Featured Picture: U.S. Ski & Snowboard:
Six New Faces Be a part of the 2025 Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Workforce
You’ll discover six new names on the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Workforce this season—these rising abilities convey spectacular credentials and a starvation to show their pace.
Annika Hunt
Rooted in Racing and Household
Hailing from a ski racing household and chopping her chops in Park Metropolis, Utah, Annika Hunt already has a stable style of racing success.
She grew up chasing her older siblings on each alpine and Nordic skis—her dad a former alpine racer and her mother a Nordic skier. Hunt spent her weekends hitting cliffs, bowls, and excessive speeds on the skate ski monitor. However she leaned into alpine racing, becoming a member of Park Metropolis’s “Farm Workforce” at age 8 and snowboarding from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.
“We might ski round in all places on the mountain, and each from time to time, we might have a race. I fell in love with these races, so I made a decision that I wished extra. My older siblings had additionally began racing on extra legit groups by that point, and I appeared as much as them so much, so I wished to observe their lead,” Hunt says.
Drawn to the Chaos of Competitors
For Hunt, essentially the most alluring side of alpine racing is its imperfection.
“There are such a lot of variables that come into play in each race, and there are such a lot of various expertise {that a} ski racer should have to achieve success,” she says. “Alpine skiers have to be technically and tactically sound, brave, agile, sturdy, highly effective, fast. As a result of there are such a lot of completely different facets of this sport that come into play, it’s nearly unimaginable to be excellent. Good runs are uncommon, and I really like that as a result of it implies that there are extra methods than one to be quick.”
Versatile and Victorious
Now 18, Hunt stands out as one of many more and more uncommon racers who excel in each self-discipline.
Final season, she received or reached the rostrum in slalom, big slalom, super-G, and downhill. Consequently, she secured the NorAm total title—together with the super-G and downhill self-discipline titles.
“Successful any titles in any respect wasn’t my aim initially of this season, however I labored as onerous as I might making an attempt to get a little bit bit higher each single day, and my onerous work actually paid off,” she says. “I achieved far more than I had got down to do, and that was among the best emotions on the planet.”
Ambitiously Wanting Forward
Hunt graduated from Burke Mountain Academy this June and can take a post-grad 12 months to completely give attention to racing—along with her sights set on reaching the World Cup podium.
“I’m most trying ahead to my new crew of coaches, technicians, and teammates. I’ve gotten to know a lot of the ladies on the U.S. Workforce fairly properly, so I’m very excited to ski with them extra and spend extra time with them,” she says. “I’m additionally excited for the entire assets that the U.S. Workforce has to supply. I’m actually trying ahead to subsequent season.”
Jeremy Nolting
HEAD skis, boots and bindings
Park Metropolis Roots and World Targets
Additionally a Park Metropolis native, Jeremy Nolting “realized to ski just about the identical time I realized to stroll” at age two. He joined the Be taught to Rip program when he was eight and spent his days snowboarding all around the mountain—hitting the gates and the terrain park and even the ski leaping slope.
“I all the time wished to go quick, so in the long run I selected racing,” he says. “I really like the aggressive side of snowboarding. I actually like that it just about comes all the way down to me and what I can do. I additionally actually just like the neighborhood in snowboarding and the way well- linked everyone seems to be. I really like touring all around the globe and with the ability to see associates from all around the world.”
Climbing the Ranks
Competing with Steamboat Springs Winter Sports activities Membership, Nolting has already seen a glimpse of worldwide success. He made an impression on the NorAm circuit and delivered sturdy performances ultimately season’s FIS Junior World Ski Championships. The 19-year-old positioned eighth in big slalom, twelfth in slalom, 14th in downhill, and 18th in super-G.
These outcomes strengthened his potential—and his ambition.
Eyes on the Globe
Nolting desires of profitable the general World Cup Globe and sees his U.S. Ski Workforce choice as a significant step towards that aim.
“It means a lot,” he says. “I’m grateful and honored to have the ability to symbolize my nation within the sport I’ve grown up doing my complete life. I’m trying ahead to persevering with my profession with as a lot effort or greater than I’ve given prior to now, however I’m excited for the chance to make use of the entire assets that haven’t been accessible to me earlier than.”
Logan Grosdidier
Following the Household Path
The youngest of the newly appointed U.S. Ski Workforce squad, 16-year-old Logan Grosdidier joins her older sister Tatum on the nationwide crew. She realized to ski in Washington alongside her three older sisters and rapidly got down to observe their lead after seeing how a lot they liked racing.
“I really like snowboarding as a result of it has develop into such a significant a part of my life,” she says. “It helps me put aside stress, particularly after I’m surrounded by nice friendships and robust competitors. Snowboarding is a mentally and bodily difficult sport, however it retains me in tune with myself and consistently reveals me how a lot additional I can push myself.”
Speedy Rise By way of the Ranks
Now a highschool sophomore in Wenatchee, Wash., Grosdidier has spent a number of seasons racing in Colorado with Steamboat Springs Winter Sports activities Membership. She has already earned NorAm podiums in slalom, big slalom and super-G. Nevertheless, her proudest achievement thus far got here final season when she positioned seventh in GS at World Juniors.
Desirous to Be taught and Stage Up
Along with her U.S. Workforce appointment, Grosdidier now units her sights on reaching the World Cup.
“I’m actually trying ahead to getting extra publicity this upcoming rookie season and studying what it takes to compete on the subsequent stage. It’s such an thrilling alternative to coach with among the prime athletes within the nation and to see how I stack up in opposition to a better stage of competitors,” she says. “I need to compete on the highest stage, keep constant, and continue learning with every season. My major focus is on regular progress and getting higher with each alternative.
Nolan Sweeney
East Coast Grit
The one East Coaster among the many U.S. Ski Workforce’s 2025 rookie squad, Nolan Sweeney brings a background harking back to one other New Hampshire legend.
He realized to ski at age two from his grandfather, an teacher at Bretton Woods, and bought his first season cross at Cannon Mountain when he was 5. From there, Sweeney skied each weekend along with his brother and fogeys.
“Cannon is chilly and icy, and it makes you a very good skier,” he says. “The Cannon neighborhood has a real love of the game. It has all the time been a dream of mine to observe within the footsteps of Cannon Mountain ski racing greats like Ronnie Berlack and Bode Miller.”
Late Begin, Regular Climb
Sweeney by no means deliberate on racing. He merely wished to ski with a gaggle of associates, so he joined the Franconia Ski Membership at seven. At 14, he started racing for Burke Mountain Academy and graduated in 2022.
After a few robust seasons marked by accidents and well being points, he spent the previous two years racing NCAA for Colby School in Maine. Final February, he earned his first collegiate podium with a GS end result at Whiteface Mountain.
“My Colby teammates and coaches reignited my ardour for racing,” he says. “I wish to thank Winterfell Alpin for supporting me in chasing the U.S. Ski Workforce in school.”
Eyes on a Larger Stage
Now 21, Sweeney plans to take the approaching 12 months off from Colby to pursue his U.S. Ski Workforce alternative.
He counts his second-place NorAm GS end final January in Lake Louise as his greatest achievement thus far. Nonetheless, his objectives lengthen far past that.
“My final aim is to win World Cup globes and Olympic medals. I’m trying ahead to touring the world and chasing my desires,” he says. “I need to thank my dad and mom and the entire individuals who have supported me over the previous 15 years of my ski racing profession. I’m grateful for the chance to symbolize the U.S. and compete on the highest stage.”
Viktoria Zaytseva
Nordica skis and boots, Marker bindings
Discovering Her Pace Early
Rising up in Edwards, Colorado, Viktoria Zaytseva started snowboarding at age 3 along with her dad and mom at Beaver Creek. Whereas neither guardian raced, they supported her ardour after she entered a college ski race with a good friend and immediately fell in love with the game. Quickly after, they enrolled her within the Ski and Snowboard Membership Vail, the place her aggressive journey started. Final season, Zaytseva took a daring step and joined the Apex2100 program in Europe, looking for new challenges and alternatives to develop.
“I really like that snowboarding isn’t a judged sport,” she says. “The one factor that issues is your time. It doesn’t matter what you appear to be. On the finish of the day, it’s how briskly you ski.”
Climbing Quick, Crashing Arduous
A U18 nationwide champion and two-time U16 nationwide champion, Zaytseva started competing in NorAms and college races in 2024. She rapidly moved up the ranks in slalom, big slalom, and super-G, incomes NorAm podiums in GS and SG. She additionally scored a podium in simply her second NorAm downhill, final February in Kimberley, B.C.
Nevertheless, her pace collection ended abruptly when she crashed within the following super-G. The end result: a fractured tibial plateau and a torn meniscus.
Youth, Restoration, and Dedication
Nonetheless solely 17, Zaytseva will probably be a highschool senior this season. She attended Vail Ski and Snowboard Academy via tenth grade earlier than switching to on-line coursework with ICL Academy.
“Becoming a member of the U.S. Workforce is an thrilling step in my profession. It’s a aim that I’ve labored in the direction of for a very long time,” she says. “I’m proud to have the chance to symbolize the U.S., and I’m trying ahead to getting again on snow after my harm and being a part of a powerful crew the place I can push myself in new environments and maintain getting sooner. My final objectives are to podium at World Cups, World Championships and Olympics.”
Tanner Perkins
HEAD skis, boots and bindings
From Powderhorn to the Podium
Probably the most senior member of the 2025 U.S. rookies, 24-year-old Tanner Perkins has achieved loads—and never simply on the racecourse.
His ski journey started when he was six, when his household moved from Texas to Grand Junction, Colorado. At Powderhorn Mountain, Perkins first clicked into skis and joined the Sunday race program.
“From there, I used to be put into the Sunday race program so my dad and mom might get a day away from me and ski on their very own. Little did they know the highway that may ship me down,” he says. “Since I used to be a little bit child, I liked pace and to race. The liberty of expression had me hooked.”
A Nontraditional Path
After the household relocated to Crested Butte, Perkins saved racing whereas additionally working native ranch jobs, serving to at a motorcycle store, and coaching in emergency providers and mountain rescue. At 16, he joined Aspen Valley Ski Membership and raced there till he was 20.
Regardless of struggling to land on a school crew and narrowly lacking U.S. Workforce standards, Perkins saved going. He lived out of a van, maintained his EMS and hearth certifications, and saved racing.
His persistence paid off. Three years in the past, he joined the Montana State College ski crew. He delivered stable college outcomes, particularly in big slalom, together with a podium final season. On the NorAm circuit, he competed in all disciplines however gained momentum in pace, touchdown his first super-G podium final February.
Hooked on Pace
“What I really like most in regards to the sport is the way it makes me really feel alive,” he says. “I crave the beginning of a downhill, the best way I’m extra alert, and the push from the highest to the underside. I take into consideration pace and jumps on a downhill or SG monitor on a regular basis.”
For Perkins, becoming a member of the U.S. Ski Workforce is each a reward and a aid.
“For me, becoming a member of the U.S. Ski Workforce means a lot. It means I lastly have entry to the assets and coaching I’ve by no means had my complete life,” he says. “I’ve by no means been capable of enter this season and never fear about how I’ll pay for my journey and resorts, meals and races.” I’m clearly excited to put on a coat with USA on the again, however actually, what’s most necessary for me is that each one I’ve to do now could be give attention to changing into a sooner skier. An enormous thanks to STIFEL and all the opposite wonderful donors that make it doable for guys and gals like me to exit and construct a legacy of American ski racers.”
Racing Towards the Future
Perkins has studied nursing for 3 years and has only one semester left to graduate from Montana State. He plans to pause his research to pursue snowboarding on the highest stage.
His objectives are clear: develop into among the best on the planet in downhill and super-G.
“I’m actually trying ahead to creating some large leaps in my snowboarding and studying to work with knowledgeable program in an environment friendly solution to get essentially the most work accomplished doable. I hope to contribute to a profitable crew surroundings that helps one another and has numerous enjoyable,” Perkins says. “I might additionally prefer to set an instance for any and all youngsters across the nation, as a result of I really feel that if I could make it there, anybody can. I hope to someday have a platform to face on that helps me develop the game and provides again to American ski racing.”
