When U.S. Ski & Snowboard named 22-year-old, new Parkite Dylan Marcellini to its freestyle moguls A team Sept. 9, he was shocked.Marcellini is one of only three men on the team alongside Nick Page and Landon Wendler. The U.S. claimed the Nations Cup last season, making them the best moguls team in the world. Ending last season ranked 20th in the world, Marcellini didn’t automatically qualify for the promotion. He earned the nod due to his big event showings, making podium for third at the Deer Valley World Cup last February and finishing top 10 at the final Cup of the season and in two events at nationals in March. Marcellini’s promotion will now see all his Cup starts guaranteed and U.S. Ski covering his finances. It will be his third season on tour, having spent multiple years on the U.S. Ski’s development team.“It definitely helps the confidence,” said Marcellini. “I’ve got the recognition that I’ve been working really hard to get to for a long time. It’s definitely not over yet, got (a) couple more years leading up to 2026 (Olympics).”Marcellini said competing without the financial burdens that the sport puts on the non-sponsored athletes will be huge. The U.S. moguls team has seven skiers on the women’s side. Dylan Marcellini celebrates on the podium after the Intermountain Health Freestyle World Cup dual moguls at Deer Valley Resort on February 3 in Park City. Credit: Photo courtesy of Dustin SatloffMarcellini said he half-heartedly embraces the pressure in the big events that landed him his spot. The Deer Valley Cup is often a favorite stop on the tour because of its crowds, night time slot and location. Marcellini will get to enjoy this year on the tour with skiers he’s spent a ton of time training and competing alongside. “He (Wendler) was always a competitor I saw at the lower level events when we were younger, but (I) didn’t necessarily get to know super well until we were on the team together,” said Marcellini. “The last two years, especially the last summer, we were a duo in the gym all the time.“It was super cool that we both got named this year to the A team after both putting in so much hard work.”Marcellini’s goals for this upcoming season include earning more podiums, a Cup victory and bringing the Nation’s Cup back to the team. Marcellini’s biggest jump from 2023 to 2024 was in dual moguls, where he moved from 37 in the world to 12. The 2024-25 Cup season will begin Nov. 30 in Ruka, Finland, as the first of 10 Cups including the Cup Finals in Livigno, Italy March 11-13. Competing for podiums and wins will be difficult, with men’s skiing great Mikael Kingsbury having dominated the sport for over 10 years now. However, Marcellini knows he’ll be able to grow being around Kinsgbury and others. Long term, Marcellini envisions Olympic starts and medals as realistic goals. “That’s the ultimate goal for any athlete of my kind,” said Marcellini. “I try to take a day-to-day approach where it’s more of just improving that 1% every single day, that 1% every jump, every turn we do, trying to not think about the long-term results too much.”“As you get higher and higher in the sport, that’ll always be in the back of your head — hopefully going to an Olympics and bringing home a medal.”Marcellini and the rest of the team are making last-minute tuneups in town at the Olympic Park and Center of Excellence, as well as in Chile on the snow. The on-snow camps have been crucial for development and fine tuning ahead of that first Cup in Ruka.The post Dylan Marcellini sees promotion to freestyle skiing A team appeared first on Park Record.