Six Park City athletes make the National Freeski Ski Team

ZHANGJIAKOU, CHINA - FEBRUARY 17: Birk Irving of Team United States performs a trick during the Men's Freestyle Skiing Freeski Halfpipe Qualification on Day 13 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at Genting Snow Park on February 17, 2022 in Zhangjiakou, China. Photo: Maja Hitij/Getty Images//courtesy of US Ski and Snowboard

PARK CITY, Utah — U.S. Ski and Snowboard announced its U.S. Freeski Team halfpipe, slopestyle, and big air team for the 2022-23 season. This year, 23 pro-level and 14 rookie freeskiers will make up the official roster of the winning-est freeski team in the world, with five 2022 Olympic medals and 20 World Cup podiums in the 2021-22 season alone.

In the months ahead, aside from competing in events around the globe, the World Championships will return with the FIS Freestyle Ski & Snowboard World Championships in Bakuriani, Georgia, marking the first time in history that Georgia will host this large-scale event.

This season, the slopestyle and big air pro team are sure to turn heads with returning 2022 Olympic slopestyle gold and silver medalist Alex Hall and Nick Goepper and 2022 Olympic silver medalist in big air Colby Stevenson. Coming off a successful 2021-22 World Cup and Olympic season, 2022 Olympians Caroline Claire, Marin Hamill, and Maggie Voisin lead the talented U.S. slopestyle women’s team. The slopestyle and big air rookie team is filled with up-and-coming talented athletes, namely Jay Riccomini, Charlie Gnoza, Bella Bacon, Troy Podmilsak, and Konnor Ralph.

“We are all really proud of all the athletes that have qualified for the U.S. Freeski Team for the 2022-23 season,” says Freeski Slopestyle/Big Air Head Coach Skogen Sprang in a statement. “Tons of hard work and resiliency have paid off for these athletes, and we can’t wait to see them progress the sport and push themselves throughout the winter.”

Two-time Olympian David Wise and 2018 Olympic medalist Alex Ferreira with fellow teammates and World Championship medalists Aaron Blunck and Birk Irving, lead the competitive and talented field of men on the U.S. Halfpipe Pro Team. 2018 Olympic medalists Brita Sigourney, Hanna Faulhaber, and Carly Margulies headline the team on the women’s pro roster. The rookie group is as strong as ever, with Junior World Champion medalist Kate Gray and two-time Junior World medalist Matt Labaugh consistently climbing up the ranks.  

“I’m very excited to be back coaching the U.S. Freeski Halfpipe Team again for another year,” says Freeski Halfpipe Head Coach Mike Riddle in the statement. “The team has been looking strong and motivated in offseason training camps, and we can’t wait to show off what we’ve been working on! #theszniscoming.”

2022-23 U.S. Freeski Team

(Hometown; Club; USASA Series; Birthdate)

*Newly named to the U.S. Freeski Team

Freeski Coaches and Staff

Head Coach Halfpipe: Mike Riddle
Halfpipe Pro Team Coach: Matt Margetts
Halfpipe Rookie Team Coach: Ryan Carey
Head Coach Slopestyle/Big Air: Skogen Sprang                                              
Slopestyle/Big Air Pro Team Coach: Dave Euler
Slopestyle/Big Air Rookie Team Coach: Ryan Wyble                                                                                  

HALFPIPE PRO TEAM

Women

Brita Sigourney (Carmel, Calif.; Intermountain Series; 1/17/90)
Carly Margulies (Mammoth Lakes, Calif.; Mammoth Mountain Freeski Team; Unbound Series; 12/24/97)
Hanna Faulhaber (Carbondale, Colo.; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club; Rocky Mountain Series; 9/04/04)

Men

Aaron Blunck (Crested Butte, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Rocky Mountain Series; 4/12/96)
Alex Ferreira (Aspen, Colo.; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club; Aspen/Snowmass Series; 8/14/94)
Birk Irving (Winter Park, Colo.; Winter Park Freeride Team; Rocky Mountain Series; 7/26/99)
David Wise (Reno, Nev.; 6/30/90)
Lyman Currier (Boulder, Colo.; Winter Park Freeski Team; Rocky Mountain Series; 8/28/94)
Dylan Ladd (Lakewood, Colo.; Winter Park Freeski Team; Rocky Mountain Series; 8/29/01)
Cassidy Jarrell (Aspen, Colo.; Rocky Mountain Series; 8/31/99)
Hunter Hess (Bend, Ore.; Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation; Central Oregon Series; 10/01/98)
Taylor Seaton (Avon, Colo.; 7/16/90)

HALFPIPE ROOKIE TEAM

Women

Kate Gray (Crowley Lake, Calif.; Mammoth Mountain Freeski Team; Unbound Series, 06/29/2006)*
Svea Irving (Winter Park, Colo.; Winter Park Freeski Team; Rocky Mountain Series; 2/27/02)
Riley Jacobs (Oak Creek, Colo.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; Rocky Mountain Series; 8/14/2003)

Men

Kai Morris (Aspen, Colo.; Pro Team Foundation; Rocky Mountain Series, 3/22/2004)*
Matt Labaugh (Avon, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail, Rocky Mountain Series, 01/05/2004)*
Tristan Feinberg (Aspen, Colo.; Rocky Mountain Series; 4/23/2003)
Ben Fethke (Boise, Idaho; Big Mountain West Series; 04/14/2006)*
Connor Ladd (Lakewood, Colo.; Rocky Mountain Series; 9/26/03)
Hunter Carey (Winter Park, Colo.; Winter Park Competition Center; Rocky Mountain Series; 6/12/02)

SLOPESTYLE / BIG AIR PRO TEAM

Women

Caroline Claire (Manchester Center, Vt.; Stratton Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 2/2/00)
Maggie Voisin (Whitefish, Mont.; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 12/14/98)
Marin Hamill (Park City, Utah; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 4/5/01)
Rell Harwood (Park City, Utah; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 6/1/01)
Grace Henderson (Madbury, N.H.; Waterville Valley BBTS; New Hampshire Series; 4/28/01)

Men

Alex Hall (Salt Lake City, Utah; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 9/21/98)
Nick Goepper (Lawrenceburg, Ind.; Cork Technologies and Consulting; Rocky Mountain Series; 3/14/94)
Colby Stevenson (Park City, Utah; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 10/3/97)
Mac Forehand (Winhall, Vt.; Stratton Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 8/4/01)
Cody LaPlante (Truckee, Calif.; Olympic Valley Freestyle and Freeride Team; North Tahoe Series; 2/15/02)
Hunter Henderson (Madbury, N.H.; Waterville Valley BBTS; New Hampshire Series; 12/28/2002)

SLOPESTYLE / BIG AIR ROOKIE TEAM

Women

Bella Bacon (Ellicottville, N.Y.; Agenda Freeski; Western New York Series; 1/29/04)
Jay Riccomini (He/Him) (Port Matilda, Penn.; Team Summit Colorado; Rocky Mountain Series; 3/12/2004)

Men

Troy Podmilsak (Park City, Utah; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 8/23/2004)
Konnor Ralph (Helena, Mont.; Wy’East Mountain Academy; Mt. Hood Series; 1/27/2003)
Charlie Gnoza (South Londonderry, Vt.; Stratton Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 8/2/2003)