The Jaelin Kauf Interview on Sweeping the Globe and Why Targhee Matters
Popular Stories
Jaelin Kauf is not just a homegrown hero for the Teton Valley; she is a product of the legendary terrain and deep powder of Grand Targhee Resort. Born and raised in Alta, Wyoming, Kauf's path to the global stage was paved by a family legacy: her parents, Scott and Patti, were both pro moguls tour skiers, with her mother also dominating ski cross and earning X Games medals. Growing up with Targhee as her playground, Kauf developed a style defined by full throttle speed and relentless drive.
That early, pure love for the mountain and the sport fostered at Targhee has propelled her to multiple World Cup victories, 50 career World Cup podiums, and an Olympic silver medal from the Beijing 2022 Games. Coming off an incredible season where she secured all three FIS Freestyle Crystal Globes and the Dual Moguls World Championship, Kauf has already secured her spot for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, Italy. We caught up with the mogul star at her home mountain, Grand Targhee Resort, to discuss her roots, her motto, and the road ahead.
You grew up right there in Alta, Wyoming, carving your first turns on the slopes of Grand Targhee. What are your earliest memories of skiing at Targhee? How did growing up on a mountain so blessed with powder influence your style as a mogul skier?
Jaelin: My earliest memories from Grand Targhee are just chasing the family around, mostly my older brother Skyler, though. It was just a giant playground to us, from racing down tiger tail, bopping around the medicines, or just building a little snow fort on the hill in snowstorms. It’s hard to pick one memory from the other when it feels like most my childhood was spent on the hill there.
I feel that my style as a mogul skier really just comes from being a skier. Growing up at Targhee, there weren’t many moguls, so we never really skied them. We skied a lot of powder and learned to handle all kinds of conditions. I really think that mogul skiing is about being able to look ahead, find your line, and fully commit to it, and that’s exactly how we learned to ski growing up at the ghee.
Skiing, and mogul skiing in particular, runs deep in your family, with both your mom and dad being professional champions. When you were skiing as a kid, was there a moment you realized, 'This is what I want to do with my life'?
Jaelin: I don’t think I ever really thought, growing up, that mogul skiing was going to be my life. To be honest, I wasn’t always sold on mogul skiing itself… I’d take a powder day over bumps any time. But I think that seeing and knowing how my parents made a life as professional skiers made me realize it was a possibility. Not everyone grows up seeing that as a real career path, or is supported in that path, but I always knew that I would be.
Your roots here are clearly deep; the resort even has a run named in your honor, Silver Jae. How does it feel to see your journey woven into the fabric of the resort, and what does that kind of recognition from your community mean to you?
Jaelin: It’s truly so amazing. This place raised me. The hill and this community are such a huge part of who I am and my journey, so to be a part of it in return is really special. This is where it all started for me. That love for being in the mountains and on snow and pushing myself, so having something like that at Targhee feels like a very full circle thing for me. It's a huge honor, and I am just so proud to be able to represent this place in my sport.
You were World Cup Rookie of the Year in 2016, and you’re now heading into your third Olympics. How has your mindset changed since your Pyeongchang debut to now, pre-qualified for Milan Cortina?
Jaelin: My mindset has changed so much since my first Olympics in 2018. Back then, I was just getting started in my career and honestly still a little scared to even say out loud that I wanted to be the best in the world. As much as I tried to ignore it, I definitely felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders, and that if I didn’t get the result I wanted, I’d be disappointing people more than myself.
That experience completely changed my perspective for the rest of my career. The love and support I got during and after those Games was truly incredible. I realized that my people were going to be cheering for me no matter what and that their love and support didn’t depend on results. Now, I’m skiing totally for myself. And knowing I’ve got this huge community of supporters behind me, sending all the love no matter what, makes it so much easier to just focus on what I love and just do my thing out there.
The 2026 Games will feature the Olympic debut of Dual Moguls. As the reigning Dual Moguls World Champion, what are your feelings on having a second opportunity for a medal?
Jaelin: I am so so stoked!! I love dual moguls and think that it is going to be an all-time event on the Olympic stage. It’s also huge for us to have another event and two medal opportunities at the games. I can’t wait to be a part of this Olympic Debut and hopefully put on a show for the world!
Sign Up for the TGR Gravity Check Newsletter Now
You often talk about “Delivering the Love.” How does that idea shape the way you approach competition and skiing as a whole?
Jaelin: My love for competition and mogul skiing really just comes from a love of skiing and being on the mountain. That’s what “Deliver the Love” is all about for me, remembering why I do it in the first place. When I’m competing, I try to stay focused on that feeling and just ski my run the very best I can every time I push out of the gate.
In mogul skiing, so much of the score is out of your hands since it’s a judged sport. What I can control is how I ski, what I focus on, and the goals that I set for myself. It’s about trying to ski the run I know I’m capable of and delivering it with everything that I have. The hope is that when I do that, when I really deliver the love out there, that it’s undeniable.
You're pre-qualified for the 2026 Olympics, but what are your immediate next steps as the season approaches?
Jaelin: The Olympics are coming up fast, and they’re definitely a big focus of the season, but we’ve got a full World Cup tour both before and after the Games. We have one more training block in Finland this month, then the competition season kicks off on December 7th. Right now, it’s all about fine-tuning, focusing on execution and cleanliness, and just making sure everything is showtime-ready. For me, this whole year is really about taking it one day, one training session, and one competition at a time.
Looking past Milan Cortina 2026, and after chasing these massive Olympic goals, what adventures or life milestones are you looking forward to? What’s next in the grand scheme of Jaelin Kauf’s life?
Jaelin: I’m finishing up my final classes for my undergrad degree in Environmental and Sustainable Studies, so I’ll officially be graduating this spring, which feels like a pretty good milestone! I’m also starting a foundation called Deliver the Love, which is really close to my heart. The goal is to empower girls to find self-love and confidence through sport and help them find their own mountains to climb.
Jaelin Kauf is undeniably an athlete at the top of her game right now. With Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics spot secured, her focus shifts from simply qualifying to perfection. From her powder-filled beginnings on the slopes of Grand Targhee, Jaelin has grown into a powerhouse, yet her motto remains clear: “Deliver the Love.” As she prepares to charge into the next competitive season, aiming for that elusive Olympic Gold, the entire Teton Valley community, and the global TGR audience, will be right there with her, ready to cheer on the homegrown hero as she rips her way toward the podium.
Watch the Jaelin Kauf short film 'Deliver the Love,' on her path from Grand Targhee Resort to the 2026 Winter Olympics.
