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Freestyle World Cup Relocated From Deer Valley to Lake Placid and Waterville Valley Over Low Snow and Warmth

The move preserves late qualifying chances before the Jan. 18 Olympic cutoff.

Overview

  • U.S. Ski & Snowboard and FIS confirmed the Deer Valley stop will split, with aerials in Lake Placid on Jan. 11–12 and moguls and dual moguls at Waterville Valley on Jan. 15–16, 2026.
  • Officials cited insufficient snowpack and persistently warm temperatures in Utah that prevented building World Cup-standard moguls and aerials venues.
  • Utah’s statewide snowpack is about 54% of normal, Deer Valley’s basin sits near 49%, and the resort has reported roughly 18 inches this season, limiting snowmaking.
  • Sophie Goldschmidt said the priority is ensuring athletes can qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics, while Deer Valley’s Todd Bennett called the relocation difficult but necessary for safety and quality.
  • Lake Placid and Waterville Valley, both recent World Cup hosts, were tapped to step in quickly as organizers expressed appreciation for Deer Valley’s long hosting legacy.