Recap: 2018 Baldy Hill Climb
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Despite the smoke that had settled into the valley on the morning of September 29, 180 participants turned up for this year's Baldy Hill Climb. For the trek to the top of the 3,140-foot mountain, competitors could pick their poison – biking, hiking, racing (on foot), or, if they were feeling really gung-ho, the Cheeso Double. Named in memory of Craig "Cheeso" Kjesbo, a SVSEF alpine coach, the Cheeso Double involves biking to the top of Baldy first thing, taking the lift down, and joining the racing class for another jaunt back up to the top. Indeed, it is not for the faint of heart, body or mind.
This year's race class champion for men was Miles Fink-Debray, a local alumni of the SVSEF alpine program who has shown a knack for this particular challenge; Miles has now won the Baldy Hill Climb nine times. Miles finished the climb in 37 minutes and 37 seconds. Fifteen seconds behind him with a time of 37:52 was Adam Luban, a fresh face on the cross country Gold Team. Peter Holmes, another Gold Team skier, finished in third in 40:30. For women, Alexa Turzian claimed victory with a time of 47 minutes and 33 seconds. The SVSEF cross country alum topped the field by over a minute, even having just completed the biking portion of the Cheeso Double. SVSEF alums and current SVSEF coaches Emily Williams and Sloan Storey rounded out the top three, with times of 48:46 and 49:18, respectively.
In his first go at the Cheeso Double, Eric Chizum won in the men's category with a combined total time of 1:49:05. Thomas Liby was second, and Joel Brazil third. Brooke Hovey, a SVSEF coach and parent, powered to first for women in 2:06:19, followed by Alexa Turzian in 2:26:55 and Alison Burpee in 2:45:56. Brooke Hovey and Eric Chizum both took the win for the bike portion of the competition, as well. Breaking into the top three for overall bike results were Brandon Lynch in the men's race, pushing Thomas Liby to third, and Shelly Wisenhant, pushing Alexa Turzian to third for women.
Thank you to Sturtevants and Washington Federal, who sponsored the event, and to all of the volunteers who helped make the day go smoothly.
To view more photos, click HERE.
RESULTS:
Women's race class podium: Emily Williams (2), Alexa Turzian (1), Sloan Storey (3)
Men's race podium: Alex Luban (2), Miles Fink-Debray (1), Peter Holmes (3)
SVSEF Executive Director Scott McGrew crosses the finish line
Alexa Turzian in the final stretch
SVSEF Alpine Program Director Will Brandenburg and daughter Georgia put in some volunteer hours
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Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation Names New Executive Director and Alpine Program Director
April 20, 2018
Ketchum, Idaho (April 20, 2018) – The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) announced a change in leadership today, naming current SVSEF Alpine Program Director Scott McGrew Executive Director. McGrew succeeds longtime SVSEF proponent and current Executive Director Sam Adicoff, who has tendered his resignation, effective June 30. Involved with SVSEF in multiple capacities since his move to Ketchum 18 years ago, Adicoff will continue to support the organization on a volunteer basis, and will help ensure a smooth transition.
Sam Adicoff has been involved with SVSEF since his family relocated to the Wood River Valley from California in 2000. His three children participated in SVSEF programming, and Adicoff joined the Board of Directors in July 2011. He served as Treasurer and Board Chair, stepping down from board duties in 2016 to become Interim Executive Director in May. In January 2017, the Board appointed Adicoff to the position of Executive Director. In this leadership role, Adicoff’s dedication to the organization, success in increasing communications with parents, staff and the community and implementation of various process improvements have continued to serve the organization and its 678 athletes.
“I have enjoyed working with the athletes, parents, Board of Directors, and especially our very dedicated staff, who are the real heroes of the organization,” said Adicoff. “I am ecstatic that the Board has selected Scotty to succeed me. He brings an extremely strong work ethic, organization knowledge and incredible passion to the position. I am confident he will be successful leading SVSEF for many years to come.”
“Sam has been an integral part of SVSEF for many years, and provided strong leadership and countless contributions, originally as the Board Chair and then as Executive Director,” said Jim DeWolfe, current Board Chair. “Sam’s tireless commitment has served to deepen our strategic relationships throughout the Valley and comprehensively organize the financial structure, and has provided keen oversight for administrative and programming initiatives. Sam will be missed on a day-to-day basis, however he will provide important guidance as Scotty takes the reins, and will remain a valuable advisor to the Foundation.”
In a meeting on Thursday, April 19, the SVSEF Board of Directors appointed Scott McGrew, who has extensive ties to the organization, to the position of Executive Director.
“Scotty brings a level of passion and commitment to SVSEF that is unparalleled,” remarked Board Chair Jim DeWolfe. “He is highly regarded throughout the Wood River
Valley, and will provide strong leadership for years to come as we strive to improve the Foundation’s programming from grassroots initiatives to the most elite competitive levels.”
“I’m honored to be selected as the SVSEF’s executive director,” said McGrew. “For the past 15 years that I’ve been professionally involved with the organization, I’ve seen a magnificent amount of evolution and change. I’m excited to steward that continued evolution as we work to provide impactful and transformative experiences for our community. SVSEF has a long-standing heritage of excellence through sport, and I’m excited to build on that heritage and further define SVSEF as one of the highest regarded winter sports clubs in the country. Thank you to Sam Adicoff and all the previous EDs and coaches who have built an amazing launch point for the future of the club. “
McGrew has been involved with SVSEF since its early days. He was a member of the alpine program from the age of eight until he graduated high school, gaining important perspective that would prove invaluable when he returned years later. McGrew attended the University of New Mexico, where he earned two B.S. degrees in biochemistry and cultural anthropology. He later pursued a graduate degree, earning a Master of Business Administration from Boise State University in October 2016. Seven years after the close of his career as an athlete with SVSEF, McGrew rejoined the organization in a new capacity – as a coach. McGrew quickly moved up through the ranks, serving first as an assistant FIS coach and then as a head coach. He assumed the role of Assistant Alpine Program Director, and most recently Alpine Program Director, a title he has held since 2014. McGrew oversees the largest SVSEF program; with over 300 alpine athletes and 45 coaches, there are a lot of moving parts. McGrew has worked to grow South Valley initiatives, implemented numerous programmatic changes resulting in accelerated growth and professionalism of the team and generated and nurtured support for the organization as a whole. McGrew’s professionalism, depth of knowledge and enthusiasm and passion for SVSEF and the heritage of this community are qualities that will lend themselves to his new role as Executive Director.
McGrew lives in Hailey, Idaho, with his wife, Sirimukh, and their three children.
With the appointment of McGrew to Executive Director, SVSEF is pleased to welcome Will Brandenburg back to the organization as Alpine Program Director. Brandenburg will step into the position with a broad range of relevant industry experience. Hailing from Walla Walla, Washington, Brandenburg grew up racing with the Spokane Ski Racing Association and Schweitzer Mountain before being named to the U.S. Development Team in 2006. He was a member of the U.S. National Team for the 2010 Winter Olympics, with a top finish of 10th place in the super combined. Brandenburg has experience on the World Cup circuit as well, with a best finish of sixth in the slalom at Kranjska Gora in 2012. In 2013, he finished first in the combined at U.S. Alpine Championships. Shifting to a career in coaching, Brandenburg joined SVSEF in 2015 as the USSA Team Head Coach, and was most recently the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Western Region Coach from 2017-2018.
“SVSEF is extremely excited to have Will Brandenburg return to and lead the alpine program,” said SVSEF Athletic Director Phil McNichol. “His experience as a World Cup and Olympic athlete, combined with his coaching success both at SVSEF and the Western Region is a powerful combination.”
In other personnel changes, SVSEF Athletic Director and Interim Mogul Program Director Phil McNichol will be moving onto new opportunities, and has tendered his resignation, effective June 30. With organizational restructuring, the Athletic Director position will be eliminated. McNichol joined SVSEF in 2014 as Alpine Technical Director. In his expanded role as Athletic Director, which he assumed at the start of the 2016-2017 season, he oversaw all athletic programs and helped guide the growth of the organization, tackling initiatives pertaining to coaches, travel and programmatic strategy and objectives. Before SVSEF, McNichol led the U.S. Men’s Alpine Team for 11 years.
Also leaving the organization at the end of June is Jody Zarkos, who currently serves as Director of Events and Community Relations. Zarkos joined SVSEF in 2011, and has held numerous roles for the organization throughout her tenure. Her work in fundraising efforts has contributed to the continued success of SVSEF programs, and has helped make possible the subsidization of team costs for all participating athletes.
About SVSEF
52 years strong, the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) provides year-round ski and snowboard training and competitive opportunities for 20% of Wood River Valley youth in Ketchum, Idaho. The driving philosophy behind SVSEF is to create a positive, fun and productive environment that inspires each one of our athletes to meet his or her fullest potential. Team members acquire the tools for success, not only in their winter sport, but also in the pursuit of their ultimate goals and dreams. In the 2017-2018 season, SVSEF supported 678 student-athletes across alpine, big mountain, cross country, mogul, freeskiing and snowboarding teams. SVSEF has achieved numerous accolades; the organization was named USSA Club of the Year in 1999, was given USOC Olympic & Paralympic Training Site designation, first in cross country in 2012 and then in all disciplines in 2015, and was upgraded from silver to gold USSA club status in 2017.
Contact Us
If you have questions, please contact the SVSEF office at 208.726.4129, or jseyferth@svsef.org.
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Registration Open for SVSEF Air Barn Action Camps
Sign up now through your online account!
If you have questions, please contact the office at 208.726.4129, or Tyler Conway at 970.409.9617 / tconway@svsef.org.
Week in Review: March 20
CROSS COUNTRY
Alumni
Alum Jake Adicoff took silver in the men's VI 10km classic on Saturday in Pyeongchang. Jake, who was disqualified in the sprint earlier in the week post-event, stayed positive, stayed focused, and put together a great race to end the individual portion of his Paralympic competition. He was guided by Sawyer Kesselheim, who works at Galena Lodge. In the 4x2.5 km mixed relay on Sunday, Jake anchored a team that included Kendall Gretsch (sit skier, skied two legs) and Ruslan Reiter (standing) to seventh place.
PARK & PIPE
Payton and Zoe Bacca
Payton Bacca, a member of the snowboard team, has been traveling the U.S. to get more high-level competition under her belt. She recently competed in two NorAm Cup snowboardcross events at Sugarloaf, Maine, and one RevTour snowboardcross event. The fields hosted athletes from U.S., Canadian, Australian and Romanian national teams. Payton had a successful week, finding the podium in third at the RevTour SBX. In the NorAm events, she qualified and made finals both days, with 13th and 15th place finishes. Currently, Payton is the third ranked 2001 athlete in the U.S., and the #12 ranked 2001 athlete in the world on the March FIS list.
Both Payton and her younger sister Zoe competed at the Toyota Super Girl Snow Pro at Big Bear in Southern California this past weekend. The event is a professional-level snowboardcross and halfpipe showcase event, that also incorporates athletes at the developmental level. The SBX even was led this year by 10-time X Games gold medalist and four-time U.S. Olympian Lindsey Jacobellis. Zoe and Payton competed as pros, among names like Lindsey Jacobellis, Faye Gulini and Meghan Tierney. A slew of big guns were there for halfpipe, as well – from Hannah Teter to Kelly Clark, Torah Bright and Jamie Anderson.
The SBX pro event had 16 competitors (three who just came off of performances at the 2018 Olympics). Because there were no time trails as there usually are for events like World Cups and NorAms, places 9-16 were determined by how an athlete finished in her heat. Payton was third in her heat, meaning she tied for ninth place, and Zoe was fourth and tied for 13th.
| Nation | Age | Team | |||||
| 1 | Faye | Gulini | USA | 25 | US Snowboard Team | 2018 Olympics | |
| 2 | Lindsey | Jacobellis | USA | 32 | US Snowboard Team | 2018 Olympics | |
| 3 | Colleen | Healey | USA | 21 | USA / Team Healey | ||
| 4 | Isabella | Gomez | USA | 16 | Summit at Snoqualmie | ||
| 5 | Meghan | Tierney | USA | 21 | US Snowboard Team | 2018 Olympics | |
| 6 | Nellie | Steinhoff | USA | 23 | Auburn Ski Club, CA | ||
| 7 | Anna | Miller | USA | 21 | Team Reign-USA | ||
| 8 | Livi | Molodyh | USA | 18 | Mt. Bachelor- MBSEF | ||
| 9 | Payton | Bacca | USA | 16 | Sun Valley-SVSEF | ||
| 9 | Tamara | Cowley | AUS | 17 | Team Reign-Australia | ||
| 9 | Haili | Moyer | CAN | 22 | Ontario Ski Club | ||
| 9 | Alex | White | CAN | 17 | CAN /BC Provincal Team | ||
| 13 | Shannon | Maguire | USA | 19 | Park City SBX Team | ||
| 13 | Zoe | Bacca | USA | 14 | Sun Valley-SVSEF | ||
| 13 | Audry | Shieh | CAN | 18 | CAN /BC Provincal Team | ||
| 13 | Megan | Hebert | CAN | 25 | CAN /BC Provincal Team | ||
Travel
Will Griffith, who qualified for the Rev Tour, competed at Mammoth for the series in freeski big air and slopestyle. He had a great result in 12th in the big air competition, and finished 42nd in slopestyle.
RESULTS
IFSA Big Mountain
IFSA Big Mountain athletes were scattered throughout the West this week, with some at home, others at Whistler for a national level competition, and still others at Snowbird for another national event. Esmee Verheijen led the charge at Whistler for women, taking eighth, just in front of teammates Katie Markthaler and Addie Rafford in ninth and 12th in the 15-18 age class. Alex LaFleur threw down a solid run, placing sixth overall for 15-18 men. Hunter Diehl was 10th, Wilson Dunn 12th and Wyatt Minor 22nd. At Snowbird, Joe Goitiandia was 36th overall for 12-14 year old men. Axel Diehl finished 47th in the 15-18 category, and Molly Kucher finished 11th for 15-18 women. Paris Pratt received a TDQ (time disqualification).
WHISTLER RESULTS
SNOWBIRD RESULTS
ALPINE
FIS
NorAm finals, Kimberly, BC
Both Lily Fitzgerald and Alli Rathfon scored their first NorAm points at NorAm finals in Kimberly, BC – a huge accomplishment, as you have to be top 30 in the field, as well as within 8% of the winner. Lily scored points in both the super G (27th place) and the alpine combined (23rd), and Alli scored points in the second super G (28th).
“It was a great experience for both of them, being around high caliber athletes and getting to see how they work in this setting,” noted coach Brett Morris.
FIS
Western Region Junior Champs, Schweitzer
SVSEF FIS athletes competed in six events; two giant slalom, two super G and two slalom races, over the course of six days at Schweitzer. Two different SVSEF athletes found the podium, and a number made top ten throughout the week, speaking to the strength of this team. Spencer Wright was second in the men’s first super G, with teammates Jack Smith and Hayden Terjeson also breaking the top 10 in seventh and ninth. Jack took second in the same discipline the next day, with Spencer joining him in third. John Blackburn had a solid finish in sixth in the same event. John’s sibling Jake Blackburn had his best finish in the giant slalom, skiing to 22nd. Max Noddings also clocked his top result in the same race, finishing 19th. Ian Hanna’s top finish was in the super G in 77th, Bennett Snyder’s was in the super G in 12th, and Thomas Klose had a solid finish in the slalom in 23rd.
For women, Maddie Ferris had her top result in the giant slalom, in which she finished seventh overall. Cailin Chandler’s top posting was 41st in slalom.
Women’s GS 1
Maddie Ferris - 7, Cailin Chandler - 48
Men’s super G 1
Spence Wright - 2, Jack Smith - 7, Hayden Terjeson - 9, John Blackburn - 11, Max Noddings - 21, Bennett Snyder - 23, Jake Blackburn - 39, Thomas Klose - 56, Ian Hanna - 91
Women’s GS 2
Maddie - DNF, Cailin - DNF
Men’s super G 2
Jack - 2, Spencer - 3, John - 6, Hayden - 11, Bennett - 12, Max - 23, Jake - 49, Thomas - 58, Ian - 77
Men’s GS 1
John - 5, Spencer - 10, Jack - 15, Hayden - 16, Max - 22, Jake - 29, Bennett - 46, Thomas - 56, Ian - DNF
Women’s super G 1
Maddie - 16, Cailin - 48
Men’s GS 2
Jack - 10, Max - 19, Spencer - 20, Jake - 22, Bennett - 48, Thomas - DNF, Hayden - DNF, John - DNF, Ian - DNF
Women’s super G 2
Maddie- 31, Cailin - 48
Women’s slalom 1
Maddie- 19, Cailin -42
Men’s slalom 1
Spencer - 5, Hayden - 7, Thomas - 23, Jake -25, Max - 26, Bennett - 27, Will Snyder (alum, attends Williams College) - 32, John - DNF, Ian - DNF, Jack - DNF
Women’s slalom 2
Maddie - 20, Cailin - 41
Men’s slalom 2
Will Snyder (alum) - 3, Hayden -9, Max - 20, Bennett - 23, Spencer -35, Jack - DNF, John- DNF, Jake - DNF, Ian- DNF, Thomas -DNF
RESULTS
IMD
U14 Western Region Champs, Jackson
SVSEF IMD skiers had a great weekend at U14 Western Region Championships in Jackson, with Logan Lindstrom taking the women’s overall win. Athletes Jessica Blackburn, Saba Grossman, Logan Lindstrom, Paige DeHart, and Colin Hanna were all top six overall for the weekend, and have therefore qualified for the Whistler Cup in April. An international race series for U14s and first year U16s, this is a big deal and a great opportunity for these athletes. SVSEF had the most athletes of any club qualify. "After seeing athletes from Far West, PSNA, Alaska, and Northern compete, it is pretty clear that Sun Valley and the Intermountain Division are doing something very right in our development,” reflected IMD head coach James Tautkus. “For us, every day we ski at home may feel like just another day; however, our days are filled with better, stronger development opportunities than any of these other divisions, and it showed in our athletes’ skiing this weekend.” Highlights for the weekend came in the form of Colin Hanna’s second place finish in the super G and sixth place in the giant slalom. Nils Galloway had a great slalom race, making the top 10 in seventh. In the women’s super G, SVSEF put four athletes in the top 10 – Jessica Blackburn was second, Saba Grossman third, Paige DeHart sixth and Logan Lindstrom seventh. Jessica was again second in the giant slalom, and Paige joined her on the podium in third. Logan Lindstrom was close behind in sixth, and skied to first the next day in the slalom. She was the overall women’s winner for the weekend, with strong, consistent performances (seventh in super G, sixth in giant slalom, first in slalom). Saba was second in the slalom, Hannah Ferris posted a great result in ninth, and Agnes Kind stepped it up and into 16th on the day. The women and men as a whole stayed consistently and collectively in the top half of the field throughout the weekend, speaking to the strong grouping this team possesses.
Men’s super G
Colin Hanna -2, Nils Galloway - 10, Carter Sammis - DNF
Women’s super G
Jessica Blackburn - 2, Saba Grossman - 3, Paige DeHart - 6, Logan Lindstrom - 7, Hannah Ferris - 11, Maya Lightner - 13, Agnes Kind - 28
Men’s GS
Colin Hanna - 6, Nils Galloway - 14, Carter Sammis - DNF
Women’s GS
Jessica Blackburn - 2, Paige DeHart - 3, Logan Lindstrom - 6, Saba Grossman - 11, Hannah Ferris - 23, Agnes Kind - 29, Maya Lightner - DNF
Men’s slalom
Nils Galloway - 7, Carter Sammis - DNF, Colin Hanna - DNF
Women’s slalom
Logan Lindstrom - 1, Saba Grossman - 2, Hannah Ferris - 9, Agnes Kind - 16, Paige DeHart - 29, Maya Lightner - DQ, Jessica Blackburn - DNF
RESULTS
North Series
IMD Champs, Grand Targhee
The North Series team traveled to Grand Targhee for IMD Championships. Max Meucci cranked out a win in the slalom, and Tucker Smith finished third in the giant slalom. Will Kogelmann joined Max and Tucker (seventh) in the top 10 in the slalom, skiing to ninth overall. Owen Walker and Will had good results in the giant slalom, as well, going 14-15. Natalie Gowe stepped onto the podium for girls, finishing third in the slalom, and teammate Ruby Crist clocked a fast time, coming in fifth. The athletes put it all on the line for the Championships; Norah Davis-Jeffers finished 17th in the slalom, Eden Grace Gardner 20th, and Ava Agnew 29th. Hanna Bailey (41st), Madda Mourier-Floyd (43rd), Rowan Desler (46th), Scarlet Rixon (48th), Simone Tumolo (50th) and Scarlet Pringle (62nd) all had their best results in the slalom, as well. Scarlett Carruth and Josie Sarchett both had their top races in the giant slalom event, skiing to 39th and 54th, respectively. Paxton Sammis skied fast in the slalom, coming in 22nd. Other SVSEF athletes who had their top result in the slalom were Sascha Stern-Pre, finishing 28th, Abel Marx (39th) and Drew Kogelmann (62nd). Tommy Hovey posted his best, 58th, in the giant slalom.
In duals, Tucker and Will qualified for the final round of eight; Will finished fourth and Tucker was eliminated in the first round.
Men’s giant slalom
Tucker Smith - 3, Owen Walker -14, Will Kogelmann -15, Paxton Sammis - 28, Abel Marx- 42, Sacha Stern-Pre - 45, Tommy Hovey - 58, Max Meucci - DNF, Jensen Pierre - DQ, Drew Kogelmann - DQ
Women’s giant slalom
Natalie Gowe - 10, Ruby Crist - 13, Eden Grace Gardner - 27, Scarlett Carruth - 39, Rowan Desler - 48, Madda Mourier-Floyd - 50, Ava Agnew - 52, Josie Sarchett - 54, Scarlet Rixon - 60
Simone Tumolo - 61, Hanna Bailey - 64, Norah Davis-Jeffers - 70, Scarlet Pringle - 77, Taylor Hovey - DQ
Men’s slalom
Max Meucci - 1, Tucker Smith - 7, Will Kogelmann - 9, Paxton Sammis - 22, Sacha Stern-Pre -28, Abel Marx - 39, Drew Kogelmann - 62, Tommy Hovey - 76, Jensen Pierre - DNF, Owen Walker - DQ
Women’s slalom
Natalie Gowe - 3, Ruby Crist - 5, Norah Davis-Jeffers - 17, Eden Grace Gardner - 20, Ava Agnew - 29, Hanna Bailey 41, Madda Mourier-Floyd - 43, Rowan Desler - 46, Scarlet Rixon - 48, Simone Tumolo - 50, Scarlet Pringle - 62, Taylor Hovey - DNF, Scarlett Carruth - DQ, Josie Sarchett - DQ
RESULTS
Week in Review: March 13
CROSS COUNTRY
COMP/PG
Junior Nationals
Junior Nationals bring together the best cross country athletes from each region throughout the U.S. for four races.Over 350 racers took part. This year, Junior Nationals were held at Soldier Hollow in Utah, an Intermountain region venue. The week commenced with a 5/10km classic interval start, with SVSEF's Sydney Palmer-Leger leading the charge for SVSEF and the Intermountain region with a win in the U16 category. Annika Landis, a SVSEF alumni who now attends Middlebury College, also skied to first in the U20 age group. SVSEF's U16 girls had a great day all together, placing all girls close to the top half of the field – Sydney-1, Logan Smith-4, Anja Jensen-28, Sascha Leidecker-34 and Luci Ludwig-35. Despite illness, Johnny Hagenbuch was sixth for U18 men, and Henry Raff had his best result of the week in 14th for U20 men.
SVSEF skiers got off to a good start in the freestyle sprint qualifiers on Wednesday, March 7, with all U16 girls qualifying for rounds, Logan and Sydney qualifying for second and fourth places, Cash Dart qualifying for U16 heats in fifth, and PG Will Solow qualifying second for U20 men. Alumni Annika Landis and Emily Siegel qualified for U20 women in 12th and 16th, and U18 women Sophia Mazzoni and Lily Brunelle qualified for heats in 12th and 15th.
In heats, Sydney Palmer-Leger and Logan Smith made it all the way to the A final. Logan stuck with the front group in the final heat, powering past the athlete in the lead on the final big climb to assert herself in first for the remainder of the race. Logan won, and teammate Sydney finished third. Will Solow made it all the way to B finals, where he finished fifth in his heat and 11th overall. Johnny Hagenbuch won the B final for U18 men, putting him in seventh overall. In the U20 women's A finals, Annika Landis placed fifth.
The 5/10/15km mass start freestyle on March 10 was a tough race – over 30 competitors dropped out throughout the day. Conditions were rough, with warm temperatures and unpredictable snow. Sydney Palmer-Leger, who was leading the U16 women in the 5km, fell on a long downhill with rollers, leaving her with whiplash and concussion. Cash Dart injured separated his shoulder after a fall in the crowd at the start. Despite these setbacks, SVSEF had some highlights for the day – Johnny Hagenbuch found the podium in third for U18 men, and Annika Landis did the same, finishing second for her second podium of the week in the U20 women's 10km. Lily Brunelle skied will in the U18 5km category, finishing 14th overall, as did Kirsys Campbell and Eve Jensen, who finished 36th and 38th. Emily Siegel had a solid effort, finishing 15th in the U20 women's event. Drew Palmer-Leger did, as well, finishing 28th in the U20 men's 15km.
The last event was a team relay on Saturday, with three 3km classic legs. Annika Landis pulled her team up from sixth place onto the podium in third on her anchor leg, and Logan Smith anchored her U16 team, taking the group into seventh.
The Intermountain region was fourth overall in the 10-team Alaska Cup standings, and SVSEF placed fifth in a group of 43 college and club teams, behind Loppet Nordic, Stratton Mountain School, Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club and Alaska Pacific Nordic.
Top Finishes
U20 Men:
Will Solow- 11, skate sprint
Henry Raff- 14, classic distance
Drew Palmer-Leger- 28, skate distance
U20 Women:
Annika Landis- 1, classic distance
Emily Siegel- 15, skate distance
U18 Men:
Johnny Hagenbuch, 3, skate distance
U18 Women:
Sophia Mazzoni -13, skate sprint
Lily Brunelle - 14, skate distance, skate sprint
Kirsys Campbell 36, skate distance
Eve Jensen- 38, skate distance
Ella Wolter- 51, skate sprint
U16 Men:
Cash Dart, 17, skate sprint
U16 Women:
Sydney Palmer-Leger- 1, classic distance
Logan Smith- 1, skate sprint
Anja Jensen- 16, skate sprint
Sascha Leidecker- 18, skate sprint
Luci Ludwig- 28, skate sprint
RESULTS
ALUMNI
PARALYMPICS
SVSEF alum Jake Adicoff is currently representing the U.S. at the Paralympics in Pyeongchang. This is the Bowdoin senior's second Paralympic Games; he first competed in Sochi in 2014. In the men's VI 20km skate race on Monday, Jake took fifth overall. In the March 14 1.5km classic sprint, Jake had a strong qualifying race with the second fastest time. In his semifinal heat, he tied Canadian Brian McKeever, who has won multiple Paralympic medals, to progress to the finals. In a heat of four athletes, Jake was unfortunately disqualified on a skating violation. Next up is a 7.5km classic race on Saturday.
RESULTS
NCAAs
Five former SVSEF athletes represented their schools at NCAA Championships in Steamboat Springs, March. Peter Wolter and Katie Feldman, who are both alumni of the cross country program, represented Middlebury College and the East Region. Peter Wolter, in addition to being named to NCAAs, was the EISA Rookie of the Year. Joining Peter and Katie was Eli Jensen (Montana State), a longtime member of the program, and Sam Wood (Middlebury) and Braden Becker (Williams), who were both PG athletes in the SVSEF program and who have continued to train with us as members of the Summer Training Group.
In the women's 5km classic, Katie placed 19th overall. Braden was 15th in the men's 10km classic, one second ahead of Sam in 16th. Peter was 24th, and Eli finished 34th.
In the men's 20km skate, the top alumni finisher was again Braden, this time in 11th. Sam repeated his result from two days prior, skiing to 16th. Peter finished 25th and Eli 34th. Katie had a great race, coming in 13th in the women's 15km.
RESULTS
GOLD TEAM
Following his standout World Cup premier, in which he finished 11th in the skate sprint, Kevin Bolger competed in his first 50km in the infamous Holmenkollen, skiing to 52nd on the World Cup circuit. In the March 7 classic sprint, he finished 50th.
PARK & PIPE
JUNIOR NATIONALS
Two SVSEF athletes, Ben Fethke and Harper Mallett, competed at U.S. Freeskiing Junior Nationals in Park City. As an 11-year-old, Ben was the U13 national champion in halfpipe. In the overall field, which included athletes significantly older (mostly 15-19 year olds), Ben was eighth – an amazing result, given the competition. Harper Mallet also had a strong showing, finishing second in the U15 category and seventh overall. Ben also competed in the slopestyle event, which was held on a course that will be used for FIS World Championships next year. He came in second for U13s, and was 50 out of 86 overall. Both of Ben's results (in slopestyle and halfpipe) were the best for an 11-year-old at Junior Nationals in recent years.
IFSA BIG MOUNTAIN
IFSA big mountain skiers competed at Breckenridge Nationals. Paris Pratt had an outstanding two runs, edging out Crested Butte’s Avery Bernholtz for the win in the 15-18 female category. Joe Goitiandia had solid scores, as well, finishing 10th out of 40 competitors in the 12-14 male category. Wilson Dunn and Black Harmon stuck together, skiing to 46th and 48th in the 15-18 male group, and Molly Kucher was 23rd for 15-18 females.
RESULTS
TRAVEL
The Rev Tour at Mammoth got started yesterday with a slopestyle event. SVSEF’s Will Griffith finished 42nd overall in a field populated by 57 athletes, mainly from the U.S. and Canada. His next event is the big air competition on March 14.
RESULTS
ALUMNI
Chase Josey wrapped up his season at the U.S. Open in Vail (he finished third in the 2017 iteration of the event). The Olympian qualified second for men in the halfpipe semifinals on March 8, behind Ayumu Hirano, but clipped the deck in finals on March 10, compressing his back. Chase finished ninth overall.
RESULTS
ALPINE
Five SVSEF athletes have qualified for U.S. Alpine National Championships, and nine have qualified for U.S. Alpine Junior National Championships; both events will be held in Sun Valley this year. Additionally, three SVSEF alumni have qualified for Nationals. Read about our qualified athletes here.
Alpine FIS
Nor Am finals are underway as of Monday in Kimberly, British Columbia. SVSEF alumni Kipling Wiesel had a solid first race, with a ninth place finish in the giant slalom. In the second giant slalom on Tuesday, he was 16th. Lily Fitzgerald did not finish her second slalom run on Monday, and Alli Rathfon did not finish her first run. Competition continued Tuesday with another slalom; Lily finished 40th overall.
ALUMNI
Haley Cutler represented the University of New Mexico at NCAA Championships in Steamboat. In the March 7 giant slalom, Haley placed 13th, and was the third UNM skier. In the slalom on March 9, she was 21st.
MOGULS
TRAVEL
SVSEF athletes competed at Junior Nationals in Park City; the event hosted athletes based on the top 60 male and female U18 athletes in the country. A highlight of the week was Sammy Smith’s victory in the F13 singles, while achieving 10th overall in a field with athletes up to age 18. Rainey Wilson took 11th for F17 (34th overall), and Luke Rizzo finished fifth in the M17 category (19th overall).
Athletes of the Month: February
SVSEF athletes of the month are selected collectively by program directors, based on successful athletic performance in competition. Luke Rizzo, a skier with the mogul travel team, and Jessica Blackburn, a member of the alpine IMD team, are the athletes of the month for February.
LUKE RIZZO
JESSICA BLACKBURN
Jessica, 13, has had a fantastic season thus far, winning four races, including two in the last qualifier in Park City. Her wins last weekend propelled her to the overall award for the weekend, making her the first IMD girl to qualify for U14 Western Region Junior Championships in Jackson Hole. In addition, Jessica has been a model athlete this season, coming to training every day with an incredible level of focus. She pushes to get as many runs as she possibly can, communicates well with coaches, and is a great teammate to her peers. Due to her terrific effort this past season, Jessica has learned quite a bit about the reward of hard work and encourages her to passionately pursue ski racing. As a SVSEF IMD staff, we are very proud of her.
– Head Coach James Tautkus
ALSO MAKING WAVES: KEVIN BOLGER
Cross country Gold Team skier Kevin Bolger turned heads at his World Cup debut on March 3, and with good reason. The former University of Utah skier, who joined the Gold Team last year, walked away at the end of the day in eleventh place in the skate sprint in Lahti, Finland. Bolger jetted over to Europe when he was selected to ski the World Cup circuit, based on his top spot on the North American-based SuperTour circuit. Dubbed “the surprising man,” by the Norwegian announcers, because he had virtually come out of nowhere, Kevin led the American men, and topped a number of international competitors who have plenty of experience racing at the World Cup and Olympic level. Not bad, for a first go – congratulations to Kevin, and we can’t wait to see what he does from here.
Alumni Spotlight: Geoff Unger '97
Bonds are strong among teammates and friends, when you grow up skiing or riding every day with SVSEF. Follow along with this series, ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS, to learn what SVSEF alumni took away from their time with the organization, and what they're up to now.
We caught up with Geoff Unger, a moguls (freestyle) alumni who graduated from the program in 1997. After leaving the Wood River Valley, Geoff attended Colorado College before pursuing a career in mountain guiding. An American Mountain Guides Association Certified Rock, Alpine and Ski Guide with over 15 years of experience, he now calls Rosendale, New York home, where he owns and operates Extreme Alpine.
What was it like to make the transition from growing up in the Wood River Valley to attending college? Did you feel prepared for that change?
The Wood River Valley was an incredible place to grow up. It offered me so many opportunities to explore the outdoors and hone my abilities on skis. SVSEF was a huge part of that. By the winter season in sophomore year of high school, I was training six days a week on the mountain. When we weren’t training we were off competing. It was tricky to balance the academic work load at school and on the mountain, but I think that helped me transition to college and life outside the Valley.
How did you decide that you wanted to be a climbing guide?
I was involved in the outdoor program at Community School, which showed me that it was okay to pursue something outside the classroom. Community School was also very supportive of my participation on ski team. After high school I took some time away from skiing. It wasn’t the same to have to drive two hours each way to get to the mountains. Consequently, I embraced rock climbing, as it was much more accessible. During college I spent as much time climbing as I could and it became my second passion after skiing. The college experience led me to an even deeper connection with the outdoors and drove me away from wanting to be involved in politics and business (my double major). So I moved back to the Valley and coached ski team for SVSEF on the weekends and worked as a trip leader for the Community School. From there, it wasn’t difficult to find my way into guiding as a full time job.
What do you enjoy most about the job?
The best thing about guiding is sharing the places I love and care for with my guests. Increasingly, our outdoor recreation areas are under threat of development and exploitation. As true wilderness becomes rare its value goes up as does the need to protect it. It is also important to me to have a real connection with my clientele. If I am able to teach people to engage with the land in a way that is sustainable and help them to see the value, then I feel satisfied that I’ve done a good job.
What are some challenges associated with your line of work, and how do you address these?
For a long time the main challenge was financial. Mountain Guiding is not the most lucrative profession. I would say it took me 15 years to really get my feet under me and make a living where I could afford to live comfortably. Before that it was a lifestyle that I chose and I lived out of the back of my truck and out of a duffel bag for years. In 2005 I got involved with the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) to become a Certified Mountain Guide. It took me three years of time and dedication, but I was able to achieve my IFMGA Guide Qualification. The AMGA has done a lot for the professional of guiding and continues to set standards for guides and the industry. It is difficult to make a connection between the work the organization has done and wages, but my view is there has been a positive impact on guide wages based on the increased visibility and recognition of the training and certification programs. The way that I have addressed the challenges present in the guiding industry is to get involved. I am on the AMGA Board of Directors and have worked hard to strengthen the organization and the guide training programs. I believe this has gone a long way toward making the guiding profession sustainable in the US.
How do you describe the value of a program like SVSEF? What has been your biggest takeaway?
The most direct value for me is that I will always feel comfortable on my skis. For my guiding job this is huge because it allows me the bandwidth to help my guests. Digging a little deeper, I would say the program taught me to have a strong work ethic. From dry-land training through the season, we trained hard and were expected to show up prepared. It didn’t have the feel of being regimented since there is a lot of room for expression in freestyle skiing, but the structure was there for us to grow and succeed.
What aspects of the program have you carried over or applied to your current job, life in general, or any steps or experiences that have come in between?
A common thread for me is community. SVSEF, the Community School and the Wood River Valley are strong communities. Coming out of those environments, I have sought out opportunities that have strong communities and have tried to help them grow stronger. I certainly have found a lot of strength and support from the guide community. It has allowed me to grow and develop at my own pace, but also to become the best guide I can be while continuing to supporting others.
Was there an individual coach who made a big impression or had a big impact on you?
John Zuck was the head coach while I was on the team and when I coached for SVSEF. John was the single most influential coach and mentor for me. He put in a lot of effort to help me succeed as a mogul skier and as a person. In the summer time I also worked construction with John. It was an extension of ski team. He taught me to be responsible and honest about error correction. He would say, “It’s all about linked recoveries,’ whether that was on the construction site, on the mogul course or in life. It is really difficult to be perfect, but we can work toward it if we constantly recognize our errors and make corrections.
Is there any specific memory or story that stands out to you, that embodies your experience at SVSEF?
I always enjoyed the competitions we held at home, but what stands out to me is the Lane Parish Combined Super G and Dual Moguls Competition that was held for years. The mogul competition was held on Race Arena. It brought everyone together for a festive event. The racers would compete in moguls and some of the bump skiers would even race gates. To me, that was the embodiment of a strong community. Things got competitive, but in the end it was about fun and friends.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
My father was heavily involved in SVSEF and the local community. I have always had the utmost respect for how he carried himself and conducted business. Of the many things I learned from him was to lead by example. If you set a tone of respect and leadership, then others will follow you. That is the best way to get things accomplished and be successful.
What advice would you give athletes about applying what they’ve learned at SVSEF to college or future experiences?
It will likely be different for everyone. I was never on the podium, but ski team taught me to do my best and never give up. After my years on the team, I didn’t become a professional mogul skier, but I did become a mountain professional and use what I learned on the team for my career in the mountains. I have a deep love of skiing and it will always be with me because of my days with SVSEF. I hope that all SVSEF athletes find this to be true, and that it enriches their lives to have come from such a great community.
How have you come to define success?
Success is something you can define for yourself. There is a lot of pressure in the world to look and act a certain way or do things ‘the right way.’ I think it is important to be who and what you want to be. If you put your heart and soul into it and keep at it, you can achieve success by making it your own.
Thank you so much, Geoff!
To learn more about Geoff and his Mountain Guiding business, Extreme Alpine, visit his website here!
Week in Review: February 14
PARK & PIPE
Chase Josey Finishes Sixth in Men’s Olympic Snowboard Halfpipe
The stakes were high in the Olympic men’s snowboard halfpipe final, with all four Americans (Chase, Jake Pates, Ben Ferguson and Shaun White), Australian standout Scotty James, 2014 Olympic silver medalist Ayumu Hirano, and a host of other top athletes from around the world vying for gold.
SVSEF alumni Chase Josey, 22, went into the finals in seventh place after qualifiers the day before. In his first qualifying run, he clipped the lip of the halfpipe, had a funny landing and scored a 47.75. Chase made up for that run on his second and final in the qualifier, riding smoothly and moving up from 20th to seventh with a score of 83.75.
After Chase’s first run in the finals on February 14, he sat in third behind Shaun White and Scotty James. A spill on his second run after going big left it all up to the third and final run – he was in fourth after Ayumu Hirano moved into first with a second run score of 95.25. Chase improved upon his initial score of 87.75 with a top score of 88.00, and an amazing sixth place finish overall in the world’s most prestigious event for the sport.
Park & Pipe: USASA Park City
Park & Pipe athletes competed in Park City at a USASA event, with a Rev Tour qualifier in the Sunday event. “It was a super productive weekend for all the kids – they did extremely well, especially given they only had one day of riding pipe under their belts,” said Progression Team Head Coach Pat Lee. “Thursday was pipe training, in 50 degree weather with slushy snow – it couldn’t have been better for the kids to step into the pipe. Many SVSEF athletes found the podium throughout competition on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. In Sunday’s qualifier for the Rev Tour, all of our male athletes (who weren’t already qualified) punched their tickets to the Tour.”
Athletes competed in two halfpipe events on February 9. Highlights include second place for Harper Mallett, third for Joey Markthaler and fourth for Ridge Dirksmeier for freeski youth men (14-15), and a podium finish for Jack Verhaeghe in second for snowboard breaker boys (12-13). Barrett Beyer, the youngest competitor, skied well in all events. Maddie Hothem and Olive Gilbert finished third and fourth for snowboard breaker girls (12-13), Nico Lerner stole first for snowboard grommet boys (8-9), as did Caleb Hothem for snowboard menehune boys (10-11). Phebe Ericksen and Channing Curci both took second for their age groups (snowboard open class, snowboard youth women).
In the second event, Harper Mallett and Ridge Dirksmeier found the podium, taking first and third for freeski youth (14-15). Jack Verhaeghe was second for snowboard breaker boys (12-13), Olive Gilbert nabbed a podium in third for snowboard breaker girlrs (12-13), Nico Lerner stole second for snowboard grommet (8-9) boys, and Caleb Hothem won the snowboard menehune (10-11) age group.
Slopestyle on February 10 had a bigger showing, with 136 competitors. Charlie Price was eighth for freeski breaker boys (12-13), while Easton Turck and Zeppelin Pilaro went four and five for freeski menehune boys (10-11). Will Griffith placed fifth in the freeski open class, with 10 competitors. Ridge Dirksmeier and Joey Markthaler both had a great day, taking top spots on the podium in second and third for freeski youth (14-15) in a field of 13. Jack Verhaeghe also made the podium for snowboard breaker boys (12-13). Maddie Hothem and Olive Gilbert went hard for snowboard breaker girls, finishing third and fourth. Nico Lerner had another great day, topping the snowboard grommet (8-9) podium. Julian Gluck, who hails from Boise but who comes and trains with SVSEF, won the snowboard junior men class (16-17). Caleb Hothem took second for snowboard menehune boys (10-11), Phebe Ericksen was second for snowboard open women, and Channing Curci was second for snowboard youth women (14-15).
The final day of competition was another halfpipe event. Rylan Mann stepped it up and took home third for freeski menehune boys (10-11), and teammates Spencer Ferries and Easton Turck were close behind in fourth and sixth. Ridge Dirksmeier, Harper Mallett and Joey Markthaler went one-two-three for freeski youth (14-15). In snowboarding, Maddie Hothem and Olive Gilbert again finished third and fourth. Nico Lerner grabbed another podium in second for grommet boys, as did Caleb Hothem in first for menehune boys. Channing Curci got her third second place for women’s snowboard youth.
RESULTS – FEB. 9 (1)
RESULTS – FEB. 9 (2)
RESULTS – FEB. 10
RESULTS – FEB. 11
ALPINE
FIS: Eastern NorAms
FIS skiers Erin Smith and Lily Fitzgerald headed east for Eastern NorAms. Following training at Burke and an Eastern Cup at Middlebury to prep for Whiteface, Erin and Lily jumped into giant slalom competition on 2/13. In her first NorAm race, Lily finished 26th, and Erin finished 29th in tough, icy conditions. Competition continues today with another giant slalom, followed by two days of slalom. Experience on the NorAm circuit is helpful in setting up points for start positions for next year, and in getting a feel for racing at a high level. Alumni Kipling Weisel is also on the East Coast for NorAms – he posted 20th in the giant slalom at Stowe Mountain Resort/Spruce Peak.
RESULTS
Snowbasin Intermountain Cup U16 SG Qualifier/Park City Intermountain Cup U16 Slalom Qualifier
SVSEF athletes competed in three super G qualifiers at Snowbasin. Two skiers found a spot on the podium; Josh Blackburn finished third in the first super G, and Carly Walther-Porino also took bronze in the women’s second super G. Marit Kaiser, Finn Mallinen and Charlie Snyder all had top finishes in fifth, and Buey Grossman had a top result in sixth. SVSEF had strong groupings, with three athletes in the top 10 in the first men’s race and four in the third. Similarly, the women had three in the top 10 in the first competition, four in the second, and three in the third. Athletes switched to slalom qualifiers for a final day at Park City; Buey Grossman took fourth, Charlie Snyder sixth and Ridley Lindstrom eighth. Park City dominated the top ten on the women’s side, but Marit Kaiser found her way to ninth and Carly Walther-Porino 11th.
RESULTS
Ryder Sarchett at OPA Cup
After a successful stint at the U16 National Performance Series at Burke, Ryder Sarchett (one of our SVSEF athletes of the month for January) competed in Malbun, Liechtenstein, at the OPA Cup. This event featured top U16 racers from the strong eastern European countries. Ryder led the American contingent, with a 10th place finish in the slalom on February 8. Ryder was the second fastest skier in the first run of the giant slalom race on February 9, but did not complete his second run.
“It was a great experience for Ryder,” said coach Chuck Harris, who traveled with Ryder to Europe. “He got better everyday. When he got off the plane, he was not the fastest U.S. athlete, but by the time the trip was over he was clearly the best. Whether that carries over for the rest of the season…time will tell.”
MOGULS
Mogul Regional Championships
SVSEF mogul athletes traveled to Park City to compete at Regionals, with two singles and one dual event. Sammy Smith led the charge for SVSEF women, winning her age group (F13) in both singles events, and finishing sixth and eighth overall in a field of athletes who ranged from F13 to FSr. Rainey Wilson was consistent throughout the weekend, with strong 12th place finishes in both singles events. Tilly Babcock, a F13 like Sammy, finished 31st in the strong women’s field. Luke Rizzo posted a sixth and 14th in singles, and Toby Rafford stepped up with a 13th place overall finish as a M15. Henry Buell had a weekend best of 22nd, and Alex Austin 23rd. Erik Babcock was 33rd in both singles events. In the make-up events, which had smaller competitive fields, Rainey was eighth in duals, and Tilly was 12th. Alex was 10th for men, Erik 18th, Henry 20th and Luke 27th. In the singles make-up event, Rainey finished 6th, Tilly 13th, Luke 9th, Henry 13th, Alex 17th and Erik 23rd.
RESULTS
CROSS COUNTRY
Gold Team Update
Kelsey Phinney was sixth in the Norwegian Cup Skate sprint in Aasen, NOR. She’ll race again in Trondhiem in a Scando Cup series in a week and a half.
Jack Hegman won the Dartmouth Carnival/Eastern Cup 10k Skate, and Rogan Brown was second. Matt Gelso won the Denver RMISA 10km Classic.
For March, Jack and Kelsey have qualified for US Team OPA Cup trip. Rogan is an alternate for that trip as of now.
After this weekend the Super Tour leader will receive period 4 World Cup starts. Kevin Bolger is currently leading.
Athletes of the Month: January
SVSEF athletes of the month are selected collectively by program directors, based on successful athletic performance in competition. Sammy Smith, who is a member of both the cross country prep team and the moguls travel team, and Ryder Sarchett, a member of the alpine USSA team, are the athletes of the month for January.
RYDER SARCHETT
Ryder Sarchett, a member of the Alpine USSA Team, has had quite an incredible month. Great results qualified him for the U16 National Performance Series, held at Burke Mountain Academy in Vermont, January 9-12. The NPS series was a qualifying race for the best U16s in the country. Battling a back injury, Ryder was forced to skip one of the races; despite this setback, he was able to come back the next day and compete. A third place in the slalom race and a third in the giant slalom secured his ticket to Europe, representing the U.S. at the Seven Nations Cup (now the OPA Cup).
One of six U.S. male skiers to compete at the OPA Cup, Ryder took tenth in the slalom on February 8, and was the top American finisher. In the giant slalom on February 9, he finished second overall for his first run, but did not complete his second run.
USSA Head Coach Chuck Harris, who accompanied Ryder to the NPS event as well as the OPA Cup in Liechtenstein spoke to Ryder’s motivation. “Ryder has a tremendous drive. He can never ski enough. He is continuously the first one at training and the last one to leave. His time, commitment, and love of the sport is far and above anything I have ever been a part of. He pushes the coaches, he pushes his teammates, and most importantly he pushes himself.
SAMMY SMITH
As a first-year U14, Sammy is currently ranked first for female U14 athletes in the Intermountain Region in cross country skiing. Highlights include a double win at home at the Sun Valley junior national qualifiers, January 22-23.
“Sammy is one of the hardest workers we’ve had on the team,” said Prep Team Head Coach Kelley Sinnott. “Only in the sixth grade but already a leader amongst her peers, even the older boys have to fight to keep up with her on a hard effort training day. The other kids feed off her positive energy and hard work.”
Setting Sammy apart is her keen body awareness – a lot of kids her age have trouble translating words into action. Sammy is able to hear feedback about her technique and make the physical adjustment quickly and seamlessly. Her understanding of technique and body position is very apparent – Sammy has some of the best V2 technique of any skier in the program, boy or girl, through Comp Team.
Also distinctive is Sammy’s eagerness to rise to the challenge – she seems to feed off both her competitive drive and the intensity of the workout. “She flourishes in the tougher moments,” said Sinnott. “Sammy would rather do double pole intervals up the hardest hill than give in or choose an easier path.”
Sammy is as formidable a threat in moguls as she is in cross country. Only 12 years old, she is currently the 15th ranked junior in the country (juniors are 18 and under). Highlights so far this season include winning back-to-back at Squaw Valley and finishing third at Deer Valley on the World Cup course, Champion. Currently at Divisional Championships in Park City, Sammy was the top finisher in her age group (F13) in two moguls events on February 10 and 11, taking eighth overall on the 10th and sixth overall on the 11th. Two U.S. Team athletes were in the field, one of whom just skied in the World Cup at Deer Valley.
Both cross country and mogul coaches appreciate Sammy’s attitude and temperament, on top of her athletic success. “She is one of the kindest, most polite and most modest kids we’ve had – she is thankful for what she has and the work and time her coaches dedicate to her success, and she accepts accolades without fanfare,” noted Sinnott.
With such a packed schedule, Sammy’s high level of maturity and great time management are key. “She always shows up to team on time ready to work, takes full advantage of our training sessions, and always has big smile on her face,” added Josh Zuck, Sammy’s moguls coach.
“Sammy is a great skier, and at such a young age, we can’t wait to see what she is capable of as she grows bigger and gets older,” concluded Sinnott. “I and the other coaches all enjoy coaching her immensely.”