Just weeks after graduating from St. Johnsbury Academy, Alaiza Roth has been named to the 2026-27 U.S. Junior Snowboard Racing Team. The 18-year-old will attend Boston University this fall while continuing to compete nationally and internationally.
Roth competes in alpine snowboard racing, specializing in giant slalom. Selection to the junior team was based on results from the 2025-26 season, with points awarded throughout the year and top performances determining placement.
“It’s just surreal to see happen,” Roth said. The junior team is limited to athletes 18 and younger; after aging out, athletes must qualify for higher levels within U.S. Snowboard’s alpine program, including the NorAm Team and Elite Team.
Roth’s path to the national team began in Fiji, where she was born and adopted as an infant. Her family relocated to Vermont after living in California and Florida, eventually settling in St. Johnsbury. She started snowboarding through youth programs at Smugglers’ Notch and later joined Green Mountain Academy in Stowe.
A broken collarbone in 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily disrupted her development. She later trained at Burke Mountain and spent a semester at Vermont Academy (formerly Mount Snow Academy). A significant turning point came when she began working with coach Lynn Ott, a U.S. Snowboard coach. “She’s one of those coaches that, if you go to a race and have nobody, she has no problem helping you,” Roth said.
Under Ott’s guidance, Roth transitioned to specialized alpine racing equipment and gained exposure to higher-level competition. During her senior season, she competed extensively in Canada and improved enough to earn a spot on the junior team. Roth now aims to qualify for the Junior World Championships, held recently in Italy and Poland. “I want to spend more time thinking about each individual race and what I can do to be better every run,” she said. “At the end of the day, it’s smaller improvements rather than one big thing.” She also values the supportive atmosphere within the sport. “Everyone is so encouraging,” she said. “Everyone wants the best for every single athlete, regardless of nation, age or gender.”
Photo: Hayk Paytyan via Pexels. Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
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