The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association’s (USSA) TEAM Academy held its graduation ceremony for five high school seniors on May 29. Alpine athletes River Radamus (Edwards, Colorado), Storm Klomhaus (Boulder, Colorado) and Galena Wardle (Aspen, Colorado), along with aerialists Harrison Smith (Pittsford, New York) and Elle Gaudette (Maple Grove, Minnesota), were joined by family and friends for the ceremony at the USSA’s Center of Excellence.
Radamus spent his four years of high school at TEAM Academy, qualifying for a spot on the U.S. Ski Team’s development team in 2015-16. He made history this season, winning three individual gold medals at the Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway, in February.
Klomhaus grew up surrounded by skiing and chased her dreams from Eldora Mountain Ski Club to the Winter Park Competition Center. She finally found herself in Park City at TEAM Academy. From a young age, she knew she was going to have to take some serious steps toward her future and started homeschooling herself in the seventh grade.
Growing up spending her time in Aspen in the winter and Las Lenas, Argentina, in the summer, Wardle was named to the U.S. Ski Team development team in 2016. She won the women’s alpine combined at the Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships held in Sun Valley, Idaho, in March. Wardle also led the way for Americans in giant slalom at the 2016 FIS Alpine World Junior Championships.
In 2015, Smith took gold in aerials at the FIS Junior World Ski Championships in Valmalenco, Italy. His progression continued into 2016 with a win at U.S. selections, earning him a spot in the World Cup at the Visa Freestyle International at Deer Valley. Smith’s season closed with two top-10 World Cup finishes and a national title.
Gaudette earned a bronze medal at the 2015 FIS Junior World Ski Championships, landing her a spot on the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team. She spent 2016 on the World Cup tour where she posted four top-20 finishes. Both Gaudette and Smith attended TEAM Academy as part of the USSA’s Elite Aerial Development Program.
The TEAM Academy helps to provide a “Total Education and Athletic Model” to elite student athletes at the USSA’s Center of Excellence. combining virtual learning and live teaching students are able to have each of their needs met while continuing to pursue their athletic careers. Moving from high school to college, this year’s seniors have bright futures at schools such as Denver University, Middlebury College and the University of Vermont.