East Coast Olympian and slalom specialist Nolan Kasper saw his first NorAm race during the 2007 season and quickly upgraded his starting status to the World Cup level in time for the 2010 Olympics. The confidence and experience proved to be a catalyst, as Kasper exploded during the 2011 season to win the Europa Cup slalom title and take his first World Cup podium.

After missing nearly all of the 2013 season due to an ACL/MCL injury, the eastern slalom rocket was back for 2014. It took Kasper a few races to find his stride, but his timing couldn’t have been more perfect. It was Kitzbheuel, the final race of the 2014 Olympic qualification period. He finished 18th and punched a ticket to Sochi, where he upgraded that result to 13th to be the top American slalom finisher at the Games.

More World Cup points in Kranjska Gora and a slew of solid FIS finishes in the spring makes Kasper one fired up guy for the 2015 World Championship year.

NOLAN SAYS
Slalom is probably the most painful discipline in skiing because the smallest thing can take you out of a race. I had some good races and made a lot of good turns this season, but I also had my fair share of bad luck. That’s slalom; it makes you feel like banging your head on the wall sometimes.

But then you have a good race and then it’s probably the most fun discipline to ski. Your outlook completely changes. I’ve had success in Beaver Creek in the past and I’m looking forward to brining that good outlook and some speed into the 2015 season, especially at Worlds.

FIRST TRACKS
Kasper started skiing at New Jersey's Hidden Valley when he was three. He raced on the junior circuit on the East coast and attended Burke Mountain Academy in Vermont before getting a call-up to the U.S. Development Team in 2007. In March 2009, Kasper claimed a bronze medal in slalom (one place behind Olympic teammate Tommy Ford) at the Junior World Championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, climbing another rung on the U.S. Ski Team ladder. He hasn't looked back.

OFF THE SNOW
Kasper is a student at Dartmouth, and thanks (or no thanks) to injuries, he's well ahead of where he expected to be at this point in his college career. His summers are spent in Park City, chasing the nordic skiers around the Wasatch Mountains on road bikes.