2026 Freeski Team Nominations
The snow may have stopped falling for the season, but excitement is climbing faster than a chairlift on a powder day as the Stifel U.S. Freeski Team officially announced its nominations for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano-Cortina. With no shortage of raw talent, seasoned veterans, and emerging phenoms, this year’s roster proves that the stars don’t just alignthey spin, grab, and stomp like never before.
The Road to Milano-Cortina Begins
Each nomination is more than a name on a list. It’s a nod to countless hours chasing daylight on the slopes, crashing hard just to rise again, and redefining what gravity means on skis. This crop of athletes will now enter a rigorous training program, all eyes on Italy in 2026, where freeski glory is up for grabs.
“This is more than just selectionit’s evolution,” remarked Jeremy Forster, U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Freeski Director. “We’re building on a legacy of progression, and our pool of athletes this season is deeper and more explosive than ever.”
Split by Discipline, United by Drive
The nominations span across three primary disciplines: Halfpipe, Slopestyle, and Big Air. Let’s break down the list of shredders who are aiming to bring home more than just sponsors and Instagram clout.
Men’s Halfpipe
- Alex Ferreira – Olympic medalist and still skiing like a man on a mission.
- Hunter Hess – Silent killer with a boot-pack-worthy set of tricks.
- Birk Irving – Style and amplitude? Check and check.
- Tucker Carrick – A new name with old-school confidence.
Women’s Halfpipe
- Hanna Faulhaber – Big energy and bigger airs define this rising queen of the pipe.
- Carly Margulies – Honing her flair and fundamentals for a run at Olympic history.
- Sonya Goins – The young gun catching up fast – and flying high doing it.
Slopestyle & Big Air – Men’s
- Alex Hall – No surprise here, Hall continues to make switch look like standard.
- Mac Forehand – Always stylish, increasingly savage in the air.
- Colby Stevenson – A podium regular with medal-worthy mettle.
- Rell Harwood – Bringing street steeze to X Games-level courses.
Slopestyle & Big Air – Women’s
- Eileen Gu – No intro needed. Her return to Team USA would be blockbuster news alone.
- Grace Henderson – Next-gen style and genomics of greatness.
- Rell Johnson – Diva of the double cork, or so the rumors go.
Veterans, Rookies and Wild Cards
What’s particularly compelling about the 2026 nominations isn’t just who made the list, but what it represents. Take Alex Hall and Hanna Faulhaberwidely regarded as core movers of the sportbalancing innovation with unshakable consistency. Then you’ve got rookies like Sonya Goins and Tucker Carrick who are riding the pipeline of talent straight from grassroots comps to the world stage.
The blend of youth and experience invokes something quintessentially American: no matter where you start, it’s where you’re going that counts. With athletes hailing from hotbeds like Colorado, Utah, and Vermont, the team reads like a who’s who of ski-town royalty.
Embracing Progression and Personality
Outside the ropes, these athletes are also shaping the culture. Whether it’s Alex Ferreira’s relentless hustle or Grace Henderson’s charisma connecting with fans, today’s Freeski athlete is part rockstar, part pro, and 100% committed. With the Games still two years out, these nominations aren’t just a starting gatethey’re the spark.
“We’re witnessing a shift,” said Freestyle Program Director Katie Cooperman. “This team is not only ready for global spotlightthey’re redefining what American freeskiing looks like.”
Looking Ahead
With training camps ahead and World Cup podiums in their crosshairs, these athletes now turn their focus to peaking at exactly the right time. The road to Milano-Cortina will be long, icy, and, most importantly, thrilling.
The final Olympic roster won’t be official until early 2026, but make no mistake: the foundation for another legendary chapter in American freeski history is being laid right nowone grab, cork, and tail tap at a time.
For fans and snow lovers alike, this announcement is your snow globe momentshake it up, let the flakes settle, and know that Team USA is already charging toward Olympic gold with style, guts, and more than a few inverted twists.
