Snowmaker Classic Race Kicks off the Season in Support of SVSEF XC Program
2nd-Annual race at Lake Creek sees strong attendance and fun atmosphere
The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation’s (SVSEF) Cross Country (XC) program hosted the 2026 Snowmaker Classic race to celebrate the start of the Nordic ski season with a community-wide race in support of SVSEF’s cross-country program.
The Snowmaker Classic is a fun and inclusive race for all ages and abilities and, alongside the Après Snowmaker Fundraiser, is dedicated to raising critical funds for the SVSEF XC program and the facilities that support it. Funds raised through the event directly sustain essential resources supporting more than 220 SVSEF XC athletes.
The classic technique race welcomed 74 competitors ranging in age from 6 to 78, who competed across four distances: 1 km, 2.5 km, 5 km, and 10 km. Athletes of all ages enjoyed ideal racing conditions on the recently opened Lake Creek Trails, making for a memorable early-season event.
“It was a gorgeous day and the perfect way for our community to kick off the XC ski season,” said SVSEF XC Assistant Program Director Kelley Yeates. “Events like the Snowmaker Classic highlight the strength of our local Nordic community and the shared excitement for another winter on snow.”
SVSEF extends its sincere thanks to all competitors, volunteers, supporters, and sponsors who made the event possible, with special appreciation to the Blaine County Recreation District (BCRD) for exceptional trail grooming.
Looking ahead, the SVSEF XC Team will travel to Utah for its first Junior National Qualifier of the season Jan. 21–24. The next SVSEF community Nordic event, the Town Sprints, will take place Feb. 4 in Ketchum.
For complete race results, click on the link: https://www.webscorer.com/race?raceid=417716
SVSEF Alpine U12 North Series Team Opens Season at Grand Targhee
Strong podium finishes and personal bests mark first race of the year
The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation’s Alpine U12 North Series Team kicked off its 2026 race season Jan. 10–11 at Grand Targhee Resort, competing in the Grand Targhee North Series Qualifier. The two-day event featured two giant slalom (GS) races and marked the first North Series qualifier of the year, as well as the first-ever ski race for several SVSEF athletes.
“This was our first North Series qualifier of the year and the first ski race for several of our athletes,” said Claudia Stern, Head Coach of SVSEF’s Alpine U12 North Series Team. “Everyone showed up with purpose and drive ready to give it their best. We were lucky with some of the best race conditions we have had at this resort—cold temps, a firm surface, and clear skies. In between race runs, kids enjoyed themselves with some great powder skiing. Targhee delivered! We saw some great skiing with podiums for some and personal bests for a lot of our racers.”
Saturday’s GS saw excellent results from the SVSEF girls, led by Kayla Kloster’s second place finish, followed by Marie McNeal in fourth and Amelia Beck in sixth. The boys also raced very well, with Ford Rixon topping the podium with a first-place finish, Asa Sattler securing third, and Walker Gove finishing eighth.
Sunday’s GS races capped off a strong weekend for SVSEF North Series racers, as athletes throughout the field continued to build confidence and record personal best results with standout performances from both the girls and boys. The girls were led by Alta Questad’s second place finish, with Kloster in fourth and McNeal finishing fifth. For the boys, Asa Sattler delivered a commanding performance to claim first place, supported by strong top-ten finishes from Dylan Smiley in fifth and Gove securing eighth.
SVSEF Athlete Results
U12 Girls GS Jan. 10
2nd - Kayla Kloster
4th - Marie McNeal
6th - Amelia Beck
8th - Dylan Meyer
9th - Blakely Martens
11th - Sophie Robins
12th - Dylan Spengler
13th - Teodora Smither
14th - Rienza Buoncristiani
16th - Mckenna McCarthy
17th - Freya Moffat
22nd - Chandler Letson
24th - Lexi Barthel
25th - Stella Smith
27th - Ivy McNamara
29th - Eleanor Hopeman
32nd - Tindsley Glenne
36th - Lila Vanderwyst
39th - Payton Minor
40th - Maude Bates
41st - Blakeslee Tindall
42nd - Rosie Hill
45th - Riley Copperman
46th - Morgan Thomas
50th - Eleanor Robinson
67th - Rose Vanderwyst
U12 Boys GS Jan. 10
1st - Ford Rixon
3rd - Asa Sattler
8th - Walker Gove
12th - Dylan Smiley
14th - Evan McGregor
22nd - Keller Spachman
23rd - Tucker Thurston
25th - Graham Lyle
27th - Cole Martens
37th - Dillon Wells
39th - Tommy Banta
42nd - Nathan Sattler
44th - Samuel Sattler
47th - Anderson Tooley
60th - Jayden Orihuela
U12 Girls GS Jan. 11
2nd - Alta Questad
4th - Kayla Kloster
5th - Marie McNeal
8th - Dylan Meyer
9th - Sophie Robins
10th - Teodora Smither
12th - Mckenna McCarthy
15th - Rienza Buoncristiani
16th - Freya Moffat
17th - Ivy McNamara
18th - Estelle Turzian
19th - Chandler Letson
23rd - Tindsley Glenne
25th - Eleanor Hopeman
26th - Lexi Barthel
30th - Payton Minor
35th - Stella Smith
37th - Lila Vanderwyst
38th - Riley Copperman
39th - Maude Bates
43rd - Morgan Thomas
44th - Rosie Hill
46th - Blakeslee Tindall
65th - Rose Vanderwyst
U12 Boys GS Jan. 11
1st - Asa Sattler
5th - Dylan Smiley
8th - Walker Gove
9th - Vance Gardiner
15th - Evan McGregor
21nd - Cole Martens
29th - Tucker Thurston
33rd - Dillon Wells
36nd - Graham Lyle
38th - Nathan Sattler
39th - Samuel Sattler
40th - Blaise Terra
47th - Tommy Banta
49th - Anderson Tooley
For complete North Series race results, click on the following link and go to the "North Series" button: https://imdalpine.org/race-results/
Photo: Asa Sattler raced to the top step on Sunday's Boys GS Race
SVSEF Alpine U14 IMD Team Shines at Snow King Qualifier
With three podium finishes, Savannah Pringle races to overall race series title
The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation’s Alpine U14 IMD Team traveled to Snow King in Jackson Hole, WY January 9-11 to compete in the Snow King Qualifier. The three-day event featured two slalom (SL) races and one giant slalom (GS) and served as an important qualifying opportunity within the Intermountain Division. Athletes found excellent snow conditions and a competitive field, delivering impressive performances across all three days of racing.
“Conditions were on point and it was a great race!” said Second Year Alpine U14 IMD Head Coach Angelica Birkner. “Our performance from our athletes was outstanding. This was an important qualifier, and the team showed confidence, focus, and determination from start to finish.”
The weekend opened with a slalom race on Friday, where SVSEF athletes dominated the women’s field with Savannah Pringle earning the win, followed closely by Mia Huey in second place. Brianna Smiley just missed the podium finishing fourth. In the men’s race, Alex Grant led the team with an 11th place finish.
The second slalom race on Saturday saw continued success, with both Huey and Pringle remarkably sharing the top step of the women’s podium in first! The men posted several solid results as well, led by Grant in sixth place.
The Snow King Qualifier concluded on Sunday with GS, where SVSEF athletes again secured multiple podium finishes. Grant finished the weekend on a strong note taking third place for the men in the GS. Huey and Pringle finished second and third respectively in the women’s race. Awards were presented to the top five men and women in the race series, with Savannah Pringle taking the women’s overall win.
SVSEF Athlete Results
U14 Women SL Jan. 9
1st - Savannah Pringle
2nd - Mia Huey
4th - Brianna Smiley
20th - Madlein Bakker
23rd - Halley McGrew
24th - Makenna Steel
30th - Stevie Crist
U14 Men SL Jan. 9
11th - Alex Grant
20th - Halsted Bruun
26th - Reid Wilke
32nd - Hunter Gove
U14 Women SL Jan. 10
1st - Mia Huey
1st - Savannah Pringle
6th - Brianna Smiley
20th - Makenna Steel
23rd - Halley McGrew
24th - Madlein Bakker
29th - Ava Gilmour
34th - Hope Finnegan Lloyd
U14 Men SL Jan. 10
6th - Alex Grant
9th - Theron Andra
12th - Brixen Ehleringer
15th - Cody Lloyd
17th - Halsten Bruun
19th - Charlie Spengler
34th - Chase Martens
U14 Women GS Jan. 11
2nd - Mia Huey
3rd - Savannah Pringle
13th - Madlein Bakker
19th - Halley McGrew
22nd - Hope Finnegan Lloyd
23rd - Ava Gilmour
25th - Jennings Fraser
30th - Stevie Crist
U14 Men GS Jan. 11
3rd - Alex Grant
22nd - Breclan McCarthy
27th - Cody Lloyd
29th - Charlie Spengler
35th - Brixen Ehleringer
For complete U14 IMD race results, click on the following link and go to the U14 Series button: https://imdalpine.org/race-results/
Photo: Savannah Pringle won the women's overall event title
SVSEF Alpine U16 and U14 IMD Teams Compete at Sean Nurse Open in Jackson Hole
SUN VALLEY, Idaho – The SVSEF Alpine U16 and U14 IMD teams traveled to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Dec. 20-23 to compete in the Sean Nurse Open, an open tech series featuring Slalom (SL) and Giant Slalom (GS) events. The series drew a strong field of competitors and served as an important qualifying opportunity for U16 athletes to earn their way to the Burke Mountain National Project.
Athletes faced demanding and variable snow conditions throughout the event, with soft snow creating deep ruts and testing technical abilities. Despite the challenges, the U14 IMD crew relied on their early season training to adapt to the conditions with these efforts illustrated by podium finishes, multiple top-10 results, and consistent skill progression.
“It was a rodeo,” said U14 Second Year Head Coach Angelica Birkner. “Conditions were quite tough with very soft snow, but our crew did a great job adjusting from day one, and finished the series with some strong results.”
Athletes also remarked on the challenging course conditions “The ruts were so big!” one athlete noted.
Competition opened with Slalom races on Dec. 20 and 21. On the men’s side, Colter Bengtson led the way with an impressive third-place finish on Dec. 20, followed by a sixth-place result the next day. The women’s team posted several solid performances, including top-10 finishes from Jasmine Smiley (7th) and Savannah Pringle (10th) on Dec. 21. The scheduled GS on Dec. 22 was canceled due to weather, while GS racing resumed on Dec. 23.
The Sean Nurse Open provided valuable experience in challenging conditions and high-level competition, while also playing a meaningful role in U16 athlete qualification pathways for the season ahead.
SVSEF Athlete Results
Women SL Dec. 20
11th - Mia Huey (U14 IMD)
34th - Iliana Little (U14 IMD)
35th - Stevie Crist (U14 IMD)
Men SL Dec. 20
3rd - Colter Bengtson (U16)
14th - Wyatt Limburg (U16)
25th - Alex Brown (U16)
32nd - Cameron Beck (U16)
Women SL Dec. 21
7th - Jasmine Smiley (U16)
10th - Savannah Pringle (U14 IMD)
14th - Mia Huey (U14 IMD)
18th - Alexandra Heidel (U16)
23rd - Piper Spengler (U16)
30th - Bianca Smith (U16)
32nd - Brianna Smiley (U14 IMD)
Men SL Dec. 21
6th - Colter Bengtson (U16)
17th - Jake Shlatter (U16)
23rd - Cameron Beck (U16)
32nd - Corbin Flood (U16)
GS 12/22: Canceled due to weather
Women GS Dec. 23
10th - Neena DeGennaro (U16)
19th - Jasmine Smiley (U16)
23rd - Alexandra Heidel (U16)
25th - Savannah Pringle (U14 IMD)
27th - Colette Duke (U16)
34th - Camille Reid (U16)
40th - Georgia Baxley (U16)
43rd - Gaia Luem (U16)
52nd - Sophie Kanowsky (U16)
55th - Nina Viesturs (U16)
64th - Iliana Little (U14 IMD)
66th - Stevie Crist (U14 IMD)
70th - Cece Connell (U16)
72nd - Bella Bren (U16)
Men GS Dec. 23
11th - Corbin Flood (U16)
16th - Cameron Beck (U16)
19th - Wyatt Limburg (U16)
22nd - Jack Schlatter (U16)
For complete Sean Nurse IMD Open race results, please visit https://imdalpine.org/race-results/ and click on “Open Series.”
Photo: Men's SL Race 12/20 - Colter Bengston U16, 3rd place
SVSEF Alpine FIS Team Travels to Western Region FIS Devo Open in Big Sky, MT
Ruby Smith and Elodie Olsen top U18 podiums among large, competitive fields
The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) FIS Alpine team opened their 2025–26 race season at the Western Region FIS Devo Open hosted at Big Sky Resort in Big Sky, MT, Dec. 15-18. The event featured two Giant Slalom (GS) races and one Slalom (SL) race and drew athletes from across the Western Region, including competitors from California, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, and Utah, as well as several Division I collegiate athletes.
Each race consisted of exceptionally deep fields, with approximately 115 women and 125 men competing in each event. Despite the challenges, SVSEF athletes showed determination and good early-season form highlighted by multiple U18 podium finishes and solid results throughout the men’s and women’s teams.
“This week the athletes showed great confidence and grit,” said SVSEF FIS Team Assistant and Assistant Alpine Director Charlotte Gourlay. “Dedication to strength and conditioning and the prep period have helped the athletes start the season right.”
Athletes echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the value of racing in large, competitive fields. “It was a great experience in Big Sky,” said SVSEF FIS Team athlete Tucker Reimund. “It showed what it was like to run from the back and the persistence that you need to get down the hill and finish the race.”
On the women’s side, Ruby Smith led the way with an impressive third-place finish in the opening GS race on Dec. 15, earning first in the U18 category. She followed up with another strong performance on Dec. 16, placing ninth overall and second among U18 athletes. Elodie Olsen capped off the series with a standout second-place finish in the Slalom on Dec. 18, taking the top spot in the U18 category. The women’s team consistently placed multiple athletes inside the top 30 throughout the series.
The men’s team also posted solid results in the highly competitive fields. Henry Roberts recorded top-20 finishes in both GS races, including 19th and 15th overall (6th and 5th among U18 athletes). Tucker Reimund was top-placed in the men’s Slalom with a 22nd overall (5th in U18), gaining valuable experience to start the season.
SVSEF Athlete Results
FIS Men GS Dec. 15
19th- Henry Roberts (6th U18)
27th- Tucker Reimund (9th U18)
52nd- Huxley Flood
FIS Women GS Dec. 15
3rd- Ruby Smith (1st U18)
20th- Anna Taylor (5th U18)
24th- Ava Huey (8th U18)
28th- Elliot Leahy (11th U18)
38th- Lucy Olson
41st- Alyssa Huntsman
54th- Perri DeGennaro
58th- Violet Kovel
61st- Alaska Sewell
63rd- Camden Bakker
66th- Iyla Field
73rd- Malaya Yarmark
76th- Amilia Selznick
FIS Men GS Dec. 16
15th- Henry Roberts (5th U18)
FIS Women GS Dec. 16
9th- Ruby Smith (2nd U18)
15th- Samantha Milne (3rd U18)
21st- Ava Huey (5th U18)
27th- Anna Taylor (8th U18)
37th- Autumn Carpenter
43rd- Elliot Leahy
48th- Lucy Olson
57th- Perri DeGennaro
59th- Violet Kovel
60th- Alyssa Huntsman
75th- Alaska Sewell
88th- Amilia Selznick
FIS Men SL Dec. 18
22nd- Tucker Reimund (5th U18)
FIS Women Dec. 18
2nd- Elodie Olsen (1st U18)
10th- Samantha Milne (3rd U18)
18th- Autumn Carpenter
21st- Anna Taylor
30th- Elliot Leahy
38th- Lucy Olson
41st- Alyssa Huntsman
54th- Camden Bakker
59th- Iyla Field
66th- Amilia Selznick
For complete race results please click on the link below: https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/event-details.html?sectorcode=AL&eventid=59238&seasoncode=2026
Photo: Womens GS Race 12/16- Ruby Smith 2nd U18, Samantha Milne 3rd U18
Event on Jan. 10 supports SVSEF XC’s community-wide impact and programming
SVSEF Cross Country Program to Host Second Annual Après Snowmaker Fundraiser
The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation’s Cross Country Program (SVSEF XC) is hosting its second annual Après Snowmaker Fundraiser on Saturday, Jan. 10 at the Sage School Barn in Hailey, Idaho. The event hopes to bring together the broader cross country skiing community in support of both SVSEF XC programs and the community-wide operations that also support the Lake Creek Trail System.
SVSEF XC is an integral part of the cross country skiing community—building and inspiring current and next generations of skiers, and bringing the local community together in a myriad of ways.
“As we step into an Olympic year, we are humbled by the support of this incredible community, which continues to encourage athletes of all ages as they pursue their cross-country skiing dreams,” said Becky Flynn, SVSEF XC Program Director. “Since 1972, the SVSEF Cross Country Program has been committed to shaping not only exceptional athletes, but a culture rooted in perseverance, joy, and connection. For our athletes, whether the journey leads to the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympic and Paralympic Games or winds around the trails at Lake Creek or Quigley, it’s about far more than a single event—it’s about commitment, resilience, and the strength of a community that believes in them. This event supports dreams of world-class success and homegrown victories, all rolled into one.”
What truly sets SVSEF XC apart is its role in shaping the future by supporting and engaging the community through tangible opportunities such as:
- Inspiring our valley’s youth to participate and celebrate cross country skiing and the active lifestyle and lifelong sport it presents.
- Offering world class facilities that allow athletes to train at the highest levels.
- Grooming and maintaining the Lake Creek Trail system, in cooperation with BCRD.
- Hosting special events including FIS-sanctioned races that bring the world to Sun Valley, and celebratory gatherings to celebrate the sport, its history, and its traditions.
- Presenting guest lectures and instruction open to the broader community.
- Serving as a community land partner with the BLM, US Forest Service, and BCRD.
- Providing logistical and volunteer support for iconic events like the Boulder Mountain Tour.
Tickets are on sale now for the Après Snowmaker Fundraiser—a night to connect, celebrate, and give back to what makes cross country skiing in our valley so special. Participation supports the invaluable resources that sustain our sport and ensures that the cross country traditions we cherish continue to thrive for generations to come. This special event will honor the past, celebrate the present, and invest in the future of cross country skiing in Sun Valley.
Tickets to the event are $150.00 each and include heavy hors d’oeuvres, beer, and wine during the two-hour event, which will be held on Saturday, Jan. 10 from 5-7 p.m. at The Sage School Barn in Hailey. Tickets also include a free entry to the Snowmaker Classic Cross Country Ski Race, hosted by SVSEF XC earlier the same day at Lake Creek in Ketchum.
Raffle tickets are available online for $100.00 each through Friday, Jan. 9 at midnight. Winners will be drawn at 7 p.m. on Jan. 10 during the event for a Salomon Skis/Boots/Poles Package along with a Skida Hat set, or a Six-Month Membership to Zenergy Health Club & Spa. Winners need not be present to win.
The primary event sponsor is Ramsay Solutions, Inc. Supporting sponsors include Salomon, Skida, Zenergy, Idaho Mud, Elephant’s Perch, BCRD, and Sun Valley.
For more information and to buy event and/or raffle tickets, please visit SVSEF XC Après Snowmaker Fundraiser.
Tickets On Sale for 49th Annual Wild Game Dinner
49th Annual Wild Game Dinner Fuels Opportunity for Youth of the Wood River Valley
Wild game-inspired feast, locally curated raffle prizes, and adventurous live auction lots bring the community together in celebration of growing opportunities for youth skiing traditions.
Tickets are on sale for the SVSEF Wild Game Dinner. The event will take place on Friday, Dec. 5 at the Sun Valley Inn. All tickets to the event include access to the Pre-Game reception presented by Stoke Tracks to kick-off the evening's festivities, followed by a savory feast and live music from The Pisten Bullys.
“The Wild Game Dinner holds a special place in the heart of the ski club and for so many in our community,” said SVSEF Executive Director, Scott McGrew. “It’s a time to gather and share stories of impact and inspiration, while raising critical funds to ensure families up and down the valley participate and have access to the experiences we offer. Now entering our 60th year, we have much to celebrate and even more to build upon as we look to the future and how we can most positively impact our community in all that we do.”
The Wild Game Dinner directly supports SVSEF’s mission to provide exceptional snowsport programs, and specifically, the ability to grant more than $500,000 annually in financial aid to athletes across all ages and all programs. Funds are raised through the Wild Game Dinner via sponsorships, event and raffle ticket sales, a live auction, and a paddle raise.
“What we do is so much bigger than sport,” said McGrew. “Our job is to plant the seed of confidence and to nurture the potential in our children. The generosity we see through the Wild Game Dinner allows us to make sure any family who wants to participate can participate. Regardless of whether a child goes on to compete on the world stage, or pivots along the way, What matters is that they develop the courage, confidence, and humility to make an impact on the world. An impact that likely has nothing (and everything) to do with a perfect turn, landing a cork 9, or a classic stride.”
The popular Hunter’s Draw Raffle returns for the 2025 Wild Game Dinner! Exclusive prize packages will be up for grabs, each packed with a minimum $1,500 and up to $3,000 or more value in gift cards and experiences from local partners and businesses. A “Sun Valley Chic” package awards the winner with a shopping spree at various fashion and home retailers, while the “Savor the Valley” package provides the winner the opportunity to taste the best food in the valley. The First Lite Ultimate Layering Kit will keep you warm and cozy whether you're on the hunt or purely soaking up all that mountain living has to offer. Other prizes include an invigorating Zenergy Health Club Membership Prize Package, an adrenaline-filled “White Otter Outdoor Adventure” experience, with more prizes to be announced!
Following the excitement of the Pre-game and Hunter’s Draw Raffle and an exquisite meal defined by the season, the Wild Game Dinner Live Auction will have those with a love of travel, adventure, and culinary artistry ready to raise their paddles. A few of the Live Auction Previews can be found at: https://25svsefwildgamedinner.afrogs.org/#/pages/26947/
Absentee (proxy) bidding will be available for the live auction, and those interested in bidding remotely can register to do so at the event’s website and Live Auction Preview here: https://25svsefwildgamedinner.afrogs.org/#/pages/26947/
Tickets and tables are available for purchase online through the following link: https://25svsefwildgamedinner.afrogs.org/#/tickets/event
- Reserved Farm Table for Eight = $1,950
- Individual Ticket = $195
For event schedule and further details about this year's Wild Game Dinner, please visit this EVENT DETAILS page.
Local businesses interested in sponsoring the Wild Game Dinner or contributing via in-kind product or service opportunities to the event or the raffle can visit SVSEF.org, contact Heather Foster at [email protected] or Will Falltrick [email protected].
About the SVSEF Wild Game Dinner
For the past 48 years, friends, families, and community members have gathered each fall to celebrate SVSEF’s impact on the youth of the Wood River Valley, to imagine the possibilities for the season ahead, and to support SVSEF's Athlete Financial Aid Program through the Wild Game Dinner. Sponsors of the 2025 Wild Game Dinner include: Pre-Game Sponsor Stoke Tracks; Base Camp Sponsors Bigwood Golf and Idaho First Bank; and Whitetail Sponsor PK’s Ski & Sports. Wild Game Dinner Partners include: Chappellet Winery, Mountain Pride, and American Ostrich Farms.
SVSEF Alum and XC Gold Team Member John Steel Hagenbuch Breaks Baldy Hill Climb Course Record
Eighteen kids tackle the Baldy Hill Climb’s KinderClimb for cookies
Runners and hikers from 10-81 years old showed up for the 47th Annual Baldy Hill Climb on Saturday in support of SVSEF’s Cross Country Program to battle the 1.86 miles and 3,140 vertical feet up Warm Springs to the summit of Bald Mountain at 9,150 feet. An 11-year men’s record fell to the effort of SVSEF Alum, Gold Team member and member of the U.S. Cross Country Ski Team, John Steel Hagenbuch, finishing in a blistering time of 34:42.
“It was great to do the BHC for the first time in four years, and it unsurprisingly has not gotten any easier!” said Hagenbuch, New Baldy Hill Climb Record Holder. “It was a picture-perfect Sun Valley September day, and it was easy to push myself to the limit with such beautiful weather, an exceptionally well-run event, and such a fun atmosphere.”
Following tradition, the free-to-participate KinderClimb challenged kids under the age of 11 to tackle the lower section of Warm Springs before the start of the Baldy Hill Climb. The kiddos made their way up the steep 200-yard pitch where cookies were waiting, because ‘hiking for cookies is always a good idea!’ KinderClimb finishers also received a ribbon recognizing their strong achievement.
“Another beautiful Baldy Hill Climb in the books—241 competitors battled their way to the top,” said Kelley Yeates, Baldy Hill Climb Race Director and Assistant Director for the SVSEF Cross Country Program. “There is nothing quite like a September morning on top of Bald Mountain watching the Wood River Valley celebrate their love of ‘type 2 fun’. This year’s t-shirt captured the BHC perfectly with our 2025 tag line of “reliably uphill” and in our 47th year that’s exactly what it was!”
Thank you to all of the Baldy Hill Climb volunteers for their dedication and support to make the Baldy Hill Climb such a great experience for all participants. And to our sponsors and partners for their support: Sturtevants, Sun Valley Company, Proctor Mountain Group, Bigwood Golf, Atkinsons’ Market, Elephant’s Perch, Backwoods Mountain Sports, Salomon, Lizzy’s Fresh Coffee, Rossignol, Boulder Mountain Clayworks, Clear Creek Disposal, and the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation. We couldn’t do it without our volunteers, sponsors, and partners helping to pull everything together for event day every last Saturday of September.
Notable Finishes
SVSEF Alum and Cross Country Gold Team member John Steel Hagenbuch breaks the course record with a time of 34:42. The previous record of 35:04 was set by Miles Havlick in 2014.
Top 5 Overall Men:
- Johnny Hagenbuch - SVSEF Cross Country Gold Team (34:42) (NEW MEN’S RECORD)
- Will Koch - SVSEF Cross Country Gold Team (36:07.6)
- Simon Zink (36:57.8)
- Peter Wolter - SVSEF Cross Country Gold Team (37:10)
- Elijah Weening - SVSEF Cross Country Gold Team (37:28.1)
Top 5 Overall Women:
- Annika Landis - SVSEF Alum (49:59.1)
- Mia Case - SVSEF Cross Country Gold Team (53:02.5)
- Lili Hansen (55:11.9)
- Helen Wilson (56:28.1)
- Alison Burpee (56:58.2)
Family Team Winner: “GJ’s Van”
Eric Stumpner, Lili Hansen, and Mac Hansen
2025 Baldy Hill Climb KinderClimb Participants - Age
Clayton Young - 7
Ginny Young - 3
August Martin - 2
Aspen Martin - 6
Ivy Simons - 4
Wren Simons - 9
Wylder Wilson - 3
Ellie Yeates - 5
Finn Mallory - 7
Ava Boeger - 7
Wyatt Boeger - 5
Mae Boeger - 3
Blakeslee Tindall - 10
Gus Hopeman - 4
Davey Harlow - 3
Thomas - 2
Geri - 2
Cherie - 4
For complete event results, please visit: https://zone4.ca/event/2025/QY1YDL/
SVSEF Gold Team Enters 20th Year Poised to Return to Winter Olympics
SVSEF unveils 2025/26 Gold Team: ready to take on the world stage
In February 2006, the Winter Olympic Games will return to Italy for the first time in 20 years. It was at the 2006 Torino Games that SVSEF skier Chris Cook became the first athlete to achieve the honor of representing Sun Valley at the Olympics as a member of the newly created Cross Country Gold Team.
Since the creation of the Gold Team 20 years ago, SVSEF athletes have achieved success at every level of international competition from World Junior and U23 Championships to the World Cup and through multiple Olympic and Paralympic Games. As SVSEF Cross Country Gold Team skiers have become a fixture on the U.S. National Team, SVSEF youth teams have continued to flourish.
“It’s fitting that since the inception of the Gold Team when SVSEF’s first skier qualified for the 2006 Games in Italy, we now find ourselves poised to see our next generation of SVSEF skiers return to Italy and in turn continue to inspire our youngest skiers,” said Becky Flynn, SVSEF Cross Country Program Director. “The leadership and vision two decades ago to create a developmental pathway to elite level competition in the sport was ambitious and essential, and we’re honored to be celebrating the successes and ongoing potential of this effort as we enter the Gold Team’s twentieth year.”
In the autumn of 2005, then SVSEF Coaches Chris Grover (now Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team program director) and Rick Kapala (now SVSEF Director of Sport Development) envisioned the launch of a new program that would serve to propel cross country athletes to the heights of international ski sport. From its origins in 1972, the SVSEF Cross Country Team had grown to become hugely successful introducing young children to the sport of Nordic skiing and in turn assisting many of those kids to achieve success on the racing trails across the U.S. Additionally, Grover and Kapala recognized that for SVSEF’s promising juniors to graduate to international success, there needed to be continued and specific support as they progressed to the highest levels of ski racing.
An elite senior team, much like what was in place in clubs throughout Norway and Sweden, is what was needed to build that final step in the development ladder. Thanks to the integral support of many donors and sponsors, the Gold Team was formed as an official component of the SVSEF Cross Country Program and immediate success was found through Chris Cook earning a place on the 2006 Olympic Team and Morgan Arritola posting top results at World Junior Championships.
SVSEF athletes have continued to thrive at all levels of international ski racing earning medals at the highest level of sport, and in turn have served to define Sun Valley as one of the premier cross country ski communities in the U.S. and around the world. This sustained excellence confirmed the importance of a complete ecosystem of ski development, from the youngest kids taking their first strides through the best athletes competing on the biggest stages around the world.
“Sport in its best form has always been about combining hard work with aspirational motivation,” said Kapala. “The lessons of cross country ski racing are the same now as always. SVSEF Gold Team members lead the way for the younger skiers in showing what is possible when you combine drive, dedication, and a dream in pursuit of excellence.”
Seven athletes will represent this milestone anniversary for the Gold Team, all in their quest for new heights, for hard-earned and often elusive international and World Cup starts, and ultimately for Olympic and/or Paralympic gold at Milano-Cortina.
Fueled by talent and ambition, the 2025/26 SVSEF Cross Country Gold Team roster is primed to deliver standout performances on the world stage this season and beyond. Jake Adicoff, John Steel Hagenbuch, Peter Wolter, Elijah Weenig, and Sammy Smith are all SVSEF program alumni. Mia Case returns for her second year on the Gold Team and Will Koch joins to round out the roster.
SVSEF GOLD TEAM ATHLETE HIGHLIGHTS
Jake Adicoff: Reigning Para Cross Country VI World Champion, 3x Paralympian, 2022 Beijing Paralympic Gold, 5x Para World Champion, 5th at 2011 SoHo Super JNQ,
Peter Wolter: 24/25—Guided Jake Adicoff to a gold and silver in Para World Champs; 23/24—2x US National Podium, 10 World Cup Starts, 1 x Top 40 World Cup; 22/23—2 World Cup Starts, Top 3 SuperTour Overall; 21/22—2x NCAA All-America; Boulder Mountain Tour Champion, 3 X Baldy Hill Climb Champion
John Steel Hagenbuch: U.S. Ski Team Member; 2x NCAA Champion; 6x U.S. National Champion; 2x Junior World Champion; 6x First-Team All-American; 2x World Championships Team Member; U23 World Championships Medalist; Boulder Mountain Tour Champion; Baldy Hill Climb Champion
Elijah Weenig: RMISA Runner Up Freestyle MVP; 2x NCAA Qualifier (2023 and 2025); 1st Place (T.O.D) DU Invitational 10k Pursuit; Member of U23 World Championship Team 2024; 3rd American at US Nationals 2024 Skate 20k; 9x JN All-American
Sammy Smith: U.S. Ski Team B Team; World Junior Championships 5th in Classic Sprint; World Cup 14th in Classic Sprint Qualifier in Falun (30th overall b/c of yellow card); World Cup 25th Skate Sprint in Lahti; World Cup 27th Skate Sprint in Tallinn; 2025 Classic Sprint U.S. National Champion
Will Koch: U.S. Ski Team 2022-2025, U.S. National Champion 2024, Bronze Medal at Junior Worlds, Bronze Medal Youth Olympic Games, 7X NCAA All American, 5X JN Champion
Mia Case: Top 25 Senior National results in the Classic Sprint, Top 10 Cable SuperTour Classic Sprint
To learn more about the Gold Team, please visit: https://svsef.org/programs/cross-country/xc-gold/
About SVSEF Cross Country Gold Team
Established in 2006 and now entering its 20th year, the Cross Country Gold Team was created and has been primarily funded by the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation. Composed of a group of the nation’s best post-collegiate athletes, the Gold Team trains year round in the mountains of Idaho, training sites across the United States, and venues around the world. Each athlete has his or her own goals for success on the SuperTour, World Cup, and U23 World circuit, and as a team, we push each other every day to universally attain those goals.
About Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation
Since its inception in 1966, the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation has been a longstanding pillar in the community, providing snowsport programs and offering academic assistance to support student-athletes in reaching their highest potential. SVSEF offers an array of programs for athletes ages five and up, from learn-to-ski and ride through FIS and other national and international-level competition. The organization distributes more than $500,000 annually in financial assistance to families, so that anyone who wishes to may participate. For more information, please visit svsef.org.
SVSEF Names Sarah Verst Program Director of Big Mountain Team
Banks Gilberti Transitions to Sun Valley Fire Department
The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) today announced that Sarah Verst has been named Program Director of the Big Mountain Team, succeeding Banks Gilberti, who has accepted a full-time position with the Sun Valley Fire Department.
Under Gilberti’s leadership over the past six years, SVSEF’s Big Mountain Team has built a distinctive culture pairing inclusivity and camaraderie with high standards and competitive ambition; and has emerged in the IFSA (International Freeskiers & Snowboarders Association) community as a team to watch. Verst, who has served as Assistant Coach and a key architect of the program’s growth during the same period, will lead the team into its next chapter.
“Banks has been a transformational leader for our Big Mountain program,” said Scott McGrew, Executive Director of SVSEF. “He cultivated the right mix of stoke, structure, and belonging. While we’re sad to see him step away from the director role, we’re equally proud to support his next chapter with the Sun Valley Fire Department. Our gratitude to Banks runs deep.”
“Sarah has been at the heart of this team’s progress—planning travel blocks, integrating avalanche education, widening access and female engagement, and keeping our systems tight,” said McGrew. “She brings wisdom, passion, vision, and exceptional organizational prowess to the director role. We’re excited for the continuity and momentum she’ll carry forward.”
SVSEF’s Big Mountain philosophy is intentionally different from most. Athletes often grow up within SVSEF’s more traditional pipelines—Alpine, Snowboard, Freestyle, and Freeski—and then transition to Big Mountain with a technical foundation and competitive experience that sharpen their judgment, creativity, and line choice. This model leverages cross-disciplinary training modalities and hard work, while fostering a community that values character as much as results.
“After four years as Assistant Coach, I’m beyond grateful to step into the Program Director role,” said Sarah Verst, Incoming SVSEF Big Mountain Program Director. “Banks and I have poured a lot into building this program and I’m honored to carry that work forward. My time as Assistant Coach has been much more than a supporting role. I’ve had the opportunity to be an integral part of developing and delivering the program whether that meant planning and leading travel trips, integrating avalanche training into our curriculum, or creating new pathways to increase female engagement. Along the way I’ve worked to draw awareness to opportunities that help our athletes grow not just as skiers but as people.”
“It’s been inspiring to watch this community of athletes, families and coaches come together over the past four years and I’m proud of the foundation we’ve built,” Verst continued. “As I step into this new role I’m excited to keep building on that momentum—growing the program, opening new doors for our athletes, and carrying forward the culture of passion, connection, and adventure that makes this team so special.”
When asked about his tenure leading and building the Big Mountain Program, Gilberti reflected on the shift it presented in his own life, the progress in the sport of Freeride, and his confidence in Verst’s vision and skillset to take the helm moving forward.
“Six years ago, I sat down for lunch with Scott McGrew to help walk through what the success of the Big Mountain team would look like through my eyes,” said Banks Gilberti, Outgoing SVSEF Big Mountain Program Director. “I was still actively skiing professionally, filming and traveling the globe from one winter destination to the next. From that moment on, my life took a dramatic change of course and my focus shifted to the continued development of a team that had something very special in the works but was working to figure out its identity and future. I was able to hire a staff that brought everything we needed to build a team that would offer a life-changing and lasting impact on our athletes and the freeride community as a whole.”
“Sarah Verst has been by my side since the beginning of this journey, through the toughest times, through injuries and heartbreak and through the greatest triumphs,” said Gilberti. “Sarah has not only become an amazing coach and leader, but she has become a lifelong best friend to me. The idea of moving on from the Big Mountain team was an incredibly difficult decision but knowing that it would be passed on to Sarah calmed any doubts and fears. This team has no limits to its potential and its growth, and my heart is full knowing that Sarah will be the one behind the wheel.”
“I have been beyond fortunate to spend my last six years at the helm of what I think is the most unique team experience offered in the Wood River Valley,” Gilberti added. “To see where the sport of Freeride has progressed over the last half decade is incredible, and from the looks of it, the ceiling is still so much higher. The time I’ve spent working with our athletes through the years has undoubtedly been the highlight of my life. The relationships I have made with these kids and their families have been so unbelievably impactful and transformative—I am endlessly thankful every day that I have had the opportunity to be a part of something so special.”