Who to Watch: Halfpipe and Moguls
The Team USA freestyle skiers to keep an eye on at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.
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Aaron Blunck – Halfpipe
Blunck represented in Sochi at 17, finishing 7th in halfpipe. The years since have seen both injuries and wins, including a top finish at the U.S. Grand Prix in Park City in 2016. Fun fact: Blunck’s grandfather started the ski school in Crested Butte.
Hometown: Crested Butte, Colo.
Height / Weight: 5’8″ / 150
Years on Team: 5
Aaron Blunck on Instagram
Maddie Bowman – Halfpipe
One of the winningest female freeskiers ever, Bowman claims the first Olympic gold medal in halfpipe (at Sochi), seven X Games medals (four gold), plus many other podiums. Fun fact: Both of Bowman’s parents competed as pro skiers.
Hometown: South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
Height / Weight: 5’1″ / 125
Years on Team: 6
Maddie Bowman on Instagram
Annalisa Drew – Halfpipe
Drew placed 9th in halfpipe at Sochi, and looks to improve upon that at PyeongChang. After clinching bronze at the 2016 X Games, she’s on the right track. Fun fact: Drew was a competitive figure skater before she switched to freestyle skiing.
Hometown: Andover, Mass.
Height / Weight: 5’4″ / 112
Years on Team: 4
Annalisa Drew on Instagram
Alex Ferreira – Halfpipe
An up-and-comer on the halfpipe scene, Ferreira has already turned heads with three X Games medals, including a silver in Oslo in 2016, where he linked four double corks to earn his hardware. Fun fact: Ferreira started as a mogul skier.
Hometown: Aspen, Colo.
Height / Weight: 5’8″ / 143
Years on team: 4
Alex Ferreira on Instagram
Torin Yater-Wallace – Halfpipe
Yater-Wallace, who has four X Games medals, has high hopes at PyeongChang. Sidelined in 2016 with a serious infection, he’s all healed up and ready to go. Fun fact: None of his X Games wins were in front of his hometown Aspen fans.
Hometown: Basalt, Colo.
Height / Weight: 5’9″ / 149
Years on Team: 6
Torin Yater-Wallace on Instagram
Keaton McCargo – Moguls
McCargo excelled on the junior circuit, then nabbed 3rd at the 2016 World Cup in Ruka, Finland, which landed her firmly on the moguls map. She finished last season ranked 6th in the world. Fun fact: McCargo is an artist and a foodie, two passions she enjoys off the slopes.
Hometown: Telluride, Colo.
Height / Weight: 5’5″/ 120
Years on Team: 4
Keaton McCargo on Instagram
Troy Murphy – Moguls
2014’s FIS Rookie of the Year, Murphy has been rising in the rankings, boasting six Top 10 finishes so far this season after bouncing back from injuries in 2016. Fun fact: Murphy is an aspiring big-mountain skier, and hopes to pursue freeskiing when his mogul career winds down.
Hometown: Bethel, Maine
Height / Weight: 5’11″/ 160
Years on Team: 4
Troy Murphy on Instagram
You can find the entire Team USA roster for the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea on teamusa.org.