WOMEN Mikaela Shiffrin
U.S. JUNIOR ALPINE SKIER OF THE YEAR
Ski Racing does not name 15-year-olds Junior of the Year lightly.
The last (and only other) racer to land this award at such an age
was Julia Mancuso, 10 years ago. But we award this one with
no trepidation. Though Shiffrin faced fewer starts than most
this season, her results are impossible to dismiss. She DNF’ed in
one race and won most everything else. She finished third in the
Whistler Cup super G, her only start in the discipline all season.
Her 11-second margin at JOs still has coaches buzzing.
This is not a case of early development as Shiffrin is of average
stature and weight for her age. Her coaches tell us she trains incessantly always with an eye for improvement. No undue pressure
intended, but Shiffrin is on track to be one of the great skiers of the
next two decades.
MEN Victor Roy
MASTERS ALPINE SKIER OF THE YEAR
When told that he had been selected for this award, Victor
Roy said: “Wow, I’m so totally honored. That’s amazing.”
What’s really amazing is that the 60-year-old Roy is skiing this season, much less racing. A lung infection last June
caused him to question whether or not he could ski at all
this winter. But the thought of ski racing gave him the motivation to persevere with his training and racing, which culminated with Class 8 wins in super combined,
super G, and slalom, as well as a third in giant slalom at
the Skier’s Edge Masters National Championships. “I like
Sun Valley,” said Roy. “It’s always been good to me.”
Known by his peers as “Victor the Inflictor,” Roy spent the
winter teaching skiing and coaching at Snowbasin, Utah.
He will return to the Hood River area in the spring to pursue his other passion — windsurfing.
