Para Nordic team integrated into U.S. Ski & Snowboard, expanding national teams

Para nordic will become part of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, which includes alpine, cross country, freeski, freestyle moguls, freestyle aerials, nordic combined, Para alpine and ski jumping. Photo: U.S. Ski & Snowboard

PARK CITY, Utah — U.S. Ski & Snowboard and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee have announced the integration of the U.S. Para Nordic Ski Team into the national federation, marking a significant shift in how the program is managed and supported.

The move brings Para nordic — which includes cross-country skiing and biathlon for athletes with physical disabilities — under the umbrella of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, expanding the organization’s portfolio to 11 teams. U.S. Ski & Snowboard also oversees the Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team and the Toyota U.S. Para Snowboard Team.

Previously managed by the USOPC since 2014, the U.S. Para Nordic Team is widely considered the most successful program in the sport. At the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina, Team USA athletes captured 10 gold medals in nordic events, which was the most in U.S. history, to bring home a total of 15 medals.

The roster includes some of the most decorated athletes in Paralympic history, led by Oksana Masters, who has earned 24 Paralympic medals, including 13 gold, across both Summer and Winter Games. She was joined in Milano Cortina by standouts including Jake Adicoff, Sydney Peterson, and Kendall Gretsch, all of whom contributed to the team’s medal haul.

“Milano Cortina 2026 was an incredible moment for U.S. Paralympic nordic skiers,” Masters said in a statement. “As we look ahead to joining U.S. Ski & Snowboard, it’s exciting to think about the future and the added visibility and resources that can come with it.”

Leaders from both organizations framed the transition as a step forward for Paralympic sport in the United States.

“Bringing Para nordic under the U.S. Ski & Snowboard umbrella is incredibly exciting for our organization,” said Sophie Goldschmidt. “They will be fully integrated into our structure and supported year-round by our staff.”

The integration builds on recent efforts by U.S. Ski & Snowboard to expand its Para sport programs. In 2024, the organization brought both Para snowboard and Para alpine teams into its structure, a move that has coincided with continued international success, including multiple medals at the 2026 Paralympic Games.

With the addition of Para nordic, officials say athletes will now benefit from U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s full high-performance and commercial infrastructure, including expanded training, coaching, and funding support.