Augusta Doctor Aids U.S. Snowboard Olympians in Switzerland

Orthopedic surgeon Daniel Shubert spent a month preparing for and working with the U.S. Snowboard Halfpipe team ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Daniel Shubert, an orthopedic surgeon from Augusta, Maine, recently spent over a week in Switzerland working with the U.S. Snowboard Halfpipe team as they prepared for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Shubert, who had to postpone a packed schedule of surgeries and clinic visits to make the trip, was there to ensure the athletes made it to the Olympics healthy and ready to compete.

Why it matters

Shubert's work with the U.S. Snowboard Halfpipe team highlights the growing role Maine is playing in the Olympics, with four athletes from the state competing for Team USA this year. It also showcases the state's ability to produce high-level sports medicine professionals who can support elite athletes on the global stage.

The details

In Laax, Switzerland, Shubert met and worked with a number of top U.S. snowboarders, including two-time Olympic champion Chloe Kim, Maddy Schaffrick, Maddie Mastro, Alessandro Barbieri, and Jake Pates. The athletes spent days practicing routines and perfecting tricks on a halfpipe chosen for its similarity to the one they will compete on in Italy. While the team did not sustain any major injuries during Shubert's time with them, some, like Kim, were dealing with lingering issues from previous training.

  • Shubert traveled to Switzerland on January 26, 2026.
  • The U.S. Snowboard Halfpipe team's training camp in Laax was the last opportunity to practice before the 2026 Winter Olympics began on February 6.

The players

Daniel Shubert

An orthopedic surgeon at MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta, Maine, who took a month off work to attend an acute traumatic injury training course and travel to Switzerland to work with the U.S. Snowboard Halfpipe team.

Chloe Kim

A two-time Olympic snowboarding champion and a favorite for gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Maddy Schaffrick

A U.S. snowboarder coming back from a decade of retirement.

Maddie Mastro

A U.S. snowboarder vying for her first Olympic medal.

Danny Kass

A two-time Olympic medalist who coaches the U.S. Snowboard Halfpipe team and helped propel the sport to a worldwide stage.

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What they’re saying

“I think what makes it stressful as the physician is they're all so good. They hardly ever screw up, they're so good at what they do. It's highly unlikely you would go through a competition like the Olympics without someone sustaining an injury, but it's pretty unpredictable.”

— Daniel Shubert, Orthopedic Surgeon (sunjournal.com)

“It's a point of pride to be able to come from Maine and work with people like this on this sort of stage, and get people exposure to what we're capable of here in Maine.”

— Daniel Shubert, Orthopedic Surgeon (sunjournal.com)

What’s next

Shubert plans to work with the U.S. Snowboard Halfpipe team again in the future after having such a positive experience with them in Switzerland.

The takeaway

Shubert's work with the U.S. Snowboard Halfpipe team not only showcases Maine's growing role in the Olympics, but also the state's ability to produce high-level sports medicine professionals who can support elite athletes on the global stage.