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
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