U.S. Ski & Snowboard officially announced the 30 athletes who have accepted their nominations are named to the 2025-26 Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team rosters for moguls and aerials. All athletes qualified for the team based on existing freestyle moguls and aerials criteria. 

2022 Olympic silver medalist and 2025 dual moguls world champion Jaelin Kauf will lead the team into the season alongside 2025 World Championships dual moguls silver medalist Tess Johnson. On the men’s side, Nick Page finished last season ranked third overall in moguls and will guide the team throughout the season.  

The 2025-26 aerials team is headlined by 2025 mixed team aerials world champions Kaila Kuhn, Quinn Dehlinger and Chris Lillis, along with 2022 Olympic gold medalists Ashley Caldwell and Justin Schoenefeld.

Charlie Mickel is moving up to the moguls A team for the first time following a breakthrough 2024-25 season. Mickel earned multiple super finals appearances, including his first World Cup podium at the Olympic test event in Livigno, Italy, where he finished in third place. 

Additionally, there are two new athletes to watch on the moguls side. Kylie Kariotis had a standout 2024-25 season, earning her spot on the World Cup circuit and the 2025 World Championships team, where she finished fourth in dual moguls. She is joined by up-and-comer Abby McLarnon, who took bronze at the 2025 FIS Junior World Ski Championships in dual moguls and earned two podium results at the 2025 Toyota U.S. Freestyle Championships. Ashton Salwan is a new addition to the aerials rookie roster, boasting an 11th place finish at the Almaty World Cup last season and three NorAm podiums. 

“We are coming off of one of the most successful seasons in U.S. freestyle history,” said Matt Gnoza, U.S. Ski & Snowboard Freestyle Sport Director. “The athletes are working harder than ever, and our team is well-equipped heading into an Olympic season. I am excited to build on last year’s momentum and support these athletes throughout the season.”

The 2025-26 Azerbaijan FIS Freestyle World Cup season is set to kick off in Ruka, Finland, Dec. 6-7, 2025. The moguls and aerials groups then separate as they continue to compete around Europe and Asia before coming back to the U.S. for North American World Cup action in January. There will be two opportunities for U.S. freestyle fans to watch the action on home soil as aerials kick things off in Lake Placid, New York, Jan. 11-12, 2026, followed by moguls, dual moguls and aerials at the Intermountain Health Freestyle International presented by Stifel at Deer Valley, Jan. 16-18, 2026. The events in Deer Valley will serve as the final World Cup before the Olympics and the last chance for athletes to qualify for the Games. Throughout the season, 15 moguls and eight aerials World Cups are scheduled. For the full freestyle World Cup schedule, click here. 

The pinnacle of the season is the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina, Italy. The freestyle events are scheduled to begin on Feb. 10 and conclude on Feb. 21. A maximum of four athletes per gender per sport will be selected to represent the United States on the world's greatest stage. Kauf and Dehlinger are starting the season with a different type of motivation, having earned their spots for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games based on their results from last year. 

Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team

(Hometown; Club; College; Birthdate)

AERIALS

A TEAM
Women

• Ashley Caldwell (Ashburn, VA; University of Utah; 9/14/1993)
• Karenna Elliott (Cincinnati, OH; Elite Aerial Development Program/Park City Ski & Snowboard; Utah Valley University; 5/24/2000)
• Kaila Kuhn (Boyne City, MI; University of Utah; 4/8/2003)
• Winter Vinecki (Gaylord, MI; Park City Ski & Snowboard; University of Utah/St. Mary’s University School of Law; 12/18/1998)

Men

• Quinn Dehlinger (Cincinnati, OH; Elite Aerial Development Program; Salt Lake Community College; 6/8/2002)
• Chris Lillis (Rochester, NY; Bristol Mountain Freestyle Team; University of Utah; 10/4/1998)

ROOKIE TEAM 
Women

• Kyra Dossa (Cleveland, OH; Park City Ski & Snowboard; University of Utah; 1/24/2004)
• Dani Loeb (Pintlala, AL; Elite Aerial Development Program; University of Utah; 8/10/2001)
• Tasia Tanner (Park City, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard/Fly Freestyle; University of Utah; 7/26/2002)

Men

• Connor Curran (Cincinnati, OH; Park City Ski & Snowboard/Elite Aerial Development Program; Utah Valley University; 9/23/2004)
• Derek Krueger (Cleveland, OH; Elite Aerial Development Program; University of Utah; 6/2/2003)
• Ashton Salwan (Chagrin Falls, OH; Mont Chalet Freestyle Training Center; University of Utah; 6/23/2004)*
• Justin Schoenefeld (Lawrenceburg, IN; Perfect North Slopes; Utah Valley University; 8/13/1998)
• Ian Schoenwald (Kaysville, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Utah Valley University; 6/18/2004)

MOGULS

A TEAM
Women

• Olivia Giaccio (Redding, CT; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; Columbia University; 8/15/2000)
• Tess Johnson (Vail, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Harvard Extension School; 6/19/2000)
• Kylie Kariotis (Novato, CA; Wasatch Freestyle; Boston College; 7/14/2004)*
• Jaelin Kauf (Alta, WY; Grand Targhee Ski & Snowboard Foundation/Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; University of Utah; 9/26/1996)
• Elizabeth Lemley (Vail, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Oberlin College; 1/22/2006)
• Kai Owens (Vail, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; University of Utah; 8/16/2004)

Men

• Charlie Mickel (Durango, CO; Wasatch Freestyle/Durango Winter Sports Club; University of Utah; 7/6/2004)
• Nick Page (Park City, UT; Wasatch Freestyle; 8/1/2002)
• Landon Wendler (Steamboat Springs, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; Los Angeles Film School; 10/12/2000)

ROOKIE TEAM 
Women

• Kasey Hogg (Kensington, NH; Wasatch Freestyle; University of Utah; 1/8/2003)
• Alli Macuga (Park City, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; University of Utah; 9/24/2003)
• Abby McLarnon (Steamboat Springs, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; University of Utah; 10/16/2006)*

Men

• Dylan Marcellini (Walnut Creek, CA; Wasatch Freestyle/Olympic Valley Freestyle; University of Utah; 9/29/2002)
• Cole McDonald (Park City, UT; Wasatch Freestyle; University of Utah; 3/6/2003)
• Asher Michel (Winter Park, CO; Winter Park Competition Center; University of Utah; 12/9/2005)
• Dylan Walczyk (Rochester, NY; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 6/25/1993)

*Newly named to the Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team

2025-26 FREESTYLE COACHES AND STAFF

Chief of Sport: Anouk Patty 
Freestyle Sport Director: Matt Gnoza 
Freestyle Team Manager: Tami Strong
Freestyle Athletic Development Coordinator: Maddison Beck
Freestyle Development Manager: Maddie Hogg
Freestyle Press Officer: Ryan Odeja 
Sport Psychologist: Alex Cohen

Aerials
Aerials Head Coach: Vladimir Lebedev
Aerials World Cup Coach: Stanislav Kravchuk 
Aerials World Cup Coach: Matt DePeters
Aerials Physical Therapist: Peter Toohey
Freestyle Aerials Athletic Development Coach: Walter Crijanovschi

Moguls
Moguls Head Coach: Bryon Wilson
Moguls World Cup Coach: Joshua Kober 
Men’s Moguls World Cup Coach: Steve Desovich
Moguls Development Coach: Bryan Zemba 
Moguls Physical Therapist: Jill Radzinski

FOLLOW THE STIFEL U.S. FREESTYLE SKI TEAM

Instagram: @usskiteam 
Facebook: @usskiandsnowboard
TikTok: @usskiandsnowboard
X: @usskiteam
YouTube: @usskisnowboardteam 
Threads: @usskiteam 

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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Ryan Odeja - Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team Press Officer
[email protected] 

The 2024-25 season was nothing short of spectacular for Kylie Kariotis. Despite previously starting in only six World Cups, Kariotis took the circuit by storm this year and earned personal bests week after week, traveling across the world when she previously thought she was going to be competing in NorAms. Her steady rise in results led her to a fourth-place finish at the Beidahu World Cup, which was enough to earn a spot on her first World Championships team. This was not an opportunity she took lightly, and she ended up finishing fourth in dual moguls at World Championships. Off the circuit, Kariotis is also a student at Boston College studying finance and brings the same passion she has for moguls skiing to everything she does. 

Kariotis is the latest athlete featured in U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s “On the Rise” series, presented by Zions Bank. Through community service, sponsorships and charitable donations, Zions Bank is committed to fueling economic growth and enhancing quality of life in Idaho, Utah and Wyoming.

Q: What initially drew you to moguls skiing? 

KK: I was first drawn to moguls skiing because of my older siblings; they competed, and I thought they were so cool. I did my first moguls competition when I was five years old, and I instantly loved the excitement of competing. Being there with my family made it even more special, and that combination of fun and challenge made me immediately hooked on the sport. 

Q: When you were younger and getting into the sport, what were your goals?

KK: When I was younger, I dreamed of qualifying for the Stifel U.S. Ski Team and representing my country on the international stage. The skiers on the national team were the absolute best, and I wanted nothing more than to be part of that. I also dreamed of traveling the world to compete at the different stops on the World Cup circuit; it always felt like such a unique and inspiring experience.

Q: What is your biggest accomplishment?

KK: My biggest accomplishment so far is qualifying for World Championships this past season and finishing fourth in dual moguls. At the start of the year, I thought I would be competing on the NorAm tour, but I was unexpectedly pulled up to the World Cup and then had the opportunity to qualify for such a prestigious event. That whole experience felt surreal, and I’m really grateful for how it unfolded.

Q: What is your ultimate goal?

KK: My ultimate goal is to win a World Cup and one day compete in the Olympics. The Olympics are the pinnacle of our sport, and being able to represent my country on that stage would be the ultimate honor. I know how difficult it is to qualify, but I find joy in the process of becoming the skier who is capable of competing there.

Q: Who are your heroes? Both in and out of the sport?

KK: Growing up, two of my biggest heroes were Jonny Moseley and Ann Battelle. Both are icons in the freestyle skiing community with incredible accomplishments. Jonny was especially inspiring since he grew up in the same town as me, went to the same high school, and skied at the same program. Ann has always struck me as one of the coolest people I’ve met, and the fact that she continues to give back to the freestyle community as a coach is really special. Outside of skiing, my heroes are my parents. They taught me how to ski, believed in me every step of the way, and provided me with all the tools I needed to grow into the athlete I am today. I’m forever grateful for their support. 

Q: You win $5,000 in prize money: What do you do with it? 

KK:  I would probably buy a new mountain bike, since I love the terrain around Salt Lake and biking is excellent cross-training for moguls skiing. I’d also consider putting part of it toward my education at Boston College, which is another big priority in my life.

Q: Do you budget or follow any structure related to spending?

KK: I don’t currently keep a strict budget, as I’m fortunate to receive support from both my parents and the team. That said, I try to stay mindful of how I spend and make sure I focus on the essentials that support my skiing and education.

Q: What is one money habit you follow?

KK: I always review my credit card statements monthly to ensure there’s no fraudulent activity. It’s a simple habit, but it gives me peace of mind and helps me stay on top of my spending.

Follow Kylie on social media.