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