SVSEF Athlete of the Week: Carter Ros Comes Through in the Clutch
With years of skiing, playing soccer and basketball, Carter Ros is an athlete who recognizes the value of playing to the whistle.
A member of the SVSEF cross country program since 2005, Carter, posted two of his best finishes ever to book a berth in the Junior National Cross Country Championships, March 6-13 at Cable, Wisconsin. For his all-out effort to get there, Carter is SVSEF’s Athlete of the Week.
“Carter wasn’t even on the bubble,” SVSEF Nordic Program Director Rick Kapala remarked. “He was on the outside looking in and he posted his best ever result with the exception of when he was a J2 two years ago. We basically said the script has not been written and he realized that which was valuable to making the team.
Carter Ros on course. Photo by Hank Dart.
In the third and final Junior National Qualifying races at Bozeman, Montana, Carter, a senior at Wood River High School, qualified 10th and finished fifth in the men’s U18/U20 skate sprint. The following day, facing inclement conditions including standing water on the course, he made the decision to double pole the entire 10k course in a classic mass start. The decision paid off as Carter finished second in 27:17 to teammate Peter Wolter and eighth overall in a field of 41 U18/U20 men.
“Just because the first race don’t come that doesn’t mean you can’t have those results later. Carter is really good on his skis and the courses played to his strength. Conditions were pretty janky with standing water and ice. He was the first guy to decide not to kick wax and just go for it. He had a really good race,” Kapala said.
The affable 17-year-old will observe his 18th birthday while at Nationals. We hope Carter has double reason to celebrate!
Overall, SVSEF will send 14 team members to Junior Nationals, the most from a single program in the Intermountain Division. Bozeman was next best with 12. For more information on the 2016 Cross Country Junior National Championships, please click HERE.
SVSEF Athletes Capitalize in Competition, Book Berths at Junior Nationals
NORDIC JUNIOR NATIONAL QUALIFIERS
This was a big week for SVSEF Nordic athletes, as they traveled to Bozeman, Montana for the last of three weekends of Junior National Qualifying races. The weekend started off with a 1.3km skate sprint on Saturday, and on Sunday the athletes battled it out in a 10km/5km/3km classic mass start.
The Smith family stacked up solid results, with Tucker Smith (U10 Boys), Sammy Smith (U12 Girls), and Logan Smith (U14 Girls) each taking first in their respective age groups. Landon Paschall took second in the novice category. U18s Peter Wolter, Ben Brunelle, and Carter Ros all made the U18/20 A final and skied strong races throughout the day, while Johnny Hagenbuch took second place in the U16 Boys’ race.
In the mass start classic races, Logan and Sammy Smith again found the top of the podium, and Tucker Smith placed second. Anja Jensen made for an exciting U14 Girls race, coming in a close second after lunging at the line with Logan.
In the U18/20 Boys’ race, a number of competitors decided to double pole the 10km course and opted not to use kick wax. Carter Ros (photo, above right) skied a great race, confirming his position on the IMD team for Junior Nationals.
Ella Wolter also secured her IMD spot after skiing to second place in the U16 Girls’ race. Sophia Mazzoni was the only U16 girl who chose to double pole the 5km course – she also qualified for the IMD team.
Emily Siegel and Annika Landis skied strong races in the U18/20 event, with Landis landing in second.
Johnny Hagenbuch took home the win in the U16 Boys race; he also opted to double pole the whole 5km course.
A total of 14 athletes qualified for Junior Nationals based on results from this weekend and the previous two qualifiers; these racers will travel to Telemark, Wisconsin, to represent the Intermountain Division at Junior Nationals, March 6-13. SVSEF racer Emily Siegel had some of her best races ever to qualify, and Carter Ros and Henry Raff stepped it up to qualify, as well.
SVSEF skiers qualified to US XC Junior Nationals:
U18/20 Girls
Anna Gibson
Annika Landis
Emily Siegel
U18/20 Boys
Peter Wolter
Lukash Platil
Leo Lukens
Eli Jensen
Ben Brunelle
Carter Ros
Henry Raff
U16 Girls
Sophia Mazzoni
Lily Brunelle
Ella Wolter
U16 Boys
Johnny Hagenbuch
JNQ Results from Bozeman - Click HERE
NATIONAL JUNIOR RACES - FIS
The SVSEF FIS team headed to Snow King Mountain Resort, WY, where U19s raced against the clock in Wild West Series giant slaloms on February 13-14 and the slalom on the 15-16.
Notable performances in the first GS event came from Jay Fitzgerald (12th) and Yuri McClure (23rd) on the men’s side, and Sage Rheinschild (11th) and Katelyn Rathfon (18th) on the women’s.
In the second giant slalom race, Haley Cutler had an impressive fourth place finish for the women, followed by teammates Erin Smith in 14th and Rathfon in 16th. Fitzgerald skied to 11th, McClure to 17th, and Will Snyder was right behind him in 18th.
Puppy Love: Haley Cutler and Lola on the podium.
In the slalom, the final race of the weekend, Snyder pushed the gates to finish in 21st for the men, closely by Fitzgerald in 22nd. Cutler broke onto the podium for the women’s race, landing in third. Smith skied to 17th, and Ruby Marden to 21st.
SVSEF FIS Alpine athletes completed their fourth and final consecutive day of racing with a slalom event at Snow King in Wyoming. In a field of strong racers, SVSEF athletes proved they could compete with the best of them.
“Putting two runs together was more challenging, but still we came home with some good results and have qualified at least eight to the U19 Championships. The young men and women continue to improve on the hill and as a team and continue to get faster each series we enter. They are working hard and doing a great job,” commented Brett Morris, SVSEF FIS coach.
Griffin Curtis led the men’s team in 28th place. Spencer Wright finished in 32nd, and right behind him was Yuri McClure in 33rd. Will Snyder was 36th, and Charlie Lamb rounded out the pack in 43rd. On the women’s side, Skylar Cooley led the SVSEF group in 17th place. Erin Smith was 19th, Abby Norton 35th, and Katelyn Rathfon 41st.
Final U19 qualifying lists will come out tomorrow. SVSEF will publish them when they are complete.
Results:
U19 Men: Jay Fitzgerald 12-GS, 11-GS, 22-SL; Yuri McClure 23-GS, 17-GS, DSQ-SL; Will Snyder 34-GS, 18-GS, 21-SL; Hayden Terjeson 38-GS, 40-GS, DNF-SL; Griffin Curtis 49-GS, 48-GS, DNF-SL; John Blackburn 51-GS, DNF-GS, 41-SL; Noah Leininger 54-GS, 49-GS, DNF-SL; Hunter Kern 56-GS, 64-GS, DNF-SL; Spencer Wright 59-GS, 44-GS, 51-SL; Charlie Lamb 71-GS, DNF-GS, DNF-SL
U19 Women: Haley Cutler DNF-GS, 4-GS, 3-SL; Sage Rheinschild 11-GS, 23-GS, DNF-SL; Katelyn Rathfon 18-GS, 16-GS, DNF-SL; Skylar Cooley 26-GS, 38-GS, 26-SL; Erin Smith 27-GS, 14-GS, 17-SL; Abby Norton 45-GS, 48-GS, 40-SL; Ruby Marden 48-GS, 56-GS, 21-SL
GOLD TEAM
Two members of the Gold Team have been invited to participate in the first-ever X Games in Oslo, which take place February 24-28. Gold Team snowboarder and member of the U.S. Pro Halfpipe Team Chase Josey has ramped up the style and creativity in the pipe this season, and has the hardware to show for it; the athlete made the podium at the Mammoth Grand Prix on January 24. He attended the Aspen X Games, where a storm caused officials to call off the second and third runs of the Super Pipe event – Josey finished 11th after the first run. Also invited to Oslo is U.S. and Gold Team freeskier Jacob Beebe; the 16-year old finished 16th in the men’s skier halfpipe at Park City last week. Beebe will be one of the younger competitors in the field, giving the veterans a run for their money.
NORAM CUP RACES
Tanner Farrow made his way to the East Coast for a weekend of racing. Competing in the Nor-Am Cup races at Whiteface Mountain, NY, he finished 19th in the Alpine Combined and 34th in the Super G. Farrow skied to 28th in the Slalom at Dartmouth, NH.
FREESTYLE
The Freestyle team sent 10 athletes (along with a couple siblings) to Utah Olympic Park in Park City this weekend for a U14 freestyle event.
“I was so impressed with how well our athletes trained and competed. For several of them it was their first freestyle event,” said SVSEF Snowboard and Freeskiing Program Director Andy Ware.
SVSEF athletes competed in a field of 60 from the Intermountain division (27 girls, 33 boys).
Added Ware, “This is a great event for our younger athletes to gain competitive experience. It is a different feeling to put on a race bib and experience what it is like to push out of the start gate for a competition. This is a great chance to feel butterflies in your stomach at the start and cross the finish line with exuberating satisfaction. I was proud of the effort of all of the SVSEF athletes.”
Results:
U13 Boys: 5-Zach Price; 7-Jack Colgate
U11 Boys: 7-Asher Maxwell
U11 Girls: 1-Tatum Ware; 3-Tilly Babcock; 5-Samantha Beaudoin; 8-Katie Gardiner; 9-Liesl Byer; 12-Ellie Shandro
U9 Boys: 10-Austin McMahon
U7 Boys: 1-Barrett Byer
U7 Girls: 1-Galena McMahon
FLY FREESTYLE BUMP OFF
Prep Team Freestyle skiers competed in the Fly Freestyle Bump Off in Park City.
Addison Rafford continued her hot streak, finishing second overall, just five tenths of a second out of first. Other top overall finishers were Eliza Marks in seventh, Katie Markthaler in ninth, and Devon Brown in 10th (first F17).
Noted Jennifer Diehl, SVSEF Freestyle/Freeskiing Prep and Prep Entry Program Director, “Liesl Beyer was the top F11 with some great improvement from day one that even the judges commented on.”
On the boys’ side, Alex LaFleur added to his season by coming in second place overall, narrowly missing his second win. Enjoying his best season ever, Luke Rizzo won the M15 class and was seventh overall. Toby Rafford was second for M13s and 15th overall. Others competing in singles were Wilson Dunn, Hunter Diehl, Henry Cherp, and Henry Buell.
In girls’ duals, Addison Rafford was third, Katie Markthaler sixth, and Devin Brown eighth. In boys’ duals, Alex LaFleur was third, Henry Cherp sixth, and Luke Rizzo seventh.
ARKOOSH CUP
According to a press release by Rotarun Ski Area, 100 young racers ranging in age from 2 to 12, carved up Rotarun’s abundant snow on Sunday at the 47th annual Arkoosh Cup. Hailey’s hometown ski area was able to bring the event back after a two-year absence due to insufficient snow.
The single giant-slalom race course started near the top of Art Richards Mountain for the older more experienced kids with most 7-9 years olds starting halfway down the mountain, and the youngest starting closer to the bottom on less challenging terrain.
This year’s fastest overall time was set by a young lady – 11-year-old Jessica Blackburn. The fastest male racer, with the second fastest time of the day was 12-year-old Bryce Foster. Both Blackburn and Foster (pictured below) are members of the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation’s alpine team.
The Arkoosh Cup has been the training grounds for many outstanding Wood River Valley skiers, including Picabo Street who and went on to become an Olympic gold medal winner. The race is intended to be an opportunity for young racers to showcase and hone their skills, and for non-racers to challenge themselves in a fun, local, low-key event.
The Arkoosh Cup is named after Arkoosh family that donated land to Rotarun. This is the 47th year of the race that originated in 1966. The trophy bearing the name of all the male and female winners is displayed at Rotarun.
This year Rotarun teamed with the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation to sponsor the event. Team coaches assisted with setting the course, and starting racers.
The Rotarun Board wants to extend a special thanks to Arkoosh Cup racers and parents for their participation, support and patience.
2016 Arkoosh Cup champions Bryce Foster and Jessica Blackburn
Arkoosh Cup Race Results
SVSEF Athletes Keep The Big Train Rolling
USASA BIG MOUNTAIN WEST SERIES
Dollar Mountain in Sun Valley was the backdrop for the USASA Big Mountain West Series attracting 350 snowboarders and freeskiers from around the region. The event, the second of four in the USASA series, serves as a qualifying series for USASA Nationals, April 1-13 at Copper Mountain, Colorado. The series consisted of two days of boardercross and skiercross followed by slopestyle and halfpipe.
“The crew at Dollar raised the bar for the events this season. Led by John Matteson, Julian Tyo and Nate Sheehan the park/pipe builders and staff have created some of the best competitive venues we have had in years and the athletes took full advantage of it,” SVSEF Snowboard and Freeskiing Program Director Andy Ware said.
“An extended boardercross/skier cross track made for some highly competitive races, the slopestyle course challenged athletes to be creative and clean with their tricks and the halfpipe had competitors launching high above the 22-foot walls,” Ware added.
SVSEF coach Andy Gilbert concurred, “By far it was the best boardercross we have ever seen at Dollar Mountain. Nate Sheehan, the new park and pipe manager, is doing a phenomenal job. By all accounts, the SVSEF riders are as well.
“The team is so fun right now,” Gilbert said. “They are learning and progressing and every single athlete is making huge strides right now.”
70 riders competed in SBX on Thursday and Friday, and Saturday’s slopestyle was sold out at 125.
“It’s amazing was those kids are doing on park jumps right now,” Gilbert said. “The kids were sending it and landing some impressive stuff.”
U.S. Pro Team and SVSEF alumni Chase Josey showed up to Sunday’s halfpipe to ride with the kids.
“He did pipe laps with the kids. They were stoked,” Gilbert said. “The pipe was perfect and the weather could not have been any better.”
Beverly Hay Snowboard Champions were taken from overall finishes in park and pipe. The 2016 winners were Isabella Gomez of Issaquah, Washington, and Alec Little of Park City, Utah.
Coach Rick Millett echoed Gilbert’s sentiments, “I was proud of all the snowboarders I coached during the events. Phebe Ericksen stomped her second run in pipe. Payton Bacca and Zoe Bacca dominated all of their boardercross races. Aidan Green was second in superpipe with his back-to-back 540 run. Elk Spencer got a silver in boardercross. I am very stoked for Landon Moore for entering his very first halfpipe and slopestyle competitions. Landon got third place in slopestyle and finished second in superpipe.”
Gilbert added, “Payton (Bacca) is ripping. She’s riding so well and I think she is really enjoying it. Elk Spencer had a good weekend. Aiden Green had really good results this weekend. Phebe Ericksen was on the podium. She killed it. Landon Moore won a bronze medal. He had a phenomenal day and rode beautifully. Channing Curci had a breakthrough, clearing all three jumps.”
Gilbert and Millett also had big props for Jack Verhaeghe, Dylan Prabowo, Sophie Smith, Olive Gilbert, Walker Pate, Kiki Pate and Caleb Hotham.
Freeskiing coach Reed Snyderman said, “SVSEF freeskiers skied well this weekend. We had great weather and claimed a total of 11 podium spots. Here’s the breakdown…”
Skier Slopestyle:
Men: Open Class: 3-Alvaro Jiraldo.
Women: Open Class: 2-Sarah Kope. 13-15 Class: 1-Hanna Blackwell
Skier Boys (10-11): 4-Sam Ware; 5-Joey Markthaler; 8-Harper Mallett; 13-Ridge Dirksmeier. (9-Under): 3-Barrett Beyer; 4-Walker Woodring.
Skier Men (13-15): 5-Will Griffith; 9-Jedson Waters; 15-Kyle Kope. (16-18): 6-Trey Potter.
Skier Women (13-15): 1-Hanna Blackwell.
Skier Halfpipe
Men: Open Class: 1-Alvaro Jiraldo
Skier Boys: (9-Under): 4-Barrett Beyer. (10-12): 1-Ridge Dirksmeier. 2-Harper Mallett; 4-Sam Ware; 5-Dylan Mills; 6-Joey Markthaler; 8-Luke Higgins; 9-Oliver Wiedemann; 12-Caden Clifford.(13-15): 1-Jedson Waters; 2-Will Griffith; 6-Lieder Schwartz. (16-18): 1-Trey Potter
Skier Girls: (10-12): 1-Amanda Brown. 2-Liesl Beyer. (13-15): 1-Hanna Blackwell
Snowboard Slopestyle/Halfpipe
Grommet Boys (8-9): Caleb Hothem 1/1.
Menehune Boys (10-11): Jack Verhaeghe 3/2; Dylan Prabowo 7/6; Walker Pate 8/7.
Breaker Boys (12-13): Tague Higgins 5/7; Angus Gilbert 9/DNS.
Youth Men (14-15): Elk Spencer 6/5; Aidan Green 9/2.
Junior Boys (16-17): Landon Moore 3/2.
Grommet Girls (8-9): Kiki Pate 1-HP; Sophia Smith 2-HP.
Menehune Girls (10-11): Madison Hothem 2-HP; Olive Gilbert 3-HP.
Breaker Girls (12-13): Channing Curci 2/3; Zoe Bacca DNS/3.
Youth Women (14-15): Phebe Erickesen 2/2; Payton Bacca 3-HP.
Open Class Women: Clara Jenner 1-HP.
Boardercross (#1/#2/#3/#4)
Grommet Girls (8-9): Sophie Smith 1.
Menehune Girls (10-11): Oliver Gilbert 3-FR/4-FR.
Breaker Girls (12-13): Zoe Bacca 1/1/1/1; Channing Curci 2/2/2/2.
Youth Women (14-15): Payton Bacca 1/1/2/1; Phebe Ericksen 3-FRI/DNS.
Grommet Boys (8-9): Caleb Hothem 1-FRI. Slater Landrum-Duval 2-FRI.
Menehune Boys (10-11): Jack Verhaeghe 2/3/2/6; Dylan Prabowo 3-FRI/3-FRI; Cash Landrum Duval 6-FRI.
Youth Men (14-15): Elk Spencer 3/DNS/4/DNS; Aidan Green 4/2/3/DNS, David Rau 7-THU.
Skiercross
Skier Girls (10-12): Jessica Blackburn 1/1/DNS/DNS; Saba Grossman 2/2/1/1; Liesl Beyer 3/3/2/2.
Skier Boys (10-12): Cole Curci 3/4/3/DNS; Sam Ware 5-FRI/DNS. (9-Under): Walker Woodring 3/3/6/DNS; Barrett Beyer 4/4/4/DNS.
“Sun Valley is one of the only ski resorts on the Big Mountain West Series that is capable of providing BDX/SX, slopestyle and halfpipe all on one mountain and in one weekend. It takes a tremendous team effort from our parent volunteers, coaching staff and Sun Valley Resort staff to pull off an event of this size. Huge thanks to everyone for working so hard to make it such a great experience,” Ware said.
Aidan Green gets ready to drop in.
LAURA FLOOD MEMORIAL
SVSEF alpine skiers enjoyed the gates – and results - on their home hill in the 25th annual Laura Flood Memorial Intermountain Cup races. Overall champions were SVSEF’s Lily Fitzgerald and Will Snyder. It marks the second year in a row SVSEF skiers will have their names engraved on the perpetual trophy with Haley Cutler and Jay Fitzgerald winning last year.
Lily, a first-year USSA U16 Team member, finished third in the opening giant slalom, second in Saturday’s slalom and fourth in Sunday’s slalom. FIS racer Will Snyder (U19) was runner-up in giant slalom, won the first slalom and was 15th in the second. (Below, photo by Gary Black, Jr.).
Alpine Program Director Scott McGrew remarked, “It was an incredible weekend of skiing and celebrating the 25th anniversary running of the Laura Flood Memorial. Our athletes really put on a great performance for their family and friends and I couldn’t be happier with the christening of our new Greyhawk stadium slalom finish. The weather was spectacular, the excitement of a home race was in the air, and it was wonderful to see two of our local athletes take home the prestigious overall award for the three days of racing.”
The races are held in memory of Flood, a promising junior ski racer and girl of uncommon spirit and depth who died in 1989 at the age of 19.
SVSEF racers honored Flood’s legacy by winning all six races and taking eight of nine overall podiums in the men’s races and six of nine in the women’s.
Race champions were Jay Fitzgerald, Will Snyder and Duncan Fuller. Haley Cutler claimed the opening and closing races. Also on the podium were U16 racer Bennett Snyder (twice), Will Snyder (twice), Spencer Wright, Katelyn Rathfon, Lily Fitzgerald (twice) and Sage Rheinschild.
Coach Brett Morris said, “FIS Team athletes skied really well. They continue to improve each series and are setting themselves up to be skiing really fast as we move into the last qualifying series next week, and then all the championship series in March. Their hard work and patience is really paying off.”
Nate Schwing, “I echo what Brett said. They showcased great skiing over the weekend on the home hill which was great to see! Last weekend should be a good confidence builder going into our final qualifier at Snow King.”
Other SVSEF racers cracking the top 15 in the overall (some more than once) were Grace Pepin, Maddie Ferris, Skylar Cooley, Ruby Marden, Molly Milgard, Libby Kaiser, Samantha Busby, Abby Morton, Stasie Echeverria, Noah Leininger, Griffin Curtis, Yuri McClure, Charlie Lamb, Wyatt Smith, Matt O’Connor, Wyatt Minor, Hayden Terjeson, John Blackburn, and Hunter Kern.
USSA Head Coach Will Brandenburg remarked, "I thought our team did really well this weekend. It was the highest level race of the season because of all of our FIS athletes. We showed very consistent skiing and great results. Podium every day in U16s and overall. I think we are the best team in the region, specifically because of our depth."
Results by Idaho Mountain Express
· U-19 men (17): Jay Fitzgerald 1-GS, 2-SL, DNF-SL; Will Snyder 2-GS, 1-SL, 11-SL; Duncan Fuller 7-GS, DF-SL, 1-SL; Spencer Wright 6-GS, 3-SL, 2-SL; Noah Leininger 4-GS, DNF-SL, 10-SL; Yuri McClure DNF-GS, 5-SL, DNF-SL; Charlie Lamb DNF-GS, 6-SL, 5-SL; Griffin Curtis 5-GS, DNF-SL, 4-SL; Wyatt Smith 9-GS, 7-SL, DNF-SL. Blake Deilke 12-GS, DNF-SL, 14-SL; Hunter Kern DSQ-GS, 9-SL, 8-SL; Keegan Webber 17-GS, 14-SL, DNF-SL; Hayden Terjeson DNF-GS, DNF-SL, 3-SL; John Blackburn DNF-GS, DNF-SL, 7-SL; Walter Lafky DNF-GS, DNF-SL; Lukas DeWolfe DNF-GS, DSQ-SL, 18-SL; Kristian DeWolfe DNF-SL.
· U-19 women (11): Haley Cutler 1-GS, DNF-SL, 1-SL; Katelyn Rathfon 2-GS, 1-SL, 5-SL; Ruby Marden 3-GS, DSQ-SL, 4-SL; Samantha Busby 4-GS; Skylar Cooley 7-GS, 3-SL; Abby Norton 6-GS, DNF-SL, DNF-SL; Libby Lindstrom 14-GS, 7-SL, 9-SL; Addy Jacobsen 16-GS, 10-SL, DNF-SL; Nikolette Sabiers 20-GS, DSQ-SL, 14-SL; Sage Rheinschild DNF-GS, DNF-SL, 2-SL; Erin Smith DNF-GS, DNF-SL, DNF-SL.
· U-16 boys (9): Bennett Snyder 1-GS, DNF-SL, 1-SL; Matt O’Connor DNF-GS, 3-SL, 3-SL; Wyatt Minor 9-GS, 5-SL, 11-SL; Charlie Stumph 22-GS, 12-SL, 15-SL; Carter Jendrezak 12-GS, DNF-SL, 7-SL; Ian Hanna 16-GS, DNF-SL, 13-SL; Wyatt Barth 20-GS, 23-SL, 31-SL; Max Noddings DNF-SL, 8-SL; Jake Blackburn DSQ-GS, DSQ-SL, DNF-SL.
· U-16 girls (14): Lily Fitzgerald 1-GS, 2-SL, 2-SL; Grace Pepin 26-GS, 7-SL, DNF-SL; Libby Kaiser 3-GS, DNF-SL, 32-SL; Madison Ferris 12-GS, 10-SL, 8-SL; Molly Milgard 6-GS, DNF-SL, 7-SL; Anastasie Echeverria 9-GS, 16-SL, 15-SL; Kaia Jensen 11-GS, 18-SL, 23-SL; Ella Viesturs 19-GS, DNF-SL, DNF-SL; Cailin Chandler 25-GS, 31-SL, 24-SL; Lauren Ashley Helm 32-GS, DSQ-SL, 21-SL; Lucy More 40-GS, 25-SL, 30-SL; Allison Rathfon DNF-GS, 15-SL, 17-SL; Anna Pelligreen DNF-GS, DSQ-SL; Elizabeth Vanderkloot DNF-GS, DNF-SL, DNF-SL.
IMD TEAM
The SVSEF Intermountain Division alpine team banged the gates in a U14 Qualifier at Snowbasin, Utah. Like the Laura Flood Memorial in Sun Valley, the U14 qualifying series consisted of one giant slalom and two slalom races, Friday through Sunday.
Paced by Marit Kaiser’s win in the girls’ giant slalom, SVSEF placed four girls in the top 11, including Falon Hanna, Sage Curtis and Emma MacGuffie.
Six SVSEF boys cracked the top 11 in GS with Ryder Sarchett in second, Ridley Lindstrom third and Buey Grossman fourth, Max Moss sixth, Shaw Dean and Charlie Snyder.
Falon Hanna was the bronze medalist in Saturday’s slalom with Marit Kaiser fourth. Snyder was the lone SVSEF finisher in the top 10, in eighth place. Results were better on Sunday with Sarchett second and Lindstrom fourth and Dean and Moss on the front page. Hanna led SVSEF gals with a second fourth-place finish. Curtis and Kaiser were seventh and eighth.
Head coach James Tautkus said, "We had some strong performances this weekend, but they didn't come easy. The results don't truly reflect the progress made by this team over the weekend. Ski racing is not an easy sport, not every day is going to feel like your best. You just have to go out every day with the intention to be. These kids proved they can battle. The staff and I are proud of their effort."
Results by Idaho Mountain Express
· U-14 girls: Marit Kaiser 1-GS, 4-SL, 8-SL; Falon Hanna 8-GS, 3-SL, 4-SL; Sage Curtis 10-GS, 45-SL, 7-SL; Emma MacGuffie 11-GS, 33-SL, 42-SL; Sage Holter 24-GS, 36-SL, 44-SL; Anhwei Kirk 32-GS, 34-SL; Lola Street 50-GS, 66-SL, 84-SL; Taylor Dorland 61-GS, 65-SL, 62-SL; Julia Ott 62-GS, 43-SL, 57-SL; Laci Jermunson DNF-GS, 67-SL, 74-SL.
· U-14 boys: Max Moss 6-GS, 17-SL, 13-SL; Shaw Dean 9-GS, 15-SL, 12-SL; Charlie Snyder 11-GS, 8-SL, 17-SL; Nathan Gowe 17-GS, 24-SL, 20-SL; Ryder Sarchett 2-GS, 57-SL, 2-SL; Ridley Lindstrom 3-GS, DNF-SL, 4-SL; Buey Grossman 4-GS, DNF-SL, DNF-SL; Ethan Marx 23-GS, DNF-SL, 23-SL; Benjamin Goitiandia 26-GS, DNF-SL, 41-SL; William DeWolfe 41-GS, 39-SL, 21-SL; Josh Blackburn 58-GS, 33-SL, 22-SL; Connor Campbell 34-GS, DSQ-SL, DNF-SL; Joseph Goitiandia 39-GS, 44-SL, DNF-SL; William Everitt 41-GS, 41-SL, DNF-SL; Axel Hattrup 61-GS, 50-SL, 32-SL; Jackson Swenke 63-GS, DNF-SL, 48-SL; Will Penrose 65-GS, 35-SL, DNF-SL, Shaw McCoubrey 67-GS, 61-SL, 44-SL; Jett Carruth 69-GS, 73-SL, 28-SL; Skye Leininger 82-GS, 51-SL, DNF-SL; Chase Jones 87-GS, 87-SL, DNF-SL.
SVSEF's Ryder Sarchett (second) and Ridley Lindstrom (fourth) enjoy the view from the podium.
U12 TRAVEL TEAM
By the Idaho Mountain Express
In the Cranston Cup slaloms at Bogus Basin, Colin Hanna and Leo Molter swept U-12 boys for Sun Valley, Lowie Watkins placed first and second in U-10 girls, Tanner Lee won a pair of U-14 girls’ races, and Bo Swenke and Bryce Foster swept U-14 boys.
Here are the weekend-best slalom class placings for Sun Valley in the Cranston Cup, followed by the placings by day for SVSEF racers (GS, SL, SL) among the 98 girls and 112 boys at Snowbasin:
· U-14 girls: 1—Tanner Lee. 2—Gillian Simcoe.
· U-14 boys: 1—Bryce Foster and Bo Swenke. DNF—Owen Robb.
· U-12 girls: 2—Jessica Blackburn. 3—Logan Lindstrom and Saba Grossman. 5—Paige Dehart and Tatum Minor. 6—Hannah Ferris. 10—Goldie Kirk. 11—Elgyn Monge. 14—Laura Daves. 15—Isabella Hattrup. 16—Agnes Kind. 24—Lena Nelson. 27—Maile Dorland. 30—Anabel Viesturs. 33—Mattigan Monschke. 36—Lenapatricia Gardner.
· U-12 boys: 1—Leo Molter and Colin Hanna. 5—Nils Galloway. 7—Carter Sammis. 9—Russell Stumph. 11—Taylor Rixon. 13—Cole Curci. 14—John Tumolo. 15—Tommy Normand. 22—Colin MacGuffie.
· U-10 girls: 1—Lowie Watkins. 12—Marina Monschke.
FREESTYLE
Members of the Sun Valley Freestyle Team tackled the mogul courses at Squaw Valley, California, in preparation for action this week in Utah. According to head coach Joey Cordeau Addie Rafford “had her best result” with second place overall, just two points behind the leader. Katie Markthaler was second in the F15 class and fourth overall. Teammate Eliza Marks finished fourth in the F15 class and seventh overall. In dual moguls, Rafford and Markthaler stepped up on the podium in second and third. Marks finished fifth. Wilson Dunn skied to fourth in singles and duals after "two exciting duals in semi finals and small final," according to Cordeau.
The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation will host the U.S. Junior National Freestyle/Freeskiing Championships this March 10-13. Please see more information on our website at https://svsef.org/juniornationals/
U.S. GRAND PRIX
U.S. and SVSEF Gold Team freeskier Jacob Beebe finished 16th in men’s skier halfpipe at Park City. The 16-year-old was one of the youngest competitors in the World Cup event and finished exactly in the middle of pack in a field of 32. Beebe scored 69 points. The winner was 2014 Olympian Aaron Blunck of the U.S. Team with 94.2 points. Chase Josey, also of the U.S. and SVSEF Gold snowboard teams, was 28th in men’s snowboard halfpipe.
BOULDER MOUNTAIN TOUR
SVSEF Athletes Excel at Local Boulder Mountain Tour by Julia Seyferth
Sun Valley Ski Education athletes showed strength and versatility at the 40th annual Zions Bank Boulder Mountain Tour, which for many is the longest distance competition they will compete in this season. The culmination of the week-long Sun Valley Nordic Festival and a highlight of winter in the valley that draws racers from all over, the event begins at the Galena Trail System and spans the length of the Harriman Trail; all in all, a total of 34 kilometers of skate technique.
In a field of 407 men, Nick Hendrickson of the University of Utah won the event overall in a time of 1:17.13. Close behind was Sawyer Kesselheim of the University of Montana in 1:17.15. Former SVSEF racer Kevin Bolger took third, just two-tenths of a second behind Kesselheim. Joining Bolger in the top ten were SVSEF skiers Matt Gelso of the Gold Team in seventh (1:21.05), Lukash Platil in ninth (1:21.06) and coach Tom Smith in 10th (1:21.08). Close behind this SVSEF group was alumni Michael Sinnott in 14th (1:22.56). SVSEF coach Arnkjell Hustvedt of Oslo, Norway finished in 33rd, clocking in at 1:26.59. U16 racer Joe Hall showed a solid effort, placing 41st (1:31.24). SVSEF U14 racers also proved they were up to the task, with Sebi Radl-Jones finishing in 256th (2:02.24), Kai Nelson in 285th (2:09.06) and Jake Gorham in 330th (2:30.01). Mats Radl-Jones, one of the youngest racers in the field, finished in 360th (3:05.58).
U.S. Ski Team member Caitlin Gregg skated to a win in the women’s race with a time of 1:23.55, just 2.6 seconds ahead of Veronika Mayerhofer of the University of Utah. Rounding out the podium was SVSEF alumna Sloan Storey, a captain at the University of Utah, with a time of 1:25.14. It was a successful day for the Utes, coached by SVSEF veteran Abi Holt; teammate Natalia Mueller was close behind Storey in fourth, crossing the finish line in 1:25.20. SVSEF coach Kristen Monahan skied a smooth race, coming in 10th place with a time of 1:31.39. SVSEF Gold Team member Paige Schember placed 13th in her first competition coming back from an injury that took her out early in the racing season. U14 SVSEF racer Anja Jensen had a compelling finish, placing just out of the top 20. Teammates and fellow U14 racers Sascha Leidecker (2:02.12) and Eva Grover (2:02.16) placed 98th and 99th; solid finishes in a field of 240 women.
Racers had the option to ski the Half-Boulder, totaling 15 kilometers and beginning at Baker Creek on the Harriman Trail. In the Men’s category, junior SVSEF racer Fisher Gardner took 10th in 52:58. Calvin Miller was 16th in 56:14, and Blake DeHart was 19th in 59:10.
Britt Cogan of Salt Lake City led the women’s Half-Boulder, winning with a time of 45:22. SVSEF junior racers Luci Ludwig (47:18) and Elle Mann (47:57) made their way onto the podium in second and third place. Teammate Anja Grover was sixth in 52:44, Tia Vontver ninth in 53:13, Crosby Boe 10th in 53:39, and Meg Keating 31st in 1:02.27.
Junior competitors will travel to Bozeman this weekend for the final Junior National qualifying series of the season.
SVSEF Athletes enjoy the Nordic Downtown Sprints
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Just like another Peyton - 14-year-old Payton Bacca had a big week. The Wood River High School freshman won three out of four boardercross events at the USASA Big Mountain West Series and threw down for third place in halfpipe. She is SVSEF's Athlete of the Week.
A member of the SVSEF snowboard program since 2008, Bacca is one of five girls ages 14-and-under recently invited to the prestigious 2016 Burton U.S. Open Junior Jam.
Staged February 29 through March 1 in Vail, Colorado, the Junior Jam is a long-standing tradition and considered proving grounds for some of the world’s best young riders.
Despite being known for her prowess as a snowboardcross rider, Bacca placed third in halfpipe at USASA Nationals last spring. She will compete in a field of five girls. The top finisher qualifies directly to the next round of competition against the older pro riders later in the week.
“This will be the biggest event that I have had the opportunity to participate in. I am looking forward to competing with two of my close friends,” Payton said. That includes Isabella Gomez of Issaquah, Washington, who went head-to-head in last week's boardercross with Payton prevailing in three out of four events.
When not riding for the SVSEF Alpha Team, Payton is an avid soccer player. She has started a GoFundMe campaign to help defray the costs of the trip. If you would like to contribute, please go tohttps://www.gofundme.com/xac6fxzv.
Payton Bacca en route to a third-place finish in halfpipe at 2015 USASA Nationals.
SVSEF Athletes Up To The Task At Hand
Athlete of the Week
Baseball players who have a complete set of skills are known as “five-tool players.” SVSEF student-athlete Logan Smith is equally adept at her chosen sports, which include cross country skiing, freestyle skiing and ice hockey.
Three weeks away from her 12th birthday, Smith won both U14 races at a Super Junior National Qualifiers at Soldier Hollow last weekend. For her exemplary effort, Logan is SVSEF Athlete of the Week.
“She works really hard and she enjoys it,” coach Kelley Sinnott said. “She is hard-working, committed and positive.”
Logan prevailed in classic sprint heats and came away with a four-second victory the following day in the U14 girls’ 3k freestyle, winning in 12:05.
“She skied a very smart race. We had a plan for that course and she stuck to it,” Sinnott said. "Not many kids that age have the maturity to do that."
The oldest of three children, including Samantha and Tucker, Logan and family move to the valley in the winter so the children can participate on SVSEF teams, including cross country, alpine and freestyle. They reside in Boise during the off season.
Logan Smith on course. Photo by Hank Dart
Cross Country
According to assistant head coach Ashley Knox, the Sun Valley Cross Country Ski Team just completed their second of three qualifiers for the 2016 season. The qualifier took place in Soldier Hollow, Utah, the 2002 Olympic Venue. The Soldier Hollow Super Qualifier hosts teams from all over the West, including teams from Colorado, California, Oregon, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Utah. Sun Valley had 58 skiers competing, ranging in age from 7 to 19 years old.
Friday kicked off with a 1.3km classic sprint. The U16s and older skied a 1.3 KM qualifying round , top 30 in each age group qualify to move on to the heats where the top skier will race up to three more times competing in heats of 6. The U14s and younger skied one lap of either the sprint course or a 1KM loop for the U8s. SVSEF had 19 athletes qualify for the heats, led by Lily Brunelle qualifying in the top position for U16 girls, ending up in third after a long day of sprint rounds.
Highlights:
U8 Boys
McCallen Campbell- 1st
U10 Boys
Tucker Smith 5th
U12 Girls
Sammy Smith – 3rd
Novice Boys
Landon Paschall- 8th
Novice Girls
Isabella Bourret- 4th
U14 Boys (77 racers):
Cash Dart – 4th
U14 Girls (90 racers):
Logan Smith- 1st
Eva Grover 5th
U16 Girls (76) Qualified 6
Lily Brunelle- Qualified 1st, finished 3rd
Sophia Mazzoni and Ella Wolter advanced to the B final finishing 10th and 11th overall.
U16 Boys (113)
Qualified 2 out of 2 U16 guys
U18/20 Girls (89)
Qualified 3
U18/2 Boys (135)
Qualified 8
Lukash Platil won the B final, 7th overall
Saturday's results courtesy of the Idaho Mountain Express -
Junior Men U-20 (ages 18-19), 15k: 2—Lukash Platil 42:06 (27.42 back, 4th overall). 17—Casey Shannon 45:01. 22—Danny Graves 47:57.
Junior Women U-20, 10k: 7—Loni Unser 36:10.
Junior Men U-18 (ages 16-17), 15k: 10—Peter Wolter 43:33 (19th overall). 11—Henry Raff 43:55. 23—Eli Jensen 45:18. 34—Cooper Roquet 46:21. 45—Ben Brunelle 47:22. 52—Carter Ros 47:56. 58—River Vorse 48:42. 70—Kiran Merchant 52:22 (123 finishers—30 U-20 and 93 U-18).
Junior Women U-18, 10k: 9—Anna Gibson 33:38 (11th overall, 2:21 back). 10—Annika Landis 33:41 (12th overall). 28—Emily Siegel 36:02 (83 finishers—14 U-20 and 69 U-18).
Novice Women, 3k: 9—Isabella Bourret 18:25 (21 finishers).
Novice Men, 3k: 8—Landon Paschall 13:26 (17 finishers).
U-16 boys (ages 14-15), 5k: 3—Johnny Hagenbuch 14:13 (30.64 back). 52—Joe Hall 16:11 (112 finishers).
U-16 girls, 5k: 11—Sophia Mazzoni 16:30 (47.65 back). 19—Kirsys Campbell 16:54.39. 20—Ella Wolter 16:54.98. 21—Eve Jensen 16:55.88. 25—Katherine Estep 17:06. 28—Lily Brunelle 17:10. 32—Laine Allison 17:19. 54—Michaela Petty 19:06 (75 finishers).
U-14 boys (ages 12-13), 3k: 21—Kai Nelson 11:46. 26—Sebi Radl-Jones 11:56. 51—Alex Shafer 13:25 (72 finishers).
U-14 girls, 3k: 1—Logan Smith 12:05. 2—Sascha Leidecker 12:09. 14—Luci Ludwig 13:06. 17—Eva Grover 13:10. 24—Elle Mann 13:39. 27—Kate Horowitz 13:42.15. 28—Tia Vontver 13:42.46. 38—Christine Estep 13:56. 54—Melissa Murcko 14:36. 68—Quinn Closser 15:33. 72—Sara King-Nakaoka 15:58. 75—Milan Pullen 16:26. 88—Anneka Thompson 19:39.
U-10 boys (ages 8-9). 1.3k: 5—Tucker Smith 4:20.
U-8 boys (ages 1-7), 1k: 1—McCallen Campbell 3:44.
Freeskiing
The Sun Valley Freeskiing Spectacular was staged at Dollar Mountain last weekend. Teams and skiers from Sun Valley, Missoula, Bozeman, Twin Falls, Pocatello, Park City, Utah, and Bend, Oregon, were in attendance. The event doubled as the Intermountain Division Championships.
Friday’s slopestyle event attracted a field of 60 boys and seven girls.
“It snowed over six inches during the event but athletes were undaunted,” SVSEF Program Director Andy Ware said.
SVSEF’s Sarah Kope of the Travel A Team was crowned Intermountain Division Champion in slopestyle. Hanna Blackwell was third and fourth overall, but came back the next day to capture the IMD championship in both halfpipe events.
12-year-old Ridge Dirksmeier won the IMD title in halfpipe Saturday, claiming victory in both events.
“He executed the most technical run to take the title,” Ware commented. “Technically, he skis way beyond his years.”
Harper Mallett and Jed Waters were second and third in the opening halfpipe. In the second, Alvaro Jiraldo and Mallett claimed silver and bronze.
Of the 28 skiers in the field Saturday, 23 represented SVSEF. Much to the delight of the crowd, two of the competitors were six years old; Barrett Beyer and Walker Woodring.
Age Class Results
Slopestyle #1/Slopestyle #2/Halfpipe #1/Halfpipe #2
Girls:
F11: Liesl Beyer (HP) 1/1.
F13: Amanda Brown (HP) 2/2.
F17: Sarah Kope (SS) 1/7; Hanna Blackwell 3/4/1/1.
Boys:
U7: Barrett Beyer 1/1/1/1; Walker Woodring 2/2/2/2.
U11: Anton Holter (SS) 2/1; Caden Clifford 3/2/1/1; Ted Hobbs (SS) 4/3.
U13: Harper Mallett 2/6/2/2; George Murray 3/4/3/10; Joey Markthaler 4/3/5/3; Sam Ware 5/11/13/11; Emmett Ruggeri 9/10/11/9; Ridge Dirksmeier 11/1/1/1.
U15: Jed Waters 9/13/1/1.
U17: Will Griffith 4/9/1/2; Alvaro Jiraldo 13/4/3/1.
U19: Trey Potter 5/2/1/1.
Freestyle
The SVSEF Freestyle Team tackled the bumps and competition at the Park City Freestyle Classic.
According to head coach Joey Cordeau, Henry Cherp, Luke Rizzo and Hunter Diehl swept the U15 class. Alex LaFleur continued his “incredible season” by finishing first in the M17 class and sixth overall against what Cordeau called “a stacked field of Nor-Am skiers and former World Cup skiers.”
With three top-10 finishes this year, F11 Samantha Smith qualified for Junior Nationals making her the youngest skier in the elite event next month in Sun Valley.
Addie Rafford (9th overall) was first in the F15 class followed by Eliza Marks in third. In the M13 class, Alex Austin skied to a bronze medal and 19th overall.
SVSEF skiers in the top right in duals were Samantha Smith, Luke Rizzo, and Hunter Diehl. Also competing for SVSEF were Katie Markthaler, Rainey Wilson, Devon Brown, Esmee Verheijen, Chris Pedersen, and Henry Buell.
Alpine
Coach Brett Jacobson reported the SVSEF highlights from the Western Region Speed Series held at Schweitzer Mountain in Idaho.
“The series finished off nicely with two super G races. This race series fulfilled the speed portion for qualifying into the prestigious U19 Nationals. Nice work FIS athletes, that was undoubtedly a week chalked full of variable weather conditions including rain, snow, sleet, wind, fog, and a brief moment of pure and delicious sunshine,” Jacobson said.
Results
Downhill #1/Downhill #2/Super G #1/Super G #2
Women: Haley Cutler: 5/3/1/3; Ruby Marden: 6/17/DNF/9; Erin Smith: 12/20/10/10; Katelyn Rathfon: 24/23/16/11; Sage Rheinschild: 25/28/18/17; Skylar Cooley: 8/12/20/24; Abby Norton: (SG) DNF/31.
Men: Duncan Fuller: 6/5/9/13; Hayden Terjeson: 25/31/11/5 (started 73rd/72nd in SG); Jay Fitzgerald: 36/41/22/11; Spencer Wright: 17/26/13/12; Charlie Lamb: 32/37/47/24; Will Snyder: 34/20/DNF/31; Kristian DeWolfe: DNF/52/38/32; John Blackburn: 48/33/14/27; Griffin Curtis: 25/31/17/36; Yuri McClure: 19/16/32/17; Walter Lafky: 28/35/36/DNF; Noah Leininger: 52/62/59/34; Hunter Kern 71/61/45/53.
Bumps, Jumps, Gates, Pipes, Rails, Slope: You Name It - SVSEF Did It
SV FREESTYLE SPECTACULAR
The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation staged its 6th annual Sun Valley Freestyle Spectacular and despite a plethora of new snow and challenging conditions, the event lived up to its title billing.
“For the athletes to go as fast as they did and ski as well as they did is why we call it the Spectacular,” SVSEF Program Director Andy Ware remarked. “I know of no other team or division that puts on an event this big and gets it done.”
According to Ware the two-day event featured 192 runs for Saturday’s single moguls, 91 runs for Sunday’s singles and 100 runs in duals. That latter was able to happen thanks to Sun Valley Company breaking out snowmobiles to get competitors back to the top of Roundhouse Slope. Heat winners hit the finish line and looped back
“Thanks to an amazing staff, more than 50 parent volunteers and Sun Valley Company, we were able to welcome 91 skiers on Saturday and 96 Sunday. And, for the second year in a row, no one got hurt and no ski patrol was involved,” Ware said.
Winners were awarded 8x10 handmade plaques created and donated by Lauren Street of Boulder Mountain Clayworks.
“People love them,” Ware said. “They are very personal and so much better than your generic acrylic trophy.”
Trophy winners in were 10-year-old Sammi Smith, who won her age class both days, and bounded her way to three top-10 overall finishes. Luke Rizzo skied to third and Alex LaFleur sixth in duals.
“Addie was really determined on Sunday. She skied much more aggressively,” Ware said.
Addie Rafford was sixth in the women’s draw. Top three class wins in singles were posted by Katie Markthaler, Rafford, LaFleur, Rizzo, Henry Cherp, Ben Anderson, Toby Rafford and Alex Austin.
SVSEF freeskiers will get their day in the sun with the Sun Valley Freeskiing Spectacular January 29-30 at Dollar Mountain. Slopestyle will be staged Friday and halfpipe on Saturday.
SVSEF Spectacular Class Results
Singles-Saturday/Singles-Sunday
Women
U17: Devon Brown 5/5.
U15: Katie Markthaler 3/13; Addie Rafford 4/2; Eliza Marks 8/4; Rainey Wilson 11/3; Esmee Verheijen 13/14.
U13: Frances Cherp 6/5; Chloe Vogel 7/10; Amanda Brown 8/4; Grace Rogers 10/7; Avery Griffin 11/9; Carson Vogel DNS/10; Logan Smith DNS/11.
U11: Sammi Smith 1/1.
Men
U17: Alex LaFleur 2/2; Tobias Verheijen 5/6.
U15: Luke Rizzo 2/1; Henry Cherp 4/2; Ben Anderson 7/3; Willis Sanchez-duPont 14/8; Chris Pedersen 19/17; Henry Buell 20/15; Axel Diehl DNS/21.
U13: Toby Rafford 3/DNS; Alex Austin 8/3; Adam Kind 12/9.
Overall Results
SV Spectacular Single Moguls - Saturday
SV Spectacular Single Moguls - Sunday
SV Spectacular Dual Moguls - Sunday
![20160123_164254[1]](https://svsef.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/20160123_1642541.jpg)
Sammi Smith beams on top of the podium
FIS U.S. GRAND PRIX
California’s Mammoth Mountain hosted the first stop on the U.S. Grand Prix Tour and U.S. and SVSEF Gold Team member Chase Josey made the most of the national spotlight. The 20-year old Josey rode to second place in men's snowboard halfpipe with a score of 90.2. Josey was one point behind the winner, Ryo Aono of Japan, and led a sweep of four Americans in the top five. This finish bodes well as Chase will also appear in this weekend's X-Games in Colorado. The men’s snowboard superpipe final will be televised live on ESPN from 7-9 p.m. Saturday, January 30. Fellow SVSEF Gold teamer and U.S. Freeskiing Team member Jacob Beebe finished 15th in the Grand Prix skier halfpipe at Mammoth.
FREESKIING
The SVSEF Freeskiing Team tackled the Bjorn Thorsen Memorial at Park City. Coach Reed Snyderman remarked, “The kids skied well in the Superpipe competition today. Hanna Blackwell kicked butt and had impressive runs with her 540 being a highlight. She ended up second overall out of five and first in her age group. George Murray skied well ending up with bronze in the U13 age group with Ridge Dirksmeier claiming silver for the U13 boys. Jedson Waters had impressive amplitude and claimed silver for the U15 men, and Trey Potter claimed the top spot for his U19 age group. There were 24 male athletes in the event and the Sun Valley crew represented well.”
Snyderman added, “The athletes skied well at the USASA Big Mountain West series rail jam Saturday and slopestyle Sunday. Notable performers in the rail jam included Sarah Kope first in the Open category for women, Jedson Waters third in 14-16 year old, and Joey Markthaler who was third for 10-13 year olds. In the slopestyle event Sunday the athletes battled challenging wintry and windy conditions. Alvaro Jiraldo was third for Open Men, and Sarah Kope was first for Open Women.”
USASA BIG MOUNTAIN WEST SERIES
The SVSEF Snowboard Alpha Travel Team plus one headed south to heat up the hills at Snowbasin Resort outside of Ogden, Utah. Phebe Ericksen was the overall champion in rail jam and slopestyle. Jack Verhaeghe pulled down first place in giant slalom, third in slalom and slopestyle, and eighth in rail jam. Aidan Green slid to sixth in rail jam and seventh in slope. Elk Spencer collected sixth place in slope. Sun Valley’s Dollar Mountain is the next stop on the USASA Big Mountain West Series, February 4-7. The series features boarder-and- skiercross, slopestyle and halfpipe.
PAYTON BACCA
Payton Bacca, 14, a member of the SVSEF snowboard program since 2008, is one of five girls ages 14-and-under invited to the prestigious 2016 Burton U.S. Open Junior Jam.
Staged February 29 through March 1 in Vail, Colorado, the Junior Jam is a long-standing tradition and considered proving grounds for some of the world’s best young riders.
Despite being known for her prowess as a snowboard cross rider, Bacca placed third in halfpipe at USASA Nationals last spring. She will compete in a field of five girls. The top finisher qualifies directly to the next round of competition against the older pro riders later in the week.
“This will be the biggest event that I have had the opportunity to participate in. I am looking forward to competing with two of my close friends,” Payton said.
A freshman at Wood River High School, Bacca is an avid soccer player when not riding for the SVSEF Alpha Travel Team. She has started a GoFundMe campaign to help defray the costs of the trip. If you would like to contribute, please go to https://www.gofundme.com/xac6fxzv.
ALPINE
The steeps of Jackson Hole were the setting for Wes Barron Speed Series, January 22-23. An abundance of fresh snow canceled a third day of competition.
SVSEF USSA men took the top step on both days of competition with Jake Blackburn winning the opening race by 1/100th over teammate Bennett Snyder. Max Noddings, Matt O’Connor, and Carter Jendrezak cracked the top 10 and with Ian Hanna, Wyatt Minor and Charlie Stumph gave SVSEF eight racers in the top 12. Hometown Jackson Hole was next best with three.
Snyder took the win on Saturday with a time of 50.43. Blackburn clocked in at 50.75 and Noddings was just off the podium in fourth place by .14 of a second. O’Connor and Jendrezak slid into the top ten for the second straight day and Hanna was 10th overall.
SVSEF USSA Team member Lily Fitzgerald finished second to Madison Hoffman (RM) in both women’s races. Anastasie Echeverria had her best results to date with a third and fourth. Libby Kaiser was fifth and eighth. Also cracking the top 10 in a field of 113 were Kaia Jensen, Molly Milgard, Grace Pepin and Ella Viesturs. SVSEF put five women in the top 10 in both races, and with Madison Ferris and Jensen had seven in the top 12 on Saturday.
IMD Team member finished Falon Hanna finished first and second in the U14 girls’ class and 18th overall in one race. Sage Curtis skied to third and fifth place class finishes. Ridley Lindstrom was second and third and Charlie Snyder fourth and fifth in the boys’ U14 division.
The USSA Team resumes racing next month here at home with the Laura Flood Memorial, February 5-7. The IMD squad travels to Park City for U14 qualifying races.
WES BARRON SPEED SERIES RESULTS
U.S. BIATHLON
SVSEF Cross Country and Dartmouth alumni Max Durtschi, a member of the U.S. National Biathlon Team, earned World Cup starts based on recent finishes in IBU Cup races held in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic, Ridnaun, Italy, and Langdorf, Germany.
"In Nove Mesto I fnished 55th in the sprint. In Ridnaun, I led the U.S. men with a 30th in the sprint and finished 52nd in the pursuit and in Langdorf, I led the U.S. men with a 36th in the sprint and a 40th in the pursuit," Durtschi reported.
The 24-year-old Durtschi will compete in two World Cup competitions: February 4-7 in Canmore, Alberta, and February 11-14 in Presque Isle, Maine.
Alex LaFleur bags overall title and SVSEF Athlete of the Week
Going backward propelled freestyle skier Alex LaFleur forward as SVSEF’s Athlete of the Week. LaFleur, an eight-year member of the ski team, won his first overall title Saturday at the USSA Snowbowl Throwdown in Montana.
Five days before his 16th birthday, LaFleur executed a back full (a fully extended back flip with a 360 twist) to win the men’s title in single moguls at the Northern Division competition near Missoula.
“Winning my first overall title felt great! It is something I’ve had my eye on for the last couple years, so finally achieving it was incredible,” Alex said.
The Missoulian newspaper reported, “15-year-old Alex LaFleur and his 14-year-old teammate Luke Rizzo have been coming to the Missoula mogul competition from their home mountain in Sun Valley, Idaho, for the past four years. Both said Snowbowl is their favorite competition travel destination every winter.”
“You get to have a lot more fun and more time to concentrate because it isn’t quite as steep,” LaFleur told the Missoulian. Alex also finished fifth in the opening singles event and fifth in duals.
A sophomore at Community School, LaFleur has been working hard at refining his technique at the SVSEF-Community School Air Barn at Sagewillow Campus, which was equipped with a new air bag and tow-in ramp last summer thanks to the generosity of SVSEF supporters.
“He never tried a back flip until he hit the ramp and air bag,” said SVSEF Program Director Andy Ware. “I would like to think the training is paying off for the athletes who are fully engaged.”
Alex concurred, “It is really good to know that all my focus and hard work paid off in such an exciting way. As for what I attribute my win to, it is without question the new ramp in the barn. The back full that I’ve been obsessing over for the past several months came to fruition because of that outstanding training tool. Thank you to all that helped make the ramp a reality.”
Next up for Alex and his SVSEF teammates is the Sun Valley Freestyle Spectacular this weekend on Bald Mountain’s Roundhouse Slope. Mogul competition begins at 10:15 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Awards will follow each day at River Run Plaza.
Podiums, Passion, Power and Perseverance Mark Weekend for SVSEF Athletes
U.S. Cross Country Championships
Peter Wolter, a 10-year member of the SVSEF Cross Country program is SVSEF’s Athlete of the Week. Last week at the U.S. Cross Country Championships in Houghton, Michigan, Peter, racing in the U18 class, compiled three-top 10 finishes, earning the right to represent the United States next month at the U18 Scandinavian Cup in Otepää, Estonia. The top six men and six women qualified for the trip based on their best two out of three finishes at Nationals. Wolter, a junior at Community School, was third in the 15k classic sprint, sixth in skate sprint and seventh in 10k mass start skate.
“We had kids who posted some really solid results, including Eli Jensen across the board and Leo Lukens was fifth in the 15k classic. To be fifth in the country is really solid. Luke Platil was top 20 all weekend long,” SVSEF Cross Country Nordic Director Rick Kapala said.
Gold Team highlights included Mary Rose skiing to 15th place in the women’s 20k freestyle and Miles Havlick’s fifth-place finish (third American) in the men’s freestyle sprint.
Results: http://www.superiortiming.com/
Sean Nurse Memorial, U14 Qualifier
Enthusiasm was running high for the Intermountain U14 Alpine Team at the Sean Nurse Memorial U14 Qualifier at Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Head coach James Tautkus remarked, “Piggybacking on the USSA Team’s success this past weekend, the IMD team posted strong results for their first outing this year. A number of athletes posted their best results, especially first-year U14 Ryder Sarchett who was on the podium two of the three days.
“It was the success of the team as a whole I am impressed with. Every one of these athletes performed on race day at a high level. It was a strong way to start the competition season as this will for sure stoke an even bigger fire in these kids.”
The series, staged at Snow King, consisted of two giant slalom races and one slalom race. Buey Grossman swept the boys’ giant slalom races and finished fourth in slalom. Ryder Sarchett and Falon Hanna were two-time bronze medalists. Sage Curtis and Ridley Lindstrom both mined bronze once.
Results by Idaho Mountain Express
Snow King U-14
- Boys: Buey Grossman 1-GS twice, 4-SL; Ryder Sarchett 3-GS, 3-SL; Ridley Lindstrom 3-GS, DSQ-SL; Charlie Snyder 7-GS, 39-SL; Nathan Gowe 12-GS, 15-SL; Max Moss 13-GS, 21-SL; Josh Blackburn 14-GS, DNF-SL; Shaw Dean 15-GS, 22-SL; Ethan Marx 19-GS, 27-SL; Benjamin Goitiandia 24-GS, 68-SL; William Everitt 29-GS, 25-SL; Jett Carruth 35-GS, 47-SL; Connor Campbell 38-GS, 26-SL; Joseph Goitiandia 43-GS, 66-SL; William DeWolfe 43-GS, 40-SL; Jackson Swenke 47-GS, DNF-SL; Axel Hattrup 53-GS, 58-SL; Will Penrose 53-GS, DSQ-SL; Skye Leininger 61-GS, 34-SL; Rory Szer 59-GS, 64-SL; Shaw McCoubrey 64-GS, 67-SL; Nicholas Maumus 66-GS, 79-SL; Chase Jones 81-GS, 77-SL.
- Girls: Falon Hanna 3-GS twice, DNF-SL; Sage Curtis 5-GS, 7-SL; Marit Kaiser 7-GS, 6-SL; Sage Holter 11-GS, 33-SL; Emma MacGuffie 14-GS, 36-SL; Anhwei Kirk 17-GS, 40-SL; Lola Street 48-GS, 49-SL; Julia Ott 53-GS, 54-SL; Lily Ann Dean 61-GS, 57-SL; Laci Jermunson 60-GS, 71-SL.
For complete results, visit http://www.ussa-imd.org/alpine/races15/U14.php.
USSA Alpine Team
Leading the charge for the USSA men were Carter Jendrezak, Matt O’Connor, Bennett Snyder, Charlie Stumph and Max Noddings.
In their second technical series of the season, the SVSEF USSA Team served notice that they are a force to be reckoned with and anyone at any time is capable of stepping up on the podium in Intermountain Cup Qualifiers at Snowbasin, Utah.
“It was a ridiculous weekend,” head coach Will Brandenburg said. “I don’t know how many times it’s been done that you sweep the podium two days in a row. That doesn’t happen very often in ski racing.”
The U16 boys with Matt O’Connor, Charlie Stumph, Bennett Snyder, Carter Jendrezak and Max Noddings finished 2-6 in the opening giant slalom on Snowbasin’s Wildflower/City Hill course. Snyder, Stumph, Noddings and Wyatt Minor went 1-4 in the second GS and Snyder was the fastest U16 and fifth overall in Sunday’s slalom.
First-year U16 Lily Fitzgerald set the pace for the SVSEF women with a win, place and show in the three-day series. Alli Rathfon finished second in GS. Libby Kaiser was fourth twice in GS.
Other overall top 10 finishes on the weekend were turned in by Ella Viesturs, Jake Blackburn, Jendrezak and Noddings.
“The whole group feeds off each other, they don’t battle each other and it pays off in results. I haven’t coached that long but I have been around the sport a long time and it is pretty special,” Brandenburg said. “They are a unique group of athletes.”
The USSA men’s team was named “Athletes of the Week” for their accomplishment.
“I have been here for 15 years and never seen results like that,” SVSEF Alpine Director Scott McGrew remarked.
Results: http://www.ussa-imd.org/alpine/races15/U16.htm
SVSEF FIS Team
SVSEF FIS racers traveled to Colorado and Utah last week. Haley Cutler skied to fourth place in giant slalom at Park City, and 14th and 37th in slalom at Snowbird. Teammate’s high finishes were Katelyn Rathfon 32nd in GS, Skylar Cooley 36th in GS, Ruby Marden 36th in slalom, Abby Norton’s 40th in GS, and Sage Rheinschild 45th in slalom.
In men’s racing at Aspen, Yuri McClure had a high of 11th place in an FIS GS. IN the same race, Will Snyder was 19th, Jay Fitzgerald 31st, Duncan Fuller 39th, John Blackburn 40th, Kristian DeWolfe 45th and Griffin Curtis 50th. Highlights in National Junior giant slaloms were Will Snyder 27th, Spencer Wright 37th, Noah Leininger 46th, Hayden Terjeson 47th and Charlie Lamb 49th.
SVSEF Alumni
U.S. Ski Team and SVSEF Gold Team racers Kipling Weisel and Tanner Farrow have been on a roll recently. In University Racing at Big Sky, Montana, Weisel (U.S. C Team) skied to second and third in giant slalom and 17th in slalom. Those results on the heels of a seventh place finish in GS in FIS racing at Park City.
Farrow finished seventh and eighth in GS at Big Sky and 24th in slalom. He recorded an eighth-place finish in GS at Park City. Harlan Collins skied to 11th place in GS at Park City. Austin Savaria was 26th.
SVSEF alumna Teagen Palmer, now attending and racing for University of Utah, also competed with distinction at Big Sky with a ninth and 14th in GS and 20th in slalom. Amanda Stelling (Montana State) recorded three top 35 finishes at Big Sky.
Good times with Austin Savaria, Harlan Collins, Connor Farrow, Tanner Farrow, Kipling Weisel and coach Pat Savaria (kneeling).
Cross Country
From the University of Utah website
MIDWAY, Utah – With a strong Nordic classical day that saw three podium finishes and seven top-10 results, the Utah ski team completed a come-from-behind victory in the Utah Invitational on Monday afternoon at Soldier Hollow, Utah.
In the women’s 10-km classic, SVSEF alumna Sloan Storey and Veronika Mayerhofer together pulled out to a 16-second lead on the field, with Storey picking up her first career victory as the women entered the final stretch together.
“Today was a great day!” Storey said. “Earlier this week Veronika and I were dreaming about what would happen if we decided to take off together in the mass start and go for the one-two finish. Today we made it happen! Right away I knew that we had good skis and that if we took advantage of them and skied our race with efficient technique and use each other we could gap the field. We also received extra motivation from the coaches’ splits of our teammates not far behind. It was so much fun being able to ski the entire race with my amazing teammate, and to get to show off all the hard work we had done this fall as a team. Extra shout out to my coaches for such awesome skis and to all the supporters out there cheering your Utes on!”
Another SVSEF alum finished well at Soldier Hollow. Kevin Bolger was eighth in the men’s 15k classic.
Freestyle
SVSEF Freestyle Team traveled to Snowbird, Utah, last weekend to compete in the Intermountain Freestyle “Bumpin’ the Bird” moguls event.
In Saturday’s male singles mogul event, results were: M17 Alex LaFleur, 1st; Wilson Dunn 3rd; M15 Henry Cherp 3rd; M13 Toby Rafford 2nd. Overall: Axel LaFleur 2nd, Wilson Dunn 4th, Henry Cherp 6th, Hunter Diehl 10th, Luke Rizzo 11th, Toby Rafford 15th, Ben Anderson 17th, Michael Sanchez-DuPont 20th, Axel Diehl 24th, Henry Buell 31st, Alex Austin 34th, Chris Pederson 37th.
In the female category, results were F17 Devon Brown 2nd; F15 Katie Markthaler 3rd; F11 Samantha Smith 1st. Overall: Samantha Smith 6th, Katie Markthaler 8th, Addie Rafford 9th, Eliza Marks 11th.
10-year-old Sammy Smith “Wowed the crowd, finishing sixth overall despite being the youngest competitor in the contest,” according to coach Jennifer Diehl.
Male single moguls, Sunday: Wilson Dunn 4th, Alex LaFleur 5th, Hunter Diehl 6th, Luke Rizzo 7th, Henry Cherp 12th, Toby Rafford 14th, Axel Diehl 22nd, Mikel Sanchez-DuPont 27th, Alex Austin 30th, Henry Buell 31st, Ben Anderson 32nd. Females: Devon Brown 7th, Eliza Marks 9th, Addie Rafford 16th, Katie Markthaler 17th.
Coach Joey Cordeau said, “Sunday’s dual moguls event turned exciting when the Diehl brothers both won their first round and Axel and Hunter were matched against each other in round two. Hunter reached the finish line first and advanced, but Axel had his personal best run. Axel said, next year, bro.”
Sun Valley’s Wilson Dunn and Hunter Diehl made it to the third round. For the women, Katie Markthaler and Addie Rafford were matched in the first round, with Katie advancing to round two.
Cordeau added, “Saturday Alex LaFleur has the biggest air off bottom jump, Wilson Dunn found a new gear, Hunter Diehl has some of the most consistent runs. Secret weapon Samantha Smith went big had some great turns and wowed the crowd. Everyone was cheering.”
U.S. Cross Country Championships
Peter Wolter, a 10-year member of the SVSEF Cross Country program is SVSEF’s Athlete of the Week. Last week at the U.S. Cross Country Championships in Houghton, Michigan, Peter, racing in the U18 class, compiled three-top 10 finishes, earning the right to represent the United States next month at the U18 Scandinavian Cup in Otepää, Estonia. The top six men and six women qualified for the trip based on their best two out of three finishes at Nationals. Wolter, a junior at Community School, was third in the 15k classic sprint, sixth in skate sprint and seventh in 10k mass start skate.
“We had kids who posted some really solid results, including Eli Jensen across the board and Leo Lukens was fifth in the 15k classic. To be fifth in the country is really solid. Luke Platil was top 20 all weekend long,” SVSEF Cross Country Nordic Director Rick Kapala said.
Gold Team highlights included Mary Rose skiing to 15th place in the women’s 20k freestyle and Miles Havlick’s fifth-place finish (third American) in the men’s freestyle sprint.
Results: http://www.superiortiming.com/
Sean Nurse Memorial, U14 Qualifier
Enthusiasm was running high for the Intermountain U14 Alpine Team at the Sean Nurse Memorial U14 Qualifier at Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Head coach James Tautkus remarked, “Piggybacking on the USSA Team’s success this past weekend, the IMD team posted strong results for their first outing this year. A number of athletes posted their best results, especially first-year U14 Ryder Sarchett who was on the podium two of the three days.
“It was the success of the team as a whole I am impressed with. Every one of these athletes performed on race day at a high level. It was a strong way to start the competition season as this will for sure stoke an even bigger fire in these kids.”
The series, staged at Snow King, consisted of two giant slalom races and one slalom race. Buey Grossman swept the boys’ giant slalom races and finished fourth in slalom. Ryder Sarchett and Falon Hanna were two-time bronze medalists. Sage Curtis and Ridley Lindstrom both mined bronze once.
Results by Idaho Mountain Express
USSA Alpine Team
In their second technical series of the season, the SVSEF USSA Team served notice that they are a force to be reckoned with and anyone at any time is capable of stepping up on the podium in Intermountain Cup Qualifiers at Snowbasin, Utah.
“It was a ridiculous weekend,” head coach Will Brandenburg said. “I don’t know how many times it’s been done that you sweep the podium two days in a row. That doesn’t happen very often in ski racing.”
The U16 boys with Matt O’Connor, Charlie Stumph, Bennett Snyder, Carter Jendrezak and Max Noddings finished 2-6 in the opening giant slalom on Snowbasin’s Wildflower/City Hill course. Snyder, Stumph, Noddings and Wyatt Minor went 1-4 in the second GS and Snyder was the fastest U16 and fifth overall in Sunday’s slalom.
First-year U16 Lily Fitzgerald set the pace for the SVSEF women with a win, place and show in the three-day series. Alli Rathfon finished second in GS. Libby Kaiser was fourth twice in GS.
Other overall top 10 finishes on the weekend were turned in by Ella Viesturs, Jake Blackburn, Jendrezak and Noddings.
“The whole group feeds off each other, they don’t battle each other and it pays off in results. I haven’t coached that long but I have been around the sport a long time and it is pretty special,” Brandenburg said. “They are a unique group of athletes.”
The USSA men’s team was named “Athletes of the Week” for their accomplishment.
“I have been here for 15 years and never seen results like that,” SVSEF Alpine Director Scott McGrew remarked.
Results: http://www.ussa-imd.org/alpine/races15/U16.htm
SVSEF FIS Team
SVSEF FIS racers traveled to Colorado and Utah last week. Haley Cutler skied to fourth place in giant slalom at Park City, and 14th and 37th in slalom at Snowbird. Teammate’s high finishes were Katelyn Rathfon 32nd in GS, Skylar Cooley 36th in GS, Ruby Marden 36th in slalom, Abby Norton’s 40th in GS, and Sage Rheinschild 45th in slalom.
In men’s racing at Aspen, Yuri McClure had a high of 11th place in an FIS GS. IN the same race, Will Snyder was 19th, Jay Fitzgerald 31st, Duncan Fuller 39th, John Blackburn 40th, Kristian DeWolfe 45th and Griffin Curtis 50th. Highlights in National Junior giant slaloms were Will Snyder 27th, Spencer Wright 37th, Noah Leininger 46th, Hayden Terjeson 47th and Charlie Lamb 49th.
Area Organizations Come Together to Promote Avalanche Safety for SVSEF Athletes
From the Idaho Mountain Express, December 25, 2015
Even though ski racing rarely occurs on avalanche-prone slopes, the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation wants its athletes to be knowledgeable on the subject when they embark on powder-skiing adventures.
A grim reminder of that need came last January when two U.S. Alpine D Team racers were killed in an avalanche after training in Solden, Austria.
Early this month, the Sun Valley Ski Patrol and Sawtooth Avalanche Center staff partnered to present an avalanche education program to the foundation’s USSA and FIS team athletes and coaches.
This marks the second year that Sun Valley Co.’s Mountain Community Campaign has used the talents of the Sawtooth Avalanche Center and the ski patrol to promote safety and awareness to the upper-level SVSEF athletes. The Mountain Community Campaign promotes cooperation and safety among all mountain users.
Scott McGrew, head alpine director for the SVSEF, said he firmly believes in instilling snow and avalanche awareness in his staff and athletes.
“As coaches and mentors for our Ski Education athletes, our role goes far beyond teaching them to ski and compete,” he said. “We give them skills to be world-class skiers, but the education that comes through our partnership with the Avalanche Center and the Sun Valley Ski Patrol is what creates the whole picture. We take this seriously and want our athletes to bring solid judgement and awareness to their experience on skis. This is a critical aspect of what we do.”
On Saturday, Dec. 5, outdoors on top of Bald Mountain, McGrew introduced the racers to Skooter Gardiner, the ski patrol’s snow safety director, who discussed ski area signs and their importance. Gardiner and ski patrolmen Joel Mallet and Matt Curci explained the differences between in-area closures and ski area boundaries.
Veteran patrolman Whiz McNeal discussed snow immersion suffocation, known as SIS, a phenomenon that claims several lives in the U.S. each year. McNeal described past SIS accidents that occurred on Baldy and what the athletes can do to prevent suffocation and survive tree-well and deep-snow incidents both in and out of bounds.
Among those are not wearing ski pole straps while skiing powder, especially around trees. McNeal told the racers that if they’re stuck face-down in the snow, they can pull their goggles down over their nose and mouth to create a small air pocket. They should then dig a larger pocket around their face. Crossed ski poles in the snow can provide a platform to push up from, he said.
Sawtooth Avalanche Center Lead Forecaster Ethan Davis and Avalanche Specialist Matt Wieland recalled personal avalanche experiences and stressed the importance of getting the equipment, knowledge and training to make good decisions and deal with accidents before heading out of bounds or into the backcountry. They said sound decision-making is a key factor, with the common-sense caveat, “If it doesn’t feel right, then back off—don’t do it.”
The patrol and Avalanche Center staff encouraged questions from the athletes. One racer asked, “How long does it take the ski patrol to respond to an out-of-bounds burial on Bald Mountain?” Gardiner replied that the patrol’s first responsibility is to ensure the safety of guests skiing within bounds. Once skiers or riders duck under the boundary rope, they’re on their own, and rescue falls under the jurisdiction of the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office.
If the patrol does not have to tend to other accidents within the area and has the resources to respond, a patroller must first call the Sheriff’s Office, describe the incident and wait for permission to perform an out-of-bounds rescue. The process results in a lapse of 30 to 40 minutes before a patrol rescue unit can reach an avalanche burial site. Gardiner said that after 10 minutes, a buried person’s odds of survival drop drastically.
Next, the 80 athletes and coaches convened at the SVSEF Training Center to meet with Avalanche Center Director Scott Savage, who showed a recently released video called “Know Before You Go.” It featured stunning footage by Sherpa Cinemas and an impressive cast of skiers, boarders, snowmobilers and snow-safety gurus. The video stresses five basic ideas that can save one’s life in the mountains:
- Get the gear.
- Get the training.
- Get the forecast.
- Get the picture.
- Get out of harm’s way.
The film can be viewed at www.fsavalanche.org/news/.
Following the video, Savage presented a sobering analysis of the Solden, Austria, avalanche tragedy, which occurred on Jan. 5, two weeks after last year’s first SVSEF avalanche session on Baldy. Savage explained the storm cycle, snow conditions, avalanche warnings and forecasts in the days prior to the accident. He said there had been other avalanche burials that week.
Ben Kanellitsas, a personal friend of the two racers, grew up racing with the SVSEF and spent a post-graduate year skiing with them. He is now a student at the University of Denver but serves as an SVSEF assistant alpine coach during winter break. His words to the group were heartfelt and powerful.
“Avalanche danger, for the most part, has been historically overlooked by so many ski clubs across the U.S.—mainly because we don’t associate the dangers of avalanches with ski racing,” he said. “My viewpoint is, unfortunately, quite unique. Ronnie and especially Bryce were very good friends of mine. What I personally learned from that whole ordeal is that avalanches don’t choose when or who they affect. They do not discriminate. Bryce was one of the strongest skiers I have ever met, and to see something like that happen is an unbelievably humbling and saddening experience.
“Fortunately, the SVSEF sees it as their obligation to not only create the next generation of fast ski racers, but also to make sure their athletes learn the risks and can help mitigate future events.”
McGrew said this type of training puts the SVSEF in the forefront of avalanche education for winter sports athletes.
To read or sign up for daily avalanche advisories and mountain weather reports, learn about upcoming avalanche education events or just view general snow, weather and avalanche information, visit www.sawtoothavalanche.com.
Alumni Address Building Success in "Life After SVSEF" Forum
Many young people grow up in the Wood River Valley living and breathing skiing and snowboarding. The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation offers a platform for these kids to achieve their skiing and snowboarding goals, and to become phenomenal snowsport athletes.
At the end of their high school skiing career, however, many of these athletes are left wondering where they can go with the sport. While a very small percentage of skiers manage to break into elite levels of competition, there are any number of ways athletes can incorporate skiing into their lives and careers.
To that end, SVSEF Academic Director Matt Leidecker has arranged the 3rd annual Life After SVSEF. Leidecker takes advantage of the holiday season when many SVSEF alumni return home to organize an informal panel discussion between current and former athletes.
This year’s alumni panel will include a wide array of former SVSEF skiers and boarders, including alpine athletes Tanner Farrow and Harlan Collins. Farrow is currently competing on with the U.S. Men’s Alpine Ski team and Collins is finishing up a collegiate career on the USCSA college circuit with Rocky Mountain College.
Cross Country alum Mikey Sinnott, who competed for many years at the collegiate (captain of the Dartmouth College Division I Nordic Ski Team) and World Cup level, offers a great perspective on what it takes to continue competitive cross country racing after high school.
Current SVSEF athletes will have a great opportunity to learn from alums McKenna Peterson and Lexi Dupont. Both women competed on the Freeskiing World Tour and have continued to pursue a career in the industry. Dupont is a sponsored Eddie Bauer adventure athlete, and McKenna was recently part of an all-female team that produced a documentary called, “Shifting Ice, Changing Tides” about skiing in Greenland. Both women have made appearances in Warren Miller films.
Rounding out the panel are Wyatt Caldwell and Griffin Post. Wyatt grew up snowboarding for SVSEF and has competed at many different levels as the sport evolved. He and his brother Yancy are part of Stellar Media an “action adventure content solution” media company. After leaving Sun Valley, Post established his position in the ski world with an impressive series of podium results on the Freeride World Tour between 2006 and 2009. He currently is a sponsored athlete, growing his brand through filming and writing.
The Life after SVSEF event provides an excellent opportunity for these alums to share their wealth of knowledge and experience in the ski industry with current athletes, their parents and general public. The format of the event is an informal Q&A where SVSEF members can seek insight and guidance from their older counterparts about how to incorporate skiing and boarding into their lives beyond high school.
The event will take place on Sunday, December 27th from 11:30 to 1:00 p.m. in the SVSEF Engl Training Center at Warm, Springs. The forum is free and open to the public.
Adventurer and skier McKenna Peterson
Photo courtesy of Shifting Ice
-Story by Matt Leidecker
Gilt Complex: SVSEF Racers Medal in IMD Opener at Jackson Hole
SVSEF coaches Rick Kapala and Tommy Smith took a group of 32 racers to the Johnny Curtis Memorial races at Trail Creek in Jackson, Wyoming, and zeal for skiing was as contagious as flu in February.
"It was such a good weekend as a team," Kapala wrote to his athletes. "(A) really solid job at Jackson to all of you. Lots of team support and enthusiasm and really big efforts. Thanks for getting us coaches so psyched!"
The Intermountain Points Series consisted of a three-kilometer classic with interval start Friday and longer mass start freestyle Saturday. The gauntlet was thrown on Friday with SVSEF racers taking 10 podium finishes. Throughout the series, SVSEF racers displayed their depth with 12 different medalists.
The U18 Junior Men's group flexed its muscle in the opener, sweeping the podium with Ben Brunelle leading the charge, winning in 9:06, followed by Leo Lukens second in 9:09, and Eli Jensen third in 9:14.
"Then we kept right on going with a total of 10 of the top 11 places," Kapala said, noting the finish placements of Peter Wolter-4, Carter Ros-5, Max Polito-6, Luke Breechen-8, River Vorse-9, Henry Raff-10, Keene Morawitz-11, Cooper Roquet-17, Jacob Truxal-18 and Oier Ibergallratu-21. 52 men finished the race.
Lukash Platil and Danny Graves went one-two in the Junior Men's U20 class with Platil winning in 9:03 - the fastest time of the day. Tim Regan was 7th. Loni Unser collected 4th in the U20 Junior Women's division.
Logan Smith captured the U14 (12-13) Junior Women's podium winning her class by 13 seconds. Kate Horowitz was 9th. Cash Dart was runner-up in the U14 Junior Men's class. Moving up an age class, Johnny Hagenbuch scaled the podium in first place in the U16 Junior Men's division. In a chock-full field of 53, Joe Hall finished a solid 19th.
U16 racers Sophia Mazzoni and Lily Brunelle were second and third in the Junior Women's class. Ella Wolter (6th), Kirsys Campbell (8th), Chloe Tanous (9th) and Eve Jensen (10th) joined their teammates in the top 10 in a field of 32 finishers. Laine Allison was 13th and Katherine Estep 17th.
"The U16 girls put together a very solid effort," Kapala said.
In the U18 women's class, Emily Siegel continues to build form and function after rehabilitating a torn ACL last season, skiing to 11th place. Teammate Ellie Polk was 13th.
Over a three-kilometer distance, Logan Smith repeated as U14 champion on Saturday and Cash Dart skated to second place. Kate Horowitz moved up to 6th place.
Over a 5k distance, Johnny Hagenbuch was the silver medalist in the U16 class and Joe Hall 22nd. Lily Brunelle, Ella Wolter, Sophia Mazzoni, Kirsys Campbell and Eve Jensen went 5-10 in the U16 Junior Women's division. The quintet finished between 1:08 and 1:38 off the first-place pace of Sydney Palmer-Leger of PCNSC.
SVSEF's U18 crop showed anyone is capable of winning on any day with Peter Wolter claiming victory and setting the standard with the fastest time on the day of 19:56 over 7.5k. He was the only racer to break the 20-minute mark at that distance, although teammate Max Polito came with a hairsbreadth, finishing second in 20.01. Eli Jensen was third, Luke Brecheen 4th, Ben Brunelle 5th, Henry Raff 7th, and Leo Lukens 10th. Also, Cooper Roquet-11, Keene Morawitz-12, Carter Ros-14, River Vorse-19, Oier Ibergallartu-21, and Jacob Truxal-33.
Emily Siegel finished 11th and Ellie Polk 21st in the U18 women's 7.5k.
Danny Graves and Luk Platil swapped spots as top dog in the U20 class with Graves winning the men's 7.5k in 20:08. Loni Unser was 4th.
Competitive racers will travel to Houghton, Michigan, at the end of this month for the U.S. World Junior Scando Trials.
SVSEF racers - great competitors and comrades. Cooper Roquet is cheered on by his teammates.