U.S. Snowboard Team Appoints Danny Kass and Australian Duo to Lead Squads
The United States snowboard federation has overhauled its coaching leadership with high-profile international hires, signaling a strategic push to dominate the global winter sports economy ahead of the new World Cup circuit.
The Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team has announced major leadership changes across its freestyle and racing divisions for the 2026-27 season. Two-time Olympic silver medalist Danny Kass will serve as the new head coach for the slopestyle and big air squad, while Harald Benselin and Jan Klemsa take over the snowboard cross program.
These appointments highlight how national sports programs are increasingly operating like global enterprises, recruiting top international talent to secure competitive advantages. The winter sports economy relies heavily on national federation investments, and by poaching the architects of Australia’s recent Olympic success, the U.S. is leveraging foreign expertise to maximize its institutional return.
Kass brings extensive competitive pedigree to the freestyle roster, having secured two Olympic medals and seven X Games podiums during his riding career. Few athletes have influenced modern freestyle culture quite like Kass, who built a career on combining heavy technical progression with undeniable style. He previously joined the U.S. staff as a rookie halfpipe coach in 2022 before advancing to lead the professional pipe team.
Rick Bower, the sport director for the national squad, highlighted the strategic value of bringing a competitive veteran into the coaching ranks. "As a living legend in the sport, Danny needs no introduction," Bower said. He added that the new coach's unique experience has shaped him to connect with riders in a truly remarkable way, while Stan Wu stays on as assistant pro team coach alongside veterans Ryan Conway and Eric Beauchemin.
The snowboard cross division sees a complete strategic pivot with the arrival of Benselin and Klemsa. The coaching pair spent eight years developing the Australian national program, culminating in guiding Josie Baff to a historic gold medal at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games in Italy. Their resume demonstrates the kind of systematic, gold-medal formula the U.S. squad is setting itself up to replicate on the world stage.
To support this racing overhaul, the U.S. squad is also integrating three veteran Italian wax technicians who previously worked under the new Australian coaches. This cross-border transfer of technical staff underscores the highly globalized nature of modern winter sports operations. The newly assembled staff will begin pre-season conditioning immediately, preparing their athletes for the 2026-27 World Cup tour launch in November.
