Growing up in Colorado, Dasha Romanov and her family headed to Birds of Prey every year to watch the World Cups. When the World Championships came to Vail in 2015, the family was there, and when the women’s World Cup came to Aspen, Dasha was on the slip-crew. Her prize possession from those visits is a bib worn by one of her earliest ski heroes, Mikaela Shiffrin. This weekend, for the first time, Romanov, 20, will don her own World Cup bib to kick out of the gate as Shiffrin’s teammate in the Levi World Cup Slalom.

GETTING THE NEWS

Racing the World Cup has been a dream for Romanov since she started her ski racing journey at Lake Eldora.  But she expected she’d need to create her own World Cup start through the NorAms, so this opportunity was a surprise. “I found out the news officially on a Tuesday or Wednesday night, and then I flew out on a Saturday, so it was a pretty quick turnaround,” says Romanov. “I’m really lucky to be here and really grateful for the opportunity.”

She was also happy to be able to meet up with her US teammates for a solid block of training before the races. A week into her stay in the Arctic Circle, she has enjoyed exceptional weather and conditions. “It’s full winter up here, but it’s honestly really nice. The snow is amazing, so the training has been great.”

BORN TO SKI

Skiing and ski racing are in Romanov’s DNA. Her grandparents were both avid ski mountaineers in the Soviet Union. Both her grandfather and her father, Oleg, were ski racers there. Her mother, Elena, was a gymnast and learned to ski from Oleg. When the couple moved to the States, they continued their passion, strapping plastic skis on Dasha’s feet at 16 months. “Even before that, my parents would actually ski around with me in those baby-carrying backpacks because they really loved it.”

Dasha and her older brother Danila grew to love skiing as well. When the family moved from Virginia to Colorado, Oleg and Elena put both kids in ski school. They took to the sport and started with the Eldora Mountain Ski Club (EMSC) ski racing program. Romanov also competed in gymnastics for 12 years and recalled having to pick one sport as the training for each intensified. Ultimately, she chose skiing for her pure love of the sport. “I love going back-country with my dad and my family and friends. I love to be in the mountains and outside. It was a tough decision because I was so young, but looking back, I wouldn’t have changed that.”

MOVING MOUNTAINS

She moved from EMSC first to Loveland Ski Club. Then, she moved away from her family entirely to Sun Valley for high school. The Sun Valley Community School connected well with the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation and the Sun Valley Ski Academy, making it a perfect fit for her educational and athletic aspirations. At the time, her only knowledge of Sun Valley was through Warren Miller films, and it felt like a spur-of-the-moment decision. “I bit the bullet and moved and it was honestly the best decision I ever made for my skiing, for everything. I had a really great time and I was really lucky to be a part of that community.” After one post-grad gap year, Romanov was named to the US D Team in the spring of 2021.

While the road looked straight for Romanov, it could have been smoother. Between gymnastics and skiing injuries, she’s been a frequent flyer at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Denver since she was 13. “They’re like my second home.” During the Covid pause in 2020, she had reconstructive surgery on her ankle, which had been torn up by years of various ski and gymnastics injuries. This past summer in New Zealand, she recovered from surgery in April to remove a bursa on her inside ankle bone. Now, with pain-free ankles, she feels 100 percent.

FOLLOWING IN BIG FOOTSTEPS

Racing in Levi also feels like a full-circle moment. Romanov has pictures with Mikaela Shiffrin from when the superstar started her career and has long idolized her as a skier and person. “Every time I met her, she was the most kind, gracious, humble person, and it really inspired me. It’s crazy to think right now that I get to race with her and be at this stage. It’s just an incredible opportunity. It still hasn’t hit me yet.”

She’s also gotten good support from the entire US World Cup group, which in Levi includes Paula Moltzan, AJ Hurt, Zoe Zimmermann and Lila Lapanja. “AJ is my mentor, actually, so that’s been really cool.” She’s also gotten positive energy from coaches and skiers from other teams. “It’s a really welcoming community.”

She was inspired and motivated by the Bocock sisters, who notched their first World Cup starts in Soelden. “That made me even more excited when I heard about this. It’s amazing to see your teammates move up, and you move up with them.”

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

From a young age, Romanov, whose first language was Russian, has had friends on the European Tour. Her cousin, Anna Romanova, raced for the Russian national team. “She has probably been one of my biggest inspirations, and she was one of the first people I called to let her know that I was coming here. The first time I got to travel to Europe, I saw people that my cousin grew up with, which was really special. It makes the world seem a little smaller.” Among the racers in Levi are her good friends from other national teams. They include Anna Eicher, from Germany, and Marie Lamure, from France. “It’s really exciting to see my friends again. They’re so supportive.” Another close friend, Canadian Justine Lamontagne, is also making her World Cup debut in Levi. “I’m really excited because we get to do it together.”

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS

Since hearing that she would be racing in Levi, she’s been consumed more by excitement than any other emotion. “I honestly have no idea what to expect. In my ski racing, the most important part has been the process and trusting what I’m working on. The biggest thing for me at a race isn’t the result. It’s whether I’m happy with the run. I just want to stay confident and be happy. The biggest thing for me is to have fun because I could not be more excited for this.”

Technically, Romanov tries to keep it really simple on race day. “I’m always thinking, ‘strong on the outside ski,’ because I like to trust my instincts and just ski, but it’s always good to remember one thing.”

The challenge at any race, especially the first time on the world stage, is balancing that excitement and energy with a calm, clear head. For that, Romanov has her superpower. “I’m a big napper,” she explains. Her best results, including her silver medal at last year’s US Nationals, have come after a nap, before or between runs. “I can sleep just about anywhere.” She has been sleeping very well and expects to get at least ten hours of sleep the night before the race. “There’s not much daylight during the day, so it’s been great for my napping.”

OF REINDEER AND GRATITUDE

Romanov has enjoyed taking in the entire scene, especially seeing reindeer—the traditional award to winners in Levi—up close. “They’re just so calm and adorable. It’s like a Christmas village up here. I’m expecting to see Santa soon.” Though she is eyeing a cuddly stuffed reindeer to bring home as a souvenir for her first World Cup, she has successfully avoided any reindeer on her plate. Instead, she has enjoyed familiar food from her Russian roots and more varied cuisine than expected. “I actually had tacos tonight. I didn’t know that Mexican food existed in the North Pole, but they were really, really good.”

Romanov is enormously grateful to the entire Sun Valley community. “I’d honestly say that’s a big reason why I’m here today and why I get to do what I love. They were my biggest supporters.” Specifically, she calls out coaches Pat Savaria and Will Brandenburg, with whom she stays in touch. “Pat and Will are my favorite people to talk to. They always brighten my mood.” Mostly, she is grateful to her parents, Elena and Oleg. “They’ve done everything for me. They’ve let me follow my dreams and they’ve found ways to support it.”

Watch the Levi World Cup on Ski & Snowboard Live to watch the entire team in action and to see Mikaela Shiffrin pursue her 7th Reindeer.