Tess Johnson, a mogul skier for Team USA and resident athlete of The Inn at Riverwalk, was born in Vail and first learned to ski just a few miles from The Inn’s front door at Beaver Creek Resort.
A moguls prodigy from an early age, Tess made her Olympic debut at the 2018 Winter Olympics at just 17 years old. Since then, her journey has been defined by resilience and grit. After missing the 2022 Winter Olympics and undergoing back surgery in 2023, she fought her way back to the world stage.
At the Games in Italy, Tess placed 5th in the inaugural women’s dual moguls event, a head to head format where two skiers race side by side down the same course. (Watch Tess and Team USA break down dual moguls for Snoop Dogg).
Just days after the Olympic Games wrapped, Tess was already back on the road to continue her World Cup season. On her way to Japan, she shared her reflections from her time in Milan-Cortina.
After everything it took to get back, what did it mean to be back at the Games?
After everything I’ve been through in the past four years with not making the 2022 Games and recovering from back surgery in 2023, making the 2026 Olympic Team has meant the world to me. It feels like a culmination of this deeply meaningful journey I’ve been on, and in a cutthroat sport on the most competitive women’s team of all time, nothing is guaranteed. I have to focus all of my efforts on what I can control while prioritizing my passion, and that’s exactly what I’ve done. It’s incredibly rewarding to have my hard work pay off in the form of going to my second Olympics, and it’s been the honor of a lifetime to compete in this sport and represent Team USA. I’ve relied on so many people to make this dream a reality. I truly couldn’t have done it without my family, my boyfriend, my teammates, coaches, PT’s, doctors, and sponsors. I’m so proud of this process, and even more proud to have gone through it all with the most wonderful people.
What was the most “this is wild, I can’t believe this is real life” moment?
The most “I can’t believe this is real life” moment was standing in the start gate for the first ever Dual Moguls event in the Olympics. It was lightly snowing, the crowd was chanting “U-TESS-A” in unison from below, and I’ve never felt more alive or more myself. I embraced the all-consuming pressure and adrenaline building up within me and proceeded to ski one of the best runs in my life to a 5th place finish. Being part of that historical day of skiing in the first ever Olympic Dual Moguls competition was indescribably special. It felt like the epitome of what the Olympics are all about: celebrating the pinnacle of sport as a symbol of global unity. To be a part of that empowering movement while doing what I love most as an Olympian is an experience I will never forget or take for granted.
Who was there supporting you, and what did that mean in that moment?
I had 23 family members and friends from all over the US travel to Livigno, Italy to cheer me on and experience the Games with me. To hug each and every one of them after the event meant the world to me. My family specifically has ridden the waves of every triumph and every setback that this life has presented, and I couldn’t have reached any of my goals without their relentless support. In true Olympic fashion, we shared many emotions and tears throughout the week, and I’m so grateful they were there to embrace it all with me.
Is there a teammate moment from this trip that will stick with you?
When my teammates Liz Lemley and Jaelin Kauf took Gold and Silver for the single moguls event, my other teammate Olivia Giaccio and I sprinted to the finish to embrace one another in the biggest group hug. Our team is very special, we are each other’s biggest competitors, especially while qualifying for the Olympics, and yet when one person wins, we all win. All of us on the team, including the four women who didn’t make the Olympics this year, work unbelievably hard and are very talented. We use that as inspiration to push one another to be better, and it’s a constant leveling-up process that makes every contest outcome a result of that camaraderie. I’m admittedly heartbroken to have not earned a medal at these Games because I know I’m more than capable, but if it couldn’t be me, I’m proud to say it was my teammates. The Olympics are about more than medals and outcomes. We are the best women’s mogul team in the world, but that’s because we embrace the duality of fierce competition and genuine support for one another as if we were a part of a team sport, and the future is bright for us all because of this powerful and unique approach.
What do you miss most about home when you’re on the road for weeks at a time?
I miss my family and friends the most. I’ve always loved the travel component of this journey, however as I’ve gotten older, it’s been harder to spend so much time away from my loved ones. This season specifically has been especially draining with the intensity of Olympic qualification and competition, and I’ve only been home for 6 days since Nov. 15 (and I’m not going home until March 15). All lifelong dreams take sacrifice, and that’s why I’m so grateful for the relationships I have with my teammates so that being on the road is still so fun, albeit exhausting at times. Plus, having all my people at the Olympics eased my homesickness quite a bit since it felt like all of home came to Italy.
Tell us about the support you received from your home community in the Vail Valley, and what it has meant to you this season.
I’m most proud to say my hometown is in the Vail Valley. Just like my family, this community has been through every victory and disappointment right there with me, and their support has never wavered. I’m in awe of the support I’ve received from every corner of our little valley, and it gives me great pride to tell people where I come from. I’m a skier because of this valley and the people who live here, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. The Vail Daily made an awesome pin with all the Vail Valley Olympians’ names on it, and let me tell you, it was a hot commodity! Everyone wanted to trade a pin for my Vail pin, but I had to decline as it’s my new prized possession to symbolize just how much my hometown means to me.
What are you looking forward to for the rest of the season?
I’m currently on a train from Tokyo to Nanto-Toyama, Japan for the next World Cup events! It was amazing to soak up the Olympics after I was done competing, but the season isn’t over yet, and we’ve got four more World Cups left, two here in Japan (2/28 to 3/1), and two in Azerbaijan (3/14 to 3/15). I’m currently ranked 2nd overall in the world, so I’ve certainly got my sights set on the World Cup Overall Crystal Globe! Much more than that, however, I’m excited for the opportunity to ski my runs as good as I can and enjoy every second. While I’m extremely proud of how I skied in duals at the Games, I made a couple of mistakes in the singles event that I’m looking forward to correcting in these next few weeks. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about for me: being the best version of myself on and off the hill that I can possibly be. This pursuit of excellence that I commit to is what brings the smile to my face day in and day out, and I just love skiing so much. No outcome will ever change these things about me. I learned some wonderful lessons, both in sport and life, from my time at Milano-Cortina, and I can’t wait to apply them all in upcoming opportunities.
We are proud to support Tess as a resident athlete of The Inn at Riverwalk and to follow her journey as she continues competing this season.Follow Tess’ journey and see her training track with The Inn at Riverwalk here: https://innatriverwalk.com/tess-track/
