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Ski Lift

 ON the rise athletes

The World Cup Dreams Foundation is honored to support the 34 On The Rise grant recipients for the 2022/2023 season. The On The Rise grant will inspire our youngest dreamers, who have demonstrated potential and are at the top of their age class in the nation, exemplifying  the ability to reach the next level of elite racing. The grant money given to these athletes is used to help pay for season expenses and competition. WCDF's goal  in selecting these athletes is to propel them to achieve their World Cup Dream.  Learn more about our On The Rise grant recipients below, and be sure to follow along as they continue to pursue their dreams! 

Cailin  Apple 

BIRTH YEAR: 2005

DISCIPLINE: Alpine 

TEAM: Burke Mountain Academy

HOMETOWN: Morristown, VT

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: U18 Nationals qualifier 2022
Top 15 in first Eastern Cup Slalom Race 12/2021
3-Time VARA Team Member

GOALS: "compete at U18 Junior Nationals"

Cailin Headshot.jpg

Tatum Akers 

BIRTH YEAR: 2006

DISCIPLINE: Alpine

TEAM: Team Palisades Tahoe

HOMETOWN:  Truckee, CA

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 1st overall for Far West U16 '21-'22, 

2022 Western Regions U16 Junior Championships

1st Place Super G

2nd Place GS

3rd Place SL

2nd Place Overall

GOALS: "place top 20-25 in FIS elite races"

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Tess Arnone

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BIRTH YEAR: 2003

DISCIPLINE: Alpine

TEAM: Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club

HOMETOWN: Steamboat Springs, CO

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 18th at Junior Worlds (Zakapone) 2022, 28th at World Championships 2021 (Obersdorf), and 30th in Ramsau World Cup 2020.

GOALS: "get a top 15 at Junior World Ski Championships."

Tess Arnone Head Shot.png

finegan bailey

BIRTH YEAR: 2005

DISCIPLINE: X Country

TEAM: Stratton Mountain School

HOMETOWN:  Peru, VT

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 3 gold medals at Junior Nationals 2022(classic sprint, classic distance, relay) 

2022-2023 member of national training group 

GOALS: "To qualify for World Juniors for cross country skiing and hopefully have some good performances at that event."

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Fin Bailey headshot

Garret Butts

BIRTH YEAR: 2001

DISCIPLINE: X Country 

TEAM: APU Nordic Ski Center

HOMETOWN:  Gunnison, CO

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 

8th place overall (2nd u23) 30km skate mass start US National Championships 2022

- Tour de SkiMeister u20 Overall winner 2021

- 4th place overall (1st u20) Tour of Anchorage 2021

GOALS: "Have a long and consistent season of racing in the top 5 and podiums on the super tour circuit, especially in the distance events."

Benny Brown

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BIRTH YEAR: 2003

DISCIPLINE: Alpine

TEAM: Burke Mountain Academy

HOMETOWN:  Park City, UT

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:  

2021 Italian GS Junior Champ

Winning a race on my hometown slope in Park City last year.

Going from bib 87 to finishing 16th at Pano Norams

GOALS: "Top 15 Noram event rank in one tech and one speed discipline"

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Benny Brown Headshot

STANLEY

BUZEK

BIRTH YEAR: 2005

DISCIPLINE: Alpine

TEAM: Summit Colorado

HOMETOWN: Boulder, CO

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Top 10 Aspen Spring Series Slalom, First FIS Slalom win 

GOALS: "drop my points below 40 in slalom"

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EMILY CHARLESTON

BIRTH YEAR:  2004

DISCIPLINE: Alpine

TEAM: Proctor Academy

HOMETOWN: Belmont, NH

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 

GOALS: "Score EISA points and get into the top 30 at EISA Carnivals"

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Emily WCD (1).JPG

Charlie Koenig

BIRTH YEAR: 2006

DISCIPLINE: Alpine

TEAM: Carrabassett Valley Academy

HOMETOWN: Coplin Plantation, ME

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:  

  • 10th in SL at U16 nationals (2022)

  • 11th in SG at U16 nationals (2022) 

  • 5th in SG at U16 Eastern Championships (2022)

  • 4th in Sugarloaf RPS SG (2022)

GOALS: "lower both of my slalom and GS points to sub 100"

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Jeremy Nolting

BIRTH YEAR:  2005

DISCIPLINE: Alpine

TEAM: Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club

HOMETOWN: Steamboat Springs, CO

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 

GOALS: 3rd overall at U18 Nationals, 2nd Downhill U18 Nationals

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Jeremy Nolting Head Shot

Joshua nelson

BIRTH YEAR: 2004

DISCIPLINE: Alpine

TEAM: Buck Hill Ski Racing

HOMETOWN: Wayzata, MN

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 

Being first in the US for YOB for slalom points.

Making it on to the nation development group 

Scoring a 39 in slalom

Winning my first FIS race

GOALS: "Be top 60 in overall and/or slalom Nor-am points."

Joshua Nelson Headshot

BIRTH YEAR: 2005

DISCIPLINE: Alpine

TEAM: Ski and Snowboard Club Vail

HOMETOWN: Edwards, CO

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 

  • Winning overall at U18 Nationals.

  • 1st Overall DH points in the country for the 2005 birth year.

  • 3rd Overall GS Points 2005 birth year

GOALS: "win the overall at U18 Nationals again"

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Hunter salani

topher davenport

BIRTH YEAR: 2003

DISCIPLINE: Alpine

TEAM: Colby College Ski Team

HOMETOWN: Snowmass, CO

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:  

GOALS: "achieve lower scores and challenge for FIS podiums and wins."

BIRTH YEAR: 2001

DISCIPLINE: Alpine

TEAM: Dartmouth Ski Team

HOMETOWN: San Francisco, CA

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 1st place 2020 NPS GS Finals

​Consistent top 5 national rank in GS and SL for the past 4 seasons

GOALS: "top 20 NorAm rank in SL and GS"

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Preston O'Brien

lucas mcdermott

BIRTH YEAR: 2006

DISCIPLINE: Alpine

TEAM: Burke Mountain Academy

HOMETOWN: Glenwood Springs, CO

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 

5th in the Slalom  at U16 Nationals last year 

3rd in the Slalom at U16 Eastern Championships

GOALS: "Get my FIS points from 999 to low 70s to 60s"

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gavin ebert

BIRTH YEAR: 2006

DISCIPLINE: Alpine

TEAM: NYSEF

HOMETOWN: Clifton Park, NY

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 

'22 Nationally Ranked #1 for YOB in Super G

1st place for Super G at U16 Easterns Junior Championship

2nd overall at U16 Easterns Junior Championship

GOALS: "be part of the National Development Group."

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Gavin Ebert - Gavin Ebert.jpg

Carson

Hume

BIRTH YEAR: 2005

DISCIPLINE: Alpine 

TEAM: Ski and Snowboard Club Vail

HOMETOWN:  Frisco, CO

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 

1st place Aspen Speed Series Super G

Colorado All Star Team

3rd place Vail U18 Nationals SG

GOALS: "to qualify for US Nationals"

Carson Hume

Kaden

Theriault

BIRTH YEAR: 2006

DISCIPLINE: Alpine

TEAM: Carrabassett Valley Academy

HOMETOWN: Fort Kent, ME

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 

GOALS: "I want to finish in the top spot overall for my age group in Maine and qualify for the post season with positive results."

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Rhett Lindsey

BIRTH YEAR: 2005

DISCIPLINE: Alpine 

TEAM: Team Palisades Tahoe

HOMETOWN:  Kings Beach, CA

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 

GOALS: "earn a spot at U18 Nationals and the Nationals at Sugar Loaf."

Rhett Lindsey Headshot.jpg

kai subith

BIRTH YEAR: 2005

DISCIPLINE: Alpine

TEAM: Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation

HOMETOWN: Minden, NV

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 

GOALS: "lower my points to sub 600 world rank in both SL and GS."

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Kai Subith Head Shot

Prince Ilano

BIRTH YEAR: 2006

DISCIPLINE: Alpine 

TEAM: 

HOMETOWN:  Tahoe City, CA

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 

GOALS: "make the flip in all of my races"

Prince Ilano Head Shot.jpeg

Sophia tozzi

BIRTH YEAR: 2003

DISCIPLINE: Alpine

TEAM: Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club

HOMETOWN: Jackson, WY

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 3rd place for juniors at US National’s  Alpine Combined

Top 18 in the NorAm Overall Standings

Winning an Elite Tech GS race in Sun Valley. 

GOALS: "work my way up in the NorAm rankings"

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sofia-8 copy - Sophia Tozzi.jpg

Everett Dooley

BIRTH YEAR: 2005

DISCIPLINE: Alpine 

TEAM: Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club

HOMETOWN:  Avon, CO

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 

3rd in the country for SG in 2005 YOB

11th in the country for GS in 2005 YOB

GOALS: "requalify for U18 Nationals."

IMG_6710 - Everett Dooley.jpg

David Morken

BIRTH YEAR: 2005

DISCIPLINE: Alpine

TEAM: Team Palisades Tahoe

HOMETOWN: Truckee, CA

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 3 podium finishes at the Western Regional Spring Series,  top 10 finish in the Super G at U18 Nationals in Vail, Qualifying 3rd for the West Team. 

GOALS: "get my points down into the 40s"

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David Morken Head Shot (1).heic

Asher Weinberg

BIRTH YEAR: 2004

DISCIPLINE: Alpine

TEAM: Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club

HOMETOWN: Aspen, CO

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 

6th place at the OPA Cup as a second year U16
Competing in Lake Louise SuperG and Downhill NorAms 

2021 US Nationals top 25 in Downhill

Wilder Dwight Speed series in Aspen: DH 1st, Super G-2nd

GOALS: "Back to snow program"

Asher Weinberg Head shot

Bobbi jo griffin

BIRTH YEAR: 2005

DISCIPLINE: Alpine

TEAM: Team Palisades Tahoe

HOMETOWN: Sierraville, CA

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 

2022 Us Nationals and Noram Finals in Sugarloft

2nd place Schwester Downhill

Far West Academic Team-4.21 gpa

GOALS: "Win DH Title at U18 Nationals"

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BIRTH YEAR: 2002

DISCIPLINE: Alpine

TEAM: RC Elite Racing

HOMETOWN: Gorham, ME

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 

Qualifying for 2022 U.S Nationals 

Placing Top 30 at 2022 Canadian Nationals SL

Ranked 7th in the Australian/New Zealand Cup SG Ranking

GOALS: "I also want to start in my first downhill!"

Lexi Ordway Head Shot (1).jpeg

Lilyann Fisher

BIRTH YEAR: 2006

DISCIPLINE: Alpine

TEAM: NYSEF

HOMETOWN: Lake Placid, NY

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 2019 NYSSRA U14 State Champ, 2021 NYSSRA U16 State Champ, 1st Gore Mtn U16-19 SG.

GOALS: "lower my points as much as possible to earn myself a better starting position in races."

LilyAnn Fisher Head Shot.PNG

Lexi Ordway

Sam claussen

BIRTH YEAR: 2004

DISCIPLINE: Alpine 

TEAM: Jackson Hole Ski and Snowboard Club

HOMETOWN: Victor, ID

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Top ten for U18s at Big Sky

Top 25 in the end of season GS standing for U18s in the Western region

GOALS: "I would like to drop my gs points down to 50 and my sl down to 60"

Sam Clausen Head Shot

Joshua Rosenberg

BIRTH YEAR: 2005

DISCIPLINE: Alpine

TEAM: Okemo Mountain School

HOMETOWN: Ridgewood, NJ

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 

Vara Team Member 2019, 2020, 2021

U18 Eastern Cup Finals Winner

U14 Eastern Champion

GOALS: "Make the US Ski Team"

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Joshua Rosenberg_edited.jpg

Madison Kaiserman

BIRTH YEAR: 2004

DISCIPLINE: Alpine 

TEAM: Park City Ski and Snowboard

HOMETOWN: Park City, UT

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Age World Rank of 20th in GS

2 FIS Wins: PC Elite Series GS, Vail GS

GOALS: "I have a goal to be a consistent top 15-20 finisher."

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Charles howe

BIRTH YEAR: 2006

DISCIPLINE: Alpine

TEAM: NYSEF

HOMETOWN: Holland Patent, NY

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

GOALS: "top ten at U18 Nationals"

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IMG_7049 - Charles Howe.jpg

Carly Elsinger

BIRTH YEAR: 2003

DISCIPLINE: Alpine

TEAM: Dartmouth Ski Team

HOMETOWN: Jericho, VT

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 

1st overall U16 Burke NPS (National Performance Series) GS 

3rd Overall U16 Breckenridge, CO Nationals SG 

1st U19 UNH SL Carnival 2022

GOALS: "to finish among the the top 10 in each collegiate carnival race"

aksel kitt

BIRTH YEAR: 2005

DISCIPLINE: Alpine

TEAM: Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club

HOMETOWN: Hood River, OR

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 

1st for U18s in GS at Canada Spring Finals

- 7th at Canadian Nationals for U18s in GS

GOALS: "Win a FIS race for U18s."

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