US 2023 Freestyle World Ski Championships Team Announced
U.S. Ski & Snowboard has named 16 athletes to represent the United States at the 2023 FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships in Bakuriani, Georgia, Feb. 19 - March 5, 2023.
The 2023 Freestyle World Ski Championships marks the first time freestyle aerials and moguls FIS-level competition will take place in Georgia. The venues were built specifically for the events and will be the first time they are used. The world’s best freestyle skiers are eager to share their passion with the country and establish a freestyle relationship with the Georgian snow scene.
“This will be the first time freestyle competes at this level in the country of Georgia and we are excited to experience a new culture,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Freestyle Director Matt Gnoza. “We have heard great things about Georgia’s hospitality from our snowboard counterparts and I look forward to seeing how the new venues show off what our athletes can do. Our 2023 Freestyle World Ski Championships team is stacked with experienced talent, will feature some World Champs debuts, and everyone is especially motivated to get in those start gates.”
2022 Olympic mixed team aerials gold medalists Ashley Caldwell, Chris Lillis and Justin Schoenefeld, and 2022 Olympic bronze medalist Megan Nick, lead a talented crew of aerials skiers. 2022 Olympians Kaila Kuhn and Winter Vinecki will each make their third World Ski Championships appearances. Quinn Dehlinger makes his second World Ski Championship appearance and rookie Derek Krueger will make his World Ski Championships debut.
For moguls, Olympic silver and double World Championships medalist Jaelin Kauf leads her team of eight. 2022 Olympians Olivia Giaccio and Hannah Soar will make their third and second World Ski Championships appearances, respectively. Young gun Elizabeth Lemley, who earned her first two World Cup podiums this season, will make her World Championships debut. On the men’s side Nick Page and Dylan Walczyk will make their second and fifth World Ski Championships appearances, respectively. Dylan Marcellini and Cole McDonald will each make their World Ski Championships debuts.
All events will live stream on skiandsnowboard.live and Peacock, with additional coverage to be announced on NBC/CNBC.
2023 FIS FREESTYLE SKI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM
(Name; hometown; club; birthdate; past World Championships Teams)
*Denotes first World Championships team
Aerials / Mixed Team Aerials
Women
- Ashley Caldwell (Ashburn, Va.; Elite Aerial Development Program; 9/14/93; 2011, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021)
- Kaila Kuhn (Boyne City, Mich.; Park City Ski & Snowboard; 4/8/03; 2019, 2021)
- Megan Nick (Shelburne, Vt,; Elite Aerial Development Program; 7/9/96; 2021)
- Winter Vinecki (Gaylord, Mich.; Park City Ski & Snowboard; 12/18/98; 2019, 2021)
Men
- Quinn Dellinger (Cincinnati, Ohio; Elite Aerial Development Program; 6/8/02; 2021)
- Chris Lillis (Pittsford, N.Y.; Bristol Mountain Freestyle Team; 10/4/98; 2019, 2021)
- Derek Krueger ((Cleveland, Ohio; Park City Ski & Snowboard; 6/2/03)*
- Justin Schoenefeld (Lawrenceburg, Ind.; Elite Aerial Development Program; 8/13/98; 2021)
Moguls / Dual Moguls
Women
- Elizabeth Lemley (Vail, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 1/22/06)*
- Jaelin Kauf (Alta, Wyo.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 9/26/96; 2017, 2019, 2021)
- Hannah Soar (Somers, Conn.; Killington Mountain School; 6/4/99; 2021)
- Olivia Giaccio (Redding, Conn.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 8/15/00; 2017, 2019)
Men
- Nick Page (Park City, Utah; Wasatch Freestyle Foundation; 8/1/02; 2021)
- Cole McDonald (Park City, Utah; Wasatch Freestyle; 3/6/03)*
- Dylan Walczyk (Rochester, N.Y.; Ski and Snowboard Club Vail; 6/25/93; 2013, 2017, 2019, 2021)
- Dylan Marcellini (Walnut Creek, Calif.; Wasatch Freestyle; 9/29/02)*
