USSA announces 2012 Freestyle Team

Olympic and World Champion Hannah Kearney, Olympic bronze medalist Bryon Wilson and World Cup winner Ashley Caldwell headline a strong group of athletes named to the 2012 U.S. Freestyle Ski Team. The Team announced its 2012 roster at Deer Valley Resort with an autograph signing for local clubs, families and media.

Athletes used the event as an opportunity to showcase their new 2011-12 Columbia Sportswear uniforms to both media and fans gathered for the announcement. The athletes will be wearing the Columbia gear for all competitions, including the World Cup season kick-off on Dec. 10 in Ruka, Finland as well as the Visa Freestyle International at Deer Valley on Feb. 2-4.

The Team named 32 athletes to the roster. Among those athletes, the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team has eight Olympians, including two medalists Kearney and Wilson, and two 2010 FIS Rookie of the Year athletes, moguls skier Heidi Kloser and aerialist Caldwell.

“The veteran leadership this year will create depth to the program and secure our success over the next three seasons,” said Freestyle Director, Todd Schirman. “Our preparation was successful this summer and the rookies are coming into their own, the combination of veteran winners and enthusiastic newcomers will pave the way to an exciting year.”

Two-time medalist and freestyle alum, Shannon Bahrke was on hand introducing the athletes and serving her Silver Bean Coffee and hot chocolate.

The first domestic event of the season will be the Lake Placid FIS Freestyle World Cup on Jan. 19 in Lake Placid, NY.

Image by Claire Abbe

2011-12 U.S. Freestyle Ski Team Roster
(Name, Team, Hometown, Club, Skis, Boots, Bindings, Poles Date of Birth)
*Denotes Olympian
** Denotes Westminster Student
 
A Team
Men
Scotty Bahrke, aerials, Tahoe City, CA (Volkl, Full Tilt) 7/19/1985*
Jeremy Cota, moguls, Carrabassett Valley, ME, Carrabassett Valley Academy (Volkl, Tecnica, Marker) 10/24/1988
Patrick Deneen, moguls, Cle Elum, WA (Hart, Swix/180’s) 12/25/1987*
David DiGravio, moguls, Farmington, ME, Carrabassett Valley Academy/Planet Ski International (Volkl, Tecnica, Marker, Swix) 11/26/1986
Bryon Wilson, moguls, Butte, MT, Wasatch Freestyle (Hart, Tecnica, Marker, Swix) 4/7/1988* **

Women
Ashley Caldwell, aerials, Charleston, SC (Volkl, Full Tilt, Salomon) 9/14/1993*
Emily Cook, aerials, Belmont, MA, FLY Freestyle (Volkl, Full Tilt, Salomon) 7/1/1979*
Hannah Kearney, moguls, Norwich, VT, Ford Sayre/WVBBTS (Volkl, Tecnica, Marker) 2/26/1986*
Heather McPhie, moguls, Bozeman, MT, Bridger Ski Foundation (Full Tilt) 5/28/1984* **
Eliza Outtrim, moguls, Steamboat Springs, CO, Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club (Volkl, Tecnica, Marker, Swix) 7/18/1985

B Team
Men
Joe Discoe, moguls, Telluride, CO, Telluride Freestyle Club (Volkl, Tecnica, Marker) 2/23/1987
Dylan Ferguson, aerials, Amesbury, MA, WVBBTS (Volkl, Full Tilt) 8/10/1988 **

Women
Heidi Kloser, moguls, Vail, CO, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail (Volkl, Dalbello, Marker, Leki) 9/18/1992

C Team
Men
Alex Bowen, aerials, Springville, NY, Buffalo Ski Club, 5/21/1992
Nevin Brown, aerials, Streetsboro, OH, Mont Chalet (Volkl, Full Tilt, Salomon) 4/19/1989
Shane Cordeau, moguls, Sun Valley, ID, Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (Nordica, Nordica, Marker, Swix) 12/16/1986
Jimmy Discoe, moguls, Telluride, CO, Telluride Freestyle Club (Volkl, Tecnica, Marker) 5/15/1989
Hans Gardner, aerials, Orchard Park, NY, Buffalo Ski Club (Volkl, Full Tilt, Rossignol) 6/7/1989**
Ryan Dyer, moguls, Steamboat, CO, Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club (Hart, Tecnica, Marker) 6/29/1991
Landon Gardner, moguls, Missoula, MT, Missoula Freestyle (Volkl, Tecnica, Marker, Swix) 8/2/1985**
Sho Kashima, moguls, South Lake Tahoe, CA, Heavenly Valley Ski Foundation (Tecnica) 11/1/1986
Jonathon Lillis, aerials, Rochester, NY, Bristol Mountain Freestyle Team (Full Tilt, Rossignol) 8/20/1994
Nate Roberts, moguls, Park City, UT, Park City Freestyle Team (Hart, Lange) 3/24/1982*
Mike Rossi, aerials, Long Valley, NJ, (Dalbello, Salomon) 2/25/1994
Bradley Wilson, moguls, Butte, MT, Wasatch Freestyle (Hart, Tecnica, Marker) 6/5/1992
Bryan Zemba, moguls, Killington, VT, Killington Mountain School (Hart, Full Tilt, Swix) 12/17/1991

Women
Alexa Devereaux, aerials, Park City, UT, Fly Freestyle (Volkl, Full Tilt, Rossignol) 12/6/1991
Ali Kariotis, moguls, Tiburon, CA, Squaw Valley Freestyle Team (Tecnica) 4/29/1995
Allison Lee, aerials, Manchester, CT, Waterville Valley (Volkl, Full Tilt, Salomon) 11/13/1989
Brittany Loweree, moguls, Point Lookout, NY, Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club/Stratton Freestyle Team (Hart, Tecnica, Rossignol) 8/23/1990
Mikaela Matthews, moguls, Frisco, CO, Team Summit (Dalbello) 12/24/1991
KC Oakley, moguls, Piedmont, CA, Park City Freestyle (Volkl, Tecnica, Marker, Leki) 5/5/1988