Changchun, China – Olympians Emily Cook and Dylan Ferguson (Amesbury, MA) will lead the U.S. Freestyle Aerials team into the 2013 FIS Freestyle World Cup opener tomorrow in Changchun, China.

Fueled by a strong start with four podiums at the Columbia Super Continental Cup in Park City, Utah, last week, the team anticipates upping the degree of difficulty in China with more U.S. athletes competing triples than ever before.

In addition to Cook and Ferguson, the U.S. team will also include Columbia Super Continental Cup podium finisher Jonathon Lillis, of Rochester, N.Y., and reigning U.S. Championships silver medalist Mike Rossi, of Long Valley, N.J.

“The athletes are jumping well after a great prep period and posted strong results at the Columbia Super Continental Cup at the Utah Olympic Park prior to traveling to China,” explained Todd Schirman, Freestyle Program Director for the U.S. Ski Team. “We have several new athletes in China and this will be great international experience as we head towards the Olympic test event in Sochi and the upcoming World Championships. China always has a strong event and we are looking forward to getting the season started.”

Olympian and World Cup winner Ashley Caldwell, of Ashburn, Va., is out for the season following a crash last month in Park City, as is Lake Tahoe’s Scotty Bahrke, who is sitting out this winter in order to focus on the upcoming Olympic season.

“After a lot of thought this summer I’ve decided to take the season off from competitive skiing,” Bahrke said. “The decision wasn’t an easy one but it’s led me to some great new opportunities! I’m now a student at Westminster College and couldn’t be more excited to start. This time off will allow me to refocus and be even more prepared for the 2014 Games.”

Following the aerials opener, the team will head to Val Saint-Come, Canada Jan. 12 before meeting up with the moguls team Jan. 17-19 for the USANA Lake Placid Freestyle Cup in Upstate New York.