Sierra Nevada, Spain – The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) has announced the team of 16 moguls and aerials athletes that will represent the USA at the 2017 FIS Freestyle Ski & Snowboard World Championships in Sierra Nevada, Spain. The largest international competition outside of the Olympics, the World Championships will bring the best freestyle, freeskiing and snowboarding athletes together for events March 7 – 19.

The U.S. team is primed for results in the moguls, dual moguls and aerials events. Veteran World Championship participants on the moguls team include Brad Wilson (Butte, Mont.), Troy Murphy (Bethel, Maine), Tom Rowley (Long Beach, N.Y.), Keaton McCargo (Telluride, Colo.) and Dylan Walczyk (Rochester, N.Y). Morgan Schild (Rochester, N.Y.), Jaelin Kauf (Alta, Wyo.) and Olivia Giaccio (Redding, Conn.) will all be making their Worlds debut. Five of the eight athletes on the Worlds team have found the podium this season, including all of the women competitors.

“We are really excited to see what this year’s moguls World Championship team can accomplish,” said freestyle program director Todd Schirman. “This is a young team that has the experience to win. Our culture is strong and all these athletes are hungry and ready to show what they can do.”

The U.S. aerials athletes had a successful showing two years ago at the World Championships in Kreischberg, Austria when Kiley McKinnon (Madison, Conn.) and Alex Bowen (Springville, N.Y.) brought home silver medals. Both McKinnon and Bowen will be back gunning for more medals at Sierra Nevada, along with 2016 World Cup Champion Ashley Caldwell (Ashburn, Va.) and 2015 World Cup Champion Mac Bohonnon (Madison, Conn.). Rounding out the aerials roster is Jon Lillis (Rochester, N.Y.), Eric Loughran (Pelham, N.H.), Madison Olsen (Park City, Utah) and Elle Gaudette (Maple Grove, Minn.).

“Our aerials team in Sierra Nevada is deep with talent and confidence,” continued Schirman. “These athletes have been competing four of the last five weeks, so they’re primed for success. With previous World Championship medalists and Olympic leadership, this team has plenty of podium potential.”.

Over 750 athletes from 50 different countries are expected to compete in Sierra Nevada over the next two weeks. Freestyle competition opens on March 8 with moguls, followed by dual moguls on March 9 and and aerials on March 10.

2017 USA FIS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FREESTYLE TEAM
Name (hometown, USSA club, birthdate)

Moguls
Men
Brad Wilson (Butte, MT; Wasatch Freestyle; 6/5/92)* **
Troy Murphy (Bethel, ME; Gould Academy / Sunday River; 6/13/92)*
Thomas Rowley (Long Beach, NY; Hunter Mountain Freestyle Team; 7/2/94)*
Dylan Walczyk (Rochester, NY; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 6/25/93)*

Women
Morgan Schild (Rochester, NY; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 8/25/97)
Jaelin Kauf (Alta, WY; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 9/26/96)
Keaton McCargo (Telluride, CO; Telluride Ski and Snowboard Club; 10/7/95)*
Olivia Giaccio (Redding, CT; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 8/15/00)

Aerials
Men
Mac Bohonnon (Madison, CT; Stratton Mountain Freestyle; 3/27/95) * **
Jonathon Lillis (Pittsford, NY; Bristol Mountain Freestyle Team; 8/20/94)*
Alex Bowen (Springville, NY; Buffalo Ski Club; 5/21/92)*
Eric Loughran (Pelham, NH; Loon Mountain Freestyle; 12/4/95)

Women
Kiley McKinnon (Madison, CT; Elite Aerial Development Program; 9/1/95)*
Ashley Caldwell (Ashburn, VA; Elite Aerial Development Program; 9/14/93)* **
Madison Olsen (Park City, UT; Fly Freestyle; 4/7/95)
Elle Gaudette (Maple Grove, MN; Elite Aerial Development Program; 11/30/97)

*past World Championships team member
** Olympian
2017 FIS FREESTYLE SKI & SNOWBOARD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sierra Nevada, Spain

Moguls & Aerials Schedule (Times CET)

Wednesday, March 8
9:40 a.m. – Women’s Mogul Qualifications
11:55 a.m. – Men’s Mogul Qualifications
2:00 p.m. – Men’s and Women’s Women’s Mogul Finals

Thursday, March 9
10:00 a.m. – Men’s and Women’s Dual Mogul Qualifications
12:00 p.m. – Men’s and Women’s Dual Mogul Finals
4:15 p.m. – Women’s Aerials Qualifications
7:00 p.m. – Men’s Aerials Qualifications

Friday, March 10
7:30 p.m. – Men’s and Women’s Aerials Finals