2016-2017 Gold Team Preview
A bizarrely sizeable portion of my tenth year around the sun was spent practicing my autograph on soccer balls, so I would have it down pat when the U.S. National Team decided they wanted me to join the lineup. Despite the absurdity of this rehearsal of sorts, I do not think my dreams of glory and prestige in athletics were an anomaly to those of the general public. But despite the draw of making a living competing in a sport you love, hardly any of us end up taking the chance and making the sacrifices to try to turn those ambitions into reality. To do so takes immense self-discipline, a good amount of natural, raw talent and unsurpassed levels of dedication to the sport. It is a steep and unpredictable mountain to conquer, if you consider the odds, but one that the SVSEF Gold Team athletes here in Sun Valley are tackling in full force.
At SVSEF, there are thirteen athletes who have taken the leap and are pursuing their dreams of competing at a high level in their respective sports. This foray into competitive, professional athletics is far from easy; each athlete is training constantly but often holds down another job, and there are numerous side projects that have become required in order to make it in the industry – one must have a prominent social media presence, secure sponsors and write blog posts or make appearances at events that engage their specific sport, to name a few of the additional demands.
The Gold Team, originally called the Olympic Development Team, was incorporated into SVSEF in 2005. The program was founded with the intention of assisting athletes who have risen to compete at national and international levels; athletes receive financial assistance and access to top-tier training environments. Their involvement in the local community encourages healthy active lifestyles for the younger SVSEF athletes and greater knowledge and support of snow sports.
Some of the SVSEF Gold Team athletes were born and raised in the Wood River Valley. Others spent a brief period of time here to train or race, and still others are completely new to the program. Regardless, a few constants remain true across the board; these skiers and snowboarders are full-time athletes who are dedicated to sharing their enthusiasm and appreciation for the sport both here in our community and to a broader audience across the U.S. and the world.
Eight athletes form the Cross Country Gold Team – of these, four are new to the team this year. It’s a strong group of skiers who have seen success at the collegiate level and beyond – with the caliber of these athletes, the team is looking cohesive and competitive this season. Head Coach Colin Rodgers laid out the principal team goals for this season:
Cole, Jack and Kelsey will be gunning for the U-23 World Championships which will be hosted by Soldier Hollow in Midway, UT. Qualification will be dependent upon results at the U.S. Championships in January. It will be exciting to have these athletes have the opportunity to pursue a World Championship birth on American soil!
Older athletes will be targeting U.S. Nationals, also to be held at Soldier Hollow in January 2017 – and then if those races go well they may be named to the U.S. World Championship Team. Lahti, Finland will be hosting the championships this year in February.
Returning from previous seasons with the Gold Team are Matt Gelso, Rogan Brown, Mary Rose and Deedra Irwin. The new athletes you will see out on the trails, cruising along on a distance ski or pounding out a set of intervals, are Jack Hegman, Cole Morgan, Kelsey Phinney and Annie Pokorny.
Veteran Matt Gelso has been skiing with the SVSEF Gold Team for six years, since graduating from the University of Colorado. He has raced throughout Europe and the U.S. and has competed at FIS World Cups and the FIS World Ski Championships. Gelso has garnered top three results at U.S. National Championships, and won an NCAA individual championship. Gelso hopes to make it to the World Ski Championships again this February.
Rogan Brown, originally from Durango, Colorado, is 24 years old and received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Vermont, where he was a member of the ski team. His main goals this season are to improve his sprint racing and land on the podium at U.S. Nationals this January, which will take place in Utah. Having lived in the Wood River Valley for two years, Brown is “continually impressed by its unity and ski culture.”
Mary Rose also grew up skiing in Colorado, in Steamboat Springs and then for the University of Colorado at Boulder. Since graduating, Rose has posted competitive results, setting her up for elite racing opportunities. In 2014, she competed at the Under-23 World Championships, multiple Scandinavian Cup races, Europa Cup races and Europa (OPA) Cup Finals. The following season, she had two top 10 finishes at the U.S. National Championships, qualifying her for the U.S. Ski Team’s OPA Cup trip in Central Europe. Domestically, Rose has been successful on the SuperTour circuit, with a win, a second place and a fifth place finish. This season, Rose is focusing on the SuperTour circuit, where she will look to qualify for the FIS World Cup and World Championships.
The fourth returning cross country Gold Team skier is Deedra Irwin, who hails from Wisconsin. This will be Irwin’s second season with the Gold Team; last year, she led the charge for the female athletes, with multiple top 15 results, a few top 10 results, and a win in both the Elite Birkebeiner Sprints and the American Classic Birkebeiner in Hayward, Wisconsin. In 2015, Irwin qualified to compete in Almaty, Kazakhstan as part of the U23 World Junior Team. The athlete went to school at Michigan Technological University, where she majored in exercise science, minored in international Spanish and coaching, and competed on the cross country running, track and cross country ski teams. Going into this season, Irwin will be concentrating on classic sprinting.
New to the team this year are former University of Vermont skiers, Jack Hegman and Cole Morgan. Hegman is originally from Huntington, Vermont, and studied Computer Science at UVM. He is a three-time NCAA All-American and has represented the U.S. at the World Junior Championships. Hegman’s current and former teammate Cole Morgan is from Bozeman, Montana, and skied for UVM after a post-graduate year skiing for SVSEF back in 2012. Morgan was the third American in the 2015 U.S. National Championships classic sprint, and has been named to two World Junior Championships teams. This season he is focusing on the U23 World Championships in Soldier Hollow, Utah.
The other two new recruits to the Cross Country Gold Team also attended school in Vermont; both skied for Middlebury College. Kelsey Phinney grew up in Boulder, Colorado, and attended Middlebury, where she studied neuroscience. Phinney skied for the U.S. at the U23 World Championships this past winter in Romania, and has her sights set on U23 Worlds in Utah this season. Her teammate Annie Pokorny skied for Middlebury but is originally from the West, where she grew up racing between Park City, Utah, and Spokane, Washington. She joined SVSEF as a junior in high school in 2009 and attended the Community School. At Middlebury, Pokorny majored in philosophy, was an NCAA All-American, a three-time member of the U.S. U23 World Championship team, and raced on Europe’s Scandinavian and Europa Cup circuits.
Returning to the Gold Team alpine lineup are Tanner Farrow and Kipling Weisel. Both athletes grew up skiing with SVSEF. Farrow has been involved with SVSEF since he was eight years old; he recently turned 23. The athlete attended Wood River High School and was named to the U.S. Ski Team on his 18th birthday – he has spent the past four seasons competing at the Nor Am and Europa Cup level. Although he was not renamed to the U.S. Ski Team at the completion of the 2015-2016 season, he will continue to pursue skiing at the World Cup and Olympic levels. Farrow recently accepted an offer to compete for the University of Denver, whose ski team is the reigning NCAA national champion. Kipling Weisel, also a SVSEF alum, now skis for Dartmouth College and is a member of the U.S. Alpine C Team. Last season he posted strong results, finishing 16th overall on the NorAm circuit and earning six top 10 results. At the U.S. Alpine Championships here in Sun Valley this past March, Weisel finished ninth in alpine combined and was the third junior racer overall in the event. He will graduate from Dartmouth in 2018.
In the snowboarding world, SVSEF Gold Team member Chase Josey continues to impress. Josey grew up snowboarding for SVSEF here in Sun Valley. The athlete had standout results throughout last season, with a second place finish at the Mammoth Mountain Grand Prix and a bronze medal in halfpipe at X Games Oslo. In 2015 he won the renowned Red Bull Double Pipe.
Gold Team freeskier Jacob Beebe has proven to be a promising competitor, and he has many years ahead of him as a seventeen-year old. Beebe is on the U.S. Rookie Halfpipe Team and resides in Bend, Oregon, where he attends Summit High School. In 2016, Beebe was 12th in the halfpipe at X Games Oslo and fifth at the Aspen Snowmass Freeskiing Open Halfpipe. His goals for this coming season are to qualify for X Games Aspen and to make finals at Dew Tour and Grand Prix events.
Rounding out the Gold Team is freeskier Tai Barrymore. Barrymore grew up in Sun Valley and graduated from Wood River High School in 2010; he was a skier for SVSEF beginning his junior year of high school. The 24-year old took first place at the Copper Mountain Grand Prix World Cup in 2012, second place at the Killington Dew Tour in 2013, is a four-time X Games athlete and seven-time Dew Tour athlete. Barrymore participated in every Olympic qualifier in 2014 for Sochi. The athlete suffered a torn ACL last year and is eager to get back into competition this season.
We are excited to see what the 2016-2017 season has in store for our Gold Team athletes; we know they will do big things, and we are glad to be along for the ride.
If you are interested in supporting SVSEF Gold Team athletes, there is a fundraiser on August 16th whose proceeds benefit the Gold Team. For more information about the Golf for Gold Tournament, please visit the website at svsef.org or contact Jody Zarkos with questions (jody@svsef.org, 208-726-4129 ext. 102).
Congratulations, SVSEF Grads! A Cap, Gown and a Vast Horizon
Spring in Sun Valley is a time of transition; hillsides erupt in saturated purples and yellows, rain showers blanket the valley in the stead of snow, and cleats and running shoes replace the ski boots that for the previous six months held significant real estate in the mudroom. For a small group of SVSEF athletes, spring is the signifier of a rather momentous transition, as it marks graduation from high school and the SVSEF program. Some are headed off to college while others are opting to take a post grad year. Regardless of the route each has chosen, we are eager to see where the road takes them, and would like to express our sincere congratulations to the graduating class of 2016.
Sixteen SVSEF athletes are headed to top schools this fall – from Middlebury College to Rocky Mountain College to UC Berkeley, their new homes span the far reaches of the United States. Taking on the East Coast and all its humid glory are Luke Brecheen (University of Vermont), Hunter Kern (Worcester Polytechnic Institute) Max Polito (Middlebury College), Annika Landis (Middlebury College), Max Tanous (Bowdoin College), Griffin Curtis (Clarkson University), Leo Lukens (Bates College) and Emily Siegel (St. Lawrence University). Athletes attending college out west include Jay Fitzgerald (Gonzaga University), Sarah Kope (University of Utah), Jacob Truxal (South Dakota School of Mines and Technology), Loni Unser (University of Colorado at Boulder), Ransom Bleyer (University of Colorado at Boulder – Business/Engineering), Ben Brunelle (UC Berkeley), Kristian DeWolfe (Rocky Mountain College) and Trey Potter (Sierra Nevada College). Of these athletes, a number will continue to compete at the collegiate level. Griffin Curtis will ski on the alpine team at Clarkson, Annika Landis and Max Polito will race on the Middlebury Nordic Team, Emily Siegel will race Nordic at St. Lawrence, and Kristian DeWolfe will be a member of the RMC Alpine Team.
Other SVSEF athletes have accepted spots at top colleges, but are deferring for a year to continue ski racing. These athletes include alpine racers Yuri McClure (PG at SVSEF; Plymouth State University), Ella Pepin (PG at SVSEF; St. Lawrence), Ruby Marden (St. Lawrence) and Will Snyder (Williams College). Also opting to take a PG year are cross-country skiers Danny Graves (Bend Endurance Academy), River Vorse (Boulder Nordic), Eli Jensen (SVSEF) and Carter Ros (SVSEF). Alpine skiers Duncan Fuller and Wyatt Smith will be skiing this coming season with SVSEF as PGs, as well.
There is no manual for navigating college or a PG year. Juggling classes, new friendships and extra-curricular activities, or figuring out a whole new pace and schedule without the tangible support of loved ones or a familiar structure and routine can be daunting. A common theme we have seen in our athletes’ reflections on their time in the program, however, is the notion that SVSEF has helped set a solid foundation for them to be able to overcome obstacles and challenges in the future.
Annika Landis, who will be attending Middlebury College and skiing on the Nordic Team, eloquently summed up these sentiments. “I honestly believe that the experiences I've had through SVSEF, the ones that shaped my character just as much as they improved my ski racing, have profoundly influenced how I will move forward in my life. The joys of ski racing were almost simply an aside to the grit, pranks, jokes, and self-discovery.”
Jay Fitzgerald, an alpine racer who starts at Gonzaga University in the fall remarked, “SVSEF has given me the skill set to confidently go out and explore new areas of interest. I think that SVSEF has made it possible for me to be willing to try something new and go to school and live in a place that I had not previously considered.”
The program has required its athletes to take responsibility from a young age, has demanded conscious planning and time-management skills, and has taught the importance of working hard and of creating meaningful and impactful relationships with both peers and mentors. All of these qualities are applicable to life beyond SVSEF, whether or not an athlete continues to ski or snowboard competitively – we can’t wait to see the success that this group of graduating seniors achieves in their future endeavors.
Regardless of whether SVSEF graduates plan on skiing competitively past high school, many have garnered financial support and awards both locally and from their schools as a result of their hard work and success in academia.
Awards and scholarships:
Luke Brecheen - Trustee’s Scholarship (merit-based)
Jay Fitzgerald - Merit Scholarship Award
Hunter Kern - Merit Scholarship Award
Sarah Kope - Freshman Academic Achievement Award, Non-resident Business Scholar Scholarship
Jacob Truxal - Freshman Scholarship, Sun Valley/Ketchum Rotary Scholarship, St. Charles Memorial Scholarship
Ransom Bleyer - Dean’s Scholarship to Colorado State (not attending)
Kristian DeWolfe - Dean’s Academic Scholarship and Athletic Scholarship
Annika Landis - National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist
Ruby Marden - Sesquicentennial Scholarship Award
Trey Potter - Merit Scholarship Award
Emily Siegel - Merit Scholarship Award, Presidential Achievement Award, Wells Fargo Scholarship
Ben Brunelle - Sun Valley/Ketchum Rotary Scholarship, Power Engineers Dependent STEM, Freidman Foundation
Photos from top: Ruby Marden, Carter Ros, Yuri McClure, Danny Graves, Sarah Kope.
SVSEF Program Director Andy Ware Charts Change of Course
After 17 years as a coach and program director with the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, Andy Ware is stepping down to pursue new opportunities. Ware said he would begin work as a sales representative at Rocky Mountain Hardware in July. Ware, 42, began working for SVSEF in 1999 as a coach on the freestyle team. He became head coach of the freestyle team in 2005 and program director of the freestyle and freeskiing programs in 2008, adding the title of snowboard program director in 2013. In 2008 the freestyle program was comprised of 46 athletes. During the 2015-16 season the three teams featured 130 skiers and 25 snowboarders.
107 SVSEF Athletes Receive Academic Award
Managing a full-time athletic schedule while handling a rigorous academic curriculum is a delicate balancing act for SVSEF student-athletes. Fatigue from hard workouts, competition and travel can take its toll in the classroom. Being able to juggle the demands of school and athletics, often among those of other commitments and hobbies, is no easy task. However, the restrictions on time and energy often come with the benefit of keeping one focused, organized and able to prioritize.
This year, SVSEF is proud to recognize 107 student-athletes for their achievements in academia; the athletes listed below have “earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or greater while training and competing with the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation,” according to SVSEF Academic Director Matt Leidecker. Cumulative GPA implies that the record keeping begins when the athlete enters ninth grade, and the award only recognizes the 9-12 grade levels.
Academic Award Recipients:
Alpine: Madison Ferris, Lily Fitzgerald, Bennett Snyder, Cooper Dart, Ruby Marden, Elizabeth Vanderkloot, Libby Lindstrom, Lucy More, Hayden Terjeson, Charlie Stumph, Ella Viesturs, Skylar Cooley, Cailin Chandler, Will Snyder, Nikolette Sabiers, Molly Milgard, Lauren Ashley Helm, Walter Lafky, Ian Hanna, Charlie Lamb, Keegan Webber, John Blackburn, Erin Smith, Katelyn Rathfon, Matt O’Connor, Wyatt Minor, Max Noddings, Abby Norton, Jake Blackburn, Sage Rheinschild, Lukas DeWolfe, Hunter Kern, Grace Pepin, Carter Jendrezak, Griffin Curtis, Jay Fitzgerald, Kristian DeWolfe, Blake Deilke, Duncan Fuller, Libby Kaiser, Addy Jacobsen, Kaia Jensen, Ransom Bleyer, Wyatt Barth, Anastasie Echeverria, Jackson Swenke, Yuri McClure, Noah Leininger, Wyatt Smith
Freestyle/Freeskiing: Eliza Marks, Hunter Diehl, Alex LaFleur, Henry Cherp, Blake Harmon, Addison Rafford, Wilson Dunn, Andrew Wharton Bickley, Tobias Verheijen, Evathea Drougas, Devon Brown, Trey Potter, Benjamin Anderson, Enrique Dolores, Alvaro Jiraldo, Katherine Markthaler, Luke Rizzo, Parker Nance, Hanna Blackwell, Brody Buchwalter, Lieder Schwartz, Rainey Wilson, Sarah Kope
Snowboarding: Elk Spencer, Cora Kaiser, Landon Moore, Payton Bacca, Aidan Green, Phebe Ericksen
Nordic: Isabella Bourret, Sophia Mazzoni, Kiran Merchant, Keene Morawitz, Joe Hall, Annika Landis, Katherine Estep, Max Tanous, Henry Raff, Emily Siegel, Peter Wolter, Naia Drougas, Ella Wolter, Max Polito, Ellie Polk, Leo Lukens, Luke Brecheen, Ben Brunelle, Lily Brunelle, Jenna Nurge, Landon Nurge, Sarah Truxal, Danny Graves, Dane Thompson, Carter Ros, Jacob Truxal, Ellie Gorham, Cooper Roquet, Loni Unser, River Vorse, Lexi Day, Michaela Petty, Eve Jensen
Accolades Abound for SVSEF Athletes
Freeskiers invited to Project Gold Camp
Six SVSEF athletes have been invited to the 2016 Project Gold Camp, which runs May 1-8 at Mammoth Mountain. Participants will have access to a phenomenal coaching staff, a 22-foot pipe cut off with air bags, two to three jumps, and assorted rails. Athletes were chosen based on performances at the Revolution Tour, USASA Nationals and Junior Nationals – others were selected based on discretion.
The SVSEF athletes who have been invited to attend are Alvaro Jiraldo, Hanna Blackwell, Jed Waters, Ridge Dirksmeier, Harper Mallett, and SVSEF Gold Team and U.S. Rookie Halfpipe Team Member Jacob Beebe.
Alvaro Jiraldo is one of six SVSEF athletes invited to attend the 2016 Project Gold Camp
Program Director Andy Ware noted, “This is the most athletes ever invited from our team. Our athletes and their coaches have had an outstanding season together and to receive this type of recognition from the ‘higher ups’ of the U.S. Freeskiing Team speaks to the level of effort they have given this season.”
FIS Team finishes season at Mt. Bachelor
The FIS Alpine team spent the past week at Mt. Bachelor, Oregon, for their final races of the season. Athletes competed in two super G events, followed by one downhill event. A second downhill race scheduled for April 18 was cancelled.
On April 13, the first day of racing, Yuri McClure finished 12th in the men’s super G. Spencer Wright was 25th and Will Snyder was 29th. John Blackburn finished 36th, Hayden Terjeson 40th, Noah Leininger 49th and Wyatt Smith 50th. In the women’s event, Haley Cutler was a big contender, ending up in second place behind Kathryn Parker, an Australian racer. Erin Smith narrowly missed the podium, landing in fourth place. Skylar Cooley was eighth and Ruby Marden 17th.
Another super G event followed on April 15. Will Snyder finished fifth, Griffin Curtis 13th and John Blackburn 28th. Hayden Terjeson was 31st, Spencer Wright was 42nd, Noah Leininger 48th, Charlie Lamb tied for 50th, and Wyatt Smith was 60th. Haley Cutler again finished second in the women’s event. Skylar Cooley was fifth, Ruby Marden eighth, Erin Smith 11th and Sage Rheinschild 26th.
In the men’s downhill on April 17, the top SVSEF men’s skiers were Will Snyder and Spencer Wright, who were 24th and 26th, respectively. Hayden Terjeson finished 33rd, Griffin Curtis 41st, John Blackburn 44th, Noah Leininger 53rd and Charlie Lamb 54th. Haley Cutler bested her previous second place finishes, clinching first place in the women’s downhill event. Erin Smith was sixth, Ruby Marden 10th and Sage Rheinschild 11th.
Full results:
http://data.fis-ski.com/alpine-skiing/results.html
End-of-season awards celebrate SVSEF athletes
Snowboarding:
Devo team
Love of Snowboarding: Callie Allen
Superstar teammate: Sophie Smith, Cash Landrum- Duval, Slader Landrum-Duval, Kiki Pate
Progression Beta/Alpha Team
Most Improved: Caleb and Madison Hothem
Most Inspirational: Zoe Bacca
Travel Beta/Alpha Team
Standout season: Payton Bacca, Aidan Green
Most Improved: Landon Moore
Most Inspirational: Phebe Ericksen
Freestyle and Freeskiing:
The freestyle and freeskiing “standout season” awards are given to the athletes who have made the most of every training session, understanding that their ability to improve depends on their attitude, their willingness, their focus and their effort.
Freestyle Comp Home Team: Erik Babcock, Samantha Smith
Freeskiing Comp Home Team: Charlie Price
Freeskiing Travel Teams: Ridge Dirksmeier, Jed Waters, Hanna Blackwell
Freestyle Travel Teams: Luke Rizzo, Esmee Verhiejen
Most Inspirational: Luke Rizzo
Ron Von Hagen- Defining Success Award: Luke Rizzo & Hanna Blackwell
Nordic:
Prep Team
Outstanding skier: Cash Dart, Logan Smith
Most improved: Jackson Bevers, Kate Horowitz
Coaches’ award: Sebi Radl-Jones, Anja Jensen
Most inspirational: Aidan Birchmore, Logan Smith
Comp Team
Most Improved: Henry Raff, Emily Siegel
Rookie of the Year: Johnny Hagenbuch, Sophia Mazzoni
Outstanding Skier: Peter Wolter, Annika Landis
Coaches’ award: Loni Unser
Most Inspirational (voted on by teammates): Annika Landis, Peter Wolter
Engl Award: Annika Landis, Eli Jensen
Torin Norton Tucker Scholarship: Keene Morawitz
Alpine
Longevity Award (given to skiers who started on Devo Team and progress all the way through the program, presented by Doran Key): Jay Fitzgerald, Kristian DeWolfe, Griffin Curtis, Will Snyder
Longevity Award for the Hailey Ski Team (presented by former Hailey Ski Team coach Nate Schwing): Yuri McClure
Coaches’ Award
FIS: Hayden Terjeson, Skylar Cooley
USSA: Max Noddings, Grace Pepin
IMD: Ethan Marx, Sage Curtis
Most Improved
FIS: John Blackburn, Katelyn Rathfon
USSA: Carter Jendrezak, Kaia Jensen
IMD: Will Penrose, Julia Ott
Most Inspirational
FIS: Yuri McClure, Skylar Cooley
USSA: Lukas DeWolfe, Nikki Sabiers
IMD: Ryder Sarchett, Anwhei Kirk
Engl Award
FIS: Will Snyder, Erin Smith
IMD: Ryder Sarchett, Falon Hanna
Odmark Award
FIS: Yuri McClure, Ruby Marden
IMD: Charlie Snyder, Lola Street
Mountain Kidd Award (given to an athlete who embraces and epitomizes the mountain culture and lifestyle): Kristian DeWolfe
Howard Dean Scholarship (covers next year’s tuition, presented by Peggy Dean): Sage Holter
Post-Season Pride: SVSEF Athletes Mine Gold at Copper Mountain
Zoe Bacca secures a win at USASA Nationals
Fifteen riders from the SVSEF Snowboard Team qualified for USASA Nationals; nine of them traveled to Copper Mountain, Colorado, to represent the program at the event. SVSEF stacked up a number of top-10 finishes. Phebe Eriksen finished eighth in the halfpipe, Caleb Hothem was ninth in the halfpipe. Aiden Green was sixth in the halfpipe and Landon Moore seventh. Payton Bacca rode well in both the halfpipe and boardercross, earning fourth in the pipe and fifth in boardercross.
Zoe Bacca owned the day, winning the national championship in the boardercross event in the Breaker Girls (12-13) class. The athlete won all four of her heats along with the final. The field consisted of 36 competitors from across the country; athletes from as far east as Maine and as far west as Washington convened to tackle the course for the final major competition of the year. Bacca blew the competition away, beating out Vermont’s Ty Schnorrbusch and Massachusetts’ Morgan Dardia.
"With a young team and strong finishes across the board, the SVSEF Snowboard Team looks to be in a good position heading into next season," commented Snowboard Progression Beta Team Coach Andy Gilbert.
Zoe Bacca reacts after crossing the boardercross finish line in first
Top SVSEF finishes:
Payton Bacca- Fifth, Youth Women (14-15), boardercross
Zoe Bacca- First, Breaker Girls (12-13), boardercross
Channing Curci- 21st, Breaker Girls (12-13), halfpipe
Phebe Ericksen- Eighth, Youth Women (14-15), slopestyle
Aidan Green- Sixth, Youth Men (14-15), halfpipe
Maddie Hothem-14th, Menehune Girls (10-11), boardercross
Landon Moore- Seventh, Junior Men (16-17), halfpipe
Full results:
http://www.rockymountainseries.com/mobileusasa/2016%20Snowboard%20Results/
Hanna Blackwell takes the USASA National Championship title in halfpipe
USASA National Championships are currently underway at Copper Mountain, Colorado. SVSEF freeskier Hanna Blackwell took the win in the halfpipe for the Skier Women (13-15) category. Her teammates Ridge Dirksmeier and Joey Markthaler were third and fifth in the Skier Boys (10-12) category in the halfpipe, and Dylan Mills was 10th in the same category. Will Griffith impressed and finished in ninth in the Skier Men (13-15) group in halfpipe. Competition at Copper continues through tomorrow.
Results:
Joey Markthaler- 11th, Skier Boys (10-12), slopestyle
Ridge Dirksmeier- Third, Skier Boys (10-12), halfpipe
Joey Markthaler- Fifth, Skier Boys (10-12), halfpipe
Harper Mallett- Eighth, Skier Boys (10-12), halfpipe
Dylan Mills- 10th, Skier Boys (10-12), halfpipe
Luke Higgins- 26th, Skier Boys (10-12), halfpipe
Will Griffith- Ninth, Skier Men (13-15), halfpipe
Jedson Waters- 12th, Skier Men (13-15), halfpipe
Full results:
http://www.rockymountainseries.com/mobileusasa/2016%20Skier%20Results/
Hanna Blackwell tops the podium
USSA Alpine finishes season at Snowbird
SVSEF alpine racers headed to Snowbird in Utah, where they competed in the Snow Cup April 6-10. Athletes raced super G, giant slalom and slalom throughout the week. This race series marked the end of the 2015-16 season, and the Bryce Astle IMD Intermountain Cup Awards were given at the end of the week; these were awarded to athletes based on overall results throughout the season. SVSEF skiers made their mark, with Lily Fitzgerald winning the IMD cup overall for women. Bennett Snyder was on the podium for the overall season. In slalom he was third, and he won the giant slalom overall title for the season; teammate Charlie Stumph was second in giant slalom. Lily was second in giant slalom for the overall season, and first in super G. Alli Rathfon was second overall for the super G season standings.
The team at Snowbird
Thirty SVSEF skiers raced in the actual race series. Standout performances came from Madison Ferris, who was second in the first super G race; Lily Fitzgerald was second in the second super G, and teammate Alli Rathfon skied to third. Bennett Snyder was fourth in the men’s second slalom event.
“It was a good weekend, with lots of kids scoring their career best point results for USSA; close to half the team accomplished this feat,” reflected USSA Head Coach Will Brandenburg. “To cap off the season, we went to a Real Salt Lake game – it was great to go as a team. This was a really amazing season – if there was a team overall award for the season, these athletes surely would’ve won the team IMD cup.”
Off-season training ramps up mid-May for the SVSEF athletes.
Full results:
http://www.ussa-imd.org/alpine/races15/U14.php
FIS at Mt. Bachelor
Competition starts today for SVSEF FIS skiers, who are at Mt. Bachelor, Oregon, for the Spring Speed series. Athletes will race super G and downhill for their final events of the season.
Team banquets
With the end of the season come the awards banquets:
Snowboarding: Tuesday, April 12, 6-8pm, Whiskey Jacques
Freestyle/freeskiing, comp home and above: Monday, April 18, 6-8pm, Whiskey Jacques
Alpine: Tuesday, April 19, 6-8pm, Whiskey Jacques
SVSEF Athletes Go Big in the Home Stretch
SVSEF freeskiers tear through the bumps in Montana
SVSEF freeskiers ventured to Snowbowl in Missoula, Montana, where they wrapped up the 2015/16 season at the “Spring til it breaks” contest. The weather was nice and warm; the bumps were soft and slushy. Leading the way for the SVSEF team was Luke Rizzo, who finished second overall in the first moguls event and second in the U15 men’s category. Esmee Verheijen was third overall for women in the moguls event on Sunday; this was her first podium. Rainey Wilson was not far behind Esmee’s fourth place finish in the April 2 moguls, landing in fifth overall in the women’s competition.
Rainey and Luke were fourth in duals, while Esmee finished fifth. In the singles run on Sunday, Esmee was third overall and Rainey was sixth; on the men’s side, Luke was fourth, Tobias Verheijen was seventh, Ben Anderson ninth, Henry Buell 14th and Chris Pedersen 15th.
Luke Rizzo cruises to second in the men's mogul event
Top Results:
Esmee Verheijen, 3rd overall, 1st F15, moguls, April 3
Rainey Wilson, 5th overall, 2nd F15, moguls, April 2
Luke Rizzo, 2nd overall, 2nd M15, moguls, April 2
Tobias Verheijen, 7th overall, 2nd M17
Ben Anderson, 4th M15, moguls, April 2
Henry Buell, 6th M15, moguls, April 2
Chris Pedersen, 7th M15, moguls, April 2
Full results:
Moguls 1
Moguls 2
Duals
A contingent of the team went to Squaw Valley, California, for another freestyle event, which also featured moguls and duals.
Results:
Girls:
By Age group: Addie Rafford- 1st F15; Katie Markthaler- 2nd F15; Eliza Marks- 4th F15;
Overall: Addie Rafford- 5th; Katie Markthaler- 8th; Eliza Marks- 11th
Boys:
By age group: Wilson Dunn- 4th M17; Toby Rafford- 1st M13
Overall: Wilson Dunn- 12th; Toby Rafford- 13th
Dual Moguls:
Addie Rafford- 4th; Katie Markthaler- 6th; Eliza Marks- 9th
Wilson Dunn- 4th; Toby Rafford- 9th
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Twelve SVSEF athletes have qualified for this year’s USASA Freeskiing National Championships, which are happening at Copper Mountain, Colorado, April 9-12. Skiercross, slopestyle, halfpipe and rail jam events will take place throughout the week. The SVSEF athletes who have qualified for Nationals are Alvaro Jiraldo, Will Griffith, Jed Waters, Hanna Blackwell, Trey Potter, Ridge Dirksmeier, Harper Mallet, Dylan Mills, Luke Higgins, Sam Ware, Kyle Kope and Sarah Kope. A big congratulations to all on a job well done.
Bennett Snyder leads the pack at U16 Nationals
Athletes were invited to participate at U16 Nationals, March 30 through April 2, based on their results at U16 Regional Championships. SVSEF alpine skier Bennett Snyder had an inspiring performance; with two podium finishes in the slalom and the giant slalom (he was third in both competitions), he now stands as the number one first year U16 in the nation. Lily Fitzgerald dug in deep and posted solid finishes; she was 16th in the ladies’ super G and 11th in the giant slalom. Buey Grossman nabbed 31st in the men’s slalom, 54th in the super G and 47th in the giant slalom. Alli Rathfon skied well in the giant slalom, finishing 21st.
Full results:
http://www.ussa-imd.org/forums/index.php/topic,1015.0.html
Haley Cutler stacks wins at Mission Ridge, Washington
The Alpine FIS Team headed west to Washington for the Western Region Elite Spring Series, which ran March 30-April 4. Haley Cutler started off strong, winning both ladies’ super G events. Skylar Cooley was 14th in the first event, Erin Smith 16th and Katelyn Rathfon 20th. On the second day of super G, Katelyn Rathfon brought the heat, finishing in eighth. Erin Smith was 12th and Skylar Cooley was 13th. Yuri McClure finished 13th and 15th in the men’s super G events; Josh Blackburn was 18th the first day, and Spencer Wright was 12th the second day. Will Snyder made the top 20 in the second super G, with a 19th place finish. Will Snyder led the SVSEF men in the slalom events, with 18th and 16th place finishes. In the men’s giant slalom, Yuri McClure clinched 17th. Haley Cutler was 19th in the ladies’ giant slalom and 13th in the slalom.
SVSEF results:
Men’s super G (1): 13- Yuri McClure; 18- John Blackburn; 22- Kristian DeWolfe; 22- Spencer Wright; 45- Walter Lafky; 46- Griffin Curtis; 50- Wyatt Smith; 52- Noah Leininger
Ladies’ super G (1): 1- Haley Cutler; 14- Skylar Cooley; 16- Erin Smith; 20- Katelyn Rathfon; 34- Sage Rheinschild; 36- Ruby Marden; 46- Abby Norton
Men’s super G (2): 12- Spencer Wright; 15- Yuri McClure; 19- Will Snyder; 33- Griffin Curtis; 51- Wyatt Smith
Ladies’ super G (2): 1- Haley Cutler; 8- Katelyn Rathfon; 12- Erin Smith; 13- Skylar Cooley; 30- Sage Rheinschild; 35- Ruby Marden; 46- Abby Norton
Men’s slalom: 18- Will Snyder; 28- Yuri McClure; 31- Griffin Curtis; 35- Spencer Wright; 40- Kristin DeWolfe; 41- John Blackburn; 42- Wyatt Smith; 45- Charlie Lamb
Ladies’ giant slalom: 19- Haley Cutler; 25- Erin Smith; 32- Skylar Cooley; 39- Sage Rheinschild; 46- Ruby Marden; 47- Abby Norton
Men’s slalom: 16- Will Snyder; 29- Charlie Lamb; 31- Spencer Wright; 33- Hayden Terjeson; 39- Walter Lafky
Men’s giant slalom: 17- Yuri McClure; 36- Spencer Wright; 46- Wyatt Smith; 50- Hayden Terjeson; 57- Noah Leininger
Ladies’ slalom: 13- Haley Cutler; 29- Ruby Marden; 38- Abby Norton
Men’s giant slalom: 19- Spencer Wright; 27- Noah Leininger; 30- Hayden Terjeson
Ladies’ giant slalom: 14- Erin Smith; 21- Ruby Marden; 23- Skylar Cooley; 26- Abby Norton
Full results:
http://data.fis-ski.com/alpine-skiing/results.html
Mini World Cup
SVSEF athletes raced in the final Mini World Cup of the season, marking the culmination of the race series. The top team for the season was USA, which consisted of Lucas Broussard, Eric Parris, Bodin Lee, Lowie Watkins and Caroline Dean. Switzerland finished in second (Max Meucci, Abel Marx, Alec Wiedemann, Lena Nelson, Scarlet Rixon and Taylor Hovey) and France in third (Jesse Keefe, Zephyr Carruth, Rylan Mann, Chloe Vogel and Ava Agnew).
For individual standings, also a culmination of races throughout the season, Max Meucci was first, Lucas Broussard second, Jesse Keefe third, Sacha Stern-Pre fourth and Eric Parris fifth for boys. Maya Lightner won overall for girls, Lowie Watkins was second, Lena Nelson third, Chloe Vogel fourth and Charlotte Davis-Jeffers fifth.
SVSEF Athletes Race with the Best at U.S. Alpine Championships, Western Region FIS Open
U.S. Alpine Championships bring top racers to Warm Springs
It was a successful week of racing here in Sun Valley at the Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships. Throngs of spectators gathered to watch top athletes as they tackled alpine combined, super G, slalom and giant slalom courses on Greyhawk.
Start lists featured U.S. athletes for the most part, but were dotted with skiers from across the globe – Japan, Croatia, Sweden, Germany and Canada were a few of the countries represented. Among the fields of high-ranking athletes were three current SVSEF skiers and three alums of the program. Hayden Terjeson, Haley Cutler and Erin Smith are on the Alpine FIS Team. Tanner Farrow attends Westminster College, Kipling Wiesel represents Dartmouth, and Teagen Palmer skis for the University of Utah; all three grew up racing for SVSEF.
SVSEF alum Teagen Palmer at the end of a giant slalom run on March 27. Photo courtesy of Becky Smith.
The first event of the week was the men’s alpine combined on March 22. Brennan Rubie won, followed by Kieffer Christianson and Hig Roberts. Kipling Weisel had a strong race, finishing 10th in a field of 57 men. In the men’s super G, Jack Gower of Great Britain took first, with Brennan Rubie in second and Kieffer Christianson in third. Kipling again had a strong performance, finishing ninth.
The women raced the same event the next day. Galena Wardle was the overall winner, while Megan McJames was second and Patricia Mangan third. Haley Cutler raced with tenacity, skiing to eighth overall and fifth for juniors. Erin Smith earned top 20 with a 17th place finish in a field of 43 skiers. Laurenne Ross captured the women’s super G title, with Jacqueline Wiles in second and Anna Marno in third. Haley Cutler was 9th and Erin Smith tied for 17th.
In the women’s super G on March 24, Anna Marno was champion. Laurenne Ross was second and Patricia Mangan was third. Haley Cutler just missed the top 10, placing 11th. Erin Smith was 21st for the day.
In the men’s event, Tim Jitloff stood at the top of the podium; Ryan Cochran-Siegle was second and Erik Arvidsson was third. Tanner Farrow was on point, landing in 10th, while Hayden Terjeson was 41st.
Men’s and women’s slalom events took place on March 25. Icy conditions made for a rough start to the day; a total of 38 women did not finish their first run. Mikaela Shiffrin showed why she’s top-ranked, winning by nearly seven seconds. Lila Lapanja was second, and Canadian Roni Remme was third. Erin Smith and Haley Cutler skied smart races and finished in 17th and 18th, respectively.
On the men’s side, David Chodounsky skied to first, Robby Kelley to second and Michael Ankeny to third.
The final discipline of the week was the giant slalom; the men skied on March 26 and the women on March 27. Kieffer Christianson continued his hot streak, winning the men’s race. Ryan Cochran-Siegle was second and Erik Read rounded out the top three. Tanner Farrow earned another 10th place, and Kipling Weisel was 17th. Mikaela Shiffrin again dominated, edging out Resi Stiegler for the win in the women’s event – Megan McJames was third. Teagen Palmer was 25th, Erin Smith 26th and Haley Cutler 29th.
The women's giant slalom podium, with Mikaela Shiffrin in first, Resi Stiegler in second and Megan McJames in third. Photo courtesy of Becky Smith.
In addition to the official alpine competitions, Sun Valley hosted a Big Air Exposition on Friday, March 25 at Dollar Mountain. Coaches Colin Collins, Rick Millett and Reed Snyderman joined SVSEF athletes Alvaro Jiraldo and Will Griffith and SVSEF alum Banks Gilberti in running laps on the jump and getting some major elevation. A sizeable crowd cheered on the skiers and snowboarders as they catapulted 75 to 100 feet into the air off a 75-foot table. The athletes threw double fronts and backs and cork 7 blunts, among other stunts, until wind speeds picked up and cut the event short.
Video of Big Air Exposition by Kim Garvin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UotBjcmO4kc
Reporting by Idaho Mountain Express (see original article here)
SVSEF racer McClure second at Sugar Bowl
Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation alpine ski racer Yuri McClure, 17, grabbed a second place in men’s giant slalom in Wednesday’s Western Region FIS Open race at Sugar Bowl, Ca.
It was the best ever International Ski Federation (FIS) finish for McClure, a Wood River High School senior. He won the second run out of 96 two-run finishers and placed first among the 83 U-19 men.
McClure has enjoyed success at Sugar Bowl this winter, having placed fifth in the National Junior giant slalom on the California hill Jan. 14. He was 12th in Tuesday’s GS at Sugar Bowl, the fifth U-19.
Other SVSEF men and their GS finishes from Wednesday:
26—John Blackburn (8th U-19). 30—Spencer Wright (12th U-19). 31—Will Snyder (13th U-19). 39—Kristian DeWolfe (19th U-19). 57—Charlie Lamb (36th U-19). 67—Wyatt Smith (44th U-19). 68—Walter Lafky (45th).
Will Snyder also cracked the top-10 among U-19 racers with a 10th place (26th overall) in Tuesday’s men’s GS.
SVSEF racer Skylar Cooley showed improvement in giant slalom Wednesday, rising to 18th place overall of 56 women and 13th in the U-19 class. She was 44th (28th U-19) Tuesday.
The weeklong race series wrapped up Thursday with men’s and women’s slalom.
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Men’s slalom results:
14- Will Snyder
30- Spencer Wright
Racers and pros gear up for the SVSEF Janss Pro-Am Classic
Keep an eye out for a slew of bold costumes and get-ups at Warm Springs this weekend; the SVSEF Janss Pro-Am Classic is back in full force. In its 19th iteration, the event’s theme this year is “The Reel Deal Movie Magic,” with teams choosing costumes based on favorite flicks. Named for Bill Janss, who owned Sun Valley from 1964 through 1977 and was an avid supporter of SVSEF, the event runs Thursday through Saturday. Dual giant slalom races will take place on Friday and Saturday. Teams are comprised of a Senior Pro, a Junior Pro who is a current SVSEF athlete, and four other racers of all abilities. This is SVSEF’s biggest fundraising event of the year, and all proceeds go towards growing the foundation.
Social passes can be purchased through end of day today; passes grant access to all events. Contact Jody for more details – jody@svsef.org or (208) 726-4129 ext. 102.
Hunter Diehl, SVSEF Athlete of the Week, clinches spots at JNs and U.S. Freestyle Championships
On the verge of qualifying for post-season events, Hunter Diehl stepped it up to get the nod to both Junior Nationals and the U.S. Freestyle Championships, making him this week’s SVSEF Athlete of the Week.
Hunter get some air
Hunter is a U15 who has been skiing with SVSEF for many years. For the athlete, this season has proven to be one of pushing limits and delivering when it counted. With a last-chance qualifying event in February at Northstar, California, Hunter earned a spot at Junior Nationals here in Sun Valley, and at the U.S. Freestyle Championships in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. At Junior Nationals, he finished 39th overall in a field of 76 in the men’s mogul event. In his U15 age class, Hunter bagged third. Perhaps more impressive was his finish at the U.S. Freestyle Championships; in a strong field and against athletes ten years his senior, Hunter again brought the heat and clinched 39th overall in the men’s mogul and first in the U15 class. Given that it was his first time at the event, this was an outstanding result.
Hunter finishes third in the U15 men's moguls at Junior Nationals
"It all begins and ends in your mind. What you give power to has power over you." Hunter’s success is exemplary of this idea from Leon Brown; his confidence, positive mindset and commitment kept him focused on succeeding when the stakes were high.
With his recent achievements, Hunter earned a spot at the U.S. Freestyle Team Young Guns camp, a development camp for aerial and mogul athletes that will take place this summer. Only the top three competitors in an age class qualify from Junior Nationals.
SVSEF Racers Ending Season With A Bang
Freestyle skiers end on a high note at U.S. Championships, Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Eight SVSEF skiers qualified to compete at the 2016 U.S. Freestyle Championships this year in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, marking the culmination of the 2016 season. For all of the athletes, this was their very first time at U.S. National Championships. Athletes flew down the moguls course on Friday, March 18th – the top SVSEF finisher in the men’s category was Alex LaFleur, who was second in his age group and 32nd overall in a field of 74 skiers. Teammate Hunter Diehl finished first in his U15 age class and 39th overall, Henry Cherp was 44th, Luke Rizzo skied to 50th and Wilson Dunn finished 53rd. SVSEF alum Trevor Norris was 17th overall. In the women’s competition, Addie Rafford finished in 41st, Eliza Marks was 49th and Devon Brown was 55th. Another SVSEF alum, Sophia Schwartz, made her way into ninth place, after an impressive fifth place qualifying run.
Aerials followed on Saturday, and the weekend ended with dual moguls on Sunday. In dual moguls, Wilson Dunn led the SVSEF men, finishing 43rd. Alex LaFleur was 61st, just ahead of Henry Cherp in 62nd. Hunter Diehl finished 66th and Luke Rizzo was 68th. Alum Trevor Norris skied to 18th after making it into the round of 32. Addie Rafford charged in the women’s dual moguls, cracking the top 50 and landing in 47th. Eliza Marks was hot on her tail in 48th and Devon Brown was 54th. Sophia Schwartz ended the weekend with a seventh place finish after breaking into the quarterfinals.
Freeskiing and Freestyle Program Director Andy Ware commended the SVSEF athletes on their great effort over the weekend and mentioned that, “they were not just in their very first U.S. National Championships, but were going against people literally 10 years older – the best in the country – so they gained some really valuable experience.”
The event was the last of the 2015-16 season for the SVSEF competitors. Hunter Diehl’s performance at Junior Nationals here in Sun Valley, where he was 39th in moguls, has led to an invitation to the U.S. Freestyle Team Young Guns camp. This is a select camp that is offered to top freestyle athletes.
Results:
Moguls, Friday, March 18
Men:
17- SVSEF alum Trevor Norris
32- Alex LaFleur
39- Hunter Diehl
44- Henry Cherp
50- Luke Rizzo
53- Wilson Dunn
Ladies:
9- SVSEF alum Sophia Schwartz
41- Addie Rafford
49- Eliza Marks
55- Devon Brown
Dual moguls, Sunday, March 20
Men:
18- SVSEF alum Trevor Norris
43- Wilson Dunn
61- Alex LaFleur
62- Henry Cherp
66- Hunter Diehl
68- Luke Rizzo
Women:
7- SVSEF alum Sophia Schwartz
47- Addie Rafford
48- Eliza Marks
54- Devon Brown
Full results:
http://freestyle.usskiteam.com/events/us-freestyle-championships
SVSEF alum Jake Adicoff delivers on the IPC World Cup circuit
Jake Adicoff, a SVSEF nordic alum, spent a week racing in Vuokatti, Finland, at the IPC Cross-Country Skiing World Cup. Adicoff, who competed in the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, had a remarkable week of racing in a field of strong international competitors in the men’s visually impaired class. The first event was the 7.5km biathlon, in which he finished in 11th place. In the one-kilometer classic sprint, Adicoff was just out of medal contention, finishing fourth behind three Russians. In the 30km classic event, he was sixth in a field of 11. Brian McKeever, a Canadian who dominated at the 2014 Paralympics, won the event, followed by Russian skier Alexsander Artemov in second and Thomas Clarion of France, in third. The final race of the week for Adicoff was a 10km freestyle. In a field of 19 racers, the Ketchum native again finished fourth. This was a telling week for the young athlete, as his strong performances and consistency in a talented field demonstrated the focus he has put on training and the potential he has to succeed internationally. This was the first international event since Sochi for Adicoff, who currently skis at the collegiate level for Bowdoin College in Maine. He was guided by John Farra, a former member of the U.S. Ski Team who now directs the U.S. Paralympics Nordic Program.
Full results:
https://www.paralympic.org/nordic-skiing/calendar-results
Guide John Farra with Jake Adicoff at the finish of the men's sprint. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Paralympics Nordic Program.
Alpine IMD Team steps it up at Snowbird for U14 Tri-Divisionals
SVSEF U14 alpine racers tackled the super G, giant slalom and slalom at the Tri-Divisional Championships at Snowbird in Utah, March 17-20. The event featured both U14 and U16 athletes, and as the Alaska Division did not attend this year, the quota for the IMD and ND divisions was expanded. Under sunny Utah skies, SVSEF skiers sped down “Big Emma,” clocking solid times across the board.
U14 super G:
2-Ethan Marx
4-Josh Blackburn
12-Nathan Gowe
14-William DeWolfe
9-Emma MacGuffie
U14 giant slalom:
4-Ben Goitiandia
7-Nathan Gowe
9-Ethan Marx
10-Josh Blackburn
12-Connor Campbell
15-William DeWolfe
U14 slalom:
3-Ben Goitiandia
10-Nathan Gowe
14-Joe Goitiandia
For U16's, Ashley Helm from the SVSEF USSA Team was 10th in the super G and fourth in the giant slalom.
Coach James Tautkus commended the athletes on a brilliant weekend of racing. "As a staff we are so impressed at the level of intensity these athletes brought to the table over the weekend; everyone of them was charging and making the most of the opportunity. The results and the success run deeper than the top 15 mentioned. I think all of these athletes were able to affirm the progress and effort they put into this season. In the last part of the season the amount of progress they continued to achieve was incredible. We are so proud of these kids."
Ethan Marx and Josh Blackburn take home the hardware
Full results:
http://www.ussa-imd.org/alpine/races15/U14.php
SVSEF Alpine FIS Team in the midst of competition at Sugar Bowl, California
The FIS Team traveled to Sugar Bowl for a series of races. The athletes competed in slalom and giant slalom events, before the March 21 slalom was cancelled. In the March 19 slalom, John Blackburn recorded a top-30 result, finishing 27th. Spencer Wright was 30th, Wyatt Smith 38th and Yuri McClure 40th. Abby Norton finished 32nd for the women, while teammates Skylar Cooley and Katelyn Rathfon were 33rd and 37th, respectively.
Official results are not yet available for the men’s March 20 giant slalom. On the women’s side, Katelyn Rathfon skied a smart race and finished 20th; teammate Abby Norton was 37th.
Full results:
http://data.fis-ski.com/alpine-skiing/results.html
AP FIS NorAm- Vail, Colorado, NorAm Cup
Haley Cutler, coming off of recent standout performances at NorAm Alpine Finals, competed at the FIS NorAm Cup in Vail, Colorado, March 19-21. A high-caliber field of racers from across North America came together to vie for top spots in the giant slalom and slalom. Haley did not finish her first run of the giant slalom on March 19, but returned the next day with a solid 26th place finish in the slalom. In the slalom on March 21, she finished in 44th place. Haley now has her sights set on the U.S. National Alpine Championships, happening this week in Sun Valley – she has qualified to race at Baldy, with top U.S. National Ski Team and collegiate racers.
Full results:
http://data.fis-ski.com/alpine-skiing/results.html
AP USSA: U16 Regionals, Mammoth, California
Amid challenging conditions, the Alpine USSA Team rolled with the punches at Mammoth Mountain, California, for U16 Regionals. Although official results are not yet available, Live Timing has posted unofficial results. Coach Will Brandenburg commended on the athletes’ strong performances. “Especially given that all of them are first years, it’s pretty impressive,” Brandenburg added.
Athletes are gearing up for U16 Nationals, which are at Snowbird, Utah, this year. The event will take place March 30 through April 3. SVSEF athletes who have qualified based on results at U16 Regionals include Lily Fitzgerald, Alli Rathfon and Bennett Snyder; all are first year U16s. Buey Grossman, a second year U14, has also qualified for U16 Nationals.
Bennett Snyder is all smiles on the podium at Mammoth Mountain
Unofficial results:
http://live-timing.com/races.php
Young SVSEF freestyle skiers showcase at Future Freestylers event
SVSEF hosted the Future Freestylers event on Sunday, March 20. The competition featured younger SVSEF athletes on Baldy moguls. Said Freestyle/Freeskiing Prep and Prep Entry Program Director Jennifer Diehl, “all the kids exhibited with flair what they have been working on all season.”
SVSEF freestyle skiers get amped at the top of the course
Results, by age:
Girls:
8: Norah Davis-Jeffers-1
9: Tatum Ware-1, Sawyer Vogel-2, Berkeley Canfield-3, Ellie Shandro-4, Nina Kieserman-5, Molly Roderick-6
10: Ruby Crist-1, Samantha Beaudoin-2, Tillie Babcock-3
11: Frances Cherp-1, Grace Rogers-2
12: Carson Vogel-1
Overall: Carson Vogel-1, Ruby Crist-2, Tatum Ware-3
Boys:
7: Kai Van Bueren-1, Jamie Kelly-2
8: Oscar Mullen-1, Austin McMahan-2
9: Zeppelin Pilaro-1, Teddy Hobbs-2, Easton Turck-3, Nic Rubenstein-4
10: Spencer Ferries-1, Gage Wilson-2, Caleb Allen-3, Anton Holter-4, Ethan Desler-5, Oliver Mullen-6
11: Logan Pilaro-1, Emmett Ruggeri-2, Brady Giles-3, Olin Patterson-4
12-13: Huck Dirksmeier-1, Eric Babcock-2, Sid Tomlinson-3
Overall: Spencer Ferries-1, Gage Wilson-2, Caleb Allen-3