Born and bred in Utah, downhiller Steven Nyman was skiing at two (Dad ran the ski school at Sundance) and was a discretionary pick to the 2002 Junior Worlds squad, where he landed two medals, including a slalom gold. Coaches were so impressed, they entered him in a World Cup slalom six days later and he finished 15th. Needless to say, his 6’4” frame is more suited for speed events – a pair of World Cup downhill wins proves it.

What happens when you give Nyman a big opportunity? He capitalizes. This time it was a wind-and-snow-shortened downhill, on a track the big guy knows very, very well. After missing the entire 2012 season with a torn Achilles, the Utah downhiller put a mark on his comeback by returning to the site of his 2006 Audi FIS Alpine World Cup win in Val Gardena, Italy and winning it again.

What was the opportunity? A brief window of good light allowed Nyman to charge from the 39th start position to steal the victory on the foggy, snowy Saslong Classic after hours of delays. It was his second career win and fourth podium, which propelled him to a 20th place finish in the season-long DH standings.

STEVEN SAYS
Weather was a huge factor in that race, but I came off the camels and flew SOOO far and said, 'my skis are running.' I had a little mistake exiting Ciaslot but kept it running. When I saw the green light I was fired up.

It's just a journey - it's always been journey. I've always believed I had the speed and I hoped to prove it through the year.

I'm just happy to feel good again. My body's feeling good. I had rib issues the first few races of last season because I put it into the fence while training in Copper. The Achilles the year before, the knees years before that and the back - winning is the best gift I could get.

FIRST TRACKS
Nyman was skiing at two and racing at eight for Sundance (while mowing Robert Redford's lawn in the summer), where Dad was the ski school chief. He shifted to Coach Rob Clayton's stellar Park City program for Winter ’99. He landed a few World Juniors medals and jumped immediately to the U.S. Ski Team.

OFF THE SNOW
Nyman is the man behind the www.fantasyskiracer.com mask. Think fantasy baseball for alpine skiing and you'll dig this site. Nyman is into adventure, especially with his pro freeskier brother Blake. Whether it's making powder turns at Sundance or kicking back in Hawaii, Nyman is usually keeping his fans up-to-speed on every social platform imaginable. Follow along.