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News: One Year To The Winter O News: One Year To The Winter Olympics In Sochi
- From: TetonGravityResearch
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Description:
PARK CITY, UT – One year out from the opening of the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, U.S. skiers and snowboarders are scattered across the globe anticipating the opportunities they will face 365 days from now. The opening ceremony for Sochi is Feb. 7, 2014, with the first medal events the next day. The USA is coming off a Best in the World Olympics in Vancouver that saw 17 different skiers and snowboarders win 21 medals.
Venues in Sochi are undergoing final tests this month. Freeskiing and snowboarding athletes will compete in World Cup test events this month with U.S. Ski Team alpine racers conducting on-snow camps.
Successful alpine test events were held a year ago with ski jumping this past December.
Sochi will debut a host of new events including the inaugural appearance of women’s ski jumping, slopestyle snowboarding along with halfpipe and slopestyle skiing.
WHERE THEY ARE NOW?
Freeskiing
Freeskiers are coming off the Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix where David Wise and Maddie Bowman swept to halfpipe titles. Athletes are preparing for the mid-February Olympic test events for halfpipe skiing and skicross at Rosa Khutor near Sochi.
Slopestyle stars Tom Wallisch, Bobby Brown and Keri Herman appeared live on NBC’s The Today Show Wednesday morning, Feb. 6.
“It's hard to believe the Olympics are only a year away!” slopestyle skier Tom Wallisch said. “It's really exciting and I hope that I am one of the lucky ones that will have the honor to represent my country. If you would have asked me a couple years ago if I thought our sport would be in the Olympics - it just wasn't on my radar. I am really looking forward to checking out Russia and this next year ahead. I am sure it's going to be a really fun roller coaster.”
Halfpipe skier Maddie Bowman is blown away by to opportunity.
“It's crazy to think that freeskiing is going to be in the Olympics,” Bowman said. “I mean, this is really happening and it's only a year away! Holy cow! The last couple months have been going so well for me and I hope that my skiing continues to improve and I can stay on top of my game. I will be keeping my eye on the countdown. I am looking forward to the next 365 days and the adventure my teammates and I are about to go on.”
David Wise, also a halfpipe skier, is excited represent his sport in the Olympics for the first time.
“The Olympics! Wow, only a year away,” Wise said. “It really is an exciting opportunity and something that I am looking forward to. Not just the potential to compete in the Olympics and all that comes with it, but the journey my teammates and I are about to embark on. It's going to be a lot of work, but this is a really special time in our lives and I am going to enjoy every minute of it - the good, the challenging and whatever comes my way.”
Snowboarding
Top snowboarders were in Laax, Switzerland, for the Burton European Open. Now it’s off to Sochi for halfpipe and SBX test events.
“I love my country and I really hope that I will be able to be on that Olympic team next year,” slopestyle rider Chas Guldemond said. “I have been trying to stay really focused and perfect my run, there are always ups and downs, but I am going to do my best to be there. I've never been to Russia and I hope that I get to be there with my team.”
Halfpipe rider Scotty Lago hopes to return to the Olympics in 2014.
“I had such a great experience in Vancouver - there was so much fun energy around the games,” Lago said. “And here we are, a year away from Sochi and all the guys are riding so well. It's been fun to watch everyone learn new tricks and ride together. The year before Vancouver had a lot of twists and turns and it all worked out well for me. I hope that I can continue to ride solid so that I have the opportunity to go to Sochi in 2014.” - Blog post
- 3 months ago
- Views: 61
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News: James Woods And Keri Her News: James Woods And Keri Herman Win At Copper Mountain
- From: TetonGravityResearch
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Description:
Copper Mountain, Colo. – Keri Herman’s (Breckenridge, CO) back-to-back switch tricks and clean landings sealed the deal for her second straight World Cup win at the Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix at Copper Mountain. Herman’s first run featured one of the best displays of grabs fans have seen in women’s slopestyle skiing. Her run included a lipslide first rail, bus stop to switch, switch right 720 safety-grab, switch right 540 Japan-grab, right 540 tail-grab. Great Britain’s James Woods took the men’s title.
Americans took four of the top eight spots including Bobby Brown (Breckenridge, CO) fourth, Nick Goepper (Lawrenceburg, IN) fifth, Alex Schlopy (Park City, UT) seventh and Sammy Carlson (Hood River, OR) eighth. American women took four of the top nine with Ashley Battersby (Park City, UT) sixth, Jamie Crane-Mauzy (Park City, UT) eighth and U.S.Freeskiing rookie Jess Breda (Marshfield, MA) ninth at just her second World Cup. The event also doubled as the U.S. Slopestyle Championship with Brown and Herman taking titles as top Americans. The athletes gained valuable FIS Olympic qualifying points in addition to AFP Platinum level points.
“I am so happy!” said Keri Herman. “At Dew Tour in December I finished dead last and this is great! It’s so cool to have won both FIS World Cup’s so far; it’s a real honor to represent the USA at the top of the podium. I tried so hard to grab well in my run and it worked out. The field of competition was tough and I am lucky the score from my first run held, because I fell on my second run. This is such a good confidence booster heading into X Games.”
BROADCAST SCHEDULE (times ET)
Sat. Jan. 19 2:00-3:00 p.m. –Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix, slopestyle, NBC Sports Network
Click Here For Offical Results Men and Official Results Women - Blog post
- 4 months ago
- Views: 124
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News: Kelly Clark, Luke Mitran News: Kelly Clark, Luke Mitrani Win At Sprint Grand Prix
- From: TetonGravityResearch
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Description:
Copper Mountain, Colo. - Under clear skies and chilly temperatures, Luke Mitrani (Mammoth Lakes, CA) and Olympic champion Kelly Clark (West Dover, VT) led the USA finishing second at the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix at Copper Mountain. Australia’s Nathan Johnstone and Torah Bright took the wins. Louie Vito (Sandy, UT) was third. It was the first domestic stop for athletes to gain Olympic qualifying points and 5Star World Snowboard event points. The event will be broadcast on NBC and NBC Sports Network, with initial airing Sunday at 4:00 p.m. EST on NBC.
“My first run went really well and I was happy with how my double came together," Luke Mitrani said. “My second run, I blew it so I was glad that I had the security from my first run. You know, I really like the halfpipe here at Copper and I am stoked to see how the Olympic qualifying period will continue to go, it feels good to be here and I am looking forward to the next Grand Prix at Park City.”
Click Here For Official Results Men and Official Results Women
Click Here For Full Event Schedule - Blog post
- 4 months ago
- Views: 130
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Clark, Mitrani Lead USA at Spr Clark, Mitrani Lead USA at Sprint Grand Prix
- From: TetonGravityResearch
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Description:Clark, Mitrani Lead USA at Sprint Grand Prix
- 4 months ago
- Views: 175
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News: U.S. Snowboarding Team N News: U.S. Snowboarding Team Named At Copper
- From: TetonGravityResearch
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Description:
COPPER MOUNTAIN, CO – The 2013 U.S. Snowboarding Team halfpipe and slopestyle teams, led by Olympians Kelly Clark (West Dover, VT), Scotty Lago (Seabrook, NH), Louie Vito (Sandy, UT) and World Snowboard Tour champion Chas Guldemond (Reno, NV), was named Saturday at Copper Mountain.
The team features a world-class roster of 26 internationally ranked snowboarders. They begin their competition season with the Dew Tour Dec. 13-16 at Breckenridge followed by the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix, the first domestic FIS World Cup and a 5Star World Snowboard Tour event, Jan. 10-13 at Copper Mountain featuring halfpipe and, new for this season, slopestyle.
2013 U.S. Snowboarding Halfpipe Pro Team
Men
Greg Bretz (Mammoth Lakes, CA)
Matt Ladley (Chicago, IL)
Scotty Lago (Seabrook, NH)
Benji Farrow (Ludlow, VT)
Louie Vito (Sandy, UT)
Luke Mitrani (Bondville, VT)
Women
Gretchen Bleiler (Aspen, CO)
Kelly Clark (West Dover, VT)
Elena Hight (South Lake Tahoe, CA)
Ellery Hollingsworth (Darien, CT)
Hannah Teter (Belmont, VT)
Maddy Schaffrick (Steamboat Springs, CO)
2013 U.S. Snowboarding Slopestyle Pro Team
Men
Chas Guldemond (Reno, NV)
Sage Kotsenburg (Park City, UT)
Eric Willett (Breckenridge, CO)
WomenJessika Jenson (Rigby, ID)
Jordie Karlinski (Snowmass Village, CO)
Ty Walker (Stowe, VT)
2013 U.S. Snowboarding Halfpipe Rookie Team
Men
Taylor Gold (Steamboat Springs, CO)
Brett Esser (Dubuque, IA)
Ben Ferguson (Bend, OR)
Arielle Gold (Steamboat Springs, CO)
Kyle Mack (West Bloomfield, MI)
Serena Shaw (Stratton Mountain, VT)
Spencer Shaw (Stratton Mountain, VT)
Gabe Ferguson (Bend, OR)
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
Lauren Ziaks, U.S. Snowboarding Physical Therapist
Coaches
Mike Jankowski, U.S. Freeskiing and U.S. Snowboarding Head Coach
Rick Bower, U.S. Snowboarding Halfpipe Coach
Tommy Czeschin, U.S. Snowboarding Assistant Halfpipe Coach
Bill Enos, U.S. Snowboarding Slopestyle Coach
Spencer Tamblyn, U.S. Snowboarding National Development Coach
Official U.S. Snowboarding Suppliers
Uniform/Licensees
Burton
High Sierra
Smartwool
Eyewear
Zeal Optics
Wax, Tools, Training Devices and Accessories
Tools4Boards
DeWalt
Dominator
EPS
Kenwood Radios
Reliable Racing
Wintersteiger
Official Education Partner
Westminster College - Blog post
- 5 months ago
- Views: 205
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News: U.S. Freeskiing Team Nam News: U.S. Freeskiing Team Named In Colorado
- From: TetonGravityResearch
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Description:
COPPER MOUNTAIN, CO – The 2013 U.S. Freeskiing Team, a powerhouse squad of 33 athletes led by four-time X Games medalist Tom Wallisch (Pittsburgh, PA) X Games Champion David Wise (Reno, NV), Overall Association of Freeskiing Professionals Champion Devin Logan (West Dover, VT) and four-time X Game medalist Torin Yater-Wallace (Basalt, CO) was named Saturday at Copper Mountain.Freeskiing makes its Olympic debut at the 2014 games in Sochi, Russia, where both slopestyle and halfpipe disciplines will be showcased.
The team is gearing up for its first competition of the season, the Dew Tour at Breckenridge Dec. 13-16, followed by the VISA U.S. Grand Prix, the first domestic World Cup of the season and Platinum AFP event at Copper Mountain, Jan. 10-13 featuring halfpipe and slopestyle.
2013 U.S. Freeskiing Team Roster
2013 U.S. Freeskiing Halfpipe Pro Team
Men
Wing Tai Barrymore (Sun Valley, ID)
Duncan Adams (Breckenridge, CO)
Simon Dumont (Bethel, ME)
Gus Kenworthy (Telluride, CO)
Tucker Perkins (Northampton, NH)
David Wise (Reno, NV)
Torin Yater-Wallace (Basalt, CO, Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club)
WomenMaddie Bowman (South Lake Tahoe, CA)
Jen Hudak (Park City, UT)
Devin Logan (West Dover, VT)
Brita Sigourney (Carmel, CA)
2012 U.S. Freeskiing Slopestyle Pro TeamMen
Bobby Brown (Breckenridge, CO)
Sammy Carlson (Hood River, OR)
Joss Christensen (Park City, UT)
Gus Kenworthy (Telluride, CO)
Alex Schlopy (Park City, UT)
Tom Wallisch (Pittsburgh, PA)
Women
Keri Herman (Breckenridge, CO)
Ashley Battersby (Park City, UT)
Devin Logan (West Dover, VT)
Meg Olenick (Aspen, CO)
Emilia Wint (Denver, CO)
Grete Eliassen (Salt Lake City, UT)
U.S. Freeskiing Halfpipe Rookie Team
Men
Aaron Blunck (Crested Butte, CO)
Lyman Currier (Boulder, CO)
Alex Ferreira (Aspen, CO)
Women
Annalisa Drew (Andover, MA)
Darian Stevens (Missoula, MT)
U.S. Freeskiing Slopestyle Rookie Team
Men
Willie Borm (Chaska, MN)
Lyman Currier (Boulder, CO)
Chris Laker (Cincinnati, OH)
Andy Patridge (Park City, UT)
Women
Jess Breda (Marshfield, MA)
Alexi Micinski (Meridian, ID)
Darian Stevens (Missoula, MT)
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
Justin Hunt, U.S. Freeskiing Physical Therapist
Coaches
Mike Jankowski, Head Halfpipe and Slopestyle U.S. Freeskiing and U.S. Snowboarding Coach
Andy Woods, U.S. Freeskiing Halfpipe Coach
Skogen Sprang, U.S. Freeskiing Slopestyle Coach
DJ Montigny, U.S. Freeskiing Rookie Slopestyle Coach
Ben Verge, U.S. Freeskiing Rookie Halfpipe Coach
Official U.S. Freeskiing Suppliers
Uniform/Licensees
The North Face
High Sierra
Smartwool
Hard Goods (skis, boots, bindings, poles)
Liberty Skis
Full Tilt Boots
Eyewear
Zeal Optics
Wax, Tools, Training Devices and Accessories
DeWalt
Dominator
EPS-Doublet
Kenwood Radios
Reliable Racing
Tools4boards.com
Official Education Partner
Westminster College - Blog post
- 5 months ago
- Views: 120
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News: Wallisch, Carlson, Kenwo News: Wallisch, Carlson, Kenworthy And U.S. Freeskiing Takes Mammoth Terrain Park
- From: TetonGravityResearch
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Description:
Mammoth Mountain, California – In preparation for the 2013 competition season, some of U.S. Freeskiing’s best slopestyle skiers are hitting Mammoth Mountain’s Unbound Terrain Park. Boasting the most open terrain in the country athletes like X Games gold medalist Tom Wallisch (Pittsburgh, PA) and AFP overall World Champion Gus Kenworthy (Telluride, CO) have been lapping the park perfecting their runs for the season. Newly back on skis from an injury last January, five time X Games medalist Sammy Carlson (Hood River, OR) and teammates have been utilizing Mammoth Mountain’s 55-foot tabletop jumps and rails to practice for the upcoming season.
"It feels so good to be on snow and getting my tricks back on point," Sammy Carlson said. "The weather at Mammoth has been awesome and I am stoked on being here; they always kill it with their terrain park. I’m really working on my run for Dew Tour, Grand Prix and X Games. It’s cool having Tom and my other teammates here to push me. I’m for sure having a fun time."The U.S. Freeskiing Team heads to Breckenridge, CO on Dec. 12 for the first AFP platinum level event of the season, the Dew Tour.
- Blog post
- 5 months ago
- Views: 96
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Copper Mountain Copper Mountain
- From: TetonGravityResearch
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Description:
4FRNT headed out to Copper for the Grand Prix, and got in a little play time as well.
- 7 months ago
- Views: 35
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News: Keri Herman and James Wo News: Keri Herman and James Woods Win Historic Olympic Slopestyle Qualifier
- From: media-75233
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Description:
USHUAIA, Argentina – U.S. Freeskiing's Keri Herman (Breckenridge, CO) placed a check mark on history Friday, Sept. 7 with an FIS World Cup slopestyle skiing victory during the first 2014 Olympic Winter Games qualifying event. Great Britain’s James Woods took the win for the men. The top American male was McRae Williams (Salt Lake City) in eighth.
An X Games silver medalist, Herman won by a huge six-point margin to mark her first podium since 2011. Herman’s winning run: clean double kink rail, frontside 270, switch cork 720 bro-kang grab, switch 540, 360 safety grab, to a cork 540 mute grab.
Switzerland’s Eveline Bhend took second and Canadian Dara Howell came in third.
“This feels amazing and almost surreal. It hasn’t quite clicked in yet because I am so far away from home,” Keri Herman said. “It’s been a great week in Argentina and I had some time to figure out what I needed to do to win and I did it.”
The next chance for athletes to qualify will be Jan. 11, 2013 during the Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix at Copper Mountain, CO – part of the winter-long Sprint U.S. Grand Prix series.
Slopestyle and halfpipe skiing will make their debut at the 2014 Olympic program in Sochi, Russia. The Olympic qualifying period provides individual athletes with opportunity to achieve required international ranking in order to be eligible for Olympic selection and helps the USA earn the maximum number of nation's quota spots.
Official Results - Blog post
- 8 months ago
- Views: 186
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News: Emilia Wint Wins Slopest News: Emilia Wint Wins Slopestyle At The North Face Freeski Open Of New Zealand
- From: media-75233
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Description:
WANAKA, New Zealand – Young Emilia Wint, of Denver, linked a switch rodeo 540 into a monster 720 mute-grab on the final jump Aug. 31 to win the women’s slopestyle at the New Zealand Freeskiing Open in Snow Park. Wint, a Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix podium finisher last season, battled strong winds and cold temperatures to stomp a second run score of 84.8 for a huge 5.8 point margin of victory. The newest addition to the U.S. Freeskiing team, Wint represents the pacesetters of a new generation of women’s freesking.
"This is a great way for me to set my pace for the season, especially with the Argentina World Cup taking place next week," Emilia Wint said. "I’m pretty pleased with the seven in my run, the wind definitely made jumping a bit tricky, but I have been training hard and I felt comfortable in the air and with my landing. Hopefully I will be able to keep this up for next week’s World Cup and the start of the Olympic qualifying period."
U.S. Freeskiing teammate and Olympic hopeful Gus Kenworthy (Telluride, CO) was the top American man in fifth.
Australia’s Russ Henshaw took first among men with Swede Jesper Tjader in second and France’s Jules Bonnaire in third. For the women, Canada’s Dara Howell was second and New Zealand’s Rose Battersby took third.
The New Zealand Freeskiing Open is an Association of Freeskiing Professionals (AFP) Gold event, the highest level below the Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix.
Coming up next is the first FIS Slopestyle World Cup of the season at Ushaia, Argentina Sept. 6-7. It will also be the first qualifying event toward the sports addition in the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. - Blog post
- 8 months ago
- Views: 220
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News: Utah Announces Winter Ac News: Utah Announces Winter Action Sports Series Leading Up To 2014 Olympic Games
- From: TetonGravityResearch
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Description:
Faye Gulini, snowboardcross athlete ranked 16 in the world, with Utah Governor, Gary Herbert. Photo by Sarah Brunson.
Salt Lake City, Utah – Utah will remain one of the nation’s leading states for winter action sports with today's announcement of five major on-snow events leading up to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. The events will have a mix of sanctions at the highest levels of the sport including FIS World Cup, Association of Freeskiing Professionals (AFP) Platinum level and TTR World Snowboard Tour Five Star level.Canyons Resort, Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain Resort will host events in freestyle skiing, freeskiing and snowboarding during both the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 competition seasons. The series will culminate with the announcement of the first ever Olympic Freeskiing Team in January, 2014.
"Utah’s resorts have become a hub for action sports, providing both a great atmosphere for Olympic level competitive events as well as a productive environment for long term athlete training. More and more of America’s top winter sports athletes are making our Utah-based Center of Excellence their training base. We’re proud to bring our Visa Freestyle International World Cup and Sprint U.S. Grand Prix events to our home state," says Bill Marolt, President and CEO of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association.
Economic impact of the events is estimated at $15 million with media value of $5 million. Global TV and digital broadcasts of the events will include NBC, NBC Sports, Universal Sports and others, with a mix of live, taped and streaming coverage.
"Eight years ago I moved to Utah with the dream that I would one day be able to compete in the Olympics for my sport of halfpipe skiing - now that dream is becoming reality. The Olympic culture in Utah truly breeds success and serves as a constant inspiration for me to continue working hard. Winning a World Championship silver medal at Park City in 2011 was one step closer to fulfilling that dream. I look forward to having more events at home to prepare me for the big show in 2014," says Jen Hudak, three-time X Games champion from of Hamden, Connnecticut.
UTAH WINTER ACTION SPORTS SERIES:
2012-2013 Season
December 21-22 – Park City Mountain Resort, Sprint U.S. Grand Prix – halfpipe skiing and snowboarding
January 31-Feb. 2 – Deer Valley Resort, Visa Freestyle International – moguls, dual moguls and aerials
March 1-3 – Canyons Resort, Sprint U.S. Grand Prix – skicross and snowboardcross2013-2014 Season
January – Deer Valley Resort, Visa Freestyle International (freestyle moguls and aerials)
January – Park City Mountain Resort, Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix (halfpipe and slopestyle skiing)
January – Park City Mountain Resort (U.S. halfpipe skiing and slopestyle skiing Olympic Team Announcement)
TBD – Canyons Resort, (U.S. skicross and snowboardcross Olympic Team Announcement) - Blog post
- 10 months ago
- Views: 245
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Noteworthy: 10 Skiers On The R Noteworthy: 10 Skiers On The Rise
- From: gregfitzsimmons
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Description:
Had this story been written a year ago you might have seen names like Nick Goepper, Carston Oliver, Eliel Hindert, Aidan Sheahan, Logan Pehota, Leo Ahrens, and Johnny Collinson on the list. All of these guys were known at their home mountains for being full-tilt skiers, but burst onto the scene over the last 12 months with insane contest results, video segments, and photo spreads.
If I were a betting man, the following 10 skiers are the ones that I would put money on. With solid on-snow techniques and even better on-shoulder heads, odds are we’ll be talking about this crew in the near future. So, rather than making you wait, we decided to tell you about them now. Here are 10 relatively unknown shredders — six guys, four girls, in no particular order — to take note of.
Mat Jackson slashes a powder turn in the Tahoe backcountry. Photo by Josh Anderson. The Guys:
1. Mat Jackson
Home Mountain: Squaw Valley
Age: 25
Sponsors: Völkl, Marker, The North Face, Smith Optics and Helmets
Twitter: @mat1TJackson
This Squaw Valley local originally reigns from Crystal Mountain, Washington. As a grom, Jackson banged plastic with the local racing program and tried to keep up with the Backstrom clan — Ingrid, Arne, and Ralph — that were a few years older than he.
At 25, Mat Jackson is older than most of the names that follow, but his consistent skiing and patience with the industry are two attributes that are starting to pay off.
“We love Mat,” says Völkl/Marker Team Manager Chris Adams . “You’ve got to wait your turn and Mat’s waited for his opportunities while skiing great all of the time. His skiing is fairly technical, big-mountain while still having the backcountry jib thing happening.”
“I definitely think that there’s a process to the ski industry that you have to embrace and be a part of,” says Mat Jackson. “I always wanted my skiing to speak for itself, for my skiing to be the vessel that took me places. My patience has paid off a ton, because I’ve had a lot of amazing opportunities come along and it’s awesome to be a part of that. I went to Japan in January filming with TwoPlank Productions. We had 10 days of perfect snow. The movie will drop this coming fall.”
Colston VB spins off a cliff in British Columbia. Photo by Dave Heath.
2. Colston VB
Home Mountain: Red Mountain Resort and Whistler Blackcomb
Age: 20
Sponsors: Salomon
When the “godfather of freeskiing” vouches for someone we need to listen, and Mike Douglas only had good things to say about Colston VB.
“Colston’s a good skier and a good kid,” says Douglas. “He’s super keen and has a good attitude. I think that if he keeps on skiing and pounding he’s going to do well… He’s a confident skier and Colston is always skiing with a smile on his face — which is the best part.”
Having grown up skiing Red Mountain in British Columbia, Colston VB is now residing in Whistler. Whether he’s sled skiing in the Whistler backcountry, working in front of a camera lens, or freeskiing with his crew, Colston’s style and creativity are undeniable.
“This season I got to really push myself and ski the biggest high-alpine lines, hit the biggest drops, and do the biggest tricks I ever have,” says Colston. “Filming video is a high priority for me right now, because I like how you have to keep it together and be on-point the entire time, not just for one frame.”Gerorge Rodney's 2011-'12 season edit.
3. George Rodney
Home Mountain: Aspen and Alta/Snowbird
Age: 19
Sponsors: Völkl, Marker, Dalbello, Smith, Obermeyer
George Rodney found a home on the podium this year during the Junior Freeskiing Tour en route to winning the overall tour championship. Finishing on the podium at three of the four stops this season, Rodney will immediately be a contender on the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour as he transitions from the junior circuit to the main event this summer in South America.
“George took that super solid fundamental background with racing and translated it to big-mountain terrain,” says Völkl’s Chris Adams. “He’s a big kid, he skis on the Gotama 198 — which is a big, big stick — and he charges big-mountain stuff.”
Headed to Salt Lake City to pursue an engineering degree at “the U,” a change of venue isn’t new to Rodney. “If the ski industry could have the equivalent of an ‘army brat,’ George would be one,” says Adams. “His mom has worked in the ski industry forever and George has learned first-hand how it all works by watching his mom.”
“My mom is an awesome person to help out with everything — from my skiing to school,” says Rodney. “I grew up ski racing in Aspen, and then moved down to Summit County and competed there. After finding out about the Winter Sports School in Park City I transferred there for my junior and senior years. My mom got a job at Obermeyer, so I moved back to Aspen with her after graduating and now I’m headed to Utah.”
Jake Teuton's 2011-'12 season edit.
4. Jake Teuton
Home Mountain: Revelstoke
Age: 16
Sponsors: Fortitude Skis, Strafe Outerwear, Revelstoke Mountain Resort, Marker Bindings, Smith Optics, and Planks Clothing
Twitter: @jrteuton
Revelstoke Mountain Resort Pro team rider Jake Teuton makes the most of the incredible surroundings he gets to call home; spinning hot laps on the mountain, building backcountry booters to session with friends, and using his local knowledge to snag some of the most eye-popping photos that have come out of Revy in the last season.
The young gun put together an insane season of skiing, mixing burly lines and massive natural airs with crazy tricks off of man-made features (Teuton added a few dub tricks to his arsenal this year).
“The highlight from last season would probably be sending the 60-footer, skiing deep powder, or spring park laps with friends,” says Teuton. “I definitely want to do a few competitions next year, but I’m mainly going to focus on filming and travelling as much as I can. Hopefully, I’ll get to see more of BC, ski more places, and get into the backcountry more.”
5. Grant Howard
Home Mountain: Alta/Snowbird
Age: 15
Sponsors: Salomon, Gordini, Lightpole Clothing
In 2011, Grant Howard absolutely dominated the 12–14 age group of the Junior Freeskiing World Tour with a couple of first place finishes and the overall title. In 2012, the 15-year-old bumped up to compete in the 15–18 age class, and Howard didn’t miss a beat. Skiing against guys a few years older than he, Howard finished as the overall runner-up (behind George Rodney).
“This kid lives and breathes skiing,” says Rob Greener, Head Coach of the AltaBird Freeride team. “[Grant’s] father, Sam Howard, was named top 100 skiers by Powder Magazine 10 years ago; so skiing is in his DNA.”
“Grant is a natural athlete, and his approach to the mountain is very creative,” continues Greener. “Overall, Grant at age 15 is one of the most talented athletes I have worked with in Little Cottonwood Canyon.”
What’s on-tap for next year? Aside from getting a driver’s license, Grant Howard has his sights set on the overall Junior Freeskiing Tour Championship.
Matt Evans stands on the Junior Freeskiing World Tour podium. Photo by Billy Swan / JFT.
6. Matt Evans
Home Mountain: Crested Butte
Age: 16
Sponsors: Smith Optics and Helmets, Tecnica/Blizzard, Colorado Freeskier, and Trew Outerwear
Matt Evans has been riding the tails of his older brother Randy's and the rest of the core CB local crew’s skis for years, and everyone in Crested Butte knows about the young grom that charges. Recently, however, people outside of Crested Butte started to notice.
“This season was super awesome,” says the 16-year-old Evans. “I got sponsored by Blizzard/Tecnica, and my best result was 3rd. I am hoping to go to South America this summer, and next year I am going to compete in every Junior Freeskiing Tour competition.”
“Matt's name started to come up a lot this [season]. Ben Wheeler was the first to tell me about how this kid impressed everyone so much at the Squaw stop of the Junior Freeskiing Tour,” remembers Tecnica/Blizzard Team Manager Frank Shine. “The buzz wasn't just about Matt’s skiing, though. I kept hearing about his attitude, big smile, and good-times approach. At Snowbird he brought it all: high speed turns, spins off cliffs, and backflips. Then, he dove face-first into a pile of snow in the finish corral of the venue to get a laugh from his friends."Tatum Monod's double backflip video.
The Girls:
1. Tatum Monod
Home Mountain: “Banff will always be my home, but right now I'm based out of Whistler.”
Age: 20
Sponsors: Monod Sports, Rossignol, Orage, Soul Poles, Smith, Icebreaker, and The Soze Group
Twitter: @TatumMonod
“Like a lot of athletes her age, what stands out most about Tatum right now is her drive and genuine enthusiasm for skiing, and that's always nice to see!” says ski legend JP Auclair. “On top of that she has a good attitude and a great smile. If she stays hungry and humble, we're going to hear lots more about Tatum in the years to come.”
The first time I saw Tatum Monod ski was in 2011 at Revelstoke for the Canadian Freeskiing Championships. The event was Tatum’s first ever big-mountain competition. Her line choice, aggressive approach, and rock-solid bellied her inexperience, and stood out to everyone watching. The Subaru Freeskiing World Tour judges noticed, too, because Tatum finished on the podium.
This season ended up being another huge one for the 20-year-old from Banff. Among other things, Tatum stomped a double backflip that had lots of people talking and asking, “Who is that?”
“I'm stoked to say that last season was my best season yet,” says Monod. “My highlights were my first ever first descent in Bella Coola, shooting with Robin O'Neil and an amazing group of women in Revelstoke, and, to top it all off, an unforgettable trip to Retallack with Orage where I threw my first ever double backflip.”
Emilia Wint slides a rail while competing in the Dew Tour.
2. Emilia Wint
Home Mountain: Breckenridge
Age: 17
Sponsors: Breckenridge, Volkl, Marker, US Freeskiing
It was a busy season for Emilia Wint, who skis at Breckenridge when she’s not traveling to compete in Slopestyle events.
“When I’m in Breck I ski with a team called Hawks Freeride, run by Chris Hawks (1999 X Games Champion). I also ski with Anna Segal and Kerrie Herman a lot,” says Emilia Wint.
Wint seems destined to follow in the footsteps of the company she keeps at Breckenridge: The Breckenridge shredder logged some serious time atop the Slopestyle podiums in 2012. Third overall on the Dew Tour, Champion at the Aspen Open, third at the US Freeskiing Grand Prix in Mammoth, and second at WSI in Whistler. The highlight, however, of Wint’s incredible season was when she was named to the US Freeskiing Team.
“She’s hardly under the radar because she had a bit of a breakout season, but 17-year-old park ripper Emila Wint is definitely one to watch,” says Chris Adams from Volkl and Marker. “She skis with a style that not a lot of women park skiers have. We think she’ll take women’s park skiing to a whole new level.”
With a high school graduation ceremony coming up soon and the Olympics on the horizon, Emilia Wint’s future is bright.
3. Perry Martin
Home Mountain: Alta/Snowbird
Age: 18
Sponsors: Blizzard/Tecnica
Twitter: @Pearemartin
Alta and Snowbird seem to have been a factory that specializes in churning out cool, smart, ripping female skiers recently. Rachael Burks and Angel Collinson are two examples, and on their coattails is 18-year-old Perry Martin.
“Perry is an incredible athlete; she is a powerful, fast, and graceful skier,” says AltaBird FreeRide Head Coach Rob Greener. “Her technique has allowed her to dominate the IFSA Junior Freeskiing Series.”
Perry did absolutely dominate the tour, too, winning two stops on the tour and taking third on the other two while amassing a 100+ gap between the runner-up.
“Perry is really a smart young women, who is sensible and pragmatic. Her hard work both on and off the hill is what sets her apart from her peers,” says Tecnica/Blizzard Team Manager Frank Shine. “What I love about Perry's skiing is that she’s aggressive and drives straight down the fall line. When you see Perry ski, she is not going to waste any time showing why she is the JFT overall champion. The girls on the Freeskiing World Tour better be ready for a new batch of ladies to arrive and shake things up on the big kid tour—Perry is going be knocking on that door first.”
Yuki Tsubota slides a rail. Photo by Nadia Samer. 4. Yuki Tsubota
Home Mountain: Whistler
Age: 18
Sponsors: 4Frnt, The North Face, Skull Candy, Giro, Zett, TMC Freeriderz Pro Shop
Twitter: @yuki_tsubota
“Yuki’s getting better all the time, and she’s a cool girl,” says Mike Douglas about the 18-year-old Whistler native Yuki Tsubtoa. “I’ve been watching her for a long time and she’s been working her way up through the freestyle program at Blackcomb. She has a good chance of making it to the Olympics and she’s super fun to watch.”
With three consecutive slopestyle wins on The Canadian Shield Tour, Tsubota dominated the pro women’s field and earned the overall title. Then, a third place finish (behind Anna Segal and Emilia Wint who finished in first and second, respectively) at WSI/AFP World Championships during the TELUS Ski & Snowboard Festival in her hometown of Whistler, BC thrust Yuki into the big-time.
“When we first were introduced to Yuki we thought her jumping was what stood out from everyone,” says Toben Sutherland, Head Coach of the Canadian Slopestyle Team. “But, at WSI this year one of the rail features was pretty burly, a lot of the guys were even talking about how gnarly it was. Yuki had no problem going 450-on which was pretty impressive for anyone to do, let alone a young girl from Whistler that no one had heard of yet.”
“I think in one word what sticks out about Yuki’s skiing is her determination. She skis pretty hard and if she takes a hit she won’t back down. The Olympic Games are 20 months out and it’s definitely not too late for Yuki. Hopefully, we can roll into the games with her and hopefully she’ll be in the finals and on the podium in Russia.” - Blog post
- 1 year ago
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Mike Riddle's Pipedreams - Epi Mike Riddle's Pipedreams - Episode 5
- From: thenorthface
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Episode 5 of Mike Riddle's "Pipedreams" takes place at Mammoth Mountain, California, during the second and final stop of the Grand Prix. Watch as the team and him enjoy some time in the mini-park prior to the event, and kill some time when a storm rolls in and postpones the competition. The team finds anything to amuse themselves with, and as the weather clears, the event is finally a go. Check it out!
Click Here To Watch More Episodes - 1 year ago
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News: Torin Yater-Wallace, Ros News: Torin Yater-Wallace, Rosalind Groenewoud Take AFP Halfpipe Title In Whistler
- From: media-75233
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Whistler, Canada – After a season of podiums, that included an X Games gold, a Dew Tour victory and a VISA U.S. Grand Prix second, Torin Yater-Wallace (Basalt, CO) was crowned the 2012 AFP halfpipe champion after finishing third at the season finale. David Wise (Reno, NV), who had been duking it out with Yater-Wallace all winter claimed second ahead of France’s Thomas Krief.
"It’s been a great season for me, I have been working really hard to get my runs dialed and I have had some great success,"
Torin Yater-Wallace said. "My X Games gold medal was a big highlight for me. There is so much going on in freeskiing right now and I am looking forward to Sochi and hopefully get the honor to represent my country."Rosalind Groenewoud, of Canada, won the women's AFP halfpipe title, while high school senior Maddie Bowman (South Lake Tahoe, CA) jumped to second with a victory in Whistler.
"I’ve been so lucky to do so well, this season has been a dream come true and I have worked real hard," Maddie Bowman said. "I am really excited to go to college in the fall and continue with my skiing next season and, of course the potential of the Olympics in 2014."
- Blog post
- 1 year ago
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News: Tom Wallisch, Kaya Tursk News: Tom Wallisch, Kaya Turski Crowned AFP Slopestyle World Champions
- From: media-75233
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Whistler, Canada – After a stunning season, that included an X Games gold and silver medal and the Mammoth Mountain VISA U.S. Grand Prix win, Tom Wallisch (Pittsburgh, PA) was crowned the 2012 AFP slopestyle champion after finishing fifth at the season finale. Nick Goepper (Lawrenceburg, IN), who had been duking it out with Bobby Brown (Breckenridge, CO) all winter, did not make finals and placed second in the standings ahead of Brown.
"I skied the best I have this season and now I have the title to prove it," Tom Wallisch said. "It’s exciting looking forward to next year and I am stoked to come back and defend my title next year. With Sochi just around the corner this really gets me excited and hungry for the Olympics.
Canada’s Kaya Turski won the women's AFP slopestyle title, while crossover athlete Devin Logan (West Dover, VT) took third for the women’s rankings behind Australia’s Anna Segal.
"I have been working super hard all season at managing competing in both pipe and slope," Devin Logan said. "To be on the podium for overall slopestyle champs is awesome." - Blog post
- 1 year ago
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News: Tom Wallisch Wins VISA U News: Tom Wallisch Wins VISA US Grand Prix Slopestyle In Mammoth, California
- From: media-75233
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Mammoth Mountain, California - Tom Wallisch (Pittsburgh, PA) won the VISA U.S. Grand Prix, FIS World Cup and platinum AFP slopestyle event with a 96.40 and in his signature style he stomped all of his tricks and executed them with confidence. His consistent podium placement has elevated him to be the winningest male slopestyle skier in history. Kaya Turski, of Canadan took first in women's slopestyle with her big air and solid landings.
"I couldn't have asked for a better day today," Tom Wallisch said. "The course was smooth and the snow was soft, not to mention the park was sweet. It was an awesome event and I am so happy that the U.S. Grand Prix is here to help us show the world what our sport is about, it sets a good precedence for the next events that we do leading up to Sochi in 2014. I can't wait!"
It was Wallisch's 5th podium of this season and 4th first place. Devon Logan (West Dover, VT) took second in women's slopestyle. Logan notched her fourth-straight podium of this season.Canada's Kaya Turski won for the women with her fourth-straight first finish, Emilia Wint (Breckenridge, CO) landed in third.
For the men Canada's Alex Bellemare took second and Joss Christiansen (Park City, UT) third.
"My season so far has been great and I am extremely excited with how everything is going," Kaya Turski said. "I'm just trying to keep it clean and solid and work on some new tricks and Devin and Anna, a lot of girls really, are stepping it up, it's really cool to come out on top. It makes me proud! The course at the Visa U.S. Grand Prix was really nice, I am proud to have Mammoth as my home mountain and it's great that I can be here to represent."
RESULTS
Men's results
Women's results - Blog post
- 1 year ago
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News: Olympic Snowboarding And News: Olympic Snowboarding And Freeskiing Teams Announced At Copper
- From: media-75233
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Copper Mountain, Colorado — With a host of new action sports events on the docket for the 2014 Olympics just two years away, the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) formally announced 2011-12 U.S. Snowboarding and U.S. Freeskiing teams Friday from its training facility at the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix at Copper.
The announcement includes first year teams in slopestyle snowboarding and skiing, as well as halfpipe skiing – all the result of decisions by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) earlier this year to bring the events into the 2014 Sochi Olympics. The USSA named 21 athletes to U.S. Snowboarding halfpipe and slopestyle teams, and 17 to U.S. Freeskiing.
Halfpipe athletes have had outstanding training in Copper's early-opening 22-foot pipe and competed in the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix opener this past weekend at the Colorado resort.
Olympian Kelly Clark of West Dover, Vermont, competes in the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix halfpipe finals this past weekend at Copper Mountain, Colorado. Cark was officially added to the women's U.S. Snowboarding Pro Halfpipe Team on Friday. Photo by Jen Desmond/USSA.First Snowboard Slopestyle Pro Team Named
As a part of the Copper announcement, the inaugural U.S. Snowboarding Slopestyle Snowboarding Pro Team was named. Olympic halfpipe bronze medalist and multi-event threat Scotty Lago (Seabrook, NH), along with Sprint U.S. Grand Prix and Euro X Games winner Chas Guldemond (Reno, NV), were among those selected. Holding the coaching reins for the 2012 slopestyle crew is former U.S. Snowboarding athlete Bill Enos, who comes to the team from Waterville Valley.
"With the inclusion of slopestyle snowboarding in the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, naming this team is a natural step for us," said U.S. Snowboarding and U.S. Freeskiing Director Jeremy Forster. "We're supporting a great group of Olympic medal potential athletes and we look forward to working with this amazing group of riders as we head toward Sochi."
One of the most recent sports to be added to the winter Olympic lineup, slopestyle snowboarding features a stylized course featuring kickers, rails, boxes and other freestyle features that riders will incorporate into their runs.
"There have been so many huge developments in slopestyle snowboarding in the past year. The riders have been taking the sport to new levels, the IOC gave the nod to the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games, and now we are naming this group of super-talented riders to the first ever U.S. Snowboarding Slopestyle Pro Team," said U.S. Snowboarding and U.S. Freeskiing Halfpipe and Slopestyle Head Coach Mike Jankowski. "These athletes are paving the golden road for U.S. Snowboarding into the future."
According to Guldemond, being named to the team means more opportunities for him to take his riding to that next level. "It's something new for the organization. It's a really exciting change and shows the growth in snowboarding," said Guldemond. "The benefits U.S. Snowboarding can provide for me will help take my snowboarding to the next level, as well as the other riders. Having a national team will allow riders to progress that much more."
The team roster includes a group of athletes known for their slope abilities including Dew Tour slopestyle champion Sage Kotsenburg (Park City, UT), X Games silver medalist Eric Willett (Breckenridge, CO) and 14-year-old slopestyle phenom Ty Walker (Stowe, VT) on the women's side.
Longtime U.S. Snowboarding partner, Burton, has signed on to support the U.S. Snowboarding Slopestyle Pro Team by providing official uniforming for the Team's inaugural inclusion in the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.
The season kicks off for slopestyle snowboarding Dec. 15 when the Winter Dew Tour touches down in Breckenridge, CO. Key events in the season including the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix in Mammoth Mountain, CA, X Games, Dew Tour and the Feb. 10-19 TTR World Championships in Oslo, Norway.
Olympic Medalists Head Halfpipe Pro Team
Four Olympic medalists headline the U.S. Snowboarding Halfpipe Pro Team. In addition to his slopestyle team spot, Olympic halfpipe bronze medalist Lago heads a talented U.S. men’s halfpipe team joined by fellow 2010 Olympian Greg Bretz (Mammoth Mountain, CA). The U.S. women boast one of the strongest groups in snowboarding history with Olympic and X Games gold medalist Kelly Clark (Mt. Snow, VT), four-time X Games gold medalist and Olympic silver medalist Gretchen Bleiler (Aspen, CO) and Olympic and X Games champion Hannah Teter leading the way. Clark was the dominant force in the sport last season, taking down all the major titles.
Joining them for her second year on the Pro Team is 2010 Euro X champ Kaitlyn Farrington (Sun Valley, ID), who picked up an opening win in the Copper Grand Prix a year ago as well as second in X Games, plus two-time Olympian Elena Hight. Matt Ladley (Steamboat Springs, CO) moves up from Rookie to Pro Team following his big win in the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix in Mammoth Mountain.
The Pro Team opens its season in the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix this weekend. In addition to the Grand Prix, the comp lineup for the season will be the Dew Tour, X Games, U.S. Open and other major international competitions.
"There's an amazing depth of talent on this team with six Olympic medals," said Jankowski. "We've had great early season training here at Copper and are anxious to get into the pipe for competition this weekend."
The vets are not the only snowboarders taking to the pipe as the Rookie Team was also announced led by Benji Farrow (Ludlow, VT) who was recently fifth in a FIS World Cup. Spencer Shaw (Stratton Mountain, VT), who took second at the 2011 Mammoth Grand Prix and Taylor Gold (Steamboat Springs, CO), second place in the 2011 Junior Worlds halfpipe, also highlight the team. The women's squad is led by 15-year old Maddy Schaffrick (Steamboat Springs, CO), who scored a 2009 Grand Prix podium at the age of 13 along with Serena Shaw (Stratton Mountain, VT).
Veteran Pro Team halfpipe coach Rick Bower, a former World Champion, will be joined by Olympian Tommy Czeschin this season. Spencer Tamblyn will return to coach the Rookie Team.
The U.S. Snowboarding Snowboardcross Team will be named next week at Telluride in advance of the USANA Snowboardcross Cup.
U.S. SNOWBOARDING ROSTERS
Mike Jankowski, Head U.S. Snowboarding and U.S. Freeskiing Coach
*Denotes Olympian
** Denotes student athlete attending Westminster College in Salt Lake City as a part of USSA partnership with Westminster.2012 U.S. Snowboarding Slopestyle Pro Team - Bill Enos Coach
Men: (birthdate; hometown)
Chas Guldemond (4/22/1987; Reno, NV)
Sage Kotsenburg (7/27/1993; Park City, UT)
Scotty Lago (11/12/1987; Seabrook, NH)
Eric Willett (1/2/1988; Breckenridge, CO)Women
Ty Walker (3/3/1997; Stowe, VT)
U.S. Snowboarding Halfpipe Pro Team – Rick Bower and Tommy Czeschin, Coaches
Men
Greg Bretz (12/19/1990; Mammoth Mountain, CA)*
Matt Ladley (05/17/1991; Steamboat Springs, CO)
Scotty Lago (11/12/1987; Seabrook, NH)*Women
Gretchen Bleiler (04/10/1981; Aspen, CO)*
Kelly Clark (07/26/1983; West Dover, VT)*
Kaitlyn Farrington (12/18/1989; Sun Valley, ID)
Elena Hight (08/17/1989; South Lake Tahoe, CA)*
Ellery Hollingsworth (09/02/1991; Darien, CT) **
Hannah Teter (01/27/1987; Belmont, VT)*U.S. Snowboarding Halfpipe Rookie Team – Spencer Tamblyn, Coach
Men
Paul Brichta (08/24/1991; Burnsville, MN)**
Brett Esser (10/12/1992; Silverthorne, CO)
Benji Farrow (03/08/1992; Mt. Holly, VT)
Ben Ferguson (01/21/1995; Bend, OR)
Taylor Gold (11/17/1993; Steamboat Springs, CO)
Spencer Shaw (01/29/1993; Stratton Mountain, VT)Women
Maddy Schaffrick (04/29/1994; Steamboat Springs, CO)
Serena Shaw (01/22/1995; Stratton Mountain, VT)
David Wise of Reno, Nevada, airs out of the pipe at Copper Mountain this past weekend. Wise was officially added to the U.S. Freeskiing Halfpipe Pro Team on Friday. U.S. Freeskiing Teams Confirmed
The USSA also confirmed the halfpipe and slopestyle skiing teams it nominated earlier this year as a result of the IOC decision.
Nine athletes were confirmed on the U.S. Freeskiing Halfpipe Pro Team including X Games champions Jen Hudak (Salt Lake City) and Simon Dumont (Bethel, ME). The IOC gave the green light to halfpipe skiing last April.
In slopestyle, 10 athletes were confirmed to the U.S. Freeskiing Slopestyle Pro Team. The inaugural team is headlined by AFP Slopestyle Tour Champion Bobby Brown (Denver, CO), World Championship gold medalist Alex Schlopy (Park City, UT), World Championship bronze medalist Keri Herman (Breckenridge, CO), X Games gold medalist Sammy Carlson (Hood River, OR), Dew Tour winner Tom Wallisch (Salt Lake City) and reigning U.S. halfpipe champ Devin Logan (West Dover, VT).
Slopestyle skiing was incorporated as an Olympic sport this past July. Athletes are judged on runs in which they perform tricks on a series of jumps, rails, boxes and other features of a manmade slopestyle course.
Former pro freeskiing athletes Andy Woods and Evan Raps have been named coaches. Woods will head the Halfpipe Pro Team with X Games medalist Evan Raps leading slopestyle.
The Halfpipe Pro Team kicked off its season at the Visa U.S. Halfpipe Grand Prix in Copper this weekend, with the Slopestyle Pro Team on course next week at the opening Dew Tour in Breckenridge.
The North Face, a charter partner of the U.S. Freeskiing program, will also outfit U.S. Freeskiing's halfpipe and slopestyle teams for their 2014 Olympic debut.
U.S. FREESKIING ROSTERS
Mike Jankowski, Head U.S. Snowboarding and U.S. Freeskiing Coach
2012 U.S. Freeskiing Halfpipe Pro Team - Andy Woods, Coach
Men
Simon Dumont (07/09/1986; Bethel, ME)
David Wise (06/30/1990; Reno, NV)
Torin Yater-Wallace (12/02/1995; Snowmass, CO)
Tucker Perkins (01/05/1991; North Hampton, NH)
Gus Kenworthy (10/01/1991; Telluride, CO)Women
Devin Logan (02/17/1993; West Dover, VT)
Jen Hudak (09/07/1986; Park City, UT)
Jess Reedy (06/04/1983; Avon, CO)
Brita Sigourney (01/17/1990; Carmel, CA)2012 U.S. Freeskiing Slopestyle Pro Team - Evan Raps, Coach
Men
Bobby Brown (06/05/1991; Denver, CO)
Sammy Carlson (01/11/1989; Hood River, OR)
Gus Kenworthy (10/01/1991; Telluride, CO)
Alex Schlopy (07/25/1992; Park City, UT)
Tom Wallisch (07/22/1987; Salt Lake City, UT)Women
Ashley Battersby (01/27/1988; Park City, UT)
Grete Eliassen (09/19/1986; Salt Lake City, UT)
Keri Herman (08/16/1982; Breckenridge, CO)
Devin Logan (02/17/1993; West Dover, VT)
Meg Olenick (12/30/1987 Aspen, CO) - Blog post
- 2 years ago
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Nordica grand Prix Nordica grand Prix
- From: tolocoman
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- 2 years ago
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Nordica grand Prix Nordica grand Prix
- From: tolocoman
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- 2 years ago
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News: USSA Launches US Freeski News: USSA Launches US Freeskiing Brand
- From: media-75233
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May 2, 2011
New York, New York (US Ski Team) – Freeskiing athletes from the newest Olympic sport played a key role in development of the brand identity for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association's (USSA) new U.S. Freeskiing athletic program. The design was unveiled Monday at the New York offices of DraftFCB, which collaborated with the USSA on the creative process together with sport stakeholders.
The USSA announced the new U.S. Freeskiing program in January including the events of halfpipe and slopestyle skiing, along with skicross. In April, the International Olympic Committee added halfpipe skiing to the 2014 Olympic program in Sochi, Russia.
"We are an athletic organization and it was important that the athletes in this sport be integrally involved in the development of the new brand identity," said USSA President and CEO Bill Marolt. "Freeskiing athletes have taken great pride in advancing their sport to the Olympics and showcasing it through the millions of youth who ski in halfpipes and terrain parks at resorts across America."
The U.S. Freeskiing brand identity is the sport's visual language. The creative design is wrapped in patriotic red, white and blue, featuring a badge-like US on the left with a handcrafted flowing word mark for the word Freeskiing. The design evolves the shape of traditional letters into a dynamic motion – like freeskiing evolved from breaking the rules of traditional skiing. Each letter evolves in motion.
"The design represents how we feel about ourselves in our sport," said X Games champion Jen Hudak. "There's a feeling of independence – there are no rules, you can see that in the letters."
The USSA retained noted global agency DraftFCB to coordinate the creative process after a national agency search. Together with the USSA, DraftFCB managed an in-depth process to integrate freeskiing athletes in focus groups and maintained engagement with athletes through surveys and private interviews to foster original ideas and garner feedback leading up to the final design.
The new brand identity joins the USSA's family of notable brands including the U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding. "As athletes, we've pushed for our unique U.S. Freeskiing brand and we're proud to be a part of this highly respected family of programs," added Hudak.
"Freeskiing is the most rapidly expanding market in skiing globally," said the USSA's Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer Andrew Judelson. "The brand identity developed together with DraftFCB with the athletes will greatly enhance the public awareness of U.S. Freeskiing, benefiting athletes and partners in these new Olympic sports and help us generate new revenue to support those programs.."
"No single movement defines the sport of freeskiing," said DraftFCB SVP Group Creative Director Roald Van Wyk. "So our challenge was to create a brand identity that encapsulated the constant change that freeskiing is going through - capturing the movement and evolution of each trick."
The brand identity will showcase the sport in U.S. Freeskiing television programming on NBC, Versus, and Universal Sports, as well as print and digital marketing materials. It will be available on a variety of merchandise from licensees and suppliers.
Freeskiing events are showcased annually in the USSA's Revolution Tour, Hole Shot and Grand Prix circuits, along with X Games, Dew Tour, The North Face Park and Pipe tour and Association of Freeskiing Professionals events, as well as the International Ski Federation's Freestyle World Cup.
Final approval on slopestyle skiing is pending with a decision anticipated in May or June. Skicross joined the Olympics in 2010
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- 2 years ago
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