SVSEF Athletes Earn Top 10 All-American Honors at Junior National Championships

St. George and Boschen lead twelve-athlete contingent with strong results in Cable, Wisconsin

Twelve Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) Cross Country (XC) Comp Team athletes competed at the 2026 Junior National Championships in Cable, Wisconsin, from March 9-14. The week-long championship featured four events across freestyle and classic disciplines, with SVSEF athletes posting impressive results despite challenging and variable snow conditions.

Led by XC Comp Team Head Coach Chris Mallory, the SVSEF contingent demonstrated exceptional consistency throughout the week, with nine athletes recording top-30 finishes. The standout performances came from Stella St. George and Tait Boschen, who each earned All-American honors with top-10 results in the 7.5/5K Freestyle Interval Start on Monday.

"Mother Nature threw a lot of different conditions at us in Wisconsin, but everyone stepped up and delivered at least a race or two throughout the week to be really proud of," said Mallory. "Nine SVSEF skiers posted top-30 results with Stella St George and Tait Boschen grabbing top-10 All Americans in the Skate Individual Start."

St. George, competing in the FU16 division, finished seventh in the freestyle interval start and followed up with an 11th-place finish in the 8K Classic Mass Start on Friday. Boschen placed seventh in the MU18 freestyle interval start and added a 27th-place finish in the classic mass start.

The championships featured diverse racing formats that tested athletes' versatility and endurance. Beyond individual events, Saturday's 4-Person Mixed Gender Freestyle Relay showcased the team's depth and collaborative spirit. SVSEF athletes competed on multiple relay teams, with Stella St. George's team finishing fifth in the F/MU16 division and Tait Boschen's team placing eighth in F/MU18.

"I was incredibly proud to see twelve SVSEF athletes qualify for and compete at the 2026 Junior National Championships this year," said Becky Flynn, SVSEF Cross Country Program Director. "Led by Head Coach Chris Mallory, this team has been putting in the time and commitment to improve every day, and this result is a true testament to that work. Throughout the week, they showed grit, determination, and an impressive ability to adapt—right through the final race and even the plane ride home. It's been a challenging winter, but this group proved they are ready to take on anything."

Notable performances throughout the week included Zach Quesnel's 20th-place finish in the MU20 Classic Mass Start, Charlie St. George's 12th-place showing in the MU18 Classic Sprint, and Thijs Lloyd's 20th-place result in the MU16 Classic Mass Start. The SVSEF athletes demonstrated strong tactical racing across multiple disciplines, with several athletes posting their best results in different events.

In team competition, the Intermountain Division finished second overall in the Alaska Cup standings, highlighting the strength of the region's cross country skiing programs.

Photo: Tait Boschen competing at Junior Championships in Cable, WI. 

SVSEF Athlete Results

Monday, March 9 – 7.5/5K Freestyle Interval Start

MU20
25th – Zach Quesnel

MU18
7th – Tait Boschen
12th – Caleo Morrison
41st – Charlie St. George
68th – Duncan Fryburger
DNS – Nick Gardner

MU16
26th – Thijs Lloyd
53rd – Henry Flynn

FU18
62nd – Natalie Carlson

FU16
7th – Stella St. George
27th – Josephine Renner
42nd – Sidney Brown

Wednesday, March 11 – Classic Sprint

MU20
39th – Zach Quesnel

MU18
12th – Charlie St. George
50th – Nick Gardner
56th – Tait Boschen
61st – Duncan Fryburger
81st – Caleo Morrison

MU16
31st – Henry Flynn
57th – Thijs Lloyd

FU18
45th – Natalie Carlson

FU16
19th – Stella St. George
45th – Josephine Renner
51st – Sidney Brown

Friday, March 13 – 14.6/11.3/8K Classic Mass Start

MU20
20th – Zach Quesnel

MU18
27th – Tait Boschen
29th – Duncan Fryburger
35th – Caleo Morrison
48th – Charlie St. George
DNF – Nick Gardner

MU16
20th – Thijs Lloyd
39th – Henry Flynn

FU18
58th – Natalie Carlson

FU16
11th – Stella St. George
18th – Josephine Renner
33rd – Sidney Brown

Saturday, March 14 – 4-Person Mixed Gender Freestyle Relay

F/MU20 (IMD Teams) – 2 men/2 women
16th – Zach Quesnel w/ Charlotte Wilson, Zach Shockey, Zoe Sims

F/MU18
8th – Tait Boschen w/ Rhys Weidenhamer, Ayden Brutger, Odin Berryman
13th – Caleo Morrison and Charlie St. George w/ Brooke Greenburg, Hannah Mittelstaedt
19th – Nick Gardner w/ Walker Dunn, Gabrielle Harris, Havallah Heale
68th – Duncan Fryburger and Natalie Carlson w/ Atten Aronowitz, Hayden Von Maur Newcomb

F/MU16
5th – Stella St. George w/ Noah Eitel, Finn Worth, Hazel Gault
11th – Sidney Brown and Thijs Lloyd w/ Ben Larson, Katherine Van De Kamp
14th – Josephine Renner w/ Emmett Covington, Alta Miller, Rhylan Schaffer
30th – Henry Flynn (mixed region team) w/ Miriam Armstrong, Colin Belizzi, Willem Finnigan

Team Competition: Intermountain Division – 2nd place overall, Alaska Cup

Complete results for the 2026 Junior National Championships may be found at: https://www.birkie.com/ski/events/junior-national-championships/

About the Junior National Championships

The Cross Country Junior National Championships is the premier national championship event for U16, U18, and U20 cross country skiers in the United States. Hosted by U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the event brings together the nation's top junior athletes to compete across multiple disciplines including freestyle and classic technique races, sprints, distance events, and team relays.

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by Will Falltrick

SVSEF Cross Country Prep and Comp Teams End Season Strongly at Western Club Championships

Pott sweeps weekend in Victor, ID as athletes deliver end-of-season podium performances

The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) Cross Country Comp/Prep team wrapped up their race season at the Western Club Championships in Victor, Idaho, on March 14-15. Hosted by the Grand Targhee Ski Foundation, the two-day event featured individual distance races, team sprint relays, and classic pursuit competitions across all age divisions.

SVSEF athletes showed off their preparation with fast skiing throughout the weekend despite challenging snow conditions that ranged from sloppy slush on Saturday to icy surfaces on Sunday. Cyrus Pott led the way for SVSEF, claiming victories in both the MU18/20 8km skate race and the classic pursuit, while also teaming with Bailey Kurtz to win the MU18/20 team sprint relay.

"The kids were game and were charging from start to finish," said Rick Kapala, Director of Sport Development. "And most importantly their stoke and the support for their teammates was a great thing to see."

The team sprint relay event brought a festive atmosphere to Saturday afternoon's competition, with no age restrictions and costumes encouraged. SVSEF fielded competitive teams across multiple divisions, with the MU18/20 duo of Pott and Kurtz taking first place, and Finn O'Donnell and Angus Ramsey claiming third in the MU16 category.

In the women's races, Payton Daley Scheingraber secured strong finishes across all three events, earning third place in the FU16 8km skate and second place in the classic pursuit. Anna Gilman represented SVSEF well in the FU18/20 division with consistent top-10 performances throughout the weekend.

"Sloppy slush skiing on Saturday followed by ice rink skiing on Sunday," said Adam Meyer, XC Devo Coach. "The team had a blast in Victor. Great way to end the season!"

SVSEF Cross Country Program Director Becky Flynn praised the event organizers and the team-oriented atmosphere: "It was great to see this race come together. Thank you to the Grand Targhee Ski Foundation for putting on a great event under challenging conditions. We are so grateful to be able to close out the race season with this fun, team-oriented event."

Photo: Cyrus Pott takes the overall win at the 2026 Western Club Championships in Victor, Idaho.

SVSEF Athlete Results

Saturday, March 14 – Skate Race (Distance)

MU18/20 – 8km
1st – Cyrus Pott

MU16 – 8km
4th – Bailey Kurtz
7th – Finn O'Donnell
10th – Cam Gilman

MU14 – 4km
7th – Augie Allaire
12th – Cody Lloyd

FU18/20 – 8km
6th – Anna Gilman

FU16 – 8km
3rd – Payton Daley Scheingraber
5th – Adeline Jacoby
7th – Tessa Dondero

Saturday, March 14 – Team Sprint Skate (1.5km)

MU18/20
1st – Cyrus Pott/Bailey Kurtz

MU16
3rd – Finn O'Donnell/Angus Ramsey
4th – Cam Gilman/Lukas Fitz

MU14
3rd – Augie Allaire/Cody Lloyd

FU18/20
6th – Anna Gilman/Tessa Dondero

FU16
4th – Payton Daley Scheingraber/Adeline Jacoby

Sunday, March 15 – Classic Pursuit

MU18/20
1st – Cyrus Pott

MU16
4th – Bailey Kurtz
9th – Cam Gilman

MU14
5th – Augie Allaire
10th – Cody Lloyd

FU18/20
5th – Anna Gilman

FU16
2nd – Payton Daley Scheingraber
5th – Adeline Jacoby

Complete results for the Western Club Championships may be found at: https://zone4.ca/event/2026/2lGvxp/

About the Western Club Championships

The Western Club Championships is an annual cross country ski racing event that brings together clubs from across the western United States for team-focused competition. The event features a combination of individual and relay races in both skate and classic techniques, providing a fun and competitive end to the Nordic racing season.

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by Will Falltrick

North Series Skiers Showcase Skills in Final Pastry Cup

Athletes demonstrate technical progress in drill-based event as season enters final stretch

KETCHUM, Idaho – March 16, 2026 – Athletes from the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) Alpine U12 North Series Team gathered for the fourth and final installment of the season’s Pastry Cup on March 15, with this version serving as a unique skills-based competition designed to highlight the technical fundamentals of ski racing.

Unlike previous iterations, the final Pastry Cup of every season focuses on core skiing movements and drills that form the foundation of high-level alpine racing. Athletes were evaluated across several technical exercises—including tip-down drills, skating, hop turns, and straight-line edge set challenges—that test balance, edging, and agility.

“It was a great day for our fourth Pastry Cup, which also happens to be my favorite,” said North Series Head Coach Claudia Stern. “We hammer these drills and skills all season because they are crucial to progression as ski racers. Every World Cup ski racer spends hours working on drills—yes, even Mikaela Shiffrin.”

After several weeks spent refining these movements in training, athletes demonstrated noticeable improvement during the competition.

“We are so proud of every one of you who worked so hard over the past few weeks perfecting your skills for this event,” Stern said. “These skills are not easy, and everyone showed impressive improvement thanks to all their hard work.”

With just a few weeks remaining in the season, the North Series team now turns its attention to upcoming events. Athletes will travel to Jackson Hole, Wyoming for the Intermountain Division (IMD) Championships before returning to Sun Valley for the final week of training. The season will conclude with the Gary Black Jr. Memorial Race on March 29 at Arc Park, featuring a fun dual race format followed by end-of-season awards. 

Athlete Results

Boys

Girls

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by Will Falltrick

SVSEF Alpine FIS Team Earns Podiums at Western Region Junior Championships

Leahy captures overall title and qualifies for U.S. Nationals as Sun Valley athletes compete across six-race series in Grand Targhee, Wyoming

Athletes from the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) Alpine FIS Team stood out with fast racing at the Western Region Junior Championships, held March 3–8 at Grand Targhee Resort in Wyoming. The championship series brought together top U18 and U21 ski racers from across the western United States, including athletes from California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Idaho.

Despite a week of challenging and varied weather that included freezing rain, snow, fog, wind, and sunshine, organizers successfully hosted all six races scheduled for each gender, including two Super-G (SG), two Giant Slalom (GS), and two Slalom (SL) competitions. SVSEF athletes showed adaptability throughout the week, producing several podium finishes, top-10 results, and career-best performances.

Leading the way for SVSEF was Elliot Leahy, who captured victories in both women’s SG races and secured the overall WRJC win, earning qualification to the upcoming U.S. Alpine Championships (U.S. Nationals).

“There were many great performances at this event, with career bests for some and excellent head-to-head results against peers,” said SVSEF Alpine FIS Team Head Coach Will Courtney. “Including an overall win for Elliot Leahy, punching her ticket to U.S. Nationals.”

Leahy credited the strong team atmosphere throughout the week: “The series was super fun with the team and I am looking forward to going to the U.S. Nationals in a few weeks,” she said.

SVSEF athletes delivered strong results across all disciplines during the championship series. In addition to her two Super-G victories and overall title, Leahy added fourth and eighth-place finishes in GS and seventh in SL. Lucy Olson reached the podium with a third-place SG finish and added several top-10 results, including fifth in SG and ninth in SL. Autumn Carpenter stood out in the SL events with sixth and fifth-place finishes, while Alyssa Huntsman recorded top-20 results in both SL races. Huxley Flood led the men’s squad with top-20 finishes in both SG races and GS.

Complete results can be found at: https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/event-details.html?sectorcode=AL&eventid=59235&seasoncode=2026

Photo: Elliot Leahy atop the podium in first place at Western Regional Junior Championships.

SVSEF Athlete Results (Top 30 by Event)

Super-G – March 3
Men
16th – Huxley Flood (U18)

Women
1st – Elliot Leahy (U18)
3rd – Lucy Olson (U18)
14th – Perri DeGennaro (U18)
17th – Alyssa Huntsman (U18)
28th – Camden Bakker (U18)
29th – Violet Kovel (U18)

Super-G – March 4
Men
17th – Huxley Flood (U18)

Women
1st – Elliot Leahy (U18)
5th – Lucy Olson (U18)
18th – Perri DeGennaro (U18)
25th – Alyssa Huntsman (U18)
26th – Violet Kovel (U18)
27th – Autumn Carpenter (U18) 

Giant Slalom – March 5
Women
4th – Elliot Leahy (U18)
22nd – Violet Kovel (U18)
25th – Perri DeGennaro (U18)

Giant Slalom – March 6
Men
18th – Huxley Flood (U18)

Women
8th – Elliot Leahy (U18)
14th – Autumn Carpenter (U18)
18th – Lucy Olson (U18)
23rd – Perri DeGennaro (U18)

Slalom – March 7
Men
23rd – Thomas Connell (U18)

Women
6th – Autumn Carpenter (U18)
7th – Elliot Leahy (U18)
11th – Lucy Olson (U18)
19th – Alyssa Huntsman (U18)
25th – Violet Kovel (U18)

Slalom – March 8
Women
5th – Autumn Carpenter (U18)
9th – Lucy Olson (U18)
10th – Alyssa Huntsman (U18)
19th – Alaska Sewell (U18)
20th – Camden Bakker (U18)

Complete results are available https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/event-details.html?sectorcode=AL&eventid=59235&seasoncode=2026

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by Will Falltrick

SVSEF Alpine FIS Team Shines at U18 Nationals with 1–2 Overall Finish

Elodie Olsen claims national title while Samantha Milne takes second at Cannon Mountain, NH

Athletes from the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) Alpine FIS Team competed March 2–8 at the U18 Alpine National Championships at Mittersill at Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire, one of the top junior championship events in the United States.

The elite competition brought together 160 U18 alpine ski racers – 80 men and 80 women – who qualified via regional and national races throughout the season. SVSEF was represented by eight athletes: Ulrich Rossi, Henry Roberts, Tucker Reimund, and Conway Selznick on the men’s side, and Elodie Olsen, Samantha Milne, Ruby Smith, and Ava Huey for the women.

SVSEF athletes delivered exceptional performances throughout the week, highlighted by a dominant showing in the women’s speed events and the overall standings. Elodie Olsen captured the U18 women’s overall national title, while Samantha Milne finished second overall, giving SVSEF the top two spots in the women’s combined standings. 

Olsen led the field with a victory in Super-G (SG) and added a third-place finish in slalom (SL) and a 10th-place result in downhill (DH). Milne also had an outstanding week, earning second place in SG and third in DH, along with an eighth-place finish in SL.

Ruby Smith posted multiple top-10 performances, including ninth in SL and 16th in DH, while Ava Huey recorded consistent results across the speed and technical events. On the men’s side, Ulrich Rossi led the SVSEF men’s squad with a 17th-place finish in SL and a top-20 result in SG. Henry Roberts, Tucker Reimund, and Conway Selznick also competed across multiple disciplines during the championship series.

“The athletes did an incredible job representing their club and community at U18 Nationals, they showed integrity and fortitude,” said SVSEF Alpine FIS Team Coach Nik Angriman. “We are incredibly proud of all the athletes, but a huge shout-out to Elodie and Sammy for finishing first and second in the overall women’s category.”

“I’m really happy with how the series went and proud of the way our team competed all week,” said Olsen. “Even though the GS was cancelled, we had great conditions for the other races and it made for a really fun and competitive week. It was an awesome experience racing alongside such a strong team.”

Photo: Atop the U18 Nationals podium with Elodie Olsen with first overall and Samantha Milne in second overall.

SVSEF Athlete Results

Men’s Downhill
36th – Conway Selznick

Women’s Downhill
3rd – Samantha Milne
10th – Elodie Olsen
16th – Ruby Smith
25th – Ava Huey

Men’s Super-G
20th – Ulrich Rossi
36th – Henry Roberts
52nd – Tucker Reimund
58th – Conway Selznick

Women’s Super-G
1st – Elodie Olsen
2nd – Samantha Milne
19th – Ruby Smith
23rd – Ava Huey

Men’s Giant Slalom
40th – Henry Roberts
41st – Conway Selznick
48th – Tucker Reimund

Women’s Giant Slalom
Cancelled

Men’s Slalom
17th – Ulrich Rossi

Women’s Slalom
3rd – Elodie Olsen
8th – Samantha Milne
9th – Ruby Smith
27th – Ava Huey

Women’s Overall
1st – Elodie Olsen
2nd – Samantha Milne

Complete results: https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/event-details.html?sectorcode=AL&eventid=58555&seasoncode=2026

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by Will Falltrick

Alpine U14 IMD Team Closes Out Qualifier Series with Standout Performances in Utah

Huey sweeps three races while teammates notch podium finishes at Utah Olympic Park and Snowbird

Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) Alpine U14 IMD athletes wrapped up their Intermountain Division (IMD) qualifying series with a busy week of racing at Utah Olympic Park in Park City and Snowbird Resort. The final qualifier events featured Giant Slalom (GS) and Slalom (SL) races for both boys and girls, followed by a Super G (SG) make-up race for the boys that had previously been postponed due to weather.

The Park City qualifier, held Feb. 27– Mar. 1 at the Utah Olympic Park, included two GS races and one SL race. Despite warm temperatures throughout the weekend, athletes were able to take advantage of the unique opportunity to race on West Peak, a venue that could host technical events during the 2034 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

“It was really cool to finally have the U14s race at the Utah Olympic Park, especially at West Peak,” said Angelica Simari Birkner, U14 IMD Second Year Head Coach. “It’s exciting to think that technical events at the 2034 Olympics might be held on that hill.”

SVSEF athletes delivered several standout performances during the series, led by Mia Huey, who swept all three women’s races with victories in both GS events and the SL. The girls team also saw strong podium and top-ten finishes throughout the weekend.

“It was very choppy and challenging on the pitch, but very fun,” said one SVSEF athlete following the races.

Following the Park City races, the boys traveled to Snowbird Resort for make-up Super G races on March 2–3. Weather conditions limited the schedule, allowing only one race to be completed, but athletes were still able to gain valuable speed experience.

“Snowbird worked hard to make it happen for the IMD U14 boys, and it was great to get a training run and a race run in the books,” said Ben Roberts, First-Year U14 Head Coach. “The fog and snow had other ideas for the second and third races, but at least the boys got some fun powder turns in on Tuesday.”

Photo: Mia Huey on the top step of the podium in Park City.

SVSEF Athlete Results

Giant Slalom – Feb. 27
Women
1st – Mia Huey
3rd – Savannah Pringle
10th – Ava Gilmour
20th – Brady Bloomfield
22nd – Brianna Smiley
27th – Halley McGrew
31st – Stevie Crist
35th – Kinley Letson

Men
4th – James Holman
5th – Alex Grant
26th – Theron Andra
29th – Breclan McCarthy
30th – Brixen Ehleringer

Giant Slalom – Feb. 28
Women
1st – Mia Huey
17th – Jennings Fraser
18th – Stevie Crist
20th – Kinley Letson
25th – Halley McGrew
30th – Mable Diez
32nd – Madlein Bakker
35th – Georgia Bea Stansberry

Men
7th – Theron Andra
11th – Alex Grant
26th – Breclan McCarthy

Slalom – March 1

Women
1st – Mia Huey
2nd – Brianna Smiley
14th – Jennings Fraser
19th – Kinley Letson
20th – Stevie Crist
25th – Makkena Steel
27th – Madlein Bakker
33rd – Arielle Reis
34th – Ava Gilmour

Men
5th – Theron Andra
7th – James Holman
13th – Breclan McCarthy
14th – Brixen Ehleringer
25th – Reid Wilke
28th – Halsten Bruun

Super G – March 2 (Snowbird)

Men
11th – James Holman
12th – Theron Andra
18th – Charlie Spengler
21st – Alex Grant
27th – Breclan McCarthy

The second and third Super G races scheduled at Snowbird were canceled due to weather conditions.

Complete results are available here

Complete list of SVSEF athletes who qualified for Regional or Tri-Divisional Championships below.

Women:

Regionals: March 19th-22nd Sugar Bowl, CA

-Mia Huey

-Savanah Pringle

-Bria Smiley

Tri-Divisionals: March 20th-23rd Snowbird, UT

-Halley McGrew

-Jennings Fraser

-Madlein Bakker

-Ava Gilmour

-Stevie Crist

-Kinley Letson

-Makkena Steel

-Maggie Leady

-Hope Lloyd

-Mable Diez

-Lilly Little

-Ariel Reis

-Gigi Hill

-Presley Jensen

-Hartley Tindall

-Georgia Bea Stansberry 

Tri-D's alternates:

-Olivia Heyser 9th alternate

-Hannah Howard 16th alternate

Men:

Regionals: March 19th-22nd Sugar Bowl, CA

-Alex Grant

-Theron Andra

-James Holman

Tri-Divisionals: March 20th-23rd Snowbird, UT

-Brixen Ehleringer

-Breclan McCarthy

-Charlie Spengler

-Reid Wilke

-Halsten Bruun

-Cody Lloyd

Alternates for Tri-D's

-Hunter Gove. 5th alternate

-Chase Martens 7th alternate

-Tyler Dolsen 10th alternate

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by Will Falltrick

SVSEF Cross Country Teams Qualify 12 for Junior Nationals at West Yellowstone

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by Will Falltrick

SVSEF North Series Team Closes Qualifier Season on a High Note at Cranston Cup

Podiums, perseverance, and powerful lessons mark final IMD Championships qualifying event at Tamarack

Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) North Series athletes wrapped up their final Intermountain Division (IMD) qualifier Feb. 28–March 1 at the Cranston Cup at Tamarack Resort. The weekend featured Giant Slalom (GS) and Slalom (SL) races and served as the final qualifying opportunity for IMD Championships. 

It was a fitting finale to the North Series regular season with a weekend filled with fast skiing, podium finishes, breakthrough performances, and valuable experiences gained.

“It was another epic weekend with lots of great skiing, podiums and a few tears. There were lots of lessons learned this weekend,” said Head North Series Team Coach Claudia Stern. “It was a great apprenticeship for these athletes and a reminder that growth in ski racing comes from both success and setbacks.”

One athlete remarked "You told me to charge hard and I did, and I crashed!!" as an example of young racers who are learning to find their limits.

Leading the way for SVSEF was Walker Gove, who not only claimed victory in Sunday’s slalom but also secured the overall Cranston Cup title for the boys – a standout achievement to conclude the last regular season race of the season before the IMD Championships.

With the North Series qualifier season complete, SVSEF athletes now look ahead to IMD Championships March 20-22 in Jackson Hole, WY. 

SVSEF Athlete Results

Slalom – Boys
1st – Walker Gove
2nd – Asa Sattler
4th – Ford Rixon
7th – Keller Spachman
10th – Cole Martens

Slalom – Girls
2nd – Dylan Spengler
3rd – Blakely Martnes
4th – Tea Smither
5th – Dylan Meyer
7th – Estelle Turzian
8th – Freya Moffat
9th – Rienza Buonchristiani
10th – Lexi Barthel

Giant Slalom – Boys
2nd – Dylan Smiley
3rd – Ford Rixon
4th – Walker Gove
8th – Evan McGregor

Giant Slalom – Girls
1st – Alta Questad
3rd – Kayla Kloster
4th – Marie McNeal
5th – Estelle Turzian
6th – Dylan Spengler
7th – Amelia Beck
8th – Sophie Robins
10th – Dylan Meyer
11th – Tea Smither
13th – Payton Minor

Complete results are available on the IMD website: here

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by Will Falltrick

SVSEF XC Wins Overall Title at Intermountain Youth Championships at Lake Creek

Nearly 200 XC skiers compete at Lake Creek trails with multiple SVSEF victories

Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) Cross Country Prep and Devo athletes captured the Overall Team Award at the Intermountain Youth Championships this weekend, rising to the top of a field of nearly 200 competitors from eight regional clubs at Lake Creek Trails north of Ketchum.

The two-day championship event featured skate distance and Skier X disciplines on Saturday, followed by mass start classic distance races on Sunday. SVSEF athletes earned the Overall Team Award based on top-five finishes across all age categories, showcasing the depth and strength of the program.

Bivi Scott-Clair led the individual performances with two first-place finishes in the FU10 category, winning both the 1km skate and 1km classic races. Alexandra Chudleigh matched that achievement in the FU8 division, also claiming victory in both disciplines.

Additional standout performances included Hazel Schmidt, who earned second place in the FU12 2km mass start classic distance and second in the 2km skate distance, and Nina O’Sullivan, who took third in both the FU14 2.6km skate distance and mass start classic distance races. Catherine Jameson rounded out multiple podium finishes with third in the FU12 2km skate distance and fifth in the 2km mass start classic distance.

XC Devo North Head Coach Martha Pendl reflected on the event and the young athletes in attendance, “I’m amazed at the norm we live in…with kids growing up who have the gumption and courage to ski with toothpicks strapped to their feet and swords whipping around in their hands, it’s remarkable we call it fun! But the fun is a result of the time, kindness, and simple JOY our skiers, families, and coaches practice all season long. We love building our own best adventures, and it certainly showed at IYCs.”

The event took on special significance after being relocated to Sun Valley just weeks before the competition due to this year’s limited snowpack. Despite the last-minute venue change, the championships brought together eight of the Intermountain Division’s 14 clubs for a celebration of cross country skiing complete with costumes, obstacle courses, and high energy throughout the weekend.

“In a season when kids have had to be so adaptable to changing conditions, I think it was so meaningful and important to all of them to have the event this weekend,” said Kelley Yeates, Head Prep Team Coach and IYC Race Director. “It was reflective in their smiles all weekend long. It was really special, and we are so glad we could pull it off for our division.”

SVSEF Cross Country Program Director Becky Flynn added “This weekend was exactly what we all needed! The IYC’s are a celebration of cross country skiing, racing and fun! There were costumes, wigs, obstacle courses, coach races and the energy and enthusiasm was high! A huge thank you to our race crew, the BCRD, our sponsors and our volunteers – they made this event what it was!”

SVSEF Athlete Results (Top 3 SVSEF Athletes in Each Event)

Saturday, February 28

MU14 - 2.6km Skate Distance

8. Augie Allaire
9. Ben Wellner
10. Jed Schmidt

FU14 - 2.6km Skate Distance

3. Nina O’Sullivan
4. Payton Daley-Scheingraber
5. Penelope Zook

MU12 - 2km Skate Distance

4. Henry Allaire
5. Stephen Chudleigh
6. Graham Lyle

FU12 - 2km Skate Distance

2. Hazel Schmidt
3. Catherine Jameson
4. Juniper Farmer

MU10 - 1km Skate Distance

4. Simon Reuter
5. Ry Hopeman
6. McKay Johnson

FU10 - 1km Skate Distance

1. Bivi Scott-Clair
2. Grace Boccabella
3. Nora Seppa

MU8 - 1km Skate Distance

3. Finn Mallory

FU8 - 1km Skate Distance

1. Alexandra Chudleigh
2. Finley Vaughan
3. Hayes Marsted

Sunday, March 1 – Classic, Mass Start

MU14 - 2.6km Classic Mass Start Distance

4. Augie Allaire
5. Ben Wellner
6. Cody Lloyd

FU14 - 2.6km Classic Mass Start Distance

3. Nina O’Sullivan
4. Payton Daley-Scheingraber
5. Sadie Guss

MU12 - 2km Classic Mass Start Distance

4. Henry Allaire
5. Stephen Chudleigh
6. Graham Lyle

FU12 - 2km Classic Mass Start Distance

2. Hazel Schmidt
3. Catherine Jameson
4. Tallulah Gerald

MU10 - 1km Classic Mass Start Distance

5. Simon Reuter
6. Veikko Paxson
7. Ry Hopeman

FU10 - 1km Classic Mass Start Distance

1. Bivi Scott-Clair
2. Roxanna Gawlinski
3. Nora Seppa

MU8 - 1km Classic Mass Start Distance

2. Finn Mallory
3. Luke Harris

FU8 - 1km Classic Mass Start Distance

1. Alexandra Chudleigh
2. Finley Vaughan

For complete event results, please visit: 2026 Intermountain Youth Championships Results

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by Will Falltrick

Sammy Smith Continues Climb Taking 23rd in Skate Sprint at Sweden World Cup

Sammy Smith Continues Climb Taking 23rd in Skate Sprint at Sweden World Cup

Up next Smith to compete this week at U23 Cross Country World Ski Championships in Norway

SVSEF XC Gold Team and U.S. Ski Team member, Sammy Smith, was the second American at the Coop FIS Cross Country World Cup at Falun, Sweden on Saturday. Smith finished 19th in the qualifier earning her a spot in the quarterfinals where she placed fifth in her heat landing her in 23rd overall and not far behind Jessie Diggins who placed 17th.

“It is great to see Sammy skiing right up there with the best in the world!” said Becky Flynn, SVSEF Cross Country Program Director. “Each time she races in the heats, she is learning important tactics that will help her in the future! She has the speed and technical ability to be right in there. We are all excited to see how she will do at the World Junior Championships this week as she has a skate sprint scheduled for Tuesday, March 3.”  

Smith has been on a whirlwind of a race tour—straight from the Winter Olympic Games in Italy to the World Cup in Sweden and immediately onto the 2026 Junior/U23 Cross Country World Ski Championships March 2-8 in Lillehammer, Norway. Her coaches are confident that if anyone can handle it, Sammy can.

Ahead of the Junior Worlds this week, SVSEF XC Gold Team Head Coach Peter Holmes applauded Smith for her strong and courageous performance in Falun. “Sammy had an awesome day in the sprint in Falun. She started with a solid qualifier and then made a really good gutsy move in the quarters. Unfortunately it didn’t stick and her day ended there, but that’s how you need to ski at that level sometimes to move into the semis. We’re both super excited to have her representing Team USA at U23 World Champs in Norway. We’re super excited for her and hopefully will be cheering her all the way to the finals in tomorrow’s Sprint.”

Smith will be racing as a U23 where her first and one of her favorite events is slated for Tuesday in the Skate Sprint. She will potentially race in all U23 events.

U23 Race Schedule (+8 hours to local Lillehammer, Norway race start times)

• March 3 - 2:00 a.m. MT - Skate Sprint
• March 5 - 2:00 a.m. MT - 20km Skate Mass start
• March 7 - 4:30 a.m. MT - 10km Classic Interval start
• March 8 - 4:00 a.m. MT - 4 X 5km relay - Classic/Free

For complete event schedule of the Juniors/U23 World Ski Championships, please visit: https://www.skiforbundet.no/arrangementer/jwsc26/program/ 

For live streaming of the Juniors/U23 World Ski Championships, please visit: https://watch.fis-ski.com/section/Cross-Country 

For live results of the Juniors/U23 World Ski Championships, please visit: https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/event-details.html?sectorcode=CC&eventid=62427&seasoncode=2026 

Photo: Reese Brown/NNF

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by Heather Foster