2015-16 U.S. Alpine Ski Team Announced

COPPER MOUNTAIN, CO (Nov. 21, 2015) – There’s no question that winter has arrived at Copper Mountain, home of the U.S. Ski Team Speed Center.

Copper acted as host to a day of festivities on Saturday, kicking off with the Putnam Investments NASTAR Pacesetting Trials followed by the annual Nature Valley First Tracks team naming announcement. With Olympic gold medalists Ted Ligety (Park City, UT), Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) and Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO) and rising stars such as AJ Ginnis (Waitsfield, VT), Hig Roberts (Steamboat Springs, CO) and Paula Moltzan (Lakeville, MN) present, 58 athletes were officially named during a public celebration to kick off the start of the 2016 Audi FIS Alpine World Cup tour. 

Highlights:

• The 2016 U.S. Alpine Ski team was publicly introduced on Nov. 21 during Nature Valley First Tracks, a public celebration at Copper Mountain, CO – home of the U.S. Ski Team Speed Center.
• Olympic medalists Ted Ligety, Lindsey Vonn, Mikaela Shiffrin, Julia Mancuso (Squaw Valley, CA) and Andrew Weibrecht (Lake Placid, NY) were among 43 athletes named to the 2015 A, B and C Team, with another nine to the Development team and six to the National University Team.
• Bode Miller (Franconia, NH) will miss the 2015-16 season, but remain on the team.
• Mancuso will miss the 2015-16 season due to hip surgery, but has her sights set on PyeongChang in 2018.
• Bryce Astle (Sandy, UT) and Ronnie Berlack (Franconia, NH) were named to the team posthumously. The two were poised at the start of their U.S. Ski Team career when they were killed last January in an avalanche in Austria. It is the first time the U.S. Ski Team has named an athlete to the team posthumously.
• Six athletes were named to the new National University Team (N-UNI), led by Coach Peter Lange. These athletes have had the opportunity to train alongside A, B, C and D teams in strength and conditioning programs and at on-snow camps.
• Inspired by the official U.S. Ski Team mascot Champ, the Team kicked off a content series asking athletes and fans about the moment they truly felt like a champion. Auden Pankonin (Welch Village Ski Club), winner of the #WhatMakesAChamp contest, joined Ligety at the Putnam Investments NASTAR Pacesetting Trials and the team on stage alongside Champ.
• The team is coming off a five-medal World Championships, with both Vonn and Shiffrin winning Audi FIS Alpine World Cup overall titles. 
• After securing the title of winningest female in alpine skiing history with a total of 67 victories, Vonn is again making a return to snow after an ankle fracture sustained in training at New Zealand this summer. She will make her return to snow debut at Aspen for the giant slalom. 
• Copper Mountain is home to the U.S. Ski Team Speed Center, which provides U.S. skiers with a World Cup-level training course. 
• The Audi FIS Alpine World Cup swings through America Nov. 28-29 with a women’s giant slalom and two slalom races – one rescheduled from Levi – in Aspen, followed by men’s downhill, super G and giant slalom Dec. 4-6 at Beaver Creek, CO.

Quotes:

Patrick Riml, U.S. Ski Team Alpine Director

It’s an off year—no big event like a World Championships or an Olympics—but it’s an important year for us. I think we have very high goals. A lot of our World Cup-level athletes have very high goals for globes or world titles. On the women’s side with Mikaela and Lindsey, Lindsey has a comeback and Mikaela is tapping into the speed side. We’re hoping to be competitive there. There are definitely a couple of strong girls out there. It’s going to be a very exciting season. We’ve had a good start so far—Soelden was good. On the men’s side, Ted is in good shape. Hopefully he can compete and content for the overall World Cup.

I’m also very excited about the young crew. They’re going into their season with a strong focus on the Europa Cup, Junior World Championships. We had two strong performances last year [at the Junior World Championships] with a gold and a bronze medal. So hopefully we can step it up and take it to the next level with a couple additional medals from the Junior World Championships.

It’s going to be a great season. The preparation was good. Colorado is great right now with lots of snow and good training. We’re all excited about getting going.

Mikaela Shiffrin

Racing on home soil is always special, just the feeling of being home is so wonderful and it puts me at ease. When I’m racing in Europe there’s this constant edgy feeling like I’m doing something wrong or not following the rules! Don’t get me wrong, it’s spectacular in Europe, but when I come home after being in Europe all winter I can actually take a deep breath and really relax for the first time since the start of the season. It’s huge that we get to spend most of November training in Colorado—with the men racing in Beaver Creek and the women racing in Aspen. It’s probably my favorite time of the season.

It’s always been a dream of mine to win the overall globe, but I think this year is a little bit of a gauge to see where I can stack up…if my slalom keeps going well then I feel really strong and I can make points. But it’s a little too early to tell right now. I don’t want to focus too much on that right now. It’s just race by race right, so we’ll see if I can win some races.

Ted Ligety

I think winning the overall title is my biggest career goal – I think it’s every ski racer’s biggest career goal. I never really wanted to be a specialist growing up. I’ve done well in all of the disciplines at some point or the other, but haven’t pieced together a full season. I am definitely an outside contender…I wouldn’t consider myself anywhere near one of the favorites for the overall, but it’s definitely a goal. And trying to get the GS globe back is definitely a goal.

2015-16 U.S. Alpine Ski Team

Name (hometown; home club) (skis, boots, bindings, poles, helmet, goggles, glasses, protection) birthdate
* denotes Olympian
**denotes posthumous team naming

Men's A Team

David Chodounksy (Crested Butte, CO; Crested Butte Ski Team) (Nordica, Nordica, Marker, Swix, Briko, Briko, Briko, Slytech) 6/25/1984 *

Travis Ganong (Squaw Valley, CA; Squaw Valley Ski Team) (Atomic, Atomic, Atomic, Leki, POC, POC, POC, Leki/Ortema) 7/14/1988 *

Tim Jitloff (Reno, NV; Park City Ski Team) (Stoeckli, Lange, Atomic, Leki, Bolle, Bolle, Bolle, Leki/Ortema) 1/11/1985 *

Ted Ligety (Park City, UT; Park City Ski Team) (Head, Head, Head, Komperdell, Shred, Shred, Shred, Slytech) 8/31/1984 *

Bode Miller (Franconia, NH; Carrabassett Valley Academy) (Bomber Skis, Leki, Dainese, Dainese) 10/12/1977 *

Steven Nyman (Sundance, UT; Park City Ski Team) (Fischer, Fischer, Fischer, Komperdell, POC, POC, POC, Ortema) 2/12/1982 *

Marco Sullivan (Squaw Valley, CA; Squaw Valley Ski Team) (Atomic, Atomic, Atomic, Leki, POC, POC, POC) 4/27/1980 *

Andrew Weibrecht (Lake Placid, NY; New York Ski Education Foundation) (Head, Head, Head, Komperdell, Briko, Briko, Briko, Slytech/Ortema) 2/10/1986 *

Women's A Team

Stacey Cook (Mammoth Mountain, CA; Mammoth Mountain Ski Team) (Stoeckli, Marker/Volkl, Komperdell, POC, POC) 7/3/1984 *

Julia Mancuso (Squaw Valley, CA; Squaw Valley Ski Team) (Head, Head, Head, Swix, POC, POC, POC) 3/9/1984 *

Alice McKennis (Glenwood Springs, CO; Rowmark Academy) (Atomic, Atomic, Atomic, Leki, Briko, Briko) 8/19/1989 *

Laurenne Ross (Bend, OR; Mt. Bachelor Ski Education Foundation) (Volkl, Lange, Marker, Briko, Briko) 8/17/1988 *

Mikaela Shiffrin (Eagle-Vail, CO; Burke Mountain Academy) (Atomic, Atomic, Atomic, Leki, Atomic, Oakley, Oakley, Leki) 3/13/95 *

Leanne Smith (North Conway, NH; Mt. Washington Valley Ski Team) (Rossignol, Lange, Rossignol, Swix, POC, POC, POC, Slytech) 11/28/1987 *

Resi Stiegler (Jackson Hole, WY; Jackson Hole Mountain Resort) (Rossignol, Lange, Rossignol, Leki, Shred, Shred, Shred) 11/14/1985 *

Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO; Buck Hill Ski Team and Club/Ski and Snowboard Club Vail) (Head, Head, Head, Leki, Briko, Oakley, Oakley, Leki) 10/18/1984 *

Men's B Team

Michael Ankeny (Deephaven, MN; Buck Hill Ski Team and Club/Dartmouth College) (Nordica, Nordica, Nordica, Leki, Briko, Briko) 1/17/1991

Thomas Biesemeyer (Keene, NY; New York Ski Education Foundation) (Rossignol, Rossignol, Rossignol, Swix, Briko, Briko, Ortema) 1/30/1989

Ryan Cochran-Siegle (Starksboro, VT; Cochran's/Mt. Mansfield Ski and Snowboard Club) (Rossignol, Rossignol, Rossignol, Komperdell, Shred, Shred, Shred, Slytech) 3/27/1992

Tommy Ford (Bend, OR; Mt. Bachelor Ski Education Foundation) (Fischer, Fischer, Fischer, Swix, Shred, Shred, Shred, Slytech) 3/20/1989 *

Jared Goldberg (Holladay, UT; Snowbird Sports Education Foundation) (Head, Head, Head, Leki, POC, POC, POC, Leki/Ortema) 6/15/1991 *

Nolan Kasper (Warren, VT; Burke Mountain Academy) (Volkl, Lange, Marker, Swix, Briko, Briko, Ortema) 3/27/1989 *

Kieffer Christianson (Anchorage, AK; Burke Mountain Academy/Dartmouth College) (Rossignol, Rossignol, Rossignol, Swix, POC, POC) 8/11/1992

Hig Roberts (Steamboat Springs, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club/Middlebury College) (Fischer, Fischer, Fischer, Leki, Daniese, Daniese, Daniese) 3/15/1991

Wiley Maple (Aspen, CO; Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club) (Atomic, Atomic, Atomic, Komperdell, Briko, Briko) 5/25/1990

Women's B Team

Paula Moltzan (Lakeville, MN; Buck Hill Ski Team) (Rossignol, Rossignol, Rossignol, Swix, POC, POC) 5/7/1994

Katie Ryan (Aspen, CO; Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard) (Head, Head, Head, Swix, POC, POC) 1/3/1993

Jacqueline Wiles (Aurora, OR; White Pass Ski Club) (Rossignol, Lange, Rossignol, Swix, Shred, Shred) 7/13/1992 *

Men's C Team

Erik Arvidsson (Woodside, CA; Squaw Valley Ski Team) (Head, Head, Head, Swix, POC, POC, POC, Ortema) 9/3/1996

**Bryce Astle (Sandy, UT; Snowbird Sports Education Foundation) 1/16/1995

Bryce Bennett (Olympic Valley, CA; Squaw Valley Ski Team) (Fischer, Tecnica, Marker, Leki, POC, POC, POC, Leki/POC) 7/14/1992

**Ronnie Berlack (Franconia, NH; Burke Mountain Academy) 4/21/1994

Drew Duffy (Warren, VT; Green Mountain Valley School) (Nordica, Nordica, Marker, Swix, Shred, Shred, Slytech) 6/1/1995

Samuel DuPratt (Dixon, CA; Park City Ski Team) (Head, Head, Head, Swix, POC, POC) 11/28/1993

Mark Engel (Truckee, CA; Sugar Bowl Academy) (Atomic, Atomic, Atomic, Komperdell, Bolle, Bolle, Bolle, Ortema) 10/1/1991

AJ Ginnis (Waitsfield, VT; Green Mountain Valley School/Dartmouth College) (Fischer, Fischer, Fischer, Leki, Shred, Shred, Shred, Ortema/Slytech) 11/17/1994

Tim Kelley (Burlington, VT; Cochran Ski Club) (Fischer, Fischer, Fischer, Leki, Shred, Shred, Shred, Slytech) 5/20/1986

Nicholas Krause (Northboro, MA; Stratton Mountain School) (Head, Head, Head, Leki, POC, POC, Leki/Ortema) 5/12/1993

Brennan Rubie (Salt Lake City, UT; Snowbird Ski Team) (Nordica, Nordica, Marker, Bolle, Bolle, Bolle, Slytech) 5/8/1991

Kipling Weisel (San Francisco, CA; Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation) (Nordica, Nordica, Marker, Swix, POC, POC, POC, Slytech/Ortema) 3/26/1995

Women's C Team

Lila Lapanja (Incline Village, NV; Sugar Bowl Academy/Diamond Peak) (Fischer, Lange, Fischer, Leki, POC, POC, Leki) 12/3/1994

Anna Marno (Steamboat Springs, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club) (Nordica, Nordica, Marker, Swix, Uvex, Uvex) 11/23/1992

Nina O’Brien (Edwards, CO; Burke Mountain Academy) (Rossignol, Rossignol, Rossignol, Leki, POC, POC) 11/29/1997

Men's Development Team

Addison Dvoracek (Truckee, CA; Squaw Valley Ski Team) (Nordica, Nordica, Marker, Leki, POC, POC) 1/27/1996

Patrick Kenney (Hingham, MA; Burke Mountain Academy) (Nordica, Nordica, Marker, Leki, Dainese, Dainese) 2/13/1997

Sam Morse (Carrabassett Valley, ME; Carrabassett Valley Academy) (Fischer, Fischer, Fischer, Swix, Uvex, Uvex, Uvex, Ortema) 5/27/1996

River Radamus (Edwards, CO; Ski and Snowboard Club Vail/TEAM Academy) (Rossignol, Rossignol, Swix, POC, POC) 2/12/1998

Women's Development Team

Breezy Johnson (Victor, ID; Rowmark Ski Academy) (Atomic, Atomic, Atomic, Leki, Shred, Shred, Shred, Slytech) 1/19/1996

Stephanie Lebby (Big Bear Lake, CA; Squaw Valley Ski Team) (Head, Head, Head, Leki, POC, POC, Leki) 2/19/1997

Galena Wardle (Aspen, CO; Aspen Valley Ski Club) (Volkl, Lange, Marker, Leki, POC, POC) 4/28/1998

Patricia Mangan (Derby, NY; Holimont Race Team) (Rossignol, Rossignol, Rossignol, Leki, Briko, Briko) 3/7/1997

Alice Merryweather (Hingham, MA; Stratton Mountain School) (Rossignol, Rossignol, Rossignol, Leki, POC, POC) 10/5/1996

National University Team

Alex Leever (Vail, CO; University of Denver) 7/6/1995 

Brian McLaughlin (Topsfield, MA; Dartmouth College) 6/24/1993

Garret Driller (Tahoe City, CA; Montana State University) 8/24/1996

Griffin Brown (North Fayston, VT; University of Vermont) 2/8/1995

Sandy Vietze (Warren, VT; University of Vermont) 7/16/1993

Tanner Farrow (Ketchum, ID; Westminster College) 5/21/1993

2016 Alpine Staff

Alpine Director: Patrick Riml

Men’s Team Manager: Kate Avrin

Women’s Team Manager: Chelsea Steinbach

Alpine Press Officer: Megan Harrod

Men’s World Cup Overall

Head Coach: Sasha Rearick

Physio Coordinator: Chris Antinori  

Men’s World Cup Speed

Head Coach: Alex Hoedlmoser

Assistant Coach: Scott Veenis

Assistant Coach: Pete Anderson

Strength & Conditioning Coach, Assistant Coach Speed: Chris Beckmann

Pool Ski Service: Sylvain Munsch

Fischer Ski Service: Leo Mussi

Atomic Ski Service: Thomas Graggaber

Rossignol Ski Service: Shawn Gaisford

Head Ski Service: Guntram Mathis

Physical Therapist: Tiitu Romar

Men’s World Cup Technical

Head Coach: Forest Carey

Assistant Coach: Ian Garner

Assistant Coach: Parker Gray

Assistant Coach: Adam Cole

Head Ski Service Ted Ligety: Alex Martin

Conditioning Coach: Bob Poehling

Pool Ski Service: Matej Cujes

Pool Ski Service: Alex Petitdemange

Pool Ski Service: Danijel Andesilic

Men’s C Team

Head Coach: Ian Lochhead

Assistant Coach: Brad Saxe

Speed Ski Service: Vittorio Boggian

Tech Ski Service: Nicolo Concari

Development Team

Head Coach: Randy Pelkey

Assistant Coach: Justin Johnson

Ski Service: Eric Holmer

Women’s World Cup Overall

Head Coach: Paul Kristofic

Head Strength & Conditioning Coach, Assistant Coach Speed: Eirik Hole

Women’s World Cup Speed

World Cup Speed Head Coach: Alberto Senigagliesi

Assistant Coach: Chris Knight

Assistant Coach: James Pollock

Assistant Coach: Martin Gray

Ski Service: Ales Sopotnik

Ski Service: Miha Dolinar

Head Ski Service Lindsey Vonn: Heinz Haemmerle

Stoeckli Service Julia Mancuso and Stacey Cook: Andrea Vianello

Physical Therapist: Martina Wegscheider

Women’s World Cup Technical

Head Coach: Brandon Dyksterhouse

Assistant Coach: Jeff Lackie

Atomic Ski Service Mikaela Shiffrin: Kim Erlandsson

Physical Therapist: Lyndsay Young

Women’s Europa Cup and Development

Europa Cup Head Coach: Frank Kelble

Assistant Coach: Kris Shampeny

Assistant Coach: Karin Harjo

Ski Service: Jeff Wagner

Ski Service: Stephane Musial

Ski Service: Eric Dasko