SVSEF Alpine FIS Team Earns Podiums at Western Region Junior Championships

Leahy captures overall title and qualifies for U.S. Nationals as Sun Valley athletes compete across six-race series in Grand Targhee, Wyoming

Athletes from the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) Alpine FIS Team stood out with fast racing at the Western Region Junior Championships, held March 3–8 at Grand Targhee Resort in Wyoming. The championship series brought together top U18 and U21 ski racers from across the western United States, including athletes from California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Idaho.

Despite a week of challenging and varied weather that included freezing rain, snow, fog, wind, and sunshine, organizers successfully hosted all six races scheduled for each gender, including two Super-G (SG), two Giant Slalom (GS), and two Slalom (SL) competitions. SVSEF athletes showed adaptability throughout the week, producing several podium finishes, top-10 results, and career-best performances.

Leading the way for SVSEF was Elliot Leahy, who captured victories in both women’s SG races and secured the overall WRJC win, earning qualification to the upcoming U.S. Alpine Championships (U.S. Nationals).

“There were many great performances at this event, with career bests for some and excellent head-to-head results against peers,” said SVSEF Alpine FIS Team Head Coach Will Courtney. “Including an overall win for Elliot Leahy, punching her ticket to U.S. Nationals.”

Leahy credited the strong team atmosphere throughout the week: “The series was super fun with the team and I am looking forward to going to the U.S. Nationals in a few weeks,” she said.

SVSEF athletes delivered strong results across all disciplines during the championship series. In addition to her two Super-G victories and overall title, Leahy added fourth and eighth-place finishes in GS and seventh in SL. Lucy Olson reached the podium with a third-place SG finish and added several top-10 results, including fifth in SG and ninth in SL. Autumn Carpenter stood out in the SL events with sixth and fifth-place finishes, while Alyssa Huntsman recorded top-20 results in both SL races. Huxley Flood led the men’s squad with top-20 finishes in both SG races and GS.

Complete results can be found at: https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/event-details.html?sectorcode=AL&eventid=59235&seasoncode=2026

Photo: Elliot Leahy atop the podium in first place at Western Regional Junior Championships.

SVSEF Athlete Results (Top 30 by Event)

Super-G – March 3
Men
16th – Huxley Flood (U18)

Women
1st – Elliot Leahy (U18)
3rd – Lucy Olson (U18)
14th – Perri DeGennaro (U18)
17th – Alyssa Huntsman (U18)
28th – Camden Bakker (U18)
29th – Violet Kovel (U18)

Super-G – March 4
Men
17th – Huxley Flood (U18)

Women
1st – Elliot Leahy (U18)
5th – Lucy Olson (U18)
18th – Perri DeGennaro (U18)
25th – Alyssa Huntsman (U18)
26th – Violet Kovel (U18)
27th – Autumn Carpenter (U18) 

Giant Slalom – March 5
Women
4th – Elliot Leahy (U18)
22nd – Violet Kovel (U18)
25th – Perri DeGennaro (U18)

Giant Slalom – March 6
Men
18th – Huxley Flood (U18)

Women
8th – Elliot Leahy (U18)
14th – Autumn Carpenter (U18)
18th – Lucy Olson (U18)
23rd – Perri DeGennaro (U18)

Slalom – March 7
Men
23rd – Thomas Connell (U18)

Women
6th – Autumn Carpenter (U18)
7th – Elliot Leahy (U18)
11th – Lucy Olson (U18)
19th – Alyssa Huntsman (U18)
25th – Violet Kovel (U18)

Slalom – March 8
Women
5th – Autumn Carpenter (U18)
9th – Lucy Olson (U18)
10th – Alyssa Huntsman (U18)
19th – Alaska Sewell (U18)
20th – Camden Bakker (U18)

Complete results are available https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/event-details.html?sectorcode=AL&eventid=59235&seasoncode=2026

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by Will Falltrick

SVSEF Alpine FIS Team Shines at U18 Nationals with 1–2 Overall Finish

Elodie Olsen claims national title while Samantha Milne takes second at Cannon Mountain, NH

Athletes from the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) Alpine FIS Team competed March 2–8 at the U18 Alpine National Championships at Mittersill at Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire, one of the top junior championship events in the United States.

The elite competition brought together 160 U18 alpine ski racers – 80 men and 80 women – who qualified via regional and national races throughout the season. SVSEF was represented by eight athletes: Ulrich Rossi, Henry Roberts, Tucker Reimund, and Conway Selznick on the men’s side, and Elodie Olsen, Samantha Milne, Ruby Smith, and Ava Huey for the women.

SVSEF athletes delivered exceptional performances throughout the week, highlighted by a dominant showing in the women’s speed events and the overall standings. Elodie Olsen captured the U18 women’s overall national title, while Samantha Milne finished second overall, giving SVSEF the top two spots in the women’s combined standings. 

Olsen led the field with a victory in Super-G (SG) and added a third-place finish in slalom (SL) and a 10th-place result in downhill (DH). Milne also had an outstanding week, earning second place in SG and third in DH, along with an eighth-place finish in SL.

Ruby Smith posted multiple top-10 performances, including ninth in SL and 16th in DH, while Ava Huey recorded consistent results across the speed and technical events. On the men’s side, Ulrich Rossi led the SVSEF men’s squad with a 17th-place finish in SL and a top-20 result in SG. Henry Roberts, Tucker Reimund, and Conway Selznick also competed across multiple disciplines during the championship series.

“The athletes did an incredible job representing their club and community at U18 Nationals, they showed integrity and fortitude,” said SVSEF Alpine FIS Team Coach Nik Angriman. “We are incredibly proud of all the athletes, but a huge shout-out to Elodie and Sammy for finishing first and second in the overall women’s category.”

“I’m really happy with how the series went and proud of the way our team competed all week,” said Olsen. “Even though the GS was cancelled, we had great conditions for the other races and it made for a really fun and competitive week. It was an awesome experience racing alongside such a strong team.”

Photo: Atop the U18 Nationals podium with Elodie Olsen with first overall and Samantha Milne in second overall.

SVSEF Athlete Results

Men’s Downhill
36th – Conway Selznick

Women’s Downhill
3rd – Samantha Milne
10th – Elodie Olsen
16th – Ruby Smith
25th – Ava Huey

Men’s Super-G
20th – Ulrich Rossi
36th – Henry Roberts
52nd – Tucker Reimund
58th – Conway Selznick

Women’s Super-G
1st – Elodie Olsen
2nd – Samantha Milne
19th – Ruby Smith
23rd – Ava Huey

Men’s Giant Slalom
40th – Henry Roberts
41st – Conway Selznick
48th – Tucker Reimund

Women’s Giant Slalom
Cancelled

Men’s Slalom
17th – Ulrich Rossi

Women’s Slalom
3rd – Elodie Olsen
8th – Samantha Milne
9th – Ruby Smith
27th – Ava Huey

Women’s Overall
1st – Elodie Olsen
2nd – Samantha Milne

Complete results: https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/event-details.html?sectorcode=AL&eventid=58555&seasoncode=2026

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by Will Falltrick

Alpine U14 IMD Team Closes Out Qualifier Series with Standout Performances in Utah

Huey sweeps three races while teammates notch podium finishes at Utah Olympic Park and Snowbird

Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) Alpine U14 IMD athletes wrapped up their Intermountain Division (IMD) qualifying series with a busy week of racing at Utah Olympic Park in Park City and Snowbird Resort. The final qualifier events featured Giant Slalom (GS) and Slalom (SL) races for both boys and girls, followed by a Super G (SG) make-up race for the boys that had previously been postponed due to weather.

The Park City qualifier, held Feb. 27– Mar. 1 at the Utah Olympic Park, included two GS races and one SL race. Despite warm temperatures throughout the weekend, athletes were able to take advantage of the unique opportunity to race on West Peak, a venue that could host technical events during the 2034 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

“It was really cool to finally have the U14s race at the Utah Olympic Park, especially at West Peak,” said Angelica Simari Birkner, U14 IMD Second Year Head Coach. “It’s exciting to think that technical events at the 2034 Olympics might be held on that hill.”

SVSEF athletes delivered several standout performances during the series, led by Mia Huey, who swept all three women’s races with victories in both GS events and the SL. The girls team also saw strong podium and top-ten finishes throughout the weekend.

“It was very choppy and challenging on the pitch, but very fun,” said one SVSEF athlete following the races.

Following the Park City races, the boys traveled to Snowbird Resort for make-up Super G races on March 2–3. Weather conditions limited the schedule, allowing only one race to be completed, but athletes were still able to gain valuable speed experience.

“Snowbird worked hard to make it happen for the IMD U14 boys, and it was great to get a training run and a race run in the books,” said Ben Roberts, First-Year U14 Head Coach. “The fog and snow had other ideas for the second and third races, but at least the boys got some fun powder turns in on Tuesday.”

Photo: Mia Huey on the top step of the podium in Park City.

SVSEF Athlete Results

Giant Slalom – Feb. 27
Women
1st – Mia Huey
3rd – Savannah Pringle
10th – Ava Gilmour
20th – Brady Bloomfield
22nd – Brianna Smiley
27th – Halley McGrew
31st – Stevie Crist
35th – Kinley Letson

Men
4th – James Holman
5th – Alex Grant
26th – Theron Andra
29th – Breclan McCarthy
30th – Brixen Ehleringer

Giant Slalom – Feb. 28
Women
1st – Mia Huey
17th – Jennings Fraser
18th – Stevie Crist
20th – Kinley Letson
25th – Halley McGrew
30th – Mable Diez
32nd – Madlein Bakker
35th – Georgia Bea Stansberry

Men
7th – Theron Andra
11th – Alex Grant
26th – Breclan McCarthy

Slalom – March 1

Women
1st – Mia Huey
2nd – Brianna Smiley
14th – Jennings Fraser
19th – Kinley Letson
20th – Stevie Crist
25th – Makkena Steel
27th – Madlein Bakker
33rd – Arielle Reis
34th – Ava Gilmour

Men
5th – Theron Andra
7th – James Holman
13th – Breclan McCarthy
14th – Brixen Ehleringer
25th – Reid Wilke
28th – Halsten Bruun

Super G – March 2 (Snowbird)

Men
11th – James Holman
12th – Theron Andra
18th – Charlie Spengler
21st – Alex Grant
27th – Breclan McCarthy

The second and third Super G races scheduled at Snowbird were canceled due to weather conditions.

Complete results are available here

Complete list of SVSEF athletes who qualified for Regional or Tri-Divisional Championships below.

Women:

Regionals: March 19th-22nd Sugar Bowl, CA

-Mia Huey

-Savanah Pringle

-Bria Smiley

Tri-Divisionals: March 20th-23rd Snowbird, UT

-Halley McGrew

-Jennings Fraser

-Madlein Bakker

-Ava Gilmour

-Stevie Crist

-Kinley Letson

-Makkena Steel

-Maggie Leady

-Hope Lloyd

-Mable Diez

-Lilly Little

-Ariel Reis

-Gigi Hill

-Presley Jensen

-Hartley Tindall

-Georgia Bea Stansberry 

Tri-D's alternates:

-Olivia Heyser 9th alternate

-Hannah Howard 16th alternate

Men:

Regionals: March 19th-22nd Sugar Bowl, CA

-Alex Grant

-Theron Andra

-James Holman

Tri-Divisionals: March 20th-23rd Snowbird, UT

-Brixen Ehleringer

-Breclan McCarthy

-Charlie Spengler

-Reid Wilke

-Halsten Bruun

-Cody Lloyd

Alternates for Tri-D's

-Hunter Gove. 5th alternate

-Chase Martens 7th alternate

-Tyler Dolsen 10th alternate

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by Will Falltrick

SVSEF Cross Country Teams Qualify 12 for Junior Nationals at West Yellowstone

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by Will Falltrick

SVSEF North Series Team Closes Qualifier Season on a High Note at Cranston Cup

Podiums, perseverance, and powerful lessons mark final IMD Championships qualifying event at Tamarack

Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) North Series athletes wrapped up their final Intermountain Division (IMD) qualifier Feb. 28–March 1 at the Cranston Cup at Tamarack Resort. The weekend featured Giant Slalom (GS) and Slalom (SL) races and served as the final qualifying opportunity for IMD Championships. 

It was a fitting finale to the North Series regular season with a weekend filled with fast skiing, podium finishes, breakthrough performances, and valuable experiences gained.

“It was another epic weekend with lots of great skiing, podiums and a few tears. There were lots of lessons learned this weekend,” said Head North Series Team Coach Claudia Stern. “It was a great apprenticeship for these athletes and a reminder that growth in ski racing comes from both success and setbacks.”

One athlete remarked "You told me to charge hard and I did, and I crashed!!" as an example of young racers who are learning to find their limits.

Leading the way for SVSEF was Walker Gove, who not only claimed victory in Sunday’s slalom but also secured the overall Cranston Cup title for the boys – a standout achievement to conclude the last regular season race of the season before the IMD Championships.

With the North Series qualifier season complete, SVSEF athletes now look ahead to IMD Championships March 20-22 in Jackson Hole, WY. 

SVSEF Athlete Results

Slalom – Boys
1st – Walker Gove
2nd – Asa Sattler
4th – Ford Rixon
7th – Keller Spachman
10th – Cole Martens

Slalom – Girls
2nd – Dylan Spengler
3rd – Blakely Martnes
4th – Tea Smither
5th – Dylan Meyer
7th – Estelle Turzian
8th – Freya Moffat
9th – Rienza Buonchristiani
10th – Lexi Barthel

Giant Slalom – Boys
2nd – Dylan Smiley
3rd – Ford Rixon
4th – Walker Gove
8th – Evan McGregor

Giant Slalom – Girls
1st – Alta Questad
3rd – Kayla Kloster
4th – Marie McNeal
5th – Estelle Turzian
6th – Dylan Spengler
7th – Amelia Beck
8th – Sophie Robins
10th – Dylan Meyer
11th – Tea Smither
13th – Payton Minor

Complete results are available on the IMD website: here

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by Will Falltrick

SVSEF XC Wins Overall Title at Intermountain Youth Championships at Lake Creek

Nearly 200 XC skiers compete at Lake Creek trails with multiple SVSEF victories

Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) Cross Country Prep and Devo athletes captured the Overall Team Award at the Intermountain Youth Championships this weekend, rising to the top of a field of nearly 200 competitors from eight regional clubs at Lake Creek Trails north of Ketchum.

The two-day championship event featured skate distance and Skier X disciplines on Saturday, followed by mass start classic distance races on Sunday. SVSEF athletes earned the Overall Team Award based on top-five finishes across all age categories, showcasing the depth and strength of the program.

Bivi Scott-Clair led the individual performances with two first-place finishes in the FU10 category, winning both the 1km skate and 1km classic races. Alexandra Chudleigh matched that achievement in the FU8 division, also claiming victory in both disciplines.

Additional standout performances included Hazel Schmidt, who earned second place in the FU12 2km mass start classic distance and second in the 2km skate distance, and Nina O’Sullivan, who took third in both the FU14 2.6km skate distance and mass start classic distance races. Catherine Jameson rounded out multiple podium finishes with third in the FU12 2km skate distance and fifth in the 2km mass start classic distance.

XC Devo North Head Coach Martha Pendl reflected on the event and the young athletes in attendance, “I’m amazed at the norm we live in…with kids growing up who have the gumption and courage to ski with toothpicks strapped to their feet and swords whipping around in their hands, it’s remarkable we call it fun! But the fun is a result of the time, kindness, and simple JOY our skiers, families, and coaches practice all season long. We love building our own best adventures, and it certainly showed at IYCs.”

The event took on special significance after being relocated to Sun Valley just weeks before the competition due to this year’s limited snowpack. Despite the last-minute venue change, the championships brought together eight of the Intermountain Division’s 14 clubs for a celebration of cross country skiing complete with costumes, obstacle courses, and high energy throughout the weekend.

“In a season when kids have had to be so adaptable to changing conditions, I think it was so meaningful and important to all of them to have the event this weekend,” said Kelley Yeates, Head Prep Team Coach and IYC Race Director. “It was reflective in their smiles all weekend long. It was really special, and we are so glad we could pull it off for our division.”

SVSEF Cross Country Program Director Becky Flynn added “This weekend was exactly what we all needed! The IYC’s are a celebration of cross country skiing, racing and fun! There were costumes, wigs, obstacle courses, coach races and the energy and enthusiasm was high! A huge thank you to our race crew, the BCRD, our sponsors and our volunteers – they made this event what it was!”

SVSEF Athlete Results (Top 3 SVSEF Athletes in Each Event)

Saturday, February 28

MU14 - 2.6km Skate Distance

8. Augie Allaire
9. Ben Wellner
10. Jed Schmidt

FU14 - 2.6km Skate Distance

3. Nina O’Sullivan
4. Payton Daley-Scheingraber
5. Penelope Zook

MU12 - 2km Skate Distance

4. Henry Allaire
5. Stephen Chudleigh
6. Graham Lyle

FU12 - 2km Skate Distance

2. Hazel Schmidt
3. Catherine Jameson
4. Juniper Farmer

MU10 - 1km Skate Distance

4. Simon Reuter
5. Ry Hopeman
6. McKay Johnson

FU10 - 1km Skate Distance

1. Bivi Scott-Clair
2. Grace Boccabella
3. Nora Seppa

MU8 - 1km Skate Distance

3. Finn Mallory

FU8 - 1km Skate Distance

1. Alexandra Chudleigh
2. Finley Vaughan
3. Hayes Marsted

Sunday, March 1 – Classic, Mass Start

MU14 - 2.6km Classic Mass Start Distance

4. Augie Allaire
5. Ben Wellner
6. Cody Lloyd

FU14 - 2.6km Classic Mass Start Distance

3. Nina O’Sullivan
4. Payton Daley-Scheingraber
5. Sadie Guss

MU12 - 2km Classic Mass Start Distance

4. Henry Allaire
5. Stephen Chudleigh
6. Graham Lyle

FU12 - 2km Classic Mass Start Distance

2. Hazel Schmidt
3. Catherine Jameson
4. Tallulah Gerald

MU10 - 1km Classic Mass Start Distance

5. Simon Reuter
6. Veikko Paxson
7. Ry Hopeman

FU10 - 1km Classic Mass Start Distance

1. Bivi Scott-Clair
2. Roxanna Gawlinski
3. Nora Seppa

MU8 - 1km Classic Mass Start Distance

2. Finn Mallory
3. Luke Harris

FU8 - 1km Classic Mass Start Distance

1. Alexandra Chudleigh
2. Finley Vaughan

For complete event results, please visit: 2026 Intermountain Youth Championships Results

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by Will Falltrick

Sammy Smith Continues Climb Taking 23rd in Skate Sprint at Sweden World Cup

Sammy Smith Continues Climb Taking 23rd in Skate Sprint at Sweden World Cup

Up next Smith to compete this week at U23 Cross Country World Ski Championships in Norway

SVSEF XC Gold Team and U.S. Ski Team member, Sammy Smith, was the second American at the Coop FIS Cross Country World Cup at Falun, Sweden on Saturday. Smith finished 19th in the qualifier earning her a spot in the quarterfinals where she placed fifth in her heat landing her in 23rd overall and not far behind Jessie Diggins who placed 17th.

“It is great to see Sammy skiing right up there with the best in the world!” said Becky Flynn, SVSEF Cross Country Program Director. “Each time she races in the heats, she is learning important tactics that will help her in the future! She has the speed and technical ability to be right in there. We are all excited to see how she will do at the World Junior Championships this week as she has a skate sprint scheduled for Tuesday, March 3.”  

Smith has been on a whirlwind of a race tour—straight from the Winter Olympic Games in Italy to the World Cup in Sweden and immediately onto the 2026 Junior/U23 Cross Country World Ski Championships March 2-8 in Lillehammer, Norway. Her coaches are confident that if anyone can handle it, Sammy can.

Ahead of the Junior Worlds this week, SVSEF XC Gold Team Head Coach Peter Holmes applauded Smith for her strong and courageous performance in Falun. “Sammy had an awesome day in the sprint in Falun. She started with a solid qualifier and then made a really good gutsy move in the quarters. Unfortunately it didn’t stick and her day ended there, but that’s how you need to ski at that level sometimes to move into the semis. We’re both super excited to have her representing Team USA at U23 World Champs in Norway. We’re super excited for her and hopefully will be cheering her all the way to the finals in tomorrow’s Sprint.”

Smith will be racing as a U23 where her first and one of her favorite events is slated for Tuesday in the Skate Sprint. She will potentially race in all U23 events.

U23 Race Schedule (+8 hours to local Lillehammer, Norway race start times)

• March 3 - 2:00 a.m. MT - Skate Sprint
• March 5 - 2:00 a.m. MT - 20km Skate Mass start
• March 7 - 4:30 a.m. MT - 10km Classic Interval start
• March 8 - 4:00 a.m. MT - 4 X 5km relay - Classic/Free

For complete event schedule of the Juniors/U23 World Ski Championships, please visit: https://www.skiforbundet.no/arrangementer/jwsc26/program/ 

For live streaming of the Juniors/U23 World Ski Championships, please visit: https://watch.fis-ski.com/section/Cross-Country 

For live results of the Juniors/U23 World Ski Championships, please visit: https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/event-details.html?sectorcode=CC&eventid=62427&seasoncode=2026 

Photo: Reese Brown/NNF

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by Heather Foster

Soft Snow, Steep Terrain Brings the Best out of SVSEF Big Mountain Team in Snowbasin

Gus Herrick takes back-to-back podium finishes, Sawyer Morgan claims first place in U19 Men

Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) Big Mountain Team athletes delivered exceptional performances at Snowbasin Resort this past weekend, claiming multiple podium finishes across two days of IFSA Big Mountain 2* competition in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains.

Fresh snowfall earlier in the week made for perfect soft snow conditions at Snowbasin with athletes competing in the Middle Bowl Cirque adjacent to the resort’s renowned Lone Tree run. With excellent visibility and cooperative weather throughout the weekend, athletes were able to execute their runs with confidence. 

Gus Herrick led the charge for SVSEF, securing back-to-back podium finishes in the U15 Ski Men’s division with a first-place finish on Saturday and a second-place finish on Sunday. His consistent performance demonstrated both technical prowess and bold decision-making on challenging terrain.

In the U19 Ski Men’s division, Sawyer Morgan captured first place on Sunday, showcasing the depth of talent within the SVSEF program. The U15 division saw strong team performances both days, with Anders Bemis finishing second on Saturday, while Sebastian Gunn and Cash Mintz both earned multiple top-five finishes across the weekend.

Maya Gunn and Fleur Brazil represented SVSEF in the U19 Ski Women’s division, with Gunn taking third place and Brazil finishing seventh on Saturday.

“Throughout the weekend, every one of our coaches present felt inspiration and determination through our athletes,” said SVSEF Big Mountain Team Coach Catie Reed. “It was inspiring to watch our first and second year competitors responsibly push boundaries and lace technical lines.”

Photo: SVSEF BMT skier Sawyer Morgan earns first place in Snowbasin. 

SVSEF Athlete Results 

Day 1 | Saturday, February 21st

U15 Ski Men

1st - Gus Herrick

2nd - Anders Bemis

5th - Sebastian Gunn

7th - Cash Mintz

9th - Jasper Kopplin

U19 Ski Women

3rd - Maya Gunn

7th - Fleur Brazil

Day 2 | Sunday, February 22nd

U15 Ski Men

2nd - Gus Herrick

3rd - Sebastian Gunn

4th - Cash Mintz

U19 Ski Men

1st - Sawyer Morgan

The SVSEF Big Mountain Team continues its season this weekend with a 3* competition in Kirkwood, CA followed by the final comp of the season in Park City, UT. 

Complete results for each event may be found at: https://liveheats.com/IFSAintmtnsnowbasin/events

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by Will Falltrick

FIS ALPINE TEAM QUALIFIES 19 ATHLETES FOR CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS AT BRYCE ASTLE MEMORIAL

Eight athletes earn Spots at U18 Nationals; eleven qualify for Western Region Junior Championships

Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) FIS Alpine athletes delivered outstanding performances at the Bryce Astle Memorial Utah FIS Elite Races, securing championship qualifications for 19 athletes competing against the best racers from across the Western Region.

Held February 17–21 at Utah Olympic Park and Snowbird, the event served as the final qualifier of the season for U18 Nationals and Western Region Junior Championships. Despite a shortened schedule due to conditions, SVSEF athletes rose to the occasion and competed well in a stacked field including many U18, U21 and Senior category athletes.

Elodie Olsen led the team with a dominant performance in the women’s slalom events at Snowbird, claiming first place overall and first in the U18 category in the second race, and finishing sixth overall (first U18). Her consistent excellence throughout the qualifier series helped secure her spot among the top three overall athletes in the Western Region.

Eight SVSEF athletes qualified for U18 Nationals at Mittersill, New Hampshire: Elodie Olsen, Samantha Milne, Ruby Smith, and Ava Huey on the women’s side, along with Henry Roberts, Tucker Reimund, Ulrich Rossi, and Conway Selznick representing the men’s team. An additional 11 athletes earned qualification for Western Region Junior Championships at Grand Targhee.

Ruby Smith showed consistent strength across multiple disciplines, taking 14th overall and first in U18 in the women’s giant slalom at Utah Olympic Park, while also posting strong finishes in both slalom races at Snowbird. In the men’s competitions, Ulrich Rossi finished 11th overall and second in U18 in the second slalom at UOP, while Tucker Reimund placed 30th overall and second in U18 in the giant slalom.

“The Utah elite series was the final qualifier series before championships. We qualified four girls (top three overall in west) and four guys (top two overall in west) for the U18 nationals in New Hampshire next week,” said SVSEF FIS Alpine Head Coach Will Courtney.

Photo: SVSEF FIS athlete Elodie Olsen claims first place overall (U18). 

SVSEF ATHLETE RESULTS

Women’s 1st SL @ Snowbird 2/17

6th - Elodie Olsen (1st U18)

28th - Ruby Smith (12th U18)

Women’s 2nd SL @ Snowbird 2/17

1st - Elodie Olsen (1st U18)

13th - Samantha Milne (4th U18)

15th - Ruby Smith (6th U18)

30th - Lucy Olson (15th U18)

Women’s GS @ UOP 2/20

14th - Ruby Smith (1st U18)

23rd - Ava Huey (6th U18)

Men’s GS @ UOP 2/20

30th - Tucker Reimund (2nd U18)

Men’s 1st SL @ UOP 2/21

17th - Henry Roberts (4th U18)

19th - Huxley Flood (6th U18)

Men’s 2nd SL @ UOP 2/21

11th - Ulrich Rossi (2nd U18)

28th - Huxley Flood (19th U18)

 

Full Results Below
Utah Olympic Park Results: https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/event-details.html?sectorcode=AL&eventid=58643&seasoncode=2026

Snowbird Results: https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/event-details.html?sectorcode=AL&eventid=58548&seasoncode=2026

The SVSEF FIS Alpine Team will compete next at U18 Nationals in Mittersill, New Hampshire, and Western Region Junior Championships at Grand Targhee, Wyoming.

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by Will Falltrick

Third Time's a Charm as SVSEF Alpine U12 North Team Shines at Third Pastry Cup

Adaptability, progression on display with Giant Slalom and Slalom Kombi racing

The third installment of the 2025-26 season’s Pastry Cup brought another spirited day of racing at Rotarun for Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) Alpine U12 North Series athletes, once again giving young competitors a chance to test their technical progress in a supportive, fun-first setting.

With each edition of the Pastry Cup, the growth of these young athletes became more apparent and the third race was no exception. Athletes across both the girls' and boys' fields posted times that reflected months of focused training, with tighter times and growing confidence in the course. This iteration of the Pastry Cup showcased both Giant Slalom (GS) and Slalom (SL) making for a Kombi race requiring adaptability and on the fly learning for Alpine U12 North athletes.

"Congrats to all for another great Pastry Cup today!" said SVSEF Alpine North Series Head Coach Claudia Stern. "The weather and snow conditions were perfect and we saw some really great skiing. We loved seeing everyone adapt to this format, switching it up nicely from GS to Slalom."

With the North Series calendar pressing forward, events like the Pastry Cup remain essential building blocks, giving athletes real race experience while keeping competition in its proper perspective at this stage of development. The fun is the foundation, and the progress speaks for itself.

Photo: Boy's and Girl's podiums from third edition of the Pastry Cup from 2025-26 season.  

SVSEF Athlete Results

Combination of One Run GS Followed by One Run of SL
Girls Results
1st – Alta (GS Run 1: 21.50 | SL Run 2: 24.50 | Total: 46.00)
2nd – Kayla (22.56 | 23.83 | 46.39)
3rd – Amelia (23.74 | 24.97 | 48.71)
4th – Blakely (23.74 | 26.19 | 49.92)
5th – DMoney (22.90 | 27.52 | 50.41)
6th – Ivy (24.68 | 26.01 | 50.69)
7th – Tea (24.09 | 26.76 | 50.85)
8th – Marie (22.61 | 28.68 | 51.29)
9th – DillPickle (24.19 | 28.28 | 52.47)
10th – Mckenna (24.99 | 27.55 | 52.54)
11th – Estelle (24.41 | 28.13 | 52.55)
12th – Rienza (24.45 | 28.38 | 52.83)
13th – Lexi (25.21 | 29.27 | 54.47)
14th – Riley (25.83 | 30.02 | 55.84)
15th – Lila (25.88 | 30.67 | 56.55)
16th – Blakeslee (26.18 | 30.53 | 56.71)
17th – Eleanor H (27.03 | 31.25 | 58.28)
18th – Tindsley (27.68 | 31.94 | 59.62)
19th – Morgan (28.54 | 31.24 | 59.78)
20th – Eleanor R (28.30 | 33.45 | 61.75)
21st – Rosie (29.72 | 34.57 | 64.29)

Boys Results
1st – Asa (Run 1: 24.08 | Run 2: 21.75 | Total: 45.83)
2nd – DSmiley (25.35 | 22.59 | 47.94)
3rd – Evan (25.16 | 22.95 | 48.11)
4th – Vance (26.10 | 22.43 | 48.53)
5th – Cole (26.38 | 24.00 | 50.38)
6th – Tucker (27.76 | 23.58 | 51.34)
7th – Tommy (27.68 | 25.18 | 52.86)
8th – Dillon W (28.05 | 25.24 | 53.29)
9th – Graham (28.92 | 24.93 | 53.85)
10th – Blaise (29.58 | 25.71 | 55.29)
11th – AJ (34.42 | 28.40 | 62.82)
12th – Jayden (34.36 | 28.77 | 63.13)

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by Will Falltrick