2 Utahns nominated to the 23/24 U.S. Para Snowboard Team

Mike Minor competes in the dual-banked slalom team event at the 2023 Para Snowboard World Championships in La Molina, Spain. Photo: Alex Franco // US Ski and Snowboard

PARK CITY, Utah — U.S. Ski and Snowboard announced, on Wednesday, the ten athletes nominated to represent the U.S. Para Snowboard Team across sport classes for the 2023-24 season.

Among those headlining the team are Utahns, two-time Paralympic gold medalist Brenna Huckaby, and two-time Paralympic medalist Keith Gabel.

“Our Para Snowboard team has had great achievements the past few years, and we are excited to now have these athletes on board with U.S. Ski & Snowboard,” said Anouk Patty, U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Chief of Sport. “The team has the ability to find success on the slopes, and we can’t wait to see how they do this upcoming season.”

Similar Reads On TownLift

The U.S. Para Snowboard Team is led by Para Sport Director Erik Leirfallom and newly hired Head Coach Mark “Skiddy” Kelly. Kelly has been in the Para sports world for more than 20 years, including coaching and working as the alpine and snowboard team service tech with the USOPC since 2010.

“I believe the team has what it takes to be very competitive this season,” said Leirfallom. “This group has a lot of great talent and the ability to push each other on and off the slopes. I’m excited to see what we can accomplish with the new resources available to us to help the athletes improve.”

The 2023-24 FIS Para Snowboard World Cup season is scheduled to start with a set of banked slalom races for men and women in Landgraaf, Netherlands, at the end of November. Additionally, the team will make stops in Finland, Italy, and Germany before finishing up the season in Mt. Sima, Canada.