Press release World Cup Dreams Foundation Photo: U.S. Ski & Snowboard
World Cup Dreams Foundation Celebrates a Landmark Season, Announces Staff Transitions, and Opens 2025 Grant Applications
PARK CITY, UT — June 1, 2025 — As the 2024–25 season comes to a close, the World Cup Dreams Foundation (WCDF) is celebrating another year of outstanding achievements across all levels of the alpine and cross-country pipeline. From U16 standouts to World Cup elite, our grantees made historic strides and are proof of the power that targeted support and strategic investment can have in shaping the future of U.S. skiing.
This season’s success highlights the strength of WCDF’s three primary platforms: the ARCO U16 Grant, the On the Rise (OTR) Grant, and the T2 World Cup Grant, along with our athlete-driven Dreamer fundraising initiative. Each platform plays a crucial role in helping American athletes overcome the financial barriers that often hinder them from reaching their potential.
Season Highlights by Grant Platform
ARCO U16 Grant:
Founded by Olympian River Radamus, the ARCO U16 Grant is designed to accelerate the development of America’s top junior alpine racers. The platform delivered strong results again this season: 17 of 21 grantees qualified for U16 Nationals, with five athletes earning 10 podium finishes.
- Katie Rowekamp (Burke): Swept all three events at Nationals and added two FESA Cup golds in France.
- Kira Hiebert: Earned three Nationals podiums and a FESA Cup bronze.
- Mari Renick, Trevor Palmquist, and Jensen Ford also earned national and international medals.
ARCO is committed to casting a wider net at the younger level, keeping more athletes in the sport longer and strengthening the pipeline for future success. These young athletes are raising the bar for American ski racing and we’re proud to be part of their journey.
On the Rise (OTR) Grant:
With a mission to grow the number of U.S. athletes ranked in the top 300 globally, the OTR Grant awarded $140,000 to 30 rising stars this season. At the year’s start, just two grantees held top-300 rankings; by season’s end, 12 had broken through.
- Four OTR athletes—Annika Hunt, Logan Grosdidier, Jeremy Nolting, and Nolan Sweeney—secured objective qualifications to the 2025–26 U.S. Ski Team.
- Annika Hunt was crowned overall NorAm champion, showcasing her consistency and focus across an entire season.
- Logan Grosdidier emerged as the best first-year FIS athlete in the world in both slalom and super-G —an unprecedented accomplishment that speaks to both her talent and the critical support OTR provides.
T2 World Cup Grant:
Focused on bridging the five-year average climb from top-300 to top-30 in the world rankings, the T2 platform delivered notable breakthroughs:
- Keely Cashman climbed from 51st to 28th in SG, earning her first World Champs start and a career-best 6th in Garmisch.
- Kyle Negomir, Sam Morse, Jett Seymour, and Tricia Mangan all finished top-40 in at least one discipline.
- Young athletes Stanley Buzek, Sawyer Reed, Hunter Salani, Allison Mollin, and Cooper Puckett showed that the next generation is coming fast with World junior championship medals and top 100 discipline rankings.
Cross-Country Support:
Our annual stipends to SMS and BSF XC teams once again bore fruit. The SMS T2 team, led by World Cup Overall Champion Jessie Diggins, earned multiple World Cup and World Champs podiums. Every SMS athlete earned a World Cup start. BSF athletes secured Super Tour podiums and earned spots on the international stage.
Dreamer Platform:
Dreamers embody resilience and determination—athletes who persevere through injury, financial hardship, or career transitions. The Dreamer fundraising platform exists to provide a critical safety net for athletes facing financial stress due to underfunding, aging out of development systems, injuries, or other unique challenges that threaten their progress and careers.
- Breezy Johnson returned from a year-long setback to win two golds at the 2025 World Championships.
- Tanner Perkins (Montana State) secured a World Cup Super-G start for next season with a #2 Nor-Am ranking, earning selection to the U.S. Ski Team for 2025–26.
- Haley Cutler scored her first World Cup points and earned full speed circuit starts while racing independently.
- Patrick Kenney, an independent athlete with Team Global Racing, made a breakthrough this season—competing in his first World Championships, scoring World Cup points in two events, and earning selection to the U.S. Ski Team for 2025–26. Patrick has been utilizing the platform for the past five seasons to stay competitive and chase his goals.
- Kaila Kuhn brought home two golds at Freestyle World Champs, thanks in part to support that enabled her to relocate and train near USST HQ in Park City.
Looking Ahead: Grant Applications Open June 1
Athletes seeking support for the 2025–26 season are encouraged to apply. Applications for the ARCO, On the Rise, and T2 World Cup Grants will open on June 1, 2025. Details will be available at www.worldcupdreams.org.
Staff Updates: New Leadership
As WCDF continues to expand its impact, the Foundation is proud to announce several key leadership transitions:
- Tommy Biesemeyer, who has served as Executive Director since 2021 and grew annual fundraising from $50,000 to over $1.6 million, will step into the role of Chairman of the Board.
- Claire Abbe, a former NCAA All-American and experienced media leader, will assume the role of Executive Director, bringing a dynamic athlete-first vision to WCDF’s next chapter.
- Lynn Boynton, departing as Director of Grants, leaves behind a legacy of excellence and generosity. Her continued work at the Killington World Cup Foundation remains an inspiration.
- Alice Merryweather, Olympian and former U.S. Ski Team athlete, joins WCDF as the new Director of Grant Allocation. Her lived experience and advocacy for athlete wellness make her an ideal steward for WCDF’s next phase of growth.
“These changes reflect our deepening commitment to athlete development at every level,” said Biesemeyer. “Claire and Alice are uniquely qualified to lead WCDF into the future, and we are deeply grateful to Lynn for her extraordinary service.”
About WCDF
http://www.worldcupdreams.orgThe mission of the World Cup Dreams Foundation is to support the nation’s top skiing talent by providing career-sustaining financial assistance and mentorship. From development to World Cup podiums, WCDF is committed to helping athletes rise. Learn more or apply for a 2025 grant at www.worldcupdreams.org.
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