A Vermont skier will miss the 2026 Winter Olympics despite qualifying under international standards—because he peaked 10 days too late.
Ben Ritchie, 25, a Williston native who trained at Green Mountain Valley School in Waitsfield, finished 13th in a World Cup slalom race in Schladming, Austria on January 28. The performance came after he skied the second-fastest second run, moving him up from 30th place.
That top-15 finish, combined with another strong result the previous weekend in Kitzbühel, Austria, would have qualified Ritchie for Olympic competition under International Ski and Snowboard Federation rules. But the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team had already closed its qualification window 10 days earlier, on January 18.
The timing represents a cruel twist for an athlete whose season was derailed by a nagging knee injury. While the international governing body considers results from two winter seasons (2024-25 and 2025-26) with a January 28 deadline, the U.S. team only looked at this season’s results through mid-January.
“Unfortunately, Ben did not finish any of those races up until that point,” a U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team spokesperson said, referring to the October-to-January 18 window.
The policy puts American skiers at a disadvantage compared to other skiing powerhouses. Canada, Austria and Norway all consider two seasons when selecting Olympic teams, matching the international federation’s approach.
Ritchie’s late-season surge showcased the form that made him a World Cup regular. His second run in Schladming ranked among the day’s fastest, demonstrating the technical precision that Vermont’s ski academies are known for developing.
Green Mountain Valley School has produced numerous World Cup athletes, drawing families to the Mad River Valley. The school is located in the Mad River Valley.
The U.S. team has yet to announce which athletes, if any, will compete in men’s slalom at the Milano Cortina games. Ritchie’s exclusion highlights how narrow margins define elite skiing—both on the racecourse and in team selection.
Ritchie’s family declined to comment publicly but indicated the setback would motivate him for future competitions. After his breakthrough performance in Austria, Ritchie told Sierra Ryder of the Stifel U.S. Ski Team: “It felt good to make some good turns. With one race left in the season I am going to keep pushing.”
For Vermont skiing fans, Ritchie’s story reflects both the sport’s unforgiving nature and the resilience required to compete at its highest levels. His near-miss serves as a reminder that in Alpine racing, timing matters as much as talent.
