Ski Racing this Week

World Championship Medalist Dustin Cook

On this week's Tips and Tales, Sean Higgins has a conversation with Canadian Olympian, World Cup winner, and World Championship silver medalist Dustin Cook.

Dustin made his World Cup debut way back in 2010 and enjoyed a slow and steady progression on tour, scoring points in giant slalom, super-G, and combined before his breakthrough silver medal performance in the 2015 World Championship super-G in Beaver Creek, Colorado. Not only did he shock the field — and himself — that day, but the Ottawa native backed up that performance a few weeks later, landing on the podium a second time in Kvitfjell, Norway, and closed out the season with his first World Cup win, taking the final super-G of the season in Meribel, France.

Unfortunately for Dustin, the high of a career-best season came to a screeching halt that fall after he suffered a traumatic knee injury just days before the World Cup opener in Soelden, Austria, forcing him to watch from the couch for the entirety of the 2016 season.

Dustin returned to the World Cup a year later and has been a solid performer since, even making his Olympic debut at PyeongChang in 2018, finishing ninth in the super-G. But, as you’ll hear him explain, he’s nowhere near satisfied yet and is busy grinding away to step back on a World Cup podium.

Multisport Phenom Robby Kelley

On this week's episode of Tips and Tales, host Sean Higgins chats with World Cup skier Robby Kelley about his newest athletic challenge, becoming a college football player.

Kelley is an immensely talented athlete and was an all-state soccer player and state champion in baseball as a high schooler in addition to making two World Championship teams in ski racing in 2013 and 2017. Kelley and Higgins talk about everything from his decision to return to school to his recent struggles with injury and his future in ski racing. Good news for ski racing fans? He doesn't plan on going anywhere anytime soon.

The Return of Paula Moltzan

On this week's episode of Tips and Tales, Sean Higgins talks with rising American World Cup slalom star Paula Moltzan. Moltzan was a member of the national team for many years and even won a gold medal at the 2015 World Junior Championships before getting dropped from the team a year later. After three successful seasons racing NCAA for the University of Vermont, she clawed her way back to the World Cup and thanks to some impressive performances earned a spot back on the national team for this coming season. Don't plan on seeing her away from the top ranks of the World Cup anytime soon. 

Canada's Simon Fournier and Sam Mulligan

On this week's episode of Tips and Tales we head back up the the Great White North as Canadian podcast intern, Patrick Carry, sits down and talks with a pair of rising young Canadian Ski Team talents, Simon Fournier and Sam Mulligan. Fournier and Mulligan had some pretty breakthrough seasons last year with Simon breaking through first on the NorAm circuit before making his first World Championship team last February in Are, Sweden, and Sam becoming more and more comfortable on the World Cup Speed circuit, earning starts in Lake Louise, Beaver Creek, and Kvitfjell.

American Downhiller Steven Nyman

On today’s show, we have a very special guest, the leader of the American Downhillers and genuinely one of the nicest guys you could ever meet, the U.S. Ski Team’s Steven Nyman. Sean Higgins was able to sit down with Steven at his home in Park City in-between his workouts and his dad-time with his two-year-old daughter, Nell, and the two talked about everything from his humble beginnings at the small Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah, his plans for the coming season, to how he approaches his role as the veteran of the team and mentor for the up-and-coming racers climbing the ladder of the U.S. Ski Team. And at 37-years-old, they also talk a little bit about that big “R-word” —retirement — We think you’ll really enjoy the conversation.

Catching up With Canadian Olympian Broderick Thompson

On this week's show, new podcast contributor and Montana State University student-athlete, Partick Carry, sits down for a conversation with Canadian national team member and 2018 Olympian, Broderick Thompson. Thompson had a breakout year on the World Cup two season ago and he talks about what he and his teammates on the Canadian team are up to this summer, rebounding from a season-ending injury that took him out for all of last season, and although he made his World Cup breakthrough in the speed disciplines, he actually considers himself a bit of a slalom skier.

All Things Masters Racing With Lauren Beckos

On this week's episode of Tips and Tales, Sean Higgins talks with U.S. Ski & Snowboard Alpine Masters Manager, Lauren Beckos, to learn all about this unique racing community. Masters racing is diverse with ex-national team skiers at times skiing the same courses as middle-aged newbies to the sport. If you're over 18 and are looking to experience the sport at a higher level than a casual run or two down a NASTAR course or are a former racer looking to get your competitive juices flowing again, masters racing might be just what you are looking for.

The State of the U.S. Ski Team With Jesse Hunt

On this week's Tips and Tales, Sean Higgins sits down for an in-depth interview with U.S. Ski & Snowboard Alpine Director, Jesse Hunt. The pair talks all about the first year of Hunt's second tenure as Alpine Director and where he sees the future of the U.S. Ski Team going in the next several years. Everything from junior development, team culture, athlete funding, to just what is going on with men’s World Cup slalom are all topics discussed on this week's show.

Don't Panic, but Your FIS Points Are Going Up

On this week's episode of Tips and Tales, Sean Higgins sits down with U.S. Ski & Snowboard Director of Competition services, Jeff Weinman, to talk all about the new FIS point changes that are going into effect for this coming season and how it effects you. Spoiler alert: your points are going up but you shouldn’t bee too worried about that.

Sitting Down With Canada's Trevor Philp

On this week's episode of Tips and Tales, Sean Higgins sat down with Canadian rising star Trevor Philp to talk about the impressive end to his season and his ski racing journey from his childhood at Mt. Norquay to his first appearance at World Cup Finals this spring.

Also, as we enter the off season, Tips and Tales will be publishing on an every-other Wednesday basis until World Cup racing rolls around again in October.