The National Nordic Foundation, The Olympic Women’s Book Project, the Women’s Ski Coaches Association, and the U.S. Ski Team are excited to announce the 2025-’26 recipients of the Trail to Gold Coaching grants. This season’s recipients represent the fourth edition of women ski coaches chosen to learn and work alongside U.S. Ski Team coaching and waxing staff on the World Cup.
The Trail to Gold coaching grants originated from funds donated by the Olympic Women’s Book Project in 2022 following the publication of their book, Trail to Gold, the Journey of 53 Women Skiers. The book, which chronicles the history of U.S. women skiing in the Olympics from 1972-2022, raised awareness of American women skiers and quickly triggered discussion among the book committee about how to continue to fight for women’s equality in sport. The idea of sending women coaches to an historically male coach and technician dominated World Cup was quickly put into effect for the 2022-’23 season to great success. The Olympic Women’s Book Project has been fortunate to partner with the National Nordic Foundation, the Women’s Ski Coaches Association, and the U.S. Ski Team to bring this idea to fruition.
This season’s five grant recipients come from a qualified group of applicants who come from clubs, high schools, and colleges from all across the country. This group of five women will each spend up to two weeks on the World Cup leaning into time spent in the wax truck, on snow testing skis and providing splits, joining logistics discussions and supporting U.S. athletes on and off the race course. Fewer grants were awarded this season to accommodate the Olympic schedule.
2025-’26 Trail to Gold Coaches
Olivia Skillings (Glacier Nordic Club) Nov 17 – Dec 1, Finland
Quinn Lehmkuhl (Tahoe Endurance) Nov 30 – Dec 15, Norway, Switzerland
Grace Erholz (Team Birkie) Dec. 25 – Jan 5, Italy
Lily Johnston (Bridger Ski Foundation) Feb 22 – Mar 9, Sweden, Finland
Erin Moening (Minneapolis Ski Club) Mar 2 – Mar 15 Finland, Norway
We can all be part of this program by donating to the National Nordic Foundation. Use the following Venmo link, and write Trail to Gold in the memo, or visit nationalnordicfoundation.org and click Donate Now. Thank you!
