FasterSkier often publishes long profiles of athletes. This is not that article. Instead, please enjoy precisely 22 words about each of the 21 athletes currently on the U.S. Ski Team in this extremely brief, but numerically pleasing, preview of the 2021/2022 season. Athletes are presented alphabetically within each team, with age as of this season’s first World Cup race. All photos are screenshots from the current USST roster site. Any evocation of a certain song by Taylor Swift is purely coincidental.
A-Team
Rosie Brennan, age 32
In a year without Diggins, she’d be the headliner. Still improving in her thirties. Hoping for an upgrade over mono-afflicted PyeongChang experience.
Jessie Diggins, age 30
She’s won bunches: TdS, World Cup overall and distance. But Johaug, et al., were largely absent. Medals in Beijing against full fields?
JC Schoonmaker, age 21
Made four World Cup sprint heats last season, plus second American in Oberstdorf classic sprint. Starting Period 1 sprints. Just turned 21.
Gus Schumacher, age 21
In his first World Cup season, he only became the best American male skier since Kris Freeman. The world awaits the encore.
Hailey Swirbul, age 23
Third in a WC distance race. 0.8 seconds out of World Champs medal. A presumptive Olympian and relay stalwart if trends hold.
B-Team
Kevin Bolger, age 28
The rangy sprinter made five heats last season, but was left wanting more after finishing 35th in Oberstdorf. Estival training in Sweden.
Logan Hanneman, age 28
The rangy sprinter made three heats last season, but was left wanting more after finishing 39th in Oberstdorf. Estival training in Alaska.
Julia Kern, age 24
Looking to stay healthy after some injuries and disappointments last season. Suddenly a veteran American woman sprinter after Sophie and Sadie’s retirements.
Katharine Ogden, age 24
Starting the season on the World Cup, where last season brought her seven top-30 finishes and 23rd in the Tour de Ski.
Sydney Palmer-Leger, age 19
Double 2021 NCAA champion, Covid-protocoled out of World Juniors, is set to make her first World Cup starts in Period 1 sprints.
Scott Patterson, age 29
Had American men’s best individual results in Oberstdorf. Looking to build on strong form going into Olympics after a few down seasons.
Development Team
Johnny Hagenbuch, age 20
Made World Cup debut last season at 19. Sun Valley native and World Juniors relay medalist will start at Dartmouth this fall.
Hannah Halvorsen, age 23
Famously recovered from debilitating injuries to return to racing. Starting Period 1 skate and classic sprints based on last season’s WC results.
Luke Jager, age 21
A tantalizing 0.09 seconds out of the heats in World Cup debut. University of Utah junior will start all Period 1 sprints.
Noel Keeffe, age 22
University of Utah senior earned World Cup start in 2020, and was 12th in 2019 World Juniors. Will race domestically this fall.
Kendall Kramer, age 19
Skiing and running for University of Alaska Fairbanks. Looking to regain the form that brought her World Cup starts as a 16-year-old.
Sophia Laukli, age 21
Three Oberstdorf top-30s merit Period 1 distance starts for the University of Utah junior, who passed part of the pandemic in Norway.
Novie McCabe, age 19
Two third-place finishes at NCAAs for the University of Utah skier, starting all Period 1 WC races. All before her 20th birthday.
Zanden McMullen, age 20
20-year-old missed his World Cup debut when Covid travel restrictions cancelled race. Will get three more chances in Period 1 distance races.
Ben Ogden, age 21
2020 NCAA champion, top American man in Oberstdorf sprint. University of Vermont senior will start all Period 1 races as SuperTour leader.
Hunter Wonders, age 23
Final member of Alaskan men youth movement, 23-year-old with seven World Cup starts last season will contest all Period 1 distance races.
This article has been updated to reflect the fact that Sophia Laukli now skis for the University of Utah, not for Middlebury College.
Gavin Kentch
Gavin Kentch wrote for FasterSkier from 2016–2022. He has a cat named Marit.
