Freestyle teams to watch: USA brings Olympic momentum into 2026/27

Few nations will head into the new FIS Freestyle World Cup season with quite as much momentum as the United States.

After another outstanding winter that brought Olympic medals, Crystal Globes and major championship success across moguls and aerials, the Americans have confirmed a 28-athlete squad for 2026/27. And looking through the roster, there is little reason to expect them to slow down.

The strength of the U.S. program was perhaps most evident at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, where the team collected four medals in women's moguls and dual moguls, before adding another gold in mixed team aerials.

But the success was hardly limited to the Olympics. Throughout the World Cup season, American athletes were regular contenders for podiums, and their ability to deliver results across both disciplines has become one of the defining features of the team.

One of the biggest stories of last winter belonged to Olivia Giaccio.

After years of competing among the world's best, Giaccio finally claimed her first overall World Cup Crystal Globe in 2025/26, completing a season in which she reached the podium at all but one World Cup stop.

She returns alongside Jaelin Kauf, who added two more Olympic silver medals to her collection in Italy, and Liz Lemley, whose Olympic gold and bronze made her one of the standout performers of the Games.

Then there is Tess Johnson, who finished third in the overall World Cup standings, while Kasey Hogg completes an impressive women's A team.

The American depth extends well beyond those five names, with Alli Macuga, Kylie Kariotis and Abby McLarnon also selected for the upcoming season.

On the men's side, Nick Page has established himself among the leading World Cup contenders after finishing third overall last winter. Charlie Mickel joins him on the A team, with Cole McDonald, Dylan Marcellini, Asher Michel, Dylan Walczyk and Landon Wendler completing the men's roster.

With so many athletes capable of reaching World Cup finals, the challenge for the Americans will be to maintain that consistency through another demanding season.

If the moguls squad has strength in numbers, the American aerials team has developed a remarkable ability to deliver when the stakes are highest.

At Milano Cortina 2026, Kaila Kuhn, Connor Curran and Chris Lillis secured another Olympic gold in mixed team aerials, continuing a run that has seen the United States win the last two Olympic and World Championship mixed team titles.

Lillis has been central to that success, while Kuhn, the 2025 individual aerials World Champion, has become one of the leading figures in the American program.

The team also includes four-time World Championships medalist Quinn Dehlinger and experienced competitors Winter Vinecki and Ashley Caldwell.

One athlete with particular momentum is Curran. Following his Olympic debut and a World Cup season that included a podium finish and three appearances in super finals, he has earned promotion to the A team.

There is also a new name to follow in Beaudin Napolitano, who joins the national squad after gaining World Cup experience, reaching the NorAm podium and earning a bronze medal in the team event at the Junior World Championships.

The Americans have also made changes to their coaching structure, with Rob Kober taking over as moguls head coach.

For U.S. Ski & Snowboard Freestyle Sport Director Matt Gnoza, the focus is on building on the team's Olympic success while continuing to develop both the men's moguls and aerials programs.

The 2026/27 World Cup season will bring another set of challenges, with established champions looking to defend their positions and younger athletes pushing for opportunities.

For the United States, however, the starting point is clear. After setting the standard across much of last winter, the task now is to do it all again.

2026/27 Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team

Moguls

A Team – Women: Olivia Giaccio, Kasey Hogg, Tess Johnson, Jaelin Kauf, Elizabeth Lemley.

A Team – Men: Charlie Mickel, Nick Page.

B Team – Women: Kylie Kariotis, Alli Macuga, Abby McLarnon.

B Team – Men: Dylan Marcellini, Cole McDonald, Asher Michel, Dylan Walczyk, Landon Wendler.

Aerials

A Team – Women: Kaila Kuhn, Winter Vinecki.

A Team – Men: Connor Curran, Quinn Dehlinger, Chris Lillis.

B Team – Women: Ashley Caldwell, Kyra Dossa, Karenna Elliott, Dani Loeb, Tasia Tanner.

B Team – Men: Beaudin Napolitano (new), Ashton Salwan, Ian Schoenwald.