Patrick Kenney, Schladming GS 2025: GEPA pictures
An Unconventional Path to the Top
Patrick Kenney didn’t follow the traditional route to ski racing’s highest stage. Raised in Boston and developed at Burke Mountain Academy, he met U.S. Ski Team criteria in his senior year of high school. But just two years later, he was cut.
Rather than giving up, Kenney pivoted. He enrolled at the University of New Hampshire and embraced collegiate racing. By his senior year, he knew he wasn’t done with the sport. As COVID disrupted the NCAA circuit, he made a critical choice: move on or double down. “I’m glad I chose the latter,” Kenney said.
Paul Epstein and Global Racing gave him a new platform. Epstein believed in Kenney from the start. That trust was a turning point. For the next four years, Kenney committed to a rugged schedule of independent training and European racing. That commitment helped him find a path to the World Cup—this time on his own terms.
College Built More Than a Resume
Kenney credits the University of New Hampshire for more than just race results. “College racing is underrated prep for the World Cup,” he said. The structure of balancing school, travel, and training helped him develop maturity, time management, and a renewed love for the sport. Twice named an All-American, Kenney saw it as validation that he still belonged.
“The collegiate system gave me the time and space to mature, reset, enjoy, and rediscover why I love the sport. After being cut from the U.S. Team, I needed that,” he said. “It forced me to become more self-reliant and take full ownership of my progression.”
Life Without a Team: Funding, Doubt, and Determination
Independent racing is never easy. For Kenney, it required resilience on every level. He bootstrapped his campaigns through a network of donors, sponsors, a self-run merch line, and a golf tournament fundraiser inspired by Warner Nickerson. The financial burden was heaviest every April, when the fundraising demands clashed with post-season fatigue.
Mentally, he turned a corner when he began working with Performance Coach Carolyn Beckedorff. That relationship evolved into a mentorship that helped reshape his mindset. “I’ve had to swallow my pride and hold my head high at the same time—asking for support while projecting belief in myself,” he said. “Through it all, I’ve learned what real mental toughness looks like.”
Breakthrough Season and a World Championship Debut
The 2024–25 season marked Kenney’s most successful yet. He qualified for three second runs on the World Cup and scored points twice—23rd in Adelboden and 22nd in Kranjska Gora. He also represented the U.S. at the World Championships in Saalbach.
In Beaver Creek, he jumped from bib 42 to 21 on the first run, skiing with boldness and confidence. He didn’t finish the second run but left with proof that he could compete at the highest level.
Still, his favorite memory came earlier: his first World Cup points at Palisades Tahoe in 2024. “The day was perfect, the atmosphere was insane, and meeting Ludacris to top it off was a memory I will cherish forever.”
Back on the U.S. Ski Team
This spring, Kenney earned his way back onto the Stifel U.S. Ski Team. The return comes with fresh energy—and a few familiar faces. He’s especially excited to work with Hugh Brooks again, his former Global Racing coach, now a World Cup GS assistant.
“ love all the athletes and staff that will be stuck with me,” he joked. “Having the continuity with Hugh will be beneficial.”
The biggest difference between being independent and named? “Access to all the resources the national team has to offer. Between the physio clinics, medical connections, and the whole high performance staff, I feel I can focus on the next level with this army of people in my corner.”
The Global Racing Mentality
Kenney called Global Racing “a special group.”
“Every single member—from the coaches to the servicemen to the athletes—showed up with purpose,” he said. He’ll miss the daily intensity and shared will to win the most.
“That mindset Paul instilled in the culture is something I’ll carry with me into any environment.””
Trusting the Tools
Kenney races on Völkl skis and Marker bindings—and he credits both brands for helping him reach the top level.
“Their unwavering support has been a contributing factor as to where I am today,” he said. “The GS ski is dialed for all conditions.”
“Trust in your equipment at the World Cup level is the difference between the top of the podium and off the podium.”
Forged by Fire
Kenney’s journey has included significant challenges—financial, physical, mental. Through it all, he found something deeper.
“I’ve learned to lead without needing a title, to stay grounded when things are uncertain, and to keep showing up with purpose even when things weren’t going my way,” he said.
That belief—in himself, in the process, and in his support system—helped bring him back to the U.S. Ski Team. Now, as the Olympic season approaches, Kenney is not just another racer.
He’s a proven competitor who has walked through fire—and come out stronger.
About the Author: Peter Lange
