#us freeskiing

[snowblooded]

Wise, Yater-Wallace, and Benoit earn Top Spots at U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix

David Wise touches the Sky

COPPER MOUNTAIN, CO (Dec. 5) – A heated early season battle went down today at the first stop of the Sprint U.S Grand Prix tour and opening FIS Freestyle World Cup event of the season in Copper Mountain, CO with Olympic Champion David Wise and New Zealander Janina Kuzma taking home top honors. The brand new three run, best run counts format gave today’s finalist a lot of opportunity for progression, but David Wise’s consistent skiing and back-to-back double cork prowess set the stage early in the game. Wise won the contest with his first run of the day in which he linked both right and left double cork 1260s. "My first run was my best run because I think I was still in the zone from practice. I’m stoked I was able to put my first run down and ride that wave," said Wise.

France's Benoit Valentin (left), Olympic champion David Wise and Torin-Yater Wallace claimed the halfpipe skiing top spots at the first Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix of the season at Copper Mountain, CO. (Photo: Sarah Brunson/ U.S. Freeskiing)

Second and third place finishers Torin Yater-Wallace and Benoit Valentin favored the three run format, mixing up their tricks and upping their scores as the day progressed. Alex Ferierra and current AFP World Champion Kevin Rolland finished just off the podium in fourth and fifth respectively. U.S. Freeskiing teammates Gus Kenworthy and Aaron Blunk rounded out the top seven.

Torin Yater-Wallace

Benoit awes the Crowd

Gus Kenworthy

Progression was the name of the game on the women’s side as well, with Kiwi skier Janina Kuzma landing her first 900 in competition and simultaneously landing herself on the top of the podium. Olympic slopestyle silver medalist Devin Logan nabbed second place with her stellar first run combo of a left 720 mute to switch alley-oop 540. Olympic halfpipe silver medalist from Japan Ayana Onozuka walked away with third place just edging out American Annalisa Drew.

Devin Logan

Janina Kuzma

Yater-Wallace at Sochi (Getty Images/Cameron Spencer)

It was a good rebound for Yater-Wallace following Winter Olympics Sochi where he did not medal. US Freeskiing awarded Yater-Wallace a discretionary spot on the inaugural U.S. Olympic halfpipe team, despite being sidelined with an injury during the Olympic qualification series. Yater-Wallace, had been an Olympic favorite going into the season, but suffered a collapsed lung early in the series last season. "This was my first pipe event since Russia. It was a little nerve-wracking because I didn’t do so well in Russia so it’s nice to come back off of the Olympics and show that I’ve still got it. Today was just fun and good times."

Source: USSA, Photos: Copper Mountain

[snowblooded]

FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup Event Returns to Deer Valley in January

Mark your calenders Snowbloods, the exciting FIS Freestyle returns to Deer Valley again this January. This marks the 16th year of international and world competitions hosted at Deer Valley®, including the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, two World Championships and 13 World Cups.

The continued tradion of these events make the resort an esteemed venue for the freestyle community. All competitions will be held at night under the lights at Deer Valley Resort, a short walk or free chair ride up the mountain from the Snow Park Lodge base on the Champion and White Owl runs.

Men's and women's aerial events will be held on the White Owl ski run on Thursday, January 8, 2015. Men's and women's mogul and dual mogul events are scheduled on the Champion ski run on Friday, January 9 and Saturday, January 10, 2015. Finals for all disciplines will take place in the evening, with a fireworks display concluding each night.

Last year, the Snowblooded team including our photographers, Peter Day and Morgan Jubok provided our audience with exciting pictures from the aerials and moguls events. If you are in the Park City area in early January, do not miss this event. The location provides spectators an excellent viewing area for all of the activities that is close to the action and close to the comfort of the Deer Valley lodges. Last years event took place in the lead up to the Olympic Winter games in Sochi. In the leadup to the next games, it will be exciting to watch the new stars of these sports emerge from obscurity.

Snow has already begun falling on the slopes at Deer Valley and the ski season begins in just fifty days. We'll hope for excellent conditions again for these world class athletes.

Photos: Deer Valley Resort

[rosesareme]

Drops of brain words about slopestyle.

All of the US guys are into finals! Can we talk about how Bobby probably pooped in his pants waiting to see if he was going to be able to gang on to 12th? I almost had to leave the room. Also... Joss the boss killing it, hoping thats the new norm for him! Goepper... interesting, he's from around where I live and I could practically hear the screams of despair when he went down. Gus moseyed his way in fairly easily! He makes me nervous though because I can never ell if he is going to make it all the way through the run!

[zealoptics]

ZEAL Optics-Sponsored U.S. Snowboarding & Freeskiing Name Teams

With Sochi right around the corner, the ZEAL Optics-sponsored US Freeskiing and Snowboarding programs named their teams going into the final qualification process for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Here’s a look at the news from the teams, of which ZEAL Optics is the official eyewear sponsor:

US Snowboarding

Olympic medalists Kelly Clark (West Dover, VT), Gretchen Bleiler, (Aspen, CO), and Scotty Lago (Seabrook, NH) headline the 2014 U.S. Snowboarding team, which also includes slopestyle athletes Chas Guldemond (Reno, NV), Sage Kotsenburg (Park City, UT) and Eric Willett (Breckenridge, CO). Slopestyle will make its Olympic debut this February in Sochi. With an impressive roster of 32 athletes, the team will begin its season and Olympic qualifying period

at the Dew Tour iON Mountain Championships at Breckenridge Dec. 12-15 followed by the FIS World Cup and Sprint U.S. Grand Prix at Copper Mountain Dec. 19-22. Members of the team will be on hand Saturday, Nov. 30 at Copper Mountain, CO for the Woodward Remix Weekend–home of the only Olympic-sized halfpipe currently open in the U.S.  

HIGHLIGHTS

- U.S. Snowboarding named 32 athletes to its 2014 teams, including Olympic gold medalist Kelly Clark (West Dover, VT), Olympic silver medalist Gretchen Bleiler (Aspen, CO) and Olympic bronze medalist Scotty Lago (Seabrook, NH).

- World Snowboard Tour champion Chas Guldemond (Reno, NV), four-time X Games medalist Eric Willett (Breckenridge, CO) and 2011 Dew Tour overall slopestyle champion Sage Kotsenburg (Park City, UT) lead the slopestyle team and the Olympics’ newest discipline.

- The Olympic qualifying period begins Dec. 12-15 at the Dew Tour iON Mountain Championships at Breckenridge.

- Copper Mountain will host the second halfpipe and slopestyle FIS World Cup/Olympic qualifying event, the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix, on Dec. 19-22.

- The U.S. Olympic team qualifying events pick back up in January with the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix in Northstar, CA Jan. 9-12 and the final event in Mammoth, CA Jan. 15-18.

- Members of the team will be on hand Saturday, Nov. 30 for the Woodward Remix Weekend at Copper Mountain, CO to open the newly renovated Woodward at Copper.

QUOTES
Mike Jankowski, Head U.S. Freeskiing and U.S. Snowboarding Coach
It's such an exciting time for U.S. Snowboarding right now with next-level halfpipe runs and the slopestyle team getting its first shot at Olympic medals.  This group of riders has truly shaped what U.S. Snowboarding is all about and is blazing a path into the future. I have to give all my respect to them for their hard work and true dedication to the sport of snowboarding. 

 2014 U.S. Snowboarding Team Roster
Name (Hometown; Club) Date of Birth * Denotes Olympian

2014 U.S. Snowboarding Halfpipe Pro Team
Men
Greg Bretz (Mammoth Lakes, CA; Mammoth Charter School) 12/19/90 *
Matt Ladley (Chicago, IL; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club) 5/17/91
Scotty Lago (Seabrook, NH) 11/12/87 *
Benji Farrow (Ludlow, VT; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club) 3/8/92
Louie Vito (Sandy, UT) 3/20/88 *
Luke Mitrani (Bondville, VT) 7/20/90

Women
Gretchen Bleiler (Aspen, CO; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club) 4/10/81 *
Kelly Clark (West Dover, VT; Mount Snow Academy) 7/26/83 *
Arielle Gold (Steamboat Springs, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club) 5/4/96
Elena Hight (South Lake Tahoe, CA; American School) 8/17/89 *
Ellery Hollingsworth (Darien, CT; Stratton Mountain School) 9/2/91
Hannah Teter (Belmont, VT; Okemo Mountain School) 1/27/87 *
Maddy Schaffrick (Steamboat Springs, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club) 4/24/94

2014 U.S. Snowboarding Slopestyle Pro Team
Men
Eric Beauchemin (Grand Blanc, MI; Stratton Mountain School) 1/14/91
Chas Guldemond (Reno, NV) 4/22/87
Sage Kotsenburg (Park City, UT) 7/27/93 
Ryan Stassel (Anchorage, AK; Auburn Ski Club) 10/23/92
Eric Willett (Breckenridge, CO) 1/2/88

Women
Jessika Jenson (Rigby, ID) 8/7/91
Jordie Karlinski (Snowmass Village, CO; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club) 8/24/89
Ty Walker (Stowe, VT; USSA Team Academy) 3/3/97

2014 U.S. Snowboarding Halfpipe Rookie Team
Men
Nik Baden (Steamboat Springs, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club) 1/3/98
Taylor Gold (Steamboat Springs, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club) 11/17/93
Ben Ferguson (Bend, OR) 1/21/95
Gabe Ferguson (Bend, OR) 4/16/99
Chase Josey (Hailey, ID; Sun Valley Education Foundation) 3/31/95
Kyle Mack (West Bloomfield, MI) 7/6/97

Women
Chloe Kim (La Palma, CA; Mammoth Mountain Snowboard Team) 4/23/00
Maddie Mastro (Wrightwood, CA) 2/22/00
Serena Shaw (Stratton Mountain, VT; Stratton Mountain School) 1/22/95

Coaches
Mike Jankowski, U.S. Snowboarding Halfpipe and Slopestyle Head Coach
Rick Bower, U.S. Snowboarding Pro Halfpipe Coach
Tommy Czeschin, U.S. Snowboarding Assistant Pro Halfpipe Coach
Bill Enos, U.S. Snowboarding Pro Slopestyle Coach
Spencer Tamblyn, U.S. Snowboarding Rookie Coach

U.S. Snowboarding Staff
Jeremy Forster, U.S. Freeskiing and U.S. Snowboarding Director
Abbi Nyberg, U.S. Freeskiing and U.S. Snowboarding Program Manager
Kate Morton, U.S. Freeskiing and U.S. Snowboarding Team Manager
Dave Coombs, U.S. Freeskiing and U.S. Snowboarding Slopestyle Technician
Stu Soars, U.S. Snowboarding Halfpipe Technician
Jen Naughton, U.S. Snowboarding Physical Therapist
Jason Switzer, U.S. Snowboarding Physical Therapist

 U.S. Freeskiing

U.S. Freeskiing announced a hard-hitting team of 36 athletes Wednesday, including four-time X Games medalist David Wise (Reno, NV), X Games gold medalist Nick Goepper (Lawrenceburg, IN), three-time X Games medalist Maddie Bowman (S. Lake Tahoe, CA) and six-time X Games medalist Torin Yater-Wallace (Basalt, CO). In February halfpipe and slopestyle skiing will make their Olympic debut in Sochi. Members of the team are currently preparing for the Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix, the anchor of the five-event Olympic qualifying series, and will make a public appearance on Saturday, Nov. 30 at Copper Mountain, CO during the Woodward Remix Weekend, home to the only Olympic-sized halfpipe currently open in the USA.  

HIGHLIGHTS

- U.S. Freeskiing named 36 athletes to its 2014 teams, including World Champion Tom Wallisch (Pittsburgh, PA), six-time X Games medalist Torin Yater-Wallace (Basalt, CO), four-time X Games Champion David Wise (Reno, NV) and X Games gold medalist Nick Goepper (Lawrenceburg, IN).

- Halfpipe force Maddie Bowman (S. Lake Tahoe, CA), World Cup slopestyle champion Keri Herman (Breckenridge, CO) and double-threat Devin Logan (West Dover, VT) head up the women’s teams on the road to freeskiing’s first Olympic appearance.

- Slopestyle skiing and halfpipe skiing will make its Olympic debut in February in Sochi, Russia.

- The North Face recently released the U.S. Freeskiing halfpipe, slopestyle and skicross competition uniforms for the Olympics.

- Currently the team is preparing for the Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix and World Cup at Copper Mountain on Dec 19-22, the anchor of the five-event Olympic qualifying series.

- Members of the team will be on hand Saturday, Nov. 30 at Copper Mountain, CO for the Woodward Remix Weekend to help open the newly renovated Woodward at Copper.

- In addition to halfpipe and slopestyle athletes, U.S. Freeskiing added skicross athletes John Teller (Mammoth Lakes, CA) and Joe Swensson (Niantic, CT) to their ranks in advance of the FIS World Cup opener in Nakiska, AB Dec. 6-7.

QUOTES
Mike Jankowski, Head U.S. Freeskiing and U.S. Snowboarding Coach
This is an exciting and historic time with freeskiers heading to the Olympics to showcase halfpipe and slopestyle for the first time. The U.S. Team athletes are eager to charge into the season and have their sights firmly set on bringing home gold medals for Team USA. 

  2014 U.S. Freeskiing Team Roster
Name, Hometown, Club, Date of Birth * Denotes Olympian

2014 U.S. Freeskiing Halfpipe Pro Team
Men
Wing Tai Barrymore (Sun Valley, ID, Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation) 1/05/92 
Aaron Blunck (Crested Butte, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail) 4/12/96
Duncan Adams (Breckenridge, CO) 9/10/92
Simon Dumont (Bethel, ME) 7/9/86
Gus Kenworthy (Telluride, CO) 10/1/91
David Wise (Reno, NV) 6/30/90
Torin Yater-Wallace (Basalt, CO, Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club) 12/2/95

Women
Maddie Bowman (South Lake Tahoe, CA, Sierra-at-Tahoe Education Foundation) 1/10/94
Jen Hudak (Park City, UT, University of Utah) 9/7/86
Devin Logan (West Dover, VT, Mount Snow Academy) 2/17/93
Brita Sigourney (Carmel, CA, Westminster College) 1/17/90

2014 U.S. Freeskiing Slopestyle Pro Team
Men
Bobby Brown (Breckenridge, CO) 6/5/91
Sammy Carlson (Hood River, OR) 1/11/89 
Joss Christensen (Park City, UT) 12/20/91 
Nick Goepper (Lawrenceburg, IN, Windells Academy) 3/14/94
Gus Kenworthy (Telluride, CO) 10/1/91 
Alex Schlopy (Park City, UT, The Winter Sports School in Park City) 7/25/92
Tom Wallisch (Pittsburgh, PA, University of Utah) 7/22/87

Women
Keri Herman (Breckenridge, CO, University of Denver) 8/16/83 
Ashley Battersby (Park City, UT, The Winter Sports School in Park City) 1/27/88 
Devin Logan (West Dover, VT, Mount Snow Academy) 2/17/93
Meg Olenick (Aspen, CO, University of Colorado) 12/30/87 
Emilia Wint (Denver, CO, Hawks Freeride) 6/21/94
Grete Eliassen (Salt Lake City, UT, University of Utah) 11/19/86

U.S. Freeskiing Halfpipe Rookie Team
Men
Lyman Currier (Boulder, CO)  8/28/94
Alex Ferreira (Aspen, CO; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club) 8/14/94
Colby Stevenson (Park City, UT, Axis Freeride) 10/3/97

Women
Annalisa Drew (Andover, MA) 5/28/93

U.S. Freeskiing Slopestyle Rookie Team
Men
Willie Borm (Chaska, MN) 5/21/97
Lyman Currier (Boulder, CO) 8/28/94
Chris Laker (Cincinnati, OH) 6/23/93
Andy Patridge (Park City, UT; Axis Freeride) 8/10/96

Women
Jess Breda (Marshfield, MA; Waterville Valley BBTS) 9/23/95 
Alexi Micinski (Meridian, ID; ISSA) 9/19/94
Darian Stevens (Missoula, MT; Missoula Freestyle Ski Team) 10/29/96
Maggie Voisin (Whitefish, MT; Axis Freeskiing) 12/14/98

  Coaches
Mike Jankowski, U.S. Freeskiing Halfpipe and Slopestyle Head Coach
Andy Woods, U.S. Freeskiing Pro Halfpipe Coach
Skogen Sprang, U.S. Freeskiing Pro Slopestyle Coach
DJ Montigny, U.S. Freeskiing Rookie Slopestyle Coach
Ben Verge, U.S. Freeskiing Rookie Halfpipe Coach

U.S. Freeskiing Staff
Jeremy Forster, U.S. Freeskiing and U.S. Snowboarding Director
Abbi Nyberg, U.S. Freeskiing and U.S. Snowboarding Program Manager
Kate Morton, U.S. Freeskiing and U.S. Snowboarding Team Manager 
Luke Byers, U.S. Freeskiing Halfpipe Technician
Dave Coombs, U.S. Freeskiing and U.S. Snowboarding Slopestyle Technician
Laura Tietjen, U.S. Freeskiing Physical Therapist