Olympic Hopeful: Cael McCarthy
12/15/2025 10:23AM ● By Skylar Leeson
Image courtesy of Cael McCarthy.
Cael McCarthy first knew he wanted to be an Olympian while watching the 2014 Games in Sochi. “The Americans swept the podium in slopestyle, and I turned to my mom and said, ‘I want to do that,’” he remembers. “She thought I meant selling candy bars like Nick Goepper, but I told her, ‘no, I want to go to the Olympics in this sport.’”
He started skiing with Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club at 8 years old, quickly realizing he loved spinning through the air more than racing. From there, his path took him to Park City, Utah, where he balanced school and year-round training. “Training has basically been nonstop ever since – airbag work in the summer, camps, World Cups in the winter. Even when it’s exhausting, I still love every part of it."
That love has fueled steady progress. At 15, he skied his first NorAms and foreran the X Games halfpipe in Aspen. In 2024, he broke through to World Cup finals and later won the NorAm Cup, earning a spot on the U.S. Rookie Team. “That was huge for me – proof that all the work was paying off,” he says.
Unlike many athletes, Cael has never thought about quitting. “Even after a mediocre World Cup season, I’ve never lost the passion,” he says. “I’m still completely dedicated.” For him, nerves are a gift. “I pride myself on staying calm in big moments. To me, it’s just another run."
Looking ahead, his goal is simple: keep pushing harder tricks, make the pro team and chase the Olympic dream he’s had since he was a kid. “It’s not about the title,” Cael says. “It’s about representing Steamboat, Park City, every coach I’ve worked with, and my family. That’s what matters most.”
Cael McCarthy first knew he wanted to be an Olympian while watching the 2014 Games in Sochi. “The Americans swept the podium in slopestyle, and I turned to my mom and said, ‘I want to do that,’” he remembers. “She thought I meant selling candy bars like Nick Goepper, but I told her, ‘no, I want to go to the Olympics in this sport.’”
He started skiing with Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club at 8 years old, quickly realizing he loved spinning through the air more than racing. From there, his path took him to Park City, Utah, where he balanced school and year-round training. “Training has basically been nonstop ever since – airbag work in the summer, camps, World Cups in the winter. Even when it’s exhausting, I still love every part of it."
That love has fueled steady progress. At 15, he skied his first NorAms and foreran the X Games halfpipe in Aspen. In 2024, he broke through to World Cup finals and later won the NorAm Cup, earning a spot on the U.S. Rookie Team. “That was huge for me – proof that all the work was paying off,” he says.
Unlike many athletes, Cael has never thought about quitting. “Even after a mediocre World Cup season, I’ve never lost the passion,” he says. “I’m still completely dedicated.” For him, nerves are a gift. “I pride myself on staying calm in big moments. To me, it’s just another run."
Looking ahead, his goal is simple: keep pushing harder tricks, make the pro team and chase the Olympic dream he’s had since he was a kid. “It’s not about the title,” Cael says. “It’s about representing Steamboat, Park City, every coach I’ve worked with, and my family. That’s what matters most.”