Post-Season Pride: SVSEF Athletes Mine Gold at Copper Mountain
Zoe Bacca secures a win at USASA Nationals
Fifteen riders from the SVSEF Snowboard Team qualified for USASA Nationals; nine of them traveled to Copper Mountain, Colorado, to represent the program at the event. SVSEF stacked up a number of top-10 finishes. Phebe Eriksen finished eighth in the halfpipe, Caleb Hothem was ninth in the halfpipe. Aiden Green was sixth in the halfpipe and Landon Moore seventh. Payton Bacca rode well in both the halfpipe and boardercross, earning fourth in the pipe and fifth in boardercross.
Zoe Bacca owned the day, winning the national championship in the boardercross event in the Breaker Girls (12-13) class. The athlete won all four of her heats along with the final. The field consisted of 36 competitors from across the country; athletes from as far east as Maine and as far west as Washington convened to tackle the course for the final major competition of the year. Bacca blew the competition away, beating out Vermont’s Ty Schnorrbusch and Massachusetts’ Morgan Dardia.
"With a young team and strong finishes across the board, the SVSEF Snowboard Team looks to be in a good position heading into next season," commented Snowboard Progression Beta Team Coach Andy Gilbert.
Zoe Bacca reacts after crossing the boardercross finish line in first
Top SVSEF finishes:
Payton Bacca- Fifth, Youth Women (14-15), boardercross
Zoe Bacca- First, Breaker Girls (12-13), boardercross
Channing Curci- 21st, Breaker Girls (12-13), halfpipe
Phebe Ericksen- Eighth, Youth Women (14-15), slopestyle
Aidan Green- Sixth, Youth Men (14-15), halfpipe
Maddie Hothem-14th, Menehune Girls (10-11), boardercross
Landon Moore- Seventh, Junior Men (16-17), halfpipe
Full results:
http://www.rockymountainseries.com/mobileusasa/2016%20Snowboard%20Results/
Hanna Blackwell takes the USASA National Championship title in halfpipe
USASA National Championships are currently underway at Copper Mountain, Colorado. SVSEF freeskier Hanna Blackwell took the win in the halfpipe for the Skier Women (13-15) category. Her teammates Ridge Dirksmeier and Joey Markthaler were third and fifth in the Skier Boys (10-12) category in the halfpipe, and Dylan Mills was 10th in the same category. Will Griffith impressed and finished in ninth in the Skier Men (13-15) group in halfpipe. Competition at Copper continues through tomorrow.
Results:
Joey Markthaler- 11th, Skier Boys (10-12), slopestyle
Ridge Dirksmeier- Third, Skier Boys (10-12), halfpipe
Joey Markthaler- Fifth, Skier Boys (10-12), halfpipe
Harper Mallett- Eighth, Skier Boys (10-12), halfpipe
Dylan Mills- 10th, Skier Boys (10-12), halfpipe
Luke Higgins- 26th, Skier Boys (10-12), halfpipe
Will Griffith- Ninth, Skier Men (13-15), halfpipe
Jedson Waters- 12th, Skier Men (13-15), halfpipe
Full results:
http://www.rockymountainseries.com/mobileusasa/2016%20Skier%20Results/
Hanna Blackwell tops the podium
USSA Alpine finishes season at Snowbird
SVSEF alpine racers headed to Snowbird in Utah, where they competed in the Snow Cup April 6-10. Athletes raced super G, giant slalom and slalom throughout the week. This race series marked the end of the 2015-16 season, and the Bryce Astle IMD Intermountain Cup Awards were given at the end of the week; these were awarded to athletes based on overall results throughout the season. SVSEF skiers made their mark, with Lily Fitzgerald winning the IMD cup overall for women. Bennett Snyder was on the podium for the overall season. In slalom he was third, and he won the giant slalom overall title for the season; teammate Charlie Stumph was second in giant slalom. Lily was second in giant slalom for the overall season, and first in super G. Alli Rathfon was second overall for the super G season standings.
The team at Snowbird
Thirty SVSEF skiers raced in the actual race series. Standout performances came from Madison Ferris, who was second in the first super G race; Lily Fitzgerald was second in the second super G, and teammate Alli Rathfon skied to third. Bennett Snyder was fourth in the men’s second slalom event.
“It was a good weekend, with lots of kids scoring their career best point results for USSA; close to half the team accomplished this feat,” reflected USSA Head Coach Will Brandenburg. “To cap off the season, we went to a Real Salt Lake game – it was great to go as a team. This was a really amazing season – if there was a team overall award for the season, these athletes surely would’ve won the team IMD cup.”
Off-season training ramps up mid-May for the SVSEF athletes.
Full results:
http://www.ussa-imd.org/alpine/races15/U14.php
FIS at Mt. Bachelor
Competition starts today for SVSEF FIS skiers, who are at Mt. Bachelor, Oregon, for the Spring Speed series. Athletes will race super G and downhill for their final events of the season.
Team banquets
With the end of the season come the awards banquets:
Snowboarding: Tuesday, April 12, 6-8pm, Whiskey Jacques
Freestyle/freeskiing, comp home and above: Monday, April 18, 6-8pm, Whiskey Jacques
Alpine: Tuesday, April 19, 6-8pm, Whiskey Jacques
SVSEF's Janss 2016: Movie Magic, The Reel Deal is and was all that
By Julia Seyferth and Jody Zarkos
Racers in the 2016 Janss Pro-Am Classic came out in full force this year, dressed to a T and rocking the theme of “The Reel Deal, Movie Magic,” as if a Chewbacca getup and Civil War era bloomers were normal everyday attire. Completely in sync with the energy and enthusiasm was a beautiful, balmy setting for the dual slalom races and the celebrations that continued off the slopes of Sun Valley.
Although all participants were winners in their dedication to the spirit of the Janss, some teams were given a special nod for their efforts. Reservoir Dogs comprised of pro Alden Carter, junior pro Hunter Diehl, and racers Justine Kaiser, Tanner Marcoulier, Ben Schumacher and Mike Smit claimed the 19th annual Janss Pro-Am perpetual trophy (below), presented by Peder Monsen, a longtime friend of Bill Janss, for whom the event is named.
With birthday boy and pro Riley Berman and junior pro Ella Pepin, Saturday Night Fever discoed its way to second place. Mimi Griswold, Eva DeWolfe, Curtis Pepin and Andy Cooley were also part of the runner-up effort. Star Wars was third in the overall category but defended their title in the Speed Cup. The Bentley-sponsored team with current SVSEF coaches and alumni Biche Rudigoz, Carl Rixon, Hunter Storey KJ Savaria, Ben Kanellitsas, and junior pro Jessica Blackburn, turned in the fastest combined times during Friday’s handicapping runs to best Thanks to Hanks with John Lee, Steve Brown, Miles Fink-Debray, Robin Sarchett, pro Nick Maricich and junior pro Ryder Sarchett skied to second place, although Fink-Debray was the fastest skier for males and Teagen Palmer claimed the accolade for females. James Bond with current U.S. Ski Team member Resi Stiegler was third.
Gone With the Wind won Best Costume for their unwavering portrayal of Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler-esque Southerners, with Bridesmaids second and The Good, The Bad and the Ugly in third. One person who was not in costume was Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger, who attended Friday night's festivities with his wife at the Limelight Room as guests of producer and SVSEF board member Kipp Nelson. A former airline captain for U.S. Airways, Sully was hailed as a national hero when he safely landed an Airbus A320 after it hit a large flock of geese, knocking out both engines. The crowd of 325 gave him a rousing standing ovation. A film about his life "Sully" directed by Clint Eastwood, is scheduled to appear in theaters this fall.
Best Crash went to Jen Dies and Wes Powell, who heroically sallied forth. The Lee Gilman Builders Most Inspirational Award, voted on by the racers, went to Cord Roth and Jonna Mendes. Paige Lethbridge of Gone With the Wind and Ben Pettit of Bridesmaids won Best Role Player, for excellent dramatization of their characters throughout the Janss. South Park won the Talent Show. Prizes were provided by Smith Sport, Lee Gilman Builders, Pioneer Saloon, The Cellar, Sushi on Second, Grumpy’s, Zenergy, Knob Hill Inn, Mountain Khakis and SVSEF.
O’Gara Coach and Bentley Motors was the title sponsor for the event, and guests enjoyed test-driving the Continental and Flying Spur and taking team photos with the Bentayga, Bentley’s first sports utility vehicle.
Platinum sponsors included Sun Valley Company, Converse Eyewear, Kristine and Stan Baty, Lee Gilman Builders, Knob Hill Inn, Ketchum Chiropractic, Salomon and That’s Entertainment.
Three amigos, Jonathan Neeley, Caleb Baukol and Zach Crist Fastest Racers were Teagen Palmer and Miles Fink-Debray
Carol and Paul Fremont-Smith, Jr. and Michel Rudigoz hosted the opening cocktail party and pro presentation at Michel’s Christiania on Thursday.
The SVSEF is also grateful for sponsorship and support by High Sierra, Coca Cola, Pennay’s at River Run, FITS Socks, Clear Creek Disposal, Smith Sport, Chums, Beyond Coastal, Distilled Resources, Lutz Rental, Avalon 7, Coal, Flylow, Three Little Pigs BBQ, St. Luke’s Wood River, Starbucks, Jennifer and Jim Milgard, Ketchum Flower Company, Cirque, Watkins Distributing, Galena Lodge, Davis Embroidery and Mahoney’s Bar & Grill. Contributions were also provided by Power Engineers, Windy City Arts, CM Copy and Print, Atkinsons, Neecy’s, Perry’s, Bigwood Bread, Wrapcity, Ketchum Grill, Starr Weekes, Centerlyne and BigLife Magazine.
Kudos to Jack Weekes and Diane Moberg for their superb production and design skills on event posters and program, and the team of Whitney McNees, Mat Gershater and Mark Oliver for their video, “SVSEF, 50 Years in the Making.” The SVSEF would also like to thank auctioneer Grant Snyder, and bands Cosmo Alley Cats and Izzy Taylor and The Strays. As well, we could not have staged such a wonderful event without host Robert Cimino, who provided the Warm Springs party venue, or the multitude of volunteers who tirelessly gave their time and effort, including photographers Becky Smith, Kelly Feldman, Matt Leidecker, Josh Wells and Sean Wells.
Of course the event would not be what it is without its pros, junior pros and participants coming from far and near to support the SVSEF. Thank you to Resi Stiegler, Julia Ford, Kyle Wieche, Mike Hattrup, Bob Legasa, Jonna Mendes, Toni Standteiner, Bob LaPoint, Terry Palmer, Nick Maricich, Craig Sabina, Matt Perkins, Daniela Anguita, Adele Savaria, Dan Herby, DJ Hart, Heather Daves, Alden Carter, Reed Snyderman, Wes Powell, Claudia Stern, Riley Berman, Hank Minor, Scott McGrew, Connor Farrow, Zach Crist and Biche Rudigoz.
Jonna Mendes celebrates Lee Gilman Builders "Most Inspirational" award and Gone With the Wind "Best Costume."
50 years strong, the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation is dedicated to the growth and development of its athletes, ever mindful of its philosophy of Strong Minds, Strong Bodies, Strong Futures.
The immediate and tangible outcomes of these efforts are easy to identify; podiums, gains in strength and technical prowess and significant improvements in results are noteworthy achievements, and surely things to be proud of. What most athletes who graduate from the program and move on to new adventures seem to most fondly recall, however, are the memories they made with their teammates and friends. It’s the lessons they learned and the characteristics they developed in their experiences with SVSEF that resonate with clarity in their everyday lives. The Janss is an opportunity to celebrate these ideals each year and to keep the momentum going, in hopes that an impact, whether great or small, is made in the lives of the young members of this community.
Thank you one and all for supporting us in our endeavors.
SVSEF Athlete of the Week: Carter Ros Comes Through in the Clutch
With years of skiing, playing soccer and basketball, Carter Ros is an athlete who recognizes the value of playing to the whistle.
A member of the SVSEF cross country program since 2005, Carter, posted two of his best finishes ever to book a berth in the Junior National Cross Country Championships, March 6-13 at Cable, Wisconsin. For his all-out effort to get there, Carter is SVSEF’s Athlete of the Week.
“Carter wasn’t even on the bubble,” SVSEF Nordic Program Director Rick Kapala remarked. “He was on the outside looking in and he posted his best ever result with the exception of when he was a J2 two years ago. We basically said the script has not been written and he realized that which was valuable to making the team.
Carter Ros on course. Photo by Hank Dart.
In the third and final Junior National Qualifying races at Bozeman, Montana, Carter, a senior at Wood River High School, qualified 10th and finished fifth in the men’s U18/U20 skate sprint. The following day, facing inclement conditions including standing water on the course, he made the decision to double pole the entire 10k course in a classic mass start. The decision paid off as Carter finished second in 27:17 to teammate Peter Wolter and eighth overall in a field of 41 U18/U20 men.
“Just because the first race don’t come that doesn’t mean you can’t have those results later. Carter is really good on his skis and the courses played to his strength. Conditions were pretty janky with standing water and ice. He was the first guy to decide not to kick wax and just go for it. He had a really good race,” Kapala said.
The affable 17-year-old will observe his 18th birthday while at Nationals. We hope Carter has double reason to celebrate!
Overall, SVSEF will send 14 team members to Junior Nationals, the most from a single program in the Intermountain Division. Bozeman was next best with 12. For more information on the 2016 Cross Country Junior National Championships, please click HERE.
Rose rises to the occasion, wins Whiteface Climb to the Castle
Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation Cross Country Gold Team member Mary Rose won the women's title Sunday at the Climb to the Castle in Whiteface, New York. Rose, 24, rollerskied her way up Whiteface Mountain's 4,867 feet in 45:14.1.
"It's a testament how hard work pays off over time. She's clearly been putting the work in for the last several years and now one of the better distance skiers in the country. It is not a surprise she had success at this event. Good job, Mary," SVSEF Cross Country Program Director Rick Kapala said.
Rose crossed the finish line 27 seconds ahead of runner up Annalies Cook (USBA). SVSEF teammate Paige Schember was 6th in 51:51.3.
Fellow Gold Team members Rogan Brown, Miles Havlick (9th) and Ben Lustgarten (12th) were also in the mix. Brown finished fourth in the men's race, 15.3 seconds behind winner Patrick Caldwell. SVSEF alumni Max Durtschi was 10th.
Lake Placid, New York, where Whiteface Mountain is located, was the site of the 1980 Winter Olympics. The Gold Team has been training on the East Coast for the past couple of weeks with head coach Colin Rodgers.
For a full account of the event, please check out Faster Skier.
Results from Spring Series, U16 Nationals and USASA Nationals.
Check out today's results from Spring Series, U16 Nationals and USASA Nationals. SVSEF athletes, like Aidan Green, are flying high.
April 02, 2015
Western Spring Series
The second and final super giant slalom was staged in today’s Western Spring Series on Bald Mountain.
68 started the men’s race, won by Luke Mathers of Rowmark Ski Academy in 1:24.08. The 17-year-old Mathers bested yesterday’s champion Bronson Wright be .34 of a second. James Lebel of Lake Tahoe was third in 1:25.08.
Will Brandenburg, a member of the SVSEF Gold team, was eighth in 1:25.26. Will Harder bounced back from a DNF the day before to finish in 22nd place. Yuri McClure was 25th, Will Snyder 28th, Austin Savaria 29th, Tanner Josey 34th, Griffin Curtis 37th, Wyatt Smith 38th, Duncan Fuller 40th, John Blackburn 43rd, Kristian DeWolfe 47th. Jay Fitzgerald was one of 12 men who did not finish the course.
19-year-old Canadian Rae Swette won the women’s super G, clocking in at 1:29.61. Madison Ostergren of Rowmark was runner-up in 1:29.91. Yesterday’s champion, SVSEF’s Haley Cutler, was on the podium in third place in a minute 30 flat. Teammate Kyla Miller was 12th, Ruby Marden 17th, Ella Pepin 25th. Ava Mazzoni and Teagen Palmer did not finish.
Tonight’s speed awards will be staged at Ketchum Town Square at 6:30-8:30 p.m. There will be food and refreshments and live music by local favorite Tyler Bushman. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.
Men’s giant slalom and ladies slalom will be held tomorrow and Saturday. Disciplines reverse on Sunday and Monday.
Following racing on Saturday, April 7, Apples Bar & Grill will host a street party during a very special award ceremony following the giant slalom and slalom. The end of season spring fling begins at 3 p.m. and features music, beverages and food. Picabo Street, named after one of Sun Valley's most talented athletes and two-time Olympic medalist, will be closed for the festivities
U16 Championships
SVSEF’s Lily Fitzgerald stepped up on the podium for a second time at the U16 National Championships at Sugarloaf, Maine. The 13-year-old Fitzgerald was the bronze medalist in the U14 class in the ladies’ giant slalom and 15th overall. Katelyn Rathfon skied to 20th place. 26 out of 43 starters did not finish the race.
Hayden Terjeson was the lone finisher for the SVSEF men today in the men’s giant slalom. Terjeson was 23rd overall. Charlie Lamb and Matt O’Connor did not finish their first runs. Spencer Wright was disqualified.
USASA Nationals by coach Nate Farrell
USASA nationals is a wrap and the Sun Valley Snowboard Team had an awesome time! Today Elk Spencer, Aidan Green, and Tague Higgins competed in halfpipe. Elk, who fractured his wrist yesterday, was riding in a full length arm cast! Unfortunately, he took a pretty bad fall in his first run, and had to go down in a toboggan for the second day in a row. But he's a trooper, and luckily a huge bruise and a sore back were the only consequences. Aidan Green was blasting ten foot airs, three times the size of the rest of the field. Unfortunately he couldn't lay a run down. Tague Higgins rode well, but had some trouble on his alley oop mctwists, and couldn't set down a full run either.
Nationals was a great time for the athletes and the coaches, and Sun Valley had a great showing. New friends were made, goals were reached, and lasting memories created. Thanks to all the parents, athletes, and all the volunteers and USASA staff for making 2015 nationals one to remember.
Wild Game Dinner November
Save the date! 37th annual Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation game dinner and auction.
Saturday November 15th 2014
Tongue and Groove
Tongue and groove: K.J. Savaria one of the SVSEF athletes in the mix on day three of the Western Region Elite Spring Series. Read all about it at www.svsef.org. Photo by Heather Black. — with KJ Savaria.
Litter Pick up Day: Way to go
We guess you can say SVSEF athletes clean up on and off the snow. Big props and big thanks go out to our alpine team members for helping keep our community beautiful. Way to go kids!