Breakpoints

No Retina
Retina
XS Screen (480px)
SM+ Screen
SM Screen (768px)
SM- Screen
MD+ Screen
MD Screen (992px)
MD- Screen
LG+ Screen
LG Screen (1200px)
LG- Screen
XL+ Screen (1600px)

2024-25 Stifel U.S. Freeski Team Announced

By U.S. Ski & Snowboard
September, 12 2024
The Stifel 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. (Mike Dawson - U.S. Ski & Snowboard).

PARK CITY, Utah (Sept. 13, 2024) - 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. 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. “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.

2024-25 Stifel U.S. Freeski Team

(Hometown; Club; College; USASA Series; Birthdate)

HALFPIPE
Pro Team
Men
  • Aaron Blunck (Crested Butte, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Rocky Mountain Series; 4/12/1996)
  • 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)
  • Nick Goepper (Lawrenceburg, IN; Cork Tech Freeski; Rocky Mountain Series; 3/14/1994)
  • Hunter Hess (Bend, OR; Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation; Salt Lake Community College; Central Oregon Series; 10/1/1998)
  • Birk Irving (Winter Park, CO; Winter Park Freeski Team; Rocky Mountain Series; 7/26/1999)
  • Cassidy Jarrell (Aspen, CO; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club; Rocky Mountain Series; 8/31/1999)
  • Dylan Ladd (Lakewood, CO; Winter Park Freeski Team; University of Colorado Boulder; Rocky Mountain Series; 8/29/2001)
  • David Wise (Reno, NV; 6/30/1990)
Women
  • Hanna Faulhaber (Carbondale, CO; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club; Colorado Mountain College; Rocky Mountain Series; 9/4/2004)
  • Svea Irving (Winter Park, CO; Winter Park Freeski Team; University of Colorado Boulder; Rocky Mountain Series; 2/27/2002)
  • Riley Jacobs * (Oak Creek, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; Colorado Mountain College; Rocky Mountain Series; 8/14/2003) 
Rookie Team
Men
  • Ben Fethke (Boise, ID; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series;  4/14/2006)
  • Nick Geiser (Carbondale, CO; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club; Colorado Mountain College; Aspen/Snowmass Series; 10/4/2004)
  • Matthew Labaugh (Avon, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Colorado Mountain College; Rocky Mountain Series; 1/5/2004)
  • Connor Ladd (Lakewood, CO; Winter Park Freeski Team; University of Colorado Boulder; Rocky Mountain Series; 9/26/2003)
  • Cael McCarthy ** (Park City, UT; Cork Tech Freeski; Big Mountain West Series; 5/18/2005)
  • Kai Morris (Aspen, CO; Pro Team Foundation; Rocky Mountain Series; 3/22/2004)
Women
  • Piper Arnold ** (South Lake Tahoe, CA; Sierra at Tahoe; South Tahoe Series; 6/1/2007)
  • Kate Gray (Crowley Lake, CA; Mammoth Mountain Freeski Team; Unbound Series; 6/29/2006)
SLOPESTYLE & BIG AIR
Pro Team
Men
  • Mac Forehand (Winhall, VT; Stratton Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 8/4/2001)
  • Alex Hall (Salt Lake City, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; University of Utah; Big Mountain West Series; 9/21/1998)
  • Hunter Henderson (Madbury, NH; Waterville Valley BBTS; University of Utah; 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; Salt Lake Community College; Mt. Hood Series; 1/27/2003)
  • Colby Stevenson (Park City, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; University of Utah; Big Mountain West Series; 10/3/1997)
Women
  • Marin Hamill (Park City, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; University of Utah; Big Mountain West Series; 4/5/2001)
  • Rell Harwood (Park City, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; University of Utah; Big Mountain West Series; 6/1/2001)
  • Grace Henderson (Madbury, NH; Waterville Valley BBTS; University of Utah; New Hampshire Series; 4/28/2001)
  • Jay Riccomini * (he/him) (Port Matilda, PA; Team Summit Colorado; Rocky Mountain Series; 3/12/2004)
Rookie Team
Men
  • 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)
  • James Kanzler (Park City, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; University of Utah; Big Mountain West Series; 10/15/2003)
  • Hugh MacMenamin ** (Hudson, WI; Wy’East Mountain Academy; Mt. Hood Series; 1/23/2006) 
Women
  • Ella Andrews ** (Northampton, MA; Killington Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 2/23/2007) 
  • Kate Gray (Crowley Lake, CA; Mammoth Mountain Freeski Team; 06/29/2006)

* promoted to Pro Team

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

Freeski Coaches and Staff:

Chief of Sport: Anouk Patty
Freeski Sport Director: Skogen Sprang
Pro Team Halfpipe Head Coach: Mike Riddle
Pro Team Halfpipe Coach: Matt Margetts
Rookie Team Halfpipe Coach: Ryan Carey
Pro Team Slopestyle & Big Air Head Coach: Dave Euler 
Pro Team Slopestyle & Big Air Coach: Ryan Wyble
Rookie Team Slopestyle & Big Air Head Coach: Leah Stroud
Rookie Team Slopestyle & Big Air Coach: Nicko Drew
Slopestyle Physical Therapist: Courtney Kenefick
Freeski Athletic Development Manager: Mark Dyer
Freeski Team Manager, Press Officer: Erin Doyle

Follow the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team
Instagram: @usskiteam
Facebook: @usskiandsnowboard
TikTok: @usskiandsnowboard
X: @usskiteam
Threads: @usskiteam 

###
 

Get The Latest

Check out the latest news, events, & videos from the U.S. Ski & Snowboard teams.
Ella Andrews headshot image
Ella Andrews
Ella Andrews makes her debut to the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team for the 2024-25 season. 
Cael McCarthy headshot image
Cael McCarthy
Cael McCarthy makes his debut on the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team halfpipe team for the 2024-25 season. 
Hugh MacMenamin headshot image
Hugh MacMenamin
Hugh MacMenamin goes into the 2024-25 season as a new member of the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team halfpipe rookie team. 
Walker Woodring headshot image
Walker Woodring
-
James Kanzler headshot image
James Kanzler
-
Nick Geiser headshot image
Nick Geiser
-
Henry Townshend headshot image
Henry Townshend
Henry Townshend is making his Stifel U.S. Freeski Team debut this 2023-24 season. At the 2024 Youth Olympic Games, Townshend won a gold medal in the men's slopestyle contest, standing on the biggest podium of his career.
Kate Gray headshot image
Kate Gray
Kate Gray of Mammoth Lakes California started skiing when she was two years old and jumped into park skiing before she turned ten, inspired by her older brothers.
Eugene "Kai" Morris headshot image
Eugene "Kai" Morris
Eugene "Kai" Morris is a freeski athlete who competes in the halfpipe. Morris has seen a lot of success in his junior career, including two third-place finishes at the NorAm cups in Copper Mountain in 2022 and 2023. 
Ben Fethke headshot image
Ben Fethke
Ben Fethke is a freeski athlete on the halfpipe rookie team. Fethke has found success with a second-place finish in the 2022 NorAm Cup at Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort as well as a third-place finish in the FIS Junior World Ski Championships in 2022. 
Matt Labaugh
Outside of skiing, you can find Matt at the golf course (10 Handicap). His dream reality show to star in is Too Hot to Handle. Matt has many wonderful memories but his favorite has to be all the team dinners, and specifically their Thanksgiving dinner in Kitzsteinhorn.
Konnor Ralph headshot image
Konnor Ralph
-
Tristan Feinberg headshot image
Tristan Feinberg
-
Jay Riccomini headshot image
Jay Riccomini
-
Troy Podmilsak headshot image
Troy Podmilsak
Troy Podmilsak, a freeskier from Park City, Utah, is undoubtedly a prominent figure in slopestyle and big air. At the age of 19, Troy boasts an impressive track record, brimming with accomplishments that set him apart.
Riley Jacobs headshot image
Riley Jacobs
-
Hanna Faulhaber headshot image
Hanna Faulhaber
Hanna started competing in the NorAm Cup series in 2019, quickly earning a first-place win in 2020 at her home mountain of Aspen, CO. She then earned bronze at the 2020 Youth Olympic Winter Games, since then her skiing has skyrocketed.
Cassidy Jarrell headshot image
Cassidy Jarrell
-
Connor Ladd headshot image
Connor Ladd
-
Hunter Henderson headshot image
Hunter Henderson
-
Dylan Ladd headshot image
Dylan Ladd
2018 Junior World Championship silver medalist Dylan Ladd is steadily climbing his way up the freeski results ladder! A consistent podium contender on the Revolution Tour, Ladd is now getting results in World Cup events.
Marin Hamill headshot image
Marin Hamill
Named to the Rookie Slopestyle Team for the 2018-19 season, Marin Hamill is a triple-threat in halfpipe, big air, and slopestyle. She won the 2017-18 overall U.S.
Mac Forehand headshot image
Mac Forehand
Freestyle skier Mac Forehand made history in 2019 by winning the Overall World Cup Title in Slopestyle at just 17 years of age. It was his first full season competing on the World Cup circuit and from the moment he placed second in Stubai, Austria, he never looked back.
Rell Harwood headshot image
Rell Harwood
-
Grace Henderson headshot image
Grace Henderson
-
Svea Irving headshot image
Svea Irving
USASA Series: Rocky Mountain Series 
Hunter Hess headshot image
Hunter Hess
Hunter Hess of the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team halfpipe roster is one of the most exciting athletes on the circuit. Growing up in Oregon, Hunter spent his time honing his love for skiing at Mt. Bachelor and grew up skiing with the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation.
Cody LaPlante headshot image
Cody LaPlante
USASA Series: North Tahoe Series
Alex Hall headshot image
Alex Hall
Alex Hall is the
Birk Irving headshot image
Birk Irving
Winter Park native Birk Irving is taking the freeskiing world by storm. Starting out in both halfpipe and slopestyle, he has dialed in his pipe run and is a podium threat at all levels of competition.
Colby Stevenson headshot image
Colby Stevenson
Colby Stevenson,
Nick Goepper headshot image
Nick Goepper
A smart and talented Midwest native, Nick Goepper has the tools for success and it shows with his impressive roster of results, which includes two Olympic medals - bronze and silver - five X Games medals (three of them gold) and podium finishes at pretty much every other major event in freeskiing
Alex Ferreira headshot image
Alex Ferreira
Aspen native Alex Ferreira jumpstarted his freeskiing career with a bronze-medal performance on his hometown turf at X Games Aspen in 2014. Since then Ferreira has gone on to earn to earn two additional X Games medals and a handful of World Cup podiums.
Aaron Blunck headshot image
Aaron Blunck
Colorado native halfpipe freeskier Aaron Blunck is a three-time Olympian, who represented the U.S. at the Sochi, PyeongChang and Bejing Winter Olympic Games, finishing seventh in halfpipe skiing in all three Games.
David Wise headshot image
David Wise
David Wise has been on the top of the halfpipe podium since early 2011, with a trophy case that includes the inaugural Olympic gold medal in men's ski halfpipe and a matching gold medal in halfpipe from the 2018 Games!