Season Preview: 21 Athletes in 22 Words for the 2021/2022 Season

Gavin KentchNovember 4, 2021

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.

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