Hig Roberts: U.S. Ski Team, World Cup Skiing, Coming Out & Life After Racing

Hig Roberts took an unconventional path to the top of alpine skiing.From growing up in Steamboat Springs to skiing at Middlebury and earning a spot on the U.S. Ski Team, Hig reached the World Cup through persistence, technical development, and a nontraditional route.In this episode, we go inside life on the World Cup circuit—the pressure, travel, and mental challenges of competing at the highest level. Hig shares how personal loss and identity struggles shaped his career, and what led him to step away from professional ski racing.He also discusses coming out as gay after his career, why he didn’t feel ready during his time on the World Cup, and how the response from the ski community changed his perspective.Finally, we explore the business of ski racing. Hig breaks down how athletes make money, his experience as a sports agent at Wasserman, and what skiing can learn from larger professional sports. Now working in business development with the NHL Players’ Association, he offers a unique perspective on athlete careers, sponsorships, and long-term planning.A candid conversation about World Cup skiing, identity, and life after elite sport.