Park City, UT – The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) on Tuesday announced the nomination of nine moguls and aerials athletes to the U.S. Olympic Freestyle Ski Team.
The team will be led by reigning Olympic Champion Hannah Kearney and Olympians Patrick Deneen, Heather McPhie, Emily Cook and Ashley Caldwell.
The athletes were nominated based on results on the International Ski Federation World Cup. All nominations are subject to approval by the U.S. Olympic Committee.
Visa Freestyle International World Cup moguls competition held at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah, earlier this month. (photo: Steven Kornreich)
“Our Olympic aerials and moguls athletes represent a mix of veteran champions,” said USSA Freestyle Director Todd Schirman, who added that the team “blends a mix of veteran champions like Hannah Kearney and Patrick Deneen with younger athletes who are starting to distinguish themselves like Rookie of the Year Mac Bohonnon. Every athlete on this team has shown that they can ski onto the podium against international fields and are well prepared to compete in Sochi.”
Moguls skier Kearney, of Norwich, Vt., took three World Cup wins this season and five podiums. Cle Elum, Wash.’s Deneen, who will also compete in moguls, was the 2009 World Champion and a 2010 Olympian.
Aerialist Wilson, brother of 2010 bronze medalist Bryon Wilson, clinched his Olympic spot with two podiums last week including the USANA Freestyle Cup in Lake Placid, N.Y., and will be making his Olympic debut. Virginia’s Caldwell was the youngest Olympian from Team USA in 2010 and made her return from injury with an aerials podium in China last month.
The Team will now train in Steamboat Springs, Colo., during a final pre-Olympic camp ahead of an official sendoff to Russia on Saturday.
Men’s Moguls
Patrick Deneen, Cle Elum, WA (12/25/1987) *
Bradley Wilson, Butte, MT (6/5/1992)
Women’s Moguls
Hannah Kearney, Norwich, VT (2/26/1986) *
Heidi Kloser, Vail, CO (9/18/1992)
Heather McPhie, Bozeman, MT (5/28/1984) *
Eliza Outtrim, Hamden, CT (7/18/1985)
Men’s Aerials
Mac Bohonnon, Madison, CT (3/27/1995)
Women’s Aerials
Ashley Caldwell, Ashburn, VA (9/14/1993) *
Emily Cook, Belmont, MA (7/1/1979) *
* Competed in past Olympics