U.S. Ski & Snowboard Announces 2022-23 Freeski Team Nominations

U.S. Ski & Snowboard is thrilled to announce the roster of 40 athletes nominated to represent the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team in both halfpipe and slopestyle for the upcoming 2023-24 season. These nominations have been based on predetermined selection criteria.

The freeski and slopestyle roster consists of a talented group of athletes, combining experienced individuals who have proudly represented the United States on the global stage for years, as well as promising newcomers.

The halfpipe team boasts an abundance of talent, featuring two-time Olympic champion David Wise, 2022 Crystal Globe winner Birk Irving, 2023 World Champion Hanna Faulhaber, and emerging star Svea Irving. On the slopestyle side, the talent pool includes 2022 Olympic champion Alex Hall, 2022 Olympic silver medalist Colby Stevenson, 2023 X Games gold medalist Mac Forehand, three-time Olympian Maggie Voisin, and 2022-23 U.S. National Champion Grace Henderson.

Previous members of the halfpipe rookie team Svea Irving and Tristan Feinberg were promoted to the pro team. Svea Irving had a remarkable season, securing an X Games bronze medal and the National Champion award. Meanwhile, Colorado native Feinberg made a successful transition to the pro team after an impressive 2022-23 season and is eager to showcase his unique style at a higher level.

The slopestyle pro team has added a few new names to its roster, including Troy Podmilsak, the 2023 World Champion in big air. Podmilsak had an outstanding season, highlighted by a World Cup podium in Chur, Switzerland and his World Champs gold. Joining him is Konnor Ralph, who is excited to take the next step by joining the pro squad.

Nick Goepper, a three-time Olympic medalist, will be making his return to the slopestyle team after announcing his retirement from slopestyle competition. He plans to compete in a new discipline—freeski halfpipe.

The freeski rookie halfpipe team will see the debut of Colorado athlete Nick Geiser, who will represent the national team for the first time in the 2023-24 season.

On the rookie slopestyle team, James Kanzler, Henry Townsend, Walker Woodring, Tanner Blakely and Ellie DeRosier will make their Stifel U.S. Freeski Team debut, proudly representing their country on the biggest stage of their careers. Kate Gray is also a newly named athlete to the slopestyle team as well as a returning member of the halfpipe team.

"We are incredibly excited to welcome numerous young, up-and-coming athletes to complement our already successful team," said Freeski Sport Director Skogen Sprang. "I look forward to seeing the entire team come together, learning from each other and pushing one another on and off the slopes."

The 2023-24 World Cup calendar is packed with excitement, featuring a total of 15 FIS Freeski World Cup competitions, including five halfpipe, six slopestyle and four big air events. Three World Cups will be held in the United States: the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Copper Mountain, the Visa Big Air presented by Toyota at Copper Mountain and the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain.

2023-24 STIFEL U.S. FREESKI TEAM

(Hometown; club; USASA series; birthdate)

HALFPIPE

Pro Team

Women

Hanna Faulhaber (Carbondale, CO; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club; Rocky Mountain Series; 9/04/2004)
Svea Irving* (Winter Park, CO; Winter Park Freeski Team; Rocky Mountain Series; 2/27/2002)

Men

Aaron Blunck (Crested Butte, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Rocky Mountain Series; 4/12/1996)
Lyman Currier (Boulder, CO; Winter Park Freeski Team; Rocky Mountain Series; 8/28/1994)
Tristan Feinberg* (Aspen, CO; Rocky Mountain Series; 4/23/2003)
Alex Ferreira (Aspen, CO; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club; Aspen/Snowmass Series; 8/14/1994)
Hunter Hess (Bend, OR; Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation; Central Oregon Series; 10/01/1998)
Birk Irving (Winter Park, CO; Winter Park Freeride Team; Rocky Mountain Series; 7/26/1999)
Cassidy Jarell (Aspen, CO; Rocky Mountain Series; 8/31/1999)
Dylan Ladd (Lakewood, CO; Winter Park Freeski Team; Rocky Mountain Series; 8/29/2001)
David Wise (Reno, NV; 6/30/1990)

Rookie Team

Women

Kate Gray (Crowley Lake, CA; Mammoth Mountain Freeski Team; Unbound Series, 06/29/2006)
Riley Jacobs (Oak Creek, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; Rocky Mountain Series; 8/14/2003)

Men

Ben Fethke (Boise, ID; Big Mountain West Series; 04/14/2006)
Nick Geiser*** (Carbondale, CO; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club; Aspen/Snowmass Series; 10/4/2004)
Connor Ladd (Lakewood, CO; Rocky Mountain Series; 9/26/2003)
Matt Labaugh (Avon, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Rocky Mountain Series; 01/05/2004)
Eugene (Kai) Morris (Aspen, CO; Pro Team Foundation; Rocky Mountain Series; 3/22/2004)

SLOPESTYLE / BIG AIR

Pro Team

Women

Caroline Claire** (Manchester Center, VT; Stratton Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 2/2/2000)
Rell Harwood** (Park City, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 6/1/2001)
Marin Hamill** (Park City, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 4/5/2001)
Grace Henderson (Madbury, NH; Waterville Valley BBTS; New Hampshire Series; 4/28/2001)
Maggie Voisin** (Whitefish, MT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 12/14/1998)

Men

Mac Forehand (Winhall, VT; Stratton Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 8/4/2001)
Nick Goepper (Lawrenceburg, IN; Cork Technologies and Consulting; Rocky Mountain Series; 3/14/1994)
Alex Hall (Salt Lake City, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 9/21/1998)
Hunter Henderson (Madbury, NH; Waterville Valley BBTS; New Hampshire Series; 12/28/2002)
Cody Laplante (Truckee, CA; Olympic Valley Freestyle and Freeride Team; North Tahoe Series; 2/15/2002)
Troy Podmilsak* (Park City, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 8/23/2004)
Konnor Ralph* (Helena, MT; Wy’East Mountain Academy; Mt. Hood Series; 1/27/2003)
Colby Stevenson (Park City, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 10/3/1997)

Rookie Team

Women

Bella Bacon** (Ellicottville, NY; Agenda Freeski; Western New York Series; 1/29/2004)
Ellie DeRosier*** (Bend, OR; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 10/24/2006)
Kate Gray*** (Crowley Lake, CA; Mammoth Mountain Freeski Team; Unbound Series, 06/29/2006)
Jay Riccomini (he/him) (Port Matilda, PA; Team Summit Colorado; Rocky Mountain Series; 3/12/2004)

Men

Tanner Blakely*** (Coeur d’Alene, ID; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Mount Hood Series; 5/24/2003)
Charlie Gnoza (South Londonderry, VT; Stratton Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 8/2/2003)
James Kanzler*** (Park City, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 10/15/2003)
Henry Townshend*** (Park City, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 2/16/2006)
Walker Woodring*** (Sun Valley, ID; Rocky Mountain Series; 3/13/2010)

*promoted to Pro Team

**nominated by Injury Discretion

***newly named to the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team

STAFF