About this episode
In this episode of the Race Ready Podcast, Andy and Brian welcome Gus Kaeding, the Director of Performance and Analytics at U.S. Ski & Snowboard. Gus shares his unique journey from competitive skiing and coaching to leading data-driven projects that are reshaping how the U.S. Ski Team approaches athlete development, Olympic criteria, and performance tracking. The trio kicks things off discussing the role of summer racing in athlete development, the balance between training and racing, and how athletes from Jessie Diggins to juniors are blending diverse modalities like trail running and gravel biking into their training. The conversation then dives deep into the world of data and sport science. Gus explains the methodology behind building athlete criteria, evaluating development pipelines, and the pros and cons of metrics like FIS points. He offers insights into how data helps remove bias from selection and funding decisions, and how prioritization at the National Governing Body (NGB) level influences everything from junior athlete support to Olympic medal performance forecasting. The episode explores the cultural and structural challenges the U.S. faces compared to dominant ski nations like Norway and how the U.S. can improve athlete retention and development. Finally, the discussion takes a turn into ski technology with an in-depth look at the "stone grind arms race" following the ban on fluoros. Gus breaks down how national teams are innovating ski bases for maximum glide, the role of hand structure, and the complexity of testing in changing conditions. Whether you're a data nerd, a wax tech, or just a fan of high-performance sport, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the tools, systems, and strategies driving U.S. skiing forward.