From alpine racing to snowboarding and cross-country skiing, local competitors prepare for the world stage
The Tahoe-Truckee region will once again be well represented at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, with nine athletes connected to the Sierra Nevada mountains preparing to compete across multiple winter sport disciplines. The region’s deep ski culture, strong development programs, and world-class terrain continue to produce athletes capable of competing at the highest level.
Here’s a look at the local competitors heading to the Games.
Bryce Bennett — Alpine Skiing (Tahoe City)
A longtime member of the U.S. Ski Team, Bryce Bennett brings experience and consistency to the Olympic alpine speed events. Known for his strength in downhill and super-G, Bennett enters his third Olympic Games as one of the most seasoned athletes in the American alpine program. His career reflects both longevity and dedication to elite competition.
AJ Hurt — Alpine Skiing (Carnelian Bay)
Raised on the slopes of Palisades Tahoe, AJ Hurt grew up immersed in ski culture thanks to her father’s long career on the ski patrol. That early exposure helped shape her path into elite alpine racing, where she has steadily developed into an Olympic-level competitor representing the region’s strong alpine pipeline.
Keely Cashman — Alpine Skiing (Strawberry, CA)
Returning to the Olympic stage after competing in Beijing in 2022, Keely Cashman continues to build her reputation as a technically strong alpine skier specializing in giant slalom and super-G. Her path to elite racing has been unconventional, demonstrating that persistence and self-belief can create opportunities outside traditional development routes.
Nina O’Brien — Alpine Skiing (Palisades Tahoe roots)
Though originally from Denver, Nina O’Brien’s ski racing foundation was built at Palisades Tahoe, where she began in the Mighty Mite program before advancing through Team Palisades Tahoe. She later joined the U.S. Ski Team after developing her racing career at Burke Mountain Academy.
Abby Winterberger — Freeski Halfpipe (Truckee)
Representing the Olympic Valley Freestyle Freeride Team, Abby Winterberger earned her Olympic qualification through international competition results while competing at the club level — an unusual path that highlights both her talent and determination. She will compete in freeski halfpipe.
Hahna Norman — Snowboarding Slopestyle & Big Air (Truckee)
Hahna Norman enters the Olympics following a breakout competitive season that elevated her to the U.S. Snowboard Pro Team. Strong finishes in Nor-Am and World Cup events helped establish her as one of the country’s rising stars in slopestyle and big air competition.
Hanna Percy — Snowboard Cross (Truckee)
At just 18, Hanna Percy represents the next generation of elite snowboard cross athletes. After training at Gould Academy in Maine, her rapid progression allowed her to move directly onto the pro team without the typical development-team step — a rare achievement in the sport.
JC Schoonmaker — Cross-Country Skiing (Tahoe City)
A 2022 Olympian, JC Schoonmaker returns to the Games as one of the top American sprint specialists in cross-country skiing. His continued presence on the World Cup circuit has made him a consistent performer and a key member of the U.S. Nordic team.
Incline Village’s Lila Lapanja Heads to Cortina
For many on Tahoe’s North Shore, the most personal Olympic story belongs to Lila Lapanja, who grew up skiing at Diamond Peak Ski Resort in Incline Village.
Now 22, Lapanja will represent Slovenia in Women’s Alpine Slalom at the 2026 Winter Olympics, the culmination of a lifelong dream that began on Diamond Peak’s beginner slopes. She started skiing as a toddler and later joined the Diamond Peak Ski Team, where her racing career began to take shape.
Lapanja went on to compete for the U.S. Ski Team, winning four U.S. National Championship titles and racing internationally on the World Cup, Europa Cup, and NorAm circuits. Two years ago, she made the decision to compete for Slovenia – her father’s home country – with the goal of qualifying for the Olympics.
Strong results on the Europa Cup circuit this season secured her place on Slovenia’s Olympic roster.
UPDATED 2/15/2026
Diamond Peak Watch Party Planned
The community will have a chance to cheer Lapanja on together.
Lapanja will compete in the Women’s Slalom on February 18, 2026, with races beginning at 1 a.m. PST in Italy. Diamond Peak Ski Resort will host a Watch Party at the Loft Bar at 12 p.m. later that day, where both slalom runs will be replayed for the community.
For a region known for producing world-class winter athletes, the 2026 Olympics represent another proud moment, and an opportunity to celebrate the mountains, programs, and community that continue to develop champions.