US FREESKIING ROOKIE HALFPIPE TEAM
US SNOWBOARD HALFPIPE TEAM
ROOKIE TEAM
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL TEAM
DEC / JAN 2018 19
US Alpine Ski Team photos by smugmug / ussa skiing
Tommy Ford
Tommy Ford had a great 2016-2017 season. Six top 20 World Cup results was enough to push him back up to the US Alpine A team level.( At the A level of the US Team all expenses are paid. Drop below A and much of the cost is paid out of pocket). Tommy Ford raced in the Vancouver Games and is looking to having solid finishes in the upcoming WC races and get on the US Pyeongchang team.
Laurenne Ross
Laurenne Ross had an up and down 2016-2017 season. The highs were high( 7 top tens in World Cups), but the lows were really low. After having a great start to the season, she got sick. Laurenne fought off the illness to bounce back and finished out the season strong with a 5th in downhill at the World Championships. At the end of the season, at the US National Championships in Colorado, she crashed and severely injured her knee. Surgery, recovery, rehab and six short months later, Laurenne was back on snow in Chile this summer.
Races for the US team are upcoming with the first race in Canada. Everything is building for a chance to qualify for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games in South Korea. If Laurenne qualifies, it will be her second Olympics. Her first was 2014 in Sochi, where she placed 11th in downhill.
US FREESKIING ROOKIE HALFPIPE TEAM
Anna Gorham
17-year-old Anna Gorham’ s big breakthrough came at the FIS Junior World Championships in 2015, where she placed 3rd. In 2016, she has three top ten finishes in major halfpipe competitions. Looking to improve for 2017-18 season as Anna hopes to move up the ranks of US Skiing.
Hunter Hess
Hunter Hess, 19, already has a 12th place in an FIS World Cup Halfpipe. Hunter had a good 2017 season with two podiums at the Revolution Tour and a podium in slopestyle at Winter Park. Hunter’ s 2017-18 season is looking good as he tries to qualify for the Olympic events.
JACOB BEEBE
Jacob Beebe, 18, skis out of Sun Valley and kicked his career off in 2015 with a 12th place in halfpipe at the Austrian FIS World Cup. He scored a top 20 at the 2015 Halfpipe World Championships in Whistler and was 12th at the European X-Games in Oslo. In 2017, he scored a few top 20’ s at the World Cups. Jacob is now preparing for the upcoming season where he hopes to qualify for the US Team.
JAKE MAGEAU
Jake Mageau, 20, is originally from Hawaii and started skiing when he moved to Bend. Currently, Jake lives and skis out of Utah. Jake kicked things off with a sliver at the FIS Junior World Championships in halfpipe. In 2016, Jake placed 21st at the FIS World Halfpipe Championships. Jake is looking to make the US Olympic team.
US SNOWBOARD HALFPIPE TEAM
Gabe Ferguson
Gabe Ferguson, 18, has built an impressive resume. It all started at the Burton US Open when it was located in Vermont. At 13, Gabe grabbed a podium and has never looked back. Riding pro for Volcom Snow, Gabe has a 6th at the US Open, 5th at the X-Games and a 3rd place at the US Grand Prix in 2016. Gabe is now getting ready for the three Olympic qualifying halfpipe competitions in December and January.
Ben Ferguson
It all started for Ben Ferguson, 22, at the 2012 Youth Winter Olympic Games where he won gold. Making a name for himself, Ben built a resume as a local legend and a world renowned pro snowboarder. Ben is known for being able to ride everything and ride with style. Ben has podiums at the US Open, X-Games and FIS Halfpipe World Cups. Ben just missed the last Olympics, placing 4th in qualifiers and is looking to make the team and compete in Pyeongchang. Ben and friend Tyler Orton just released a new snowboarding film, Hail Mary. Look for the details in this issue.
ROOKIE TEAM
Nathan Jacobson
Nathan Jacobson, 19, started snowboarding at age six and has never slowed down. In 2015,“ Duder” placed 4th at the FIS Junior World Championships in China. Since then, Nathan has steadily improved and is now getting ready for the 2017-2018 season and hoping to have a successful winter.
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL TEAM
Kent Callister
22 year old, Summit High School grad, Kent Callister has built an impressive resume stating to take the world’ s best on at age 16. In his first World Cup places 13th, next in 2013 15th at the World Championships, in 2016 5th at the World Championships. Kents first major podium coming at the 2015 FIS World Cup Tour. Kent has been in the X-Games and 9th in Sochi, need we say more. Good luck in Pyeongchang!
Current Pro Skiers and Snowboarders
Bend is stacked with many pro winter sports athletes. Bachelor is their homestead, Central Oregon and the world is their canvas. Pros in Bend are world renowned, are leaders in film, product and competition innovation and have a love for their local surroundings. Bachelor holds cool events like, the Dirksen Derby, The Gerry Lopez Big Wave Challenge and the 10 Barrel Hella Big Air. Many of them came through as groms in the USASA competitions and moved on from there.
We have Austin Smith to thank for Drink Water, a humanitarian company through its events like the Rat Race held at Mt Hood each July raises money for Water. org. Water. org helps to bring clean drinking water to places all over the planet. Josh Dirksen’ s Derby is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this December. The Rally Race held each December raises money for some great causes including Tyler Eklund.( see publisher’ s note and 10-year article in this issue). Each spring, snowboarders from around the world come to compete in the Gerry Lopez Big Wave Challenge. The Big Wave is a slopestyle course based on famous wave breaks in Hawaii. Snowboarders come to Bachelor to celebrate style, innovation, competition and camaraderie.
Most of Bend’ s pros were born and raised here, while others move here for the great lifestyle. Skier and snowboarders include: Sage Cattabriga Alosa, Lucas Wachs, Jonah Elston, Josh Dirksen, Austin Smith, Jared Elston, Curtis Ciszek, Max and Gus Warbington and Dru Brownrigg. On the Nordic side we have Dakota Blackhorse Von Jess and Akeo Maifeld Carucci. Both are headed to the early races in November and December in hope to make the US Olympic Team.