Kitzbühel GEPA pictures
Kyle Negomir Embraces a Rare Opportunity: Four Home-State Speed Races to Open His Olympic Season
A Childhood Connection That Comes Full Circle
Kyle Negomir grew up skiing Copper Mountain on weekends, carving NASTAR courses and chasing his parents through beer-league sets. Racing in the World Cup was a dream—distant, abstract, and far beyond what he imagined in those early ski days.
Now, at 27, he will race every World Cup speed event this season, beginning with an unprecedented stretch: four races in his home state on mountains he has skied since he was a child.
“It’s such a unique opportunity,” Negomir said. “To compete professionally at the same places where I learned to ski, lived, and spent so much of my life—it’s something I don’t take for granted.”
As a teenager and member of Ski & Snowboard Club Vail, Negomir worked with the slip crew during the Birds of Prey World Cup, helping keep the surface perfect for the athletes he admired. Standing on the hill where his heroes raced shaped his early understanding of the sport—but racing it himself still felt remote.
“Even when you start to dream bigger, it’s impossible to picture yourself in their shoes,” he said. “But here we are. Two decades later, I’m back on these same mountains trying to qualify for my first Olympics.”
Launching an Olympic Season at Home
Negomir begins the Olympic year right where his skiing began—on Colorado snow. The alignment fuels his motivation.
“To start the campaign for my first Olympics here means a lot,” he said. “I hope having the World Cup at Copper inspires kids in Summit County. Seeing top-level racing up close is powerful. I didn’t have that growing up.”
Familiar Terrain, Familiar Snow
Negomir has trained on Copper’s speed piste since his early teens, long before it became a World Cup venue. That comfort matters, even if the advantage is subtle.
“Having skied on snow this aggressive my whole life definitely helps,” he said. “But almost every speed team trains at Copper every November. So the edge isn’t knowing the terrain—it’s the feeling of being home. Copper has always been a second home for me.”
The Rewards and Pressure of Racing at Home
Racing in front of a home crowd brings both excitement and expectation.
“Home races are rewarding and stressful,” he said. “It’s amazing to have family and friends there, but it can add pressure. Everyone wants to ski their best at home, but you can’t force extra-fast skiing. You have to trust your normal skiing and not overdo it.”
Tracks That Inspire
Two venues have shaped Negomir’s perspective on speed: one close to home, one iconic.
“Beaver Creek is a favorite because it’s home, but also because it’s one of the most enjoyable tracks in the world—gliding, high-speed turns, big jumps,” he said. “But my favorite is Kitzbühel. Even though I haven’t had big results there yet, the energy makes you feel like an NFL player. Nothing compares to racing Kitz.”
A New Challenge in Livigno
This season includes a new speed venue in Livigno, Italy—an appealing wrinkle in the early schedule.
“A new track is exciting for everyone,” he said. “It can help younger guys who don’t have as much experience on the classic hills. And it will be nice not spending Christmas Day thinking about racing Bormio downhill the next morning.”
The Olympic Push
The schedule features six downhills and six super-Gs before the Olympic break—Negomir will race all of them.
“Olympic seasons always add motivation, especially as an American,” he said. “But my goal is always to ski as fast as possible in every race, Olympics or not. So my approach doesn’t really change.”
Looking Ahead to a Different Bormio
Negomir has raced Bormio six times—three downhills and three super-Gs—with his best results in super-G. If he qualifies for the Olympics, he’ll return to the Stelvio in February, not December—a shift with meaningful impact.
“A classic speed hill for the Olympics is special,” he said. “Most Olympic venues are one-offs made for TV. This Bormio will be toned down compared to what we normally see. Better light and more consistent snow will let people race with more risk, which makes it fun to ski and fun to watch.”
Resilience, Perspective, and Motivation
Negomir’s journey has included major injury setbacks and a long rebuild—experiences that shaped his mindset.
“I spent more than two years coming back from a bad knee injury when I was first breaking into the World Cup,” he said. “It showed me what passion and commitment to this sport mean to me, because it would’ve been so easy to stop. But I never questioned whether coming back was the right thing.”
Time away from racing gave him clarity.
“I had the chance to develop myself outside the sport and set the direction I want for my future,” he said. “Shaping your life around the pursuit of being the best in the world is a rare opportunity. Very few people get to do this. That challenge—chasing something that feels almost impossible—is what drives me now.”
Negomir also confirmed his current readiness: He feels fully back to his pre-injury form, healthy and confident heading into the most meaningful opening block of his career.
He will race every World Cup speed event this season, beginning with a stretch of four races on the mountains where his skiing story first began.
About the Author: Peter Lange
