As weather variability and shrinking glacier access create new challenges for summer ski training, more clubs, academies, and national teams are turning to indoor facilities like Norway's SNØ. With race-quality snow, dedicated training lanes, advanced coaching technology, and predictable conditions year-round, SNØ is becoming an increasingly important tool for athlete development and preseason preparation.
Francis Royal’s move from Alpine Canada’s Women’s World Cup slalom program to the Women’s Development Team may have surprised some, but for those who know him, it reflects a lifelong commitment to athlete development. In this candid conversation, Royal discusses why he embraced a new challenge, the importance of hard conversations, what separates future World Cup athletes from the rest, and how Canada can strengthen its development pathway by focusing on people, collaboration, and the long game.
Proctor Academy is redefining ski racing development in the Northeast through a relentless focus on repetition, surface quality, and innovation. By investing in snow farming technology and maximizing efficient training time, the program is creating earlier access to snow, more opportunities for athletes, and a sustainable future for alpine development.
In a sport measured by hundredths of a second, Skiing Is Believing looks beyond the finish line to uncover the human stories behind alpine skiing. Hosted by Matthew and his grandfather Alan, the podcast has grown from a family passion project into one of the sport’s most authentic voices—blending thoughtful interviews, race analysis, and genuine conversation to bring fans closer to the people who define ski racing. Now joining Ski Racing Media as an affiliated podcast, Skiing Is Believing is helping redefine how the sport is told, one story at a time.
HEAD is reshaping how ski products are developed by putting women’s voices at the center of the conversation. At a recent women-focused summit at Big White, B.C., the brand brought together influential figures from across the North American ski industry to test prototype skis, discuss representation, and provide candid feedback on everything from product design to marketing language. The event highlighted the importance of inclusion, authentic storytelling, and community in shaping the future of skiing.
Mt. Mansfield Academy was named U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Club of the Year in both Alpine and Overall while also earning Gold Certified Club status, recognizing decades of athlete development, coaching consistency, and a community driven approach that continues to produce top level ski racers.
Former U.S. Ski Team athlete Libby Ludlow has transitioned from World Cup racing to motherhood, writing, and coaching—bringing a renewed focus on long-term athlete development, joy in skiing, and reshaping youth sports culture.
Major race brands including HEAD, Stöckli, Nordica, and Atomic are expanding 2026–27 ski testing opportunities this summer at Mt. Hood and Ski Club Vail, giving junior racers access to next season’s latest race equipment before winter begins.
A proposed NCAA Division I eligibility rule could change ski racing development, recruiting timelines, and athlete pathways into college competition.
World Cup Dreams Foundation is reshaping American ski racing by turning financial support into a structured pipeline that keeps talented athletes in the sport and moving toward the World Cup.
Two American ski racers, Maxi Høder and Bradshaw Underhill, are proving there’s no single path to success in modern ski racing. From early development to college and beyond, their contrasting journeys highlight a deeper question in the sport: what happens after talent is identified?
What happens when your sport ends and no one prepares you for what comes next? For many athletes, the transition out of sport is not just a career shift, it is a loss of identity, structure, and purpose. This piece explores the emotional reality of life after sport and how athletes can begin to rebuild.
Women in ski racing are redefining what coaching looks like while raising families, challenging a system that was never built to support them—and proving the sport must evolve to keep them.
After more than a decade without a World Cup slalom podium, U.S. men’s skiing may finally be turning a corner. A breakout performance at Junior Worlds in Narvik signals new depth and raises an important question: is a new era beginning?
After a crash in Val d’Isère left her fighting to save her leg, Stef Fleckenstein spent two years rebuilding from the ground up. Now, the Canadian speed skier is a NorAm downhill champion and heading back to the World Cup with a guaranteed start in every downhill next season.
Bode Miller joins Arc City for a candid conversation on his childhood, mindset, career highs and struggles, and his perspective on the future of American ski racing.
Valerie Grenier closes the season with a dominant win at the World Cup Finals in Hafjell, while Mikaela Shiffrin secures the Overall Globe in a dramatic finish to the women’s GS season.
Valerie Grenier leads after run one in Hafjell, just 0.02 ahead of Sara Hector, as the fight for the Overall Globe between Mikaela Shiffrin and Emma Aicher comes down to a dramatic second run.
Former U.S. Ski Team athlete Hig Roberts joins Fresh Corduroy to share an honest look at life on the World Cup circuit, the mental and financial challenges of ski racing, and his personal journey beyond the sport.
Mikaela Shiffrin wins the Hafjell slalom in dominant fashion, securing her ninth slalom globe and capping a historic season with nine victories in ten races.
Mikaela Shiffrin delivers a dominant first run in Hafjell, taking a commanding 1.10 second lead as the women’s World Cup Finals slalom heads into a decisive second run.
Sofia Goggia delivered under pressure in Kvitfjell, winning the final Super G of the season to secure the crystal globe. With standout performances from Corinne Suter and Kira Weidle Winkelmann, and a tightening overall race, the World Cup Finals set the stage for a dramatic finish.
Dominik Paris powered to victory in Kvitfjell to open the World Cup Finals, while Marco Odermatt capped off a dominant season by securing the downhill Crystal Globe.
Three Paralympic Games and a gold medal later, Andrew Kurka has become one of the most fearless athletes in para alpine skiing. Raised on a remote Alaskan homestead, Kurka built a career defined by grit, resilience, and relentless work ethic. From charging lines others would not attempt to inspiring the next generation of athletes, his journey reflects a legacy built on perseverance and purpose both on and off the slopes.
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