PyeongChang 2018: US alpine and snowboard teams named

23 alpine skiers and 14 snowboarders will represent Team USA 21 Feb 2018

a female snowboarder holds up a crystal globe and medal

Brenna Huckaby celebrates winning the 2018 crystal globe in SB-LL1

ⒸAndrew Jay

By US Paralympics and IPC

US Paralympics has revealed the alpine skiers and snowboarders who will compete at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games from 9-18 March.

Twenty-three athletes, including four guides, will represent Team USA in alpine skiing. Four returning Paralympic medallists headline the US roster, including two-time Paralympic medallist Stephanie Jallen and six-time medallist Laurie Stephens, who both earned double bronze at the 2014 Winter Games. Danelle Umstead, a three-time medallist, added a bronze of her own with guide and husband Rob Umstead. On the men’s side, Mark Bathum captured two silver medals to bring his Paralympic total to three with guide Cade Yamamoto.

“After four years of preparation, our team is ready to prove themselves at the pinnacle of Paralympic competition: the Paralympic Winter Games,” said Kevin Jardine, director of US Paralympics Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding. “We have a great balance of veterans who know what it takes to succeed at the highest level as well as younger talent who are eager to make a name for themselves. I feel confident that our team will rise to the occasion and look forward to seeing which athletes have breakout performances for Team USA.”

Team USA will also bring 14 snowboarders to PyeongChang, including returning Paralympic medallists Evan Strong, Amy Purdy, Mike Shea and Keith Gabel.

“After the successful showing we had in Sochi, I am incredibly excited to see what this group is capable of in PyeongChang,” said Jardine. “Our strength comes from our experience, drive and depth, which will prove to be important with a sport and international field that have grown immensely over the last four years. Every one of our athletes is a medal contender and it makes me proud to see the level in which they’ve pushed this program heading into the Paralympics.”

Also highlighting the roster is an impressive group of athletes poised to challenge for medals in their Paralympic debut. Brenna Huckaby and Mike Minor have quickly established themselves as the ones to beat in their respective classes. At the 2017 World Para Snowboard Championships, Huckaby won back-to-back world titles in 2017 while Minor collected his first world title in snowboard-cross and silver in banked slalom.

Mike Schultz, who won his World Championship medal with silver in banked slalom, comes off his best season yet after having won the crystal globe alongside Huckaby in both disciplines. Mark Mann will also compete in his first Winter Games after capturing bronze for his first world championship medal.