Explore the remarkable journey of Skiing and Olympics, a Colorado native, as she shares her extraordinary evolution from growing up on a ranch near Glenwood Springs to becoming a professional ski racer, Alice Mckennis Duran.

Long Shot Leaders with Michael Stein

Alice McKennis, born and raised in western Colorado, embraced a childhood filled with skiing and horseback riding. Her passion for skiing led her to the U.S. Ski Team, where she excelled on the World Cup circuit and earned a spot in the 2010 Winter Olympics. Despite a setback from a knee injury in 2011, Alice persevered, achieving a career highlight with a World Cup Downhill win in 2013. ⁣ However, tragedy struck in Germany, causing a severe knee injury that jeopardized her future in ski racing. Although she aimed for the 2014 Winter Olympics, recovery proved challenging. Alice returned to competition in 2015, securing a national title and showcasing her resilience. In the 2018 season, Alice continued to shine, finishing fifth in the Olympic Downhill and earning third in the World Cup Downhill in Sweden. Unfortunately, a coaching accident in 2018 led to a prolonged recovery, with five surgeries keeping her off the slopes for 11 months. ⁣ Alice returned to competition in 2020, maintaining her momentum until a knee and ankle injury in 2021 forced her to reconsider her career. In the spring of 2021, she made the tough decision to retire from ski racing. Post-retirement, Alice has embraced coaching at Ski and Snowboard Club Vail and works as an Athlete Gift Officer for the US Ski & Snowboard team, contributing to fundraising and supporting fellow athletes.