The 2025 Intermountain Health Freestyle International Ski World Cup drew big crowds to Deer Valley Resort to watch three evenings of the best mogulists and aerialists in the world competing.
Victory was had by many visiting Park City from around the world. With Thursday evening’s Australian podium sweep for women’s aerials, a group of Australian fans who had traveled all the way from Sydney, Australia, stood in the very front of the crowd for more than an hour after the rest of the crowds had gone home. They wanted to make sure they could celebrate the win with their hometown athletes.
The top four finishers of Thursday night’s event were representing Australia, with Laura Peel taking gold, followed by Danielle Scott, Abby Wilcox and Airleigh Frigo in fourth.
The Sydney fans lost their voices by the end of the night from shouting “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi!” at every break.
While some, like the Aussie crew, traveled for hours to support their team, others felt lucky to be local to Park City where they could watch out of curiosity more than passion.
Haley Boucot had never watched any kind of competitive freestyle skiing until Saturday night. Boucot and her roommate drove up from Salt Lake City to check out what all the buzz was about.
“I’ve never even been to Deer Valley before,” said Boucot, “I’m a snowboarder, so I’m really just excited to see what goes on behind the scenes. I’ve never seen any kind of moguls racing in person or on TV. You could call it an all-in introduction to the sport.”
Boucot’s roommate, who declined to share her name, agreed, though she had skied Deer Valley before.
“I’m really intrigued to see how the competition goes down in person. I’m always so curious when I have seen it on TV,” said Boucot’s roommate. “We’re just here to see Park City for the night, be out in the snow. I’m in it to learn something new and also for the hot cocoa.”
Saturday evening’s dual moguls event and final night of the World Cup saw feet of snowfall on spectators who bundled up and watched through the haze with wide smiles.
Natalie and Tyson Phillips have lived in the area for more than a decade and returned to the World Cup after a day of skiing at Deer Valley on Saturday.
“We’re here for the vibes, for good friendships, drinking some beer. And it’s snowing!” said Tyson. “We’re here to see the weather come down. We’re doing all kinds of snow dances, bringing winter back after that warm week we just had.”
The Phillips weren’t alone in their excitement for the falling snow. In a crowd full of skiing enthusiasts, the cold temperatures brought out almost as many folks as the competition itself. White caps covered people’s hoods as snow piled up throughout the night.
“It’s cool to see it, be under the lights and watch some snowfall,” said Dana Sprole, visiting from Salt Lake with Jared Beauchene. “We’re out here for some of the local kids. We’re excited to watch our hometown talent. It’s just fun being nearby and we can come up and support.”
He said they skied themselves Saturday and saw some of the practicing.
We’re really looking forward to the finals,” he said. “We’ve come out many times before, but never stayed into the evening.”
University of Utah students Auna Flohr, Sophia Hill and MJ Cook made a trip out of their World Cup experience, spending the night in Park City together and having a mini vacation for the weekend.
“We’re just here to take it all in. None of us have seen the World Cup before, and we all grew up watching this on TV,” said Hill. “I grew up skiing here, so I just can’t wait to watch it all in person.”
Alongside the newcomers watched many seasoned professionals. U.S. Ski Team alums aerialist Chris “Hatch” Haslock and ballet skier Krista Arthur came out to the World Cup not only to return to the freestyle discipline but also to reunite with each other after years.
“It’s been a long time since we hung out and we were both coming up to the cup. It’s just exciting to see each other again,” said Haslock.
Haslock and Arthur competed in freestyle skiing in the 1980s, a time when aerials and ski ballet were still only demonstration events in the Olympics.
“The sport has certainly progressed,” said Haslock.
“We were just talking about how crazy the air is on the moguls now,” Arthur said. “It was nothing like that when we were competing.”
They laughed as they reflected on the level of competition today with the technical skills and tricks.
“I remember the first moguls contest when everyone in the finals did a double maneuver and that was huge,” Haslock said with a laugh, to which Arthur added, “Like a twist or spread and a daffy twister.”
In those times, mogulists did not have prepared jumps to trick off of. They would select a bump and choose which to jump off of for their air trick, said Arthur.
“It’s pretty spectacular to see in person,” said Arthur. “I’m always prepared to stick it out in the weather. I would say rain or shine, though maybe not rain.”
“It’s always fun,” said Haslock. “It’s certainly cold, especially with the wind and dampness on Friday night, but it was a full crowd anyway. That’s always impressive.”
Hooper and Wally Wahlquist are diehard ski maniacs, said Hooper.
“I’m supporting the USA, man!” said Wally, who hadn’t attended a competition since 2001, when he watched America’s Opening at Park City Mountain. “And I still got the cowbell!” said Wally, brandishing his decades-old noisemaker.
“He’s a ski maniac. He lives, eats, and breathes everything skiing,” said Hooper.
“I follow all kinds of skiing, but mostly alpine. I like anything sliding,” said Wally.
“It’s just fun! We see the mountains. We see the athletes. It’s too fun. Beautiful, incredible, we love it,” said Hooper.