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2025-26 Stifel U.S. Freeski Team Announced

By Erin Doyle - Stifel U.S. Freeski Team
October, 16 2025
The Stifel U.S. Freeski Team celebrating at 2025 World Champs
The Stifel U.S. Freeski Team celebrating 2025 World Championship medalists Mac Forehand and Alex Hall

U.S. Ski & Snowboard officially announces the 37 athletes who have accepted their nomination for the 2025-26 Stifel U.S. Freeski Team in the halfpipe, slopestyle and big air disciplines. The athletes named to the team qualified based on predetermined selection criteria. 

Stifel U.S. Freeski Team Halfpipe Team

The Stifel U.S. Freeski Team halfpipe team remains similar to last season, with just one addition to the pro roster. Matt Labaugh earned his spot on the pro team after a strong 2024-25 season, which included a third place finish at the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix in Aspen. Returning to the pro team is Alex Ferreira, who has pre-qualified for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games alongside 2025 X Games SuperPipe champion and three-time Olympic medalist Nick Goepper. Three-time Olympic medalist David Wise will also return to the pro team, alongside two-time X Games medalist Hunter Hess. For the women, Hanna Faulhaber, Svea Irving and Riley Jacobs all return on the women’s side, making the U.S. a force to be reckoned with as all three start the season ranked in the top 10. Keva Kelly makes her rookie team debut this winter after winning the 2024-25 NorAm Cup overall halfpipe title.

Stifel U.S. Freeski Team Slopestyle/Big Air Team

On the slopestyle and big air team, the veteran men’s squad all return for the season, led by Olympic medalists Alex Hall and Colby Stevenson. Hall, the defending slopestyle gold medalist, is prequalified for the 2026 Olympics. The strong women’s team is led by X Games medalists Rell Harwood and Grace Henderson and Olympian Marin Hamill. Ella Andrews makes her pro team debut after an outstanding 2024-25 season, earning her promotion. Rookies Avery Krumme and Anders Chapman joined the team this year, after the pair each had impressive 2024-25 seasons on the NorAm circuit. 

“The freeski slopestyle/big air and halfpipe teams are looking forward to this Olympic season and all the excitement that comes with the Games,” said Skogen Sprang, Stifel U.S. Freeski Team Sport Director. “With so many athletes competing for the limited Olympic team spots, it will make for a very competitive and exciting lead-up to the Olympic Winter Games. Athletes have been working hard all summer on the airbag and just completed their summer training, sharpening up their skills and working on new, creative tricks. We’re stoked to be back on snow in early November and from there it’s game on!”

The 2025-26 FIS Freeski World Cup calendar will kick off in Stubai, Austria on Nov. 21-22 with one of the best slopestyle courses in the world, while halfpipe begins in Secret Garden, China, in late November. The Stifel U.S. Freeski Team will then compete on home snow at three events, including the Visa Big Air in Steamboat Springs, CO, and the Toyota U.S. Grand Prix in both Copper Mountain, CO and Aspen, CO.

STIFEL U.S. FREESKI TEAM

(Hometown; Club; College; USASA Series; Birthdate)

HALFPIPE
Pro Team
Women

  • Hanna Faulhaber (Carbondale, CO; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club; Colorado Mountain College; Rocky Mountain Series; 9/4/2004)
  • Svea Irving (Winter Park, CO; Winter Park Freeski Team; University of Colorado - Boulder; Rocky Mountain Series; 2/27/2002)
  • Riley Jacobs* (Oak Creek, CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; University of Colorado - Denver; Rocky Mountain Series; 8/14/2003) 

Men

  • Aaron Blunck (Crested Butte, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Rocky Mountain Series; 4/12/1996)
  • Tristan Feinberg (Aspen, CO; Rocky Mountain Series; 4/23/2003)
  • Alex Ferreira (Aspen, CO; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club; Aspen/Snowmass Series; 8/14/1994)
  • Nick Goepper (Lawrenceburg, IN; Cork Tech Freeski; Rocky Mountain Series; 3/14/1994)
  • Hunter Hess (Bend, OR; Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation; Salt Lake Community College; Central Oregon Series; 10/1/1998)
  • Birk Irving (Winter Park, CO; Winter Park Freeski Team; Rocky Mountain Series; 7/26/1999)
  • Matthew Labaugh (Avon, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; Colorado Mountain College; Rocky Mountain Series; 1/5/2004)*
  • Dylan Ladd (Lakewood, CO; Winter Park Freeski Team; University of Colorado Boulder; Rocky Mountain Series; 8/29/2001)
  • David Wise (Reno, NV; 6/30/1990)

Rookie Team
Women

  • Piper Arnold (South Lake Tahoe, CA; Sierra at Tahoe Freestyle Ski Team; South Tahoe Series; 6/1/2007)
  • Kate Gray (Crowley Lake, CA; Mammoth Mountain Freeski Team; Unbound Series; 6/29/2006)
  • Keva Kelly (Truckee, CA; Olympic Valley Freestyle Freeride Team; North Lake Series; 12/23/2010)**

Men

  • Ben Fethke (Boise, ID; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series;  4/14/2006)
  • Nick Geiser (Carbondale, CO; Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club; Colorado Mountain College; Aspen/Snowmass Series; 10/4/2004)
  • Cael McCarthy (Steamboat Springs CO; Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club; Rocky Mountain Series; 5/18/2005)
  • Kai Morris (Aspen, CO; Pro Team Foundation; Rocky Mountain Series; 3/22/2004)

SLOPESTYLE & BIG AIR
Pro Team
Women

  • Ella Andrews (Northampton, MA; Killington Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 2/23/2007)*
  • Marin Hamill (Park City, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; University of Utah; Big Mountain West Series; 4/5/2001)
  • Rell Harwood (Park City, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; University of Utah; Big Mountain West Series; 6/1/2001)
  • Grace Henderson (Madbury, NH; Waterville Valley BBTS; University of Utah; New Hampshire Series; 4/28/2001)
  • Jay Riccomini (he/him) (Port Matilda, PA; Team Summit Colorado; Rocky Mountain Series; 3/12/2004)

Men

  • Mac Forehand (Winhall, VT; Stratton Mountain School; Southern Vermont Series; 8/4/2001)
  • Alex Hall (Salt Lake City, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; University of Utah; Big Mountain West Series; 9/21/1998)
  • Hunter Henderson (Madbury, NH; Waterville Valley BBTS; University of Utah; New Hampshire Series; 12/28/2002)
  • Cody LaPlante (Truckee, CA; Olympic Valley Freestyle and Freeride Team; North Tahoe Series; 2/15/2002)
  • Troy Podmilsak (Park City, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 8/23/2004)
  • Konnor Ralph (Helena, MT; Wy’East Mountain Academy; Salt Lake Community College; Mt. Hood Series; 1/27/2003)
  • Colby Stevenson (Park City, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; University of Utah; Big Mountain West Series; 10/3/1997)

Rookie Team
Women

  • Kate Gray (Crowley Lake, CA; Mammoth Mountain Freeski Team; 6/29/2006)
  • Avery Krumme (Squamish, British Columbia; BC Freestyle Team; 8/23/2008)**

Men

  • Anders Chapman (Hood River, OR; Wy’East Mountain Academy; Mt. Hood Series; 10/7/2006)**
  • Henry Townshend (Park City, UT; Park City Ski & Snowboard; Big Mountain West Series; 2/16/2006)
  • Walker Woodring (Sun Valley, ID; Rocky Mountain Series; 3/13/2010)
  • Hugh MacMenamin (Hudson, WI; Wy’East Mountain Academy; Mt. Hood Series; 1/23/2006) 

* promoted to Pro Team
** newly named to the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team

Freeski Coaches and Staff:

Chief of Sport: Anouk Patty
Freeski Sport Director: Skogen Sprang
Freeski Team Manager, Press Officer: Erin Doyle
Freeski Athletic Development Manager: Mark Dyer
Freeski and Snowboard Development Director: Ashley Deibold
Pro Team Halfpipe Head Coach: Mike Riddle
Pro Team Halfpipe Coach: Ryan Carey
Rookie Team Halfpipe Coach: Lyman Currier
Halfpipe Physical Therapist: Brianna Introcaso
Pro Team Slopestyle & Big Air Head Coach: Dave Euler 
Pro Team Slopestyle & Big Air Coach: Ryan Wyble
Rookie Team Slopestyle & Big Air Head Coach: Leah Stroud
Rookie Team Slopestyle & Big Air Coach: Nicko Drew
Slopestyle Athletic Trainer: Courtney Kenefick


###

For more information, contact:
Erin Doyle
Stifel U.S. Freeski Team Press Officer
erin.doyle@usskiandsnowboard.org   

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Avery Krumme makes her rookie team debut after a successful 2024-25 season on the NorAm circuit.
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Anders Chapman earns his rookie team debut after a great 2024-25 season on the NorAm circuit.
Keva Kelly
Keva Kelly joined the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team after winning the 2024-25 NorAm Cup overall halfpipe title in her first season eligible. Keva will be a force to be reckoned with on the World Cup circuit this winter.
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Hugh MacMenamin
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Walker Woodring
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Kai Morris
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Ben Fethke
Ben Fethke is a freeski athlete on the halfpipe rookie team. Fethke has found success with a second-place finish in the 2022 NorAm Cup at Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort as well as a third-place finish in the FIS Junior World Ski Championships in 2022. 
Matt Labaugh
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Jay Riccomini
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Troy Podmilsak
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Riley Jacobs
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Hanna Faulhaber
Hanna grew up in a ski family, so it's no surprise she got her start in the halfpipe early. Faulhaber became an Olympian at just 17 years old, finishing 6th at the 2022 Beijing Games.
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Hunter Henderson
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Aaron Blunck
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David Wise
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