The 2024-25 season was nothing short of historic for the Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team.
This season featured three domestic World Cups for the first time since 1982, growing visibility and engagement in the sport across the board. Between three continents, 11 World Cups and 24 events, the athletes pushed themselves to the limit to achieve some of the best days and results in U.S. freestyle history.
The season began in Ruka, Finland, for a moguls World Cup. This was the first time in recent history that aerials didn’t join moguls in Ruka, pushing the start of their season back until January. The moguls athletes started the season strong with a podium from Olivia Giaccio and a fifth-place finish for Cole McDonald. Giaccio would go on to earn five more podium finishes throughout the season, including a moguls win in Bakuriani, Georgia. Giaccio continued to push the limits with her air package this season, continuously earning the top air scores on the women’s side. An unfortunate injury in Beidahu took her out for the final stops of the season, but she is putting in the work to be better than ever come next season.
Jaelin Kauf, the fastest woman on the World Cup circuit, rebounded from a rocky start to the season to make history time and time again throughout the year. In Bakuriani, Georgia, mid-December, Kauf landed on her first podium of the season, taking third place in moguls. This podium was the first of a streak that Kauf continued throughout the season, earning 14 consecutive podiums, never finishing lower than third again this season. Eight of those 14 podiums were wins, almost doubling her career wins in one year. Her dominance and determination led her to win all three FIS Freestyle Crystal Globes: moguls, dual moguls and overall, becoming the first American to win a freestyle globe since 2015. On top of her World Cup success, Kauf also had a great showing at the 2025 FIS Freestyle World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, earning the title of 2025 dual moguls world champion.
For the first time since 2019, the U.S. had two moguls athletes on a World Championships podium, with Tess Johnson earning the silver medal in dual moguls alongside Kauf. Despite being a team veteran with so many past successes, Johnson had a career-defining year. She earned eight super finals appearances, including three podiums and her first-ever moguls World Cup win. Johnson finished the season ranked third overall in the World, cementing the best season of her career.
Nick Page led the U.S. men with two World Cup podium appearances this season, including his first-ever podium on home snow. His quiet poise and strive for perfection helped him finish the season ranked fifth overall, and third in moguls - the first time a U.S. man has earned a season podium spot since Patrick Deneen in 2014. Page finished the season with his best World Championships performance, finishing fourth in moguls in St. Moritz.
The veterans were joined by an impressive group of up-and-comers. Charlie Mickel quickly made his presence known, earning his first super finals runs, top-five finishes, and podium on the World Cup circuit. Mickel wrapped up the World Cup season by securing his first career podium in Livigno, Italy, during the 2026 Olympic Winter Games test event. His impressive results throughout the year earned him a position on the 2025 World Championships team, where he finished seventh in dual moguls, a promising result leading into an Olympic season. Asher Michel had a standout season, taking on the World Cup full-time for the first time. He earned multiple new career-best finishes, including eighth and 10th place finishes in Bakuriani.
Kylie Kariotis is another name to remember. She was one of the athletes who earned domestic World Cup starts through the U.S. Selections event at the beginning of the season, gaining the ability to start in Waterville and Deer Valley. Due to open World Cup starts, Kariotis stayed on the circuit, and in her first international World Cup event, she earned her first career top 10 finish in Val St. Come, Canada. Kariotis earned multiple more top 10 finishes, including a fourth-place result in Beidahu, China, barely missing out on the podium. Her breakthrough performances landed her a spot on the World Championships team roster, and she did not disappoint. On duals day, she finished fourth place, just missing out on an American podium sweep alongside Kauf and Johnson. Her results speak for themselves, and her impact on the international scene this season was immense.
The NorAm tour was dominated by Dylan Marcellini, earning podium finishes in five of the seven available starts, including three wins. Marcellini’s command of the field was just what he needed to take home the moguls, dual moguls and overall NorAm titles, officially securing himself a World Cup start for next season.
The U.S. also found success on the junior international circuit, including four medals at Junior World Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Reese Chapdelaine and Jiah Cohen led the way for the team, taking the gold medal in the dual moguls team event. Chapdelaine also earned a silver medal in dual moguls. Abby McLarnon joined Chapdelaine on the duals podium finishing third, while Anabel Ayad and Chase Littlefield took bronze in dual moguls team. These results set the U.S. up for success, taking home the Marc Hodler Trophy at the end of the season, awarded to the nation with the best cumulative results across all FIS Junior World Championship freestyle events.
The moguls athletes took on the challenge of an elongated season in stride and had one of the most successful seasons to date. Between 54 super finals appearances, 26 podiums, 10 wins, three Crystal Globes, and two Nations Cups, this team is setting up perfectly heading into one of the biggest seasons of many of the athletes’ careers.
The U.S. aerials athletes started their World Cup season in Lake Placid, New York for the first time since 2019. The event drew thousands of fans out into the cold to watch the best in the world compete. Karenna Elliott led the way for the U.S., finishing sixth in the individual event, her second individual super finals appearance. The following week, Elliott earned her second career podium in Lac-Beauport, Canada. This season was instrumental for the young athlete as she began throwing multiple new tricks, including a double full full, which greatly improved her degree of difficulty. This skill and her clutch performances helped lead the team to an aerials team podium in Beidahu, China.
Chris Lillis was also part of the mixed aerials team event that finished second in China. This season, he finished on the individual podium three times, allowing him to finish the season ranked fifth in the World. Lillis was named to the 2025 World Championships team and earned a spot to represent the U.S. in the mixed aerials team event. Lillis, alongside Quinn Dehlinger and Kaila Kuhn, defeated the odds to become the first nation ever to win the aerials team event back to back, taking the gold medal in St. Moritz.
After an unfortunate injury in the middle of the 2023-24 season, Quinn Dehlinger came into this year on a mission. At the Intermountain Health Freestyle International presented by Stifel in Deer Valley, Dehlinger led the entire field, encouraging the athletes to throw triples despite concerns over the weather. His determination at this event led him to the top of the podium, earning his second career win and first ever on home snow. Dehlinger was also instrumental in all of the team events this season, landing on the podium in China and helping the team win gold in St. Moritz. In the individual aerials event in St. Moritz, Dehlinger was as close to perfect as he ever had, taking the silver medal for the second time in a row. Every time Dehlinger has started at a World Championships, he has finished on the podium.
This season, Kaila Kuhn made the transition from doubles to triples, a move that not many women make in their careers. This transition is never easy, but from throwing her first triple in competition on snow in Lake Placid to World Cup finals in Livigno, Kuhn was able to land her first triple on snow at the Olympic Test Event, finishing fourth. This timing was nothing short of perfect for Kuhn. Beyond her clutch performance in the team event to secure mixed team gold, Kuhn went on to surprise the crowd and herself in St. Moritz when she won the individual gold as well. Kuhn became the youngest American to ever win an individual gold medal at World Championships and the first to win two gold medals at the same competition.
Ian Schoenwald competed on the World Cup circuit full-time for the first time this season, and his progress was immense. He earned two top-six finishes, and his seventh-place result in Almaty earned him a spot on the 2025 World Championships team, along with being named the 2025 FIS Rookie of the Year. At World Championships, Schoenwald finished 14th, just missing out on finals. He is knocking on the door, and is certainly a name to remember.
This season was one of the longest competition periods that the aerials athletes have ever seen, competing up until the end of March. This posed many challenges for the team as they had to preserve their momentum, but with 16 super finals appearances and six podiums across only nine starts, this team is ready to build into next season.
The 2024-25 season marked a defining chapter for the Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team, one filled with resilience, breakthroughs, and a powerful display of what’s possible when talent meets determination. From historic Crystal Globe wins and World Championship golds to rising stars making their mark and the most domestic World Cups in decades, the team delivered one of the most successful and inspiring seasons in U.S. freestyle history. Across moguls and aerials, seasoned veterans and fresh faces alike stepped up to the world stage, raising the bar for American freestyle skiing. With the Olympic Games on the horizon, this team is not only riding the momentum of an extraordinary season but also building a legacy.
