2022 Janss Pro-Am Classic Raises Scholarship Funds for SVSEF
The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation celebrated the 23rd Annual Janss Pro-Am Classic, Thursday, Mar. 31 through Saturday, Apr. 2. The event is held in memory of Bill Janss, an early supporter of Sun Valley’s junior racing programs and a true advocate of winter sports in the Wood River Valley. The three-day ‘best party on snow’ continues to honor the traditions since the event was founded in 1998 and serves as a tribute to Janss’ unrelenting commitment to our community.
“After two long years of reflection, adaptation, and planning, it was an inspired return of our iconic Janss Pro-Am,” said SVSEF Executive Director, Scott McGrew. “By hosting a variety of new venues, and highlighting our unique culture and history with each and aspect of the event, we were able to create a truly authentic and memorable experience for our friends and supporters. The event was a magnificent success for our programs, our kids, and our community of mountain lovers.”
This year’s event kicked off with a welcome reception at Michel’s Christiania, where 14 teams met their pros and the first of many costume changes were unveiled to promote this year’s theme, “Elite Average Games.” Teams were encouraged to pick a country, pick a sport, and in their own unique way, represent the spirit of the ‘games.’ From the American Downhillers, Antarctica Synchronized Swimming Team, and Blades of Glory, to the Australian Surf Team, Norwegian Biathlon, Original Olympians, and Sun Valley Ski Patrol (as themselves)—the teams competed in more than just a ski race.
Six different games of skill and hilarity were thrown in the mix, where teams earned points along the way going head-to-head in contests involving rigatoni noodles and skewers (Noodling Around), pedometers (Shake What Your Momma Gave Ya), ping pong balls (Tilt A Cup), slinkies (Pink Elephant), and the proverbial attempt to put portable sunshade tents back in their case (This Is In-Tents).
Good times and great food included a private fondue lunch at the Roundhouse, an après ski party sponsored by Sturtevants at Apple’s Bar & Grill, a bar-b-que lunch sponsored by PK’s Ski & Sports, and a gala dinner with dancing and live music by the Pisten Bullys. Handicapping runs for the Janss marquis dual giant slalom ski race took place on Friday in the lead up to the finals on Saturday, with fierce competition announced over the PA by NBC commentator and former U.S. Ski Team member, Steve Porino alongside SVSEF’s Executive Director, Scotty McGrew.
The pros led the charge for their teams and their backgrounds ran the gamut from Olympic-level, collegiate, and current U.S. Ski Team ski racers, to a world champion water skier, former pro mogul skiers, with several SVSEF Alumni amongst the group. Amber Acker-Sanborn, Will Brandenburg, Miles Fink-Debray, Michael Desler, Charlotte Gourlay, DJ Hart, Mike Hattrup, Sean Higgins, Bob LaPoint, Wes Powell, Erika Rixon, Jack Smith, James Tautkus (Taco), and John Zuck laid it all on the line both socially and athletically in the quest to take home this year’s Janss Pro-Am Classic awards, presented at the final gala event.
A special appearance and speech at the gala by Olympic gold medalist and SVSEF Alum, Picabo Street, brought the event full circle to its purpose—to raise money for SVSEF scholarship funds that support many of the 850-plus athletes taking part in skiing and snowboarding from the grass roots to the grand stage. More than $360,000 in financial aid has been distributed this season to athletes in SVSEF programs thanks to generous donors and the commitment our community displays through events like the Janss.
In this 56th year of the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, SVSEF cheered on six Olympians and Paralympians in the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games and celebrated nine athletes as members of U.S. National Teams for the 2021/22 season. Through the generosity and the proceeds generated during the Janss Pro-Am Classic, SVSEF can continue to raise the bar and help guide kids to success in all facets of life including sport, family, work, and community.
2022 Janss Pro-Am Classic Awards
Speed Cup – Dream Team – Miles Fink-Debray (Pro), Ben Erichson, Wes Fluechaus, Mark Masur, Carl Rixon, Ben Selznick
1st Place Team – Olympic Spirit – Charlotte Gourlay (Pro), Janet Appleton, Liz Brown, Julie Daniels West, Paige Lethbridge, Christy Luby Johnson
2nd Place Team – Original Olympians – Wes Powell (Pro), James Fisher, Mike Gilman, Tor Jensen, Josiah Rosser, Bill Shaw
3rd Place Team – Australian Surf Team – Erika Rixon (Pro), Jordan Fitzgerald, Laurel Holland, Buffalo Rixon, Katherine Rixon, Matt Walker
Spirit Award – Bill Cimino
Best Crash – Tie between Taco and Wes Powell
Best Costumes – Scottish Synchronized Swim Team – Jack Smith (Pro), Dell-Ann Benson, Tom Benson, Heather Black, Betsy Service, David Service
Most Elite-ly Average – Team ‘Merica - Amber Acker-Sanborn (Pro), Mark Acker, Randy Acker, Travis Jones, Reid Sanborn, Ryder Sanborn
5th Annual Gary Black, Jr. Memorial Ski Race Celebrates the Spirit of Ski Racing
Nearly 160 SVSEF athletes from 6 to 14 years old donned their costumes and took to the race hill on Sunday, to remember Gary Black, Jr., one of the greatest advocates the sport of ski racing has ever seen, and to celebrate the closing of the 2021/22 ski season.
“What I particularly love about the Gary Black, Jr. Memorial is that at the end of the season, when energy is low for athletes, coaches, and staff, it’s like a breath of Gary’s enthusiasm is pumped back into the SVSEF for an end of season hurrah,” said Heather Black, wife of the late Gary Black, Jr. “The kids, the costumes, the cheering for each other, the speaker they brought to the top to play their music was just what Gary would have loved. When it came down to it, it was about his passion for being with people who love being on snow. Those were his people.”
Each skier took one run on each course in the dual panel format and the athlete’s fastest time of the two runs was used to calculate the race results. All were out to do their best and celebrate an incredible season and a truly special man who always believed in and encouraged them to embrace all the ways the mountains help them grow as athletes and young people.
"My dad is in this ski hill, in this town, in this program, in these coaches, staff, and these athletes—he is in the heart of the greater sport of skiing,” said Lexi Black, daughter of the late Gary Black, Jr. “My father was a man who believed in dreams so as not to call them dreams. They were realities to be obtained through diligent work and persistence. My dad had dreams for athletes, dreams for the US Ski Team, dreams for the International Ski Federation, and dreams for the sport, and he had every intention of working to accomplish each and every one of them. He left us with a great piece of wisdom, be dreamers but also be doers."
Families came out to watch and cheer on the athletes and to enjoy the afternoon bar-b-que with all the kids and coaches. Stories of the season were shared and excitement for next year was already brewing in the chatter and laughter amongst friends and young teammates.
"There are few things that my father enjoyed as much as standing on the side of a race hill watching athletes navigate the fall line—World Cup to Mini World Cup, it didn’t matter,” said Amanda Black, daughter of the late Gary Black, Jr. “As the Sun Valley Ski Academy celebrates its 10th year, my father would have been proud of the hard work, growth, and collaboration that’s been facilitated by Ben, Jonna, Scotty, and many others in this community. I think that he would have been especially excited about Rotarun. He used to teach skiing at a hill much like Rotarun outside of Baltimore, MD. He understood the importance of access and spent a lifetime encouraging athletes of all abilities to get out there, just make some turns, and have some fun.”
GARY BLACK, JR. MEMORIAL RACE RESULTS AND PERPETUAL TROPHY AWARDS
At the conclusion of the race, the perpetual trophies were awarded to the following athletes, and their names will be engraved on the trophies displayed at the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation.
Gretchen Fraser Award - Fastest U10 Girl - Savannah Pringle
Pete Patterson Award - Fastest U10 Boy - Alex Grant
Kathleen Harriman Mortimer - Fastest U12 Girl - Bianca Smith
Billy Klein Award - Fastest U12 Boy - Henry Questad
Bonnie Russell Trophy - Fastest U14 Girl - Ruby Thurston
Smith Google Award - Fastest U14 Boy - Tucker Reimund
Roy Hobson Awards - Fastest Girl and Boy of the Day - Ruby Thurston and Tucker Reimund
“The Gary Black Race was a perfect day of celebration for our Team,” said Will Brandenburg, SVSEF Alpine Program Director. “The weather was beautiful, the racing conditions were ideal, and the staff came together with our families to pull of another fantastic event. Driving home after the event I felt humbled to be surrounded by a staff that put other people first as they work tirelessly to share their passion to others in the sport they love. This winter was not an easy one. The slow start to winter made for a lot of changes in our plans but the staff and families again showed how we can be adaptable. Collectively as a community we were able to pull off a great winter for hundreds of kids. The passion for the sport of ski racing is as strong as its even been in our Valley! I feel lucky to be a part of it.”
This year, the IMD, North Series, and Mini World Cup teams competed in the morning and the Baldy Devo team competed in the afternoon. The competition was tight, with only hundredths of seconds often separating the finishing times.
IMD/North Series/Mini World Cup Morning Race Results, Top 5 Podium Places:
U10 Girls
1st – Savannah Pringle – 20.3
2nd – Payton Daley-Scheingraber – 22.18
3rd – Fraser Jennings – 22.29
4th (tie) - Brady Bloomfield – 22.41
4th (tie) - Ava Gilmour – 22.41
U10 Boys
1st – Alex Grant – 20.58
2nd – James Holman – 21.02
3rd – Vann Sheue – 22.08
4th – L. Augustus Stafford – 22.13
5th – Brixen Ehleringer – 22.21
U12 Girls
1st – Bianca Smith – 19.23
2nd – Jasmine Smiley – 19.4
3rd – Elle Deckard – 19.84
4th – Lucy Stevenson – 20.79
5th – Colette Duke – 20.89
U12 Boys
1st – Henry Questad – 18.44
2nd – Wyatt Limburg – 19.02
3rd – Henry Flynn – 19.54
4th – Cameron Beck – 19.64
5th – Charlie Pfau – 19.77
U14 & Older Girls
1st – Ruby Thurston – 18.16
2nd – Claire Buchwalter - 18.19
3rd – Hadley Walker – 18.29
4th – Anna Yuras – 18.6
5th – Leila McGrew – 18.85
U14 & Older Boys
1st – Tucker Reimund – 17.94
2nd – Sawyer Morgan – 18.44
3rd – Huxley Flood – 18.45
4th – Reid Holman – 18.61
5th – Wyatt Gilmour – 18.92
Baldy Devo Afternoon Race Results, Top 5 Podium Places:
U8 Girls
1st – Alta Questad – 21.84
2nd – Tea Smither – 25.14
3rd – Sophie Robins – 25.22
4th – Lilla Bloedorn – 25.56
5th – Amelia Beck – 26.27
U8 Boys
1st – Logan Steel – 22.52
2nd – Keller Spachman – 23.07
3rd – Andy Freytag – 23.25
4th – Asa Sattler – 23.92
5th – Dunning Kochvar – 24.36
U10 & Older Girls
1st – Gigi Hill – 25.19
2nd – Katherine Morrison – 25.28
3rd – Lillee Haynes – 25.53
4th – Simone Spachman – 26.18
5th – Zula Van Der Meulen – 26.93
U10 & Older Boys
1st – Halsten Bruun – 21.43
2nd – Max Smith – 23.3
3rd – Jasper Pott – 24.46
4th – Bo Bemis – 24.82
5th – Nicklas Paaske – 25.18
SVSEF Freeski Team Heading to Nationals
Sixteen SVSEF Freeski athletes have qualified to contend for the National Championship in Slopestyle, Halfpipe and Rail Jam events at Copper Mountain, CO April 9-14. The following athletes have earned their way and qualified to compete at Copper: Anton Holter, Zeppelin Pilaro, Kai Van Bueren, George Corkery, Zack Torres, Anders Coulter, Barrett Beyer, Tripp Stanger, Leo Hayes, Emmett Crist, Landon Delancey, Caleb Covington, Blue Allen, Brody Smith, Brayden Smith, and Easton Turck.
With Dollar Mountain now closed for the season, the team is planning a training camp at Woodward Park City, UT from April 1-3 to prepare the athletes for the events at Copper Mountain and give them the opportunity to take notes from the best in the business. The training camp will allow the athletes to be immersed in and celebrate freeski culture at the JP Auclair Memorial and Super Pipe Sunday with the US Freeski Team.
"All the coaches are very proud of every athlete on the team and are already looking forward to next season," said Tyler Conway, SVSEF Freeski Head Coach and Program Director. "Freeskiing is a community, and those who fully commit usually reap the benefits from these events in developing their skills in the sport. We send the best of luck to these brilliant young skiers in April!"
Top U12 Athletes Vie for Overall Honors in the Intermountain Division
The 2022 U12 IMD Alpine Championships brought the top 100 under-12-years-old boys and girls ski racers from 13 teams across Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah to Sun Valley to compete across four disciplines in giant slalom (GS), slalom (SL), panel slalom (Panel SL), and kombi. A “kombi” consists of a mixture of standard turns and gates within one course and is designed to create tactical awareness by the athletes. The competition was fierce with the Idaho and Wyoming clubs in the North seeing new competition out of Utah from the South for the first time this season.
"We were so excited to have the U12 IMD Championships back in Sun Valley,” said Adele Savaria, SVSEF Alpine North Series Head Coach. “It's always great to host championship events on our home hill and the kids had so much fun racing and getting to see other teams from the Intermountain Division. Our kids worked so hard to qualify for these Championships and their results showed it,” said Savaria. “We are so proud of the entire team!"
The boys took to the race hill first on Friday and Saturday for two full days of racing. First on the schedule was the kombi, comprised of SL, Panel SL, Stubbies, SL, and GS into the finish. SVSEF’s Declan O’Toole took 4th place on the podium and Henry Flynn 6th, both within 3.46 seconds of the top step. Corbin Flood, Kai Sammis, and Wyatt Limburg rounded out the top 14 with fractions of a second between them. Cameron Beck snuck into the top 16, and it was Snowbird Ski Education Foundation (SBSEF) that dominated with a top-three sweep.
The boys GS saw SVSEF’s Henry Questad and Wyatt Limburg on the podium in 4th and 5th. Cameron Beck, Corbin Flood, and Henry Flynn took 16th, 19th, and 20th respectively to give SVSEF five boys in the top 20. SBSEF saw a repeat with the top three steps in the GS.
SVSEF’s Declan O’Toole raced to 2nd place in the boys 2-run SL on Saturday and Corbin Flood landed another solid performance in 10th. In the 1-run Panel SL, Cameron Beck and Kai Sammis tied for 8th place for the SVSEF crew. And the South took the top four podium spots home to SBSEF.
“Reflecting on the last four days, the coolest part for me was how the community came together to put on a really high quality event for this age group, said Will Brandenburg, SVSEF Alpine Program Director. “There weren’t a lot of bells and whistles—just a perfectly prepared and challenging venue for these young kids to compete on. From the parents making BBQ, to the hard-working cat drivers, ski patrol, and mountain operations crew from Sun Valley Company, we all collectively created a cool environment for the event.” Brandenburg was Chief of Race for the event.
Game time started on Sunday for the girls, and four clubs were in the mix for top spots in the kombi. The girls kombi course switched things up and tested the agility of all the athletes with GS, Panel SL, SL, Panel SL, and finally GS again to the finish line. Sasha Preuss came away in the top SVSEF spot in 5th place and Bianca Smith raced to 9th, just 1.01 seconds behind her teammate. It was a close battle between Jackson Hole Ski Club (JHSC) in 1st and 2nd, SBSEF in 3rd, and Park City Ski Club (PCSC) in 4th, all within 2.99 seconds across the finish line.
The girls GS saw three SVSEF teammates in the top 10. Sasha Preuss snagged another podium in 5th. Bianca Smith and Jasmine Smiley closed out the top 10 in 9th and 10th respectively, and Savannah Pringle and Taylor Rundell raced to strong 11th and 13th. Elle Deckard earned a very respectable19th and her teammate, Fernanda Hurtado, crossed the line in 21st, with only 0.20 between them. It was in the GS that Taryn Moe out of JHSC earned her second top-three podium finish and first of three 1st place wins of the championship.
A two-run SL and one-run Panel SL were on deck for the girls on the final day racing. Three SVSEF athletes raced into the top 20 in the SL—Bianca Smith in 6th, Jasmine Smiley in 12th, and Elle Deckard in 19th. It was a hat trick for Sasha Preuss with 4th place in the Panel SL and her third podium of the series. Bianca Smith found another top ten in 9th and Jasmine Smiley a strong 13th in the final race.
At the end of the race series, the North and South each took home an overall title. Taryn Moe out of JHSC won the overall with 1st place finishes in the GS, SL, and Panel SL, plus a 2nd place in the kombi. Patrick Meirowitz from SBSEF came away with the overall for the boys with matching results—three wins in the GS, SL, and Panel SL, and a 2nd place in the kombi.
For complete event results, please visit: https://www.imdalpine.org/news/All-2022-IMD-Champs-results-are-in/
SVSEF Freestyle Team Takes On Top Juniors in the USA
Seven members of the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation Freestyle Team qualified for the 2022 USSA Junior Nationals held Mar. 18-20. Sylas Barrett, Erik Babcock, Tillie Babcock, Will Hausmann, Drake Lovlien, Nic Rubenstein, and Marek Ruttler made the trip to Utah Olympic Park to compete amongst the top U18's in the country.
"I was really happy to see everything come together for our athletes to qualify and compete at this level of competition," said John Grigsby, SVSEF Freestyle Head Coach and Program Director. "They worked incredibly hard all season and to have the opportunity to go up against the best is so great for their growth as athletes and competitors."
SVSEF's Erik Babcock and Nic Rubenstein really shined, posting some of the highest air scores in the competition and missing the final by a mere six points. Teammates Will Hausman and Drake Lovlien were the two youngest competitors to rank within the top 80 men in the country and qualify for the Junior Nationals at just thirteen years old.
Having won every dual he's entered this season; Erik Babcock was primed to podium in Sunday's Duals event when with 32 duals to go, strong winds estimated at 55-60 mph forced cancellation for the safety of the athletes. Babcock is undefeated in Duals this season.
Up next for the SVSEF Freestyle team—Erik Babcock, Tillie Babcock, and Nick Marek will travel to the U.S. Freestyle National Championship, Mar. 24-27 at Deer Valley, UT.
Photo: Anthony Mazur
Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation is #1 Girls Cross Country Team in the USA
Scott, Cramer, and Grover Lead the Charge to Girls National Club Championship Win
The 2022 U.S.S.S. Junior National Cross Country Ski Championships took place Mar. 7-12 in Minneapolis, MN, with the top U16, U18, and U20 athletes in the country competing in Individual Freestyle Individual Start 5K/10K, Classic Sprint, Classic Mass Start, and Mixed Team Relay events. SVSEF came home with the Girls National Club Championship title, Cora Scott crowned U16 Classic Sprint National Champion, and Aurora Cramer taking silver in the U20 5K Freestyle and bronze along with teammate Luci Ludwig in the U20 4 x 3 km Mixed Relay. SVSEF Alumni, Elijah Weenig, was first on course for the relay, with Ludwig and Cramer anchoring the IMD team to the bronze.
“The girls winning the National Club Championship is such a huge credit to all of the kids and coaches in the program, from our little skiers just starting all the way up to Sammy Smith crushing at Worlds,” said Rick Kapala, SVSEF Cross Country Program Director. “The focus must always be on building a community of skiers, coaches, and families who value simple but strong attributes like lifelong wellness, building work ethic, and loving the sport. It's like we often say...Any day we GET to cross country ski is a good day. If we focus on those foundational goals, the ski results will surely follow.”
Thirteen SVSEF Cross Country skiers were selected as members of the Intermountain Division (IMD) team to compete at U.S. Junior Nationals. Representing the women were Aurora Cramer and Luci Ludwig in the U20 age class; Anja Grover, Eloise Hebert, Annika Vandenburgh, and Aisley Grohusky in U18; and Cora Scott, Berkeley Canfield, and Jodie Willow Maguire in U16. Teddy Hobbs represented SVSEF in U16 boys, Galen Grohusky in U18 boys, and SVSEF Alumni, Elijah Weenig in U20. Weenig is currently skiing for Denver University. These junior athletes were joined by SVSEF Cross Country Team coaches Rick Kapala, Ashley Knox, and Paul Smith.
"We had a great week at Junior Nationals, with some incredible results and amazingly hard and gritty efforts," said Ashley Knox, SVSEF XC Comp Team Coach. "From Galen and Teddy throwing down in a very competitive guys field, to the girls winning the club championships—this week just highlights the depth and strength of our entire SVSEF team."
The team came home with four top-three medal positions, four top-five medal positions, and seven top-12 finishes.
SVSEF top-12 results at the 2022 U.S.S.S. Junior National Cross Country Ski Championships:
Girls U16 5K Freestyle – Cora Scott – 4th
Girls U20 5K Freestyle – Aurora Cramer – SILVER
Girls U16 Classic Sprint – Cora Scott – GOLD – NATIONAL CHAMPION
Girls U16 Classic Sprint – Jodie Maguire – 9th
Girls U16 Classic Sprint – Berkeley Canfield – 12th
Girls U18 Classic Sprint – Anja Grover – 4th
Girls U20 Classic Sprint – Luci Ludwig – 7th
Girls U16 Classic 10K Mass Start - Cora Scott - 9th
Girls U16 Classic 10K Mass Start - Berkeley Canfield - 12th
Girls U18 Classic 10K Mass Start - Anja Grover - 11th
Girls U20 Classic 10K Mass Start - Aurora Cramer - BRONZE
Girls Team – NATIONAL CLUB CHAMPIONS
Mixed Relay U16 – Cora Scott – 5th
Mixed Relay U18 – Anja Grover – 5th
Mixed Relay U20 – Annika Vandenburgh – 9th
Mixed Relay U20 – Aurora Cramer, Luci Ludwig - BRONZE
For complete race results, visit: https://my.raceresult.com/events/
*Sammy Smith was selected to race in the U18 class but having just returned from the Junior World Championships and in preparation for Canadian Nationals later this month, Smith took this week as a key recovery week leading into the remainder of the season.
Q+A with Jesse Keefe from the 2022 Beijing Paralympics
SVSEF FIS Team and U.S. ParaAlpine Team Athlete, Jesse Keefe, has spent the vast majority of the 2021/22 season on the road with the U.S. ParaAlpine Team. We had the chance to catch up with him via “burner phone” between races at the Beijing Paralympics, and in the midst of stories and a ton of laughs, we’ve scratched the surface here with what his experience has been like and what’s next for Jesse.
Q: What has been your biggest surprise in Beijing?
A: When I first got here there were two days until the Downhill. It’s hard to explain—it was super weird—I expected it to be really warm and so you wonder about what the snow will be like. It was the BEST snow I’ve ever raced on - super aggressive, super firm, not icy, super grippy—the kind of snow that doesn’t get any grooves in it skier after skier. For the speed events it’s been like hero snow—I’m so psyched I got to race on it.
Oh - and you know on the TV the snow looks brown along the sides of the racecourse? That’s from the sand storms that blow through here and cover the snow—it’s crazy.
Q: What’s day-to-day like in the Athlete Village?
A: To be honest, it’s a lot better than I thought it would be—I wasn’t sure what to expect other than some of the stuff I’d seen from athletes at the Olympics. The Alpine team is all together and the other teams have their areas, so we don’t get to hang out with athletes from other sports. We really wanted to watch Team USA vs. Canada in Sled Hockey, but we couldn’t—so that was kind of a bummer. And they crushed it.
I’ve met people from a lot of different countries—Sweden, Canada, Finland, Austria, the Netherlands. I’ve probably connected the most with the Swedish Alpine team because there’s an 18-year-old on their team.
The volunteers are amazing and everything is super organized. The food is pretty good. I mean there’s Pizza Hut and KFC here—they only have cheese pizza and chicken sandwiches, but that's all I need (laughing). I’m not sure the team nutritionist is so psyched about that.
Q: What’s the team dynamic like within the U.S. Men’s ParaAlpine Team?
A: Well, I’m pretty sure sure when I turn 18 on March 26th it’s going to be a whole new ball game (laughing)! But it’s so great—the guys with experience provide so much guidance and I’ve been really welcomed by the team. I feel right at home and everyone respects each other.
Q: How did you feel at the start of the Olympic Downhill compared to other races?
A: That’s a good question, because with teammates that have experienced racing in the Olympic Games before, they really encouraged me to just treat it like a normal race. There’s no doubt it was nerve-wracking up there, but they really helped me get in the right headspace. Obviously it’s the Olympics—and we’re in Beijing—so of course it’s different than a “normal” race—but I think they helped me manage that pretty well.
That said, the actual race was one of the most challenging courses I’ve ever skied—but with the BEST SNOW EVER!
Q: What is the support staff like for the ParaAlpine Team?
A: There are a few more people here at the Games. At the World Cup races, there’s Brennan Rubie and Tony McAllister—the on-hill coaches. Lindsay—our physiotherapist, Sally—our nutritionist, and the techs—AJ and Dana. At the Games we have one more coach, plus the USOPC staff who also worked with the Olympic athletes, two doctors, another physiotherapist, and a sports psychologist. The whole team is so amazing and to have the different aspects of support is amazing in case you need anything at all.
Q: With the different categories in ParaAlpine, how do you look at your competition?
A: Well, the factors are designed to, or supposed to, make it fair—but not really. There are definitely different advantages on different courses—flat sections really make the factors stand out. We really just accept it. I just need to get better at my events. I still have opportunities to improve, but my progression is getting a lot better—I’m getting my feeling for speed down. I really try to only compare myself with others in the same para alpine classification.
Q: How did the SVSEF Speed Project at Soldier Mountain make a difference?
A: The project at Soldier really helped a lot I think. It was easy to get the flow down on the track there and that allowed me to work on my patience coming off of tech skiing. In Norway at the World Championships, I was just pressing off the ski and didn’t have the patience—I was maybe too aggressive and went to my edges too quickly. The terrain at Soldier let me slow down, work on my gliding, and switch my mindset—I learned how to gain speed—and patience.
After Soldier, the Para team came to Sun Valley to train up there. We ran a Downhill from the I-80 cat track to the bottom of Arc Park. What I figured out at Soldier, I was able to bring to training on the downhill course at Sun Valley. When I look at my times from the downhill at the World Championships, I was 12 seconds off. I brought that in closer to 5 seconds off.
Q: What’s your next big goal?
A: Cortina. If I can keep on the progression I've been working on the past year, it will put me in a great place for Cortina in 2026.
At the conclusion of the 2022 Beijing Paralympic Games, not only did Jesse finish every event, he finished strong and landed a top 10 in his final event, the slalom.
22nd—Downhill
15th—Super Combined
15th—Giant Slalom
9th—Slalom
Photo: Joe Kusumoto/U.S. Paralympics Alpine Skiing
2nd Annual Intramural Scrimmage Slopestyle
By Andy Gilbert
On Sunday, March 13th, SVSEF hosted its 2nd Annual Intramural Scrimmage Slopestyle event at Rotarun in Hailey, Idaho!
Part contest, part showcase, this just-for-fun event had SVSEF Snowboard, Freeski, and Mini X programs taking part. Geared towards the younger riders in the programs, it’s a great way for parents and supporters to come out and see what these young skiers and riders have been up to this season.
Riley Berman and the Rotarun Crew, along with SVSEF Coaches, built a great course which featured two jumps and two rail options as well as a pyramid feature; and keeping with the “Scrimmage” theme, a basketball hoop/jump hybrid was employed to spice things up. The event was run in 'Jam' format, which allowed for everyone to be creative in their runs and use all the features provided. The kids wasted no time showing everyone what they have been learning on all the venues this valley has to offer. Tons of progression was on display with multiple 360’s, 540’s, and even a few inverted tricks in the mix. Every time a ball made it in the basket the crowd went wild!
Again, the emphasis on the day was to have fun and maybe win a few prizes for your efforts. The Board Bin along with Pow gloves, Mervin Snowboards, Protec Helmets, Volcom, Atomic, Nordica, and Press Print House helped bring in the swag. The whole scene made for a really fun day and hats off to the SVSEF Coaches from all the disciplines for keeping the stoke level super high all day!
Here are some of the riders that stood out on the day:
SNOWBOARD
12 & Under Boys:
1 Enzo Schmillen
2 Rylan Olson
3 Quinn Enoch
In the mix: Rory Gadhia, Liam Romero, Clive Freytag
13 & Over Girls:
1 Callie Allen
2 Emma Lurie
3 Camilla Parks
FREESKI
12 & Under Boys
1 Barrett Beyer
2 Landon Delancy
3 Caleb Covington
In the mix: Braden Smith, Cru Kelly, Cooper & Charlie Veregge, Balen Ahren, Anders Bemis
13 & Over Boys
1 Sage Shumacher
Finnigan Donley Takes 2nd Overall at U18 Junior National Alpine Championships
Strength in Speed Delivers Solid Showing for SVSEF Team
Nine members of the SVSEF FIS team were selected to represent the Western Region at last week's U18 Junior National Alpine Championships; more than any other team within the region’s selection quota of 20 athletes. The series was hosted at Vail, CO Mar. 1-7 and included Men’s and Women’s Downhill, Super G, Giant Slalom, and Slalom.
SVSEF athletes representing the Western Region were Finnigan Donley, Nils Galloway, Colin Hanna, and Kai Subith on the men’s side; and Jessica Blackburn, Paige DeHart, Saba Grossman, Maya Lightner, and Lauren Stendell for the women.
“We had an incredible series at U18 Nationals in Vail,” said KJ Savaria, SVSEF FIS Coach. “Every SVSEF athlete showed up on race day and gave it their all. The SVSEF FIS coaching staff couldn’t be more proud of them and their efforts this season!”
The championships kicked off with the Downhill, with Paige DeHart taking 3rd place and Maya Lightner 4th for the women, and Finnigan Donley grabbing a podium spot in 4th. Kai Subith earned a top 10 finish. Next up was Super G and Paige DeHart stepped onto the podium again in 5th, with Finnigan Donley in 4th, and Colin Hanna and Nils Galloway landing in the top ten in 6th and 7th.
In the Giant Slalom for the women, Paige DeHart placed 16th and Maya Lightner raced to a strong 25th in a field that saw only 45 athletes finish both runs and more than 30 DNFs. The competition was also fierce for the men with Finnigan Donley just 0.09 seconds off the podium in 8th, Kai Subith cracked the top 10 only 1.77 seconds back, and Nils Galloway nailed the top 20.
For Men’s Slalom, Finnigan Donley made his third trip to the podium in 3rd place, securing his 2nd Place Overall title for the 2022 U18 U.S. Junior National Alpine Championships. In women’s Slalom, it was Jessica Blackburn landing in the top 20 in 18th.
“Our athletes brought everything they’ve been working on this season to their races at the U18 Junior Nationals and we came away with results they should be really proud of,” said Will Brandenburg, SVSEF Alpine Program Director. “Competing at Vail against athletes who have grown up skiing there on their home snow, on their home hill, elevated the level of competition at a venue unfamiliar to our athletes. I’m super psyched for our entire team, and Finn coming away with the 2nd Overall, along with the performances in the speed events, just emphasizes the focus, talent, and teamwork these athletes continue to display.”
SVSEF Athlete Results
Men's Downhill (DH)
Finnigan Donley – 4th
Kai Subith – 10th
Nils Galloway – 29th
Men's Super G (SG)
Finnigan Donley – 4th
Colin Hanna – 6th
Nils Galloway – 7th
Kai Subith – 24th
Men's Giant Slalom (GS)
Finnigan Donley – 8th
Kai Subith – 10th
Nils Galloway – 20th
Men's Slalom (SL)
Finnigan Donley – 3rd
Men's Overall – Finnigan Donley – 2nd
Women's Downhill (DH)
Paige DeHart – 3rd
Maya Lightner – 4th
Lauren Stendell – 42nd
Women's Super G (SG)
Paige DeHart – 5th
Maya Lightner – 21st
Jessica Blackburn – 23rd
Lauren Stendell – 49th
Women's Giant Slalom (GS)
Paige DeHart – 16th
Maya Lightner - 25th
Women's Slalom (SL)
Jessica Blackburn – 18th
Lauren Stendell 44th
Saba Grossman – 49th
For complete race results, visit: https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/event-details.html?sectorcode=AL&eventid=50117&seasoncode=2022
Featured Photo of SVSEF Western Region team members, pictured L-R:
FIS Coach KJ Savaria, Nils Galloway, Kai Subith, Finnigan Donley, Maya Lightner, Colin Hanna, Saba Grossman, Jessica Blackburn, Paige DeHart, Lauren Stendell.
2022 Air Barn Action Sports Adventure Camp
2022 Air Barn Action Sports Adventure Camp Registration and Cancellation Policies
We are excited to open registration for the 2022 Air Barn Action Sports Adventure Camp on TUESDAY, MARCH 15 at 9:00 A.M. Mountain Time.
Registration will be posted online at Ski Club Pro
We understand SVSEF Air Barn Action Sports Adventure Camp is a special opportunity, and our goal is to be able to offer this learning experience to as many kids in the Wood River Valley as possible. Last year we experienced an unprecedented demand for the summer camps, and our hope is to maximize participation in the camps for the kids in our community and minimize disappointment due to near-immediate sellouts and unavailability for new campers.
Registration Policy:
To allow for more kids to attend the camps, registration will be limited to two (2) week-long sessions per athlete.
We ask that you please consider your summer schedule and plan to choose a week or two of Air Barn Action Sports Adventure Camp that works best for your family’s schedule.
Requirements for Camp:
1. SVSEF SkiClubPro Account
2. USSA General Membership
3. Water bottle and Lunch
4. Skateboard, scooter, or rollerblades
5. Bike
6. Helmet
Cancellation Policy:
• If you cancel more than 21 days out from the start of the camp session, there will be a $75 cancellation fee.
• If you cancel 15-21 days out from the start of the camp session, there will be a $100 cancellation fee.
• If you cancel 7-14 days out from the start of the camp session, there will be a $175 cancellation fee.
• If you cancel less than 7 days out from the start of the camp session, there will be no refund.
We appreciate your understanding as we do our best to serve the kids and the families of the Wood River Valley and provide this unique camp experience for as many kids as possible.
CAMPS SCHEDULE
Week 1 June 8-10
3-day (ages 8-11)
Time: 10:00-3:00
Cost: $375
Week 2 June 13-17
5-day (ages 9-15)
Time: 10:00-3:00
Cost:$525
Week 3 June 20-24
5-days (ages 9-15)
Time: 10:00-3:00
Cost:$525
Week 4 June 27-30
4-days (ages 8-11)
Time: 10:00-3:00
Cost:$444
Week 5 July 11-15
5-days (ages 9-15)
Time: 10:00-3:00
Cost:$525
Week 6 July 18-22
5-days (ages 9-15)
Time: 10:00-3:00
Cost:$525
Week 7 August 1-5
5-days (ages 9-15)
Time: 10:00-3:00
Cost:$525
Week 8 August 8-12
5-days (ages 9-15)
Time: 10:00-3:00
Cost:$525