End of an Era: Elite Independent Alpine Team ‘Global Racing’ Closes Historic Chapter

In a poignant announcement that marks the conclusion of one of the most successful experiments in modern alpine skiing history, members of Team Global Racing have confirmed that the elite independent racing program is closing its doors.

The announcement comes on the heels of major structural shifts in the international coaching circuit ahead of the 2026–27 winter season, culminating an extraordinary 13-year run for the self-funded "underdog" family.

More Than a Team: A Self-Funded Family

Founded and led by visionary American coach Paul Epstein, Global Racing was launched in 2013 out of sheer necessity. Epstein recognized a devastating void in the elite ski racing pipeline—athletes who were dropped by their respective national teams, or who narrowly missed the strict criteria straight out of college or academies, had nowhere left to turn.

Global Racing provided that lifeline. Functioning entirely outside the traditional, heavily funded national federation model, the team operated as a purely independent group. The athletes and staff entirely self-financed their travel, lane space, equipment, and training logistics.

Over more than a decade, that gritty, self-reliant ethos forged a tight-knit brotherhood that defied the lonely, individualistic nature of alpine ski racing.

“Calling it a ‘team’ is an understatement—to me, and I think I can speak for many of us, it was a family,” one team member shared in a heartfelt reflection. “We were a group of people who shared the same dream, the same passion, and the same mentality. If it wasn’t for the mentality of this team, I probably would have already quit and would not be where I am today.”

Writing World Cup History

Despite running on a fraction of the budget of massive national organizations like Ski Austria or the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, Global Racing routinely went toe-to-toe with the giants of the sport.

The program's ultimate metric of success was its astonishing ability to bridge the gap back to elite racing. Over its tenure, Global Racing guided roughly 20 different athletes from over nine different nations into the second run of a FIS World Cup or into the World Cup points.

The team became a respected powerhouse, sending as many as eight racers from multiple countries to a single World Championships. High-profile success stories include Belgium's Sam Maes—who recently capped off his 2025–26 season with a career-best world ranking of 12th in giant slalom—alongside a host of American, European, and international racers who used Global Racing as a springboard to reclaim their spots on national teams.

The Next Chapter: Epstein Moves to U.S. Ski Team

The closing of this chapter aligns with a massive new professional milestone for the team's mastermind. The Stifel U.S. Ski Team recently announced that Paul Epstein has been formally hired as the new Men’s Head Tech Coach ahead of the upcoming season.

Epstein will bring the exact "culture-first" philosophy he perfected at Global Racing directly into the American national system, focusing on building high-trust environments where independent accountability drives performance.

"I’m looking forward to entering a new chapter of my coaching career," Epstein noted of his appointment. "For many years, I’ve worked to support U.S. skiing from the outside. Now, being directly involved in the men’s World Cup tech team’s progress is incredibly motivating."

As the athletes and staff of Global Racing disperse to rewrite their own next chapters, they depart with an unmatched legacy: proof that with enough passion, shared vision, and an unyielding team spirit, a small group of independent skiers could truly conquer the mountain.