Questad and Rixon earn podium finishes as 33 athletes compete in three-day championship event

Thirty-three Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation Alpine U12 North Series athletes competed at the IMD Championships at Jackson Hole from March 20-22. The three-day championship event featured Giant Slalom (GS), Slalom (SL), and Dual Panel Slalom (DPSL) competitions, bringing together the top young racers from the Intermountain Division’s northern and southern regions.

The IMD Championships represents the culmination of the North Series competitive season, bringing together athletes from across the Intermountain Division for three days of high-level racing in all alpine disciplines.

SVSEF athletes raced strongly across all three disciplines in warm, sunny conditions, with Alta Questad leading the way with podium finishes in both SL and DPSL. Questad placed third in the Slalom on Friday and followed up with a second-place finish in Saturday’s DPSL, showcasing exceptional consistency and technical skill.

“Champs are the well-deserved reward after a winter of hard work where you can let loose and race with heart and soul,” said SVSEF Alpine North Series Coach Claudia Stern. She added, “The sun was shining, temperatures soared and smiles were off the charts!”

The championship series provided SVSEF’s youngest competitive athletes an opportunity to showcase their season-long progression against regional competition. Multiple athletes recorded top-20 finishes across the three events, with several posting personal best results.

For the girls, Kayla Kloster demonstrated versatility with top-15 finishes in all three disciplines. Marie McNeal earned top-15 results in both GS (11th) and DPSL (7th), while Amelia Beck posted consistent finishes across all three events. Dylan Spengler and Sophie Robins also represented SVSEF well throughout the weekend, contributing to the team’s overall strong showing at the championship.

On the boys’ side, Ford Rixon used his technical prowess to land on the podium with a fifth-place result in the DPSL format. Dylan Smiley posted the team’s strongest GS result with a seventh-place finish on Thursday, followed by solid performances in both SL (12th) and DPSL (11th). Walker Gove and Vance Gardner added depth to the team’s results throughout the weekend.

The event featured memorable moments beyond the race courses, including pool sessions, a moose sighting on the hill, and an energetic pit party at the start area. The combination of competitive racing and team camaraderie exemplified the focus of developing positive race environments alongside skill progression in the SVSEF Alpine U12 North Series program.

Photo: Alta Questad and Ford Rixon with their trophies on the podium at IMD Championships in Jackson Hole, WY. 

SVSEF Athlete Results

Thursday, March 20 – Giant Slalom

Girls
10th – Kayla Kloster
11th – Marie McNeal
13th – McKenna McCarthy
17th – Amelia Beck
18th – Dylan Spengler
20th – Freya Moffat

Boys
7th – Dylan Smiley
15th – Ford Rixon
17th – Vance Gardner
20th – Walker Gove
Friday, March 21 – Slalom

Girls
3rd – Alta Questad
13th – Kayla Kloster
15th – Amelia Beck
21st – Dylan Spengler

Boys
12th – Dylan Smiley
18th – Ford Rixon
21st – Walker Gove

Saturday, March 22 – Dual Panel Slalom

Girls
2nd – Alta Questad
7th – Marie McNeal
12th – Kayla Kloster
23rd – Sophie Robins

Boys
5th – Ford Rixon
11th – Dylan Smiley
19th – Walker Gove

Complete results for the IMD Championships may be found at: https://imdalpine.org/race-results/

About the IMD Championships

The IMD Championships is the season-ending championship event for the Intermountain Division’s North and South Series athletes. The three-day competition brings together the division’s top young alpine racers for competition across all alpine disciplines, providing a culminating experience that celebrates a season of hard work and progression.