Team AVSC News

This year’s recipients were selected from an athlete applicant pool comprised almost entirely of summer athletes, with 90 percent of applicants hailing from summer sports. The applications represented a balanced mix of male and female competitors spanning both Olympic (34) and Paralympic (19) disciplines.

“Tori, Ezra, Keith and Jeffrey embody the many ways Team USA athletes uplift and strengthen their communities,” said USOPF President Christine Walshe. “With Comcast’s partnership and the generosity of our donor community, we’re investing in the programs these athletes lead — from holistic wellness retreats and adaptive sport clinics to youth development and second-chance pathways — so their impact extends far beyond competition.”

Meet the 2025 Team USA Community Champions

Keith Gabel serves on the board of the Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club, which provides kids in Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley with opportunities to grow as athletes and individuals through winter sports. Gabel, a two-time Paralympic medalist in snowboarding, helps ensure that every child, regardless of financial means, can access top-tier coaching, facilities and support to pursue their goals.
 

Ezra Frech, a two-time Paralympic gold medalist, founded Angel City Sports with his father, Clayton, in 2013. The organization provides free adaptive sports opportunities for youth, veterans and adults in Southern California. Today, through the Angel City Alliance, the organization hosts the annual Angel City Games and more than 250 clinics each year, delivering over 4,000 athlete experiences and building a vibrant, inclusive community for adaptive athletes.

“Receiving this award is deeply meaningful, and it reflects the collective efforts of our entire community to make adaptive sports accessible to all,” said Frech. “I’m honored to share this recognition with peers who are equally dedicated to creating opportunities for others. Thank you to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Foundation and Comcast for helping us grow our impact even further.”

Breaking Olympian Jeffrey Louis, known in his sport as Bboy Jeffro, works with Houston reVision to transform the lives of children in Harris County, Texas. Aiming to break the cycle of juvenile justice system involvement and homelessness, the organization connects young people with mentors and positive peers while providing life-changing resources and opportunities for artistic expression.

Team USA Community Champions in partnership with Comcast awards grants on an annual basis. To learn more about the program or award recipients, please visit www.usopc.org/team-usa-community-champions and www.teamusa.com/team-usa-community-champions-award.
 

      ###

About Comcast Corporation

Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company. From the connectivity and platforms we provide, to the content and experiences we create, our businesses reach hundreds of millions of customers, viewers, and guests worldwide. We deliver world-class broadband, wireless, and video through Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky; produce, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through brands including NBC, Telemundo, Universal, Peacock, and Sky; and bring incredible theme parks and attractions to life through Universal Destinations & Experiences. Visit comcastcorporation.com for more information.

About the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Foundation
The United States Olympic & Paralympic Foundation (USOPF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Team USA athletes on and off the field of play. As the fundraising arm of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), the USOPF generates philanthropic support to empower Team USA athletes to achieve sustained competitive excellence and well-being. Since its inception in 2013, the USOPF has raised more than $575 million for Team USA athletes and programs, significantly contributing to the success of U.S. Olympians, Paralympians, and hopefuls.  One hundred percent of all donations to the USOPF go to athletes and the programs that support them. To learn more, visit usopc.org.

After the race, the celebration begins with one of the best après party scenes of the holiday season from 3-7 p.m. The après party includes a silent auction, delicious apps and bites, additional festivities, and live music to get the dance vibe going. 

“The Audi Ajax Cup is one of those days that really captures the heart of Aspen,” said Ash Farrington, Stewardship Director. “Since the 1930s, AVSC has grown up alongside Aspen. Whether you’re a guest in town for the holidays or a local who grew up in the club and now has athletes here, this is an opportunity to show up to honor winter sports and AVSC‘s important mission of youth access. The celebration is a vibrant reminder of who we are as a community, what we cherish, and why we give back to this incredible cause.”  

All funds raised from this event go into a general scholarship fund benefiting all AVSC programs and athletes. 

NEW THIS YEAR: 

More Tiers of Tickets: AVSC is offering several different tiers of tickets this year to welcome the community to participate and share in the fun of this vital fundraising event. 

• On-sale Nov. 11: Combo Ticket. The best deal is a Combo Ticket that includes access to both the race (see Race Ticket below for details) and the Après After Party (see Après Ticket below). The early-bird discounted price is $349 (ages 21+ to purchase). 

• On-sale Nov. 18: Après Party-Only Ticket. Holiday revelers can enjoy the après party at the St. Regis Aspen with an early-bird price of $299 (ages 21+ to purchase). This ticket includes delicious apps and bites, cocktails and beverages, live music, festivities, and a silent auction. 

• On-sale Nov. 25: Race-Only Ticket. Alpine racing aficionados can get their fill of thrilling dual GS competitions and non-stop action with the race-only ticket, which includes discounted food and drink from Rubirosa and access to the viewing area. The early-bird price for this ticket is $99.  

• On-sale Nov. 25: Children’s Race-Only Ticket. New this year! We are excited to offer an Under-18 Race-Only Ticket this year for $39. This ticket goes on sale November 25 and allows access to the race viewing area and includes discounted food & beverages at Rubirosa. 

• VIP Tickets. A limited number of exclusive VIP tickets are available, which include a special viewing area at the race and the après party.  

• To Purchase: All tickets except VIP may be purchased at teamavsc.org. VIP tickets may be purchased through the Stewardship Team at VIP@teamavsc.org. 

New Après Party Location: The Audi Ajax Après Party has moved to a new and larger venue this year at the St. Regis Aspen. The open-air setting will feature live music, signature cocktails, and an elevated culinary experience, creating the perfect atmosphere to celebrate after the race. Guests can expect an unforgettable evening of great food, drinks, and entertainment beneath the stars in one of Aspen’s most iconic locations. 

New Youth Race for the Kids. AVSC will be offering a new youth racing option later in the day. Participants will be assigned pro athletes for quick coaching and help at the start. More details will be released on the AVSC website.

Fundraising Matters at AVSC 

Since 1937, AVSC has been championing access to youth winter sports, serving around 3,000 youth annually in both recreational (Aspen Supports Kids) and Team (competitive) programming. As the largest and oldest youth nonprofit in the Roaring Fork Valley, AVSC is also the largest youth ski and snowboard program in the country, with disciplines including Alpine, Nordic, Freestyle (including Freeride or Big Mountain, Moguls, Park and Pipe, and Telemark), and Skimo.  

In addition to competitive guest athletes who come from all over the world to train with AVSC’s talented coaches (many of whom are champions in their own right), AVSC is committed to fulfilling its mission to provide all youth in the greater Roaring Fork Valley with the opportunity to excel as athletes and as people through winter sports. Through both subsidized programming and direct financial aid, as well as limited free services including seasonal gear and bus transportation for youth from as far away as Silt, AVSC is a national leader in winter sports access for youth. Athletes range from first-time youth trying a new sport to World Cup and Olympic champions. 

• 25K Owl Creek Chase – a timed, point-to-point race. 
• 15K Owl Creek Tour – a relaxed, untimed, and slightly shorter version of the same breathtaking route. 
• Owlet Race – a fun 1km kids’ event at the AVSC Clubhouse. 

She started out in moguls and switched to big mountain, competing there through her senior year in high school. At age 18, she decided to give Park & Pipe a try. Last year, Lamm told The Aspen Times that just a few short years ago, she couldn’t even ski up the halfpipe wall.

“I started late in this,” Lamm admits. “But it was great to try all the disciplines. Usually, athletes will try slopestyle and halfpipe, then pick one. I went straight into halfpipe when I was 18.”

Lamm found success through Aspen’s USASA series, competing against more seasoned athletes. Series Director Jason Cook says this is exactly why the series is so important to our community and to our local athletes. “It gives them the opportunity to compete at a high level, qualify for higher-level competitions, and still come home to their own beds at night.”

Today, Hanna is a member of AVSC’s Post Graduate (PG) program with Dave Zweig as her coach. Zweig coached her through her first USASA competition and first encouraged her to try the halfpipe at Copper.

“He’s a great coach, so supportive, and really connected to each athlete and how we train,” Lamm says. “His coaching style is so personal, and he recognizes what each athlete needs and when to push us. He really cares about us.”

This season will be her third competitive season in Park & Pipe and her second on the World Cup circuit. She’s currently ranked fourth in the U.S. based on last year’s points, and if she can hold on to that ranking or improve, she’ll be headed to the Olympics in February (save the date to cheer her on — she’ll compete in Aspen at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix on January 11, with the Olympic team announcement coming on January 15).

Lamm, who spoke to AVSC from an Austrian training camp, says the AVSC name comes with a certain international cachet.

“We have phenomenal training resources here with all four mountains,” she says. “AVSC has had so many great athletes come through — Hanna, Alex, Kai, Nick. When I say I’m from Aspen, people know what that means, and it’s really cool.”

In addition to training in Austria, Lamm has spent time this summer training in New Zealand and at the AVSC Clubhouse. She’s also kept busy coaching trampoline camps and will coach weekend freestyle programs this winter in between her own competition and training schedule. Looking ahead, she’s focused on being strategic in her approach, eliminating the noise, and dialing in her mental preparation.

“Hanna is an amazing member of our team — supportive of her athletes and respectful of fellow competitors,” says Coach Zweig. “She will be looking toward another season of World Cup starts and has a high goal of putting herself into the mix for a potential Olympic spot. This season is going to be a big one, full of excitement and challenges, but Hanna is looking to make the most of her season between World Cup and Nor-Am starts.”

After learning she won the Andy Mill Award, Lamm said, “That’s crazy. It means a lot. I’ve worked really hard, and this is motivation to keep going. It’s so nice and encouraging to be recognized by my hometown club.”

The Andy Mill Award is named after longtime local Andy Mill, who was considered America’s premier downhill racer in the 1970s. In the downhill at the 1976 Olympic Games, he competed on a leg so bruised from a training injury that he couldn’t stand on it without pain. He froze his leg in the snow minutes before entering the starting gate and took home sixth place.

We wish Lamm congratulations on the Andy Mill Award and a phenomenal season. We will be rooting for her the whole way!
Follow her on Instagram at @_hannalamm_