Where Are They Now?
01/08/2026 04:17PM ● By Sophie Dingle
Ahead of this year's (!!) Winter Olympics, Steamboat Magazine is taking a look at where the town's former Olympians are now. Plus, they offer advice to a new crop of Olympic hopefuls. This is part one; stay tuned for more as the weeks count down to Cortina/Milan.
Alex Deibold
2014 Olympics, Sochi, Russia
Snowboard cross (bronze)
"The stage is bigger, the lights are brighter, but at the end of the day you're just doing the same thing you've always been doing to get there, so remember to enjoy it.” So says Alex Deibold; and future Olympians should heed his advice – he won a bronze medal in 2014. Now Alex, originally from New England, is rooted in Steamboat as the director of snowboarding for Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. He also works extensively with Protect Our Winters (POW) to preserve the environments he loves.
Justin Reiter
2014 Olympics, Sochi, Russia
Parallel slalom, parallel giant slalom
Courtesy of Justin Reiter.
Since stepping away from competition, snowboarder Justin Reiter has focused on coaching the next generation of athletes, like Ester Ledecká and Vic Wild who have won a combined five Olympic gold medals. “At the core of my coaching philosophy is the belief that peak performance is never just physical,” Justin says. “True breakthroughs happen when mind, body and soul are aligned. Training the whole athlete means understanding motivation, managing stress, cultivating curiosity and building resilience through hard days.” He also co-founded Zirkel Optics, a plant-based, eco-performance eyewear company based in Steamboat Springs. “Like many athletes shaped by this valley, my path wasn’t linear or comfortable,” Justin says. “I’m a Steamboat Olympian, Vice World Champion and World Cup Champion – but those titles were earned during years when I lived out of the back of my truck, chasing snow, training sessions and belief in a dream that wasn’t guaranteed.” He sees Zirkel Optics as a continuation of that journey: seeing clearly, moving forward with intention and building something that lasts.Bobby Aldighieri
1992 Olympics, Albertville, France
Freestyle moguls
Courtesy of Bobby Aldighieri.
Bobby Aldighieri was drawn to mogul skiing when he came to Steamboat to train at Park Smalley’s ski camp at Howelsen Hill in the 1970s. He grew up skiing in Vermont but has called Steamboat home since 2010. Bobby works in real estate for Sotheby’s International Realty and is an integral part of Steamboat’s ski community through coaching with the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. His advice for this year’s Olympians? “Stay focused on the process. Try to not be overwhelmed and enjoy the small things while taking care of the moment to moment to be your very best. Believe in yourself and don’t doubt your potential to win a medal.”
2018 Olympics, PyeongChange, South Korea
Nordic combined
Courtesy of Ben Berend.
Ben Berend was born and raised in Steamboat Springs. He made his dream of becoming an Olympian come true in the 2018 Olympics. He retired following that experience and eventually settled back in Steamboat where he works as part of the Boyd & Berend team at Sotheby’s International Realty. Remembering his Olympic experience, he recalls, “Two things stood out to me the most … walking into the opening ceremony stadium behind the American flag was unbelievable. Also, the first time I put on the Olympic bib with those rings on the chest. I’ll never forget those two moments. I had daydreamed about that since I was a kid. My advice to this year’s crop of Olympians is to thank all the people that got you to this place. It takes a village and it’s a great time for gratitude and reflection before you arrive at the Games ready to compete.”