Vail, CO – SYNC Performance is excited to announce its 2026/27 SYNC Athlete Ambassadors, the second season of the program. This year’s roster has 15 elite ski racers from across the United States and Canada. They compete on the NCAA, NorAm, Europa Cup, World Cup, Para alpine and freeride circuits.
The Athlete Ambassador program launched last season by bringing the SYNC NCAA Team and SYNC Independent Athletes together into one group. The idea was that ski racing is more than results. It’s also about resilience, growth and the community around the athletes. In year two, seven ambassadors return from that first class, and eight new athletes join them. The new group includes SYNC Team alum Audrey Crowley, now racing with the U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team, along with racers from the University of New Hampshire, the University of Denver, the University of Nevada and St. Lawrence University.
The program supports North America’s top racers with the gear, platform and community they need to do well on and off the hill. Ambassadors get SYNC performance gear and product support, early access to new products with a voice in how they’re developed, and a platform to share their own stories with the ski racing community.
“We’re proud of what last year’s group accomplished. Several of our ambassadors reached their goals and are now racing for their national teams, which is exactly what this program is for,” said Tucker Marshall, Senior Manager of Brand Marketing at SYNC Performance. “This year we’re welcoming back seven athletes from last season and adding eight new ones who bring the same grit and personality. These are the athletes young racers look up to, and we want their stories told.”
Returning Ambassadors
Julian Arthur (2005) – Middlebury College | Crested Butte, Colorado
“This season I want to be an NCAA All-American in both events, finish top three in the NorAm SL standings and top 10 in GS.”
Sarah Bennett (2001) – Independent | Quebec
“My goal is to be consistently in the top 30 in World Cup slalom and finish the year inside the top 30 on the World Cup start list. Off the hill, I love drumming and making videos for social media.”
Stef Fleckenstein (1997) – Independent | Whistler, British Columbia
“I want to compete at the World Championships and be consistently in the top 20 and top 15 on the World Cup! When I’m not skiing I’m beading jewelry, crafting and playing every sport imaginable. I’m also the one forcing SYNC to always make pink gear, because we LOVE pink.”
Dominic Shackleton (2004) – Middlebury College | Kirby, Vermont
“My goals are to avoid any complications coming back from injury, and to ski fast enough to justify missing a lot of school. Fun fact: I competed in the 2016 Nutmeg Games for fencing.”
Eleri Smart (2001) – Stoke Alpine Racing | Invermere, British Columbia
“I want to have success at the ANC races and early NorAms so I can start competing on the World Cup, and to do well on the Europa Cup circuit this winter. I also run an at-home bakery, @a_ebakes!”
Sophia Tozzi (2003) – Burke Mountain Academy | Jackson, Wyoming
“I want to get back to the top of the NorAm circuit after my second knee injury and work toward a NorAm title. Besides ski racing, my favorite thing is being in the mountains, whether that’s hiking, biking, running or ski touring, and I love being on the river in the summer.”
Galena Wardle (1998) – Independent | Aspen, Colorado
“This season I’m stepping back from formal alpine racing to compete in Freeride Qualifiers and the World Pro Ski Tour. I’m focusing on Freeride 3* and 4* events, and I’m hoping to qualify for the 2027 Region 2 Challengers. I also speak four languages: English, French, Spanish and Portuguese.”
New Ambassadors
Tianna Bruce (2004) – University of New Hampshire | Vail, Colorado
“I want to compete for my school at the NCAA Championships and finish in the top 15 of the NorAm SL standings and top 30 in GS. Fun fact: I can unicycle.”
Audrey Crowley (2008) – U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team | Eagle, Colorado
“This year I’m focused fully on Para racing and skiing with the U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team. After racing with Ski & Snowboard Club Vail and the SYNC Team, I’m thrilled to join the Ambassador team, because SYNC supports athletes on and off the hill.”
Dominick DeGuardia (2005) – St. Lawrence University | Turin, New York
“My goals are to become an All-American and get top-15 results on the NorAm circuit. Fun fact: there are more cows than people in my hometown.”
Abby Dembeck (2005) – University of New Hampshire | Vail, Colorado
“My main goal is to qualify for and ski in the NCAA Championships, and to place consistently in the top 15 throughout the carnival season. I’m super excited to be skiing pain-free this year. I also play club lacrosse at UNH, and we’re one of the top-ranked teams in the country.”
Carson Hume (2005) – University of Denver | Frisco, Colorado
“I want to help bring a championship home for DU. I’ll also keep racing NorAms, working to finish top five in the overall GS and SG standings.”
Mia Hunt (2003) – Burke Mountain Academy | Park City, Utah
“My goal is to finish top two in the NorAm SL overall standings. Fun facts: I’m half Norwegian, I have freckles on one shin but not the other, and I love doing crafts!”
Erica Lynch (2003) – University of Nevada | Mammoth Lakes, California
“I want to win an RMISA race, earn a podium at NCAA Championships and finish the NorAm season ranked top five in slalom or GS. I was a six-sport athlete growing up and somehow ended up choosing the one that involves waking up at 5 a.m. and freezing on a mountain.”
Amelia Smart (1998) – Stoke Alpine Racing | Invermere, British Columbia
“This season I want to ski out of my comfort zone and get some top-20 World Cup results. When I’m not racing, I co-own a home bakery.”
About SYNC Performance
Since 2014, SYNC Performance has been rooted in the ski racing community, built by athletes, for athletes. The company designs gear and apparel that meet the demands of the mountain and reflect its commitment to Performance, Durability, and Confidence.
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