Après Reflections: looking back on the 2020 “Game On” Wild Game Dinner & Rip-a-Thon
Après Reflections: looking back on the 2020 “Game On” Wild Game Dinner & Rip-a-Thon
Despite a year of uncertainty and disruption, the Rotarun Rip-a-Thon and the 2020 "Game On" Wild Game Dinner witnessed not only an incredible display of hard work from athletes and coaches, but also an enormous outpouring of generosity and support from our community.
The Rip-a-Thon: If you didn't have ski boots on the ground...
“The sun was out, the music was blasting, and the energy was just contagious; the love of skiing on that hill for those 2 hours was palpable,” says Cross Country Prep Team head coach Kelley Yeates. During the Prep Team’s Rip-a-Thon shift, 39 athletes put down a total 928 laps—557 Kilometers, double their original goal—on a Saturday morning. Sinnott says that some of her athletes called it their favorite day of the season. “I’ve grown up as an alumnus on this team, and have been coaching for almost 15 years now and I don’t think I have ever seen anything like it!”
The novel event of the Rip-a-Thon granted SVSEF athletes the opportunity to come together in a COVID-compliant way, working towards the goals of raising $50,000, and skiing 1,000 Kilometers and 2,000,000 vertical feet.
The reports from Rotarun hardly vary: scores of bright-eyed athletes putting in their best efforts to glide, carve, and soar over as much snow as possible, sporting wide grins and sprinkling the air with competitive banter. In a year largely characterized by isolation, the act of congregating all teams to one location and focusing them on mutual goals invoked an elusive feeling in the year 2020: one of community. Snowboarders commended the ‘badass’ cross country skiers; racers popped off of the freestyle team’s features; cross country skiers gingerly slid through the racers’ panel slalom. While the teams all worked toward their respective distance and vertical gain goals, there was a tangible joy in sharing a space to play in the snow together.
'Game On' and changing the game:
Closing out the three days of the Rip-a-Thon was the 2020 Game On game dinner event. While few traditions have survived the era of social distancing with their integrity, Game On demonstrated the creative opportunity within reorganizing old traditions, with house-to-house delivery of To-Goat Game Dinners and an hour-and-a-half livestream program.
The FIS Alpine, XC Gold, XC Comp, Big Mountain, Freestyle travel, Freeski travel, and Alpine X teams set the backdrop for the Game On livestream as they closed out the Rip-a-Thon. While athletes threw tricks onto the air bag, skated by at top speed, and knifed turns down the panel slalom in the background, the evening’s Masters of Ceremony—Scott McGrew and Steve Porino—shared Game Dinner history, coach interviews, SVSEF history, and fundraising updates.
The live action was broken up by video-shorts that detailed what the various teams have been up to recently, covering everything from roller skiing at the Sage Willow Campus, to the steps taken to make dry-land training pandemic-safe, to athletes traveling throughout the mountains after completing their Avalanche 1 safety course. In addition, the program included ‘Legends of Bingo,’ which featured the smiles and stories (and of course, the bingo numbers) of SVSEF’s legendary alumni, coaches, athletes, and supporters.
Finally, as can always be anticipated, the program included plenty of SVSEF signature shenanigans: from Rick Kapala’s off-key crooning for “an older truck with a snow plow,” to Ben Pettit clad Jonna Mendes’ 2003 official US Ski Team speed suit, to Banks Gilberti saluting Scotty’s ability to “wear the hell” out of vintage ski pants.
The highlight reel:
Our first ever Rip-a-Thon set a high bar. The athletes ended up covering 1,711 Kilometers and 1,860,100 vertical feet (perhaps more, had it not been for a finicky rope tow) over three days. For reference, 1711 KM is roughly equivalent to skiing from Ketchum to the Southern-most tip of Alaska; covering 1,860,100 vertical feet is approximately equal to traveling from sea level to the summit of Mount Everest 64 times. The athletes covered all this terrain, and while they were at it, raised $106,000—over double the initial goal—for SVSEF.
The Mini World Cup Team stole the title of champion fundraisers, raising the most of any team and earning them a well-deserved pizza-party at Rotarun with the Rotarippers. In their two-hour shift, 42 athletes skied 168,000 vertical feet. Liv Harrington takes the title of top individual fundraiser, and Charlotte Osgood recruited the highest number of fundraising contributors.
And of course, we would be remiss not to mention the highlight of Bjorn Halvorson—in the proper spirit of the well-rounded, if perhaps slightly foolhardy, SVSEF athlete—throwing a backflip on Nordic skis.
Game On, meanwhile, raised $200,000 toward the event’s goal of $250,000; however, donations remain open for the rest of the year. Nearly 500 households tuned in for the Game On livestream, and approximately 300 people got into the Game Dinner spirit with “To-Goat” dinners prepared by Warfield. The performance of “12 days of SVSEF” ended in the successful underwriting of all almost all requested equipment; there are still wax benches available for underwriting.
Finally, over 1,000 generous supporters gave to SVSEF in the weeks leading up to (and during) Game On and the Rip-a-Thon.
As put by Game On spectator and SVSEF board member Rebecca Waycott, “what an amazing and creative crew we have working with SVSEF! The virtual Game Dinner was both informative and entertaining, especially the hilarious 12 Days of Christmas performance. It reinforced for me, yet again, what an important organization SVSEF is for our Valley and our youth. I also loved that it took place at Rotarun, showcasing all the different SVSEF teams and sharing the joy on the faces of the participants. Thanks to all!”
The name of the game...
As always, we owe every bit of success to our community. This production could not have been made possible without the fantastic community backing SVSEF. Thank you to all volunteers who delivered To-Goat boxes, tallied laps, took photos, and much more. Thank you to our venue sponsors, WaFD Bank (sponsored the Alpine Dual Slalom), Sturtevant's (sponsored the air bag), Engel & Völkers Jones and Grover Teams (sponsored the XC Nordic Track). Thank you to our Champion Sponsors, First Lite and Wood River Properties, and thank you to our Supporting Sponsor, The Barn. Finally, thank you to all who placed a bid, raised a paddle or underwrote from the 12 days of Christmas list. The generosity of our community is what makes everything we do possible.
If you did not get the chance to tune in to the Game On livestream, you can still watch the program here. Missing carolers this Christmas season? Replay the "12 days of SVSEF" here.
Finally, if you missed your opportunity to donate but would still like to do so, you can here.
SVSEF Gold Team athlete Kevin Bolger to compete in World Cup Davos this weekend
SVSEF Gold Team athlete Kevin Bolger to compete in World Cup Davos this weekend
SVSEF Gold Team’s Kevin Bolger is set to compete in the FIS Cross Country World Cup in Davos, Switzerland this weekend, Saturday, December 12 and Sunday, December 13. Saturday’s event will be a Sprint race in skate technique, while Sunday will feature a 10K and a 15K distance race (for women and men’s competition, respectively) in classic technique.
Bolger, currently in his third season racing for the US Cross Country National Team, looks to put in a solid performance this weekend in his ‘sweet-spot’ event, the skate-sprint (held on Saturday). The Davos course poses an excellent opportunity for Kevin, who hopes to pre-qualify for the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in late February.
“The Davos course is a great fit for Kevin, as he really likes to go full gas in his skating,” Cross Country Program Director Rick Kapala reports, “he is really good on his skis in fast conditions.” Bolger faces a narrower field than normal, as Norway, Sweden and Finland have all withdrawn their teams from December races for COVID-19 concerns.
However, FIS, the World Cup Organizing Committee and the US National Team have put extensive safety policies in place to ensure athlete wellbeing. US Ski Team head Cross Country Coach Matt Whitcomb describes a hopeful experience thus far; the team has remained in a “World Cup bubble” since arriving in Europe over a month ago, undergo regular testing, do not socialize indoors aside from meals, travel only with roommates, and separate newly arrived athletes and staff until they can provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test (in addition to several other measures detailed here, via fasterskier.com).
In anticipation of the upcoming weekend, Bolger writes: “Super psyched to get back to racing after a weekend off from the World Cup. We were able to get in some Time Trials with more-or-less a full World Cup field this past weekend, but it's going to feel good to get after it in a full event! Life on the road this year is a bit funky, but with the amount of COVID-19 testing and protocols we use, I can't imagine a safer place to be right now. This team is amazing, we are handling ‘covid’ life as best we can, and we are ready to keep the season rolling!”
Bolger is a former US National Champion in the Sprint event. In addition to being a member of the SVSEF Cross Country Gold Team, Bolger raced four years with University of Utah’s NCAA Team while pursuing his degree in Sociology.
Stream the event here.
2019-2020 Alpine Awards
To kick off the 2020-2021 season the Alpine Team would like to recognize the following athletes for their tremendous efforts last season. Although we weren't able to celebrate together in person, we still want to take the time to highlight all the athletes that continue to put in the work!
FIS
Most Improved -
Buey Grossman: Buey made significant improvements to his speed and rankings last season. This was a testament to a lot of miles on skis, continual effort to improve his form, and a multitude of factors coming together at the right time! Buey improved his slalom points by 38% and his GS points by 37%. Those point % improvements are outstanding for a 2nd year FIS athlete! A good season is if you improve your tech points by 20% as a 2nd year FIS athlete. Buey qualified for US Nationals which was postponed due to COVID. This would have been the highest level of National competition that Buey would have competed in. Congratulations on a great season to Buey!
Kaija Dybdahl: Last season was Kaija’s first season with SVSEF. In Kaija’s short time with the team, she took every advantage of the increased volume of training opportunities provided to her compared to past seasons. Kaija improved her points and rankings throughout the season, but what stuck out was her willingness to try, and her fearlessness in doing so. Kaija pushed her comfort zone regularly and wasn’t afraid to fail. In doing so, she has made excellent improvements in her technique, fitness, and experience. Kaija has formed a solid foundation that will only take her ski racing to the next level as she begins another season with SVSEF. Good luck this season Kaija!
Passion Award -
Oliver Brockway: Last season was Oliver’s first season with SVSEF. Oliver has exuded nothing but passion since walking in the door at SVSEF. Oliver puts everything he has into any training session provided to him, whether that is grinding every last rep in the gym, or taking one more run at training trying to find that perfect arc! Harnessing all that passion and potential speed is the trick, and Oliver had some fast runs as well as some rough stretches of struggling to earn the results he so desires. Passion and perseverance is driving Oliver, and he is laying the groundwork for the future! Keep up all the effort and passion Oliver!
Dasha Romanov: Last season was filled with overcoming adversity for Dasha Romanov! Passion for the sport of ski racing helped propel Dasha through a season where she typically taped her own ankle (sprained for the 7th time in September then she had surgery following the season) then stuffed it into a ski boot, recovered from a concussion that kept her off the hill for nearly a month, all while finishing 3rd at US Jr. Nationals in slalom as a first year FIS athlete! Dasha is tough, and she is unapologetic about wanting to excel as a ski racer! Whether in the gym or on the hill, there is no mistaking Dasha’s passion. Her passion is infectious as she is a positive influence on the rest of the team. Dasha has challenging goals and is not afraid to go for them! She went through a lot last season and still had an outstanding year! We are looking forward as to where Dasha’s passion, talent, and fast turns will take her this season. Good luck Dasha!
The Engl Award is one of the most prestigious awards SVSEF presents. Recipients of this award have demonstrated excellence throughout the season in the following areas - development of skiing skills, sportsmanship and excellence in education. Congratulations to this year's recipients: Charlie Snyder and Carly Walther-Porino!
The Leif Odmark Award is presented to the athletes who demonstrate the highest level of sportsmanship. Congratulations to this year's recipients: Blake Bathum and Peyton Sundberg!
Mountain Kidd Award -
Buey Grossman: The mountain kid award goes to an athlete who exhibits what it means to be a “mountain kid”. Buey is a mountain kid in that he enjoys the many aspects that the mountains and outdoors provide. Buey is not just a gate jock! He enjoys all types of skiing on the mountain or in the backcountry. In the summers Buey can be found on the rivers or oceans playing and competing in his kayak. Buey will continue to compete in ski racing this season as a PG athlete. Along with racing this season, I am sure Buey will carve out some time to make some powder turns as well!
USSA
Most Improved - Jesse Keefe & Anabel Viesturs
Passion Award - Nils Galloway & Maya Lightner
Mountain Kidd Award - Taylor Rixon
IMD
Coaches Award -
Abel Marx: Whether it’s working hard at dryland, mastering his free-skiing, or crushing a GS course… Abel Marx is your man! Throughout this season Abel really started to come in to his own. He may have started the season sweating the small things, but his technique and tactics were impressive. His positive attitude matured through the season, and he pushed himself and his teammates to new limits! Can’t wait to see what he has in store next season!
Eden Gardner: I remember when Eden told me she had gotten a fitness ladder for her house. That’s when I knew she was really dedicated to this season! From the get go at dryland and in to racing season, Eden’s effort was unmatched. Each day she pushed herself to figure out tactics and edge pressure in the turn, and it definitely paid off! She also led by example with her teammates, and always lent a helping hand with clean-up on and off the hill. The sky’s the limit Eden!
Most Improved -
Bodin Lee: Bodin has always had a great fundamental base. His love for skiing is remarkable! Throughout the season, Bodin’s results started to reflect his hard work. He was really figuring out how to kick it in to the next gear, and it was awesome to see him have these break-throughs! Keep working hard Bodin, speed is on your side!
Scarlet Rixon: From start to finish, this girl has made some incredible changes. I remember a specific day of training slalom on Arc Park, where in consecutive runs Scarlet kept getting faster and faster! Something clicked that has let loose a new girl; one who attacks every turn and really charges each run. Watch out for Scarlet next season!
A number of the photos above were taken by Amanda Stelling. Check out more of her work here: https://amandastelling.com/
NORTH SERIES
Coaches Award -
Alyssa Huntsman: For two straight years Alyssa brought positivity and fun to North Series. She was a friend to everyone on the team, listened to the coaches and elevated everyone around her with her incredible energy. We wish her much success in the coming years!
Jay Blackburn: Jay consistently raised the bar for the North Series team last season. Whether at training or on race day, Jay pushed the limits and came back successfully from a prior injury. He wanted to ski fast, worked hard to achieve his goals, and led by example. We’re excited to see Jay progress at the next level!
Most Improved:
Ruby Campbell: We are so impressed with Ruby’s progression on North Series over the past two seasons. She went from being a tentative skier to trusting herself, regardless of the surface or course conditions. With a quiet determination Ruby broke her own speed barrier and exceled. We look forward to watching Ruby have a great season this year!
Dominic Dulcich: 2019/2020 was Dominic’s first year with SVSEF (and first-time racing/skiing in gates) and every coach was blown away by his positive attitude and willingness to learn and improve. With such an incredible work ethic, he improved his technique greatly and even ended the season qualifying for IMD Champs! We are so happy Dominic joined SVSEF and can’t wait to see him continue to improve!
Cheeso Mountain Kidd Award -
Ruby Smith: Ruby showed up for just about every ski team session last year and charged hard at every one of those sessions. She is willing to learn all the skills necessary to be a solid skier. Whether we were skiing the bowls or skiing bumps, Ruby was ready for anything. We look forward to seeing her continue to her passion for skiing!
Espen Schernthanner: Espen hit almost every jump on Baldy last year. From terrain parks to natural jumps in the bowls, he went off anything and everything. He was always seeking out alternate lines and forging his own path down the mountain. There were many days when Espen started his day at 7am, skiing with his dad on Ski Patrol, and ended his day at 4pm. His enthusiasm for skiing and exploring the mountain was infectious and inspired his coaches and teammates to be more creative. We are excited to have Espen for another season!
MINI WORLD CUP
Overall Mini World Cup Standings -
Boys: 1. Wyatt Limburg, 2. Sully Ferries, 3. Henry Flynn
Girls: 1. Elliot Leahy, 2. Colette Duke, 3. Bianca Smith
Outstanding Skiers - Hadley Walker & Declan O'Toole
Most Improved - Issy Rossellini & Decker Sinnamon
Coaches Award - Jasmine Smiley & Henry Questad
Congratulations to all athletes! Looking forward to a fantastic 2020-2021 season!
SVSEF Staff Updates: 2019-2020 Season
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Banks Gilberti, Amanda Porino, Trevor Wagner
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SVSEF has a number of staffing additions and changes for the 2019-2020 season. We're excited to have these stellar individuals on board – read more about them below, and watch for a few more additions, coming your way later this season.
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ALPINE
Trevor Wagner – PG/FIS Assistant
Trevor Wagner joins SVSEF with an extensive background in the alpine realm. Originally from Seattle, Trevor raced for Sierra Nevada College before a foray into coaching. Following four years with the Squaw Valley Ski team, he joined the U.S. Ski Team women’s alpine staff in 1998, and headed up the women’s SL/GS for a stint, beginning in 2005. He has coached at the World Cup, Europa Cup and Development Team levels, and has been on-staff for a number of World Championship and Olympic teams. In addition to his coaching experience, Trevor has a background in venue prep, having worked for U.S. Ski & Snowboard to prep World Cup and NorAm venues. Before joining SVSEF this December, Trevor will continue to work for U.S. Ski & Snowboard, prepping Copper Mountain and Beaver Creek venues in October and November 2019.
Dane Spencer – FIS/USSA Assistant
Dane Spencer, who has coached with SVSEF in the past, returns as a FIS/USSA assistant coach. He will also build and manage the equipment program for the older alpine teams. Formerly a U.S. Ski Team athlete, Dane transitioned to coaching with the Development and Europa Cup teams; SVSEF is excited to have Dane back on staff, as a coach and resource to its athletes and coaches.
Chuck Harris – Western Region Contact Coach, PG Coordinator
Chuck Harris shifts this season from head USSA coach to the FIS team. As the Western Region contact coach, he will serve as the main point of contact with the Western Region in regards to projects and selections, as well as in support of the SVSEF program. His role with PG athletes will consist of coordination and logistics for travel, as well as athletic progression and local training. For his foray into this position, Chuck is currently on staff for the Western Region Chile project.
Gladys Weidt – USSA Head Coach
Gladys Weidt joins SVSEF following a successful stint as the head U16 coach for Sugar Bowl Academy in California. Originally hailing from Duluth, Minnesota, Gladys moved west to continue her skiing career in more favorable temperatures. She skied in Colorado during high school and post grad, and proceeded to ski for the University of New Mexico. Coaching and sharing her passion for racing and skiing was something she knew she wanted to do; she wanted to “be a life-long learner, teacher and supporter.” “Having the opportunity to be part of an athlete’s development and growth in a sport we love is something that I am incredibly passionate and excited about,” said Weidt. With her enthusiasm and positivity, paired with her racing experience and continued education (she holds alpine level 200, level 1 referee, CPR and first aid and wilderness first aid training and certification), Weidt is well-equipped to transition to this new role for SVSEF.
Lindsay Mann – Mountain Awareness Director/USSA First Year Lead
Last season, Lindsay Mann hit the ground running when she moved to Sun Valley from Jackson and took a position at SVSEF that was two-part; she was both an alpine USSA coach and the person responsible for developing a new Mountain Awareness Program (MAP). As the MAP coordinator, Lindsay worked to build the foundation of a program that would impact athletes across all SVSEF teams and programs. With a very successful first year, during which she orchestrated multiple field-based and classroom sessions, as well as day trips, an avalanche course for SVSEF staff, and information sessions for parents, Lindsay’s program is growing, and with it her role. Now the Mountain Awareness Director, Lindsay will focus on developing the program further. With Gladys Weindt’s assumption of the USSA Head Coach role, Lindsay is stepping in as USSA First Year Lead, a new position that aims to support alpine athletes with the transition to USSA and the complexities of that team.
BIG MOUNTAIN
Conor Davis – Program Coordinator
Conor Davis, who was the Big Mountain program head coach during its inaugural season last year, is shifting into a role as Program Coordinator. Conor will support the efforts of the head coaches of Big Mountain’s two new distinctive teams; the National Competition Team and the Regional Team (working on a name update – stay tuned). An alumni of SVSEF’s alpine and cross country programs, Conor has applicable experience in the big mountain realm from his days on the Subaru Freeskiing World Tour (now called the Swatch Freeride World Tour). Conor competed professionally for seven years on the circuit, which took him all over the world for events.
Alden Carter – National Comp Team Head Coach
Running the show for the National Comp Team is Alden Carter, who returns to SVSEF for another season with the Big Mountain program. Steady and collected, Alden has been a solid leader and mentor for athletes in Big Mountain, and will lead the charge for those looking to make their mark at the national level of competition.
Banks Gilberti – Regional Team Head Coach
Banks Gilberti grew up in Hailey, skiing on Baldy until age 15, when he enrolled at Carrabassett Ski Academy. He competed professionally out of Breckenridge, CO, for eight winters, frequenting the Dew Tour and X-Games. Following his time on the circuit, Banks opted for a more creative path that led to the world of ski films and backcountry exploration, which have allowed him to have a travel-filled, adventure-packed career. Joining the SVSEF Big Mountain staff as head coach of the Regional Team will be yet another vantage point for the talented athlete. “I think this large variety of experience is what coaching is all about,” said Banks. “I'm excited to be able to share the knowledge I've accumulated through my experience with the next generation of shredders at SVSEF, as well as help our athletes gain an understanding and appreciation for being a well-rounded skier and human being.”
Banks is eager to build a cohesive, tight-knit group, and to help his athletes push their skiing to new levels. “The most important goal for me is creating an environment for kids to feel comfortable with any type of skiing that is thrown their way,” explained Banks. “A big part of developing skills in or out of the backcountry is trusting the people around you. This trust and reliance comes from time spent with a group and the experiences you share together. A big priority for me is building a close-knit crew that feels like an extension of family, rather than just a team.”
ADMINISTRATION
Amanda Porino – Director of Events
Assuming the role of Director of Events is Amanda Porino, who replaces former director CC McCarthy as she resumes schooling in pursuit of a teaching degree. Amanda’s first introduction to Sun Valley was through the Janss Pro-Am over nine years ago – now she’ll head up the same event, as well as other SVSEF functions throughout the year. Amanda helped the organization to reinvigorate the SVSEF Ski Swap in 2018 as a volunteer; we are looking forward to seeing how her proactivity, leadership and positivity propel SVSEF forward in the realm of events.
With 17 years of experience in the investment and financial planning business, Amanda will continue in that field in addition to her new role at SVSEF. Having relocated three years ago from Bend, Oregon, she is married to Steve Porino, SVSEF board member and NBC World Cup ski commentator, and knows firsthand the benefits of SVSEF – she has two kids in the program; Carly, 17, and Reece, 14. “I love the fact that we put our kids in the hands of these people for hours and days on end and I think they are, without a doubt, the best role models for our kids, on and off the hill,” noted Amanda. The couple’s third child, Beau (3.5), who is loving Spuds at Dollar, will surely be a welcome addition to SVSEF when he’s old enough.
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2019 Gary Black Jr. Memorial Results
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RESULTS – BOYS
RESULTS – GIRLS
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A Look Back with Big Mountain: SASS Argentina
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SVSEF IFSA Big Mountain Coach Conor Davis spent a couple weeks down in Argentina as part of SASS Global Travel. Along for the trip were two SVSEF athletes, who benefitted from small group sizes, pro guides, and a wealth of experience to be gained with such a heavy focus on avalanche safety and exploring the backcountry in a foreign environment. Here, Conor reflects on his time in the Andes.
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What did a typical day look like, or did they all vary?
We would wake up at 7am and breakfast was over at 8. We would then walk to the mountain at 9am and ski till 4pm – a 7-hour day outside. The first day started off with an avalanche introduction PowerPoint, and our skin the first day was focused on avalanche rescue drills. With this initial day of avalanche experience under our belts, the following days were filled with touring outside the resort and exploring all around the Andes. If the weather was bad, we would go into Bariloche, get a good meal and eat a bunch of chocolate.
What was the most valuable thing your athletes learned?
Traveling to a different country helps an athlete to grow mentally, emotionally and physically. We
learned how to order food in Spanish, and definitely developed our backcountry skillset. One day we hiked out into the backcountry to build a jump and there was a lot of progression in the air.
This was a great opportunity for you, as well – what did you take
away from the trip? What did you learn from the perspective of a guide?
The SASS team is an extremely professional group of individuals, and I learned a lot from them. One of the main things I took away from the Sass guides was their backcountry group travel protocol.
What surprised you, if anything, about the experience?
There's no hot sauce in Argentina. I will definitely bring a bottle if I get the opportunity to go down there again.
What are you looking forward to applying to your coaching/training
plan for the 18/19 season with SVSEF athletes?
I will be updating the coaches’ travel protocol with the athletes. We’ll be adding a lot more beacon/transceiver checks.
Why do you think it’s important to travel to ski in different places?
It's important to travel to ski in different places because one's life experience shouldn't be limited in scope. Skiing is an amazing sport that allows you to see different cultures and gives you the opportunity to learn other languages.
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SVSEF Cross Country Gold Team Preview, 2018-2019
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With four young, new athletes joining second year skier Kevin Bolger for the 2018-2019 season, the SVSEF Cross Country Gold Team is looking solid and refreshed going into fall training. We sat down with Head Coach Chris Mallory to get the scoop on the team and how the season is shaping up.
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Kevin Bolger
Age 25
Minocqua, WI
University of Utah
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Cate Brams
Age 22
Belmont, MA
Middlebury College
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Peter Holmes
Age 22
Tahoe City, CA
University of New Hampshire
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Katie Feldman
Age 22
Ketchum, ID
Middlebury College
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Adam Luban
Age 22
Syracuse, NY
Middlebury College
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="3.3.1" custom_padding="0|0px|54px|0px|false|false"][et_pb_row _builder_version="3.3.1"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="3.3.1" parallax="off" parallax_method="on"][et_pb_text _builder_version="3.3.1"]You have a lot of new athletes on the roster this year – how is the dynamic?
The team dynamic has been great, and they’ve put in some great training this summer. New athletes always bring some fresh energy. Some of them were teammates at Middlebury the last couple years, and Peter was on the EISA circuit as well skiing for UNH, so everyone knew each other coming in. We’ve also had a strong Russian exchange athlete, Anna Bizyukova, and Maddie Morgan, from Salt Lake City, who’s taking a year off from college, training with the Gold Team. There’s always a dozen college athletes here training with SVSEF in the summer as well, so it’s been a big training group.
Any stand out results from last year?
Bolger’s 11th place at the World Cup in Lahti last March certainly stood out, as well as his 2nd place at Nationals in the Sprint. This is a bit of a rebuilding year for us, as we had five athletes finish up their racing careers last season. It’s fun to see a few of them staying in the sport though, with Mary now coaching for SVSEF, and Rogan at BSF. Everyone coming in found their form at some point last year. Holmes had a couple EISA wins last year, finishing the season with an 11th at NCAAs and I’m excited to see him be able to sprint race a bit more this year. Luban also finished the year strong with two top 20s at NCAAs and a 20th place finish in the 50km Classic National Championship. Feldman, who just returned from training a bit in Lillehammer, also had a breakthrough season last year, posting two top 20s at NCAAs. Brams also had her best season yet last year recording a pair of EISA podiums. They’re all hungry to take their skiing further, so it should be an exciting year.
What are your athletes’ goals for the season?
Everyone is at a different place in their skiing; some have their sights on competing well at U23 World Champs, some on racing a full SuperTour calendar with some marathon opportunities, while Kevin’s looking to make the most of a bigger World Cup schedule this year. It will be an exciting year for those racing domestically with World Cup Finals in Quebec again, and some Nation’s group WC starts on the line.
What will the training/race season look like?
Our camp schedule is pretty similar to last year’s, with a few less athletes making the trek down to New Zealand to get on snow. Kevin has had a solid camp down there with fantastic conditions, and the rest of the team has been putting the work in here in Sun Valley. We’ll all head down to Park City in early October for a dryland camp alongside the National Team. In late October we’ll go up to Frozen Thunder to get on snow in Canmore, before the race season gets underway in West Yellowstone. From there, we’ll follow the SuperTour Circuit to Silverstar, Craftsbury for Nationals, Lake Placid, race the Boulder Mountain Tour here in Sun Valley, Minneapolis, Hayward, and Presque Isle, Maine.
You’ve been the Gold Team head coach for a few years now – has your approach to it changed at all? I imagine it varies from year to year due to the roster, regardless.
Different athletes will always have varying needs, but we try and support each of them along their skiing journey best we can. This sport is way easier with a motivated team and dedicated support staff around you. We’ll always be trying to win ski races, but also hope to connect the younger juniors in our program with the Gold Teamers as much as possible.
Photos: Kevin Bolger, SVSEF Gold Team, SVSEF Gold Team, Midd Nordic, Midd Nordic
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Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation Names New Executive Director and Alpine Program Director
April 20, 2018
Ketchum, Idaho (April 20, 2018) – The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) announced a change in leadership today, naming current SVSEF Alpine Program Director Scott McGrew Executive Director. McGrew succeeds longtime SVSEF proponent and current Executive Director Sam Adicoff, who has tendered his resignation, effective June 30. Involved with SVSEF in multiple capacities since his move to Ketchum 18 years ago, Adicoff will continue to support the organization on a volunteer basis, and will help ensure a smooth transition.
Sam Adicoff has been involved with SVSEF since his family relocated to the Wood River Valley from California in 2000. His three children participated in SVSEF programming, and Adicoff joined the Board of Directors in July 2011. He served as Treasurer and Board Chair, stepping down from board duties in 2016 to become Interim Executive Director in May. In January 2017, the Board appointed Adicoff to the position of Executive Director. In this leadership role, Adicoff’s dedication to the organization, success in increasing communications with parents, staff and the community and implementation of various process improvements have continued to serve the organization and its 678 athletes.
“I have enjoyed working with the athletes, parents, Board of Directors, and especially our very dedicated staff, who are the real heroes of the organization,” said Adicoff. “I am ecstatic that the Board has selected Scotty to succeed me. He brings an extremely strong work ethic, organization knowledge and incredible passion to the position. I am confident he will be successful leading SVSEF for many years to come.”
“Sam has been an integral part of SVSEF for many years, and provided strong leadership and countless contributions, originally as the Board Chair and then as Executive Director,” said Jim DeWolfe, current Board Chair. “Sam’s tireless commitment has served to deepen our strategic relationships throughout the Valley and comprehensively organize the financial structure, and has provided keen oversight for administrative and programming initiatives. Sam will be missed on a day-to-day basis, however he will provide important guidance as Scotty takes the reins, and will remain a valuable advisor to the Foundation.”
In a meeting on Thursday, April 19, the SVSEF Board of Directors appointed Scott McGrew, who has extensive ties to the organization, to the position of Executive Director.
“Scotty brings a level of passion and commitment to SVSEF that is unparalleled,” remarked Board Chair Jim DeWolfe. “He is highly regarded throughout the Wood River
Valley, and will provide strong leadership for years to come as we strive to improve the Foundation’s programming from grassroots initiatives to the most elite competitive levels.”
“I’m honored to be selected as the SVSEF’s executive director,” said McGrew. “For the past 15 years that I’ve been professionally involved with the organization, I’ve seen a magnificent amount of evolution and change. I’m excited to steward that continued evolution as we work to provide impactful and transformative experiences for our community. SVSEF has a long-standing heritage of excellence through sport, and I’m excited to build on that heritage and further define SVSEF as one of the highest regarded winter sports clubs in the country. Thank you to Sam Adicoff and all the previous EDs and coaches who have built an amazing launch point for the future of the club. “
McGrew has been involved with SVSEF since its early days. He was a member of the alpine program from the age of eight until he graduated high school, gaining important perspective that would prove invaluable when he returned years later. McGrew attended the University of New Mexico, where he earned two B.S. degrees in biochemistry and cultural anthropology. He later pursued a graduate degree, earning a Master of Business Administration from Boise State University in October 2016. Seven years after the close of his career as an athlete with SVSEF, McGrew rejoined the organization in a new capacity – as a coach. McGrew quickly moved up through the ranks, serving first as an assistant FIS coach and then as a head coach. He assumed the role of Assistant Alpine Program Director, and most recently Alpine Program Director, a title he has held since 2014. McGrew oversees the largest SVSEF program; with over 300 alpine athletes and 45 coaches, there are a lot of moving parts. McGrew has worked to grow South Valley initiatives, implemented numerous programmatic changes resulting in accelerated growth and professionalism of the team and generated and nurtured support for the organization as a whole. McGrew’s professionalism, depth of knowledge and enthusiasm and passion for SVSEF and the heritage of this community are qualities that will lend themselves to his new role as Executive Director.
McGrew lives in Hailey, Idaho, with his wife, Sirimukh, and their three children.
With the appointment of McGrew to Executive Director, SVSEF is pleased to welcome Will Brandenburg back to the organization as Alpine Program Director. Brandenburg will step into the position with a broad range of relevant industry experience. Hailing from Walla Walla, Washington, Brandenburg grew up racing with the Spokane Ski Racing Association and Schweitzer Mountain before being named to the U.S. Development Team in 2006. He was a member of the U.S. National Team for the 2010 Winter Olympics, with a top finish of 10th place in the super combined. Brandenburg has experience on the World Cup circuit as well, with a best finish of sixth in the slalom at Kranjska Gora in 2012. In 2013, he finished first in the combined at U.S. Alpine Championships. Shifting to a career in coaching, Brandenburg joined SVSEF in 2015 as the USSA Team Head Coach, and was most recently the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Western Region Coach from 2017-2018.
“SVSEF is extremely excited to have Will Brandenburg return to and lead the alpine program,” said SVSEF Athletic Director Phil McNichol. “His experience as a World Cup and Olympic athlete, combined with his coaching success both at SVSEF and the Western Region is a powerful combination.”
In other personnel changes, SVSEF Athletic Director and Interim Mogul Program Director Phil McNichol will be moving onto new opportunities, and has tendered his resignation, effective June 30. With organizational restructuring, the Athletic Director position will be eliminated. McNichol joined SVSEF in 2014 as Alpine Technical Director. In his expanded role as Athletic Director, which he assumed at the start of the 2016-2017 season, he oversaw all athletic programs and helped guide the growth of the organization, tackling initiatives pertaining to coaches, travel and programmatic strategy and objectives. Before SVSEF, McNichol led the U.S. Men’s Alpine Team for 11 years.
Also leaving the organization at the end of June is Jody Zarkos, who currently serves as Director of Events and Community Relations. Zarkos joined SVSEF in 2011, and has held numerous roles for the organization throughout her tenure. Her work in fundraising efforts has contributed to the continued success of SVSEF programs, and has helped make possible the subsidization of team costs for all participating athletes.
About SVSEF
52 years strong, the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) provides year-round ski and snowboard training and competitive opportunities for 20% of Wood River Valley youth in Ketchum, Idaho. The driving philosophy behind SVSEF is to create a positive, fun and productive environment that inspires each one of our athletes to meet his or her fullest potential. Team members acquire the tools for success, not only in their winter sport, but also in the pursuit of their ultimate goals and dreams. In the 2017-2018 season, SVSEF supported 678 student-athletes across alpine, big mountain, cross country, mogul, freeskiing and snowboarding teams. SVSEF has achieved numerous accolades; the organization was named USSA Club of the Year in 1999, was given USOC Olympic & Paralympic Training Site designation, first in cross country in 2012 and then in all disciplines in 2015, and was upgraded from silver to gold USSA club status in 2017.
Contact Us
If you have questions, please contact the SVSEF office at 208.726.4129, or jseyferth@svsef.org.
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Week in Review: April 10
PARK & PIPE
USASA Nationals, Snowboarding (April 5)
On the fifth and final day of USASA Nationals for Snowboarding, Nico Lerner finished eighth in boardercross. Nico put together a great week of riding, finishing near the top of his field in every discipline (halfpipe-5, slopestyle-4, giant slalom-2, slalom-2, boardercross-8). He really stepped up to the challenge that comes with competing on a grander stage that normal, winning the Grommet age class overall title at USASA Nationals. The coaching staff is extremely proud of how hard Nico has worked all season to get to this point; he came to Nationals prepared and rode with composure and passion, and the results showed. In the halfpipe on day five, Jack Verhaeghe finished ninth for breaker (12-13) boys, Sebastian Lerner was 11th for menehune (10-11) boys and Caleb Hothem was 16th in the same age class. Jack was ninth overall based on all results throughout the week for his age group. (View results from days one through four here).
FULL RESULTS
USASA Nationals, Freeskiing
USASA Nationals continued with freekiing. Walker Woodring and Barrett Beyer went one and two for ruggies (7 and under) in slopestyle. In the freeski open slopestyle, Will Griffith was 25th and Ryan Dobi 35th. In the halfpipe, Ridge Dirksmeier took the win for freeski youth (14-15), and Joey Markthaler was second. For freeski menehune (10-11), Ben Fethke walked away win the win, and Zeppelin Pilaro and Easton Turck were 40th and 43rd. In the rail jam event, Will Griffith finished fifth for the open class, and Ryan Dobi was 16th. Barrett Beyer came in 12th for the ruggies (7 and under) rail jam. Ben Fethke and Easton Turck both competed in slopestyle for menehune boys on Tuesday (results forthcoming).
There is one more day left, with SVSEF athletes competing in slopestyle and halfpipe.
FULL RESULTS
ALPINE
Western Region Spring Series, Mammoth
Fresh off of Junior Championships, FIS athletes jetted to Mammoth for Western Region Spring Series. (Click here for a review of days one through three).
On the final day of racing, Lily Fitzgerald again led the girls, coming in fifth in the giant slalom. Alli Rathfon was ninth, Maddie Ferris was 11th, Erin Smith 12th, Skylar Cooley 24th and Elizabeth Vanderkloot 26th. For the men’s giant slalom, Jack Smith had an impressive finish in third. Jake Blackburn finished fifth, Hayden Terjeson eighth, Max Noddings 12th, Spencer Wright 14th, and Noah Leininger 18th for a successful end to the series.
FULL RESULTS
U14 Spring Project
SVSEF skiers participated in the IMD U14 Spring Project at Grand Targhee. According to U.S. Ski and Snowboard, “the project is designed to focus on bringing the best IMD athletes and IMD coaches together to enhance their skill development and build friendships with fellow IMD athletes.” The top 15 athletes born in 2005 and top five born in 2006 per gender were invited to attend. Max Meucci, Cole Curci, Zephyr Carruth, Tommy Normand, Reece Walther-Porino, Asia Angel, Ruby Crist, Charlotte Davis-Jeffers and Natalie Gowe represented SVSEF.
Gary Black Jr. Memorial Race
SVSEF hosted the second annual Gary Black Jr. Memorial, formerly called the Hobson Memorial. The race is named of the late Gary Black Jr., who was a former SVSEF board member and a big supporter of the organization and of alpine skiing. The race was a dual giant slalom, with athletes taking two runs and ranked on their best run. Costumes were encouraged, and SVSEF skiers came out in full force – rainbows, unicorns, and Harry Potter could be spotted speeding down the course.
In the girls U8 category, the top three racers were Bianca Smith, Jasmine Smiley and Savannah Pringle. In the U10 category, Reese Kelley was first, Frances Goodyear second and Skye Pringle third. For U12s, Taylor Hovey finished on the top podium spot, followed by Ella Shaughnessy and Rowan Desler. Maya Lightner was first for U14s, Anabel Viesturs second and Goldie Kirk third.
Wyatt Limburg led U8 boys, with Declan O’Toole in second and Finn O’Donnell in third. Like his sister, Tommy Hovey won his age class (U10). Will Lamoureaux took silver and Charlie Reid bronze. Will Kogelmann won for U12s, followed by Paxton Sammis and twin brother Drew Kogelmann. In the U14 age class, Jesse Keefe took the win, followed by Bryce Kanowsky and James Wright.
The day ended with awards and a barbeque – thanks to the Ciminos for their generosity in letting us use their space.
FULL RESULTS
PHOTOS
Snow Cup/Last Chance
SVSEF opted to forgo the first slalom of the Snowbird Snow Cup, and competed in their first race on Sunday. Buey Grossman charged to third in the field of over 100 athletes. Max Moss was 32nd, Finn Mallinen 38th, Nils Galloway 40th, Carter Sammis 48th, Shaw McCoubrey 68th, Ethan Marx 71st, Taylor Rixon 79th, Nico Gaggero 81st and Robbie Cullen 82nd.
For women, Merumo Ishimaru was the top finisher for the day, both for SVSEF and overall. She had a combined time of 1:36.50. Sage Curtis finished 19th, Emma MacGuffife 26th, Carly Walther-Porino 33rd, Falon Hanna 37th, Anhwei Kirk 38th, Hannah Ferris 42nd, Agnes Kind 47th and Tatum Minor 74th.
FULL RESULTS
Week in Review: April 4
PARK & PIPE
SVSEF’s Payton Bacca made a stop at Ski Cooper for the Hole Shot Rev Tour before heading to Copper for USASA Nationals. In the snowboardcross events on March 28 and 29, she finished 24th and 25th overall.
Full results
USASA Nationals
The culmination of the snowboard and freeski seasons comes in the form of USASA Nationals, held this year at Copper in Colorado. The snowboard events began March 31, and wrap up April 6. Skiing picks up, and events run April 7-11. SVSEF has nine snowboard and nine freeski athletes competing.
In the boardercross on April 1, Payton Bacca finished 21st in the women’s open class of 31 athletes. In the halfpipe on the same day, Nico Lerner took fifth for snowboard grommet (8-9) boys. Julian Gluck was ninth overall in a large field of 60 competitors in the snowboard junior (16-17) men’s slopestyle. Jack Verhaeghe also had a strong result in the breaker (12-13) boys giant slalom, finishing 19th in a field of 59 athletes.
SVSEF athletes competed in halfpipe, slopestyle and slalom events on April 2. Madison Hothem was 11th for snowboard breaker (12-13) girls in the halfpipe, and Channing Curci was 12th for snowboard youth (14-15). Nico Lerner was fourth for grommet (8-9) boys for slopestyle, and Jack Verhaeghe was 14th for breaker (12-13) boys in the slalom.
In April 3 events, Nico Lerner led the way for SVSEF, landing on the podium in second place for snowboard grommet (8-9) boys in the giant slalom. Madison Hothem came in 21st for breaker girls in slopestyle, Channing Curci finished 14th for youth (14-15) girls, Jack Verhaeghe was 12th for snowboard breaker boys in boardercross and Caleb Hothem had a great day, finishing sixth in a field of 70 competitors for snowboard menehune (10-11) boys in boardercross.
On April fourth, Nico Lerner again took silver, this time in the grommet (8-9) boys slalom. Jack Verhaeghe was 17th out of 92 12-13 year old boys in slopestyle, Sebastian Lerner was 24th out of 75 10-11 year old boys in the same discipline, and teammate Caleb Hothem was 32nd in the same 10-11 age group. Madison Hothem had a solid result, coming in eighth in the breaker (12-13) girls boardercross. Zoe Bacca did as well, riding to fifth for snowboard youth (14-15) girls in boardercross, and Channing Curci was 31st.
Full results
ALPINE
Alpine Junior Championships
SVSEF FIS skier Alli Rathfon had a great first day at Alpine Junior Championships, finishing eighth in the nation in the super G. Read the full recap of three days of racing and festivities, hosted by SVSEF, here.
Full results
Western Region Spring Series
Fresh off of Junior Championships, FIS athletes jetted to Mammoth for Western Region Spring Series. Lily Fitzgerald started the series off right, stepping onto the slalom podium in third behind AJ Hurt and Keely Cashman. Erin Smith had a good race, as well, finishing seventh, and Madison Ferris was 13th. Bennett Snyder (4th), John Blackburn (5th) and Spencer Wright (7th) all made the men’s top 10 in the slalom. Hayden Terjeson was 14th, Max Noddings 18th and Jake Blackburn 21st.
In the second slalom, Lily Fitzgerald and Erin Smith went eight and 10, Skylar Cooley was 14th, and Elizabeth Vanderkloot 23rd. SVSEF went 5-6-7 with Spencer Wright in fifth, Bennett Snyder sixth and Hayden Terjeson seventh. Jake Blackburn was 10th, making the count four out of the top 10 skiers.
In the April 4th giant slalom, Lily Fitzgerald was just out of medal contention in fourth. Alli Rathfon skied to eighth, Erin Smith to ninth, Madison Ferris to 12th and Skylar Cooley to 24th. For men, John Blackburn podiumed in second and Jack Smith was fourth. Hayden Terjeson finished eighth, Jake Blackburn 14th, Bennett Snyder 16th, Max Noddings 23rd and Spencer Wright 40th.
U16 National Championships
Competition for U16 Nationals opened up with the super G at Mission Ridge. Ryder Sarchett led SVSEF men in 19th, followed by Charlier Snyder in 20th, Finn Mallinen in 29th, Ridley Lindstrom in 37th and Buey Grossman in 40th.
Ryder Sarchett dominated the next two days, winning both the giant slalom and the slalom. Buey Grossman was 10th in the giant slalom, Ridley Lindstrom 23rd and Charlie Snyder 28th. SVSEF put three men in the top 10 in the slalom the next day, with Ryder in first, Buey Grossman skiing to fifth and Ridley Lindstrom to eighth. Charlie Snyder was 17th in the same race.
In the dual slalom, the final event, Ridley Lindstrom placed 28th, Buey Grossman 30th, Ryder Sarchett 32nd, Charlie Snyder 34th and Finn Mallinen 46th.
For women, Marit Kaiser tied for 38th in the super G, finished 29th in the slalom, 19th in the giant slalom and 40th in the dual slalom.