Monroe Cup at Rotarun Ski Area Honors Legendary Lane Monroe

Young athletes from across the Intermountain Division race to qualify for IMD Championships

The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation hosted the annual Monroe Cup alpine ski race at Rotarun Ski Area Feb. 4-5. Named after SVSEF legend Lane Monroe, the Monroe Cup brings nearly 200 U10, U12, and a handful of U14 athletes from across the region to compete in this Intermountain Division (IMD) Qualifier event. Monroe was the Program Director/Head Alpine Coach at SVSEF from 1970-1996 and also served as a U.S. Ski Team coach from 1973-1975 as the Men’s Special coach (1973-74) and Head Women’s Coach (1975-1976).

The 2023 Monroe Cup featured two slalom races (four runs) on Saturday for the girls, and the same for the boys on Sunday. The SVSEF Alpine U10 Travel Team and U12 Travel Team competed in the event, and athletes traveled from McCall Winter Sports Club (MWC), Jackson Hole Ski Club (JHSC), Bogus Basin Ski Education Foundation (BBSEF), Grand Targhee Ski and Snowboard Foundation (GTSSF), and Alyeska Ski Club (ASC) to make for great competition.

Rotarun Ski Area presented the perfect slalom venue for racing and spectating. The courses start out steep and allow athletes to travel fast down the pitch and carry speed to the flats into the finish. Hundreds of parents, families, and friends gathered to watch the races and partake in the festivities of the day including award ceremonies and the local La Parrilla food truck.

Saturday brought bluebird skies and sunshine for the U10 Women’s races, where SVSEF’s Alta Questad stood atop the podium in first place in the first race of the day. “If you don’t win at something, keep trying hard to achieve your dreams,” said Questad. “I’m so happy and thankful I get the chance to race!” Questad captured fourth place in the U10 Women’s second race.

Amelia Beck rounded out the U10 Women’s podium in 5th place for both races. For the U12 Women, SVSEF’s Savannah Pringle took second place in both races. In the first race, Taylor Rundell took fourth and Imogen Hutchisen fifth. Across both U12 Women races, SVSEF athletes took ten top-ten places.

“That was an amazing weekend of racing!” said Adele Savaria, SVSEF U12 Travel Team Head Coach. “We are so proud of all of the kids and their skiing and the team spirit they showed for their teammates. All the hard work they’ve put in so far this season shows with the great improvements by everyone.” 

The snowy conditions on Sunday made racing challenging for the boys on Sunday. For the U10 Men, SVSEF’s Alex Grant earned two podium spots—second place in the morning race followed by a first place in the afternoon, while Halsten Bruun captured third place in the second race. SVSEF’s U12 Men had a stellar showing in both races. Henry Questad won the first race with Finn Malone on the podium in fifth, followed by four out of five spots on the podium for the second race were claimed by the SVSEF team: Cameron Beck (1), Henry Questad (2), Corbin Flood (3), and Thijs Lloyd (5).

For complete race results, please visit the links below:

Women Race #1
Women Race #2
Men Race #1
Men Race #2

Below are a couple of links to race photos taken by Thomas Smiley. There are some really great ones! If you are interested in purchasing any photos, you can do so directly through these links by clicking on the photo and adding to your cart. Different sizes and finishes are available, as well as digital images.
https://www.onlinepictureproof.com/smileysmtphoto/albums/2023_sun_valley_alpine_races_/

https://www.onlinepictureproof.com/smileysmtphoto/albums/2023_sun_valley_alpine_races_/844580/browse/

SVSEF Athlete Results:

Women – SL Saturday, February 4 

Race #1 U10 Women

1 – Alta Questad

5 – Amelia Beck 

6 – Sophie Robins

8 – Lauren Larrabee

9 – Presley Jensen 

10 – Teodora Smither 

15 – Samantha Heidel 

19 – Lilla Bloedorn 

21 – Arielle Ries

26 – Marie McNeal 

28 – Zephyr Johnson 

30 – Sarah Heinz 

36 – Georgia Hill 

37 – Lillee Haynes 

40 – Marlowe Jones 

43 – Josie Dondero 

46 – Kailani Kreitler 

47 – Lexi Kennedy

Race #1 U12 Women

2 – Savannah Pringle 

4 – Taylor Rundell 

5 – Imogen Hutchisen 

6 – Piper Spengler 

8 – Jennings Fraser 

10 – Camille Reid 

13 – Olivia Harrington 

19 – Fernanda Hurtado 

23 – Aviella Buoncristiani 

24 – Brianna Smiley

28 – Brady Bloomfield 

31 – Gaia Luem 

32 – Makenna Steel 

34 – Kinley Letson 

35 – Stevie Crist 

37 – Iliana Little 

39 – Payton Scheigraber

41 – Halley McGrew 

43 – Irie Black 

52 – Hannah Howard

Race #2 U10 Women

4 – Alta Questad 

5 – Amelia Beck 

7 – Teodora Smither 

10 – Lauren Larrabee 

11 – Presley Jensen 

12 – Sophie Robins

15 – Arielle Ries 

18 – Lilla Bloedorn 

22 – Zephyr Johnson 

23 – Marie McNeal 

32 – Georgia Hill 

34 – Lillee Haynes 

35 – Georgia Bea Stansberry 

36 – Marlowe Jones 

37 – Sarah Heinz 

39 – Josie Dondero 

43 – Kailani Kreitler 

44 – Lexi Kennedy 

Race #2 U12 Women

2 – Savannah Pringle 

6 – Imogen Hutchisen 

7 – Camille Reid 

8 – Jennings Fraser 

9 – Taylor Rundell 

10 – Ava Gilmour

13 – Fernanda Hurtado 

16 – Olivia Harrington 

26 – Brianna Smiley 

27 – Aviella Buoncristiani 

29 – Makenna Steel 

32 – Kinley Letson 

33 – Iliana Little 

34 – Brady Bloomfield 

35 – Stevie Crist 

38 – Irie Black 

43 – Payton Scheigraber 

48 – Hannah Howard 

Men – SL Sunday, February 5

Race #1 U10 Men 

2 – Alex Grant 

6 – Asa Sattler 

8 – Logan Steel 

9 – Walker Gove 

18 – Griffyn Kearney 

Race #1 U12 Men

1 – Henry Questad

5 – Finn Malone 

6 – Thijs Lloyd 

10 – Charlie Spengler 

11 – Coen Lamb

15 – Welsey Sewell 

19 – Cameron Beck 

22 – Hunter Gove 

23 – Eli Sattler 

25 – Cody Lloyd

31 – Brixen Ehleringer 

34 – Cash Mintz 

Race #2 U10 Men

1 – Alex Grant 

3 – Halsten Bruun

6 – Walker Gove 

Race #2 U12 Men

1 – Cameron Beck 

2 – Henry Questad

3 – Corbin Flood 

5 – Thijs Lloyd 

6 – Charlie Spengler 

11 – James Holman 

15 – Cash Mintz 

19 – Brixen Ehleringer 

21 – Hunter Gove 

27 – Eli Sattler 

28 – Wesley Sewell 

32 – Cody Lloyd