SVSEF Cross Country Program to Host Second Annual Après Snowmaker Fundraiser

The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation’s Cross Country Program (SVSEF XC) is hosting its second annual Après Snowmaker Fundraiser on Saturday, Jan. 10 at the Sage School Barn in Hailey, Idaho. The event hopes to bring together the broader cross country skiing community in support of both SVSEF XC programs and the community-wide operations that also support the Lake Creek Trail System.

SVSEF XC is an integral part of the cross country skiing community—building and inspiring current and next generations of skiers, and bringing the local community together in a myriad of ways.

“As we step into an Olympic year, we are humbled by the support of this incredible community, which continues to encourage athletes of all ages as they pursue their cross-country skiing dreams,” said Becky Flynn, SVSEF XC Program Director. “Since 1972, the SVSEF Cross Country Program has been committed to shaping not only exceptional athletes, but a culture rooted in perseverance, joy, and connection. For our athletes, whether the journey leads to the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympic and Paralympic Games or winds around the trails at Lake Creek or Quigley, it’s about far more than a single event—it’s about commitment, resilience, and the strength of a community that believes in them. This event supports dreams of world-class success and homegrown victories, all rolled into one.”

What truly sets SVSEF XC apart is its role in shaping the future by supporting and engaging the community through tangible opportunities such as:

• Inspiring our valley’s youth to participate and celebrate cross country skiing and the active lifestyle and lifelong sport it presents.
• Offering world class facilities that allow athletes to train at the highest levels.
• Grooming and maintaining the Lake Creek Trail system, in cooperation with BCRD.
• Hosting special events including FIS-sanctioned races that bring the world to Sun Valley, and celebratory gatherings to celebrate the sport, its history, and its traditions.
• Presenting guest lectures and instruction open to the broader community.
• Serving as a community land partner with the BLM, US Forest Service, and BCRD.
• Providing logistical and volunteer support for iconic events like the Boulder Mountain Tour.

Tickets are on sale now for the Après Snowmaker Fundraiser—a night to connect, celebrate, and give back to what makes cross country skiing in our valley so special. Participation supports the invaluable resources that sustain our sport and ensures that the cross country traditions we cherish continue to thrive for generations to come. This special event will honor the past, celebrate the present, and invest in the future of cross country skiing in Sun Valley. 

Tickets to the event are $150.00 each and include heavy hors d’oeuvres, beer, and wine during the two-hour event, which will be held on Saturday, Jan. 10 from 5-7 p.m. at The Sage School Barn in Hailey. Tickets also include a free entry to the Snowmaker Classic Cross Country Ski Race, hosted by SVSEF XC earlier the same day at Lake Creek in Ketchum.

Raffle tickets are available online for $100.00 each through Friday, Jan. 9 at midnight. Winners will be drawn at 7 p.m. on Jan. 10 during the event for a Salomon Skis/Boots/Poles Package along with a Skida Hat set, or a Six-Month Membership to Zenergy Health Club & Spa. Winners need not be present to win.

The primary event sponsor is Ramsay Solutions, Inc. Supporting sponsors include Salomon, Skida, Zenergy, Idaho Mud, Elephant’s Perch, BCRD, and Sun Valley.

For more information and to buy event and/or raffle tickets, please visit SVSEF XC Après Snowmaker Fundraiser.