Kitzbühel GEPA photos
Kyle Negomir Embraces a Uncommon Alternative: 4 Dwelling-State Pace Races to Open His Olympic Season
A Childhood Connection That Comes Full Circle
Kyle Negomir grew up snowboarding Copper Mountain on weekends, carving NASTAR programs and chasing his mother and father by beer-league units. Racing within the World Cup was a dream—distant, summary, and much past what he imagined in these early ski days.
Now, at 27, he’ll race each World Cup pace occasion this season, starting with an unprecedented stretch: 4 races in his house state on mountains he has skied since he was a toddler.
“It’s such a singular alternative,” Negomir mentioned. “To compete professionally on the identical locations the place I realized to ski, lived, and spent a lot of my life—it’s one thing I don’t take as a right.”
As a youngster and member of Ski & Snowboard Membership Vail, Negomir labored with the slip crew through the Birds of Prey World Cup, serving to preserve the floor excellent for the athletes he admired. Standing on the hill the place his heroes raced formed his early understanding of the game—however racing it himself nonetheless felt distant.
“Even if you begin to dream larger, it’s not possible to image your self of their sneakers,” he mentioned. “However right here we’re. 20 years later, I’m again on these identical mountains making an attempt to qualify for my first Olympics.”
Launching an Olympic Season at Dwelling
Negomir begins the Olympic yr proper the place his snowboarding started—on Colorado snow. The alignment fuels his motivation.
“To begin the marketing campaign for my first Olympics right here means loads,” he mentioned. “I hope having the World Cup at Copper evokes youngsters in Summit County. Seeing top-level racing up shut is highly effective. I didn’t have that rising up.”
Acquainted Terrain, Acquainted Snow
Negomir has educated on Copper’s pace piste since his early teenagers, lengthy earlier than it grew to become a World Cup venue. That consolation issues, even when the benefit is refined.
“Having skied on snow this aggressive my entire life positively helps,” he mentioned. “However nearly each pace group trains at Copper each November. So the sting isn’t understanding the terrain—it’s the sensation of being house. Copper has at all times been a second house for me.”
The Rewards and Stress of Racing at Dwelling
Racing in entrance of a house crowd brings each pleasure and expectation.
“Dwelling races are rewarding and worrying,” he mentioned. “It’s wonderful to have household and pals there, however it might probably add stress. Everybody needs to ski their greatest at house, however you’ll be able to’t power extra-fast snowboarding. You must belief your regular snowboarding and never overdo it.”
Tracks That Encourage
Two venues have formed Negomir’s perspective on pace: one near house, one iconic.
“Beaver Creek is a favourite as a result of it’s house, but additionally as a result of it’s one of the vital pleasurable tracks on the planet—gliding, high-speed turns, large jumps,” he mentioned. “However my favourite is Kitzbühel. Despite the fact that I haven’t had large outcomes there but, the power makes you are feeling like an NFL participant. Nothing compares to racing Kitz.”
A New Problem in Livigno
This season features a new pace venue in Livigno, Italy—an interesting wrinkle within the early schedule.
“A brand new monitor is thrilling for everybody,” he mentioned. “It could assist youthful guys who don’t have as a lot expertise on the basic hills. And will probably be good not spending Christmas Day serious about racing Bormio downhill the subsequent morning.”
The Olympic Push
The schedule options six downhills and 6 super-Gs earlier than the Olympic break—Negomir will race all of them.
“Olympic seasons at all times add motivation, particularly as an American,” he mentioned. “However my purpose is at all times to ski as quick as potential in each race, Olympics or not. So my method doesn’t actually change.”
Wanting Forward to a Totally different Bormio
Negomir has raced Bormio six occasions—three downhills and three super-Gs—along with his greatest ends in super-G. If he qualifies for the Olympics, he’ll return to the Stelvio in February, not December—a shift with significant influence.
“A basic pace hill for the Olympics is particular,” he mentioned. “Most Olympic venues are one-offs made for TV. This Bormio might be toned down in comparison with what we usually see. Higher mild and extra constant snow will let folks race with extra danger, which makes it enjoyable to ski and enjoyable to observe.”
Resilience, Perspective, and Motivation
Negomir’s journey has included main damage setbacks and a protracted rebuild—experiences that formed his mindset.
“I spent greater than two years getting back from a foul knee damage after I was first breaking into the World Cup,” he mentioned. “It confirmed me what ardour and dedication to this sport imply to me, as a result of it could’ve been really easy to cease. However I by no means questioned whether or not coming again was the fitting factor.”
Time away from racing gave him readability.
“I had the prospect to develop myself exterior the game and set the path I need for my future,” he mentioned. “Shaping your life across the pursuit of being the very best on the planet is a uncommon alternative. Only a few folks get to do that. That problem—chasing one thing that feels nearly not possible—is what drives me now.”
Negomir additionally confirmed his present readiness: He feels absolutely again to his pre-injury kind, wholesome and assured heading into probably the most significant opening block of his profession.
He’ll race each World Cup pace occasion this season, starting with a stretch of 4 races on the mountains the place his snowboarding story first started.
