2023 FIS Park and Pipe Junior World Championships Freeski Team Announced

The next generation of the world’s best freeskiers, aged 15-18, will be competing in the 2023 FIS Park and Pipe Junior World Championships in Cardrona, New Zealand, August 25 to September 5, 2023. 

20 freeski athletes were called up to represent the U.S. in the slopestyle, big air and halfpipe disciplines at Cardrona Alpine Resort. Many athletes competing at Junior Worlds are looking to secure a spot for the 2024 Youth Olympic Winter Games, to be held in Korea in January 2024. Athletes named to the U.S. team were chosen based on predetermined selection criteria. 

The Junior World Championships are an opportunity for the up-and-coming generation to compete against the best junior athletes in the world and to experience an international-level event. The U.S. roster includes Stifel U.S. Freeski Team athletes Kate Gray, Ellie Derosier, Ben Fethke and Henry Townshend, along with several promising newcomers on the freeski circuit. 

Due to low snow conditions at the Cardrona Alpine Resort, Junior Worlds will not host the halfpipe portion of the competition. 

Live streaming is free and available for the public for all events. Live coverage schedule specifics are below.

2023 FIS PARK AND PIPE JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM

(hometown; club; USASA series; birthdate)

Women’s Slopestyle & Big Air Freeski Team:

• Eleanor Andrews (Killington, VT; Killington Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 02/23/2007) 
• Ellie Derosier (Bend, OR; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 10/24/2006)
• Kate Gray (Crowley Lake, CA; Mammoth Mountain Freeski Team; Unbound Series; 06/29/2006)
• Elaina Krusiewski (West Dover, VT; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Southern Vermont Series; 04/04/2005) 
• Alex Thisted (Frisco, CO; Team Summit; Rocky Mountain Series; 07/22/2006) 

Men’s Slopestyle & Big Air Freeski Team:

• Daniel Hough (Frisco, CO; Cork Tech Freeski; Rocky Mountain Series; 09/06/2005) 
• Hugh MacMenamin (Hudson, WI; Wy'East Mountain Academy; Mt Hood Series; 01/23/2006) 
• Cael McCarthy (Steamboat Springs, CO; Cork Tech Freeski; Big Mountain West Series; 05/18/2005)
• Henry Townshend (Park City, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 2/16/2006)

Women’s Halfpipe Freeski Team:

• Piper Arnold (South Lake Tahoe, CA; Sierra at Tahoe Competition Team; South Tahoe Series; 06/01/2007) 
• Kate Gray (Crowley Lake, CA; Mammoth Mountain Freeski Team; Unbound Series; 06/29/2006)
• Marley Leavitt (Park City, UT; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Rocky Mountain Series; 08/03/2006) 
• Kaitlyn Reital (Park City, UT; Team Summit; Big Mountain West Series; 08/01/2007)
• Tatym Smith (Bend, OR; Mt. Bachelor Ski Education Foundation; Central Oregon Series; 03/20/2008)  
• Izzy Worthington (Park City, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 10/28/2006) 

Men’s Halfpipe Freeski Team:

• Bennett Balogh (Jackson, WY; Cork Tech Freeski; Big Mountain West Series; 03/01/2005) 
• Liam Brogden (Vail, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Rocky Mountain Series; 06/08/2007) 
• Ben Fethke (Boise, ID; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 04/14/2006) 
• Hunter Maytin (Aspen, CO; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club; Aspen Snowmass Series; 04/08/2008)
• Cael McCarthy (Steamboat Springs, CO; Cork Tech Freeski; Big Mountain West Series; 05/18/2005) 
• Evan Wischmeyer (Dillon, CO; Team Summit; Rocky Mountain Series; 07/26/2007) 

2023 FIS Park and Pipe Junior World Championships Live Coverage Schedule: FIS Schedule 

For more information on the event, click here. 

Freeski Slopestyle 

Sunday, Aug. 27: Freeski qualifications
Tuesday, Aug. 29: Freeski finals

Freeski Big Air 

Friday, Sep. 1: Freeski qualifications
Sunday, Sep. 3: Freeski finals

Follow the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team 

Instagram: @usfreeskiteam
Facebook: @usskiandsnowboard
TikTok: @usskiandsnowboard
Twitter: @usskiteam