People

Everyone has a Why. Our motivations are as varied as our backgrounds, and these passions are what powers adventures big and small.

In 2006, Roy Tuscany suffered a life-altering spinal injury in a fall on Mammoth Mountain. Four years later, he’s back on skis and helping others return to the slopes through his nonprofit and a partnership with CR Johnson’s family. By Olivia Dwyer

Despite what you think, it takes more than looking good in a bikini to become an official Lange Girl. We spoke to winner Denja Rand about her photo shoot, her campaign strategy, and her boyfriend, who just won an Olympic bronze. By Olivia Dwyer

With pink hair, a blinding smile, and a silver medal in moguls from the 2002 Olympics, Shannon Bahrke stood out in a crowd before the five-ring circus in Vancouver kicked off. Now she’s won a bronze medal and made multiple appearances on the Today show, finishing her last Olympics as one of America’s darlings. By Olivia Dwyer

A lot has changed since Sarah Schleper skied for the U.S. at the 2006 Olympics in Turin. On hiatus due to a knee injury, she fell in love and got married. Then she took another winter off to have her son. Now she’s back, competing in Vancouver with her new family cheering her on. By Olivia Dwyer

We thought of calling this gallery “The Coolest People in the World,” but that might make the non-skiing community angry. The skiers you’ll see here have in one way or another changed the sport of skiing forever. These are our gods. Let us worship them.