Athletes

Swiss World Champion Franjo von Allmen admits he’d have liked a longer summer, but after standout training in Chile and Zermatt, the 24-year-old is ready to launch his Olympic season with confidence and speed.

Marcel Hirscher’s ski brand, Van Deer, has reported a $19 million loss, but the setback stems from major investments tied to expansion. The Austrian star remains focused on growth while preparing his return to racing.

Daron Rahlves, the most successful U.S. men’s World Cup downhill skier in history, reflects on the bold moves, fierce rivalries, and fearless skiing that defined his career. From Squaw Valley freeskiing to Kitzbühel glory, his story is one of risk, resilience, and relentless detail.

Lindsey Vonn capped her first season back on the World Cup tour with a podium finish in Sun Valley, showing she’s still a force at 40 — and not done yet. With the 2026 Olympics in Cortina on her mind, Vonn is already planning her next move.

Breezy Johnson continued her strong season with a third-place finish in the Kvitfjell downhill, just weeks after capturing World Championship gold in Saalbach. Reflecting on her recent success, Johnson spoke about maintaining momentum, embracing the pressure of being a champion, and the supportive atmosphere within the deep U.S. women’s speed team. With the World Cup Finals approaching, she remains focused on delivering strong performances as she builds on her championship-winning form.

Jevin Palmquist is a name that stands out in the alpine skiing and hockey communities. At just 17, Jevin has achieved remarkable milestones in his athletic career. This year, he is the only male rookie skier named to the Stifel US Ski Team. Moreover, Palmquist is ranked the number one slalom skier worldwide for his 2007 birth year and 153 in slalom, including all FIS ages.

Italian Federica Brignone, who turned 34 on July 14th, is among the most successful and longest-serving active female skiers. Despite it being summer, many national teams are taking advantage of the good snow conditions on European glaciers. Ski Racing Media asked Brignone if she is also skiing this summer.

"For me, summer is for doing summer things, not winter things. I skied until mid-April. We had a great speed camp with the men's team in Santa Caterina. I also participated in Alpine Park, an exhibition slalom format hosted by Clément Noël; it was fun.

The results and financial constraints forced Alpine Canada Alpin to make the tough decision to cease funding the World Cup Men’s tech team, leaving Erik Read without a national program to support him.

Notably, five months after the accident, Aamodt Kilde returned to skiing. He recently slipped back into his ski boots and made his first turns at the SNØ indoor ski center in Lørenskog, near Oslo, Norway. Aamodt Kilde expressed his excitement to local media, stating, "It's a great feeling to finally be able to make some turns again."

Marc Girardelli, born on July 18, 1963, in Lustenau, Austria, defied the odds to become one of the greatest alpine ski racers ever. Although he grew up in a relatively flat town, Lustenau lies within sight of the Vorarlberg Alps. Girardelli's passion and determination fueled his rise to the pinnacle of the sport. His career is a unique story marked by resilience, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

Today, Alice Merryweather announced her retirement from World Cup ski racing on social media. Her remarks on the platform reveal that the decision to retire was incredibly tough for the 27-year-old, successful athlete. 

“It sucks because we would have loved Chamonix,” said Stifel U.S. Ski Team speed skier

GEPA pictures/ Mathias Mandl James “Jack” Crawford once scored a game-winning goal assisted by National

In an exclusive interview with Ski Racing Media, Stifel U.S. Ski Team member Sam Morse sheds light on the influence of past success on his mindset approaching the Val Gardena/Gröden series. “Success on a track means you've definitely figured out a few sections, dialed in the race line and your plan,” Morse shares. This familiarity instills a sense of confidence that lets him push the limits, a stark contrast to approaching a track where success has been elusive.

Breezy Johnson, a world-class U.S. downhill racer and prominent Stifel US Ski Team member, is under scrutiny by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after missing three whereabouts tests in a year.

It’s a serious step to add downhill to one’s repertoire. Still, for Radamus, who lives in nearby Edwards and grew up racing with Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, it seemed only appropriate for the World Cup’s one-stop at his home hill to be the place for his inaugural downhill race. However, with both downhill races canceled at Beaver Creek due to the weekend's inclement weather, River Radamus’ World Cup downhill debut will have to wait.

Given the increasing crossover between speed and tech, as well as the gap for athletes seeking international race experience who aren’t yet ready to step up to the World Cup, a new women’s team has formed this year, focusing on giant slalom and Super G and competitors on both the Europa Cup and World Cup.

Luke Winters leads the Stifel US Ski Team's men's slalom program, boasting the most experience and achievements among its current members. Over the past three seasons, Winters, alongside his close friends and teammates Jett Seymour and Ben Ritchie, has formed the core of the men's slalom team.