This week on the American Downhiller Podcast we turn our attention to Cortina - the Women’s Favorite Course and interview the Stifel US Ski Team’s newest speed star – Lauren Macuga! “Cougs” is coming off a career-best 10th place in the Super-G in Altenmarkt and sets her sights on the 2026 Olympic Course this week in Italy.

Cougs is part of the US Women’s speed team which is re-building and has been having some good results lately with Keely Cashman, Tricia Mangan along with the return of Jacky Wiles and Alice Merryweather.

We talk to Lauren about her development as a speed skier from an “average” junior to her first Downhill race to her 10th place in the Altenmarkt World Cup. She shares with us her thoughts on training GS to help her speed as well as her start routine.

Other topics covered;

-             How to stay focused with the course is gnarly

-             How a focus on GS is helping her speed evolve

-             Why it’s OK to train speed with your clothes on sometimes

-             How she learns new courses

-             What she learned about herself from her injuries

-             Advice for junior racers on feeding off the success of Teammates

-             Who she watches on video

-             And advice for young ski racers who may be struggling

Thanks to Ski Racing Media for Sponsoring our American Downhiller Podcast and please listen on Apple or Spotify or watch it on the ELITEAM Youtube channel!