Meet the 2024 Nationals Pacesetters
03.20.2024 | Nastar Editor
NASTAR is excited to announce the Pacesetters that will be setting the pace at the NASTAR National Championships this year!
Tommy Ford
Hailing from Mt. Bachelor, Oregon, Tommy Ford has been a strong force on the alpine scene since 2009. Ford locked up four gold medals at the 2006 U.S. Junior Championships and went on to score World Cup points in his rookie season and then grab a spot on the 2010 Olympic team for giant slalom.
A three time Olympian (2010, 2018, 2022), Ford snatched his first World Cup victory on home soil at the Birds of Prey, Beaver Creek, giant slalom in 2019 at the age of 30. In that same season he also secured a third place in Niigata Yuzawa Naeba, Japan. Ford continued his strong giant slalom skiing in the 2021 season with another podium, a second place in the Santa Caterina, Italy giant slalom World Cup.
Keep an eye out for Tommy at the 2024 NASTAR National Championships in April!
Wiley Maple
Aspen local Wiley Maple has the body for hockey and was originally headed in that direction when skiing provided him a slap-shot opportunity to ski with the U.S. Development Team in 2009. He showed strong potential when he placed 17th in the Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria downhill in February 2015.
A seasoned skier now with a seven-season World Cup stretch on the US Ski Team, Maple’s ski racing journey reads like a gripping novel, filled with highs, lows, and unexpected twists. His Olympic debut in Pyeongchang in February, 2018 showcased his prowess, but it wasn’t the end of his story. Following a challenging 2018-19 season and struggling with injuries, Maple announced his retirement. However, he couldn’t resist the call of the sport he loved, and he made a surprising return to the U.S. Ski Team to compete in Bormio on December 28th, 2023 finishing as the best American in 12th place.
Though Maple has struggled with injuries, he's one of the most resilient athletes still in the game. Look for him at the NASTAR National Championships this April!