IMC U16 Qualifier Showcases Many of the Best U16 Athletes in the Region

SUN VALLEY, Idaho – Feb. 28, 2022 – More than 150 athletes from around the region traveled to Sun Valley for the 31st Annual Laura Flood Memorial Race held Feb. 25-27. The race also served as an IMC U16 qualifier. At the conclusion of the weekend, the Laura Flood Memorial Race Perpetual Trophy was presented to the top U16 female and male skier after two giant slalom and one slalom race. SVSEF’s Lowie Watkins took the overall win for the women, and Romark Ski Academy’s Karsten Schillinger for the men.

Lowie Watkins was in top form taking 3rd in Friday’s giant slalom, 1st in Saturday’s giant slalom, and 4th in Sunday’s slalom. Watkins started skiing at the age of three, and has skied for SVSEF since the second grade. She started on the Mini World Cup team and has worked her way up through the North Series and IMD teams, and is now skiing for SVSEF’s USSA team as a U16 athlete. Following the event, Watkins said, “I’ve been working at this sport for a long time. It was great to have such a successful weekend especially in my home town.”

When asked what the best advice is that she’s received from a coach, Watkins shared, “training is the time to push yourself and acquire new skills and races are the time to use those skills.”

“The USSA Staff was very proud of our team this weekend,” said Nate Schwing, SVSEF USSA Head Team Coach. “It was very rewarding to see the many hours of training we put in result in an inspiring display of skiing and camaraderie from the group over the weekend! The team represented very well on our home hill in front of friends and family!”

Over the three days, SVSEF took home 18 podiums including six in the Open (U18) category and 12 in the U16 category. Awards were given to top three in the U18 category and top five for U16. In the U18 Men’s Giant Slalom, SVSEF swept the podium in both races. On Friday, it was Carter Sammis, Nicolas Tilander, and Cole Curci taking one, two, three; and on Saturday, it was Shaw McCoubrey, Nicolas Tilander, and Halston Wilkey in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respectively.

Max Meucci had a solid weekend taking 1st place in Friday’s U16 giant slalom and 2nd in Sunday’s slalom. In the women’s U16 slalom, three of the five podium steps went to SVSEF with Natalie Gowe in 2nd place, Lowie Watkins in 4th, and Taylor Hovey in 5th. Gowe also took 5th in Saturday’s giant slalom, 3.29 seconds back from Lowie Watkins in 1st. Meredith Bromley took the top step in Friday’s U16 giant slalom with her teammate Watkins just 0.82 seconds behind in 3rd place. Alan Dugan raced to 5th in Friday’s U16 giant slalom and Will Kogelman 4th in Sunday’s slalom to round out the successful weekend for SVSEF.

The Laura Flood Memorial Race holds a very special place in the ski racing and local community, held each year in memory of Laura Flood. Laura lost her life during a ski training accident at the age of nineteen while racing for the University of Colorado. The Race is made possible through the efforts of the entire community—the Flood family, coaches, volunteers, families, athletes, and of course Sun Valley Company and everything they do to help ensure an incredible race venue.

For complete event results, visit: https://www.imdalpine.org/news/2022-Laura-Flood-results-are-in/

Photo: Tim Carter