Team Palisades Tahoe athlete, Aiden England, has emerged as a standout nominee to the US Ski & Snowboard Ski Cross team headed to the Youth Olympic Games. The competition is set to take place in Gangwon Province, South Korea January 19th – February 1st, 2024. A senior at Truckee High School and seasoned skier, Aiden will proudly represent the United States and his home mountain of Palisades Tahoe as one of two distinguished Male Ski Cross Team members selected nationwide.
The 2024 Youth Olympic Games, held every four years, are poised to welcome over 1,900 athletes from more than 80 National Olympic Committees to the revered setting of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang. Originating from the vision of former International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge, the Youth Olympic Games were established with the mission to unite the world’s finest young athletes and impart inspiration and education to the upcoming generation of Olympians.
As a native of Truckee, CA, and now a senior at Truckee High School, Aiden has been carving his path on the slopes since the tender age of two. His brother, ten years his senior, and his teammates were on the Team Palisades Tahoe Alpine Ski Racing team and during breaks would hike him up the hill on his little plastic skis and just…let him go. Thus, instilling in him little to no fear on snow. From there, his journey started with Team Palisades Tahoe where he honed his skills and eventually joined our Ski Cross team at the age of 11 under the tutelage of Donald “Mort” Nyberg. He is coming off a banner year of mostly 1st place finishes, ending the 2023 season at the USASA Nationals where he donned the 2nd spot on the podium over some very exceptional competition from all over the United States. Aiden’s selection to represent the US Ski & Snowboard Team and Palisades Tahoe at the Youth Olympic Games is a testament to years of unwavering dedication, hard work, and the steadfast support of his family and community.
“I’m excited to travel to compete and see a different part of the world. This is the highest level that I have ever competed at, it’s a good opportunity to see where I stack up against the world. I’ve been to events across North America, but I’m excited to see how athletes from other countries train, prepare, and show up to compete on this global stage.”
“This season I’ve been training by doing early-ups on Red Dog before the mountain opens to the public, getting on roller-skis at Woodward, and just getting out as much as possible. Compared to the winter that Europe is having right now, my primary focus has been getting on snow as much as I can.”
Embarking on the road to South Korea presents not only a formidable skill challenge but also a financial one. The community is invited to rally behind Aiden by participating in a Fun’raiser scheduled for Tuesday, January 9th, at 6 pm at Best Pies Pizza in Downtown Truckee.
“Ski Cross as a sport has been gaining traction within the Alpine Ski racing discipline. It’s evolving and more and more athletes are switching over. I really want to thank Palisades Tahoe, my coaches, my mom, my dad, my brother, and my community for the support to get here.”
For more details about Aiden’s remarkable journey and the US Ski Team Youth Olympic Games, please visit: https://usskiandsnowboard.org/news/2024-alpine-nordic-combined-ski-jumping-ski-cross-youth-olympic-games-nominations-released
Join us in cheering for Aiden as he represents Truckee, California, Palisades Tahoe and the United States on the global stage at the 2024 Youth Olympic Games. Let’s show our support for this exceptional local talent and wish him the best as he aims to bring home glory for the nation.
