2017 Golf for Gold Recap
Originally slated for September 14 before a heavy downpour demanded postponement, SVSEF’s fourth annual Golf for Gold was held under sunny skies and prime conditions on September 28 at Bigwood Golf Course. The fundraising event drew fifteen teams of four to the green for a nine-hole scramble, followed by dinner on the deck provided by Bigwood Grill.
Taking home the win on the day was the team of Pete Atkinson, Riley Berman, Neil Bradshaw and Will Brandenburg with a 9-under 27. Along with the glory that comes with winning a championship, the team took home Vodka courtesy of Distilled Resources and SVSEF ball caps.
In an unprecedented three-way tie for second with a score of 29, the team of Rick Kapala, Yancy Caldwell, Chase Cleveland and Barrett Molter secured silver by way of a card off on the fourth hole, in honor of the event’s fourth anniversary.
Not wanting in fervor and enthusiasm, Chad Pringle, Brian Caulkins, Kirk Mason and John Shay took last with a score of 38. The team departed with vintage SVSEF caps and face shields. Boasting Longest Drive were Mimi Griswold and Chase Cleveland; for their efforts, they were awarded Sushi on Second gift certificates. Julie Potter and Will Brandenburg earned SVSEF Gold Team jackets for Closest to the Pin.
Thank you to Hank and Heather Minor, who reopened the restaurant for the event and provided a beautiful dinner on the deck, to staff Janet, Mike and George for their hard work and to Billy Weidner and his staff at Bigwood Golf Course. Our thanks also extend to contributors Matt Luck of Pride of Bristol Bay, Sushi on Second, SQN of Sun Valley Distilled Resources, Washington Federal and the SVSEF Gold Team.
Golf for Gold supports the SVSEF Cross Country Gold Team athletes, who compete at the elite national and international levels. This year’s team is comprised of Kevin Bolger, Rogan Brown, Matt Gelso, Jack Hegman, Cole Morgan, Kelsey Phinney and Mary Rose. If you would like to learn more about how to support these athletes in their endeavors, please contact SVSEF Director of Development Cynthia Knight (cknight@svsef.org, 208.726.4129).
Click here for more photos from the event.
2017 Baldy Hill Climb Results
A dreary start to the day on Saturday, September 30 was hardly a deterrent for this year's Baldy Hill Climb – 134 people made their way to the top of Bald Mountain for the 39th annual event. Reclaiming victory in the racing class were SVSEF Gold Team athletes Jack Hegman and Mary Rose, who powered up before heading down to Park City on Sunday for a NTG/National Elite Group camp. Hegman completed the 3,140-foot climb in 35 minutes and 13 seconds, just nine seconds off Miles Havlick's 2014 course record of 35:04. A minute behind Hegman was teammate Rogan Brown, who made it to the finish line in 36:13. Rounding out the top three men was SVSEF alpine alumni Miles Fink-Debray in 36:37. Rose finished in 43:34, a solid 2 minutes and 46 seconds in front of women's runner-up Alexa Turzian (46:15), a SVSEF cross country alumni. In third was Lexi Abel (49:24).
A total of 52 participants opted for the race category, while 64 chose to hike. Eighteen people raced in the biking class, with 11 of those taking it to another level by tackling the Cheeso Double. Named in memory of the late SVSEF alpine coach Craig "Cheesbo" Kjesbo, this race category includes both the bike portion and the hill climb – meaning athletes scale Baldy twice.
A big thanks to Sturtevants, who sponsored the event, and to all of the volunteers who came out and supported the participants and SVSEF.
RESULTS:
Women's Race
Men's Race
Women's Hiking
Men's Hiking
Biking
Cheeso Double
Find more photos from the event here.
OEC Training and Certification Course to be Offered in October
SVSEF is offering an Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) training and certification course to the public during the month of October. OEC is considered the standard of training for emergency care in the outdoor environment. It is recognized by resorts and recreational facilities in all 50 states, and is the National Ski Patrol’s training program for patrollers.
The course will take place October 3-20, with classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The course combines online and classroom work, with classes held at the SVSEF Engl training facility at Warm Springs. A practical and multiple choice test will be administered the week following the course (dates TBD).
This course is free for SVSEF alpine staff (upon successful program completion) and $600 for all others.
If you have questions or would like to register, please contact Alpine Program Director Scott McGrew (208.726.4129, scott@svsef.org).
SVSEF Featured Event: "Parenting Athletes," a Presentation by Dr. Wade Gilbert on October 14
SVSEF is excited to present “Parenting Athletes,” an informational presentation by Dr. Wade Gilbert that will be open to the public. This presentation will explore methods and concepts to effectively support, encourage and maintain a rewarding relationship with your child athlete during their sports journey.
Saturday, October 14, 5:45-7 p.m.
Distance Learning Lab in Wood River High School (1250 Fox Acres Road, Hailey, ID)
Dr. Wade Gilbert is an award-winning professor and internationally renowned coaching scientist in the Department of Kinesiology at California State University, Fresno. The professor holds degrees in human kinetics, physical education and education; he has previously taught and studied coaching at the University of Ottawa (Canada), UCLA and Fresno State. Dr. Gilbert has 25 years of experience conducting applied research and workshops with coaches and sport organizations around the world, spanning numerous sports and competitive levels.
Dr. Gilbert has worked with organizations including the United States Olympic Committee, the Coaching Association of Canada, NHL/NHLPA, Cricket Australia, and New Zealand Rugby. He is Editor-in-Chief of the International Sport Coaching Journal and is widely published; Dr. Gilbert recently released Coaching Better Every Season (Human Kinetics) and was lead author of the USOC Quality Coaching Framework. On top of these accolades, he was selected to give the Kristen Marie Gould Endowed Lecture on Sport for Children and Youth at Michigan State University and the Cal Botterill Legacy Lecture at the University of Winnipeg in recognition of his significant contributions to coach and athlete development.
We’re looking forward to a great presentation and hope you can join us. Regardless of age, this is an important conversation for all athletes and parents.
Team Equipment Day 2017
Team Equipment Day is geared towards gravity sports and is an opportunity for athletes, coaches and parents to purchase gear for the season at discounted rates. Industry representatives will be present as a supplemental resource.
STURTEVANTS
2-8 p.m.
PK’S
10 a.m. – close
FORMULA SPORTS
2-6 p.m.
2017-2018 Cross Country Gold Team Preview
It’s a big year for the SVSEF Cross Country Gold Team athletes. Although months away, the 2018 Winter Olympics are doubtless on the minds of many, as they stand as a pinnacle of success. The Olympics are not a short-term, spur-of-the-moment goal; competing at the international level takes commitment, as well as requisite competitive results. SVSEF Gold Team athletes have the potential, with their racing success and their dedication to the sport, to make Olympic dreams a reality.
The Gold Team was incorporated into SVSEF in 2005 as a way to support our athletes in their quest to achieve success at both the national and international levels. Athletes receive financial assistance and access to top-tier training environments; in turn, their involvement in the local community encourages healthy, active lifestyles for younger SVSEF athletes, as well as heightened awareness and support of snowsports.
This year’s team is a veteran squad – with six returning athletes and only one new addition, Gold Team Head Coach Chris Mallory pinpointed goals for the team this season, and touched on the benefits of having a tight-knit training group. “This group is poised to have significant success nationally and internationally. We're looking for a strong start to the season, so we can have our athletes get more international experience and World Cup starts over the second half of the season. These athletes have been pushing each other in training all summer, and that's what you need to collectively raise the level of performance.”
Returning to the team are Rogan Brown, Matt Gelso, Jack Hegman, Cole Morgan, Kelsey Phinney and Mary Rose. The newest addition to the squad is Kevin Bolger, 24, who skied previously with SVSEF as a junior racer. Kevin garnered national recognition last season, when he won the classic sprint at U.S. Nationals against a field of top collegiate and professional athletes. He comes off a strong career at the University of Utah; as a Ute, Kevin qualified four times for NCAAs, and was a two-time All-American.
Rogan Brown, 25, grew up skiing in Durango, Colorado, before earning his bachelor’s in mathematics from the University of Vermont, where he was a member of the ski team. A strong distance skier, Rogan took home two seventh place finishes at the 2017 U.S. National Championships, in the 30-kilometer classic race and the 15-kilometer skate.
Matt Gelso, 29, has been skiing with the SVSEF Gold Team for seven years, following a successful career at the University of Colorado. During the 2016/17 season, he represented the United States at World Cup races in Pyeongchang, the site of the 2018 Winter Olympics, as well as at World Cup Finals in Quebec City. As a result of his exceptional results on the U.S. Super Tour circuit, Matt earned the opportunity to represent SVSEF and the U.S. at midseason World Cup races in Europe. He comes into the 2017/18 with a wealth of experience, having competed for the U.S. internationally, as well as having seen success at the national level; Matt has earned multiple top-three results at U.S. Nationals, and has won an NCAA Championship.
Jack Hegman, 23, another University of Vermont alumni, had a strong first season with the Gold Team in 2016/17. A versatile skier, he posted two top-ten finishes at U.S. Nationals this past January. Jack was selected to represent the U.S. at U23 World Championships, where he skied to 11th place overall in the 30km skiathlon. Jack asserted himself as a top competitor last season, culminating in qualification to represent the U.S. at World Cup Finals in Quebec City.
Cole Morgan, 23, also a former junior skier with SVSEF, had his best season to date last year, earning the right to represent the U.S. at U23 World Championships. He was on the podium at U.S. Nationals, and posted a top-ten result at U23 Worlds. Cole was also selected to represent the U.S. at FIS World Ski Championships in Lahti, Finland. All of this success earned him the right to compete at World Cup Finals in Quebec City.
Mary Rose, 26, grew up skiing for Steamboat Springs and then for the University of Colorado at Boulder. She has represented SVSEF and the U.S. at U23 World Championships, multiple Scandinavian Cup races, Europa Cup races and Europa (OPA) Cup Finals. Domestically, Mary has been successful at U.S. Nationals, with two top-ten finishes, as well as on the SuperTour circuit, with a win and a second place finish. At the 2017 Nor-Am Cup in Canmore, Alberta, Mary took second place in the 10 kilometer classic.
In her first season with the Gold Team, Middlebury College graduate Kelsey Phinney, 23, qualified to represent the U.S. at U23 World Championships. At U.S. Nationals, she was the fifth American woman in the skate sprint, and the top U23 athlete. At U23 Worlds, Kelsey powered past the international competition to 16th place overall in the skate sprint. She saw more international competition in Latvia, where she participated in Scandinavian Cup races; her top result was ninth in a skate sprint, against many women who are World Cup ski racers.
The season is off to a strong start already, with half the team coming off two and a half weeks on snow in New Zealand. Said Mallory on what’s coming down the pike, “we're now entering a time of year where our focus intensifies as our team builds towards the start of the competitive season. We'll head down to Park City for a joint training camp with the National Team in a few weeks, and then head to Canmore for early-season on-snow training before the racing kicks off in West Yellowstone in November.”
With sights set on high-caliber national and international competition, financial support is essential for Gold Team athletes to help with the high demands that come naturally with the sport of cross country skiing – substantial time commitment, equipment costs, and travel fares, to name a few. The Golf for Gold fundraiser takes place this Thursday, September 14, with all proceeds from the event going to the Gold Team. If you would like to learn more about how to support these athletes in their endeavors, please visit svsef.org or call the office at (208) 726-4129.
Back on Snow: An Update from New Zealand
An update from Cross Country Gold Team Head Coach, Chris Mallory:
For the past two weeks, we’ve had part of the SVSEF Cross Country Gold Team training down in New Zealand at the Snow Farm, putting some good time in on snow. A few other U.S. clubs along with the National Team also made the trek down, so the training group has been terrific. While we had spring like conditions for the first part of the camp, we’re smack dab in the middle of winter now after a fresh six inches came down last night. Week one we were based out of Wanaka, making day trips up to the Snow Farm while also getting out for some scenic trail runs. Since then, it’s been all about logging k’s on their 40km network, working technique and speeds into sessions, as well getting out for an epic crust cruise. We’re about to get into some racing with the New Zealand Games happening the next three days, which will be a good close to the camp.
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Life After SVSEF: Loni Unser
Read about SVSEF cross country alum Loni Unser's foray into car racing in the latest issue of SVPN.
Nordic Legacy Project: Media
Thank you to everyone who made it out to the Nordic Legacy Project ribbon cutting ceremony at Community School's Dumke Family Sagewillow Campus. If you missed it – you can find a video of the new roller ski trails and roller ski treadmill here, photos from the August 4 event here, and a write-up on the event by Karen Bossick here.
SVSEF Nordic Legacy Project: Sagewillow Roller Ski Trails and Roller Ski Treadmill Facility from svsef on Vimeo.