Kauf Second in Waterville

The Stifel U.S. Ski Team moguls athletes skied lights out today at the Toyota Waterville Freestyle Cup, where Jaelin Kauf took her second podium of the weekend, and 10 U.S. athletes advanced to the finals - their best showing so far this year. 

“Really stoked with today, the course is super fun, I’m really happy with my skiing, I feel like I was really consistent and did what I wanted to do out there as far as my runs,” said Kauf. “I was really hoping for that top spot but [I’m] stoked to walk away with another podium and to keep the yellow bib.” 

The birthplace of freestyle skiing was buzzing on the second day of competition, with crowds pouring out to support the best moguls athletes in the world. The action started in qualification, where 10 U.S. athletes won at least one dual to advance to today’s finals. Asher Michel, Dylan Marcellini, Charlie Mickel, Dylan Walczyk and Nick Page advanced for the men - taking out esteemed athletes like Eliot Vaillancourt of Canada, Rasmus Stegfeldt of Sweden and Cooper Woods of Austrialia. On the women’s side, Kauf, Tess Johnson, Olivia Giaccio, Kasey Hogg and Alli Macuga advanced. Kai Owens finished 24th, and Kylie Kariotis landed in 30th place.

In the round of 16, Giaccio and Johnson went head to head - an unfortunate reality of dual moguls skiing. Giaccio lost control and had to ski out to slow her speed, finishing 16th. Johnson put down a beautiful run to advance to the quarterfinals alongside Kauf. Kasey Hogg earned another top 10 finish, and Alli Macuga ended the day 11th. Johnson took on Maia Schwinghammer of Canada, who has been having an incredible season thus far. Despite not moving on, Johnson finished seventh on the day.

The men had a slew of tough duals, but Mickel, Walczyk and Page advanced to the quarters, where they finished sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively. 

Kauf was the sole American to advance to the final rounds, where she competed against Schwinghammer in the semis to advance to the big final, where she met Perrine Laffont, yesterday’s winner who was celebrating her 100th World Cup start. The big final against Laffont was about as tight as it gets, with Perrine edging out 20-15.

The result marked Kauf’s 40th career podium - all in front of her friends and family. With her win last month in Bakuriani, Georgia at the first dual moguls event of the season and her second place today, Kauf holds on to the coveted yellow leader bib. 

Next week, the team is heading up north to Val St. Come, Canada for another set of moguls and dual moguls events from Jan. 31 to Feb. 1.

RESULTS
Women
Men