SSCV Dominates U.S. Ski & Snowboard 2026-27 Nominations

The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association just handed out nominations for the 2026-27 season. The list is long. The talent is elite. But for the folks in Edwards, Vail, and Avon, the most striking statistic isn’t a medal count — it’s the sheer volume of local names attached to the Ski & Snowboard Club Vail (SSCV) banner.

Look at the skier roster. Out of the 17 athletes listed, 14 are explicitly linked to SSCV. That’s 82 percent. It’s not just a few kids who grew up here; it’s the entire pipeline. From Mikaela Shiffrin in Edwards to Tess Johnson in Vail, the club is the engine. Even Kyle Negomir, who calls Littleton home, is tagged with SSCV. River Radamus? Edwards. Liv Moritz? Edwards. Kjersti Moritz? Edwards. It’s becoming less of a club and more of a regional monopoly on high-performance alpine skiing.

Then there’s the snowboard side. Jake Pates and Ryan Wachendorfer are back on the pro halfpipe roster for the first time since the 2019 season. Kade Martin took the 2026 overall NorAm title and jumped to the pro ranks. Lily Dhawornvej from Frisco is in. It’s a solid showing, but the depth doesn’t match the alpine dominance.

Let’s talk about the big names, because they drive the narrative. Mikaela Shiffrin is on the list. Of course she is. She’s the winningest Alpine skier of all time, a three-time Olympic champion, and an eight-time world champion. Her presence is expected. It’s the baseline.

Lindsey Vonn is also on the list. This might surprise some neighbors who remember her thrilling comeback ending in a devastating crash and injury at the Milan Cortina Olympics in February. Vonn still has a long road to recovery ahead. She’s also considering retirement. So, her nomination isn’t just about current form; it’s about legacy and potential return. It’s a signal that the federation is betting on her experience, even if her body is telling her otherwise.

The rest of the list is a mix of established veterans and rising stars. Elizabeth Lemley, who won gold in women’s moguls earlier in the week at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Livigno, Italy, is nominated. She’s wearing that gold medal like a badge of honor, alongside a bronze from the dual moguls finals. Kyle Negomir and River Radamus are veterans who have been grinding on the World Cup circuit for years. Bridger Gile, from Aspen but trained at SSCV, is there too.

On the snowboard side, the narrative is about resurgence and breakthrough. Ryan Wachendorfer, who competed in the Monster Energy Men’s Snowboard SuperPipe at X Games Aspen 2022, is back. He’s not new to the sport, but he’s back on the pro roster after a gap since 2019. Jake Pates, a two-time Olympian, is in the same boat. They’re proving that experience still matters in a sport that favors youth. Kade Martin, from Bellyache Ridge, is the new blood. He took home the 2026 overall NorAm title. That’s a big deal. It means he’s dominating the circuit below the World Cup level. It’s the kind of performance that gets you noticed by the selectors.

The geographic spread is worth noting. Edwards and Vail are the hubs. But there are outliers. Alex Krupka is from Fayston, Vermont. Dylan Walczyk is from Rochester, New York. Abby McLarnon is from Steamboat Springs. They’re all tagged with SSCV. This isn’t just a local club anymore. It’s a national powerhouse that recruits from everywhere and funnels them through its system in Eagle County.

The infrastructure is working. It means the coaches, the facilities, and the culture in Eagle County are producing winners. It also means the competition is fierce. If you’re a kid in Edwards trying to make the next level, you’re not just competing against kids from Aspen or Steamboat. You’re competing against kids who train in the same gym, on the same snow, under the same coaches.

The nomination process is just the first step. These athletes aren’t on the Olympic team yet. They’re on the 2026-27 roster. That’s a development team. It’s a proving ground. The real test comes in the next two years. Can they translate this club success into World Cup podiums? Can Vonn actually return from that injury? Can Kade Martin make the jump from NorAm to the big stage?

For now, the data is clear. Eagle County is the epicenter of American skiing. The numbers don’t lie. The club is winning. The athletes are winning. The question is, for how long?