10 Utahns named to the 2024-25 U.S. Freeski Team

The Stifel U.S. Freeski Team celebrates after a successful halfpipe event a the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Copper Mountain. Photo: Mike Dawson // U.S. Ski & Snowboard

PARK CITY, — On Friday, U.S. Ski & Snowboard officially announced the 36 athletes who have accepted their nominations and will join the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team for the 2024-25 season.

Ten of them have ties to Utah, and seven of those are from Park City.

These nominations are based on predetermined selection criteria.

Two-time Olympic medalist and 2023-24 overall Crystal Globe winner Alex Ferreira leads the charge on the halfpipe front after his perfect 2023-24 season. Ferreira will not go unchallenged, as two-time Olympic champion David Wise, Olympian and 2022-23 Crystal Globe winner Birk Irving, Olympian Aaron Blunck, and X Games medalist Hunter Hess will all be returning to the halfpipe pro team.

Three-time Olympic medalist Nick Goepper is making his debut on the halfpipe team after a hugely successful career in slopestyle skiing and is sure to leave his mark.

Dylan Ladd, Cassidy Jarrell and Tristan Feinberg are also returning team members rounding out this wildly successful men’s squad. Olympian and world champion Hanna Faulhaber and X Games medalist Svea Irving return to the women’s halfpipe team after successful 2023-24 seasons. Riley Jacobs, who earned a spot through consistent top-six finishes at World Cups last season, is new to the pro team.

The halfpipe rookie team comprises many rookie veterans, led by Matt Labaugh, who begins the 2024-25 season ranked 12th in the world. Kate Gray returns to the rookie team as she balances competing in all three disciplines. New to the rookie squad are Cael McCarthy and Piper Arnold. McCarthy is the reigning NorAm halfpipe champion, a 2023 Junior World Championship competitor. Arnold is a consistent competitor in the women’s field and brought home fourth at the 2023 Youth Olympic Games.

On the slopestyle and big air side, Olympic champion and 2023-24 big air Crystal Globe winner Alex Hall and Olympian and 2023-24 slopestyle Crystal Globe winner Mac Forehand are ready to defend their titles. They are joined by Olympic medalist Colby Stevenson, X Games gold medalist Troy Podmilsak and Konnor Ralph, Hunter Henderson and Cody LaPlante to complete the men’s team.

For the women, X Games medalist Rell Harwood returns to the squad alongside Grace Henderson and Marin Hamill. New to the women’s pro team this year is Jay Riccomini (he/him), who earned his spot after multiple World Cup podiums in the 2023-24 season.

The slopestyle and big air rookie team welcomes two new members: Ella Andrews and Hugh MacMenamin. Andrews joins the team after a hugely successful 2023-24 season, including a second place finish in slopestyle at the Toyota U.S Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain and a silver medal in slopestyle at the 2024 FIS Junior World Ski Championships in Livigno, Italy. MacMenamin also had an impressive 2023-24 season with a great showing in the 2023 FIS Junior World Ski Championships in Cardrona, New Zealand and a second place slopestyle finish at the Copper Mountain NorAm.

“I am very proud of the group of individuals named to the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team for the 2024-25 season,” said Skogen Sprang, Freeski Sport Director in a statement. “They have all worked very hard to get to this point and continue to push and support each other, fostering a unique culture that promotes positivity and success. We are excited to continue to push them to be the best humans they can be and achieve the highest standards on the freeskiing world stage.”

The 2024-25 World Cup calendar is exciting, with the halfpipe team cutting their summer break short and kicking off the season in Cardrona, New Zealand. The schedule packs five halfpipe, five slopestyle, six big air World Cups, and the X Games. The 2024-25 season will conclude in St. Moritz, Switzerland, for the FIS Freestyle World Championships 2025. 

Freeski athletes will compete on home soil twice this season. The halfpipe team will be at Copper Mountain, CO, for the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix from Dec. 19-21, 2024. The Toyota U.S. Grand Prix and Visa Big Air presented by Toyota are back in Aspen, CO, this season, where fans can catch halfpipe, slopestyle and big air events from Jan. 29 – Feb. 6, 2025.

For a full list of the Freeski Team roster, visit the US Ski & Snowboard website.