PARK CITY, UT (Feb. 2, 2016) – The U.S. Freestyle Ski Team returns home this week to Deer Valley Resort for the 2016 Visa Freestyle International Feb. 4-6. The biggest stop on the World Cup tour, the Visa Freestyle International draws thousands of fans to the 2002 Olympic Winter Games venues, the White Owl aerial hill and the Champion mogul course, to watch the world’s best compete.
With family, friends and a strong contingent of USA fans cheering them on, the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team athletes are ready to put down their best runs and jumps on home snow. The moguls team captured four podiums last year, including wins in women’s moguls and women’s dual moguls. This year’s team is a mix of talented veterans and newcomers, and they’re all looking to ski their best in front of a hometown crowd.
Moguls competitiors at Deer Valley include 14 national team members and four athletes who qualified for World Cup starts from U.S. selections.
“Our team has the ability and skills to perform well here,” stated Dylan Walczyk, who was second in last year’s men’s dual moguls competition. “At Deer Valley, there’s such a great atmosphere. We’re skiing on one of the best mogul courses with the best skiers in the world. There’s nothing quite like it.”
The aerials team also had a successful event last year, with Ashley Caldwell (Ashburn, VT) and defending World Cup globe winners Kiley McKinnon (Madison, CT) and Mac Bohonnon (Madison, CT) landing on the podium. This year, with Deer Valley taking on a make-up event from the canceled Lake Placid World Cup, 16 U.S. team aerials athletes will have two chances to earn top finishes.
The Champion mogul course and White Owl aerial hill have been the site of two World Championships and the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. (FIS)
“After four weeks of training, we’re all really excited for our competitions to start up again, and Deer Valley is always one of our favorites,” said Ashley Caldwell, who won last year’s event at Deer Valley and started 2016 off with a win in China. “Winning in Beijing has definitely given me some momentum coming in to this event. With the awesome site and huge crowd, I’m looking forward to just going big and hopefully doing well.”
Finals for all aerials and moguls competitions will be live streamed on NBC Sports Live Extra. Guests and athletes are invited to share their experiences at the Visa Freestyle International by tagging photos and videos with #DVWorldCup.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The FIS Freestyle World Cup is back at Deer Valley Resort Feb. 4-6 for the 2016 Visa Freestyle International.
- Thirty-four U.S. Freestyle Ski Team athletes will compete in front of a hometown crowd on the White Owl aerial hill and the Champion mogul course.
- Competitions include moguls, dual moguls and two aerials events.
- With 2,000-5,000 spectators at each event, the Visa Freestyle International is the biggest stop on the World Cup tour.
- Amidst all the World Cup action, athletes and fans will honor the legacy of the father of freestyle, Stein Eriksen, with a celebration of life on Thursday, Feb. 4. Eriksen passed away on Dec. 27, 2015.Finals for all aerials and moguls competitions will be live streamed on NBC Sports Live Extra.
QUOTES
Dylan Walczyk
Our team has the ability and skills to perform well here. At Deer Valley, there’s such a great atmosphere. We’re skiing on one of the best mogul courses with the best skiers in the world. There’s nothing quite like it.
Ashley Caldwell
After four weeks of training, we’re all really excited for our competitions to start up again, and Deer Valley is always one of our favorites. Winning in Beijing has definitely given me some momentum coming in to this event. With the awesome site and huge crowd, I’m looking forward to just going big and hopefully doing well.
EVENT SCHEDULE (Times MST)
Wednesday, Feb. 3
7:00 p.m. – Opening Concert, Main Street Park City
Thursday, Feb. 4
9:20 – 10:40 a.m. – Men’s Aerials Qualifications and Finals
12:05 – 1:20 p.m. – Women’s Aerials Qualifications and Finals
1:30 p.m. – Stein Ericksen Celebration of Life
3:00 p.m. – Women’s Moguls Qualifications
5:00 p.m. – Men’s Moguls Qualifications
7:00 p.m. – Women’s and Men’s Moguls Finals
Friday, Feb. 5
2:45 p.m. – Women’s Aerials Qualifications
5:00 p.m. – Men’s Aerials Qualifications
8:00 p.m. – Women’s and Men’s Aerials Finals
Saturday, Feb. 6
4:55 p.m. – Women’s and Men’s Dual Moguls Qualifications
7:00 – Women’s and Men’s Dual Moguls Finals
LIVE STREAM SCHEDULE (Times EST)
Fans can watch the Visa Freestyle International in spectacular high definition via NBC Sports Live Extra online at NBCSports.com/LiveExtra, or through the Live Extra app on mobile, tablet and through the Apple TV or Roku connected TV devices.
Thursday, Feb. 4 – 12:10 p.m. – Men’s Aerials Finals
Thursday, Feb. 4 – 2:50 p.m. – Women’s Aerials Finals
Thursday, Feb. 4 – 8:50 p.m. – Women’s and Men’s Moguls Finals
Friday, Feb. 5 – 9:50 p.m. – Women’s and Men’s Aerials Finals
Saturday, Feb. 6 – 8:50 p.m. – Women’s and Men’s Dual Moguls Finals
TV SCHEDULE (Times EST)
Saturday, Feb. 7 – 4:00 p.m. – Moguls/Aerials – NBCSN
Sunday, Feb. 11 – 10:00 p.m. – Aerials – NBCSN
Sunday, Feb. 14 – 2:30 p.m. – Dual Moguls – NBC
U.S. Freestyle Ski Team Starters – Visa Freestyle International
Aerials
Men
Mac Bohonnon (Madison, CT; Stratton Mountain Freestyle)
Alex Bowen (Springville, NY; Buffalo Ski Club)
Kendal Johnson (McFarland, WI; Fly Freestyle)
Christopher Lillis (Rochester, NY; Bristol Mountain Freestyle Team)
Jonathon Lillis (Rochester, NY; Bristol Mountain Freestyle Team)
Eric Loughran (Pelham, NH; Loon Mountain Freestyle Team)
Nik Seemann (Winter Park, CO; Winter Park Competition Center)
Harrison Smith (Pittsford, NY; Bristol Mountain Snowsports Club)
Zachary Surdell (Marcellus, MI; Elite Aerial Development Program)
Women
Ashley Caldwell (Ashburn, VA; Elite Aerial Development Program)
Avery Driscoll (Rochester, MN; Fly Freestyle)
Elle Gaudette (Maple Grove, MN; Elite Aerial Development Program)
Tyra Izor (Duxbury, VT; Elite Aerial Development Program)
Kiley McKinnon (Madison, CT; Elite Aerial Development Program)
Morgan Northrop (Haymarket, VA; Elite Aerial Development Program)
Madison Olsen (Park City, UT; Fly Freestyle)
Moguls
Men
Jeremy Cota (Carrabassett Valley, ME; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club)
Joe Discoe (Telluride, CO; Telluride Freestyle Club)
Troy Murphy (Bethel, ME; Park City Freestyle Ski Team)
Bruce Perry Jr. (Winter Park, CO; Winter Park Competition Center)
Tom Rowley (Long Beach, NY; Hunter Mountain Freestyle Team)
Troy Tully (Armonk, NY; Wasatch Freestyle)
Dylan Walczyk (Rochester, NY; Ski and Snowboard Club Vail)
Bryon Wilson (Butte, MT; Wasatch Freestyle, Deer Valley Resort)
Women
Nessa Dziemian (East Hampstead, NH; Carrabassett Valley Academy)
Olivia Giaccio (Vail, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club)
Tess Johnson (Vail, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail)
Ali Kariotis (Tiburon, CA; Squaw Valley Freestyle Team)
Jaelin Kauf (Steamboat Springs, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club)
Heidi Kloser (Vail, CO; Ski and Snowboard Club Vail)
Mikaela Matthews (Frisco, CO; Team Summit)
Keaton McCargo (Telluride, CO; Telluride Ski & Snowboard Club)
Sophia Schwartz (Sun Valley, ID; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club)
Lane Stoltzner (Park Ridge, IL; Telluride Ski & Snowboard Club)
