U.S. Freestyle Ski Team poised for big season ahead of Milano Cortina 2026

Oct 27, 2025·Freestyle

U.S. Ski & Snowboard has announced the 30 athletes named to the 2025-26 Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team, and the roster is brimming with talent, momentum, and Olympic ambition. Following one of the most successful seasons in U.S. freestyle history, both the moguls and aerials squads are looking stronger than ever as they head into the crucial Olympic season.

Leading the charge is Jaelin Kauf, the 2022 Olympic silver medalist and reigning 2025 dual moguls world champion, who returns as the veteran force and emotional anchor of the women’s moguls team. She’ll be joined by longtime teammate Tess Johnson, who claimed silver in dual moguls at the 2025 World Championships, and Nick Page, who finished last season ranked third overall in the men’s World Cup standings. Together, they form the core of a program known for its depth, consistency, and grit.

Rising talents like Charlie Mickel, who steps up to the A Team after earning his first World Cup podium in Livigno, Italy, and Kylie Kariotis, who broke into the top ranks with a fourth-place finish at the World Championships, signal that the next generation is ready to shine. Abby McLarnon, fresh off a Junior Worlds bronze medal, is another young athlete to watch as the U.S. continues to build one of the deepest moguls rosters in the world.

In aerials, the U.S. continues to be a powerhouse. The team is headlined by Kaila Kuhn, Quinn Dehlinger, and Chris Lillis, the reigning 2025 mixed team aerials world champions, alongside Olympic gold medalists Ashley Caldwell and Justin Schoenefeld. Their combination of experience and innovation has made the U.S. a consistent threat on the World Cup circuit and a favorite heading into Milano Cortina. Rookie Ashton Salwan joins the lineup after an impressive World Cup top-15 finish and multiple NorAm podiums.

“We are coming off one of the most successful seasons in U.S. freestyle history,” said Matt Gnoza, U.S. Ski & Snowboard Freestyle Sport Director. “Our athletes are working harder than ever, and the team is well-positioned heading into an Olympic year. The level of talent and depth we have across both moguls and aerials is truly world-class.”

The 2025-26 FIS Freestyle World Cup season kicks off in Ruka, Finland, Dec. 6–7, 2025, before heading through Europe and Asia. U.S. fans can catch the action on home snow in Lake Placid, New York (Jan. 11–12, 2026) and at the iconic Deer Valley Freestyle International in Utah (Jan. 16–18, 2026). The Deer Valley stop will serve as the final World Cup before the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina, Italy, making it a pivotal moment in the season.

With 15 moguls and eight aerials World Cups on the calendar, and veterans and rookies alike performing at peak form, Team USA enters the new season with confidence, chemistry, and clear goals: podiums, progress, and podiums again — this time on the world’s biggest stage.