Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team Announces Changes to Moguls Team

The Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team has announced that Steve Desovich will join the moguls coaching staff for the upcoming 2024-25 season.

Desovich, a native of Killington, Vermont, has had an incredibly successful World Cup career, with nine wins and 18 podiums. After a fifth-place finish at the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, the first time moguls were introduced to the Olympics, Desovich made the pivotal decision to dedicate himself to coaching. His coaching journey began with the Canadian national team, a role he held for eight years. In 1998, he brought his expertise to Melbourne, Australia, where he coached the Australian national team until 2022. His leadership helped achieve milestones, including coaching the first Australian woman to win a World Cup medal in 2001 and guiding Australian stars Dale Begg-Smith to an Olympic victory in 2006 and Matt Graham to a silver medal in PyeongChang in 2018.

“Desovich’s strengths lie in his extensive coaching knowledge and experience, which will have a profound impact on the performance management of the athletes he works with,” said Matt Gnoza, US Ski & Snowboard Freestyle’s sporting director. “We are confident that his collaboration and ability to teach at the micro level will elevate our team to new heights.”

The team’s performances during the 2023-24 season have been exceptional, with victory in the Nations Cup and 32 podium finishes for eight athletes, five women and three men. This remarkable performance sets a high standard for the season ahead.

Desovich will serve as the head coach of the men’s World Cup moguls team alongside head moguls coach Bryon Wilson.

The moguls team will begin its season in Ruka, Finland on November 30, 2024. The athletes will spend a few more weeks competing in Europe before returning to the United States for the North American Tour, with stops in Waterville, New Hampshire; Val-Saint-Côme, Quebec, Canada; and Deer Valley, Utah from January 24 to February 8, 2025.