First Time Titlists at Deer Valley
PARK CITY, UT (March 29) – Two-time Olympian Ashley Caldwell (Ashburn, VA) rose to the top on Saturday to take her first-ever U.S. aerials title during day two of the USANA U.S. Freestyle Championships at Deer Valley. Alec Carignan (FLY Freestyle; Pelham, NH) claimed the title for the men in what was a huge day for the Elite Aerial Development Program (EADP), where both U.S. Ski Team veterans and development athletes fought for podium spots at the 2002 Olympic aerials venue. U.S. Freestyle Championships continue Sunday with a dual moguls competition to wrap up the weekend.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Two-time Olympian Ashley Caldwell (Ashburn, VA) rose to the top on Saturday to take her first-ever U.S. aerials title during day two of the USANA U.S. Freestyle Championships at Deer Valley.
- Alec Carignan (FLY Freestyle; Pelham, NH) claimed the title for the men in what was a huge day for the Elite Aerial Development Program (EADP), where both U.S. Ski Team veterans and development athletes fought for podium spots.
- Si Ning Chan (EADP; Lake Placid, NY) took second for the women with Allison Lee (Manchester, CT) third. Chan was also named the 2014 NorAm Champion earlier this season.
- U.S. Ski Team athlete Madison Olsen (Park City, UT) skied into fourth with Madison Gorelik (Park City, UT) seventh.
- Zachary Surdell (EADP; Lake Placid, NY) landed second for the men with Team athlete Mike Rossi (Long Valley, NJ) third.
- Breezy conditions and sticky snow at the 2002 Olympic aerials venue did not stop the athletes from showcasing their sport to the crowd at the base of the White Owl jumps.
- The event was moved from its originally scheduled location at Heavenly.
- U.S. Freestyle Championships continue Sunday with a dual moguls competition to wrap up the weekend.
QUOTES
Ashley Caldwell
Nationals is the last competition of the year. Everyone has had a really long season, and I came off a long break after the Olympics. It was actually pretty good weather except for the wind. It was sunny and nice.
I was excited to be out here. It was a fun day and I saw some sweet jumps out of a lot of the younger kids, which was really cool. But the highlight of my day was being injury free after a whole winter season. So I’m really happy just to be healthy.
Alec Carignan
I couldn’t be happier right now. It’s incredible. I wish my family was here. My sisters and my mom couldn’t make it out. Either way it’s amazing.
I didn’t want to do the lower tricks that I had. I just did my most difficult tricks. It’s Nationals. It’s the last day of the year and I might as well throw down. I just put down some of my best jumps of the year in comp and I couldn’t be happier.
Ashley Caldwell
2022 U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist Ashley Caldwell from Ashburn, Virginia, is an exceptional aerial skier. She now resides in Park City, Utah, and has made history as the only female to land "The Daddy," a quadruple-twisting triple backflip. Along with this achievement, she also holds a World Record for the hardest acrobatic trick ever landed by a female.