Pastry Cup Kombi Preps Athletes for Upcoming U12 IMD Champs
With the U12 IMD Championships quickly approaching, the SVSEF Alpine North Series Team held their 2-Run Pastry Cup Kombi race on Sunday. Kombi races are designed to teach the athletes how to manage rhythm and speed changes within a course. This weekend, the "funnel-shaped" course took the athletes from moguls to shorter "stubby" gates, into bigger giant slalom turns, then panel slalom, and finally regular slalom gates to the finish. Athletes were required to finish both runs to qualify for awards.
"It was a tough and long Kombi race out there on Sunday!" said Adele Savaria, SVSEF North Series Head Coach. "The athletes all showed true grit and persevered with their best efforts; and for the athletes racing in the upcoming IMD Championships, this gave them a good idea of what the Kombi will be like."
Results from Pastry Cup #4 (Kombi) - Sunday, Mar. 6, 2022
Women:
1st - Sasha Preuss
2nd - Bianca Smith
3rd - Lucy Stevenson
Men:
1st - Wyatt Limburg
2nd - Henry Questad
3rd - Kai Sammis
The U12 IMD Championships will take place Mar. 18-21 at Sun Valley. The event will include a 2-run giant slalom, 1-run Kombi, 2-run slalom, and 1-run panel slalom for all racers. Men and women will each compete over two days during the championship event.
SVSEF FREESKI TEAM SWEEPS PODIUMS AT TAMARACK
The SVSEF Freeski Team was at Tamarack this weekend. Both the Future's team and Progression team athletes took part in Saturday's slopestyle event. Braden Smith took 1st in the 7-8 year old division. Brody Smith finished in 2nd place in the 9-10 age group. The 11-12 year old boys division was a sweep for Sun Valley, with Barrett Beyer taking 1st, Emmett Crist in 2nd, and Landon Delancey in the bronze medal position. Blue Allen skied her very best and took home the gold in the women's 11-12 year old group. There was another sweep for the SVSEF Freeski Team in the 13-14 year old division; Zeppelin Pilaro finished in 1st, with Kai Van Bueren in 2nd, and Zack Torres in 3rd. Anton Holter took home the gold medal in the 15-16 year old age group with some very clean skiing.
On Sunday, the teams took part in the rail jam competition. In the 7-10 age group, Brody Smith placed 1st, securing two medals in Tamarack. The 11-14 age group was yet another sweep for the SVSEF Freeski Team, with Zack Torres in 1st, Barrett Beyer in 2nd, and Landon Delancey in 3rd.
"The whole crew did a great job showing what this team is all about," said SVSEF Freeski Head Coach, Gui Mattheis-Brown. "High energy, full commitment, and undeniable support for one another. I am very proud of the display the entire team put on this weekend, and what's to come in the next month!"
Unicorns, Dinosaurs, Skiers Unite for Devo XC Festival
One thing we love about our Cross Country teams is the tradition that shines through in all they do, all season long! This past weekend's XC Devo Festival is yet another example of how celebrating the pure joy that the sport's culture elicits, is simply the magic sauce on top. Go team!
“Saturday’s XC Devo Festival 2022 was a smashing success with almost 200 skiers, parents, and friends celebrating the end of the season at Lake Creek. Paddy’s Famous Obstacle Course was a huge hit and our mass start races were flanked by celebrity SVSEF XC Prep Team appearances. To top off the season in epic tradition, our famous 'Anything Goes Race,' where skiers, parents, unicorns, and dinosaurs all tangle together for a lap of the racecourse—celebrated the real reason we are all out there together! Thank you, coaches, families, and skiers for another unforgettable season!”
—Martha Pendl, SVSEF XC Devo North Head Coach
2022 U12 IMD Championship Coming to Sun Valley
From March 18-21, 2022, Sun Valley will host the U12 IMD Championship!
This championship event will bring ski teams and clubs from the south in Utah, to compete with those from the north in Idaho and Wyoming. 100 boys and 100 girls will compete exclusively amongst U12 athletes.
SVSEF U12 IMD Champs Roster
(Athletes Qualified)
GIRLS
Irie Black
Brady Bloomfield
Aviella Buoncristiani
Blakeslee Davis-Jeffers
Elle Deckard
Colette Duke
Carolyn Fleming
Jennings Fraser
Ava Gilmour
Olivia Harrington
Alexandra Heidel
Fernanda Hurtado
Gaia Luem
Galena McMahan
Sasha Preuss
Savannah Pringle
Camille Reid
Taylor Rundell
Jasmine Smiley
Bianca Smith
Lucy Stevenson
BOYS
Cameron Beck
Brixen Ehleringer
Corbin Flood
Henry Flynn
Brooks Gove
Alex Grant
Jack Heinz
Coen Lamb
Wyatt Limburg
Thijs Lloyd
Finn Malone
Bear Matthews
Asher May
Jaxon McGrew
Cash Mintz
Axel O'Donnell
Declan O'Toole
John Pertel
Charlie Pfau
Henry Questad
Sam Robins
Kai Sammis
Jake Schlatter
Briggs Stevenson
In the Words of... SVSEF XC Comp Team Athlete, Sammy Smith
Just back from the Junior World Cross Country Ski Championships in Lygna, Norway, we asked Sammy Smith to share a bit about her experience. Sammy took 5th in the Individual Skate Sprint after qualifying 8th in the prelim, then advanced through the quarters and semis into the final.
Here's what she had to say!
"World juniors was an experience that I will cherish for a very long time. To be able to compete against the top juniors in the world is an incredible opportunity. Be it my first international event, I didn’t know what to expect, but I was blown away when I got there. To have all the different nations staying in the same hotel, eating in the same rooms, riding on the same shuttles—all of it encouraged a really unique atmosphere. I felt like I learned a lot about different countries’ ski cultures, and none topping the host nation, Norway, where cross country skiing is truly engrained into the lives of every person. Beyond that, the actual racing was incomparable and so was the venue. To stand on the line with skiers from all nations knowing you were going to be competing against the best juniors the world had to offer was so nerve racking and motivating! It was such a privilege to be able to attend World Juniors and I’m so grateful for all of the people who made it happen! Thank you to all of my coaches, wax techs, teammates and especially my parents for their endless love and support!"
—Sammy Smith, SVSEF XC Comp Team
Photo L-R: Johnny Hagenbuch (SVSEF XC Gold Team), Sammy Smith (SVSEF XC Comp Team), Paul Smith (SVSEF XC Post Grad Coach)
SVSEF Wins Overall Team Award at Intermountain Youth Championships
By Kelley Sinnott, SVSEF XC Assistant Program Director and Head Prep Team Coach
Fifty-three SVSEF XC Prep and XC Devo skiers traveled to McCall, ID for two days of racing as part of the Intermountain Youth Championships. Skiers, coaches and parents toughed out the cold Saturday morning for interval start skate distance races, followed by a skier-X obstacle course race under the sun in the afternoon.
Sunday was a snowy morning for mass start distance classic races. As the largest team at the event, SVSEF had boys and girls competing in every age class from U14 to U8 including one U16/novice gal, and SVSEF walked away with the Overall Team award!
"My biggest takeaway from the weekend was my appreciation for all of our skiers and parents for their enthusiasm and energy all weekend," said Kelley Sinnott, SVSEF XC Prep Team Head Coach. "In moments when we weren’t the fastest skiers, we were still the happiest! The excitement for skiing and ski culture was alive and well this weekend and it was awesome to be part of it."
At the final awards ceremony, the Intermountain Division awarded the IMD U14 cup. This was a final ranking of U14 top 10 skiers after a full season of racing. Skiers were ranked based on their top three races from the season. In the U14 cup, SVSEF’s Charlie St. George was 2nd and McCallen Campbell was 5th.
SVSEF Result Highlights:
U8F Hazel Schmidt 1st in skate, 1st in classic, and 2nd in the skier-X
Skate distance – U14M Charlie St. George 5th, U14F Eavan Brown 20th, U12M Bailey Kurtz 9th, U12F Stella St. George 4th, Sydney Nelson 5th, U10M Jeddidiah Schmidt 4th, U10F Payton Daley Scheingraber 3rd, U8M Ford Ramsay 2nd, Spencer Flynn 3rd.
Skier-X – U14M Charlie St.George 7th, U14F Riley Siegel 21st, U12M Jake Jacoby 10th, Stella St. George 6th, Sydeny Nelson 7th , U10M Jedidiah Schmidt 5th , U10F Payton Daley-Scheingraber 3rd, Nina O’Sullivan 4th, U8F Hazel Schmidt 2nd
Classic distance – U14M Charlie St. George 13, U14F Riley Siegel 24th U12F Stella St.George 4th, Sydney Nelson 7th, U12M Baliey Kurtz 10th, U10F Nina Osullivan 5th, Payton Daley-Scheingraber 6th,U10M Jedidiah Schmidt 7th, Cody Lloyd 8th, Jack Flynn 9th, U8F Hazel Schmidt 1st, U8M Ramsay Ford 2nd, Spencer Flynn 3rd
Full results from the weekend : http://summittiming.net/races/race_results.php
Lowie Watkins and Karsten Schillinger Take the Win at 31st Annual Laura Flood Memorial Race
IMC U16 Qualifier Showcases Many of the Best U16 Athletes in the Region
SUN VALLEY, Idaho – Feb. 28, 2022 – More than 150 athletes from around the region traveled to Sun Valley for the 31st Annual Laura Flood Memorial Race held Feb. 25-27. The race also served as an IMC U16 qualifier. At the conclusion of the weekend, the Laura Flood Memorial Race Perpetual Trophy was presented to the top U16 female and male skier after two giant slalom and one slalom race. SVSEF’s Lowie Watkins took the overall win for the women, and Romark Ski Academy’s Karsten Schillinger for the men.
Lowie Watkins was in top form taking 3rd in Friday’s giant slalom, 1st in Saturday’s giant slalom, and 4th in Sunday’s slalom. Watkins started skiing at the age of three, and has skied for SVSEF since the second grade. She started on the Mini World Cup team and has worked her way up through the North Series and IMD teams, and is now skiing for SVSEF’s USSA team as a U16 athlete. Following the event, Watkins said, “I’ve been working at this sport for a long time. It was great to have such a successful weekend especially in my home town.”
When asked what the best advice is that she’s received from a coach, Watkins shared, “training is the time to push yourself and acquire new skills and races are the time to use those skills.”
“The USSA Staff was very proud of our team this weekend,” said Nate Schwing, SVSEF USSA Head Team Coach. “It was very rewarding to see the many hours of training we put in result in an inspiring display of skiing and camaraderie from the group over the weekend! The team represented very well on our home hill in front of friends and family!”
Over the three days, SVSEF took home 18 podiums including six in the Open (U18) category and 12 in the U16 category. Awards were given to top three in the U18 category and top five for U16. In the U18 Men’s Giant Slalom, SVSEF swept the podium in both races. On Friday, it was Carter Sammis, Nicolas Tilander, and Cole Curci taking one, two, three; and on Saturday, it was Shaw McCoubrey, Nicolas Tilander, and Halston Wilkey in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respectively.
Max Meucci had a solid weekend taking 1st place in Friday’s U16 giant slalom and 2nd in Sunday’s slalom. In the women’s U16 slalom, three of the five podium steps went to SVSEF with Natalie Gowe in 2nd place, Lowie Watkins in 4th, and Taylor Hovey in 5th. Gowe also took 5th in Saturday’s giant slalom, 3.29 seconds back from Lowie Watkins in 1st. Meredith Bromley took the top step in Friday’s U16 giant slalom with her teammate Watkins just 0.82 seconds behind in 3rd place. Alan Dugan raced to 5th in Friday’s U16 giant slalom and Will Kogelman 4th in Sunday’s slalom to round out the successful weekend for SVSEF.
The Laura Flood Memorial Race holds a very special place in the ski racing and local community, held each year in memory of Laura Flood. Laura lost her life during a ski training accident at the age of nineteen while racing for the University of Colorado. The Race is made possible through the efforts of the entire community—the Flood family, coaches, volunteers, families, athletes, and of course Sun Valley Company and everything they do to help ensure an incredible race venue.
For complete event results, visit: https://www.imdalpine.org/news/2022-Laura-Flood-results-are-in/
Photo: Tim Carter
Sammy Smith Skates to 5th at Junior Worlds
SVSEF XC Comp Team athlete, Sammy Smith, took 5th in the Individual Skate Sprint at Junior World Cross Country Ski Championships in Lygna, Norway on Sunday. She qualified 8th in the prelim then advanced through the quarters and semis into the final where she finished 5th.
SVSEF XC Post Grad Coach, Paul Smith, is at the Junior World Championships working with the U.S. Ski Team Staff in ski service support. He shared the following about Sammy:
"I think the most impressive thing from Sammy's performance was her aggressive attitude, particularly the way she prepared mentally and skied the fast courses here in Lygna. Always watching, always learning. This was apparent with all our staff and even foreign coaches who took notice the way she handled pressure and the unknown; this being her first World Juniors at the age of 16 competing against many 18- and 19-year-olds who have 'been there done that.' To succeed at that level, you can't have any fear of the outcome and that was one of the keys in her success. The best part for me just observing all of this was how much FUN she had."
Smith added, "You have to look back quite far but I believe yesterday's race might be the best female sprint result for the U.S. at a World Juniors."
SVSEF Snowboarding Team Hits the Woodward Park City Super Pipe
By Andy Gilbert, SVSEF Snowboarding Program Director and Head Coach
SVSEF Snowboarding Team Riders were back at Woodward Park City for a halfpipe camp and USASA Big Mt. West halfpipe events Feb 25-26.
Even with lack of a halfpipe locally learning how to ride transitions is a necessary skill in building great, well rounded riders. SVSEF Snowboard Coaches Nate Sheehan and Andy Gilbert took the team down to the freshly open 22-foot super pipe. In typical Sun Valley Snowboarder fashion, riders took to the pipe with no hesitation during the Friday training day. The team was also able to gain some practical knowledge from U.S. Snowboard Team Halfpipe Head Coach, Rick Shimpeno—just back from Beijing, he came out to work with the kids.
After a great day of training, riders were able to put these new skills to work in the two events scheduled for Saturday. Everyone continued to build on each run they took during practice, showing solid straight airs with grabs, Alley Oops and bigger amplitude as the first event started.
The youngest riders, Enzo Schmillen and Rory Gadhia, showed great fundamentals and got creative with some spins up the pipe in their runs. Miles Hatzenbuehler and Henry Georgiades rode really solid lines in the pipe with “Hatz” doing some nice methods, Henry showed a ton of potential in this discipline looking confident on both walls with nice straight airs, Naomi Gorringe rode in her traditional confident way with an aggressive line that had her only getting five hits with big grabbed straight airs, which earned her the top podium spot. Karsen Miller who discover a love for halfpipe last season wasted no time getting to business.
Halfpipe #1 shook out like this for SV Riders:
Menehune Boys 11-12
5th Miles Hatzenbuehler
6th Henry Georgiades
7th Enzo Schmillen
8th Rory Gadhia
Menehune Girls 11-12
1st Naomi Gorringe
Breaker Boys 13-14
4th Karsen Miller
Keeping with the theme of building up, riders continued to progress as the second pipe event of the day began. Everyone wanted to step up their runs by adding amplitude and some creative spins to the mix. Enzo Schmillen added an Alley Oop comp to the bottom of this run, Rory Gadhia continued to improve and grabbed his airs all the way down the pipe and took some risks with spins near the bottom. Henry Georgiades really stepped up with solid airs and looked smooth between the walls riding a nice line. Miles Hatzenbuhler smoothed out his run with noticed improvement. Naomi Gorringe was at it again riding faster, going bigger, and adding a frontside 360 to her run—grabbing the top spot again. Karsen Miller could touch the podium in the first contest, so after landing a solid first run in the second comp he went for it, landed a really nice 540 on his second run, and boosted onto the podium in the process!
It was a great three days of learning in an awesome halfpipe. Halfpipe is a discipline that Sun Valley riders have always done well in, and the skills learned riding Baldy lend themselves to it very well. It was really inspiring to see these young riders take to it and love every minute of it!
Halfpipe #2 SV Results:
Menehune Boys 11-12
6th Henry Georgiades
7th Enzo Schmillen
8th Miles Hatzenbuehler
9th Rory Gadhia
Menehune Girls 11-12
1st Naomi Gorringe
Breaker Boys 13-14
3rd Karsen Miller
Feature Photo: U.S. Snowboard Team Halfpipe Coach w/SVSEF Snowboard team riders L-R - Miles Hatzenbuehler, Karsen Miller, Rory Gadhia, Shimpeno, Enzo Schmillen, Naomi Gorringe.
Maya Lightner, Colin Hanna, and Finnigan Donley Find Gold at Schweitzer
SVSEF Takes Top Step in Four of Eight Races at FIS Western Region Speed Series
SUN VALLEY, Idaho – Feb. 21, 2022 – The SVSEF FIS Alpine Team traveled to Schweitzer Mountain Resort for the Western Region Speed Series from Feb. 15-18, bringing home eight podium spots including four gold, two silver, and two bronze. The Series was comprised of two Downhill (DH) and two Super G (SG) races for both the men and women.
Mother Nature dealt everything she could at the athletes over the course of the week. From consistent snow and fog, to respites of sunshine, high winds, and a few squalls thrown in—the weather posed struggles for everyone but the kids did a great job, stayed focused, and skied fast and strong.
“The FIS Team is heavy into the middle of the season where races are counting for Junior and Senior Nationals qualifying,” said Sue Schwartz, SVSEF FIS Coach. “The athletes are super supportive of each other. We’ve been able to work together during the week, celebrate the wins, and even more so, come together as a team. The performances are showing the strength we have across our team—from the podiums, to those racing to their personal bests and landing top 15, 20, or even top 30 results—all are a huge accomplishment at this level of competition.”
Many of the athletes who competed at Schweitzer attended the recent SVSEF Speed Project at Soldier Mountain earlier in February. It was an opportunity for the athletes to spend time on their speed skis and work on jumping fundamentals and the ability to stay fast over a variety of terrain.
“The Soldier Mountain Speed Project was a really important part of the athletes’ speed progression this season,” said Schwartz. “The Downhill course at Schweitzer had two jumps, a long gliding section, and a lot of terrain to work with, and our athletes brought what they learned and practiced at Soldier directly to their results at this regional Speed Series.”
The event kicked off with the first Women’s Downhill on Feb. 15, but the men’s race was delayed until the second day due to foggy conditions. Maya Lightner skied away with two podium finishes—3rd place in the first Women’s Downhill and 1st place in the second race. Paige DeHart took 6th in race one and 15th in race two, while Cameron Crus skied to 7th and 12th respectively. Lauren Stendell earned the 23rd spot in both Women’s Downhill races.
In the Men’s Downhill, Colin Hanna took the overall win for both races held on Feb. 16. Finnigan Donley grabbed 7th and 5th place respectively, while Nils Galloway took 16th and 14th place, and Robby Cullen had a personal best starting in bib 54 and landing in 16th place in the second downhill after placing 26th in the first race. Kai Subith nailed two top 25 finishes in 24th and 21st.
The next two days would test the athletes’ speed at Super G. For the women, Paige DeHart took 3rd in the women’s first Super G race, with Maya Lightner in 10th, Jessica Blackburn in 18th, Logan Lindstrom 24th and Lauren Stendell sneaking into the top 30 in 28th. Maya Lightner returned to the podium in the women’s second Super G race taking 2nd, with Paige DeHart in 4th, Jessica Blackburn 13th after a bib 51 start, Lauren Stendell 28th and Logan Lindstrom 29th.
For the Men’s Super G, Finnigan Donley took 5th in race one and raced to the win in race two. Colin Hanna found 7th in the first race and joined his teammate on the podium in 2nd for the second race. Nils Galloway moved up from 9th in race one to 6th in race two. Oliver Brockway landed twice in the top 20 in 16th and 11th over the two races. Kai Subith and Robby Cullen both skied to top 30 finishes in race two with Subith in 20th and Cullen in 28th.
Up next for the SVSEF FIS team, some athletes will be traveling to Snowbasin for a Super G/GS Series from Mar. 1-4, and those selected to represent the Intermountain Division at the U18 National Championships will be heading to Vail from Mar. 1-7.
For complete race results, visit: https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/event-details.html?sectorcode=AL&eventid=50128&seasoncode=2022