Jesse Hunt returns to U.S. Ski & Snowboard as alpine director

U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced on Wednesday that Jesse Hunt has returned to the organization as alpine director, a role he last held with U.S. Ski & Snowboard in 2009 after 16 years with the organization. Hunt takes up the role with immediate effect, returning to U.S. Ski & Snowboard after nine years with Park City Ski & Snowboard where he was program director and general manager.

During Hunt's previous tenure with U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the U.S. Ski Team enjoyed arguably its most successful run of results in alpine racing in its history, including four FIS Overall World Cup titles, 12 Olympic medals, and 18 World Championship medals.

“Jesse is re-joining our team at a pivotal time,” said Luke Bodensteiner, U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s chief of sport. “Some of our alpine team’s greatest successes have been propelled by the work that Jesse accomplished during his first tenure with us. He’s the right person to lead our team right now, as we continue to maximize the capability of our elite team, while also activating the roadmap in our development efforts to build our team for the future. The nine years that Jesse has spent at Park City Ski & Snowboard, one of our largest club programs, allows him to return to us with a fully rounded perspective of all levels of the sport, and positions him uniquely to lead our collaboration with clubs nationally, and our efforts internationally. He will bring a unique, comprehensive, and American perspective to the position, and we’re incredibly happy to welcome him back to the team.”

“Firstly, I want to thank everyone at Park City Ski & Snowboard for being such an incredible group of people to work with over the last nine years, " said Hunt, originally from Burlington, VT, and a Park City resident since 1990. "I leave with many happy memories, but I am delighted that Tiger, Luke, and the whole U.S. Ski & Snowboard team have given me the chance to come back home. We have an exciting challenge ahead of us to give our alpine ski racers the chance to be Best In The World, but that is precisely the challenge that motivates me the most, helping athletes achieve everything that they are capable of. We have a strong mix of highly experienced athletes and those coming up through the ranks in both the men’s and women’s teams, in speed and tech, and the chance to help all of them achieve greatness is one I could not turn down.

“Additionally, the recent announcement the team made that Sasha Rearick is joining Chip Knight in the alpine development program means we have a very strong team in place to help us achieve our goals in the World Cup program for years to come, and, in particular at the 2022 and 2026 Games, and beyond. I cannot wait to start work and am thrilled to be back."

“Our whole alpine program will benefit tremendously from the leadership and clear direction Jesse will bring,” said Tiger Shaw, CEO and president of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “We had a successful 2018 Winter Olympic Games, but we know we did not achieve all our goals in alpine. Jesse’s appointment adds an incredible amount of value to our elite athlete alpine program, but he will also be a key part of the plan we have been activating for some time now in development. I am confident that we have the right mix of experience, passion, dedication and a strong plan that will help our alpine program achieve more than they think possible, both internationally and back home in the USA.”

Release courtesy of U.S. Ski & Snowboard