Today we’d like to introduce you to Trace Worthington.
Hi Trace, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Early Years & Athletic Career
I began skiing in Minnesota as soon as I could walk. With only small hills available, I built oversized jumps in my backyard and spent most of my childhood launching off makeshift ramps and landing on flat ground. That passion eventually led my father to move our family to Winter Park, Colorado, in 1983. My brother and I relocated with him, and for the first time, I experienced real mountain terrain in the Rocky Mountains—something entirely new compared to skiing in Minnesota.
At age 14, I joined the Winter Park Freestyle Ski Team and quickly progressed through the competitive ranks, competing in upright aerials, moguls, and ballet skiing. When I was 16, I qualified for the Junior World Championships in France. Unsure of how I would compare internationally, I was stunned to win the gold medal in aerial skiing. That moment confirmed I had the talent to pursue the sport at the highest level.
Our family faced significant financial challenges—my father was a single parent raising two boys, and simply making ends meet was difficult, let alone funding competitive skiing. Despite this, I qualified for the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team at age 18. During my first World Cup season at 19, I reached the podium three times and earned A Team status on the 1990 U.S. World Cup Freestyle Ski Team.
Later years
I competed in the 1992 Winter Olympics, finishing seventh. In 1993, I moved to Park City, Utah, drawn by the world-class facilities developed by the Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee in preparation for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. I trained there for the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, where I placed fifth.
Training at the Utah Olympic Park marked the most successful period of my competitive career. In 1995, I became the World Cup Champion and earned double gold medals at the World Championships in France. I retired from competitive freestyle skiing in 1997 and have remained a Utah resident ever since.
Broadcasting & Professional Career
Following my retirement, I transitioned into sports commentary in 1998. I made my Olympic broadcasting debut at the 1998 Winter Olympics and also commentated the 2002 Winter Olympics for NBC. I have since covered seven Olympic Games. I am scheduled to serve as one of NBC’s lead commentators at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy.
I am also the cofounder of Flying Ace Productions, the company behind the Flying Ace All-Stars aerial shows at the Utah Olympic Park. For nearly 30 years, these shows have entertained audiences during the summer months and continue to be a staple of the park’s programming.
Outside of skiing, I am the lead commentator for the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, which takes place at iconic locations around the globe. I also serve as the lead commentator for The Incredible Dog Challenge on NBC.
Life in Utah & Family
Today, I live in Salt Lake City. While I still spend a great deal of time in the mountains, I was ready for a lifestyle change from resort living. I appreciate the character and community of the Ninth & Ninth area, its strong local culture, and the reduced tourism compared to Park City. Its proximity to the airport is also ideal given my constant travel schedule. Utah’s emphasis on health, wellness, and outdoor living has played an important role in my life. When not commentating during the winter time, I am one of the Olympic ambassadors at d today is running out for me as well. Hoping to get out for a minute. Touch base on what the next couple days look like and perhaps we can hang.eer Valley in a program called “ski with a champion”. It is a great stage to share our great state of Utah and its lifestyle with those who come visit and ski deer Valley. I am very proud of our city and state, and it’s rewarding to share with others.
I raised my two daughters, Sami Worthington and Izzy Worthington, in Park City. Both are competitive freestyle skiers and students at the University of Utah, continuing the family’s deep connection to skiing.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Becoming an Olympic athlete was never a smooth or easy path—especially in a sport that demanded charging through moguls, launching 50 feet into the air, and performing multiple twisting triple backflips. It required extraordinary physical fitness, patience, mental toughness, and the financial resources to train and compete against athletes who often had far fewer monetary concerns.
At the time, I was fortunate that money wasn’t the defining factor for me. I had more raw talent, ambition, and drive than anyone around me as a teenager, and that carried me forward.
Transitioning into a professional career after retiring from competitive skiing came with its own challenges. Learning how to be a commentator and journalist pushed me in entirely new ways, but it quickly became an opportunity I truly loved. In many ways, it felt like returning to competition—an environment that has always been my comfort zone. Today, I love my work as a commentator and the chance to tell the stories of others and bring their performances to life for audiences around the world.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
With respect to Utah, I am particularly proud of my role as an ambassador for Deer Valley Resort. Alongside my fellow Olympic teammate Fuzz Feddersen, I helped create and launch the Ski with a Champion program. Developed in collaboration with Deer Valley, the program features a select group of seven Olympians who are available to ski with guests. Designed for individuals, families, and corporate groups, Ski with a Champion offers a highly personalized and immersive experience throughout the winter season. The program was created to meaningfully elevate the Deer Valley guest experience by providing direct access to Olympic-level expertise, insight, and storytelling on the mountain.
Ski with a Champion is truly one of a kind, exclusively offered at Deer Valley Resort and unavailable at any other ski resort in the United States.
My primary profession is sports commentary across a wide range of disciplines and events. I have worked with NBC Sports since 1998, covering multiple Olympic Games. The opportunity to tell athletes’ stories, use relatable analogies, and educate audiences around the world is incredibly rewarding.
I am the lead commentator for the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, where the world’s top divers launch from heights of up to 90 feet at extraordinary locations around the globe—including Southern Italy, the Philippines, Copenhagen, and Bosnia. Each venue presents unique and demanding challenges, making both the sport and the athletes truly remarkable to witness.
I am also a commentator for The Incredible Dog Challenge on NBC, a fan-favorite competition featuring elite dogs tackling agility courses, launching impressive distances into water, and competing in a variety of exciting events. It’s impossible not to enjoy working on a show that celebrates athleticism and the bond between dogs and their handlers.
I am known for my versatility as a commentator, with a broad portfolio that spans traditional, action, and often obscure sports. My background allows me to break down complex or unfamiliar events in a way that is engaging, accessible, and entertaining for a wide audience.
Related to Utah specifically, I am very proud of my ambassadorship with Deer Valley Resort. I helped create a program called “Ski with a Champion” along with my fellow Olympic teammate Fuzz Feddersen. This is a collaboration with deer Valley, that includes seven different Olympians who can be booked to ski with the guests. It is a very successful program for individuals to hire us, families, and corporate groups throughout the winter. This program is designed to elevate the experience at deer Valley. The ski with the champion program is a one-of-a-kind and only offered at Deer Valley and no other resort in the country.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I approach every project with the same level of commitment, regardless of its scale or profile. I am willing to do the work required to see a job through properly, while keeping my ego firmly in check. I believe trust is earned through preparation, collaboration, and follow-through. Anyone who places their confidence in me should feel assured they made the right decision, knowing I will deliver thoughtful, reliable, and high-quality work.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @trace.worthington
