Strong podium finishes and personal bests mark first race of the year

The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation’s Alpine U12 North Series Team kicked off its 2026 race season Jan. 10–11 at Grand Targhee Resort, competing in the Grand Targhee North Series Qualifier. The two-day event featured two giant slalom (GS) races and marked the first North Series qualifier of the year, as well as the first-ever ski race for several SVSEF athletes.

“This was our first North Series qualifier of the year and the first ski race for several of our athletes,” said Claudia Stern, Head Coach of SVSEF’s Alpine U12 North Series Team. “Everyone showed up with purpose and drive ready to give it their best. We were lucky with some of the best race conditions we have had at this resort—cold temps, a firm surface, and clear skies. In between race runs, kids enjoyed themselves with some great powder skiing. Targhee delivered! We saw some great skiing with podiums for some and personal bests for a lot of our racers.”

Saturday’s GS saw excellent results from the SVSEF girls, led by Kayla Kloster’s second place finish, followed by Marie McNeal in fourth and Amelia Beck in sixth. The boys also raced very well, with Ford Rixon topping the podium with a first-place finish, Asa Sattler securing third, and Walker Gove finishing eighth. 

Sunday’s GS races capped off a strong weekend for SVSEF North Series racers, as athletes throughout the field continued to build confidence and record personal best results with standout performances from both the girls and boys. The girls were led by Alta Questad’s second place finish, with Kloster in fourth and McNeal finishing fifth. For the boys, Asa Sattler delivered a commanding performance to claim first place, supported by strong top-ten finishes from Dylan Smiley in fifth and Gove securing eighth.

SVSEF Athlete Results

U12 Girls GS Jan. 10
2nd – Kayla Kloster
4th – Marie McNeal
6th – Amelia Beck
8th – Dylan Meyer
9th – Blakely Martens
11th – Sophie Robins
12th – Dylan Spengler
13th – Teodora Smither
14th – Rienza Buoncristiani
16th – Mckenna McCarthy
17th – Freya Moffat
22nd – Chandler Letson
24th – Lexi Barthel
25th – Stella Smith
27th – Ivy McNamara
29th – Eleanor Hopeman
32nd – Tindsley Glenne
36th – Lila Vanderwyst
39th – Payton Minor
40th – Maude Bates
41st – Blakeslee Tindall
42nd – Rosie Hill
45th – Riley Copperman
46th – Morgan Thomas
50th – Eleanor Robinson
67th – Rose Vanderwyst

U12 Boys GS Jan. 10
1st – Ford Rixon
3rd – Asa Sattler
8th – Walker Gove
12th – Dylan Smiley
14th – Evan McGregor
22nd – Keller Spachman
23rd – Tucker Thurston
25th – Graham Lyle
27th – Cole Martens
37th – Dillon Wells
39th – Tommy Banta
42nd – Nathan Sattler
44th – Samuel Sattler
47th – Anderson Tooley
60th – Jayden Orihuela

U12 Girls GS Jan. 11
2nd – Alta Questad
4th – Kayla Kloster
5th – Marie McNeal
8th – Dylan Meyer
9th – Sophie Robins
10th – Teodora Smither
12th – Mckenna McCarthy
15th – Rienza Buoncristiani
16th – Freya Moffat
17th – Ivy McNamara
18th – Estelle Turzian
19th – Chandler Letson
23rd – Tindsley Glenne
25th – Eleanor Hopeman
26th – Lexi Barthel
30th – Payton Minor
35th – Stella Smith
37th – Lila Vanderwyst
38th – Riley Copperman
39th – Maude Bates
43rd – Morgan Thomas
44th – Rosie Hill
46th – Blakeslee Tindall
65th – Rose Vanderwyst

U12 Boys GS Jan. 11
1st – Asa Sattler
5th – Dylan Smiley
8th – Walker Gove
9th – Vance Gardiner
15th – Evan McGregor
21nd – Cole Martens
29th – Tucker Thurston
33rd – Dillon Wells
36nd – Graham Lyle
38th – Nathan Sattler
39th – Samuel Sattler
40th – Blaise Terra
47th – Tommy Banta
49th – Anderson Tooley

For complete North Series race results, click on the following link and go to the “North Series” button: https://imdalpine.org/race-results/

Photo: Asa Sattler raced to the top step on Sunday’s Boys GS Race