The Laax Open wrapped up competition this morning with the second year of men’s and women’s freeski finals in Laax, Switzerland. The Stifel U.S. Freeski team continued to show dominance in the sport with seven athletes set to drop in the innovative and progressive slopestyle course. Jay Riccomini took home his first career podium on the women’s side, while Mac Forehand was second among the men.  

It was a wild start on the women’s side with France’s Tess Ledeux taking an uncharacteristic fall and Rell Harwood slipping off the first downrail, a feature proven to be costly for many riders throughout competition. Riccomini turned things around in his first World Cup finals appearance and found himself in podium position after run one, behind heavy hitters Mathilde Gremaud from Sweden and China’s Eileen Gu. Riccomini improved his score with a clean and highly executed second run that led to his first career World Cup podium, ending the day in third place.

The Stifel U.S. Freeski Team was stacked on the men’s side, with five out of 12 competitors representing the stars and stripes, but the pressure was on with no U.S. athletes in podium position after run one. Forehand found himself in 11th place as he dropped in for run two, but backed up his top spot in the FIS park & pipe World Cup standings, executing a stylish and technical line that moved him into second place with only teammate Alex Hall left to drop. Hall laced together an impressive final run and put the results in the judge’s hands, who ultimately scored him fourth overall. Teammates Colby Stevenson finished the day in sixth, Konnor Ralph tied his best World Cup result with seventh place and Cody LaPlante wrapped up his Laax Open campaign in 12th.

The Stifel U.S. Freeski Team sits in second overall in the Nation’s Cup standings as they turn their attention to the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix in Mammoth Mountain at the end of the month.

RESULTS
Men
Women

Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team halfpipe team athlete Maddie Mastro took home her 13th World Cup podium today at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Copper Mountain, finishing the day in third. 

Athletes gathered on the massive 22-foot tall superpipe today in Copper where Olympian Mastro came in third. On her highest scoring run, Mastro executed her tricks: the front 9 mel, back 5 indy, front 7 font side grab, cab 7 under flip indy into front double crippler front side grab. Her result in Copper secured the coveted FIS World Cup yellow bib, signifying she is the current women's snowboard halfpipe World Cup leader. 

Teammate Bea Kim also competed in finals, just missing the podium in fourth. Kim's fourth place result was due to her well-executed tricks, including the front 7 melon, cab 5 indy, switch back 5 mute, cab 7 and her list hit, front 9. 

At the end of the day, Gaon Choi of Korea won first place and Mitsuki Ono of Japan was second. 

On the men's side, Chase Josey took seventh place in finals, with his front double 10 stale fish, cab 9 tail, switch back 10, back double chuck into front double 12. 

Ayumu Hirano of Japan was first, Chaeun Lee in second and Yuto Totsuka of Japan took the third spot. 

“Today was a great day. Copper built one of the best halfpipes of the year,” said Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team halfpipe team head coach Danny Kass. “Big shout out to the mountain and the team for working so hard. It was great to see Maddie Mastro step up again, improving on what she laid down in China adding that big front nine and the double crippler. Wanted to see Chase Josey put it down in that one but we'll get it next time.”

Up next, the Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team halfpipe team takes a holiday break before traveling to Laax, Switzerland for a halfpipe World Cup event Jan. 17-20. 

RESULTS
Women's halfpipe
Men's halfpipe

Stifel U.S. Freeski Team slopestyle team athlete Mac Forehand took home first place in the Visa Big Air Presented by Toyota at Copper Mountain, his first big air World Cup podium in his career. 

It was a beautiful day in Colorado, with the sun shining and large crowds amassing at the big air jump in Copper's Center Village. On his highest scoring runs, Forehand executed a left triple 18 mute and switch left triple 18 mute, securing the first place finish among a stacked list of competitors. The win also scored him the national champion title for the 2023-24 season.

"It feels incredible!" said Stifel U.S. Freeski Team slope team athlete Mac Forehand. "I learned that forward triple 18 mute only last spring and I haven't done it too much. So every time I do it, it's pretty terrifying... It feels insane. First big air World Cup podium for me!"

Teammate Alex Hall also competed in finals, finishing in seventh with right side double 10 safety pullback to 9 and switch left tail butter 14 lead Japan. Troy Podmilsak made finals but unfortunately was a DNS due to illness. 

Miro Tabanelli of Italy secured the second spot and Birk Ruud of Norway was in third. 

On the women's side, Rell Harwood took sixth place in finals - her best finish in a big air World Cup. Rell showed up big, throwing a left double 12 mute and switch right bio 10 safety. She also was dubbed the national champion in big air for the 2023-24 season. 

"My day was amazing!" said Stifel U.S. Freeski Team slope team athlete Rell Harwood. "Perfect weather, perfect jump and I was skiing with my best friends. It was hard not to ski well and just have a good time." 

Tess Ledeux of France was first, Mathilde Germaud second and Kristy Muir of Great Britain took the third spot. Germaud won the Visa Best Trick award.

"I'm so proud of Mac," said Stifel U.S. Freeski Team pro slope team head coach Dave Euler. "He's been skiing like a man on a mission all week and he knew what he wanted to do coming into today. So stoked that he came out, landed the tricks that he wanted to do and even better that it gave him the victory." 

Up next, the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team slopestyle/big air team takes a Christmas break before traveling to Laax, Switzerland for a slope World Cup event Jan. 17-21. 

RESULTS
Women's Big Air
Men's Big Air

Stifel U.S. Freeski Team halfpipe team athletes showed insane talent in the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix in Copper Mountain, Colorado with the men sweeping spots one through five. Alex Ferreira, Hunter Hess and Birk Irving landed on the podium, going 1-2-3. On the women's side, Hanna Faulhaber took home second place. 

Athletes gathered on the massive 22-foot tall superpipe today in Copper and the Americans dominated the event. Two-time Olympic medalist Ferreira took home the win, coming off his first place win in China last week and ultimately landing himself his twelfth career World Cup podium. As always, Ferreira was calm, cool and collected, going huge on his hits. In his winning run, he executed switch left 1080 tail, right double 1620 safety, left 1080 tail, switch right double 1080 Japan, left double 1620 safety. Hess, looking stylish, earned his third World Cup podium finish, coming in second, also fresh off a podium win in Secret Garden the week before. Birk Irving, Olympian and 2022-23 FIS Crystal Globe winner, took third for his seventh World Cup podium at his first event of the season. 

“It's epic to be in my home state of Colorado and just down the road from Aspen,” said Stifel U.S. Freeski Team athlete Alex Ferreira. “All these other guys are all so young and so talented and I'm the old guy in the field now so I’ve just got to keep working super hard and keep doing my absolute best and honestly just keep having fun. The sport of skiing is growing. It's getting better and everybody is insanely talented these days, so to just to be in the mix is an absolute blessing.”

Three-time Olympic slopestyle medalist Nick Goepper made his debut in halfpipe and put down an impressive run to just miss the podium in fourth place. Three-time Olympic halfpipe medalist David Wise was fifth, Dylan Ladd eighth and three-time Olympian Aaron Blunck landed in 10th. 

On the women’s side of things, Faulhaber, the reigning world champion, landed in second place, clinching her fourth career World Cup podium. In her winning run, she threw straight air tail, left cork 900 safety, flair 540 safety, left 720 mute, switch right cork 720 Japan into a left 1080 safety. Teammates Riley Jacobs and Svea Irving also competed in finals, coming in sixth and seventh place respectively. 

Eileen Gu ultimately came out on top for China finishing in first and Zoe Atkin of Great Britain finished third.

"I'm so happy with the whole team today," said Stifel U.S. Freeski Team halfpipe team head coach, Mike Riddle. "To have 10 athletes advance to finals is amazing and they all threw down in the contest. Huge congrats to Alex Ferreira for staying undefeated this season and Hanna and Hunter on their second podium of the year. Big congrats to Birk for putting it down when it counts on his third run to take third. Goepper made his debut in the halfpipe scene and walked away with fourth, showing he has what it takes. I'm a very proud coach every day, but especially today!" 

Next up, the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team halfpipe athletes take a break from competition before heading to Mammoth Mountain Jan. 31 - Feb. 4, 2024.

Results
Women’s Halfpipe
Men’s Halfpipe

Stifel U.S. Freeski Team halfpipe team athletes showed insane talent in the Secret Garden, China halfpipe finals with Alex Ferreira taking home first, Hanna Faulhaber second and Hunter Hess third. 

Two-time Olympic medalist Ferreira took home the win in the first of five stops of the 2023-24 FIS Freeski World Cup halfpipe circuit. Ferreira went huge on his hits, dominating the space. In his winning run he executed switch left 10 blunt, right double 16 safety, left 10 blunt, switch right dub 10 Japan and left double 16 safety. Hess, looking smooth himself, earned his second podium, with his first in 2018 in this very location. Luke Harrold of New Zealand was in the second spot on the podium.  

“I was actually talking to my coach on the bus ride up…  I don’t know what’s going on but this is the least stressed I’ve ever been going into a final,” said Stifel U.S. Freeski Team athlete Alex Ferreira. “I think it’s finally because I have my life in order and am just so happy to be skiing well. I’ve been training very hard and everything’s just unfolding in front of my eyes exactly how I envisioned it.”

Stifel U.S. Freeski Team teammates Dylan Ladd finished in seventh and Kai Morris, who earned his personal best in competition today, ended up in eighth. 

On the women’s side of things, Faulhaber, the reigning world champion, landed in second place, clinching her fourth career World Cup podium. Known for going huge on her first hit, she skied to the bottom of her runs, always a smile on her face. Teammates Riley Jacobs and Kate Gray both earned personal bests in competition, taking home the fourth and sixth spots, respectively. 

Eileen Gu ultimately came out on top for China finishing in first and Amy Fraser of Canada finished third.

Stifel U.S. Freeski Team athletes Nick Geiser, Cassidy Jarrell and Matt Labaugh were also in China for the competition, but did not make finals.

"I’m incredibly proud of the whole squad, especially Alex Ferreira for sticking to the plan and securing the well-deserved win, Hunter Hess for embracing a new run and earning third, and Hanna Faulhaber for sending it huge as always and claiming second for the ladies (and going for her first-ever 10 on run 3)," said Stifel U.S. Freeski Team halfpipe team head coach, Mike Riddle. "Everyone has been skiing well all week and I’m excited to watch them keep it going all year. Thanks Secret Garden for hosting an amazing event. Next stop Copper!”

Next up the freeski halfpipe team heads to the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix in Copper Mountain Dec. 13-16. 

Results
Women’s Halfpipe
Men’s Halfpipe

Two-time Olympian Caroline Claire officially announces her retirement from competitive freeskiing.

Born in Edina, Minnesota, and later moving to Manchester Center, Vermont and attending Stratton Mountain School, Caroline has been skiing since she could walk. 

Caroline broke onto the scene in 2014 after winning the USASA nationals and only excelled from there. In her 2015-16 season, she competed in the Junior World Championships (JWC) nabbing a bronze medal, and then later that season found herself on top of two podiums at the Revolution Tour. Then, in 2017, she earned another bronze at JWC. She has competed in two Olympic Winter Games—PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022—has six World Cup podiums, and was recognized as Female Breakthrough Skier of the Year at the 2020 Newschoolers Awards. 

We caught up with Caroline recently and were fortunate enough to hear her thoughts on retiring. 

What has your experience been like on the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team?

I’ve been on the U.S. team since I was 15 so it’s pretty eye-opening now to realize I’ve spent all of my adult years as part of this program. My best friends are the girls I traveled with and competed with for the last two Olympic cycles. Being on the team was a kick in the butt in terms of growing up fast, but I wouldn’t trade these eight years for anything. Through successes, injuries and failures, I’ve felt the staff’s support through it all. Without the support of physical therapists and athletic trainers like Jen Kimball, Sara Chavez and Robyn Hase, I wouldn’t be where I am today: healthy and happy. 

How are you feeling about announcing your retirement?
This has been something I have felt at peace with for a while. After suffering a torn ACL at the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games, I made the decision with the support of my coaches to take last season off from competition. This season proved to be one of the most enlightening I’ve ever had. I took the time to discover new passions and throw myself into being a student full-time and I’m so happy the team allowed me to take a physical and mental break.

What are you excited about in the next chapter of your life?
While it's sad to think I won’t ever put a bib on again, I’m so excited for the future. I’ll be finishing up school and skiing as much as possible here in Utah. I’m hoping to take some time to travel and explore new parts of my skiing as well. I took a little bit of time to film last season and have some plans for some filming with fellow Stifel U.S. Freeski Team alum Devin Logan this season. I’m most grateful for the position the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team has allowed me to be in at this point in my life. I get to leave the sport as a two-time Olympian who is still young and healthy and has other passions waiting to be explored.

Caroline is an integral part of freeskiing culture and will be missed on the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team. She continues to receive an outpouring of love and support from current and former teammates and coaches.

"Caroline reminds me of my younger self. Eager, hardworking and an outspoken East Coast girl, we became extremely close throughout our years on the team together and still are to this day,” said former Stifel U.S. Freeski Team athlete and Olympic silver medalist Devin Logan. “Having a very similar upbringing with growing up on Long Island, skiing out of Mt. Snow with the same coaches, we were always able to relate to each other. I know Caroline is going to thrive with whatever the future holds for her. I wish her all the best and a huge congratulations on her outstanding skiing career!” 

“Carol has had an incredible competitive career, and has been an integral part of our team,” said Stifel U.S. Freeski Team slopestyle team head coach, Dave Euler. “Her determination, grit and high standard for herself stands out to me. She would get countless reps on her tricks until they looked and felt how she envisioned them. She skis with great style and flow that helped her achieve two Olympic games, six World Cup podiums and X Games appearances. Carol has grown immensely as a skier and person off the slopes over the years and she has so much to be proud of.  I’m excited to see what amazing things she does next!” 

U.S. Ski & Snowboard is set to host three freeski and snowboard domestic World Cup events this season: the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix and Visa Big Air presented by Toyota at Copper Mountain Resort Dec. 13-16, 2023 and the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain Jan. 31-Feb. 3, 2024. 

The Toyota U.S. Grand Prix is the longest-running winter action sports tour and has served as a major part of the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team and Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team Olympic qualification series since 1998. This December, the world’s best freeskiers and snowboarders will return to “The Athlete’s Mountain” at Copper Mountain to compete in men’s and women’s halfpipe and big air events. On Dec. 15 and 16, freeski and snowboard athletes, including three-time Olympic medalist Nick Goepper, world champion Hanna Faulhaber and Olympic snowboarders Chase Josey and Maddie Mastro will drop into Copper’s legendary 22-foot superpipe for finals. 

"The success of the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix and Visa Big Air presented by Toyota is led by its amazing resort partners, Copper and Mammoth Mountain,” said Eric Webster, Senior Director of Events at U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “These resorts have a proven track record of delivering world class snowboard and freeski events. U.S. Ski & Snowboard is grateful for their many years of partnership and support, and we look forward to these great events this season.”

Returning to Copper Mountain once again is the Visa Big Air presented by Toyota contest, where athletes will launch themselves off a 70-foot jump in Copper Mountain’s Center Village. Many Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team athletes are set to compete, including Chris Corning and Hailey Langland who both took home second place in the event last year, along with Stifel U.S. Freeski Team Olympic Champion Alex Hall and teammate Rell Harwood. Finals for the snowboard big air will take place on Dec. 15, with freeski big air finals on Dec. 16. 

"Copper Mountain is thrilled to once again host the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix, and the Visa Big Air presented by Toyota event at our elite level venues,” said Dustin Lyman, President and General Manager, Copper Mountain. “As an Official Training Center for the U.S. Ski & Snowboard team, we take pride in supporting athletes at every stage of their journey. Fostering success for world-class athletes is a key part of that, and we are looking forward to another season of competitive pursuits."

Mammoth has hosted the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix more than a dozen times and is excited to welcome back the top skiers and riders to California in February. Some familiar faces set to compete in the halfpipe include Stifel U.S. Freeski Team athlete and 2022-23 FIS freeski halfpipe overall Crystal Globe winner Birk Irving and sister, X Games medalist, Svea Irving. Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team athlete and two-time Olympic champion Chloe Kim is set to return this season to competition at her home mountain, as well as Chase Blackwell who nabbed third in the event last season. Freeski halfpipe finals will take place on Feb. 2, with snowboard halfpipe finals on Feb. 3. 

The slopestyle events will take place in Mammoth’s legendary Unbound Terrain Park. Hydro Flask U.S. Snowboard Team athletes and 2022-23 overall FIS snowboard slopestyle Crystal Globe winners Dusty Henricksen and Julia Marino will compete as well as three-time X Games medalist and Olympian Mac Forehand and teammate Rell Harwood. Snowboard slopestyle finals will take place on Feb. 2, with freeski slopestyle finals on Feb. 3. 

“Mammoth is thrilled to continue the tradition of providing an exceptional competition venue for the world’s best athletes,” said Michelle Tomaier Director of Events, Sponsorships and Athletes, Mammoth Mountain “Mammoth and our famous Unbound Terrain Parks have been in the game for many years and we are all looking forward to Chloe’s return to the main stage after taking time off last season, right here at her home mountain.”

If interested in attending either event as press, here are the media credential forms:
Toyota U.S. Grand Prix and Visa Big Air presented by Toyota at Copper Mountain Resort Dec. 13-16, 2023
Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain Jan. 31-Feb. 3, 2024.

Toyota U.S. Grand Prix and Visa Big Air at Copper Mountain Schedule 
(all times in MST)

FREESKI
Halfpipe
Wednesday, Dec. 13 / 9:30 a.m. - 2:40 p.m. / qualifiers 
Friday, Dec. 15 / 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. / finals 

Big Air
Thursday, Dec. 14 / 9:25 a.m. - 2:35 p.m. / qualifiers 
Saturday, Dec. 16 / 10 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. / finals 

SNOWBOARD
Big Air
Wednesday, Dec. 13 / 9:25 a.m. - 2:35 p.m. / qualifiers  
Friday, Dec. 15 / 10 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. / finals 

Halfpipe
Thursday, Dec. 14 / 9:30 a.m. - 3:20 p.m. / training & qualifiers  
Saturday, Dec. 16 / 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. / finals  

Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain Schedule 

FREESKI
Halfpipe
Wednesday, Jan. 31 / 9:20 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. / training & qualifiers 
Friday, Feb. 02 / 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. / finals 

Slopestyle
Thursday, Feb. 01 / 8:55 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. / training & qualifiers
Saturday, Feb. 03 / 9:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. / finals 

SNOWBOARD
Slopestyle
Wednesday, Jan. 31 / 8:55 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. / training & qualifiers  
Friday, Feb. 02 / 9:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. / finals 

Halfpipe
Thursday, Feb. 01 / 9:20 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. / training & qualifiers  
Saturday, Feb. 03 / 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. / finals  

HOW TO WATCH
Finals will be broadcast LIVE on Outside.

Toyota U.S. Grand Prix and Visa Big Air at Copper Mountain Broadcast Replay Schedule
(all times in ET) 

CNBC
Sunday, Dec. 17 / 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. / snowboard big air finals

NBC
Sunday, Dec. 17 / 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. / snowboard halfpipe finals

Toyota U.S. Grand Prix at Mammoth Mountain Broadcast Replay Schedule
(all times in ET) 

CNBC
Sunday, Feb. 11 / 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. / freeski slopestyle finals
Sunday, Feb. 11 / 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. / snowboard slopestyle finals

NBC
Sunday, Feb. 11 / 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m / snowboard halfpipe finals

Stifel U.S. Freeski Team athlete and Olympic champion Alex Hall secured the win in big air Beijing, the same location where he clinched his Olympic victory in slopestyle at the 2022 Beijing Olympic Winter Games. This marks Hall’s 11th World Cup career podium, coming just a week after his 10th podium—a third-place finish in slopestyle in Stubai, Austria.

The jump was stiff, slow and hard in the Shougang Industrial Park, but Hall emerged as the top qualifier on Thursday, giving him some confidence going into today's event. During his first finals run, Hall executed a rightside double cork 900 bringback, solidifying his position at the top. He ended his run with style, spraying snow all over the camera and proudly showing off his MAGMA shirt—an homage to MAGMA 3, the recently released third installment of his backcountry jumps and street skiing movie, in collaboration with Stifel U.S. Freeski Team athlete Hunter Hess.

In his second run, Hall maintained his position with a switch left tail butter 1440 opposite Japan, keeping his number one spot. With an impressive score of 182 points after two runs, Hall comfortably took a victory lap in the third run and ultimately claimed the first-place finish. As the current men's freeski World Cup points leader, he will now don the coveted yellow bib.

“The jump was the best it’s been all week, which was sick,” said Hall. “It’s like T-shirt weather out here, so it got slushy, and it was really fun. I wasn’t necessarily going to come to this event, but then I figured I’d come and just enjoy myself—come to China, enjoy the country, and do the tricks I wanted to do without any pressure. It ended up working out, which I’m really stoked about.”

Edouard Therriault of Canada and Andri Ragettli of Switzerland rounded out the podium in spots two and three. 

Stifel U.S. Freeski Team athletes Mac Forehand, James Kanzler, Cody LaPlante, Troy Podmilsak, Konnor Ralph and Rell Harwood were also in China for the competition but did not make finals. 

Up next, the team heads to the first domestic freeski event of the season in Copper Mountain for the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix and Visa Big Air presented by Toyota Dec. 13 - 16. 

RESULTS 
Men’s big air

Stifel U.S. Freeski Team slopestyle team athletes Mac Forehand and Alex Hall podiumed in the first slopestyle World Cup of the season, taking home second and third respectively.

Due to tough weather conditions, qualifiers were rescheduled from Friday to Thursday with hope of finals on Friday. However, due to the forecast predicting extreme winds and heavy snowfall, the finals were ultimately canceled. Results were determined based on qualifications, making this the second freeski World Cup to do so this season, after last month's Big Air Chur event was cut short due to weather. 

Taking advantage of the qualifiers and knowing cancelations were possible, Forehand and Hall executed unique, stylish and technically difficult jump runs. Forehand put down a switch left double 1620 lead stale grab to right double 900 lock with a mute grab. In Hall's creative third-place finish, he executed a right double 900 pretzel with a safety grab to switch left tail butter double 1260 mute grab, a run that would secure his 10th career World Cup podium. 

Canada's Evan McEachran took home his first slopestyle World Cup win ever. 

Stifel U.S. Freeski Team slope team athletes Cody LaPlante, Konnor Ralph and Troy Podmilksak also delivered excellent runs, earning scores that would have given them a chance to compete in finals. On the women's side, Rell Harwood secured a spot in the finals as well. 

"Very proud of the whole team yesterday," said Stifel U.S. Freeski Team pro slope team head coach Dave Euler. "We've had lots of bad weather at recent training camps. It was amazing to have a perfect competition day, which allowed the athletes to showcase their incredible skills. Having Mac and Alex on the podium, along with six athletes making finals, makes it even better! Great kickoff to the slopestyle season, and I am excited to keep the momentum building into Beijing and Copper big airs."

Up next, the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team slope team travels to Beijing, China, the host of the 2022 Olympic Winter Games, for a big air World Cup event Dec. 1-2. 

Results
Men’s Slopestyle
Women’s Slopestyle