Skiing to success: Colorado resort helping Team USA athletes train for 2026 Winter Olympics
Olympians like Mikaela Shiffrin and Ryan Cochran-Siegle trained on the resort’s 2-mile full-length downhill course.
Preparing for 2026 Olympics at Copper Mountain
FOX Weather's Steve Bender is at Copper Mountain where it's the only Official Training Center for the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team in Colorado, making the resort a mecca for professional athletes to develop and expand their talents in a specially cultivated training environment.
As we cheer on Team USA at the 2022 Winter Olympics, a Colorado ski resort is being newly recognized as an official training center and will help athletes train for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Copper Mountain was recently designated an official training center for U.S. Ski and Snowboard athletes through January 2025.
Mikaela Shiffrin trains at Copper Mountain ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics.
(Copper Mountain)
Copper Mountain representatives say that the mountain has always played an important role in supporting athletes and has made extra efforts this season to accommodate training as they prepare to compete on the world’s biggest stage.
"We’re thrilled to partner with Woodward to elevate our freeski and snowboard athletes’ training," said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Freestyle, Freeski and Snowboard Director Jeremy Forster. "Woodward’s facilities at Copper Mountain and in Park City will provide key year-round training for our Pro and Rookie Team athletes for years to come."
Olympians like Mikaela Shiffrin and Ryan Cochran-Siegle trained on the resort’s 2-mile full-length downhill course.
Mikaela Shiffrin trains at Copper Mountain ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics.
The resort says that along with Superpipe and Central Park, they recently debuted two airbag training zones for elite-level halfpipe and big air athletes. The Superpipe was the first halfpipe open for training and competition in North America.
Bag jumps at Copper Mountain.
(Copper Mountain)
Copper will continue to support the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team through the next four years in anticipation of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games.