him implement the strategies we came up with,” said Marshall. “This process makes it interesting as a student and incredibly effective. There’s a balance between structure and freedom of actually doing something.”

Bob Bennett and Bryon Friedman review Cody's analysis of SoulPoles time-driven manufacturing labor costs. 

It was an ideal program for Friedman, as well. “We’re a big manufacturing business, so we have a lot of labor costs. GroundSwell and Cody helped me truly understand those costs and how I could make things more efficient—or at least plan for true costs through specific processes,” relayed Friedman. “He took the time to truly get granular. I use his findings every day.”

Firsthand, Marshall saw the influence this program had on him and realized it could be productive for other athletes that wanted to balance their goals as a ski racer with the development of a career. Enter GroundSwell Athletics—an offshoot of Bennett’s newly formed boot camp. Marshall realized that he could take postgraduates—kids who had finished going to high school, but weren’t quite at the level to make a D1 ski racing program or walk on to the U.S. Ski Team, as well as college graduates who were looking to continue to ski race—and train them in both skiing and finance.

“I was talking with Bob about the challenges of being a ski racer, his business and how quickly I could learn it and how enjoyable it was,” said Marshall. “The opportunity was pretty crazy. Why don’t we offer this same program to PG skiers to address the issues that a PG athlete faces?”

Cody (right) stands on the 2008 U.S. Alpine Championships slalom podium with Tim Jitloff (left) and Jimmy Cochran.

So, Marshall launched GroundSwell Athletics—a combination of skiing and school addressing the challenges that are associated with “taking time off” to be a ski racer. “We’re giving student athletes the ability to combine skiing with education in business through a scenario-based and experience-based learning method,” described Marshall. “Plus, the program helps manage the risk of not finding a job after finishing school and a ski racing career.”

This will be the first year that GroundSwell Athletics will be in action. The athletes will train for four hours a day under Marshall, an experienced coach. Then the skiers will go into the classroom. Depending on the time of year, it’ll be between two and six hours a day of class time. Bennett will be teaching, as will Marshall.

“I didn’t know what I was going to do when I was done with the ski team,” said Marshall. “I was focused on being a ski racer and going after that dream. I want to address that question for these athletes, and help them in that transition.”

Cody smiles with current USA racer--and his girlfriend--Megan McJames. 

Julie Glusker, who heads up USSA’s Athlete Career and Education program is equally as enthusiastic about the program’s potential. “We are really excited about the opportunities that GroundSwell Athletics could bring to our athletes. The programs and content could be really relevant and impactful for driven, motivated, goal-setting athletes,” said Glusker. “This allows our athletes, who are individually minded, to engage in more of an organization and something beyond sport.”

GroundSwell Athletics will be having their first ski camp at Mammoth Mountain from May 24 to June 2. “What we are doing at GroundSwell is different,” said Marshall. “The Mammoth camp is a way to give potential student/athletes a chance to have an introduction to our content, both for skiing and business.”

Marshall has come a long way. From being given a 50 percent chance of living to holding a successful role in the financial world, he truly embodies becoming a champion outside of the sport, while intertwining his passion for ski racing. We asked him our three questions on what he believes makes a champion.  

Cody continues to send it, whether skiing, mountain biking or starting businesses.

U.S. SKI TEAM: In your words, what makes a champion?
CODY MARSHALL: Belief, support, patience, and strategy. Figure out what your goals are, what's important for achieving them and then do everything you can to make them a reality. In business there are three questions that are crucial to a company understanding its business foundation and strategy: who are you, where are you going and how are you different. I think these questions apply to anyone who is setting goals and pursing success. 

U.S. SKI TEAM: Do you remember the first time you felt like a champion?
CM: That's a difficult question. I can't recall feeling like a champion while I was ski racing. I had good days and milestone performances but I always wanted to do better. On the day of my first World Cup points I was thinking about the mistakes I made second run that kept me from making the top 10 that day. After my ski career ended someone told me I had a great career and I thought for the first time, ‘yeah I did.’ 

U.S. SKI TEAM: What is the biggest piece of advice you have for U.S. Ski Team athletes who want to be sitting where you are today?
CM: I was always very determined to be a World Cup ski racer. I started taking time off of school when I was 11 years old so I could spend more time on the mountain. I decided (with my parents and teachers) that five days of school a week was too much. I ended up attending school for three days a week and skiing the rest of the time. I spent six years skiing as a post graduate before I qualified for the U.S. Ski Team. Eventually I skied on to the World Cup team and became one of the best slalom skiers in the world. Two things that come to mind when thinking about what gave me the perseverance to continue to work towards my goals are determination and belief. I think it’s hard, if not impossible, to have one without the other. There were plenty of people that didn’t understand or believe in my dream to have the opportunity to compete at the pinnacle of my sport, but I didn’t care. I knew that it was what I wanted and I knew it was possible. Believe in yourself and stay foolishly determined to fulfill your dreams.

If you are interested in learning more about GroundSwell Athletics as an athlete or student, or you are business owner interested in sponsoring a GroundSwell Athletics student intern at your company, please contact Cody Marshall at cody@groundswellinc.com. You can find out more about GroundSwell at www.groundswellinc.com

The North American Snowsports Journalists Association – East Region (NASJA-East) has announced their winners of the 2016 Don A. Metivier Golden Ski Award. This year, the award goes to Cecily Decker (Saranac Lake, NY, Eastern Regional Team /New York Ski Education Foundation) and Ben Ritchie (Waitsfield, VT, National Training Group/Green Mountain Valley School).

Ben Ritchie (left) finished second at the Longines Future Ski Champions event.

Since 1969, the Golden Ski Award has been presented to the top junior male and female skiers in the east. Previous winners have included athletes such as Mikaela Shiffrin, Ryan Cochran-Siegle and Nolan Kasper. 2015’s winners were U.S. national champions and U.S. Ski Team members Drew Duffy and Nina O’Brien.

Decker had an incredible 2015-16 season with nine podiums at various FIS races, including a win at the NorAm downhill in Lake Louise and a win at the FIS National Junior Championships. Similarly, Ritchie had an equally strong season—becoming the U16 National Champion, taking second at the Longines Future Ski Champions event in St. Moritz and representing the U.S. at this year’s Hahnenkamm 16 event at Kitzbuehel.

Cecily Decker finished third on the junior podium at 2016 U.S. Alpine Championships behind previous Golden Ski Award winner Mikaela Shiffrin and Stephanie Lebby. (USSA)

“The Golden Ski Award is the oldest honor given to junior alpine ski racers that exists today,” says Jim Gregory, Chair of the NASJA-East Golden Ski Award Committee. “We are proud this year to honor Cecily Decker and Ben Ritchie, two extraordinary athletes, and we look forward to watching them pursue their goals and set the bar even higher in the sport we all love so much.”

The awards will be presented at a reception at the New England Ski Museum on Friday, June 10.

Sure, speed suits are tight and colorful, but there is a lot that goes into the engineering processing to make them fast. Ski Racing takes a look at the ubiquitous Spyder speed suit and what goes in to the design process.

Read:8 Things You (Probably) Don’t Know About Spyder Speed Suits

Olympian Julia Mancuso has teamed up with Spyder Active Sports for a giveaway of her favorite Spyder gear. Enter to win Mancuso’s Spyder Actyve Kit, a $500 or $250 Spyder gift card. Plus, if you share Spyder’s Instagram posts, include the hashtag #myspyderkit for an additional five entries.

Enter here to win.

The 2015-16 season has wrapped—the World Cup has finished, national titles were given, but that didn't mean the athletes were done skiing. Right after U.S. Alpine Champs, the men’s speed and tech teams took off to Norway for a month-long ski camp with the Norwegian Ski Team. That meant the Americans got to ski alongside some of the best athletes in the world, including Kjetil Jansrud, Henrik Kristoffersen and Aleksander Aamodt Kilde.

Read more about how the camp went in Ski Racing’s article, Pond Hopping: Why the U.S. Ski Team Went Spring Skiing in Norway.

Julia Mancuso – four-time Olympic medalist, five-time World Championships medalist and icon in the action sports community – answers questions about her desire for adventure, blogging, spirituality and more in Red Bull’s The Red Bulletin.

Read The Red Bulletin’s article 7 Questions With Skiing’s Golden Girl.

From local ski hills to the PyeongChang Olympics, the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) encompasses all athletes that share a passion for skiing and snowboarding. We explore what makes each skier and rider a champion with stories from the U.S. Ski Team, U.S. Snowboarding and U.S. Freeskiing, next to kids winning a NASTAR medal, landing their first cork 7 or joining a club team. Alongside USSA’s mascot Champ, take a look at how all of these athletes strive to be Best in the World.

As we continue to explore what makes USSA athletes champions, we’re learning more than we ever expected. To be a champion is holistic – it goes beyond the medals and the titles. It’s someone with great character and an undying belief in themselves; it’s someone who loves their sport with an unmatched passion—whether they’re still actively pursuing it or not. We are honored to share these stories with you. In this installation, Alpine Press Officer Megan Harrod sits down with U.S. Ski Team alumnus Will Brandenburg to discuss #WhatMakesAChamp.

Will Brandenburg’s smile brightens up coach’s knoll and his heart swells with a pure love for the sport of alpine ski racing. In just one conversation with Brandenburg you’ll find there’s a beauty in the relationship between his head and heart you will seldom find in humans, let alone professional athletes with a top-10 Olympic result on their list of accomplishments. 

Will Brandenburg smiles with his trophies and friends at Ski Bluewood.

It was humble beginnings for Brandenburg, who grew up skiing at Ski Bluewood, outside of Dayton, Washington with a goal of becoming a World Cup ski racer. His eight-year career with the U.S. Ski Team was not always smooth sailing; it was full of ups and downs and a lot of the in-between stuff too. However, with the heart of a lion, Brandenburg fought. From battling injury to earn a discretion spot on the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Team to taking 18th in Schladming under extreme pressure to grab himself a spot on the 2015 Vail/Beaver Creek World Championships team, he’s seen it all. And through the journey, he’s kept fans on the edge of their seats.

He struggled, at times, because he was not the most gifted athlete – “average” as he says. But Brandenburg turned what most would consider a major roadblock into an opportunity to differentiate himself. As a student of the sport and through hard work and perseverance, Brandenburg would eventually develop a style that was riskier—a style that would help him keep up with the more naturally talented skiers.

This style translated to a lot of splits in the green, but it also meant a lot of DNFs and DSQs and little consistency on the Audi FIS Ski World Cup circuit. Brandenburg felt like when he backed off, it wasn’t as rewarding. “It felt fake,” he said. “The skiing made me proud. The biggest accomplishment was the hard work it took to develop a different style.”

Brandenburg’s career featured glimpses of brilliance he vividly recalls, like the NorAm series in 2011 where his unconventional style paid off on the results sheet. With little snow in Europe, Levi was canceled and the tour shifted to North America. That meant slalom powerhouses like Austria’s Mario Matt and Marcel Hirscher and France’s Jean-Baptiste Grange skied a NorAm in Loveland, Colorado. Brandenburg capitalized on the opportunity to score points on American soil and showcased that Willy B style, walking away with two first place finishes.

A big heart often means big emotions. For Brandenburg, it was emotion that fueled his fire on the mountain. When he drew on it properly, it was a huge advantage, but when he wasn’t able to channel it appropriately, it got him off line and off track.

Though Brandenburg did not make criteria in his final season of World Cup action, he was able to raise funds to support his own team— “Team Willy B” —which included coaching by current U.S. Ski Team coach Josh “Yoshi” Applegate, an individual who was hugely influential in Brandenburg’s career. With the support of family and friends, he made one last valiant push.

Brandenburg (back row, third from right) poses with the team in 2013, including coach Josh 'Yoshi' Applegate (front center).

“There’s so much more behind just your name on the results sheet. There’re so many more people that are really, really in it with you,” recalled Brandenburg. “My wife Shannon has had my back behind every decision for the last seven years and for that I am forever grateful. Ski racing is so personal. Those turns are yours, but there are so many people behind you making those turns possible. For me it was my mom, dad, brother, sister, wife, coaches and friends who have been there along the way. I just can’t thank them enough.”

Brandenburg took his final lap at 2016 U.S. Alpine Championships on his new home hill at Sun Valley and is happy to officially announce that he’ll be hanging up his Fischer race skis. He’ll continue to carry that same love and passion as U16 Head Coach at Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF). For someone with a soul as big as Brandenburg, it wasn’t an easy decision to make. He admits that last year at this time he was struggling to bridge that gap between athlete and “what’s next.” He admits, “It would be a disservice to the sport if guys like me just walked away and didn’t try to share the knowledge that they’ve been able to acquire.”

Brandenburg poses with his athletes after his last run at the 2016 U.S. Alpine Championships.

As a slalom specialist, Brandenburg’s passion for coaching kids in the slalom discipline is fueled not only by his love for it, but also by his concern for the state of the discipline in the U.S. So, along with his coaching responsibilities, he’s stoked about his involvement in the club-wide slalom progression he’s working to implement, focusing on a detailed step-by-step teaching progression for athletes from age six to the FIS level.

He loves going to work every day because he believes in the direction SVSEF is going. They strive daily to make an experience that fits every individual athlete’s needs and goals. “I get to go to work with people every day that are as passionate about skiing as I am and want to help make ski racing better in our nation,” said Brandenburg.

Brandenburg goofs off with teammate Hailey Duke. (USSA-Jon Margolis)

Here’s a big plus: Brandenburg’s ski racing expertise is being utilized off the hill, too, where he and James “Taco” Tautkus cohost Fantasy Ski Racer’s podcast out of Sun Valley called “Piste Off.” Fantasy Ski Racer is the brainchild of current American Downhiller Steven Nyman and “Piste Off” offers a unique, behind-the-scenes view of life on the Audi FIS Ski World Cup circuit. Catch them this season with a weekly episode featuring current and former World Cup athletes in a dinner table-esque manner that only Brandenburg and Taco could orchestrate. Follow the dynamic duo on Facebook and Instagram.

Brandenburg would like to give a big shoutout to Fischer, who he was with during his entire FIS career. “I kicked out of the start gate on Fischer skis in every single FIS race of my life,” said Brandenburg. “They supported me through thick and thin. They never stopped believing in my skiing and never stopped supporting me.”

Brandenburg competes in the alpine combined of the 2013 World Champs. (USSA/ESPA-Mitchell Gunn/ESPA) 

Brandenburg has been able to successfully transition from ski racing to ski coaching at SVSEF, as he believes that the sport breeds positive and successful individuals. There is not a coach out there that embodies USSA’s core values more than Brandenburg: excellence, passion, integrity, community, grit, fun and team emanate from Brandenburg. We asked him our three questions on what he believes makes a champion.  

U.S. SKI TEAM: In your words, what makes a champion?
WILL BRANDENBURG: That is tough. A woman beating breast cancer…that’s a champion. A kid who can’t hit a baseball and works his butt off and finally gets that single…that’s a champion to me. I don’t have a clear definition, but I believe it is someone who fearlessly pursues the challenge in front of them.

U.S. SKI TEAM: Do you remember the first time you felt like a champion?
WB: The first time I felt like a champion was probably when I was racing at Ski Bluewood during my first ski race ever – and I was really fast. I think I felt like a champion then [laughs]. You know, I was six years old, and that was the pinnacle there. 

U.S. SKI TEAM: What is the biggest piece of advice you have for aspiring kids who want to be sitting where you are today?
WB: BELIEVE. Believe in yourself, and fearlessly go after what you believe in. The end result is never as scary as you think it’s going to be, even if it’s failure. It’s always better to kick out and believe in what you’re doing and give it everything you possibly have. There will never be a bad outcome when you give it your all. During my career, the times when I truly enjoyed the journey and was living in the moment was when I started to have a good time and be more successful. The happiest I am and the best days I have are when I’m 100 percent truthful with myself. If you’re truthful with yourself and you go after something with belief, there will only be a good outcome.

Now that you know a little bit about Will Brandenburg and his heart, it will come as no surprise that his gratitude is overwhelming. He’d like to thank the following:

His family: mom, dad, brother, sister and wife, Shannon Brandenburg
His coaches: Roger Taggart, Randy Pelkey, Tom Sell, Mike Day, Forest Carey
His teammates: Erik Schlopy, Dane Spencer, Steven Nyman, Bode Miller, Marco Sullivan, Ted Ligety, David Chodounsky, Tim Kelley, Nolan Kasper, Tommy Ford...and the list goes on.
His sponsors: Fischer, Shred Optics, Slytech Protection

The Lindsey Vonn Foundation, giving the future women of the world confidence to move mountains, is having an event in Lindsey’s home state of Minnesota on June 3, 2016. Girls, their parents and mentors are invited to attend to an inspirational talk by renowned speaker and author Rosalind Wiseman. 

Wiseman is an internationally recognized author and educator on children, teens, parenting, education and social justice. Her New York Times Bestseller Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends and the New Realities of Girl World was the basis for the hit movie Mean Girls. Her work aims to help parents, educators and young people successfully navigate the social challenges of young adulthood. 

The content will be focused on girls ages 10-14 but everyone is welcome to attend the free community event. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn and take pictures with friends in a photo booth. Space is limited, so attendees are encouraged to RSVP by register at lindseyvonnfoundation.org. 

DETAILS
When: June 3, 2016, 4:30-6:00 p.m. (doors open at 3:30 p.m.)
Where: Orpheum Theater, 910 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55402
How much: Free 

About the Lindsey Vonn Foundation
The Lindsey Vonn Foundation, which launched in February 2015, is committed to engaging the community and our future generation with a positive and constructive atmosphere. We focus on strengthening the community by giving individual attention to the empowerment of girls. With our all-girl program we create a comfortable environment for growth as athletes, as learners, and as individuals.     

Park City, UT (June 6, 2016) – Four U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) athletes have been nominated in this year’s Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Sport Awards. Olympic champion Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) and snowboarder Chloe Kim (Torrence, CA) are both nominated in the “Need For Speed” category. Aerialist Ashley Caldwell (Ashburn, VA) is nominated in the “Don’t Try This at Home” category and snowboarder Jamie Anderson (South Lake Tahoe, CA) is nominated for Best Female Athlete. Fans can cast their vote in each category at nick.com/sports.

U.S. Alpine Ski Team member Ted Ligety has competed in three Olympics and is a five-time World Champion. At the 2014 Sochi Games, Ligety not only became the first American man to win a giant slalom gold medal but also marked himself as the only man in U.S. history to win two Olympic gold medals in alpine skiing. He also brought home a gold at the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Beaver Creek, CO.

U.S. Snowboarding’s Chloe Kim and Jamie Anderson are two of the best riders on the women's tour. Kim holds the most wins for an X Games athlete before the age of sixteen. During the 2015-2016 season at the Youth Olympic Games, she earned gold medals in halfpipe and slopestyle. She also became the first female athlete to land back-to-back 1080s, scoring a perfect 100, at the Park City U.S. Grand Prix. Anderson, who won the first slopestyle snowboarding gold medal at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, was crowned the World Snowboard Tour champion in both slopestyle and big air during the 2015-16 season. She's also a four-time X Games medalist. 

U.S. Freestyle Ski Team aerialist and 2014 Olympian Ashley Caldwell has one of her best seasons in 2015-16. She earned four World Cup podiums and brought home the women’s World Cup title. She capped the season with her third national title.

Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Sports is the only show that celebrates kids and families’ love of sports and top professional athletes. In the 2015 award show, athletes such as U.S. Alpine Ski Team members Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) and Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) were nominated as well as U.S. Snowboarding’s Kelly Clark (West Dover, VT). Vonn was the winner of last years “Don’t Try This at Home” category.

The 2016 Kids’ Choice Sports will premier on Sunday, July 17^th at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). Fans can cast their votes at nick.com/sports.

In the debut episode of ESPN's Fearless Conversation with Abby Wambach, soccer player Wambach addressed athlete retirement in conversations with Kobe Bryant and Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO). In her interview, Vonn stated that before she retires, she would like to race against the best men in the world.

“Mentally I’m just as fired up as I’ve ever been,” Vonn told Wambach. “The goal is definitely to make it to the next Olympics in South Korea in 2018, so that’s two more seasons, but I’m really hoping for three more seasons… In my final season, I would like to race against the men in one race.”

Vonn said she has started the process to figure out how racing the men can be accomplished. “It’s going to be definitely a hard thing to get done with all the ski federations involved, but that’s my goal.”

“My final hurrah!" said Vonn. "Beat some boys and then call it a day.”  

Listen to the full episode of Fearless Conversation with Abby Wambach featuring Lindsey Vonn.

From local ski hills to the PyeongChang Olympics, the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) encompasses all athletes that share a passion for skiing and snowboarding. We explore what makes each skier and rider a champion with stories from the U.S. Ski Team, U.S. Snowboarding and U.S. Freeskiing, next to kids winning a NASTAR medal, landing their first cork 7 or joining a club team. Alongside USSA’s mascot Champ, take a look at how all of these athletes strive to be Best in the World.

As we continue to explore what makes USSA athletes champions, we’re learning more than we ever expected. To be a champion is holistic – it goes beyond the medals and the titles. It’s someone with great character and an undying belief in themselves; it’s someone who loves their sport with an unmatched passion—whether they’re still actively pursuing it or not. We are honored to share these stories with you. In this installation, Alpine Press Officer Megan Harrod sits down with U.S. Ski Team athlete Alice McKennis to discuss #WhatMakesAChamp.

Watch out, ski world—there’s a new (HEAD) World Cup Rebel in town. When you meet Alice McKennis (New Castle, CO), though, “rebel” is not necessarily the first word that comes to mind—that is, until you watch her throw herself down a mountain at 70+ mph. Sure, she’s genuine and kind, but don’t let that sweet smile fool you—McKennis is one of the gutsiest skiers you’ll encounter. This American Downhiller is legit—tougher than the nails she currently sports in her right elbow.

Just two months after she won her first Audi FIS Ski World Cup downhill at St. Anton in 2013 during her career-best season, McKennis suffered a season-ending injury from a crash at the downhill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. The “crime scene,” as McKennis affectionately calls it, saw McKennis being whisked away with her right tibial plateau shattered into about 30 pieces. Most athletes would see this as a career roadblock, but McKennis is not “most athletes.”

Fast fast forward to March 7, 2015. The setting is Garmisch, Germany and it’s a beautiful, crisp spring morning with a hard Kandahar track prepped to perfection for the downhill. Looking for redemption on the hill that took her out in 2013, McKennis channeled that nervous energy and laid down a solid run to ski into 13th place and put the bad memories in her past. In fact, she crushed those memories and buried them so deep that we didn’t even talk about it this season.

With seven top-10 downhill finishes and one victory on the World Cup circuit, McKennis has proven time and again through hard work and a warrior’s spirit that the World Cup is her home and she’s not going anywhere soon. Though she shattered her elbow after banging it on a gate during the alpine combined in Soldeu-El Tarter, Andorra at the end of the season, McKennis is feeling good as she gets strong for the 2017 season while in Park City for conditioning camps.

Alice McKennis celebrates with her team after winning in St. Anton, Austria in 2013. (Getty Images/Agence Zoom-Christophe Pallot)

So, how did McKennis foster such a keen sense of resilience? She admits that it comes from within. “I have fought really hard to get to where I am in life,” McKennis notes. “When I feel down, I think about other times I have had to fight and persevere and that inspires me to know I can get through anything one way or another.”

It’s more than that, though. This hardworking spirit is engrained into McKennis and can largely be attributed to her upbringing. McKennis grew up on a ranch with her father Greg and older sister Kendra in western Colorado. Her mother passed away when she was just five years old, so McKennis became very tight with her father and sister. She recalls summers spent on the ranch working or riding horses all day—sometimes riding her bike to the barn each morning and not returning until dinner. 

Alice and her older sister Kendra. 

McKennis started skiing at Sunlight Mountain Resort in Glenwood Springs, CO at age two, and has always been fueled by competition. She was a competitive equestrian until she was 15, but when work on the ranch lessened in the winter, her father would rent a tiny apartment or hotel room in a ski town—starting with Vail and then later Aspen—so she and her sister could ski race. The girls would share a bed, and dad would sleep on the couch. Since they were homeschooled, they had freedom to pursue their dreams in both horseback riding and ski racing.

“My childhood taught me a lot about responsibility, accountability and how at times you need to stick to your guns when when things get tough,” says McKennis. “All of these attributes certainly have had an impact on my athletic career.”

A young McKennis was a competitive equestrian and ski racer.

Inspiration can also be found in role models on the hill for McKennis, who looks to teammate Andrew Weibrecht (Lake Placid, NY) as a source. “Currently I am pretty obsessed with Andrew Weibrecht's skiing, and in a non-creepster way!” says McKennis. “I love the angles Andrew gets and the power and speed he generates from every turn. His skiing is masterful.”

But when she was growing up, it was all about Daron Rahlves, Hermann Maier and Michael von Grünigen, “Michael had a really amazing mustache,” she says through a laugh. Turns out, her boyfriend Pat Duran, who works for HEAD as U.S. Racing and Team Manager, can also grow a pretty mean stache.

McKennis smiles with her dad and boyfriend, Pat Duran, after running Lava Falls in the Grand Canyon. 

McKennis finds balance in the offseason by giving herself time to enjoy the other things in life and take a step back from ski racing: spending time with family and her boyfriend, rowing the Grand Canyon—her favorite accomplishment outside of the sport—camping, mountain biking, fly fishing and more.

Two things you might not know about McKennis:

1)She travels with her fly tying kit. “It's nice to have a hobby on the road,” she says. “I used to travel with my friendship bracelet making kit as a kid so I guess this is the more mature version of that.”

2)Growing up, she was starstruck by Bode Miller (Franconia, NH). And now that they’re teammates? She still is.

Through dedication and hard work, McKennis has cemented herself as one of the top American Downhillers in history and has tasted the top step of the podium. Even so, she’s quick to note that being a champion isn’t all about winning. We asked her our three questions on what she believes makes a champion.

U.S. SKI TEAM: In your words, what makes a champion?
Alice McKennis: To me a champion is someone who keeps fighting for their goals. They may never achieve all of their goals and at some point in life it might be time to move onto different avenues, but they don't give up when things get too hard. Success isn't always about winning; it can be about the small personal achievements.  

U.S. SKI TEAM: Do you remember the first time you felt like a champion?
AM: One of my proudest moments when I felt like a champion was when I raced again in Garmisch where I broke my leg three years ago. I was really on edge about racing there again and was scared to go back to the "crime scene." I held back in the training runs just to get a feel and to be comfortable, but when it came to race day I fully sent it with total confidence and had a pretty good race! That was a really great feeling—not only to overcome the physical challenges but to overcome the mental challenge as well.

U.S. SKI TEAM: What is the biggest piece of advice you have for aspiring kids who want to be sitting where you are today?
AM: Don't ever forget why you started ski racing! Because it's fun! It can be so easy to get wrapped up in results and to really stress yourself out if you're not doing well. At those moments it's key to take a step back and to remember the deepest meaning of ski racing for yourself, your passion for sport and your love of skiing. Then go free skiing…free skiing is the best remedy for any frustration!

McKennis races to 13th place in Garmisch in 2015. (Getty Images-Mitch Gunn)

You have the chance to ski with Alice and a bunch of other current and former U.S. Ski Team athletes and rad women at Keely’s Ski Camp for Girls, started by U.S. Ski Team alumna Keely Kelleher, at Mt. Hood this summer. 

Lastly, a big shout-out goes out to McKennis’ sponsors: HEAD, Briko, Leki, Reusch, Aspen Snowmass and Coldwell Banker Mason Morse. Make sure to follow Alice’s adventures from horseback to the mountain via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and her website.

When the season finally wraps after U.S. Alpine Championships, you’d expect the U.S. Ski Team athletes to take off to exotic, warm and snow-free locations. However, the month of April has turned into the time to carry the momentum of the season into high-quality training days. The men took off for Norway, while the women headed to California.

So what does the rest of the offseason look like for these athletes? Ski Racing explored coach Paul "PK" Kristofic’s plan for the summer and the thought behind each camp, workout and rest day.

Read Ski Racing’s article: No Such Thing as an Offseason for U.S. Ski Team Women

Olympian Steven Nyman has teamed up with Spyder Active Sports for a giveaway of his favorite Spyder gear. Enter to win Nyman's Spyder Actyve Kit, a $500 or $250 Spyder gift card. Plus, if you share Spyder’s Instagram posts, include the hashtag #myspyderkit for an additional five entries.

Enter here to win.

CANCUN, Mexico (June 11, 2016) – American ski racing fans are in for another exciting season with the global alpine ski racing tour making four stops in the U.S. in 2016-17, culminating with the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals at Colorado’s Aspen Snowmass resort. The final schedule was confirmed at the annual International Ski Federation (FIS) Congress on Friday, June 10, with 16 alpine tour starts being awarded to the USA. Killington Resort, Beaver Creek Resort and Squaw Valley will each host World Cup stops before the season ends at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals in Aspen. After successfully hosting the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in 2015, the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA), in conjunction with its resort partners and the FIS, continues to help grow the visibility of alpine ski racing in America.

The World Cup Finals, taking place March 15-19 in Aspen, will feature the top 25 men and women in eight tech and speed events as well as a mixed gender team competition – the newest Olympic event. Aspen is the first U.S. resort to host World Cup Finals since 1997. Aspen, which has been an iconic stop on the tour since 1968, has invested heavily into bringing the season finale event to America, showcasing the sport in one of its most popular venues.

Bringing the World Cup back to the east for the first time since 1991, Vermont’s Killington Resort will host women’s slalom and giant slalom races in November. Beaver Creek, site of the 2015 Word Championships, will once again host the iconic Birds of Prey men’s races in December. The women will return stateside in March to race at Squaw Valley, the resort’s first World Cup since 1969.

“Aspen has been a remarkable partner in a very large scale project to bring the best ski racers in the world to the USA for an end of season festival of the sport,” said USSA President and CEO Tiger Shaw. “It’s an important part of our initiative to increase awareness of ski racing in America.”

“Our resort partners continue to be extremely supportive in showcasing alpine ski racing on home snow,” added Shaw. “Killington, Beaver Creek, Squaw Valley and Aspen are world-class resorts that will put on fantastic events. Many of our athletes grew up training and racing on these hills and they’re excited to have this many opportunities to ski in front of a hometown crowd.”

The 16 alpine starts are part of a total 30 World Cup events across alpine, freeskiing, freestyle and snowboarding in the USA. The USSA and NBC Sports are teaming up once again to put together an extensive TV and live streaming schedule for all of the alpine World Cups. A complete TV schedule for 2016-17 will be announced in this summer.

“With these four World Cup sites, we are taking a huge step in helping to raise the profile of alpine ski racing in America,” continued Shaw. “The engagement we saw in 2015 with the World Championships was unlike anything we’d ever seen and we expect to reach and engage with an even bigger audience this season. It’s a great time to be a ski racing fan.”

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals in Aspen will highlight a total of 16 U.S. World Cup events in the 2016-17 season. Nine starts will be on the calendar for the Aspen Finals.
• It is the second highest number of U.S. alpine World Cup events ever (19 events in the 1996-97 season).
• In November, Killington will host women’s slalom and giant slalom races. It is Killington’s first time hosting a World Cup and the first time the east coast has hosted a World Cup since 1991.
• Beaver Creek will host the famed Birds of Prey men’s races in December.
• In March, Squaw Valley will host its first alpine World Cup event since 1969 with women’s slalom and giant slalom races.
• The 50^th World Cup season will conclude in March with the 2017 Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals in Aspen. It is the first time a U.S. resort has hosted World Cup Finals since 1997.
• The Aspen races will include the return of America’s Downhill.
• Coverage of all the races will be broadcast on NBC and NBCSN. A complete TV schedule will be announced this summer.
• The Audi FIS Ski World Cup debuted in the U.S. in December 1967 in Franconia, NH. Aspen has been a consistent stop on the tour for many years beginning in 1968.

QUOTES

Tiger Shaw, President and CEO, USSA
Aspen has been a remarkable partner in a very large scale project to bring the best ski racers in the world to the USA for an end of season festival of the sport. It’s an important part of our initiative to increase awareness of ski racing in America.

Our resort partners continue to be extremely supportive in showcasing alpine ski racing back on home snow. Killington, Beaver Creek, Squaw Valley and Aspen are world-class resorts that will put on fantastic events. Many of our athletes grew up training and racing on these hills and they’re excited to have this many opportunities to ski in front of a hometown crowd.

With these four sites, we are taking a huge step in helping to raise the profile of alpine ski racing in America. The engagement we saw in 2015 with the World Championships in Beaver Creek was unlike anything we’d ever seen and we expect to reach and engage with an even bigger audience this season. It’s a great time to be a ski racing fan.

John Rigney, Vice President, Aspen Skiing Company
Aspen is one of the world’s iconic ski resorts and a popular stop on the World Cup tour since its inception in 1968. The Audi FIS Ski World Cup Finals is a major focus for Aspen Snowmass and our entire community. We’re proud to bring the world’s best ski racers to town in celebration of athletic achievement, and treat racing’s global fans to an amazing week on and off the slopes in Aspen, Colorado.

Mike Solimano, President and General Manager, Killington
Killington is an ideal venue for World Cup skiing’s return to the east coast. To be considered for this event is a tremendous honor and opportunity for Killington and the surrounding community. We plan to hold the race on our Superstar trail, located adjacent to the K-1 Express Gondola and base area. Snowmaking infrastructure on this trail received significant upgrades this summer and this November race will allow us to showcase our world-class snowmaking system. Killington is thrilled to represent the entire state of Vermont to the international ski market.

Andy Wirth, President and CEO, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows
As a mountain community, we are hosting this event to inspire the next generation of ski racers. There is nothing like watching a group of young athletes standing there in the finish corral looking up and truly being motivated by the best athletes in the world. With 1,500 kids in our race program and countless others in the region, this is the stage we must set for them to achieve their goals, in ski racing or otherwise.

Mike Imhof, President and CEO, Vail Valley Foundation
We always look forward, as an organizer and a community, to the annual Birds of Prey in Beaver Creek. Our recent World Championships in Vail/Beaver Creek in 2015 was an opportunity to dramatically raise the profile of alpine ski racing with record spectators and broadcast audiences. The Vail Valley Foundation and Beaver Creek Resort are proud to be a part of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup and to be kicking off an exceptional World Cup calendar with Birds of Prey this year.

Atle Skårdal, Women’s Alpine World Cup Race Coordinator, FIS
We’ll have great, exciting races at Aspen. It has been a classic downhill during the spring tour in the past. It will be good to see the men race on that hill again. In Aspen we will experience something very exciting for the sport and very memorable in terms of the event program they’re going to produce.

Everyone’s really excited about Killington. There is very active race environment in the east and why the industry has been pushing hard for years to have a World Cup race in this part of America. Squaw is probably going to be the most difficult GS on the tour next year for the ladies. It is a very technical and difficult hill, which we’re excited about. It seems to be a really keen organizing committee which is very proactive and trying to now develop something memorable for everybody.

Ted Ligety
World Cup Finals is always a highlight of the year and, with all four events and men and women at the same location, the best showcase of the sport. Having World Cup Finals in Aspen on home soil is awesome. Having friends and family there for support should add to getting that little edge on the competition.

Mikaela Shiffrin
These past few years have been huge for ski racing in the U.S. with World Champs in Vail and our World Cup in Aspen. It’s great to have Killington and Squaw coming up. I am really excited about having another World Cup weekend in the U.S. It’s no small task to host these events, but I'm so psyched that resorts are taking interest in spreading the word about our awesome sport and drumming up more excitement!

2016-17 U.S. Audi FIS Ski World Cup Schedule

Killington, VT
Nov. 26, 2016 – Women’s Giant Slalom
Nov. 27, 2016 – Women’s Slalom

Audi Birds of Prey
Beaver Creek, CO
Dec. 2, 2016 – Men’s Downhill
Dec. 3, 2016 – Men’s Super G
Dec. 4, 2016 – Men’s Giant Slalom

Squaw Valley, CA
March 11, 2017 – Women’s Giant Slalom
March 12, 2017 – Women’s Slalom

Audi FIS Alpine World Cup Finals
Aspen, CO
March 15, 2017 – Men’s and Women’s Downhill
March 16, 2017 – Men’s and Women’s Super G
March 17, 2017 – Team Event
March 18, 2017 – Men’s Giant Slalom, Women’s Slalom
March 19, 2017 – Men’s Slalom, Women’s Giant Slalom

After training in Norway throughout the month of April, the men of the U.S. Ski Team are currently in the midst of a full three months off snow. Ski Racing talked with Head Coach Sasha Rearick and Ryan Cochran-Siegle about what this time off is for and what kind of training will take place in the gym instead.

READ: Runnin’ Down a Dream, Minus the White Stuff

Earlier this month, 20 athletes representing the U.S. Ski Team, U.S. Freeskiing and U.S. Snowboarding headed Tijuana, Mexico to build a home for a family in need.

This was the second year athletes have made the pilgrimage south, led by Hope Sports—a nonprofit founded by professional cyclist Guy East that helps promote personal growth and community among athletes through short-term service trips. Riders and skiers of all ages joined the trip—Olympic medalists, stars from the Rev Tour, Youth Olympic Game attendees and everyone in between.

After landing in Tijuana—and a fierce soccer game on the Hope Sports campus—the athletes met the family they would be building for and toured their old home. They were the Lopez Gonzalez family—mom Aldaneli, dad Juan Carlos and their adorable 3-year-old son Ian. The three lived in a small plywood shack with tarps stapled to the walls to keep out the cold and rain.

The Lopez Gonzalez family stand in front of their old house.

The first day saw the athletes learning how to use power tools, frame walls and paint. Their Olympic-levels of motivation and determination meant they kicked it into high gear and got right to work. By the end of the day, the house had taken shape, with young Ian applauding as the walls went up.

“I didn’t think we were going to build everything from scratch. I thought we’d be doing small things, rather than us being up on the roof doing the whole project ourselves,” said Jake Vedder, snowboardcross athlete and 2016 Youth Olympic Games gold medalist. “It’s cool because we were hands-on and a huge part of it.”

On day two, the athletes shingled the roof and finished the inside of the home with drywall and electrical wiring. They also donated over $500 of their own money to take the family shopping. The Lopez Gonzalez family returned from their shopping spree to find the house finished, furnished and ready for a fiesta. After a brief ceremony to hand over the keys, the athletes celebrated with some homemade ceviche, courtesy of Aldaneli.

The weekend was bookended by talks from Dr. Ben Houltberg—a renowned sports psychologist—and Dr. J. Ashley Null—three-time Olympic chaplain and world-famous historian. Both encouraged athletes to step beyond their latest results and strive to lead a purpose-driven life.

“Seeing how bad the poverty is here—it’s worse than you even imagine in your mind,” said Devin Logan, 2014 Olympic silver medalist in slopestyle skiing. “I’m now so much more grateful for everything I have. Knowing that our worst days are their best days is very humbling.”

3-year-old Ian grins after seeing his new home.

Snowboarder Lyon Farrell echoed Logan’s sentiments. “This trip is something I’ll always carry with me,” said Farrell. “It opened my eyes to want to do more things like this. I didn’t think that it would affect me in that way, and it inspired me to want to do more. I think this kickstarted my passion for giving back.”

U.S. Ski Team, U.S. Freeskiing and U.S. Snowboarding athletes wish to thank the generous donors who made this trip possible.

PARTICIPATING ATHLETES
U.S. Ski Team
Keely Cashman (Strawberry, CA)
Nellie Rose Talbot (Vail, CO)
Emily Cook (Belmont, MA)

U.S. Freeskiing
Jacob Beebe (Bend, OR)
Aaron Blunck (Crested Butte, CO)
Cameron Brodrick (Mammoth Lakes, CA)
Eddie Gildea (Boston, MA)
Jaxin Hoerter (Breckenridge, CO)
Devin Logan (West Dover, VT)
Nikita Rubocki (Boise, ID)
Darian Stevens (Missoula, MT)

U.S. Snowboarding
Nik Baden (Steamboat Springs, CO)
Lyon Farrell (Haiku, HI)
Faye Gulini (Salt Lake City, UT)
Zoe Kalapos (Vail, CO)
Hailey Langland (San Clemente, CA)
Hailee Mattingley (Sandy, UT)
Jake Pates (Eagle, CO)
Karly Shorr (Milford, MI)
Jake Vedder (Pinckney, MI)

All photos courtesy of Danielle Fucs.

8.8 miles. 3,000 vertical feet.

Welcome back to Sufferfest.

This year, U.S. Alpine Ski Team’s Ryan Cochran-Siegle was the fastest in the annual climb, surprising many and taking back the title for alpine skiers, with retired freestyler skier Heather McPhie taking the title for women.

Read about the annual Sufferfest in Ski Racing’s article, Cochran-Siegle Wins Sufferfest 2016.

PARK CITY, UT (July 8, 2016) – After two years as the head coach for the women’s alpine technical team, Brandon Dyksterhouse has resigned from his coaching role. Dyksterhouse joined the program as interim women’s head tech coach prior to the 2015 World Championships in Vail/Beaver Creek, and assumed the role of head coach during the 2015-16 season. He led the women’s tech team to success on the Audi FIS Ski World Cup circuit during his tenure, including five consecutive World Cup victories from Olympic champion Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) in the 2016 season.

Dyksterhouse leaves the program, but remains a big fan. “Although I will be moving on, USSA and ski racing will always be a treasured part of my life,” he said. “I look forward to resuming my role of virtual #SuperFan as the team tackles St. Mortitz 2017 and PyeongChang 2018. Thank you for an amazing two years and I wish everyone the best of success in the future.“

Alpine Director Patrick Riml is currently seeking a replacement. “Brandon has done an outstanding job with Mikaela and the women’s tech team the last two seasons,” said Riml. “This was Brandon’s choice and we respect that. We have some opportunities for replacement and want to have a plan in place for our New Zealand camp later this month.”