Elite Team Named for 2024-25 Season
Crosscut Announces 2024-2025 Elite Biathlon and Para Nordic Team
Crosscut Mountain Sports Center is honored to announce its Elite Biathlon and Paralympic roster for the 2024-2025 winter season. Since 2019, Crosscut has cultivated and trained elite competition-level athletes from across the nation to compete worldwide in biathlon and para Nordic sports.
Among the selected team this season, para Nordic athletes Dani Aravich, Michael Kneeland, and Nicole Zaino have been named to the 2024-2025 U.S. Paralympics Nordic Team. Nik Burkhart and Vincent Bonacci have been named to the 2024-2025 U.S. Biathlon Team. Amanda Kautzer has been named to the National Development Group this year.
Crosscut’s Elite Team is unique—both biathlon and para Nordic athletes are part of a single program. This single-team approach reflects Crosscut's growth and development in connection with its partnership with the U.S. Paralympics Nordic (USPN) program. The combined Elite Team embodies Crosscut’s philosophy of inclusivity.
This year’s Elite Team is capitalizing on a successful 2023-2024 season where two athletes competed in IBU World Cups, two athletes competed in IBU Cups, four athletes competed in IBU Junior Cups and World Youth or Junior Championships, two para athletes competed at World Championships, and five para athletes competed at World Cup Finals. Regarding national team naming, two athletes were named to the U.S. Paralympics Nordic Teams, and two were named to the U.S. Biathlon National Teams & National Team Training Groups.
Athletes will call Crosscut Mountain Sports Center in Bridger Canyon their home training facility for the 2024-2025 season and receive world-class coaching from Crosscut’s staff, including biathlon coaches Seth Hubbard and Sydney Michalak, as well as coach Nick Michaud, who has a joint appointment with U.S. Paralympics Nordic Skiing and Crosscut.
The full roster is listed below:
Amanda Kautzer (Plymouth, MN)
Anna Marino (Canmore, AB)
Ben Sites (Bozeman, MT)
Brenna Barton (Bozeman, MT)
Cale Woods (Bozeman, MT)
Dani Aravich (Boise, ID)
Emma Pearson (Casper, WY)
Ian Burgess (Bozeman, MT)
Michael Kneeland (Bozeman, MT)
Nate Livingwood (Maine)
Nicole Zaino (Brookfield, CT)
Nik Burkhart (Olympic Valley, CA)
Tim Cobb (Westford, VT)
Ty Wiberg (Chippewa Falls, WI)
Van Ledger (Lake Placid, NY)
Vincent Bonacci (Salt Lake City, UT)
Spartan Race at Crosscut
Soggy Bottoms: Why Crosscut's Single-Track Trails Open Later Than Other Trails
Give Big: Anna's Story
Anna’s Story
“In the ski arena, Hazel shuffles, Jackson tumbles, and Emme plods around with a huge smile on her face. Isaiah is eating snow by the handful, and Lily is in fits of giggles that knock her over. None of these kids have been on skis before. They’re all nervous to go down the first hill, asking me what I will do if someone gets hurt. At this point in their six years of living, they have likely been told that skiing is challenging and that science is complicated. Our ski education program is more than just teaching children how to ski. It's about igniting their curiosity, nurturing their sense of wonder, and instilling confidence in their abilities.
Give Big: Chandler's Story
Chandler’s Story
“I have been involved with Crosscut's Ski Education Program for 6 years and it is hands-down the best job ever! It is a privilege to work with thousands of Montana students each year as we guide them through a fun day on skis while exploring the wonders of nature.
Cross country skiing is approachable for people of all ages and experience levels and is a great way to access our magical winter landscape during the snowy months. Each day we get to watch students follow their curiosities outdoors while also encountering and overcoming challenges in a safe environment.
Despite being located in a recreation-focused mountain town, we work with a lot of first-time skiers that don’t otherwise have the opportunity to learn how to ski and spend time in the mountains. It’s important that we keep our program affordable to ensure accessibility to a wide variety of schools and students. Donations from our community help make this possible!
By supporting our Ski Education program, you're helping to guarantee that we can continue providing students with their "best day ever" for years to come!”
-Chandler Bowen, Outdoor Education Manager
Give Big 2024
In our 2023-24 season, Crosscut’s Ski Education Program served 2,626 students through our School, Homeschool, and Global Snowsports Programs. We worked with 33 schools across three counties and welcomed homeschool, remote learning, hybrid student groups, and traditional classroom students.
Each one of our participants had the opportunity to explore Crosscut's trails on skis or snowshoes while building connections with nature and each other.
When you GIVE BIG, you help us provide year-round and meaningful opportunities for young outdoor learners through ski education, biathlon, summer camps, and mountain bike camps! To keep these programs affordable and accessible, we need your support during Give Big Gallatin Valley happening May 2-3! Help us foster healthy lifestyles, empower youth, and put smiles on faces for generations to come.
Celebrating 30 Years of Stewardship
In March, we will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the conservation easement with GVLT. In celebration of this milestone, we invite the conservation community to join us for a free day on Saturday, March 2. Come cross-country ski, snowshoe, or fatbike on our spectacular 45km trail system — please book your free day pass ahead of time.
