2026 Winter Olympics Stoke | Arizona Snowbowl & Olympic Ski Inspiration
There’s something magical about the Winter Olympics. For two weeks every four years, the whole world tunes in as hearts race with every turn and our favorite winter sports take center stage.
Whether it’s blazing down a downhill course or launching off a halfpipe, the inspiring athleticism on display in Milano-Cortina 2026 reminds us why we love skiing and riding so much.
And here’s the coolest part: Arizona Snowbowl isn’t just cheering from the sidelines – we’re connected to Olympic history right here at home!
From Hart Prairie to the Olympic Podium
Did you know that one of Team USA’s most influential Winter Olympic coaches got his start at Snowbowl?
Mike “Coach Janks” Jankowski – the former head coach of the U.S. Olympic Freeskiing and Snowboarding teams – began his winter sports journey right here on the slopes of Arizona Snowbowl while attending Northern Arizona University and working as an instructor in the mid-90s. He’s coached multiple athletes to Olympic medals and helped grow freeskiing and snowboarding into two of the most watched events on the global stage.
Phil McNichol, a 2022 U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame inductee, has one of the strongest Olympic ties back to Arizona Snowbowl. His path to leading the U.S. Men’s Alpine Ski Team — during its most successful era — began with a chance powder day at Snowbowl while passing through Flagstaff. That first Snowbowl experience led him to stay, attend Northern Arizona University, and coach the NAU ski team, setting the foundation for a career that would eventually guide athletes like Bode Miller, Daron Rahlves, and Ted Ligety to World Cup victories and Olympic medals. His story is a powerful reminder that Olympic dreams can start on any mountain — including right here in Arizona.
Zach Williams’ Paralympic journey began right here at Arizona Snowbowl. A newcomer to skiing just six years ago, Zach discovered the sport after spotting a Ski-Able adaptive event at Snowbowl and deciding to give it a try — a decision that quickly changed everything. Now a member of the U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team, Zach is coming off a breakout 2023–24 season that included a U.S. Super-G National Championship and eight additional podium finishes. His rapid rise is a powerful reminder that the Winter Olympics and Paralympics are fueled by access, opportunity, and the courage to try something new — sometimes sparked by a single day on the mountain.
Public Lands: Where Olympic Dreams Begin
This year, the U.S. Forest Service highlighted how public lands have been instrumental in the development of winter athletes – from kids ripping turns with their families to seasoned competitors carving their path to the Olympics. Across the country, ski areas like Snowbowl operate on Forest Service land, blending community, recreation, and athletic opportunity in ways that make winter sports accessible to all.
Why the Olympics Get Us Fired Up
- New tricks and incredible feats
- Fierce competition that inspires young athletes
- Renewed love for turns, jumps, and fresh snow
- Stories that make us root for every skier and rider
And while the world watches Milano-Cortina, your mountain season is in full swing. Snowbowl’s slopes are calling, and there’s never been a better time to channel that Olympic stoke into your own runs! Come visit us & make your own Olympic-level memories, right here in Flagstaff!
