Ginnis, Shiffrin honored as Ski Racing’s Junior Alpine Skiers of the Year

CARRABASSETT VALLEY, Maine – Ski Racing’s U.S. Junior Alpine Skier of the Year Awards were announced Friday evening during the Athlete-Parent Banquet highlighting the Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships at Sugarloaf, Maine.

The award, one of a series of skier of the year recognition awards issued annually by SkiRacing.com, has been handed out since 1975 and has been won by numerous skiers who have gone on to illustrious careers on the international stage. Previous honorees include Steve Mahre, Tamara McKinney, Diann Roffe, Tommy Moe, Lindsey Vonn, Ted Ligety, Steven Nyman, and current USSA President and CEO Tiger Shaw.

The elite group of past award winners accounts for 16 Olympic medals, 35 World Championship medals, and 166 World Cup victories.

The 2015 Junior Alpine Skier of the Year Award was given to AJ Ginnis, a Green Mountain Valley School alumnus, U.S. Ski Team development group athlete, and bronze medal winner at this season’s World Junior Championships in Norway. Two days after receiving the award, he finished as runner-up in the U.S. National Championship slalom behind World Cup regular David Chodounsky.

The women’s honoree was Mikaela Shiffrin, who claimed her record sixth Junior of the Year Award. Shiffrin won the slalom gold medal at this season’s FIS Alpine World Ski Championship and her third straight World Cup slalom crystal globe.

List of recipients: