By Rosemary
A major structural shift in American winter sports will see the nation’s top Para Nordic athletes integrated into U.S. Ski & Snowboard, marking a significant step in the continued expansion and visibility of Paralympic disciplines in the United States.
The transition, announced Tuesday in coordination with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, brings the Para Nordic program—encompassing cross-country skiing and biathlon—under the same organizational umbrella as the country’s elite Olympic winter sports teams. The move builds on a broader initiative to unify Paralympic and Olympic pathways, following the reintegration of Para alpine skiing and snowboarding into U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s structure in 2023.
The United States Para Nordic Ski Team enters this new chapter on the heels of a dominant performance at the recent Milan Cortina Paralympics, where American athletes secured 10 gold medals. Among the standout performers were Oksana Masters and Jake Adicoff, each claiming four gold medals, including a shared victory in the mixed relay event.
Masters, one of the most decorated Paralympians in U.S. history, has now amassed 24 medals across both Summer and Winter Games, underscoring her sustained excellence across multiple disciplines. Her achievements have become emblematic of the program’s success and its ability to produce world-class competitors on the global stage.
Since 2014, the Para Nordic team had operated under the direct management of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. The shift to U.S. Ski & Snowboard is expected to provide athletes with enhanced infrastructure and support, aligning them more closely with the resources available to Olympic counterparts.
Under the new arrangement, athletes will gain access to the organization’s Center of Excellence in Park City, Utah, along with expanded coaching, sports science, and high-performance services. Additional support will include travel logistics, nutrition planning, marketing assistance, and long-term career development resources—elements seen as critical to sustaining competitive success in an increasingly demanding international landscape.
Masters welcomed the transition, emphasizing both the opportunities it presents and the momentum already established by the team. She noted that increased visibility and investment could help further elevate the profile of Para Nordic skiing while strengthening the foundation for future achievements.
Leadership within U.S. Ski & Snowboard echoed that sentiment, highlighting the organization’s commitment to fostering continued growth and excellence. President and CEO Sophie Goldschmidt pointed to the team’s recent accomplishments as a strong platform on which to build, expressing confidence that closer integration would enhance performance and visibility at the highest levels of competition.
The move reflects a broader evolution in how Paralympic sports are structured and supported in the United States, with an increasing emphasis on parity, resource sharing, and unified development systems. By bringing Para Nordic athletes into the same framework as Olympic programs, officials aim to create a more cohesive and sustainable model for success.
As preparations begin for future international competitions, the integration is expected to strengthen the United States’ position as a global leader in Para Nordic skiing, while offering athletes expanded opportunities to thrive both on and off the snow.
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