Monroe Cup at Rotarun Ski Area Honors Legendary Lane Monroe
Young athletes from across the Intermountain Division race to qualify for IMD Championships
The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation hosted the annual Monroe Cup alpine ski race at Rotarun Ski Area Feb. 4-5. Named after SVSEF legend Lane Monroe, the Monroe Cup brings nearly 200 U10, U12, and a handful of U14 athletes from across the region to compete in this Intermountain Division (IMD) Qualifier event. Monroe was the Program Director/Head Alpine Coach at SVSEF from 1970-1996 and also served as a U.S. Ski Team coach from 1973-1975 as the Men’s Special coach (1973-74) and Head Women’s Coach (1975-1976).
The 2023 Monroe Cup featured two slalom races (four runs) on Saturday for the girls, and the same for the boys on Sunday. The SVSEF Alpine U10 Travel Team and U12 Travel Team competed in the event, and athletes traveled from McCall Winter Sports Club (MWC), Jackson Hole Ski Club (JHSC), Bogus Basin Ski Education Foundation (BBSEF), Grand Targhee Ski and Snowboard Foundation (GTSSF), and Alyeska Ski Club (ASC) to make for great competition.
Rotarun Ski Area presented the perfect slalom venue for racing and spectating. The courses start out steep and allow athletes to travel fast down the pitch and carry speed to the flats into the finish. Hundreds of parents, families, and friends gathered to watch the races and partake in the festivities of the day including award ceremonies and the local La Parrilla food truck.
Saturday brought bluebird skies and sunshine for the U10 Women’s races, where SVSEF’s Alta Questad stood atop the podium in first place in the first race of the day. “If you don’t win at something, keep trying hard to achieve your dreams,” said Questad. “I’m so happy and thankful I get the chance to race!” Questad captured fourth place in the U10 Women’s second race.
Amelia Beck rounded out the U10 Women’s podium in 5th place for both races. For the U12 Women, SVSEF’s Savannah Pringle took second place in both races. In the first race, Taylor Rundell took fourth and Imogen Hutchisen fifth. Across both U12 Women races, SVSEF athletes took ten top-ten places.
“That was an amazing weekend of racing!” said Adele Savaria, SVSEF U12 Travel Team Head Coach. “We are so proud of all of the kids and their skiing and the team spirit they showed for their teammates. All the hard work they’ve put in so far this season shows with the great improvements by everyone.”
The snowy conditions on Sunday made racing challenging for the boys on Sunday. For the U10 Men, SVSEF’s Alex Grant earned two podium spots—second place in the morning race followed by a first place in the afternoon, while Halsten Bruun captured third place in the second race. SVSEF’s U12 Men had a stellar showing in both races. Henry Questad won the first race with Finn Malone on the podium in fifth, followed by four out of five spots on the podium for the second race were claimed by the SVSEF team: Cameron Beck (1), Henry Questad (2), Corbin Flood (3), and Thijs Lloyd (5).
For complete race results, please visit the links below:
Women Race #1
Women Race #2
Men Race #1
Men Race #2
Below are a couple of links to race photos taken by Thomas Smiley. There are some really great ones! If you are interested in purchasing any photos, you can do so directly through these links by clicking on the photo and adding to your cart. Different sizes and finishes are available, as well as digital images.
https://www.onlinepictureproof.com/smileysmtphoto/albums/2023_sun_valley_alpine_races_/
SVSEF Athlete Results:
Women – SL Saturday, February 4
Race #1 U10 Women
1 – Alta Questad
5 – Amelia Beck
6 – Sophie Robins
8 – Lauren Larrabee
9 – Presley Jensen
10 – Teodora Smither
15 – Samantha Heidel
19 – Lilla Bloedorn
21 – Arielle Ries
26 – Marie McNeal
28 – Zephyr Johnson
30 – Sarah Heinz
36 – Georgia Hill
37 – Lillee Haynes
40 – Marlowe Jones
43 – Josie Dondero
46 – Kailani Kreitler
47 – Lexi Kennedy
Race #1 U12 Women
2 – Savannah Pringle
4 – Taylor Rundell
5 – Imogen Hutchisen
6 – Piper Spengler
8 – Jennings Fraser
10 – Camille Reid
13 – Olivia Harrington
19 – Fernanda Hurtado
23 – Aviella Buoncristiani
24 – Brianna Smiley
28 – Brady Bloomfield
31 – Gaia Luem
32 – Makenna Steel
34 – Kinley Letson
35 – Stevie Crist
37 – Iliana Little
39 – Payton Scheigraber
41 – Halley McGrew
43 – Irie Black
52 – Hannah Howard
Race #2 U10 Women
4 – Alta Questad
5 – Amelia Beck
7 – Teodora Smither
10 – Lauren Larrabee
11 – Presley Jensen
12 – Sophie Robins
15 – Arielle Ries
18 – Lilla Bloedorn
22 – Zephyr Johnson
23 – Marie McNeal
32 – Georgia Hill
34 – Lillee Haynes
35 – Georgia Bea Stansberry
36 – Marlowe Jones
37 – Sarah Heinz
39 – Josie Dondero
43 – Kailani Kreitler
44 – Lexi Kennedy
Race #2 U12 Women
2 – Savannah Pringle
6 – Imogen Hutchisen
7 – Camille Reid
8 – Jennings Fraser
9 – Taylor Rundell
10 – Ava Gilmour
13 – Fernanda Hurtado
16 – Olivia Harrington
26 – Brianna Smiley
27 – Aviella Buoncristiani
29 – Makenna Steel
32 – Kinley Letson
33 – Iliana Little
34 – Brady Bloomfield
35 – Stevie Crist
38 – Irie Black
43 – Payton Scheigraber
48 – Hannah Howard
Men – SL Sunday, February 5
Race #1 U10 Men
2 – Alex Grant
6 – Asa Sattler
8 – Logan Steel
9 – Walker Gove
18 – Griffyn Kearney
Race #1 U12 Men
1 – Henry Questad
5 – Finn Malone
6 – Thijs Lloyd
10 – Charlie Spengler
11 – Coen Lamb
15 – Welsey Sewell
19 – Cameron Beck
22 – Hunter Gove
23 – Eli Sattler
25 – Cody Lloyd
31 – Brixen Ehleringer
34 – Cash Mintz
Race #2 U10 Men
1 – Alex Grant
3 – Halsten Bruun
6 – Walker Gove
Race #2 U12 Men
1 – Cameron Beck
2 – Henry Questad
3 – Corbin Flood
5 – Thijs Lloyd
6 – Charlie Spengler
11 – James Holman
15 – Cash Mintz
19 – Brixen Ehleringer
21 – Hunter Gove
27 – Eli Sattler
28 – Wesley Sewell
32 – Cody Lloyd
