2026–27 Stifel U.S. Ski Team Nominations Revealed as Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn Headline Star-Studded Lineup

U.S. Ski & Snowboard has officially unveiled the 48 athletes nominated to the 2026–27 Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team, setting the stage for a new season that will ultimately build toward the 2027 World Championships in Switzerland.

The nominations, announced in Park City on May 5, showcase a mixture of established champions, Olympic medalists, rising prospects, and athletes who earned their places by meeting the federation’s published selection standards.

The upcoming campaign is expected to be one of the most important in recent years for the American alpine program, with attention already shifting toward the 2027 World Championships in Crans-Montana.

The Nomination Process and What Happens Next

Although the athletes have now been nominated, the selection process is not yet fully complete. U.S. Ski & Snowboard confirmed that this stage represents the first phase of the process, with final confirmation of the official team set to come later in the year.

Athletes are formally nominated during the month of May and must still fulfill additional team requirements and formally accept their nominations. Once that process is complete, the finalized Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team for the 2026–27 season will officially be named in October 2026.

The nominations already provide a strong indication of the direction of the national team heading into a crucial World Cup season.

Mikaela Shiffrin Once Again Leads the Program

At the forefront of the nominations is Mikaela Shiffrin, who continues to redefine greatness in alpine skiing.

Widely regarded as the most successful alpine skier in history, Shiffrin enters another season carrying remarkable achievements that include three Olympic gold medals and eight world championship titles.

Her performances during the previous campaign once again demonstrated her dominance on the international stage. Shiffrin secured nine victories and 11 podium finishes during the season, while also capturing Olympic gold in slalom competition.

She remains the centerpiece of the American women’s team and will again be expected to lead the nation’s medal hopes across multiple disciplines during the upcoming World Cup season and the 2027 World Championships.

Lindsey Vonn’s Inclusion Creates Major Talking Point

Another name attracting enormous attention is Lindsey Vonn, whose nomination immediately became one of the biggest storylines surrounding the roster announcement.

At 41 years old, Vonn’s inclusion highlights both her enduring legacy and the uncertainty surrounding her potential return to competition.

The legendary speed skier has not officially ruled out competing again, though questions remain regarding her recovery timeline after the devastating injury she suffered during the Cortina 2026 Olympics.

Vonn’s crash in February resulted in a severe fracture and complications involving compartment syndrome, raising fears at one stage that she could even lose her leg. The injury shocked the skiing world given the extraordinary form she had shown entering the Games.

Prior to the accident, Vonn had been leading the World Cup downhill standings and was considered one of the strongest favorites for Olympic gold in downhill competition.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding her immediate future, her nomination underlines the enormous respect she continues to command within the sport.

Other Established Stars Strengthen the Team

Alongside Shiffrin and Vonn, several other proven stars headline the American roster.

Breezy Johnson enters the new season after capturing Olympic downhill gold and earning three World Cup podium finishes during the previous campaign. Her performances have cemented her status as one of the top speed skiers in the world.

Meanwhile, Ryan Cochran-Siegle remains one of the leading figures on the men’s side. The two-time Olympic silver medalist added another Olympic super-G silver medal last season while also recording two downhill podiums.

Other notable athletes returning include Paula Moltzan, who delivered five podium finishes and secured Olympic team combined bronze, and Jacqueline Wiles, who achieved a downhill podium and also won Olympic team combined bronze.

World Championships Become Major Target

The upcoming World Cup campaign will steadily build toward the centerpiece event of the season: the 2027 World Championships in Crans-Montana.

That event is expected to provide the defining test for the American squad, with athletes needing to balance consistency, preparation, and peak performance against the strongest competitors in the world.

Several American skiers appear well positioned to challenge for medals across both technical and speed disciplines. The combination of experienced veterans and emerging young talent has created optimism about the nation’s potential heading into the championship cycle.

Strong Nor-Am Performances Add Depth

One of the encouraging signs for the U.S. program has been the success achieved on the Nor-Am Cup circuit during the 2025–26 season.

Strong performances from a number of athletes earned additional World Cup start positions and added further depth to the national team structure.

Among the standout performers was Isaiah Nelson, who finished second overall in the Nor-Am standings while also winning the super-G title and placing second in giant slalom.

Erik Arvidsson captured the downhill title and placed third in super-G, while Maximilien Hoder secured second place in slalom.

Additional strong results came from Jevin Palmquist, who placed third in slalom, and Bridger Gile, who finished third in giant slalom.

On the women’s side, Logan Grosdidier delivered an excellent season by finishing second overall and winning the super-G standings, while Katie Rowekamp and Kjersti Moritz also produced standout campaigns.

These performances have strengthened internal competition within the program and created additional options for World Cup selection.

Women’s A Team Loaded With Experience and Talent

The women’s A Team features an impressive collection of accomplished athletes across multiple disciplines.

Alongside Shiffrin and Vonn are names such as Keely Cashman, Katie Hensien, A.J. Hurt, Lauren Macuga, and Nina O’Brien.

The squad combines technical specialists, speed racers, and versatile all-around skiers capable of contributing across disciplines.

Johnson, Moltzan, and Wiles add further experience and proven World Cup success to a roster designed to compete consistently at the highest level.

Men’s A Team Anchored by Veterans

The men’s A Team includes several experienced competitors who have established themselves on the World Cup circuit.

Bryce Bennett returns as a key speed specialist alongside Cochran-Siegle, while Tommy Ford and River Radamus continue to lead the American technical contingent.

Kyle Negomir also earned selection following strong downhill and super-G performances.

The men’s team will aim to improve consistency and challenge more regularly for podium finishes throughout the upcoming season.

Emerging Athletes Continue to Rise

Beyond the established stars, one of the most exciting aspects of the nominations is the number of young skiers now pushing into the national setup.

The B and C Teams include several highly regarded prospects who are already gaining valuable international experience. Athletes such as Ava Sunshine, Ryder Sarchett, Jett Seymour, and Bella Wright continue to develop within the program.

The C Team also features a number of newly named athletes viewed as future stars of American skiing. Among them are Logan Grosdidier, Tatum Grosdidier, Annika Hunt, Mari Renick, and Mattias Wilson.

The inclusion of these younger athletes highlights the federation’s long-term focus on sustaining competitiveness across future Olympic and World Championship cycles.

Several Athletes Not Renamed to the Team

The announcement also confirmed that several members of the 2025–26 team were not renamed for the upcoming season.

Among the women not returning were Tricia Mangan and Stella Johansson.

On the men’s side, athletes such as Jared Goldberg, who has since retired, along with Sam Morse, Luke Winters, and Hunter Salani were among those omitted from the new roster.

The decisions reflect the highly competitive nature of team selection and the constant evolution within elite alpine skiing programs.

Team Reflects Blend of Proven Winners and Rising Stars

Overall, the 2026–27 Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team nominations illustrate the impressive depth currently present within American skiing.

The roster combines Olympic champions, World Cup winners, Nor-Am standouts, and ambitious young athletes all striving to establish themselves on the international stage.

With Shiffrin continuing to dominate, Vonn’s possible return generating worldwide interest, and a new generation beginning to emerge, the U.S. program enters the upcoming season with both immediate medal hopes and strong long-term potential.

As preparations begin for another demanding World Cup campaign, the focus will now gradually shift toward final team confirmations in the fall and, ultimately, toward the challenge awaiting in Crans-Montana at the 2027 World Championships.