U.S. Freestyle Ski Team nominations announced for 2026/27 season

May 18, 2026·Freestyle

Usually around this time of the year, national ski associations begin announcing and nominating their teams for the upcoming season. And to kick things off, we start with one of the biggest powerhouses in freestyle skiing — the United States.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard officially announced the athletes nominated to the 2026/27 Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team rosters in Moguls and Aerials, once again showcasing one of the deepest and strongest teams on the World Cup circuit.

The U.S. team heads into the off season following another hugely successful winter, confirming its position as a dominant force across both disciplines. In Moguls, the nominations are led by Olympic champion Elizabeth Lemley and three time Olympic silver medalist Jaelin Kauf, while Olivia Giaccio comes off a career defining season after securing the overall Crystal Globe for the first time during the 2025/26 World Cup campaign. Tess Johnson and Nick Page also finished the season ranked third overall in the Moguls standings, underlining the impressive depth of the American squad.

On the Aerials side, the team continues to combine Olympic experience with emerging talent. Mixed Team Olympic champions Kaila Kuhn, Chris Lillis and Connor Curran headline the nominations alongside consistent World Cup performers Quinn Dehlinger and Winter Vinecki.

One of the new additions to the roster is Beaudin Napolitano, who earned a nomination after a strong season that included a bronze medal at the 2026 FIS Freestyle Junior World Ski Championships in the Aerials Team event, as well as multiple top five finishes on the NorAm Cup circuit.

The announcement also comes ahead of another important season for the U.S. program, with the 2026/27 winter expected to feature several key domestic World Cup stops. Lake Placid is set to host Aerials competitions, while Waterville Valley and Deer Valley are expected to welcome Moguls events, with Deer Valley also hosting Aerials as part of the Intermountain Health Freestyle International presented by Stifel.

With Olympic champions, Crystal Globe winners and one of the strongest development systems in the world, the U.S. once again looks set to be one of the teams to beat heading into the new World Cup season.