Features

Marco Odermatt reflects on pressure, missed goals, and what’s next after another dominant World Cup season.

Johannes Zöchling has been appointed head coach of the Austrian women’s alpine ski team, succeeding Roland Assinger starting May 1, 2026. The experienced coach brings over 14 years within the ÖSV and recent international experience with Norway.

Women in ski racing are redefining what coaching looks like while raising families, challenging a system that was never built to support them—and proving the sport must evolve to keep them.

Paul Epstein takes over the U.S. men’s tech team with a clear focus on culture, trust, and building a system that delivers World Cup results.

Major changes hit the Stifel U.S. Ski Team as Sasha Rearick returns to lead the alpine program and Paul Epstein takes over the men’s tech team.

Mark Tilston reflects on his departure from the Stifel U.S. Ski Team men’s program, discussing structural challenges, athlete development, and the future of U.S. alpine skiing.

Canada sent one male athlete to the 2026 FIS Alpine Junior World Championships and had no male representation in Olympic technical events. These moments raise broader questions about the depth of Canada’s men’s alpine skiing pipeline and the future of athlete development.

Estelle Alphand grew up in France but chose to represent Sweden, her mother’s homeland. The Olympian reflects on identity, pressure, and embracing an underdog mindset on the world stage.

After a difficult stretch leading into the Olympic Winter Games, Mina Fürst Holtmann reset her mindset and went back to basics. On the slopes of Cortina d’Ampezzo, she delivered her strongest performance of the season, finishing just 0.12 seconds from a medal. Her message was simple: normal is enough.

At 25, Lucy Brown is building alpine ski racers on a foundation of trust. Her coaching philosophy centers on relationships first — because in a sport defined by risk, athletes only push limits when they feel secure. At Apex, that means open communication, balance away from results, and a long-term view of development. Brown isn’t chasing quick breakthroughs. She’s creating environments where performance — and athletes — can last.

Marion Chevrier didn’t rise through hype — she built her way to the 2026 Winter Olympic Games season by season. Still labeled an outsider, the French alpine skier has quietly developed the trust, conviction, and clarity needed to fight at the front. Built from reflection, repetition, and belief, her climb is far from over.

The women’s Nor-Am tech circuit delivered five high-level races in Québec from February 9–13, featuring stacked international fields, World Cup-caliber athletes, and breakout performances from rising North American talent at Owl’s Head and Bromont.

Four generations deep in ski racing, Andreas Žampa is carrying forward a family legacy built on commitment, precision, and resilience. Beyond the World Cup stage, the Slovak standout is investing in the next generation through the growing Žampa Cup initiative.

BORMIO, Italy — Ski legend Marc Girardelli didn’t hold back. From Lindsey Vonn’s ACL decision to Ryan Cochran-Siegle’s surprise silver and the new team combined format, the five-time overall World Cup champion delivered sharp insight — and plenty of personality.

Lindsey Vonn’s Olympic journey did not end with a fairytale finish, but with a powerful reminder of what it means to dare greatly. After a crash that resulted in a complex tibia fracture, Vonn reframed the moment not as failure, but as the cost of chasing gold in a sport where risk is inseparable from greatness.

On Sugarloaf’s Narrow Gauge trail, Carrabassett Valley Academy athletes learn lessons that last a lifetime. For Sam Morse ’13, those early mornings, high speeds, and hard-earned habits formed the foundation that carried a local Maine skier from CVA to the 2026 Olympic Games.

University of Denver skier Sara Rask was named the 2025 Sportswomen of Colorado award winner for skiing after a dominant season that included NCAA slalom and giant slalom titles, multiple collegiate victories, and continued excellence both on the slopes and in the classroom.

Christine Feehan has lived nearly every side of alpine skiing — coach, media leader, FIS staff, Olympic venue manager — and now, in her “third act,” she is bringing those experiences together to help reshape the future of women’s ski sport.