Featured Rowmark Stories

Breezy Johnson ’13 Earns Team USA’s First Gold, Shines in Early Days of 2026 Winter Olympics

The first few days of the 2026 Winter Olympics have been something special, and Breezy Johnson ’13 has been right at the center of it.

Breezy kicked off her 2026 Olympic journey on Sunday in the women’s downhill event. True to her name, Breezy blew down the hill in 1 minute, 36.10 seconds, securing Team USA’s first gold medal of the Games. Breezy is the second Rowmarker to win an Olympic gold medal (the first was Picabo Street ’87).

The victory—one that inspired emotion in Breezy as well as those watching her on the podium—marks a significant milestone in her ski racing journey. After making her Olympic debut in 2018, Breezy was scheduled to return in 2022 but withdrew just weeks before the Games after sustaining a knee injury in a training crash. The four years that followed marked an incredible comeback, as Breezy reestablished herself as one of the world’s top ski racers, complete with winning two gold medals at the 2025 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, one in women’s downhill and another in the team combined alongside Mikaela Shiffrin.

Riding Sunday’s momentum, Breezy was back on the course today, paired again with Mikaela for the women’s alpine team combined. Breezy reinforced her place among the world’s elite speed skiers, powering a first-place finish in the event’s downhill leg. And while the duo narrowly missed the podium by just six hundredths of a second, Breezy’s speed, composure, and ability to deliver were undeniable.

It’s been an incredible start to the Games, with more still to come. Breezy is scheduled to compete in the women’s super-G on Thursday, and the Rowmark and Rowland Hall communities will be cheering her on.

Congratulations, Breezy!

Want more Breezy news? Be sure to check out our RH in the News page for a collection of local and national coverage. And don’t forget to read about the other Rowland Hall athletes competing at the 2026 Olympics.


Image credit: © GEPA Pictures

Rowmark

Meet Rowland Hall’s Four 2026 Olympic Alpine Skiers

We’re celebrating four Rowland Hall and Rowmark Ski Academy alumnae who will represent the United States and Australia at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, Italy: Breezy Johnson ’13, Katie Hensien ’18, Madison Hoffman ’18, and Mary Bocock ’22.

These alpine skiers’ selections continue a remarkable Olympic legacy: at least one Rowmark alum has been selected to compete at every Winter Olympic Games since 1988.


A Guide to Alpine Skiing Events

Alpine skiing events are broken into two categories: technical and speed.

Technical events, slalom and giant slalom, emphasize precision and control. Slalom focuses on rapid, short turns and exact edge control, while giant slalom features wider gate spacing, blending technical skill with higher speeds and longer turns.

Speed events, downhill and super-G, are, unsurprisingly, all about going fast. Downhill is the fastest event, prioritizing maximum speed, aerodynamic efficiency, and the ability to handle long jumps and sustained gliding. Super-G combines elements of downhill and giant slalom, requiring high speed alongside more frequent turns and technical precision.

Alpine skiers also compete in a team combined event, a two-run race where teammates pair up, with one racing a technical discipline and the other a speed discipline. Their combined times determine the final result.


Meet the Athletes

Breezy Johnson ’13

Olympic selections: 3 (2026, 2022, 2018)
Anticipated events: Downhill and super-G; possibly team combined
Known for: Fearless, high-speed racing and World Championship–level consistency in downhill
Team: US Alpine Ski Team

Breezy Johnson, Rowland Hall alumna and Team USA Olympian

Breezy Johnson made her Olympic debut at the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, competing in super-G and downhill. She was set to return in 2022 but withdrew weeks before the Beijing Games after sustaining a knee injury in a training crash, a significant loss for the US women’s speed team.

Since then, Breezy has mounted a standout comeback, highlighted by a career-defining performance at the 2025 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Saalbach, Austria, where she won gold in the women’s downhill. Three days later, she added a second gold in the team combined event alongside Mikaela Shiffrin, reestablishing herself as one of the world’s top speed racers heading into Milan Cortina.

Update, February 8, 2026: Breezy Johnson won Team USA’s first gold medal of 2026 in the women’s downhill. She is the second American woman ever to win gold in this event.

Katie Hensien ’18

Olympic selections: 2 (2026, 2022)
Anticipated events: Slalom and/or giant slalom
Known for: Precision, rhythm, and control in the technical events
Team: US Alpine Ski Team

Katie Hensien, Rowland Hall alumna and Team USA Olympian

Katie Hensien made her Olympic debut at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, China, competing in the women’s slalom. Her first Olympic selection followed a standout collegiate career at the University of Denver, where she won the 2022 NCAA slalom national title and was named National Women’s Alpine Skier of the Year.

After a severe knee injury sidelined Katie for the 2023–2024 season, she returned to top form in 2024–2025, posting a career-best fourth-place finish in giant slalom at Sölden, Austria (the top American result that day), and later qualifying for her first World Cup Finals.

Update, February 4, 2026: Katie Hensien announced she will sit out the Games this year after determining she is not yet back at the competitive level required to race at the Olympics.

Madison Hoffman ’18

Olympic selections: 2 (2026, 2022)
Anticipated events: Slalom and giant slalom
Known for: Consistency and technical precision on the World Cup circuit
Team: Australian Alpine Ski Team

Madison Hoffman, Rowland Hall alumna and Team Australia Olympian

Madison Hoffman will make her Olympic debut at the Milan Cortina Games after being selected for the 2022 Winter Olympics but sidelined by a season-ending ACL injury before competition.

Madi’s long-awaited Olympic appearance follows a return to full health and a breakout collegiate season at the University of Utah in 2023. That year, she swept the NCAA slalom and giant slalom titles (the first University of Utah woman to do so since 1990) and earned First Team All-America honors. Madi continued to balance NCAA and World Cup racing in 2024, earning podiums on both circuits and recording a top-25 World Cup slalom finish in Levi, Finland, the first by an Australian woman in more than 20 years.

Mary Bocock ’22

Olympic selections: 1 (2026)
Anticipated event: Super-G
Known for: Versatility across multiple disciplines and strong results on the Nor-Am circuit
Team: US Alpine Ski Team

Mary Bocock, Rowland Hall alumna and Team USA Olympian

Mary Bocock will make her Olympic debut at the Milan Cortina Games after emerging as one of the most versatile racers in the US alpine pipeline, with the ability to compete in both technical and speed disciplines.

Mary captured the 2022–2023 Nor-Am Overall title, securing a World Cup quota and making her World Cup debut during the 2023–2024 season opener in Sölden, Austria. In 2024–2025, she expanded into speed events, racing her first downhill and super-G World Cup starts while continuing to collect Nor-Am Cup victories, including a giant slalom win at Stratton, VT. She is currently balancing her ski career with her studies at Dartmouth.


How to Watch Our Olympians

Join us in cheering on our athletes! Races will be broadcast on NBC and USA Network; you can also stream them on Peacock. Because events take place in Italy, most races will air early in the morning Mountain Time, with additional highlights and replays broadcast later in the day.

While schedules may shift based on weather (so be sure to check daily listings), the women’s alpine skiing events are scheduled for the following dates:

  • Downhill: February 8
  • Team combined: February 10
  • Super-G: February 12
  • Giant slalom: February 15
  • Slalom: February 18

Former Rowland Hall Students to Also Keep an Eye On

In addition to the four Rowmarkers covered in this story, two former Rowland Hall students will be competing at Milan Cortina. Tallulah Proulx will represent the Philippines in alpine skiing, and Tasia Tanner will represent the United States in freestyle aerials.


Image credit: © GEPA Pictures

Rowmark

Five Rowmark Alums Excel on International Stage in 2024–2025

It’s been an incredible season for five Rowmark alums competing at the international level.

Four of those alums—Breezy Johnson ’13, Katie Hensien ’18, Mary Bocock ’22, and Elisabeth Bocock ’23—are members of the US Ski Team, and one, Madi Hoffman ’18, is a member of the Australian National Team.

“It’s exciting to have this many alums performing at such a high level at one time, and it’s been wonderful to watch our athletes excel this season,” said Rowmark Ski Academy Program Director Todd Brickson.

It’s exciting to have this many alums performing at such a high level at one time, and it’s been wonderful to watch our athletes excel this season.—Todd Brickson, Rowmark Ski Academy program director

The fun kicked off early at the World Cup in Solden, Austria, where, on October 26, Katie Hensien took fourth place in the opening giant slalom event, then won her second run. Less than two months later, at the first NorAm Cup races of the season at Panorama Mountain Resort, British Columbia, Madi Hoffman won first place in giant slalom and second and third in slalom, and Mary Bocock placed third in giant slalom.

The Rowmark community saw gold in February when Breezy Johnson made history by winning the World Championships downhill in Saalbach, Austria. Breezy is only the third American woman to win gold in downhill at worlds. Just three days later, Breezy and teammate Mikaela Shiffrin took gold in the team combined event by 0.4 seconds. Katie Hensien also competed in the team combined event, skiing to 10th place out of 26 teams with partner Jackie Wiles.

Later that month, Elizabeth Bocock raced at the World Junior Championships in Tarvisio, Italy, where she took the bronze in the team parallel event and the giant slalom race. And in March, sister Mary Bocock put a bow on the season by winning both a NorAm downhill and NorAm super-G at Sugarloaf, Maine. What a year!

Congratulations to all on a banner season—it’s been an honor to cheer you on and watch you represent Rowmark on the international stage.

Alumni

Rowmark Ski Academy Welcomes Per Lundstam as Director

Rowland Hall is pleased to announce that Per Lundstam has been named the new director of Rowmark Ski Academy.

Per Lundstam

Per brings over two decades of high-performance sports experience to the role, as well as a strong background in coaching and athlete development, including for high-level athletes as young as eight years old. This diverse background makes him exceptionally well-suited to lead Rowmark Ski Academy in its next chapter.

Per’s impressive coaching background includes serving as men’s assistant World Cup downhill/super-G coach, men’s assistant World Cup slalom/giant slalom coach, and head conditioning coach for US Ski & Snowboard. He also served as men’s assistant World Cup coach and head conditioning coach for the Swedish Ski Federation. Per earned Level 500 coaching certification, the highest level of coaching credential, from US Ski & Snowboard.

We are thrilled to have Per guiding Rowmark into the future. He is a highly respected, exceptionally knowledgeable, and innovative leader in the alpine ski-racing community.—Todd Brickson, outgoing Rowmark Ski Academy director

Per’s career features significant leadership roles within top-tier sports. He’s currently the alpine sport science director for US Ski & Snowboard, where he drives innovative sports science programming. Prior to that role, Per was director of high performance for Red Bull North America, where he managed performance strategies for a wide array of elite athletes.

Throughout his career, Per has demonstrated a strong ability to build meaningful relationships and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders. Again and again, Per’s references spoke about his deep knowledge, his expertise in skiing and coaching, and his commitment to supporting each skier’s athletic and personal progression. He is known as a collaborative leader who listens deeply and leads with kindness.

“As I pass the torch, we are thrilled to have Per guiding Rowmark into the future,” said Todd Brickson, current Rowmark Ski Academy director. “He is a highly respected, exceptionally knowledgeable, and innovative leader in the alpine ski-racing community, and we look forward to the vision and direction he will bring to the program.”

Welcome, Per! We look forward to Rowmark Ski Academy’s bright future under your direction.

Rowmark

Breezy Johnson ’13 Crowned World Champion, Wins Two Golds at FIS Alpine World Ski Championships

Breezy Johnson ’13 is on fire!

The Rowland Hall/Rowmark Ski Academy alum etched her name into ski-racing history on February 8 when she took gold in a stunning downhill performance at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Saalbach, Austria.

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Despite stiff competition, as well as a demanding downhill track, Breezy blazed to victory, clocking 1:41.29—a mere 0.15 seconds faster than the next competitor—to secure her first downhill world champion title.

US Ski Team member, and former Rowmark Ski Academy member, Breezy Johnson

“This victory means everything to me,” Breezy said in a post-race interview with Eurosport. “I’ve been working toward this moment my entire life, and to achieve it on this stage, with my family and teammates here, is a dream come true.”

Raised in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Breezy, who specializes in the downhill and super-G speed disciplines, refined her skills at Rowmark before joining the US Ski Team in 2014. Since then, she’s represented the United States in multiple World Cup seasons (in addition to this year’s victories, she has seven World Cup podiums to her name) and was a member of Team USA at the 2018 and 2022 Olympic Games.

And even after being crowned a world champion, Breezy wasn’t done. On Tuesday, February 11, she teamed up with fellow US Ski Team member Mikaela Shiffrin for the women’s team combined event, where Breezy had a strong downhill performance, finishing in third. Mikaela then followed with a slalom run time that allowed the duo to secure gold for the US. What a week!

“All of us at Rowmark are so proud of Breezy,” said Todd Brickson, program director, who has for years watched this former Rowmark athlete inspire others with her dedication, persistence, and passion for alpine ski racing.

“Ever since she was at U16 at Rowmark, she had a dream to be a world champion,” Todd continued. “After many years of commitment, injury, blood, sweat, and tears, she has reached this huge milestone. Her perseverance and work ethic are second to none, and now that she has broken through on the highest stage, this likely is the tip of the iceberg for her.”

Congratulations, Breezy! We can’t wait to see what you’ll do next.

Alumni

Todd Brickson Celebrates 20 Years as Program Director of Rowmark Ski Academy

Todd Brickson stands tall as a mountain in the world of ski racing. 

For the past 20 years, he has served as the program director of Rowmark Ski Academy, Rowland Hall’s world-class ski racing program, founded in 1982. An international level 500 coach in the US Ski & Snowboard Association, Todd has worked with hundreds of top-level Olympic, World Cup, and collegiate athletes. But, even with all that experience, those who know Todd don’t immediately bring up his coaching prowess, or his experience on the slopes. Instead, they talk about who he is as a person—and for good reason.

Priority one, before coaching, is to be a very good role model. You need to be the kind of person who young people aspire to be one day. Todd is solid in that way.—Olle Larsson, Rowmark Ski Academy co-founder

“Priority one, before coaching, is to be a very good role model in front of people. If you fail that, it doesn’t matter what kind of coach you are,” said Olle Larsson, former Rowmark program director and the co-founder of the program, who was instrumental in hiring Todd. “You need to be the kind of person who young people aspire to be one day. Todd is solid in that way.”

Building athletes of good character is central to Todd. He makes that clear on the first page of the handbook given to all team members. There, he writes that the main goal of the program is “for each Rowmarker to learn and develop responsible independence.” He emphasizes that there is more to being on the team than just making it down the hill, adding, “This is above all a process, a time of trial and error, a time to learn from mistakes, a time to learn how to win—and learn how to lose.”

The values of responsibility and independence that Todd promotes create a strong bedrock on which he builds exceptional competitors and people. But here is where Todd steps back a bit, to let the athletes find that fire within that’s needed to push themselves farther and achieve more. He’s the iconic definition of a coach in these moments, trusting that his athletes are capable of practicing what to do, and he allows them to do it. That mutual respect is what launches Rowmark athletes into greatness.

Rowmark Ski Academy Program Director Todd Brickson, on the hill in 2005.

   Todd on the mountain in 2005.

“Todd provided me with tools and then didn't put any pressure or expectation on race day. He knew that pushing wouldn’t help, and that I needed to figure it out,” said former Rowmarker and Olympic athlete Breezy Johnson ’13. “He provided me with the means to reach my incredibly high goals, and then was there with a hug and a word of advice, win or lose, at the end of the day.”

Todd does teach competitive spirit, but not in ways you may expect. He meets his students in competition in other arenas to show them that he respects them enough to go nose to nose. It may be on the golf course, in a go-kart, or by the side of a lake with a fishing pole in hand. Todd understands that coaching is a disposition and not contained to a certain time or place.

“There have been times when Todd has played hockey with us on a pond after skiing, or field hockey on dry land,” said Elisabeth Bocock, a senior who currently competes for both Rowmark and the US Ski Team. “He is never afraid to go shoulder on shoulder with us if that’s what it takes. He is super intense and does what he needs to do to win the game.”

And in his 20 years with the program, Todd’s intensity has helped raise the bar for Rowmark as an elite ski academy. Since 1988, there has been a representative from Rowmark at each Winter Olympics, and in 2014, the program became one of the first in the nation to achieve the Gold Certification level from the US Ski & Snowboard Association, and they’ve held onto that certification in the eight years since.

Rowmark’s skiers achieve off the slopes as well. The team currently has a 100 percent college placement rate, and its students are sought after by the best colleges and universities in the nation. “Todd is very involved in our academic success,” said Ian Hanrahan, co-captain of the Rowmark Academy Program. “He and the other coaches do a lot of work to make sure our teachers understand our busy schedules to help us stay on top of school and make sure we are successful skiers while still growing our academic careers.”

And Todd’s concern about the success of Rowmark skiers starts before they are even on the team. From the outset, he makes sure new recruits can thrive in the program. “Todd gives so much time to prospective families,” said Kathy Gunderson, former director of admission for Rowland Hall. “He cares so much about the candidates not only being a good fit for Rowmark but also finding academic success at the school as well. He’s brought recruiting to the next level.”

Todd’s recruiting prowess also extends to the coaches he selects to help guide the team. Every coach on Todd’s team knows they were selected for their excellence and are expected to reach extraordinarily high standards. But they also know that Todd views them as peers and wants them to feel welcome and able to grow as professionals through trial and error.

Rowmark Ski Academy coaches, 2010

Todd, fourth from left, with the Rowmark coaching team in 2010.


“Todd works to develop his staff,” said Rowmark Junior Program Director Troy Price. “Recently, three former staff members have gone on to coach for the US Ski Team. You must have excellent training to get job offers at that level.”

Staff development goes beyond coaching skills under Todd’s mentorship. After all, there is much more to the job than improving skiing skills. There are also all the logistical concerns, financial planning, health tracking, and emotional support needs that must be handled. Then there are the moments that are totally unexpected.

“My first season with the team we had a group of Rowmarkers involved in a head-on car accident while racing in Oregon,” said Troy. “Todd was coaching at another race in Whistler, Canada, yet he made arrangements to get to Portland. He stayed with our injured members during this extremely difficult time and was the glue that held everyone together. His empathy for others and his ability to stay calm in difficult situations is unmatched.”

Todd was a very important person in my development as an athlete. He taught me the tools I needed both technically with the fundamentals, and the greater work ethic required to make it to the highest level.—Breezy Johnson ‘13, Olympian

Todd’s two decades with Rowmark have left an indelible mark on all aspects of the program, and that impact will only continue to grow in the coming years. In 2019, an alpine training addition to the Utah Olympic Park became the team’s primary training facility, giving athletes access to the very slopes where their idols have competed. “This is the most important development for Rowmark since 1982,” said Olle. “The training arena that they now have does not exist anywhere else in the Northern Hemisphere.”

Time will tell what athletes will come off those slopes and into the national and international spotlights, but it’s clear that all of them will have benefitted from having Todd Brickson as a coach, mentor, and friend, just as those who came before them have.

“Todd was a very important person in my development as an athlete,” said Breezy. “He taught me the tools I needed both technically with the fundamentals, and the greater work ethic required to make it to the highest level.”

Rowmark


Todd's anniversary isn't the only celebration for Rowmark Ski Academy this year. Rowmark is also excited to celebrate its 40th anniversary with a celebration weekend, March 10–12.

Rowmarker Mary Bocock to Ski for NCAA Division I Dartmouth College Beginning in Fall 2023

At only 18 years old, Rowmarker Mary Bocock has already had an impressive skiing career.

In addition to her achievements as a top Rowmark Ski Academy athlete, Mary had the chance to compete with the US Ski & Snowboard Team in Europe in January 2021, an opportunity that led to her first nomination to the US Alpine Ski Team later that year. Earlier this month, she was nominated to the US Ski Team for a second time. And prior to sustaining a knee injury in December, Mary was ranked first in super-G, third in giant slalom, and eighth in slalom in the United States for her age.

Mary will soon add another achievement to her resume—college athlete—when she joins the Dartmouth College women’s ski team next year. She plans to enroll as a first-year student in fall 2023, after taking a gap year to continue her healing and focus on her commitment to the US Ski Team before she dives back into a routine of balancing school, training, and racing.

“Joining the Dartmouth ski team has been one of my athletic goals since I started thinking about colleges,” said Mary, who long considered the Ivy League school not only because it offered a top ski program, but also because of its academic excellence.

“This is a great fit for Mary on all levels,” said Todd Brickson, Rowmark Ski Academy program director. “Dartmouth has a long history of developing world-class ski racers within their storied NCAA Division I ski team, in conjunction with their flexible academic structure and top-notch education.”

To celebrate Mary’s plan to attend Dartmouth, we asked her a few questions about her decision and her journey as a skier. The following interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.


When did you find out that you have a spot on Dartmouth's ski team? How did it feel to receive that news?

I started talking to the coach about a year and a half before I committed to skiing for him. I knew the coach was interested in me, but I knew that I shouldn’t get my hopes up because there could be other girls out there. So when he told me he wanted to offer me a spot in the fall of 2023, I felt relieved and excited that I didn’t have to worry about my college experience.

You'll be taking a gap year before heading to Dartmouth. Why did you make that choice?

I will be taking a gap year after I graduate in the spring so that I can focus on my commitment to the US Ski Team and take advantage of all the resources they provide. Throughout my whole racing career, I have always had to balance traveling and school, so I want to experience the sport without having to balance the stresses of high school alongside the pressure of performing well in races and traveling. The Dartmouth coach actually offered me a spot to start in the fall of 2022, but I decided that I want to take a year to mature as an athlete and really focus on racing to make the most of my opportunity with the US Ski Team.

You've been offered a spot on the Dartmouth team and you're on the US Ski Team—basically, you've achieved two of your dreams. While you can't know what lies ahead, how are you approaching these two amazing opportunities?

I feel very lucky to have these two incredible opportunities ahead of me. I am trying to stay present and not worry about how I will balance the two programs. I am just trying to take advantage of the places and lessons I am experiencing. I always try to not take anything for granted—especially after COVID—and make the most of my time traveling and exploring new mountains and countries.

Rowmarker and US Ski Team member Mary Bocock with Rowmark teammates.

Mary, left, with fellow Rowmarkers Carter Louchheim and Mary Clancy in January 2020.


Focusing on your time at Rowland Hall, what moment as a member of Rowmark are you most proud of?

I’ve had a lot of great experiences on Rowmark, so it’s hard for me to pick my favorite moment. But if I had to, I would say one of my favorite memories is when I won a GS [giant slalom] race in Breckenridge, Colorado, at the end of my junior year. It was that race that helped me lower my points enough to make criteria for the US Ski Team. When I came down and everyone was cheering for me, I was so excited that I couldn’t stop smiling. Then, a few minutes later, my coach came down and gave me a hug (which is rare because he’s not one for hugs), and I started to experience an overwhelming amount of emotions because it all felt real.

On the other side, some of the most memorable experiences from Rowmark have been off the snow. The conditioning/team bonding week is always a highlight of the year because the whole team comes together to compete with each other in a very cohesive way. Competition is one of my favorite aspects of ski racing, so I always have a lot of fun on the camping weekend when the whole trip is just filled with competition.

Tell us about the skills you built at Rowland Hall and on Rowmark that you'll be taking with you after graduation.

One of the most notable skills I’ve learned from being on Rowmark while attending a challenging high school is time management and communication. In order for me to keep up with my work while I’m gone, I have to be very diligent with letting my teachers know when I will be gone and updating them on my progress throughout my trips. My first few training camps with the US Ski Team have been very different compared to those with Rowmark because nobody else in my group is in school. I am the only one trying to keep up with classes while skiing at a high level. I have to find time to separate myself and sit down and do school work while my teammates do their other activities. However, I have actually started to really enjoy Zooming into my classes while I'm away on ski trips because it is an opportunity for me to take time off from thinking about skiing and still feel connected with my life at home.

Congratulations, Mary!

Athletics

Junior Elisabeth Bocock Nominated to US Ski Team

Congratulations to junior Elisabeth Bocock, who this week was nominated to the US Ski Team.

Rowmark and US Ski Team ski racer Elisabeth Bocock

Elisabeth is one of 42 athletes nominated to the US Alpine Ski Team and one of three athletes who will be joining the women’s Development Team (D-Team) for the first time for the 2022–2023 competition season. (Athletes qualify for the team in the spring based on selection criteria, and the official team is announced in the fall once nominees complete physical fitness testing and medical department clearance.) She is the youngest addition to the D-Team and the only new member from the state of Utah.

“It was unreal,” said Elisabeth of the moment she received the call from US Ski Team Coach Chip Knight congratulating her on her season and confirming her place on the team. “It was what I’ve been hoping for basically my whole life.”

She’s not kidding. Thanks to her family’s love of skiing, Elisabeth has been involved with the sport for as long as she can remember: she clipped into her first pair of skis at age two, and some of her earliest memories include traveling with her family to Colorado to watch the World Cup—an experience that inspired her first dreams of joining the US Ski Team. “Seeing people on the team there was super exciting,” she remembered. “It made me want to be a part of that.”

It was unreal. It was what I’ve been hoping for basically my whole life.—Elisabeth Bocock, class of 2023, on being nominated to the US Ski Team

It also didn’t hurt that Elisabeth has three older siblings—brothers Scottie ’18 and Jimmy, and sister Mary—who were early naturals on the slopes and whose ski racing journeys inspired her own competitive drive. Elisabeth began racing for the Snowbird Ski Team at age six, and she joined Rowmark Ski Academy at age 13—a move she credits for preparing her to excel in both racing and academics, and where she’s had an exceptional career. In the 2021–2022 season alone, Elisabeth had five podium finishes in elite-level FIS races and is currently ranked first for her age in the US in slalom, giant slalom, and super-G, and second in the world in giant slalom.

“What is so impressive about Elisabeth objectively earning a spot on the US Ski Team is that her season was filled with setbacks,” said Foreste Peterson, Rowmark Ski Academy’s head women's FIS coach. “Whether it was having to quarantine from COVID exposures, or the many hard crashes she took that left her concussed, bloody, bruised, and banged up, she was knocked down time and time again. Yet, she bounced back every time, better than before, and always with a smile on her face. It was truly a pleasure to work with Elisabeth this year, and I so look forward to seeing what her future holds.”

And while Elisabeth’s riding the high of simply making the US Ski Team, she’s also enjoying an additional perk not available to every athlete in her position: the knowledge that this new experience will include her older sister (and role model), Mary, who was nominated to the US Ski Team last spring. “I’m super excited to work together in a different atmosphere,” said Elisabeth. “Mary’s been a real inspiration to me and has shown me what it takes to get to where I need to go.”

We can’t wait to see where she goes next. Congratulations, Elisabeth—we’ll be cheering you on!

Rowmark