KMS 16-year-old Ella Andrews named to 2024 U.S. Youth Olympic Freeski Team

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KMS’s Ella Andrews makes U.S. Team roster. 

U.S. Ski and Snowboard recently selected the Freeski Slopestyle/Big Air Team to represent the United States at the next Winter Youth Olympic Games. Ella Andrews (from Killington, Vermont and racing with Killington Mountain School) was the only East Coast racer to be named to the Freeski Slopestyle/Big Air Team roster. She will be joined by Ellie Derosier (from Bend, Oregon racing with Park City Ski & Snowboard), Kathryn Gray (from Crowley Lake, California, and racing with Mammoth Mountain Freeski Team) as well as Jack Rodheaver and Henry Townsend (both from Park City, Utah). They will be coached by Leah Stroud.

Nearly 2,000 of the world’s most promising young winter athletes will take part in the 4th Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) held Jan. 19-Feb. 1, 2024. The games will be held in the Province of Gangwon in the Republic of Korea, which hosted the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018.

When asked what the opportunity to join the U.S. Youth Olympic team means to her, she said: “Earlier this year I got the opportunity to compete at Junior Worlds for the United States and it was an absolute honor. To be selected again to represent my country at the Youth Olympic Games is a dream come true and I could not be more excited! Competing against athletes from different countries is a completely unique experience and I feel incredibly lucky. Traveling to South Korea and being able to do the sport I love with so many new people who share that love is something special that I’m sure I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

Ella Andrews recently returned from FIS Freeski Junior Worlds in Cardrona, New Zealand, where she qualified for finals in both Slopestyle and Big Air, coming in ninth overall in both events. Though this was her first international competition and first opportunity to represent the U.S., 16-year-old Andrews has been competing in U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USASA) events since she was 7 years old and has a long list of accomplishments including:

9 medals in slopestyle, halfpipe, rail jam, and skiercross at USASA Nationals

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Ella Andrews, 16, racing with Killington Mountain School, has been selected to compete with the U.S. Youth Olympic Team.

Overall USASA Nationals Champion in 2017, 2019, and 2023 

5 gold medals at U.S. Ski and Snowboard Futures Tour Slopestyle and Big Air

She will compete in this year’s U.S. Ski and Snowboard Revolution Tour upon returning from Korea.

Follow her on Instagram @eleanor_andrewsss or livestream the YOG at: olympics.com/en/gangwon-2024.