Development

The U.S. Ski & Snowboard team, led by Chief of Sport Anouk Patty, has unveiled a new approach to team selection criteria that aims to broaden the athlete base, promote multi-discipline skills, prioritize club and regional collaboration, and align with the realities of American alpine skiing. Through countless hours of research, discussions with clubs, in-depth analysis and personal experience, Patty and her team have crafted a set of criteria to balance long-term athlete development with immediate performance goals.

Legendary Austrian coach Erich Sailer transformed Buck Hill into a “slalom factory,” producing U.S. ski racing stars like Kristina Koznick, Lindsey Vonn, Paula Moltzan and many other Olympians. Sailer’s motto, “Creating champions in ski racing and life,” turned this small hill into a powerhouse of talent, resilience and teamwork.

The Stifel US Ski Team has released its 2025 criteria, with a notable change: removing the Development team (D team). The goal remains to include the fastest skiers in the country while encouraging two-discipline athletes and promoting an NCAA pathway. Anouk Patty will sit for an interview next week to explain the thinking behind these latest criteria.

In a move to create a deeper and more meaningful community among junior alpine racers across North America, Atomic is proud to announce the launch of its new Juniors to Champions program. 

The story of alpine racers from Great Britain: Luca, Freddy, and Zak Carrick-Smith. The sons of four-time British Olympian Emma Carrick-Anderson and former ski instructor, Phil Smith.

Featured Image: Zoi Eckfeldt (yellow), Nell Nyman (multi) with Whitney Gardner, Head Women’s FIS coach

Austria has led Alpine ski racing for decades. The country’s success benefited from easy access to glaciers, a solid grassroots system, and a deep passion for skiing. But things have changed. Austria now faces new obstacles that threaten its dominance. Two highly experienced insiders explain how the landscape has shifted and what Austria needs to do to remain competitive.

Salzburg is gearing up for the 2025 Ski World Championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, a much-anticipated event. However, despite the excitement, the local ski association faces a serious problem: a shortage of coaches for school and junior skiers. Many clubs are struggling, and even permanent positions aren't enough to attract trainers.

Sarah Byrne at the Wentworth Ski Race Club (WSRC) in Nova Scotia was awarded Canada's Domestic Alpine Coach of the Year. Her and senior coach, Gregor Byrne, talk about the progress the program is making with youth athletes. 

Johannes Strolz began his skiing journey with a lot of free play. He fondly recalls, "My early experiences with skiing were just playing around, hanging out with friends, doing a lot of free skiing, jumping and skiing beside the groomed slopes." His goal to become a professional athlete emerged much later, around 13. Until then, it was all about fun and enjoyment.

Cochrans Holiday Slalom: Photo Tucker Marshall Youth ski racing in the U.S. is at another

Imagine having a magic pill that could enhance your summer ski training and help you tackle high elevations, intense sun, and grueling multi-activity days with more energy and benefit. Summer ski training is no walk in the park, with its unpredictable temperatures and continuous training demands. If such a pill existed, would you take it? Let's explore the secrets to make this "magic pill" a reality for your training regimen.

Tatum Coutu, a former collegiate alpine racer from Middlebury College, shares her story that resonates with many athletes. She opens up about the challenges she faced in alpine racing, adapting to college-level competition, dealing with the impact of COVID, discovering a renewed passion for the sport, and ultimately transitioning into retirement.

Photo credit: Eliteam Doug Lewis What do you think is the best strategy for training

Green Mountain Valley School (GMVS) is excited to announce a transition in the leadership of its Junior Race Program. Megan Mikell is the new Junior Program Director.

The United States has a long history of producing great ski racers. Olympic champions, World Cup overall winners, and some of the sport’s GOATs have carried our flag to the top of the sport. Regardless of what some may say, we ARE an Alpine nation.

After a long and demanding winter, the 2023-24 race season is over. You’ve had some downtime to catch up on school and get some much-needed rest and recovery, both physically and mentally. You may also be already looking toward next winter. But before you file the 2023-24 race season away, you want to act on a famous saying, “Those who do not learn from history are bound to repeat it.” In other words, if you don’t reflect on last season, you may miss out on some essential lessons you can use for next season to continue progressing toward your ski racing goals.

A popular method used to mimic alpine racing during dryland has been on rolling devices. Richard Rokos dives into inline skating and why the method is conducive to training for alpine skiing.