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U.S. Ski & Snowboard have announced the U.S. Army as the official armed forces partner of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, honoring the 10th Mountain Division’s distinguished legacy which led to the creation of America’s modern ski and snowboard industry. It is the first armed forces partnership for U.S. Ski & Snowboard.
The U.S. Army’s legacy in mountain warfare was forged during World War II when the highly trained Soldiers of its 10th Mountain Division scaled Italy’s Riva Ridge to secure a critical victory that shifted the momentum of the war. Upon returning home, many of these Soldiers founded ski resorts and ski schools nationwide that became the foundation of the American ski industry and fueled the sport's widespread popularity.
“Partnering with the U.S. Army has been in the works for a while, and goes back to a training camp in Portillo, Chile, where the soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division were training on the same mountain as our women’s alpine team,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, President and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “Since then, we have been looking to work together to showcase the history of the 10th Mountain Division and its contributions to our sport. It is an authentic fit, knowing they were instrumental in founding the infrastructure of skiing and snowboarding in America, and built many of the resorts we ski and ride on today.”
“Many Americans may not realize that two of their favorite winter pastimes, skiing and snowboarding, have deep roots in the U.S. Army,” said Brig. Gen. Matthew W. Braman, Army Chief Marketing Officer, who served as the Deputy Commanding General for the 10th Mountain Division from 2022-24. “We are proud to partner with U.S. Ski & Snowboard to bring awareness to the 10th Mountain Division’s achievements including the development of several Olympic athletes and a significant impact on the recreational ski industry’s culture.”
As part of the partnership, athletes will don an Army/10th Mountain Division patch on team outerwear. In addition, the U.S. Army/10th Mountain Division will invest in the U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s athlete influencer program to highlight the division’s foundation in alpine history and have a presence at the Stifel Copper Cup presented by United, an Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Nov. 27-30 and the Stifel Lake Placid Finals, a COOP FIS Cross Country World Cup, March 20-22.
The partnership takes effect immediately and the Army’s investment will be used to support the U.S. Ski & Snowboard athletes as they enter the 2025-26 season, including the Milano Cortina Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games in Italy this upcoming February.
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