🌟 VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT 🌟
Our final day of Volunteer Appreciation Week features Eliza Pyke!
“I decided to join the NextGen Volunteer Programs for the 2025 GoPro Mountain Games and 2025 Stifel Birds of Prey because it gave me the unique opportunity to give back to the community and make a meaningful impact at events surrounding international athletics. This program brings so many people together and allows us to be a part of something bigger than ourselves through such a fun experience.”
Our NextGen Volunteer Programs empower high school students like Eliza to gain skills, boost their resume, build community, and play a real role in shaping the future of our events. We’re so grateful for her enthusiasm and commitment 🙌
#VolunteerAppreciationWeek #GoProMountainGames #BirdsOfPrey #NextGen #CommunityStrong ThankYouVolunteers
🌟 VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT 🌟
Day 5 of Volunteer Appreciation Week features Elaine Mah and her children, Brandon, Jennifer, and Nicole.
“Our family likes volunteering with the Vail Valley Foundation at the Stifel Birds of Prey event because we enjoy working as part of a team. We love seeing the professional ski racers and being close to the excitement of the race. The swag, food, and camaraderie with other volunteers also make the experience fun and rewarding. We volunteer as a family because we enjoy working together and giving back to our community. We also appreciate how the Stifel Birds of Prey has two volunteer teams, the Talon Crew and the Raptor Crew. Each crew plays an important role, and together they help create a great race event.
‘If you want it to snow, schedule a ski race!’”
From supporting race operations to bringing energy and teamwork, volunteers like the Mahs help make Stifel Birds of Prey such a special event. We’re so grateful for the time, spirit, and dedication they bring year after year 🙌
#VolunteerAppreciationWeek #BirdsOfPrey #CommunityStrong #ThankYouVolunteers
Olympian Kyle Negomir keeps it simple but precise:
✔️ Foot under the hip at the top of every turn
✔️ One bad turn doesn’t ruin the next
“I like Downhill, but lately I ski faster in Super-G. I’m trying to change that — Downhill is the essence of ski racing.”
From the slopes of Beaver Creek to the Olympic podium 🎿🏅 These elite skiers raced at @bcworldcup before winning medals at Milano-Cortina 2026! 🇧🇷🇺🇸🇨🇭🇮🇹
He knows he’s about to go 90-100 mph… and yes — he’s scared.
Even Bryce Bennett feels it.
But when he leaves the start gate, he’s not thinking about fear.
He’s thinking about going faster!!
I asked him what he focuses on when he wants more speed. His answer? Technique.
• Stay over the outside (downhill) ski
• Pressure before the fall line
• Finish the turn — stay with it all the way through
That’s exactly what he was working on in training that day.
World Cup or beginner — the fundamentals don’t change.
#skitips #brycebennett #milanocortina #skiing
🎉 Happy Birthday, River Radamus!
The Olympic Men’s Giant Slalom is this Saturday, February 14 — and we’re cheering him on as he heads into his favorite event.
I interviewed River while he was racing on his home turf — a World Cup at Birds of Prey in Beaver Creek, Colorado earlier this season. He’s always working to get better, and he wants to inspire young skiers the same way the heroes he looked up to inspired him.
This season, he’s dialed in on the details that make all the difference:
• Stay up and over the ski through every transition
• Pressure early into the turn before the fall line
• Finish the turn all the way through
From chasing dreams as a kid to commanding every turn on a World Cup course…He is an American Hero! 🇺🇸
#giantslalom #riverradamus #teamusa #stifelusskiteam
“What makes you guys the Attacking Vikings?”
It’s not about training plans or numbers — it’s about giving more to the team than you expect back.
Sharing course conditions over the radio, trusting each other, and helping teammates improve every day.
In Norway, skiing is the dream — in a small, ski-focused nation, that shared passion builds trust, honest feedback, and real friendships. Once you’re in, you’re in.
That’s how this team rises together. That’s how they attack. 🇳🇴
#norweiganskiteam #norway #attackingvikings #winterolympics #skiing
🚨IT’S OFFICIAL 🚨 Men’s AND women’s World Cup racing is returning to Beaver Creek in December 2026 ⛷️🦅
Next December, Stifel Birds of Prey becomes a full Audi FIS World Cup ski racing festival — featuring the fastest skiers on earth on the iconic downhill plus all the village festivities that make race week unforgettable. After a historic debut in 2024, the women return to Beaver Creek for another round of downhill and super-G glory, surrounded by live energy, après vibes, and a buzzing mountain village ❄️
📆 Mark your calendars: • Dec 3–6: Men’s racing • Dec 12–13: Women’s racing
World-class racing. Olympic-level intensity. Village celebrations all week long.
*The World Cup schedule is preliminary and pending final FIS Council approval in Spring 2026.
Vail Valley Foundation’s athletic events bring the world to our mountains. From the elite competition of Stifel Birds of Prey to the vibrant energy of the GoPro Mountain Games, these signature events fuel economic vitality, promote wellness, and unite our community through sport. Rooted in a decades-long legacy of hosting world-class competitions, our valley continues to shine as a global destination for athletic excellence.
Check out the VVF’s full 2025 Annual Report at the link in our bio. 🔗
Happy New Year’s Eve! 🎉 As we wrap up our 2025 recap, we couldn’t forget the incredible Stifel Birds of Prey Audi FIS Ski World Cup. Events like this are what make the Vail Valley so special, and we’re grateful to share them with such an amazing community. Wishing everyone a safe and happy NYE! ❄️✨
✨ Because of YOU, 2025 was one for the books! ✨
We’re excited to announce the release of our 2025 Annual Report, highlighting the milestones, impact, and progress we achieved together.
None of this work is possible without our incredible board, donors, partners, sponsors, and staff. Your support helps us empower possibility and strengthen our mountain community with quality of life for all. 💙
👉 View the 2025 Annual Report link in bio
Thank you, @stifelfinancial Birds of Prey community! ❄️ Challenging conditions didn’t stop us from kicking off winter with world-class racing, athlete signings, live music, and an entertainment-filled festival. Watch the highlights! 🎿🎶 See you next year!
