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Truckee-Tahoe athletes earn U.S. Ski & Snowboard roster spots

As the 2019-20 International Ski Federation season gets underway, U.S. Ski & Snowboard has begun rolling out its rosters of skiers and riders.

Among those named to freeski, freestyle, cross-country, and snowboard A, B, C, and D Teams are nearly a dozen athletes with ties to the Truckee-Tahoe area.

Athletes on A Teams receive the most support in terms of training and financial help from their respective sports going into next season. Athletes on lower teams receive less funding and often rely on the help of donations to make it through the season.



Freeski Team

Two-time Olympic gold medalist David Wise, 29, of Reno, headlines a roster that includes six other Olympic medalists.



The women’s halfpipe team will feature Brita Sigourney, 29, of Carmel. Sigourney grew up skiing at Alpine Meadows, and is coming off finishing sixth overall in halfpipe World Cup standings. Also on the women’s team is South Tahoe 29-year-old Maddie Bowman, who finished 12th in halfpipe World Cup rankings last year.

In slopestyle and big air, Truckee’s Cody LaPlante, 17, will be on the men’s rookie team. LaPlante captured fourth at the Junior World Ski Championships last season.

Freestyle Ski Team

Among the 32 athletes that will represent the U.S. in aerials and moguls competition this season will be Reno’s Megan Smallhouse.

The 18-year-old grew up doing gymnastics in the Reno area before transitioning to aerials. This will be her rookie season on the women’s team.

Cross-Country Team

U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced the 20 athletes on the David Cross Country National Team Program, which begins the World Cup season on Nov. 29, and Truckee’s Hannah Halvorsen made the cut as a member of the women’s D Team.

Halvorsen, 21, had a number of solid finishes last season, including taking second place at the National Championships in the 1.5-kilomter freestyle race. She also claimed third place at the National Championships in the 1.5-kilometer classic race.

Snowboard Team

A handful of riders with local ties will be competing this season on the U.S. Snowboard Team.

Truckee’s Toby Miller, 19, is coming off a victory at the Junior World Championships and a fourth-place finish at the World Snowboard Championships in halfpipe. He will be one of six riders on the men’s pro team.

In women’s slopestyle and big air, two-time Olympic gold medalist, South Tahoe’s Jamie Anderson, will return as a member of the women’s pro team. Anderson, 29, claimed third place at last year’s World Snowboard Championships in slopestyle.

Another athlete with ties to the area, Hailey Langland, 19, will join Anderson on the women’s pro team.

On the men’s side, Ryan Stassel, 27, who represents Auburn Ski Club, will be on the pro slopestyle and big air team. Stassel’s best result of the World Cup season from last year came in Italy, where he finished fourth in slopestyle.

The final member of the team with local ties is snowboardcross icon Nate Holland, who will compete for the men’s team. Holland, 41, is an eight-time X Games champion and has appeared on three Olympics teams.

“Across the teams, we have an incredible group of riders,” said U.S. Freeski and Snowboard Director Jeremy Forster, in a post from U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “It’s not only due to their talent and skill set, but their personalities and unique qualities that allow the U.S. Snowboard Team to strive to be the best in the world. With a stacked competition schedule, I look forward to seeing what we will accomplish this season.”

Justin Scacco is a reporter for the Sierra Sun. Contact him at jscacco@sierrasun.com or 530-550-2643.


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