Luke Winters & Stifel USST men’s slalom team Photo Camden Palmquist

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. Winters confidently declares, “All of us can do it,” backed by their demonstrated world-class slalom speed in the World Cup. Notably, Winters stands out among the trio, scoring 14 times and reaching the World Cup finals in 2022.

Gurgl presents a unique situation for Winters and his teammates. After three years of starting the World Cup season in December, the men’s slalom skiers will start their 23/24 campaign on November 18th. This also marks the first time Gurgl will host a World Cup, with the competition hill witnessing its inaugural WC slalom race. Additionally, Winters’ good friend and former teammate, Jimmy Krupka, will join the trio in Gurgl, earning his first World Cup start.

Excited to have Krupka in Gurgl

Winters is excited about Krupka joining them in Gurgl for his first World Cup, exclaiming, “I think it’s awesome. Jimmy and I have been more or less on the same team for so long, and I love Jimmy.” Eagerly anticipating Krupka’s start, Winters adds, “I can’t wait for him to start—not only this start, but I hope he’s around for more. I think it’ll be fun to be a part of that.” Reflecting on their recent conversation, Winters acknowledges they discussed the importance of staying calm but emphasizes, “It’s his first World Cup. It’s good to be excited too. Oh, man. So I’m excited for him. It doesn’t matter whether it comes when you’re 18 or 25. It’s still really cool.”

When asked about the new venue, Winters admits, “I don’t know anything about the slalom race hill here. I raced the Europa Cup GSs here last year. But my information is that it is a separate race arena. I’m in the valley right now, and we just drove into Sölden. I could see the B net up on Gurgl, but that’s as close as I’ve been. It looks pretty steep. At least from the start, it seems like it’s pretty steep. It’s not flat for sure, but I didn’t actually go up and look at the hill.”

Regarding the team’s preparation for the early season start, Winters responds positively, stating, “We had a good camp with a lot of skiing in Europe. Fall is usually hit or miss, but this October in Saas-Fee and Pitztal, I don’t know if we missed even one day, and it was all ice for the most part. The conditions were great. And then Kåbdalis in Sweden was great too, so I’m not feeling stressed by the earlier start to the season.”

Prepared for an earlier start to the season

Winters shares the team’s widespread excitement about the season’s early start, noting, “Yeah, everyone’s excited about it; at least that is what I’m hearing. It’s good for us not to have to wait another month. You don’t know whether you’re in good shape until the first race, which has been in December. You can obviously train well, but that doesn’t mean much. And if you learn you’re not in shape in the middle of December, then January comes real quick, and by the end of January, most of the slalom season is over. So it’s good to get an earlier race, know where you stand, and still have time to react before the season really gets going.”

Reflecting on his role as a professional athlete, Winters states, “I do have a mindset that I’ll always be learning. But I’m 26, the time is now, and we have proven we can compete at this level. We have the best support, all the support that we need. Our coaching staff is great. Also, my experience has taught me that it’s okay to put a little pressure on yourself; if it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t. But I’m going into the season confidently, similar to what I’ve done the past couple of years. We’ll see what happens.”

Winters has the experience

Expressing his perspective on the importance of World Cup experience, Winters states, “I don’t like it when we focus much on getting experience. I have more of a, now is the time mindset. With my years in the World Cup, I know how to do it. We can ski fast; it is just about doing it. My thoughts are proactive. I’ve learned what I needed to learn. That’s what I’m saying.”

As Luke Winters and the Stifel US Ski Team gear up for the World Cup debut in Gurgl, anticipation and confidence run high. With a focus on proactive preparation and considerable experience, the team embraces the challenges and opportunities of an early-season start. Winters, echoing the team spirit, is proud of their achievements and the camaraderie that defines their journey. With a blend of enthusiasm and seasoned expertise, the team is poised to make its mark on the slopes of Gurgl, setting the stage for an exhilarating season ahead.