The U.S. aerials skiing team is off to a hot start this season, with two podium finishes through the first two World Cups. Both of those finishes came at the Lac-Beauport, Canada Cup last weekend, where Karenna Elliott finished second and Chris Lillis third.
Elliott is ranked third in the world through the first few Cups and Lillis 10th. Both skiers hail from Park City.
Other local aerials skiers finding success on the Cup level are Kyra Dossa and Justin Schoenefeld. Both Parkites posted top-10 finishes at the season-opening Lake Placid Cup earlier this month. Schoenefeld finished sixth in the Lake Placid aerials team competition, in addition to 10th in their individual one.
The team now enters a training block before the Deer Valley World Cup next weekend. There are four remaining Cups, including Deer Valley, and a season-ending world championships.
“I’m so happy about my podium finish in Canada!” said Elliott. “It felt absolutely incredible to stand on that podium again.”
“Placing second has really inspired me and given me a boost of confidence.”
Elliott’s only previous podium came in a win last year in Lac-Beauport. The 24-year-old is coming off her career-best season, where she finished sixth in the year-end Cup standings.
Elliott feels like her result last weekend is a result of all her hard work lately. She says the early result will help her relax the rest of the way.
Elliott added that her biggest improvements over the past few seasons have been with her mental game, her landings and jumps.
“I have worked a lot with a sports psychologist, which has dialed in my mental focus,” added Elliott. “I’ve learned how to ease my competition nerves.”
“We all (coaches and herself) are doing a fantastic job of working together to dial in everything.”
Elliott thinks having fun and being free on the slopes will allow her to find more success. She’d love more podiums, including at world championships, and a top three year-end Cup finish.
Elliott also has the 2026 and 2030 Olympics on her radar. She’d love to qualify and compete for a medal at those Games.
“Long-term goals are tough because I don’t want to get ahead of myself,” added Elliott. “My ultimate long-term goals are winning the World Cup Crystal Globe and placing well at the Games.”
“Trick-wise, I want to eventually complete what we call the “double-double”. …Triples are also a long-term goal, but we’ll have to see where life takes me.”
To keep up with all the team’s results at the Deer Valley Cup, circle back to our website or head to the Cup’s FIS Page. The Cup is free for fans to attend, and more information on where to watch it can be found on the U.S. Ski Team’s website.