U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced its U.S. Freestyle Ski Team nominations for the 2022-23 competition season, 12 of which included athletes with ties to Park City. Photo: U.S. Ski & Snowboard/Mike Dawson.

BEIJING — 18 year old and Park City’s own Cole McDonald qualified to compete in the men’s moguls final this Saturday after a strong performance in the opening qualifier of the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.

After posting a final score of 76.27, McDonald finished fifth and became one of 10 athletes to qualify for the final. He was also the highest scoring American as fellow teammate Dylan Walczyk posted a score 75.86 and barely squeaked into the final at the No. 10 spot.

Similar Reads On TownLift
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by NBC Olympics (@nbcolympics)

“In the start gate I felt super good up there, really calm, not too nervous,” McDonald said. “I was really happy with that top jump. I thought I landed super well and skied out super well. The middle section felt great, very few breaks in there. The only flaw in that run I felt like was in the bottom air, but overall really happy with my first Olympic run.”

With their qualification, both McDonald and Walczyk will forgo the second qualifying round which will consist of 20 athletes. Each athlete is then ranked by their best run between qualifiers one and two, to determine the second group of 10 skiers that will advance into the final.

While McDonald has effectively booked his ticket to the first final round, Park City resident Nick Page will also look to qualify as he competes in the second round of qualifications after finishing 21st with a score of 70.71.

The second round of qualifying will take place on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 5 a.m. ET. The final will then take place shortly after at 6 a.m. ET.