U.S. Olympic Freeski Team Announced

A strong and deep U.S. Olympic Freeskiing Team is headed to PyeongChang for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced the selection of 15 halfpipe and slopestyle freeski athletes who will compete at the Games beginning February 9. Highlighted among the 2018 U.S. Olympic Team athletes are defending halfpipe gold medalists David Wise (Reno, Nev.) and Maddie Bowman (S. Lake Tahoe, Calif.), defending slopestyle silver medalists Gus Kenworthy (Telluride, Colo.) and Devin Logan (W. Dover, Vt.), and defending bronze medalist Nick Goepper (Lawrenceburg, Ind.). The selections will be confirmed by the United States Olympic Committee when it formally names Team USA this Friday (January 26).
 
Athletes qualified for the team through a series of five selection events beginning in February 2017 and concluding at Mammoth Mountain, California this past weekend. Athletes qualifying by objective criteria were honored at Mammoth Mountain as a part of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Nomination Ceremony presented by Visa.

Logan, who won silver in slopestyle at Sochi, will return in both slopestyle and in halfpipe.

Of the 15 athletes named to the team, 10 were members of the debut Olympic squad at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, including six of the eight halfpipe team members named.

The Opening Ceremony of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games is set for February 9. The U.S. Olympic Freeskiing Team will have its first competition on Saturday, February 18, with women's slopestyle qualifications. Finals are on Sunday, February 19. 
 
NBCUniversal will present more than 2,400 hours of coverage across NBC, NBCSN, CNBC, USA Network, NBCOlympics.com, and the NBC Sports app - the most ever for a Winter Olympics.
 
Team Facts

• David Wise and Maddie Bowman return for their second Olympics to defend their halfpipe skiing Olympic gold medals from the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.
• Maggie Voisin will be returning to the Olympics with redemption on her mind. She injured her ankle in Sochi during training and was unable to compete. This will be her second chance to make an Olympic podium.
• Devin Logan, who competed in slopestyle at Sochi, will be representing Team USA for the first time in halfpipe - the only dual event Olympians for the U.S. Freeskiing Team. 
• After nearly missing the 2014 U.S. Olympic Team, Alex Ferreira found redemption by locking in an objective position in halfpipe at Mammoth Mountain.
• Torin Yater-Wallace will be returning to the Olympics, this time healthy and as an objectively qualified athlete vs a discretionary pick in 2014.
• 2014 slopestyle medalists Gus Kenworthy and Nick Goepper qualified for the 2018 Games on the final day of the selection period, with Kenworthy coming from behind in dramatic style, winning in Aspen-Snowmass and then taking second in the Mammoth Mountain finale.

2018 U.S. OLYMPIC FREESKIING TEAM
Slopestyle 
Men

• Nick Goepper, Lawrenceburg, Ind. (3/14/1994) *
• Alex Hall, Salt Lake City, Utah (09/21/1998)
• Gus Kenworthy, Telluride, Colo. (10/01/1991) *
• McRae Williams, Park City, Utah (10/23/1990)

Women

• Caroline Claire, Manchester Center, Vt. (02/02/2000)
• Devin Logan, W. Dover, Vt. (02/17/1993) *
• Darian Stevens, Missoula, Mont. (10/29/1996)
• Maggie Voisin, Whitefish, Mont. (12/14/1998) *

Halfpipe
Men

• Aaron Blunck, Crested Butte, Colo. (04/12/1996) *
• Alex Ferreira, Aspen, Colo. (8/14/1994)
• Torin Yater-Wallace, Basalt, Colo. (12/02/1995) *
• David Wise, Reno, Nev. (6/30/1990) *

Women

• Maddie Bowman, South Lake Tahoe, Calif. (1/10/1994) *
• Annalisa Drew, Andover, Mass. (05/28/1993) *
• Devin Logan, West Dover, Vt. (02/17/1993)
• Brita Sigourney, Carmel, Calif. (1/17/1990) *

QUOTES
Jeremy Forster, Freeski Program Director
The selection process was challenging for the athletes but it resulted in a truly remarkable team of athletes ready to challenge for Olympic medals. Our selection event resorts, including Mammoth Mountain, Aspen-Snowmass, Copper Mountain and Breckenridge, did a great job in providing world-class venues. This is a veteran team that knows how to win, with a great mix of youth.

David Wise
My first trip to the Olympic Games was a true lifetime highlight. If anything, qualifying for the team this time was even harder. It is an unbelievable honor to be among this great team of Americans going to South Korea to represent our country.

Maggie Voisin
Going into the Olympics I am just super excited to represent Team USA, but also I'm just so excited to go out and ski for myself. Being one of the few freeskiing athletes who get to showcase what our sport is about on the world stage is just a huge honor as well. I am so grateful to be headed back to my second Olympics and to get another opportunity to redeem myself and show my love for skiing!

Gus Kenworthy
The biggest advantage of our selection process is it motivates all of the U.S. guys to really be on their game. Right beforehand, it really incentivizes us to be good going into the Games. Skiing is at the highest level it’s ever been. The depth of the field is so much greater than it’s ever been before. In Sochi, our three runs were pretty standout from the field. But now a 90 score isn’t a podium run, maybe you just make finals.

Torin Yater-Wallace
This year has been stressful. To be here and get it done has been an amazing ride. I’m happy to be feeling good and healthy and go into this next Olympics.

Devin Logan
It’s been a long road for me but making it in both slope and pipe has been my biggest goal for the longest time and I’m thrilled.

McRae Williams
Not making the Olympic team back in 2014 was absolutely devastating. Thinking of having to wait four years to try again and wondering if I’d even still be at the top of my game was hard. To get that redemption now is beyond a dream come true. I can’t even begin to describe the feeling of accomplishment I’m experiencing. It was an extremely difficult battle with many unexpected obstacles but I powered through and it all paid off. Still can’t believe it.