By Kristel Killary
Since 2022, the Stifel Killington Cup has been highlighting women in the snow sports industry through the Killington Cup HERoic Panel. The annual event celebrates women blazing trails and achieving success in their fields. Proceeds support the Share Winter Foundation, an organization committed to expanding access to winter sports for underserved communities.
At this year’s panel, Constance Beverley, CEO of Share Winter, emphasized the importance of creating pathways for young people to enter snow sports. “We don’t have a Little League to get people into the sport,” she said. “Snowboarding gave me an identity and a pathway to find myself. We need to make sure people have that opportunity. It will make the sport richer and deeper. This sport is just magic, and everyone should have access to it.”
This year’s panel featured an impressive lineup of speakers. In addition to Beverley, the panel included: Amy Laramie, VP of brand marketing and events at Killington Resort; Corrine Prevot, rounder and CEO of Skida; Anouk Patty, chief of sport for the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team; and host Sophie Goldschmidt, president and CEO of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team.
Highlighting the importance of women stepping into leadership roles and advocating for change, Patty said, “As female leaders, we often have the power individually to make change. It’s up to us to drive the change,” she remarked. “Our coaching team was almost 99% men for the Olympics, and I just said no, it must be at least 50% women, and it so easily changed. It just sometimes takes women to push it. It’s okay to do that. That’s how change acts.”
The evening concluded with the screening of two films celebrating the passion and stories behind the sport.
“Kindred,” directed by Iz La Motte and Sara Beam Robbins, showcased the journey of U.S. Olympic teammates Devin Logan and Caroline Claire, both Long Island natives. The film captured their camaraderie and bold steps in their careers, blending raw honesty and the thrill of skiing from the half pipe to the backcountry.
“Moving Right Along,” Season 3, Episode 1 featured six-time Killington Cup winner Mikaela Shiffrin. The documentary episode delved into Shiffrin’s legacy, her leadership in inspiring the next generation, and her philanthropic efforts to provide snow sport opportunities for historically underserved youth. Reflecting on her 14-year World Cup career, the episode sheds light on her enduring impact on the sport.
