Worthington, Macuga and 4 other Parkites named to U.S. Freestyle Ski Team

(L - R) Gold medallists Ashley Caldwell, Christopher Lillis and Justin Schoenefeld of Team United States celebrate during the Freestyle Skiing Mixed Team Aerials medal ceremony on Day 7 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at Zhangjiakou Medal Plaza on February 11, 2022 in Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province of China. Photo: An Lingjun/CHINASPORTS/VCG via Getty Images//courtesy of U.S. Ski and Snowboard

PARK CITY, Utah —  U.S. Ski and Snowboard announced, on Thursday, a 26-athlete roster making up the 2022-23 U.S. Freestyle Ski Team. This season will see freestyle compete in 37 World Cup events across eight countries, including the 2023 FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships in Bakuriani, Georgia in February. This is Georgia’s first FIS World Championships and marks the first time freestyle skiers will compete in the country.

The 2022-23 team boasts breadth and depth of talent, including five 2022 Olympic medalists: Ashley Caldwell (gold, mixed team aerials), Jaelin Kauf (silver, women’s moguls), Chris Lillis (gold, mixed team aerials), Megan Nick (bronze, women’s aerials) and Justin Schoenefeld (gold, mixed team aerials). Three new faces join the freestyle ranks, including Derek Kreuger (aerials), Charlie Mickel (moguls D) and Sami Worthington (moguls D).

“Freestyle is heading into 2022-23 with a lot of well-earned momentum,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Freestyle Director Matt Gnoza in a statement. “We brought home five Olympic medals and had five each moguls athletes and aerials athletes finish in the top 10 in Beijing. The 2021-22 season was incredibly challenging and I am proud of the team and the team behind the team for persevering and coming out on top. Both teams have been hard at work this prep period. Our veteran athletes are training with confidence and the new blood we have keeps things fresh for morale. I look forward to seeing what 2022-23 has in store.”

The 2022-23 season will see the return of the Intermountain Healthcare Freestyle International under the lights at Deer Valley, February 2-4. American freestyle fans will have much to celebrate watching their hometown Olympians lay it all on the snow at the storied 2002 Olympic venue.

The freestyle season kicks off December 3-4 with Aerials and Moguls FIS World Cup Openers in Ruka, Finland.

2022-23 U.S. Freestyle Ski Team

(Hometown; Club; Birthdate)

U.S. Aerial Ski Team

Men

Quinn Dehlinger (Cincinnati, Ohio; Elite Aerial Development Program; 6/8/02)
Chris Lillis (Pittsford, N.Y.; Bristol Mountain Freestyle Team; 10/4/98)
Eric Loughran (Pelham, N.H.; Loon Mountain Freestyle; 12/4/95)
Derek Kreuger (Cleveland, Ohio; Park City Ski & Snowboard; 6/2/03)
Justin Schoenefeld (Lawrenceburg, Ind.; Elite Aerial Development Program; 8/13/98)

Women

Ashley Caldwell (Ashburn, Va.; Elite Aerial Development Program; 9/14/93)
Karenna Elliott (Cincinnati, Ohio; Park City Ski and Snowboard, 5/24/00)
Kaila Kuhn (Boyne City, Mich.; Park City Ski and Snowboard; 4/8/03)
Dani Loeb (Pintlala, Ala.; Park City Ski and Snowboard; 8/10/01)
Megan Nick (Shelburne, Vt.; Elite Aerial Development Program; 7/9/96)
Megan Smallhouse (Reno, Nev.; Park City Ski and Snowboard; 1/16/01)
Tasia Tanner (Park City, Utah; Park City Ski and Snowboard; 7/26/02)
Winter Vinecki (Gaylord, Mich.; Park City Ski and Snowboard; 12/18/98)

Coaches and Staff

Aerials Head Coach: Vladimir Lebedev
Aerials World Cup Assistant Coach: Stanislav Kravchuk
Aerials Assistant Coach: Matt DePeters
Aerials Physical Therapist: Peter Toohey

U.S. Moguls Ski Team

Men

Cole McDonald (Park City, Utah; Wasatch Freestyle; 3/6/03)
Nick Page (Park City, Utah; Wasatch Freestyle Foundation; 8/1/02)

Women

Olivia Giaccio (Redding, Conn.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 8/15/00)
Tess Johnson (Vail, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 6/19/00)
Jaelin Kauf (Alta, Wyo.; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 9/26/96)
Elizabeth Lemley (Vail, Colo.; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 1/22/06)
Kai Owens (Vail, Colo.; Ski and Snowboard Club Vail; 8/16/04)
Hannah Soar (Somers, Conn.; Killington Mountain School; 6/4/99)

D Team

Kasey Hogg (Park City, Utah; Wasatch Freestyle Foundation; 1/8/03)
Ali Macuga (Park City, Utah; Park City Ski & Snowboard; 9/24/03)
Dylan Marcellini (Walnut Creek, Calif.; Wasatch Freestyle; 9/29/02)
Charlie Mickel (Durango, Colo.: Durango Winter Sports Club, Wasatch Freestyle; 7/06/04)
Sami Worthington (Park City, Utah; Park City Ski & Snowboard, Wasatch Freestyle; 6/15/04)

Coaches and Staff

Moguls Head Coach: Bryon Wilson
Moguls World Cup Assistant Coach: Caleb Martin
Moguls D Team Coach: Josh Krober
Moguls Physical Therapist: Jill Radzinski

U.S. Freestyle Ski Team Staff

Freestyle Program Director: Matt Gnoza
Freestyle High Performance Coach: Maddison Beck
Freestyle Sport Psychologist: Alex Cohen
Freestyle Team Manager: Tami Strong
Freestyle Sport Development Coordinator: Erin McNeely
Freestyle Regional Coordinator: Deb Newson