The Stifel U.S. Ski Team had an impressive showing at the Toyota Waterville Freestyle Cup, with Jaelin Kauf securing her second podium of the weekend and 10 U.S. athletes advancing to the finals – marking their best performance of the season so far.
Jaelin Kauf expressed her satisfaction with her performance, stating, “Really stoked with today, the course is super fun, I’m really happy with my skiing, I feel like I was really consistent and did what I wanted to do out there as far as my runs.” Despite not clinching the top spot, Kauf was pleased to maintain her position and keep the yellow leader bib.
The event, held in the birthplace of freestyle skiing, attracted large crowds eager to watch the world’s best moguls athletes. In the qualification round, 10 U.S. athletes managed to secure at least one dual victory to advance to the finals. The men’s team saw Asher Michel, Dylan Marcellini, Charlie Mickel, Dylan Walczyk, and Nick Page progress, while on the women’s side, Kauf, Tess Johnson, Olivia Giaccio, Kasey Hogg, and Alli Macuga made it through. Kai Owens and Kylie Kariotis finished 24th and 30th, respectively.
The competition intensified in the round of 16, where Giaccio and Johnson faced off, with Giaccio finishing 16th after losing control. Johnson, however, moved on to the quarterfinals with Kauf. Kasey Hogg secured another top 10 finish, and Alli Macuga ended the day in 11th. In the quarterfinals, Johnson lost to Canada’s Maia Schwinghammer, finishing seventh.
On the men’s side, Mickel, Walczyk, and Page reached the quarterfinals, ending the day in sixth, seventh, and eighth places, respectively.
Kauf was the only American to reach the semi-finals, facing Schwinghammer again, and then meeting Perrine Laffont in the big final. The final was a close call, with Laffont winning 20-15, marking Kauf’s 40th career podium in front of her friends and family. With her recent win in Bakuriani, Georgia, and this second-place finish, Kauf continues to lead the yellow bib standings.
Next on the schedule for the U.S. Ski Team is the Val St. Come event in Canada from January 31 to February 1, where they will compete in both moguls and dual moguls.
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