Courtesy of U.S. Ski and Snowboard/ Sarah Brunson
In the seven years Maddie Bowman has been on the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team, the halfpipe skier has solidified her spot as one of freeskiing’s most accomplished competitive athletes. She won the first-ever Olympic gold medal in women’s halfpipe freeskiing at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, as well as nine X Games medals—five gold, two silver and two bronze—throughout her career. With a fierce focus on growing women’s freeskiing, Bowman has landed back-to-back 900’s and a switch 900 at the highest level of competition.
As one of the most decorated skiers in women’s halfpipe, Bowman is ready to move on to the next phase of her skiing career, officially announcing her retirement from competitive halfpipe today.
“I have decided to step away from halfpipe skiing for a simple reason,” says Bowman in a press release. “I have given everything I have to progress the sport and now I know the women after me will do an amazing job. I would not have been able to be so successful or give the sport so much without the support of my sponsors and U.S. Ski and Snowboard. I also wouldn’t have been so prepared to make this huge decision without them. The team and the halfpipe community has raised me into a woman with a voice, with passions both inside and outside of sport, and who knows when it’s time to walk away. However, I will be a skier for the rest of my life. Skiing is my passion and I will be following it this season to Chamonix, France, where I will explore the backcountry and the big mountain side of things. Thank you all so much for your support as a halfpipe skier and into my lifetime career of being a skier and educator.”
“Maddie has had such a huge impact on the sport and the U.S. Freeski program overall,” adds U.S. Ski & Snowboard Freeski and Snowboard Director, Jeremy Forster. “Her competitive results stand on their own. Although, Maddie has done as much away from competition as a teammate, mentor, role model, and representative of the sport to establish her legacy. We look forward to working with Maddie as she takes this next step.”
While it’s the end of an era for Bowman and the U.S. Ski Team, we look forward to seeing where Bowman’s skiing career takes her next.
