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Lynsey Nagle Represented Team USA in the Freeride Skiing Junior World ChampionshipClass of 2026
Lynsey Nagle, junior at Rice, competed in the Freeride Skiing Junior World Championship in Austria this winter. She is one of only 4 women selected to represent the US in this competition and is among the top 15 junior skiers in the world!
What is Freeride Skiing?
Freeride skiing is performed on ungroomed, natural terrain. Each skier picks their own line down the mountain hitting as many features and performing as many tricks as they can during their run. Their performance is judged on criteria like line, fluidity, air, style, control, and energy. It’s incredibly competitive, so fun to watch, but not without significant risk! To compete at this level requires a lot of courage, training and grit.
To start her run, she hiked for over an hour up a narrow ridge at altitude carrying her skis and boots. She scoped out the snow conditions and natural features (aka: rocks, cliffs, ledges) along the way and had the guts to jump off the edge, chart her own course, and be ready for the unexpected at any turn. Each skier has only one opportunity to get it right and she performed remarkably well. She was supported by her coach, parents, and two friends from Rice: Sadie Haskell and Seamus O’Neill. All three students are heading to Kirkwood, California this April to compete in the North & South American Junior Freeride Championship (JFC).
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Sadie, Lynsey, and Seamus will compete in the JFC's this April
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About Lynsey:
Lynsey has a calm and humble demeanor that understates her great accomplishments. She skis every Friday-Sunday and spends full days on the mountain practicing, training, and honing her skills.
She feels great support from her friends and the Rice community - especially from teachers and school leadership who generously give her the schedule flexibility necessary to train, to travel, and compete at such a high level. She credits Ms. Fricke-Langan for encouraging her to “be in the moment and fully present” during the competition.We’re Here for Our Students:
At Rice, we’re proud to be a school where students can achieve their God-given potential and pursue their dreams. Whether that dream is skiing, playing a college sport, studying abroad, serving their community, or pursuing an academic goal. We work hard to give students the flexibility they need while also still holding them to high standards. It’s a major credit to our teachers who think creatively and make themselves available if needed. We Are Rice!
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