Revolutionizing Athlete Training: U.S. Ski & Snowboard Teams Up with Google for AI Performance Tool

Collaboration for Athlete Training

In an exciting development for winter sports, U.S. Ski & Snowboard has joined forces with tech giant Google to create an innovative AI-based video analysis tool. This groundbreaking partnership, announced on February 5, 2026, aims to enhance athletic performance and mountain safety for Olympic and elite athletes in skiing and snowboarding. This tool promises to transform how coaches and athletes work together by providing real-time insights derived from data analytics.

The Need for a New Approach

For decades, the options for analyzing athlete performance on the slopes were limited. On one hand, coaches relied on subjective observations while athletes trained in challenging environments; on the other, high-precision laboratory analysis required cumbersome wearable technology, often impractical in real-world conditions. This collaboration aims to bridge that gap by utilizing cutting-edge technology to streamline the process of performance analysis without sacrificing practicality.

An Innovative Solution

Developed entirely on Google Cloud, this experimental AI tool eliminates the need for wearables and specialized equipment. By transforming a standard smartphone into a high-precision motion capture device, the tool captures athletes' movements through video footage without additional sensors. The use of AI and DeepMind technologies allows the system to interpret complex motions, providing insights that were unfeasible with traditional methods.

Features of the AI Tool

1. On-Mountain Analysis: Coaches can capture videos from various vantage points during training and upload them to a dashboard for immediate analysis. This feature enhances the ability to provide tailored feedback in real-time.
2. No Wearable Gear Needed: Athletes can train in their everyday gear, which allows for natural movements without the encumbrance of additional weight or potential distractions.
3. Conversational Insights: The tool's advanced AI capabilities allow users to engage in a conversational manner, asking questions about performance metrics and receiving data-driven insights instantly. For example, a coach could inquire about the necessary spin speed for a successful landing, and the AI would provide an estimation.
4. Long-term Performance Tracking: Each training session's data is stored in a centralized database, offering coaches and athletes an opportunity for ongoing analysis and improvements over time, fostering a deep understanding of what contributes to success.

A Game-Changer for Coaching

Anouk Patty, the chief of sport at U.S. Ski & Snowboard, remarked on the significance of this tool for coaching practices. Traditionally, video analysis could be a tedious task, but this new system simplifies the process and affords greater depth in athlete training. This collaboration is not solely about achieving medals but is fundamentally concerned with creating the safest and most advanced training frameworks for athletes.

Oliver Parker, VP of Global Generative AI at Google Cloud, emphasized this collaboration as a prototype for the future of training and performance analytics. By coupling advanced technology with elite coaching, they are setting a standard for how athletes at all levels can enhance their training environments.

Future Outlook

With the Olympic Winter Games on the horizon, both U.S. Ski & Snowboard and Google aim to continue piloting this AI tool to refine its functionality and ensure it meets the high-performance demands of athletes. The innovative technology will pave the way for a new era in athletic training, combining the precision of AI with the creativity and dynamics of sports.

In summary, this collaboration exemplifies how technology can reshape athletics, making high-level coaching accessible and actionable. By utilizing tools that enhance performance analysis, U.S. Ski & Snowboard is committed to maximizing athlete potential and safety on the slopes.