Meet The Pro Skiers and Judges for the Inaugural Sun Valley Stampede

Howdy, partner, the inaugural Sun Valley Stampede presented by POWDERMagazine is just a few weeks away.

Slated to go down between March 13-15, 2026, skiers are flocking from far and wide to test their skills on the never-before-seen race course that will feature race gates, moguls, and terrain park features.

Registration is still open to skiers who would like to compete, but there will also be plenty for spectators to enjoy throughout the weekend. The event is open to all ages.

Notably, the Sun Valley Stampede will be anchored by a Pro Division featuring some of the fastest skiers and best judges this side of the Mississippi.

Keep reading for the athletes, judges, and personalities confirmed for the event, and check back for updates.

*Additional professional skiers could be announced in the coming days.

The 2026 POWDER Photo Annual is here! Look for a print copy on a newsstand near you, or click here to have a copy shipped directly to your front door.

Pro Skiers, Sun Valley Stampede

Marcus Caston

Marcus Caston made transitioning from a ski racer to a big mountain skier cool before everybody and their mom started doing it. Now known for making some of the best-looking turns in the biz, Caston's "Return of the Turn" video series is a fan-favorite.

Watch for Caston to crush the moguls and freeride section of the courses. With his racing background, he may just be the favorite to win the whole thing.

Harlan Collins

Harlan Collins grew up in Sun Valley and is a three-time ski cross champ. Known for charging hard and fast, Collins went viral years ago for accidentally hitting and killing a deer while skiing at Sun Valley. Collins skied the remainder of the run with the deer carcass over his shoulders, instantly establishing him as a local legend.

He'll be the hometown favorite when the Stampede rolls into town.

Connery Lundin

Hailing from Lake Tahoe, California, Connery Lundin is one of the best big mountain freeride skiers on the planet. He's appeared in countless movies, has posed nude on the cover of POWDER Magazine, and recently competed in the Natural Selection Tour's Super Session event at Palisades Tahoe.

Don't be surprised if Lundin whips out some tricks on the freestyle section of the Stampede course.

Matt Sterbenz

The founder of 4FRNT Skis, Sterbenz, is back with the brand after a hiatus. A major influence on the previous generation of freeride skiers, don't count Sterbenz out for a podium finish. Watch out for a fast and technical performance on the Stampede track.

Kole Harle

Based in Rossland, BC, Kole Harle is an alpine ski racing coach by trade, but his bag of skills is much deeper. When he's not coaching, Harle can be seen hucking 50-foot cliffs, slashing pow, and pinning chutes at RED Mountain Resort.

Ridge Dirksmeier

Ridge grew up in Sun Valley and feels very lucky to have been raised there. He got his start with SVSEF’s Park + Pipe Team, where he fell in love with skiing and the community around it. He recently spent six months in New Zealand chasing winter, and after returning, traveled to Japan to begin filming a ski project. Ridge is happiest with skis on his feet and is proud to represent his hometown at the Stampede!

Joe Dunn

Joe Dunn is a full-time ski instructor at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah, and the creator of the Ski Dad TV YouTube Channel.

Judges, Sun Valley Stampede

Heather Paul Featherman

Heather has more than 30 years in the ski industry. Starting as a young ski racer in New England, she progressed to the FIS level, continued as a member of the NCAA University of Vermont ski team, and went on to become a big mountain athlete, a Marmot & K2-sponsored athlete, and to found Ultimate Groove women's ski events internationally. She holds three national titles, is a two-time X Games skiercross competitor, a 24 Hours of Aspen competitor, a big mountain judge, and has been featured in multiple ski films, including Warren Miller's No Turning Back. She is currently working to grow her vintage-inspired, modern-made cashmere sweater brand, Alpine Revival.

Mike Hattrup

For more than 30 years, Mike Hattrup has called Ketchum home — and helped shape the evolution of big-mountain skiing along the way. An AMGA Certified Ski Guide and former member of the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team (moguls, 1987–88), Hattrup emerged during skiing’s most progressive era. He starred in more than a dozen influential films by legendary filmmakers Greg Stump and Warren Miller, including the groundbreaking Blizzard of Aahhhs, which helped redefine the sport.

A true pioneer of big-mountain and extreme skiing, Hattrup was named one of POWDERMagazine’s “48 Most Influential Skiers of Our Time” and previously recognized among the “50 Best Skiers in North America.”

In 2021, his impact on the sport was cemented with his induction into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. Today, as Director of Skiing for Eleven, Hattrup continues to lead and inspire on the mountain.

McKenna Peterson

McKenna Peterson is a hard-charging pro skier known for sending big lines and tackling grueling alpine ascents. Being considered one of the best big-mountain skiers ever to slash a turn would be enough for most, but not for McKenna. Winter is just half of what makes her the absolute legend she is. Each summer, when the snow’s melted and the clips are stacked, she heads to Alaska as Captain of her fishing vessel Atlantis. When she’s not on the road or water in pursuit of pow or fish, McKenna is getting after it at home in Sun Valley, Idaho.

Lyndsey Dyer

Dyer is a multi-sport athlete, green real estate advisor, artist, a transformational breath-work facilitator, drone pilot, and filmmaker. She is on a mission to help more people to their highest potential on and off the mountain. She spends her free time advocating for conservation.  

As a professional skier, Dyer's career has spanned over a decade. She has skied on six continents, won every big mountain competition she’s entered, been awarded Female Skier of the Year by POWDER and Freeskier Magazines multiple times, and cemented her place as one of the best big mountain skiers in the world while inspiring a generation of young female athletes through popular Ted talks on 'Skiing like a girl', viral funny pieces like Shit Skier Girls say PrettyFaces; the story of a skiergirl film, and co-founding SheJumps.org. 

Dyer has starred in films and commercials for Teton Gravity Research, Warren Miller, Chevy Trucks, and beauty brands like Mary Kay. She was the first female to launch off the infamous 70 ft. Fat Bastard and Cave air cliffs outside the Jackson Hole mountain ski boundary, and the first female on the cover of Freeskier Magazine.

Drew Petersen

Drew Petersen is more than just a professional skier. He's a mental health advocate, Leadville 100 competitor, and now, a podcast host. Petersen will bring his big-mountain expertise into judging the Sun Valley Stampede.

Announcers, Sun Valley Stampede

Alex Hegewald

DJ Alex is a high-energy professional DJ, host, and announcer based in Sun Valley, Idaho. He’s brought the soundtrack and the stoke to events for powerhouse brands like ESPN, the US Ski Team, SVSEF, X Games, Nike, Adidas, and Veuve Clicquot.

A lifelong skier with a deep love for mountain culture, Alex seamlessly blends skiing, music, and live sports announcing into one electric experience. Whether it’s a world-class competition, a high-end brand activation, or a packed après-ski party, he knows how to read the crowd, command the mic, and create an atmosphere that’s unforgettable.

Christopher (Uncle E) Ernst

"I talk for a living about rad events like this. My role is to educate, entertain, and inform the general public. My career has been blessed with Bird Shows, Olympics, Jalapeno Eating Contests, X Games, Nascar, Fashion Shows, Red Bull events, and World Championships. I rarely get paid by the word, but when I do, it's with nickels. Heavy suitcases. Lotsa hats. I like adjectives."

Steve Porino

Porino, a former U.S. Ski Team downhill racer, has been a member of NBCU’s Olympic coverage since the 2002 Salt Lake Games and has been a part of NBC Sports’ Alpine World Cup and World Championship presentations since 1997. He serves as a reporter on NBC Sports’ cycling coverage, including the Tour de France.