With nearly every athlete on the roster making a return to competition this World Championship season, and the development of a team for the Olympics newest winter sport - ski cross, the 2009 U.S. Freestyle Ski Team stands to have one of its most exciting years. 39 athletes have been named to the 2009 U.S. Freestyle Ski Team, which begins its season this weekend with competitions in France and China.
The U.S. Freestyle Ski Team will see heated competition from athletes like two-time Olympic aerialist Jeret "Speedy" Peterson (Boise, ID), Olympic moguls silver medalist Shannon Bahrke (Tahoe City, CA), moguls national champion Emiko Torito (Denver) and aerials national champion Ryan St. Onge (Winter Park, CO). Adding to the excitement will be the return of former alpine skiers turned ski cross experts including Casey Puckett (Aspen, CO), who has two X Games gold medals to his name, and 2008 X Games champion Daron Rahlves (Sugar Bowl, CA). Back on the roster after a two-season break will be World Champion Jeremy Bloom (Loveland, CO). Bloom returned to on-snow training this fall with the U.S. Ski Team.
"As we look forward to World Championships in Japan, we're loaded with successful athletes - four athletes with World Cup wins, seven more with top-three results last winter. It's going to be an exciting winter as we continue to build toward Vancouver in 2010," said Head Freestyle Coach Jeff Wintersteen.
The freestyle season kicks off Dec. 18 in Meribel, France with moguls and in Adventure Mountain, China Dec. 19-20 for aerials. World Championships are set for Mar. 2-8 in Inawashiro, Japan. U.S. stops include the Nature Valley Freestyle Invitational in Lake Placid Jan. 18-19 featuring aerials and ski cross, and the Visa Freestyle International at Deer Valley Resort in Utah Jan. 29-31 with moguls, aerials and skier halfpipe at neighboring Park City Mountain Resort.
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2009 Freestyle Team Named
2009 Freestyle Team Named
