Olympian Nolan Kasper Announces Retirement

By Published On: April 23rd, 2018Comments Off on Olympian Nolan Kasper Announces Retirement

After a national team career that stretches back to the 2008 season and three Olympic appearances in Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014, and PyeongChang 2018, 29-year-old U.S. Ski Team veteran Nolan Kasper announced his retirement from ski racing via Instagram Monday afternoon.

In life, we must all remember that things are finite, that nothing lasts forever. Sometimes they end sooner than we had hoped, and other times they finish right when you need them to . Today is the day when something I’ve been doing for the past 23 years ends. It’s been an amazing run, filled with some amazing highs, while also containing some pretty low lows. I’ve very proud of what I’ve accomplished over the years, including getting back from injuries time and time again. I want to thank everyone who has had any part in helping me get to where I’ve been. There are far too many names to name, but thank you to my family, friends, teammates, fellow racers, coaches, techs, physical therapists, doctors, trainers, managers, agents and anyone else who’s helped me along the way. Thank you!!! . This past season was a successful one coming off of major injuries. Aside from the results, I always hope my experience and knowledge can help the next generation of racers. Spending a good amount of the season with #TheShiver helped me in more ways than I can imagine, and I hope I’ve helped them in some small way. They really have the mentality required to be successful in the long run. Beyond the skills needed for this sport, they have the mindset that fosters a collaborative and competitive group, which can push each other moving forward. You guys have been awesome. Thank you and good luck next year! . Time to see what’s next. Hopefully they’ll be some time to compete in the @worldproskitour next season too! . . . @volklskis @markerproducts @dalbellosports @blizeyewear @swix_sport @levelgloves @dainesewinter @usskiteam #theshiver #keepswimming #finsup

A post shared by Nolan Kasper (@nolankasper) on

“Today is the day when something I’ve been doing for the past 23 years ends,” he shared. “It’s been an amazing run, filled with some amazing highs, while also containing some pretty low lows. I’ve [sic] very proud of what I’ve accomplished over the years, including getting back from injuries time and time again.”

Over the course of his career with the national team, Kasper endured numerous setbacks due to injury. After a white-hot start to his career that saw him climb the World Cup podium with a second place in the slalom in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, in 2011, Kasper rarely enjoyed a full season without some sort of setback. Most recently, Kasper managed to come back from nearly three years away from the sport this season to score points in his first World Cup back in Wengen, Switzerland, and qualify for his third Olympic team.

Kasper also won a bronze medal in the 2009 World Junior Championship slalom in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, won the 2010 NorAm slalom title, and was the overall winner of this year’s World Pro Ski Tour after taking wins in two of the three events this season in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, and Sunday River, Maine.

 

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About the Author: Sean Higgins

A Lake Tahoe native and University of Vermont graduate, Higgins was a member of the Catamounts' 2012 NCAA title winning squad and earned first team All-American honors in 2013. Prior to coming to Ski Racing Media, he coached U14s for the Squaw Valley Ski Team.