Cross Country Gold

The XCGold Team was created and primarily funded by the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF), the XC Gold Team is entering its 14th year of existence in the Wood River Valley. Composed of a group of the nation’s best post-collegiate athletes, the Gold Team trains year round in the mountains of Idaho, training sites across the US and venues around the world. Each athlete has his or her own goals for success on the SuperTour, World Cup and U23 World circuit, and as a team, we push each other every day to universally attain those goals.

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Team Info

The Gold Team offers year-round programming for elite athletes with goals of domestic excellence and international success in the sport of cross country skiing.

Tuition: $5,900
Ages: 18+
Head coach: Chris Mallory (view profile)
Enrollment limit: 8
Athlete-to-coach ratio: 8:1

Requirements:
Athletes must have race results indicative of national excellence and demonstrate the desire to attain international success. Interested skiers should contact head coach Chris Mallory (cmallory@svsef.org) for program information and application procedures. Safesport course completion is required for all athletes who are 18 or will turn 18 during the ski season.

SVSEF XC Gold Training in spring on trail

Training

Winter Training
The Gold Team is based out of the SVSEF Lake Creek Training Center and utilizes the plethora of trails and training venues the Wood River Valley has to offer. Training plans are developed on an individual basis, with the Gold Team meeting for training 4-8 sessions per week. Gold Team athletes also have access to state-of-the-art strength and recovery facilities.

View Training Facilities

Competition

Gold Team skiers take on a demanding race schedule that includes NorAm/SuperTour competitions, U.S. Senior National Championships, the Boulder Mountain Tour, European Alpen Cup race series, and optional marathon races. The competition season concludes with SuperTour Finals.

XC Gold competitor in Hulen Meadows

2020/2021

SVSEF XC Gold Team

Bio Image for Annika Landis
Hailey, ID

Annika Landis
Bio Image for Kevin Bolger
Minocqua, Wisconsin

Kevin Bolger
Bio Image for Katie Feldman
Ketchum, ID

Katie Feldman
Bio Image for Sarah Goble
Harbor Springs, Michigan

Sarah Goble
Bio Image for Peter Holmes
Tahoe City, CA

Peter Holmes
Bio Image for Sam Wood
Harpswell, ME

Sam Wood
Bio Image for Karl Schulz
Lake Placid, NY

Karl Schulz
Bio Image for Johnny Hagenbuch
Ketchum, Idaho

Johnny Hagenbuch
Bio Image for Annika Landis

Hailey, ID

Annika Landis

I grew up admiring the skiers on the Gold Team, and after a successful and empowering college career, I believed I had the passion and dedication to be competitive as a professional skier. I want to give everything I have to reaching my potential, and do it with a fun and supportive team, in a place that I love.

Significant memories from skiing include pre-race playlists, bonding with teammates, Middlebury women winning the team score at NCAAs 2020.

Age:22

School:Middlebury College

Personal Sponsors:Fischer, Toko

Favorite place to race:Craftsbury, VT & Lake Creek

Favorite place to ski in SV:Billy’s Bridge

Goals for season/Life:U23 Championships, World Cup Finals Opa Cup -- after racing, I want continue to be active outdoors and, more importantly, to dedicate myself to making the world a better place in whatever way I can.

Interests outside of skiing:Mountain biking, long adventures outside, NYT crosswords, environmental activism/climate justice.

Bio Image for Kevin Bolger

Minocqua, Wisconsin

Kevin Bolger

My love for sliding across the snow with skis on my feet began in the 3rd grade, and since has developed into a passion that has driven me to develop as internationally recognized skier representing the United States of America. It is through this love that I have accomplished the goals set before me. Being able to keep ticking off these goals drives me everyday, and I don’t want to stop until im able to cross the finish line at an Olympic Games.

A significant memory from skiing was winning my first US National Title and having my parents being able to watch.

Age:27

School:University of Utah

Personal Sponsors:Fischer, Swix, Hestra Gloves, Oakley

Goals for this season:Top 10 finish World Championships

Favorite place to race:Davos, Switzerland

Favorite place to ski in SV:Galena Lodge

Interests outside of skiing:Water Skiing

Bio Image for Katie Feldman

Ketchum, ID

Katie Feldman

Age:24

School:Middlebury College '18

Personal sponsors:Swix, Kate's Real Food, Durance, Toko

Highlighted results:Quebec & Minneapolis World Cup Sprint Tour qualifier 2020; 2nd place Boulder Mountain Tour 2019, 2020; 3rd place American Birkebeiner 2019; OPA Cup 2019.

Goals for season:Consistent SuperTour podiums; win American Birkebeiner & Boulder Mountain Tour; US Nationals 20km skate podium; late season world cup starts.

Bio Image for Sarah Goble

Harbor Springs, Michigan

Sarah Goble

Everyday I still have excitement and love for the sport. Also, after coming off of a successful senior year of college racing I wanted to continue the momentum to see where skiing can take me.

Age:23

School:Michigan Technological University

Personal Sponsors:Madshus

Highlighted Results:All- American 5K Skate 2020, U23 Competitor 2020

Goals for season:Podium super tour finishes and World Cup starts

Significant memories from skiing:Growing up skiing with my family

Favorite place to race:Al Quaal, ishpeming, Michigan

Favorite place to ski in SV:Billy’s Bridge

Interests outside of skiing:Mountain biking, running, cooking and felting.

Bio Image for Peter Holmes

Tahoe City, CA

Peter Holmes

I’ve known I’ve always wanted to ski professionally since I was a sophomore in high school, but my Junior and Senior year of college I knew I was going to be able to.

Age:22

Highlighted Results:2018 EISA classic leader, 2018 Spring Series 50k Preme Winner

Personal Sponsors:Fischer, Start, Bliz, Toko

Goals for season:U23 World Championship, World cup finals in Quebec/ die happy

Significant memory from skiing:When my sister buys me tacos after a race.

Favorite place to race:Craftsbury, Vermont

Favorite place to ski in SV:Galena

Interests outside of skiing:Surfing and cycling

Bio Image for Sam Wood

Harpswell, ME

Sam Wood

Age:23

School:Middlebury College

Bio Image for Karl Schulz

Lake Placid, NY

Karl Schulz

School:University of Vermont

Highlighted Results:Earned team nominations to Junior World, U23 World, and NCAA teams.

Bio Image for Johnny Hagenbuch

Ketchum, Idaho

Johnny Hagenbuch

Age:22

Highlighted Results:2x Junior World Relay Champion (2019, 2020), 2020 BMT Champion.

Bio Image Chris Mallory
XC Gold Team Head Coach

Chris Mallory
Bio Image Chris Mallory

XC Gold Team Head Coach

Chris Mallory

Chris grew up skiing and racing at a young age and finding a love for the sport in Vermont. He skied for the University of New Hampshire, and moved to Idaho after college. Chris has coached a number of XC programs with SVSEF, spent three years as an assistant for UVM, and now heads the SVSEF Gold Team. He coached numerous US Ski Team athletes, supported Team USA for a number of World Junior/U23 World Championships.

Hobbies/Interests: Adventuring around in the backcountry by ski or bike, camping with family (Abbie and Finn)

Email:cmallory@svsef.org

Phone:603-498-1398

Certifications:USSA Level 200 Cross Country Ski Coach

Years at SVSEF:Since 2007

2020/2021

XC Gold Sponsors