Hi. I am Cael McCarthy and I am raising funds for the 2024-2025 ski season.

While its not an Olympic year, it is a big season for me as I will be participating in the World Cup Tour in Halfpipe, while also competing in Slopestyle at the NorAm level.

Let me explain the basics. In Freeskiing, there are three disciplines: BigAir (a single huge jump), Slopestyle (a course of 3-4 big jumps plus 3 rails) and Halfpipe (a 22ft half tube). At my level of skiing, most athletes pick Slopestyle OR Halfpipe. I can't pick because I love them all and so far I am still finding success.

This means I have double the events, more travel and have to be very cognizant with my training time. I am not going to lie, its a lot and while my competition is resting, I am often competing in another event.

This May, I was named to the Stifel U.S. Freeski Halfpipe Rookie Team and I could not be more thrilled to have met this goal. Now the focus is to make the Pro team and Olympic Team in upcoming years.

What you may not know is Rookie athletes still have to pay their way (and unlike other nations, the U.S. government does not pay for U.S. Olympic athletes, instead organizations like U.S. Ski & Snowboard Foundation and others fundraise to support athletes. Most of this support goes to the Pros)

I am eternally grateful for my family who has supported my journey to get here. If it weren't for my late Grandfather, Harry T. Lewis Jr. and support of local clubs, I would not be here.

Now I am 19 years and trying to figure this out.

As a member of the U.S. team, I pay for travel, gear, training fees and sometimes for the accommodations for U.S. team support staff. As I compete in Slopestyle with a coach outside of the U.S. team, I pay for coaching and all those travel fees as well

A brief sketch

Coaching $15,000

Travel $25-$35K (includes lane or camp fees, airfare, accommodation, etc)

Comp Fees $3,000

Equipment: $5,000. Skis, bindings, clothing, wax, etc

Huge thanks to Zeal Optics, Roxa Boots and Wells Lamont who have supported and sponsored me over the years with equipment. The rest of my gear I buy. I need 6 pairs of skis/bindings a season (3 Pipe/ 3 Slope). If I am lucky one pair from each discipline makes it to the next season.

Sponsors: Are amazing...If your company would like to sponsor me, please reach out! Monster Army is a primary sponsor and has supported me over the years. They cover about 1/3rd of my expenses and pay when I podium.

Last year I was successful in skiing, which not only put me on the podium, but I earned winnings which support my skiing.

I am one of the top halfpipe skiers in the World. This last season I won the NorAm (USA/ Canadian) cup in Halfpipe, meaning I am the top athlete at that level. I also qualified for my first finals at World Cup placing 13th. In Slopestyle my top NorAm finishes were 15th and 18th, respectable placements.

My goal this year is to excel my skiing and push new tricks. I will be skiing in 4-5 Halfpipe World Cups around the World and at same time ski Slopestyle and make finals in each NorAm .

To add to my schedule, I work part time at the Hyatt and I am a Flying Ace All Star for the Utah Olympic Park Water show. And if that is not enough, this summer I started the journey to earn a degree in Kinesiology, starting with an AS from Salt Lake Community College. I am taking the slow road here.

I am pursuing my dreams and I will succeed, whatever that looks like. I am thankful for the opportunities and support I have had throughout my life. I truly appreciate all the kind and generous people that have helped me already. I am not entirely comfortable talking about myself or asking for support and in the last years as a professional skier, I realize this is a necessity.

Honored to represent my family, my country, my teams and the small towns of Steamboat Springs, CO and Park City, UT as well as the clubs that supported me: Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, Wasatch Academy, Park City Ski and Snowboard and CorkTech Freeski (and so many coaches).

Follow along with my journey on [email redacted]arthy.

Feel free to share this post.

Thanks for reading and your consideration!

Cael

P.S. If you would like to make a charitable contribution you can do so through my ski team and this will benefit me and other athletes on the team. Reach out if you would like to do this. Or if you have United Airline miles burning a hole in your pocket, I would be happy to use them!

Here is a clip from the World Cup in Calgary from the drone.

Thought you might enjoy a behind the scenes clips for one of my sponsors, Zeal Optics