On Wednesday, the top mogul skiers in the world gathered at Deer Valley Resort for the second day of their training. This week, they have three days of preparation ahead of the aerials events on Friday, giving them the chance to fine-tune their techniques and get familiar with the Champion course.
Training days are crucial as skiers assess the course, try out different techniques, and collaborate with their coaches. U.S. Freestyle Director Matt Gnoza shared insights about the training process, which he has been overseeing since 2022. “We start with an inspection period where athletes study the course, looking at the distance between moguls and the angles of jumps,” Gnoza explained. After that, they typically ski the course in two 45-minute sessions.
Each skier has a customized plan they develop with their coaches. Head coach Bryon Wilson, along with his brother Brad—both former professional mogul skiers—leads this collaborative effort.
On Wednesday, the team adjusted their training schedule due to slushy snow, which can be tough on their bodies. After each run, skiers like Nick Page often stopped to discuss their performance with coaches or review footage. The base of the Champion course was bustling with teams and camera setups, all aiming to gather data on their runs.
“Coaches time runs to see which ones are faster,” Gnoza said. “It’s all about making decisions based on the data we gather.” They test various tricks, weighing their safer options against more daring moves they might want to try in competition.
While major changes are tough to make as the season progresses, training days offer opportunities to build confidence and improve little by little. The U.S. team plans a lighter training day on Friday, and depending on their confidence after Thursday’s solo moguls, they might even skip skiing altogether.
This week, the U.S. team is based at a hotel near Deer Valley’s Snow Park, maintaining a routine that helps them stay focused. Gnoza emphasized the importance of this structure, allowing the coaches to identify patterns and establish schedules for the athletes.
Nick Page focused on refining his technique on Wednesday, particularly struggling with the bigger bumps in the course’s middle section. Instead of completing full runs, he picked specific sections to practice, aiming to build on the knowledge he gained from Tuesday.
Interestingly, he recently adjusted his approach by having short discussions with his coach after each run instead of reviewing footage. “I found myself overcomplicating things,” Page said. “Simplicity works better for me.” He added that hard work is the most significant factor in training success.
Other athletes, like Kasey Hogg, faced their challenges with the course. On Wednesday, she opted for shorter training sessions due to the slushy conditions, noting that while slush can be fun, it’s unusual for this time of year.
Hogg, currently ranked eighth in the world, will take a limited number of runs on Friday as she prepares for the dual moguls event on Saturday. “It helps to keep the number of runs down as competition approaches,” she noted.
Fans are welcome to attend the events this week, including Friday’s moguls training. The schedule is packed:
- Thursday – Moguls FIS World Cup
- 2:10 p.m. Women’s Moguls Qualifications
- 4:30 p.m. Men’s Moguls Qualifications
- 7:30 p.m. Women’s and Men’s Moguls Finals
- 8:50 p.m. Awards Ceremony
- Friday – Aerials FIS World Cup
- 11 a.m. Women’s Aerials Qualifications
- 1:05 p.m. Men’s Aerials Qualifications
- 7:30 p.m. Women’s and Men’s Aerials Finals
- 8:40 p.m. Awards Ceremony
- Saturday – Dual Moguls FIS World Cup
- 4 p.m. Women’s and Men’s Dual Moguls Preliminary Rounds
- 7:30 p.m. Women’s and Men’s Dual Moguls Finals
- 8:55 p.m. Awards Ceremony
For more details on how to watch the events from home, visit the U.S. Ski Team’s website.
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