Freestyle

USSA Names Freestyle Junior Worlds Team

by
USSA
2017-03-21 14:09
 

PARK CITY, UT (March 21, 2017) – The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) has announced the team of 14 moguls and aerials athletes that will represent the USA at the 2017 FIS Freestyle Junior World Championships in Valmalenco, Italy. Competitions are scheduled for April 3-5.

At last year’s Junior Worlds, U.S. moguls athletes brought home four medals and the Marc Holder trophy. This year’s team will look to put up another strong performance in both single and dual moguls. U.S. Ski Team athletes Olivia Giaccio (Redding, CT), Hannah Soar (Somers, CT), Kaitlyn Harrell (Denver, CO) and Abe Studler (Brant Lake, NY) will lead the charge along with top athletes from USSA clubs around the country.

“The key for me is to focus purely on my run and how much I want to compete at my best,” said Giaccio, who landed her first World Cup podium this season and won 2017 Rookie of the Year. “I’d like to ski aggressively with big air and clean turns - really go for it at this event and finish off the season with my best skiing yet.”  

U.S. aerials athletes looking to land top finishes in Valmalenco include U.S. Ski Team members Winter Vinecki (Gaylord, MI), Tyra Izor (Duxbury, VT) and Kira Tanghe (Essex, VT). USSA’s Elite Aerial Development Program (EADP) will once again be well-represented by Patrick O’Flynn (Penfield, NY), Wes Perry (Fort Collins, CO) and Justin Schoenefeld (Lawrenceburg, IN), who all finished top 10 in the NorAm standing this season.

“Traveling on the World Cup tour this season, I gained a ton of experience jumping with top athletes on all different kinds of sites,” said Vinecki. “I am feeling more prepared than ever to put down some sweet jumps. Our entire team is full of athletes who are competing at junior worlds for the first time. Everyone’s eager to compete and ready to bring home some medals.”

Action in Valmalenco kicks off with men’s and women’s aerials on April 3, followed by men’s and women’s moguls and dual moguls April 4-5. Detailed schedules are available via FIS Freestyle.

 

HIGHLIGHTS

  • The USSA has announced a team of 14 moguls and aerials athletes who will represent the USA at the 2017 FIS Freestyle Junior World Championships.
  • Competitions are scheduled for April 3-5 in Valmalenco, Italy.
  • Detailed schedules and live scoring are available via FIS Freestyle.

 

QUOTES

Olivia Giaccio
The key for me is to focus purely on my run and how much I want to compete at my best. I’d like to ski aggressively with big air and clean turns - really go for it at this event and finish off the season with my best skiing yet.

Winter Vinecki
Traveling on the World Cup tour this season, I gained a ton of experience jumping with top athletes on all different kinds of sites. said Vinecki. I am feeling more prepared than ever to put down some sweet jumps. Our entire team is full of athletes who are competing at junior worlds for the first time. Everyone’s eager to compete and ready to bring home some medals.

Todd Schirman, Freestyle Program Director, USSA
It is exciting to see athletes from regional program and the U.S. Ski Team come together to represent our country at Junior Worlds. Many of the athletes will be competing at Junior Worlds for the first time, but they bring an incredible amount of elite experience. We look forward to the challenge of coming home with top results.

 

2017 FIS FREESTYLE JUNIOR WORLD SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM
Moguls & Aerials
Name (Hometown; Club; Birthdate)

Moguls
Men

Jesse Andringa (Boulder, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 12/15/97)
Jack Kariotis (Tiburon, CA; Team Park City United; 1/17/97)
Jordan Strande (Evergreen, CO; Winter Park Competition Center; 10/24/98)
Abe Studler (Brant Lake, NY; Killington Mountain School; 5/4/97)

Women
Olivia Giaccio (Redding, CT; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; 8/5/00)
Kaitlyn Harrell (Denver, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; 7/17/97)
Trudy Mickel (Durango, CO; 1/21/01)
Hannah Soar (Somers, CT; Killington Mountain School; 4/4/99)

Aerials
Men
Patrick O’Flynn (Penfield, NY; Bristol Mountain Snow Sports Club; 8/5/97)
Wesley Perry (Fort Collins, CO; UOP Sports Club; 4/16/00)
Justin Schoenefeld (Lawrenceburg, IN; Elite Aerial Development Program; 8/13/98)

Women
Tyra Izor (Duxbury, VT; Elite Aerial Development Program; 7/14/97)
Kira Tanghe (Essex, VT; Elite Aerial Development Program; 6/6/97)
Winter Vinecki (Gaylord, MI; Fly Freestyle; 12/18/98)

 


 


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