SVSEF's Jesse Keefe to Compete with the U.S. National Para Alpine Team

SVSEF's Jesse Keefe to Compete with the U.S. National Para Alpine Team

“We are a ski family. We learn how to walk through how we ski, so that’s what we did with Jesse.” explains Kirsta Gehrke, mother of 17-year-old, newly-named National Para Alpine athlete, Jesse Keefe.  

Keefe, a SVSEF athlete of ten years, earned his position with the National Para Alpine Team after a series of impressive finishes in World Para Alpine Skiing races over the 2020-2021 season. Keefe accrued nine top-three finishes across three slalom, three giant slalom, and three Super G races, including two golds and a bronze at the National Championships in Winter Park, CO. Keefe’s performance this season ranks him at 15th in Slalom, 35th in Giant Slalom and 34th in Super G by the International Paralympic Committee. In addition to being named to the National Para Alpine Team, these results qualify Keefe for the 2022 Winter Paralympics Games in Beijing, China. 

When Keefe wasn’t racing World Para Alpine Skiing races this season, he competed alongside his SVSEF teammates at FIS races throughout the Western Region. Since his first Kindercup at the age of three, Keefe cut his teeth as a racer alongside able-bodied peers. From the Devo team now to FIS, Keefe has been treated no differently than his teammates; he had never even raced in a designated Para Alpine race until last year.  

Born without an ankle bone, Keefe’s leg was amputated below the knee at 11 months old; he uses an advanced prosthetic for skiing. “We’ve never treated him different, and neither did SVSEF. Most people didn’t even know until he took his prosthetic off,” Gehrke laughs. “I think he was on the Mini World Cup team, and he was standing on the podium outside of Apples. He took his leg off and held it over his head like a trophy.”  

Beneath this good sense of humor is a diligent, determined athlete. “It is awesome working with Jesse. He works his butt off. He works hard in the gym, on the field and on the mountain. He continues to amaze me and the rest of coaching staff with what he does, and continues to do each day.” Gladys Weidt, Head FIS coach, shares. “He’s resilient and tough. He is extremely coachable, and he has a really great outlook on anything and everything. He gets along with everyone, and personally I’ve never even really seen him in a bummed-out mood. He doesn’t let results get the best of him.” 

The payoff of Keefe’s open-minded attitude and tenacious work ethic has long been anticipated, which makes the realization of these next tremendous steps in his career all the more powerful to those who have cheered him on. “I am still kind of grasping at the fact that this is happening. It’s something we have talked about his whole life, and for it to actually be happening is amazing. His first race was the Kindercup, at age 3, and he made it onto the front of the paper. You could just see he was going to be a ski racer, at three years old, on the front page of the paper... and I’m just along for the ride, I’m his cheerleader. It’s his journey, you know?” Gehrke adds. 

While competing with the National Para Alpine Team in the upcoming season, Keefe will remain training with SVSEF in Ketchum. When asked what her hopes are for Jesse this upcoming season, Coach Weidt offered: “I hope he continues to learn through experience by getting into different atmospheres, meeting different people, and keeps excelling for the rest of his career. A lot of doors are going to open for him this upcoming year, and I want him to take it step by step, continue growing and improving.” Knowing Keefe’s track record to date, we can expect these hopes—and far more—to be achieved by this latest athlete to represent our community on the world stage. 

by Lexi Black

Futures Travel Freeski Team goes big at Futures Tour event in Winter Park

by Lexi Black

Wrapping up the season: XC Prep Team Awards

Wrapping up the season: XC Prep Team Awards

As our competition season begins to wind down, each program organizes some form of gathering with athletes to celebrate all they've accomplished over the season. After a long season riddled with unusual challenges, the Cross Country Prep Team recently held their end-of-year party, complete with costumes and plenty of grins so big that you could see them right through the masks. Here's coach Kelley Sinnott's synopsis of the event:

"After a fun little crust cruise above big bi hill we gathered around a bonfire (on top of big bi) to celebrate our season and give our awards.  Our prize table was the envy of passerbye(ers) as we recognized our decathlon winners!  I can't name every winner, but our overall decathlon champions were Nick Gardiner and Chase Geagan!

We also recognized every member of our team with a team photo and personalized note from the coaches on the back (parents be sure to check them out).

However, what I really wanted to emphasize to the group as a whole was how impressed all the coaches were with the positivity and improvement from them all this season. As we were compiling the notes to the skiers the resounding theme of the group was; fun, happy, positive, encouraging, good teammate, and improved greatly this season! We really do have a great group of humans on our team this season and they were just simply a lot of fun to be around.  AND with racing pretty much a nonstarter this year it was so neat to see them find other motivators and still push themselves to grow and improve.  There is not a single member of this team that didn’t become a stronger, faster, more technical skier this year which is a win in my book!

Every season we like to wrap up with our end of the year awards; recognizing a few of our skiers that really made an impact on their coaches and teammates this year.  These skiers were recognized with a certificate and gift certificate to Wrap City.  We recognized this group as one team because though practicing at two locations we are still all part of the one and only XC Prep Team!

Here are our 2021 awards:

Inspirational Skiers (voted on by teammates on Saturday) – Whit Brown and Anna Koonce

Outstanding Skiers: Sarah Leidecker and Sven Halvorsen

Most Improved Skiers: Scout Kendall, Stratton Cunningham and Ronan O’Reilly

Coaches Award: Charlie St.George and Lauryn Stevens

by Lexi Black

Snowboard Travel Team takes on USASA Regional Championships in Park City

SVSEF Snowboarding’s Travel Team Spent an incredible productive week in Park City to train and participate in the USASA Regional Championships as part of the Big Mountain West Series.

The team showed up for two days of training at the beginning of the week in the shiny new Woodward PC facility and it did not disappoint. The weather could not have been better and the features available are endless, big, small, creative rails, big air jumps and a halfpipe. The kids wasted no time stepping up their game. Working on new tricks, putting full runs together and in some cases taking their first halfpipe runs ever. The progression was fast and evident and the stoke level was set for the week!

The events would be held at Park City Resort which always provides the best of venues and again the weather was beautiful. Things kicked off with rail jam events on Tuesday the 16^th. Riders were given three lines to work with of varying difficulty. The kids got to work putting together options and ideas into contest runs. Walker Woldstad stepped up to the harder features gapping to down on a big round tube, and really using all the course. Karen Miller in his first contest ever was focused on a big down tube and progressively went bigger and mixed things up as the contest moved on. The women came to play for sure. Olive Gilbert and Channing Curci showed smooth consistency all day with nice board slide on a flat box in front of the judges. Camille Fox also in her first contest ever charged hard with nose presses and an Indy off of a box which earned her a gold medal in her rookie debut!

Rail Jam Results:

Walker Woldstad 1^st Men 15-22

Karsen Miller 5^th Boys 11-14

Camille Fox 1^st Women 15-22

Channing Curci Women 15-22

Olive Gilbert Women 15-22 

Wednesday was Halfpipe day with two events being held, and in true Sun Valley fashion the snowboarders showed up! A season spent training at home and riding long carvers on Baldy really showed in the pipe with SV kids riding a great line and heel edge all day! Karsen Miller who literally took his first pipe runs ever on Sunday may have found his “thing”! he had great straight airs, mixing grabs and generally riding solid all day. The ladies didn’t phone it in Olive Gilbert and Channing Curci who both are solid pipe riders finally got a chance to show it! Confident runs, mixing grabs and a couple spinning combos made them stand out on the day. Sun Valley’s Halfpipe heritage seems intact and hopefully a sign of more to come.

Halfpipe Results 1&2:

Walker Woldstad 1^st/ 1^st Open Class Men

Karsen Miller 2^nd/2^nd Breaker Boys 13-14

Olive Gilbert 1^st/1^st Youth Women 15-16

Channing Curci Women 1^st /1^st 17-18

Camille Fox 1^st Women 2^nd /2^nd 17-18

Olive Gilbert                                               

 Channing Curci

After a great day off training at Woodward PC and getting to meet some of their hero’s including Olympic Gold Medalist Sage Kotsenburg. The kids got to take to a great PC slopestyle course. The course was longer than most with 4 rail options and 4 good sized jump that really gave the kids a chance to push their limits. Walker Woldstad took to the big line with nice methods and a unique upper section rail line. Camille Fox Building on her Rail jam win looked confident on the rail section and stepped up to a bigger than usual jump line for her. Karsen Miller showed some flashes of things to come with good style and trick selection. Olive Gilbert added a “Stalefish” grab to her trick options, Channing Curci threw some great Methods and both riders flowed well from feature to feature and also used the big jump line.

Slopestyle results 1&2:

Walker Woldstad 1^st/ 1^st Open Class Men

Karsen Miller 3^rd/ 2^nd Breaker Boys 13-14

Olive Gilbert 1^st/ 1^st Youth Women 15-16

Channing Curci Women 1^st/ 1^st 17-18

Camille Fox 1^st Women 2^nd/ 2^nd 17-18

After a long year and a great season focused on just improving at home and really trying to be better riders and coming together as a team. This group stepped up seamlessly and showed that the hard work is paying off. There will be much more to come from this talented gang of riders!

Coach Ricky Millet (front) shows Channing Curci (in the air) the speed for a jump while Karsen Miller follows.

by Lexi Black

Athletes of the Week

March 21 2021

Octavio Hurtado

“It may be Octavio’s first season on the bump team but he has shown true passion and commitment to the sport. Through big crashes, unfavorable conditions and just having a general bad day, Octavio can always be found with a smile on his face. He has set a great example for other new athletes and has been a pleasure to work with.” - Coach Alec Poster

Bodin Lee

"Bodin Lee has been chosen as the USSA Team Athlete of the Week.  On Saturday in GS at the Tri Divisional Championships in Big Sky, Bodin vaulted himself from 6^th place after the first run to Second place overall finish with a blistering second run, just 3 hundredths off the fastest time in the second run!  What is more impressive that this result, is the culmination of steady improvement and consistent effort all season that Bodin has displayed.  I am guessing that Bodin is even surprising himself with his recent strong finishes.  Bodin brings a great attitude and a fun loving spirit to training every day!  He nearly killed me on his super g skis the other day which I suppose is a forgivable offence since it is Bodin, and he is just having a good time!  Congratulations to Bodin!" - Coach Nate Schwing

Sammy Smith

"Comp Team Athlete of the week is Sammy Smith. I could go on and on listing Sammy’s many impressive results- not just as a U16, but as a top Junior skier. However, I would rather talk about Sammy’s endlessly impressive drive, organization, and enthusiasm for whatever she is doing. When the coaches and team are heading out early on Saturday mornings to do intervals, Sammy is typically already heading in after doing all the intervals (plus bonus ones I’m sure!) early so she can make it to Freestyle training. She is always checking in to see what else she can be doing or how she can fit in extra training. Sammy continuously demonstrates how important the work you do when nobody's watching is." - Coach Ashley Knox

by Lexi Black

SVSEF's first ever "Intermural Scrimmage" at Rotarun

The SVSEF held its first “Intermural Scrimmage” Slopestyle Saturday March 13th at Rotarun in Hailey.

The event had the Foundations Freeski, Mini X and Snowboard programs all taking part. All of the programs' staff and Rotarun general manager Riley Berman worked together to build a great course that featured 3 jump options: a box, a rail and even a unicorn!

Parent and supporter attendance was great and the local support from the Board Bin and Paul Kenny’s made sure that there was a ton of swag from Coal, Union Bindings, Jones snowboards, Gnu Snowboards, Smith, Da Kine and tons of others for standout runs!

The event was held in a jam format which kept the action going with 2 riders on the course at all times. It really felt like a demo with the SVSEF skiers and riders as the main attraction. This was an amazing way to showcase what the kids have been working so hard on this season. With travel and events at a premium this season the kids didn’t hold back.

On the ski side, Freeski:

The kids definitely showed off their skills with impressive tricks for the crowd. They were going huge and throwing Switch rodeos 540, flat 360, cork 540, 720 and sliding rails. This is one young talented group of skiers at SVSEF the future is looking bright.  

Skier stand outs on the day:

Brody Smith 

Landon Delanct 

Caleb Covington 

(11 and older)

Anders Colter

Barrett Beyer

Kai VanBueren 

The Snowboarders didn’t disappoint either with kids going big and really pushing each other to step up their game. Not to be out done, the ladies stood out with a core group setting the bar and showing that they will be a force to be reckoned with in the near future. The battle in the 10 and under boys group was fierce with Rylan Olsen and Enzo Schmillen setting the bar for each other and blasting big airs on the second jump!

Snowboard Standouts:

(10 and under boys)

Rylan Olsen

Enzo Schmillen

Gerald Espinoza

(10 and under Girls)

Vivian Smith

(11 and over Boys)

Karsen Miller

Dylan Schubert

Henry Georgiades

(11 and over Girls)

Naomi Gorringe

Callie Allen

Camille Armeen

Fun was the order of the day and everyone who participated and supported this event had a blast this will hopefully become an annual showcase of the talent within these SVSEF programs.

Anders/Barrett/Kai

Callie/Naomi/Camille

by Lexi Black

Athletes of the Week

March 14 2021

Jackson Wallace

Jackson Wallace has been a positive force this season. While he’s new to the program, he’s been steadily pushing his skills throughout the year. He is one of the hardest working athletes on the team and is always down to send it, and is constantly in a great headspace for himself and the squad. We’re stoked on his progress and look forward to seeing him shred this spring! - Coach Cassidy Dubois “Queso”

Skyler Jensen

Skyler is a happy, enthusiastic and hard working athlete always interested in trying to change her skiing for the better.  She is in her second year with the North Series team and has made huge improvements in her technique which helped her win the last North Series Team Pastry Cup of the season, March 7th.  It was a Super-All-Terrain Kombi race which involves gates set through bumps into Panels which increase in distance as they get to the bottom.  It is such a pleasure to have Skyler on our team and we look forward to seeing what she can do in our last races of the season coming up at Bogus Basin. - Coach Adele Savaria

Fletch Palmer

Fletch is a newcomer to the North Series team having never alpine raced.  He is a natural athlete which really helped him quickly learn this sport this year.  He fit right in with the team with his great attitude and always got along with his teammates.  It’s been amazing to watch him improve and have his results show it.  We enjoyed having him join us this year and look forward to seeing what he can do in the future!

Irie Black

Her passion for skiing and working hard no matter how cold or windy is why Irie Black is our athlete of the week. With hardly a day missed all season she is lighting up the MWC team and is always raring to go. This week at Rotarun she was consistently laying the ski over and bending it during slalom training.

Irie’s small size and quiet demeanor is a surprise to many when they watch her fierceness on the race-course.  It has been such a pleasure watching her skills improve over the season!

Irie will be competing in the North Series Championships this weekend at Bogus Basin!

The Mini World Cup Coaches are all very proud of her and hope she rips it up this weekend! - Coach Jude Arvidson

by Lexi Black

Laura Flood Memorial Cup: a big weekend for U16 Alpine athletes

Laura Flood Memorial Cup: a big weekend for U16 Alpine athletes

“Ski racing was one of her greatest passions, and we felt that honoring Laura through a local race would be a way that our family could honor and celebrate Laura’s life, her love of skiing, and our great community.” Heather Flood Daves, sister to Laura Flood, explains. The Flood family lost Laura in 1990, at age 19, when she lost control in a training run and was killed. Last weekend, Sun Valley resort and SVSEF hosted the annual Laura Flood Memorial Cup, with eight races held over four days.  

In a typical year, the Laura Flood is only four races: two Giant Slaloms and two Slaloms (one of each event for each gender). However, due to a barrage of covid-related and weather-related race cancellations throughout the season, the Sun Valley venue hosted an additional two Giant Slaloms and two Slaloms over the weekend in addition to the Laura Flood. This made for an immensely action-packed weekend, with female and male athletes tasked with competing in four races in 48 hours, each.   

“It really gave the kids an opportunity to show what they got. It’s been a lot of pressure on these athletes.” Will Brandenburg, Alpine Director, said about the weekend. “They’ve been working since June—since it’s been safe for them to train together— with the end goal of qualifying for U16 Championships. Due to COVID and mother nature this season, we ran additional races; each gender had four races in 48 hours to reach their goals they’ve been trying to meet for a year.”   

“To have everything boil down to this short amount of time is really hard for a 14-to-15-year-old kid, but they didn’t shy away from the fear. They put themselves out there. At the end of the day, it shows a lot of mental strength from our U16 team because we had a really a successful weekend. Even though only a portion of the team qualified for regionals, every athlete demonstrated great progression in their skiing. We are proud of how the group accepted the challenge.” Brandenburg continued.   

SVSEF athletes came out of the weekend with strong finishes across the board; the athletes showed up for their home hill. While U16 Regionals traditionally took over 30 IMD athletes (both men and women), this year the quota was lowered to approximately 15 athletes (both men and women). SVSEF qualified nine athletes total for U16 Regionals this season, the most of any other club in the Intermountain Division. Additional athletes qualified for Tri-Divisionals, which is similarly competitive due to the limited regional quotas this year.  

“It’s always awesome to watch the youth who come to this race. It's always very high-level competition. SVSEF always puts on a great race, and Sun Valley has a such a great venue. It was phenomenal to watch the athletes charging on lower Greyhawk. It was inspirational.” Daves, who came out to watch the athletes over the weekend, shared.  

“It was completely a community effort from the volunteers, the mountain, and the public for allowing us to close the trails. I’m just really proud of the effort that went in to putting all the pieces together.” Brandenburg added. “It was a successful race and a lot of kids did really well. I really felt for them; you could sense and see the stress of all the competitors this weekend, and was a really important weekend for all of them.”   

by Lexi Black

Athletes of the Week

Jed Schmidt

If you hear a big WAHOOO while out on the cross-country trails, you may have come across Jed Schmidt. Jed is one of the youngest skiers on our Devo South team- he is full of joy for skiing and shows up every day excited to become a better skier. He is a quiet leader among his teammates, showing by example that by putting effort in, your skiing will improve. With his positive attitude, dedication to improving, and drive to push himself, Jed is set to go far as an integral member of our team!  - Coach Emily Williams

by Lexi Black

Building a Culture: a Night Under the Full Moon with the Cross Country Team

Building a Culture: a Night Under the Full Moon with the Cross Country Team

“You know, it’s about building a culture.” Rick Kapala explains in a quick moment between rotating Dutch ovens over the bonfire. Kapala serves something like a knock-off version of raclette to passing skiers: cheese cubes, sausage, potatoes and bread warmed over the fire. Some skiers stop long enough for a few bites and a quick exchange with the coaches before skating off again. Others pop out of their skis and take refuge from the sharp chill of the February evening around the fire. Between cooking up the snacks, teasing athletes and shooting the breeze with parents, Kapala barely has a moment to pause. “I mean, you know it from hearing the kids’ senior speeches when they finish the program. It’s never about the races. It’s about ‘oh, I love my friends, I love my coaches.’ It’s about culture and community.” Kapala adds. 

The full moon crests over the peaks opposite the bonfire at 8:10 PM, February 27th, but the team-wide full moon cross country ski is well underway. The evening started at 5:30 PM, all teams, all athletes, and all athlete families invited. The younger athletes turn up with their families first; some of them are so tiny, they barely stand at their parents’ hip as they demonstrate how to apply kick-wax. The older athletes trail in slightly later, bantering coyly with one another as they gear up. At the trailhead, a cardboard sign warns of yeti sightings in the area. The only way to escape the yeti, of course, is to outrun it on skis. 

Luminaries along the trail light the way to the first bonfire, in the Lake Creek ‘stadium,’ where Cross Country races typically start and finish. If you’ve made it this far without a yeti intrusion, the first bonfire offers a moment of respite with marshmallow roasting and s’mores. Just up the hill from this first stop is bonfire number 2, with hot chocolate and cookies. Finally, bonfire number 3 burns steadily—lit early, as to provide coals for the Dutch ovens filled to the brim with sausage—on a ridge overlooking the rest of the loop.  

Of course, the festivities hardly seem to be limited to the stops along the route; athletes big and small congregate on the trails to ski together, or to say a properly-distanced hello to their teammates’ families, even to build a jump or two and boast their interdisciplinary winter sport skills with a couple of tricks. There was not a single smile missing from any face, despite some definitively cold toes and fingers.  

As the community of athletes, parents and siblings of every age and level make their way, romping and laughing, through the Lake Creek landscape in the dark blue twilight, there’s a certain collective awe for the place we live in, and for opportunities like these. It’s the sort of night that gets at the soul of why we do it all, whether an athlete, coach or parent: we do it, ultimately, because of our total appreciation for playing in the mountains, and our adoration of those like-minded souls who go out and play with us. 

So how do you build a culture? You practice bringing this community together, and finding an opportunity to remind them how they came together in the first place: playing in the mountains. Incorporating a yeti costume and some fire-roasted cheese helps too.  

by Lexi Black