One Month Out: Deer Valley Intermountain Healthcare Freestyle International
The holiday food comas have passed and with the New Year’s snowfall, Deer Valley Resort is firing on all cylinders preparing for the Intermountain Healthcare Freestyle International FIS Freestyle World Cup. February 6-8 the world’s greatest freestyle skiers will descend on Deer Valley for what will be the resort’s 22nd year of elite ski competition.
The Intermountain Healthcare Freestyle International at Deer Valley is the only domestic stop on the freestyle FIS World Cup tour. For the athletes of the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team, a majority of whom call Park City and Utah home, this is a true homecoming event in a long string of competitions that have them skiing on three continents from December to March. Skiing on home snow has boded well for U.S. athletes who have earned 20 podiums in the past five Deer Valley events, including three medals at the 2019 Dual Moguls World Championships with Tess Johnson, Brad Wilson and Jaelin Kauf’s performances in what was a thrilling night of head-to-head moguls competition.
“Deer Valley is a really tough course. It’s long, steep and challenging and I think that always brings out the best skiing in competitions. The crowd and the energy of the event is so incredible and it always gets me pumped up in the start gate. You can literally feel the energy and excitement of the crowd when you’re skiing and it feels like everyone in the world is cheering for me! I think that’s part of it being a U.S., home-field event. People from the area are coming to watch and cheer on the U.S. Team. It’s just a really fun event to be a part of, in the crowd or on course!” - Jaelin Kauf, U.S. Moguls Team
Moguls competition kicks off Thursday, Feb 6 under the lights on Champion Ski Run, known as the Champion-maker. One of the longest and steepest courses on the FIS moguls World Cup circuit, athletes who podium on Champion are a good indicator for those that will be on the next Olympic podium. Dual moguls World Championship medalists Jaelin and Tess will look to repeat last season’s success and share the podium once more. Park City local and new rookie member, Nick Page, is hungry for success and the hometown crowd’s energy might just be the hype he needs for a break-out performance. Crowd-favorite dual moguls will round out the three nights of competition for what is the greatest show on snow. The U.S. Team loves a good dual, and with the support of over 7,000 fans, they’ll bring the heat and push the international field to their limits.
The aerials skiers will launch Friday, Feb. 7 on White Owl Ski Run, the same venue used during the 2002 Olympic Games and the 2003, 2011 and 2019 FIS World Championships. Veteran Ashley Caldwell has found her groove this prep period and will look to build on that success for the World Cup. Several athletes returned from injury last year to end their seasons ranked in the top-10, including Chris Lillis (10) and Winter Vinecki (7) - the crowd’s cheers could give them an added boost to end up on the podium. The aerials’ World Cup tour takes these athletes to far-flung locations, including Siberia this season, so showing family and friends what they’re made of is especially meaningful for the team that trains the most locally of any U.S. Ski & Snowboard discipline.
“Deer Valley is always the best event of the year, regardless if I’m doing new tricks, crashing or landing on the podium. The aerials team is based in Park City so this is home base and Deer Valley treats us like family. I’m so excited to have my friends and family cheering me on this year. I can’t wait for this years’ Deer Valley World Cup.” - Ashley Caldwell, U.S. Aerials Team
It takes over 150 volunteers giving countless hours of their time working alongside resort staff in the upcoming weeks to pull everything off. The Intermountain Healthcare Freestyle International FIS World Cup at Deer Valley has become a hallmark event and annual tradition for thousands of fans. Events are free to the public and easy to access with Park City’s robust and free public transit system. If you are a Utah local, or planning to be in town, there is no better way to end your ski day than by supporting athletes of the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team. The more cowbell, the better!
Schedule of Events
*subject to change
Tuesday, Feb. 4
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Press Room Open, Northside Room, Snow Park Lodge
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Aerials Training Group 1, White Owl Ski Run
10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Moguls Training, Champion Ski Run
1:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Aerials Training Group 2, White Owl Ski Run
Wednesday, Feb. 5
9:00 a.m. - 5:45 p.m. Press Room Open, Northside Room, Snow Park Lodge
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Aerials Training Group 1, White Owl Ski Run
10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Moguls Training, Champion Ski Run
1:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Aerials Training Group 2, White Owl Ski Run
4:45 - 5:15 p.m. Opening Press Conference, Bald Eagle Room, Snow Park Lodge
Thursday, Feb. 6
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. Press Room Open, Northside Room, Snow Park Lodge
12:40 - 1:25 p.m. Women’s Moguls Training, Champion Ski Run
1:40 - 2:50 p.m. Women’s Moguls Qualifications, Champion Ski Run
3:00 - 3:45 p.m. Men’s Moguls Training, Champion Ski Run
4:00 - 5:20 p.m. Men’s Moguls Qualifications, Champion Ski Run
7:30 - 7:55 p.m. Women’s Moguls Finals, Champion Ski Run
7:55 - 8:20 p.m. Men’s Moguls Finals, Champion Ski Run
8:20 - 8:32 p.m. Women’s Moguls Super Finals, Champion Ski Run
8:32 - 8:45 p.m. Men’s Moguls Super Finals, Champion Ski Run
8:50 - 9:05 p.m. Awards
9:00 p.m. Fireworks
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Aerials Training Group 1, White Owl Ski Run
1:15 - 4:15 p.m. Aerials Training Group 2, White Owl Ski Run
Friday, Feb. 7
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. Press Room Open, Northside Room, Snow Park Lodge
12:45 - 2:00 p.m. Women’s Aerials Training, White Owl Ski Run
2:15 - 2:55 p.m. Women’s Aerials Qualifications, White Owl Ski Run
3:10 - 4:30 p.m. Men’s Aerials Training, White Owl Ski Run
4:45 - 5:30 p.m. Men’s Aerials Qualifications, White Owl Ski Run
6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Men and Women’s Aerials Finalist Training, White Owl Ski Run
7:30 - 7:45 p.m. Women’s Aerials Finals, White Owl Ski Run
7:45 - 8:00 p.m. Men’s Aerials Finals, White Owl Ski Run
8:00 - 8:10 p.m. Women’s Aerials Super Final, White Owl Ski Run
8:10 - 8:20 p.m. Men’s Aerials Super Final, White Owl Ski Run
8:30 - 8:40 p.m. Awards
9:15 p.m. Fireworks
5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Dual Moguls Training, Champion Ski Run
Saturday, Feb. 8
12:00 - 11:00 p.m. Press Room Open, Northside Room, Snow Park Lodge
2:55 - 4:25 p.m. Men’s and Women’s Dual Moguls Training, Champion Ski Run
4:45 - 6:30 p.m. Men’s and Women’s Dual Moguls Preliminary Rounds, Champion Ski Run
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Men’s and Women’s Dual Moguls Training, Champion Ski Run
7:30 - 8:50 p.m. Men’s and Women’s Dual Moguls Finals, Champion Ski Run
8:55 - 9:10 p.m. Awards
9:00 Fireworks
All times EST
Thursday
9:30 p.m. - Moguls, Deer Valley, USA - Olympic Channel, OlympicChannel.com, NBC Sports Gold
Friday, Feb. 7
12:30 a.m. - Moguls, Deer Valley, USA - NBCSN*
9:30 p.m. - Aerials, Deer Valley, USA - NBCSN
Saturday, Feb. 8
3:00 p.m. - Moguls, Deer Valley, USA - NBC**
9:30 p.m. - Dual Moguls, Deer Valley, USA - Olympic Channel, OlympicChannel.com, NBC Sports Gold
Sunday, Feb. 9
3:00 p.m. - Dual Moguls, Deer Valley, USA - NBC**
*Same-day broadcast
**Next-day broadcast
Note: All televised events to stream across NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app, OlympicChannel.com, and Olympic Channel: Home of Team USA app
Exclusive commercial-free coverage will be available for subscribers of the NBC Sports Gold Pass, available here: https://www.nbcsports.com/gold/snow.
