With the creation of the Development Team (D Team), the governing body is aiming to establish the United States as a dominant force in mogul skiing and provide a pathway to success at Milan Cortina 2026 and beyond.

"Mogul skiing has a long history of success in America, it’s a tradition and community we’re proud of, and it’s critical that we continue to be well positioned for the future," U.S. Ski & Snowboard head mogul coach Matt Gnoza said.

"We conducted an analysis of our development pipeline, as well as that of other key nations in our sport, and saw the need for bridging the gap from club level to national team level.

"By being able to better identify athletes who show talent, skill and promise, and bring them into the fold earlier, we will better enable future generations of American mogul skiers."

The addition of the D Team signifies an evolutionary change in how the governing body will approach future national team selection for the discipline.

A key foundation of the programme is collaboration with club networks.

Athletes nominated to the D Team will work with U.S. Ski & Snowboard at team camps and events but continue to work with their home clubs for day-to-day training throughout their season.

Club coaches and national team coaches will integrate and share knowledge for training and athletic objectives.

Through this effort U.S. Ski & Snowboard will seek to create a deeper pool of developing athletes, as well as a better transition path from the regional club level to national team nomination.

Athletes nominated to the programme will receive invitations to attend team camps, access to the USANA Center of Excellence and the official training venue at Utah Olympic Park.

Mogul skiing has featured at every Winter Olympics since Calgary 1988.

The United States has won three Olympic gold medals on moguls courtesy of Donna Weinbrecht at Albertville 1992, Jonny Moseley at Nagano 1998 and Hannah Kearney at Vancouver 2010.