Soft Snow, Steep Terrain Brings the Best out of SVSEF Big Mountain Team in Snowbasin
Gus Herrick takes back-to-back podium finishes, Sawyer Morgan claims first place in U19 Men
Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) Big Mountain Team athletes delivered exceptional performances at Snowbasin Resort this past weekend, claiming multiple podium finishes across two days of IFSA Big Mountain 2* competition in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains.
Fresh snowfall earlier in the week made for perfect soft snow conditions at Snowbasin with athletes competing in the Middle Bowl Cirque adjacent to the resort’s renowned Lone Tree run. With excellent visibility and cooperative weather throughout the weekend, athletes were able to execute their runs with confidence.
Gus Herrick led the charge for SVSEF, securing back-to-back podium finishes in the U15 Ski Men’s division with a first-place finish on Saturday and a second-place finish on Sunday. His consistent performance demonstrated both technical prowess and bold decision-making on challenging terrain.
In the U19 Ski Men’s division, Sawyer Morgan captured first place on Sunday, showcasing the depth of talent within the SVSEF program. The U15 division saw strong team performances both days, with Anders Bemis finishing second on Saturday, while Sebastian Gunn and Cash Mintz both earned multiple top-five finishes across the weekend.
Maya Gunn and Fleur Brazil represented SVSEF in the U19 Ski Women’s division, with Gunn taking third place and Brazil finishing seventh on Saturday.
“Throughout the weekend, every one of our coaches present felt inspiration and determination through our athletes,” said SVSEF Big Mountain Team Coach Catie Reed. “It was inspiring to watch our first and second year competitors responsibly push boundaries and lace technical lines.”
Photo: SVSEF BMT skier Sawyer Morgan earns first place in Snowbasin.
SVSEF Athlete Results
Day 1 | Saturday, February 21st
U15 Ski Men
1st - Gus Herrick
2nd - Anders Bemis
5th - Sebastian Gunn
7th - Cash Mintz
9th - Jasper Kopplin
U19 Ski Women
3rd - Maya Gunn
7th - Fleur Brazil
Day 2 | Sunday, February 22nd
U15 Ski Men
2nd - Gus Herrick
3rd - Sebastian Gunn
4th - Cash Mintz
U19 Ski Men
1st - Sawyer Morgan
The SVSEF Big Mountain Team continues its season this weekend with a 3* competition in Kirkwood, CA followed by the final comp of the season in Park City, UT.
Complete results for each event may be found at: https://liveheats.com/IFSAintmtnsnowbasin/events
FIS ALPINE TEAM QUALIFIES 19 ATHLETES FOR CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS AT BRYCE ASTLE MEMORIAL
Eight athletes earn Spots at U18 Nationals; eleven qualify for Western Region Junior Championships
Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) FIS Alpine athletes delivered outstanding performances at the Bryce Astle Memorial Utah FIS Elite Races, securing championship qualifications for 19 athletes competing against the best racers from across the Western Region.
Held February 17–21 at Utah Olympic Park and Snowbird, the event served as the final qualifier of the season for U18 Nationals and Western Region Junior Championships. Despite a shortened schedule due to conditions, SVSEF athletes rose to the occasion and competed well in a stacked field including many U18, U21 and Senior category athletes.
Elodie Olsen led the team with a dominant performance in the women’s slalom events at Snowbird, claiming first place overall and first in the U18 category in the second race, and finishing sixth overall (first U18). Her consistent excellence throughout the qualifier series helped secure her spot among the top three overall athletes in the Western Region.
Eight SVSEF athletes qualified for U18 Nationals at Mittersill, New Hampshire: Elodie Olsen, Samantha Milne, Ruby Smith, and Ava Huey on the women’s side, along with Henry Roberts, Tucker Reimund, Ulrich Rossi, and Conway Selznick representing the men’s team. An additional 11 athletes earned qualification for Western Region Junior Championships at Grand Targhee.
Ruby Smith showed consistent strength across multiple disciplines, taking 14th overall and first in U18 in the women’s giant slalom at Utah Olympic Park, while also posting strong finishes in both slalom races at Snowbird. In the men’s competitions, Ulrich Rossi finished 11th overall and second in U18 in the second slalom at UOP, while Tucker Reimund placed 30th overall and second in U18 in the giant slalom.
“The Utah elite series was the final qualifier series before championships. We qualified four girls (top three overall in west) and four guys (top two overall in west) for the U18 nationals in New Hampshire next week,” said SVSEF FIS Alpine Head Coach Will Courtney.
Photo: SVSEF FIS athlete Elodie Olsen claims first place overall (U18).
SVSEF ATHLETE RESULTS
Women’s 1st SL @ Snowbird 2/17
6th - Elodie Olsen (1st U18)
28th - Ruby Smith (12th U18)
Women’s 2nd SL @ Snowbird 2/17
1st - Elodie Olsen (1st U18)
13th - Samantha Milne (4th U18)
15th - Ruby Smith (6th U18)
30th - Lucy Olson (15th U18)
Women’s GS @ UOP 2/20
14th - Ruby Smith (1st U18)
23rd - Ava Huey (6th U18)
Men’s GS @ UOP 2/20
30th - Tucker Reimund (2nd U18)
Men’s 1st SL @ UOP 2/21
17th - Henry Roberts (4th U18)
19th - Huxley Flood (6th U18)
Men’s 2nd SL @ UOP 2/21
11th - Ulrich Rossi (2nd U18)
28th - Huxley Flood (19th U18)
Full Results Below
Utah Olympic Park Results: https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/event-details.html?sectorcode=AL&eventid=58643&seasoncode=2026
Snowbird Results: https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/event-details.html?sectorcode=AL&eventid=58548&seasoncode=2026
The SVSEF FIS Alpine Team will compete next at U18 Nationals in Mittersill, New Hampshire, and Western Region Junior Championships at Grand Targhee, Wyoming.
Third Time's a Charm as SVSEF Alpine U12 North Team Shines at Third Pastry Cup
Adaptability, progression on display with Giant Slalom and Slalom Kombi racing
The third installment of the 2025-26 season’s Pastry Cup brought another spirited day of racing at Rotarun for Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) Alpine U12 North Series athletes, once again giving young competitors a chance to test their technical progress in a supportive, fun-first setting.
With each edition of the Pastry Cup, the growth of these young athletes became more apparent and the third race was no exception. Athletes across both the girls' and boys' fields posted times that reflected months of focused training, with tighter times and growing confidence in the course. This iteration of the Pastry Cup showcased both Giant Slalom (GS) and Slalom (SL) making for a Kombi race requiring adaptability and on the fly learning for Alpine U12 North athletes.
"Congrats to all for another great Pastry Cup today!" said SVSEF Alpine North Series Head Coach Claudia Stern. "The weather and snow conditions were perfect and we saw some really great skiing. We loved seeing everyone adapt to this format, switching it up nicely from GS to Slalom."
With the North Series calendar pressing forward, events like the Pastry Cup remain essential building blocks, giving athletes real race experience while keeping competition in its proper perspective at this stage of development. The fun is the foundation, and the progress speaks for itself.
Photo: Boy's and Girl's podiums from third edition of the Pastry Cup from 2025-26 season.
SVSEF Athlete Results
Combination of One Run GS Followed by One Run of SL
Girls Results
1st – Alta (GS Run 1: 21.50 | SL Run 2: 24.50 | Total: 46.00)
2nd – Kayla (22.56 | 23.83 | 46.39)
3rd – Amelia (23.74 | 24.97 | 48.71)
4th – Blakely (23.74 | 26.19 | 49.92)
5th – DMoney (22.90 | 27.52 | 50.41)
6th – Ivy (24.68 | 26.01 | 50.69)
7th – Tea (24.09 | 26.76 | 50.85)
8th – Marie (22.61 | 28.68 | 51.29)
9th – DillPickle (24.19 | 28.28 | 52.47)
10th – Mckenna (24.99 | 27.55 | 52.54)
11th – Estelle (24.41 | 28.13 | 52.55)
12th – Rienza (24.45 | 28.38 | 52.83)
13th – Lexi (25.21 | 29.27 | 54.47)
14th – Riley (25.83 | 30.02 | 55.84)
15th – Lila (25.88 | 30.67 | 56.55)
16th – Blakeslee (26.18 | 30.53 | 56.71)
17th – Eleanor H (27.03 | 31.25 | 58.28)
18th – Tindsley (27.68 | 31.94 | 59.62)
19th – Morgan (28.54 | 31.24 | 59.78)
20th – Eleanor R (28.30 | 33.45 | 61.75)
21st – Rosie (29.72 | 34.57 | 64.29)
Boys Results
1st – Asa (Run 1: 24.08 | Run 2: 21.75 | Total: 45.83)
2nd – DSmiley (25.35 | 22.59 | 47.94)
3rd – Evan (25.16 | 22.95 | 48.11)
4th – Vance (26.10 | 22.43 | 48.53)
5th – Cole (26.38 | 24.00 | 50.38)
6th – Tucker (27.76 | 23.58 | 51.34)
7th – Tommy (27.68 | 25.18 | 52.86)
8th – Dillon W (28.05 | 25.24 | 53.29)
9th – Graham (28.92 | 24.93 | 53.85)
10th – Blaise (29.58 | 25.71 | 55.29)
11th – AJ (34.42 | 28.40 | 62.82)
12th – Jayden (34.36 | 28.77 | 63.13)
36th Annual Laura Flood Memorial Race Rallies Alpine Ski Racing Community
Repeat Victories from JHSC’s Taryn Moe and Rowmark’s Cree Gilmour at the Laura Flood
The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) welcomed more than 150 ski racers from across the Western Region for four days of racing to earn qualifying points towards the U16 Regional, and Tri Divisional championship. Giant Slalom (GS) races were held Thursday and Friday (Feb. 19-20) and Slalom racing took place Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 21-22). The race serves as a U16 Intermountain Cup qualifier, and the perpetual trophy is awarded to the top U16 male and female athletes at the conclusion of the race series.
For over three decades, the Laura Flood Memorial Race has brought together the Western Region's top young ski talent in honor of a young woman whose love of the sport left a lasting mark on Sun Valley's racing community. Laura Flood was a passionate, spirited competitor whose life was cut short in a ski training accident at age 19 while racing for the University of Colorado, yet her memory continues to inspire every racer who charges down the Greyhawk course each February.
“That was quite a show we put on for the Laura Flood Series!” said U16 Team Head Coach Nate Schwing. “Athletes gave it everything they had racing our World Cup Finals tracks! Our race hill is unforgiving and challenging. Having the courage to step in the start gate, knowing the risks, and giving it everything you have is a remarkable accomplishment you all should be proud of."
Schwing continued with a special shoutout, “A huge thanks to Sun Valley, Riley Berman and the Sun Valley race department, coaches, parents, and volunteers for the massive effort to put on a top-notch event like that!”
Heather Flood Daves and Randy Flood, Laura’s sister and brother, reflected on what this year’s event means to them. "What an incredible race series! The 36th annual Laura Flood Race was a great event to showcase the talent of all the incredible young ski racers of the region. It's so wonderful to honor our sister Laura with this very special race, and to see racers and families pursuing their love of skiing and competing on our World Cup venue. Our family really appreciates the SVSEF staff, Sun Valley Company's team, and all the volunteers and race officials who helped make this year's race so incredible!"
Incredibly, last year’s victors Cree Gilmour from Rowmark Ski Academy and Taryn Moe from Jackson Hole Ski Club (JHSC) won again to bring home their second Men’s and Women’s overall Laura Flood series titles.
Photo: Cree Gilmour of Rowmark Ski Academy and Taryn Moe of Jackson Hole Ski Club with their second consecutive Laura Flood series win.
SVSEF Athlete Results
GS Day 1 (Thursday, Feb. 19)
Women’s U16
2nd - Jasmine Smiley (U16)
4th - Neena DeGennaro (U16)
11th - Bianca Smith (U16)
16th - Piper Spengler (U16)
17th - Alexandra Heidel (U16)
18th - Colette Duke (U16)
20th - Camille Reid (U16)
22nd - Olivia Harrington (U16)
26th - Gaia Luem (U16)
32nd - Aviella Buoncristiani (U16)
33rd - Sophie Kanowsky (U16)
37th - Elle Deckard (U16)
58th - Cece Connell (U16)
Women’s Open Race
3rd - Nina Viesturs (U18)
Men’s U16
4th - Paxton Harris (U16)
8th - Colter Bengtson (U16)
11th - Corbin Flood (U16)
18th - Cameron Beck (U16)
21st - Wyatt Limburg (U16)
22nd - Henry Questad (U16)
26th - Alex Brown (U16)
27th - Brooks Gove (U16)
30th - Kai Sammis (U16)
43rd - Wesley Sewell (U16)
GS Day 2 (Friday, Feb. 20)
Women’s U16
4th - Neena DeGennaro (U16)
5th - Jasmine Smiley (U16)
9th - Bianca Smith (U16)
17th - Colette Duke (U16)
20th - Alexandra Heidel (U16)
23rd - Piper Spengler (U16)
27th - Gaia Luem (U16)
28th - Olivia Harrington (U16)
30th - Camille Reid (U16)
33rd - Georgia Baxley (U16)
40th - Aviella Buoncristiani (U16)
44h - Sophie Kanowsky (U16)
59th - Cece Connell (U16)
Women’s Open Race
2nd - Nina Viesturs (U18)
Men’s U16
5th - Colter Bengtson (U16)
8th - Corbin Flood (U16)
13th - Jake Schlatter (U16)
16th - Henry Questad (U16)
19th - Brooks Gove (U16)
21st - Cameron Beck (U16)
22nd - Wyatt Limburg (U16)
23rd - Henry Nordstrom (U16)
26th - Alex Brown (U16)
28th - Kai Sammis (U16)
39th - Wesley Sewell (U16)
SL Day 1 - Women’s (Saturday, Feb. 21)
Women’s U16 Race 1
6th - Jasmine Smiley (U16)
12th - Colette Duke (U16)
14th - Piper Spengler (U16)
18th - Gaia Luem (U16)
19th - Aviella Buoncristiani (U16)
Women’s Open Race 1
1st - Amilia Selznick (U21)
Women’s U16 Race 2
5th - Neena DeGennaro (U16)
6th - Jasmine Smiley (U16)
13th - Camille Reid (U16)
T 19th - Colette Duke (U16)
T 19th - Piper Spengler (U16)
24th - Alexandra Heidel (U16)
29th - Olivia Harrington (U16)
34th - Georgia Baxley (U16)
36th - Gaia Luem (U16)
Women’s Open Race 2
1st - Samantha Milne (U18)
2nd - Ava Huey (U18)
3rd - Amilia Selznick (U21)
4th - Nina Viestures (U18)
SL Day 2 - Men’s (Sunday, Feb. 22)
Men’s U16 Race 1
3rd - Paxton Harris (U16)
7th - Colter Bengtson (U16)
8th - Corbin Flood (U16)
10th - Wyatt Limburg (U16)
11th - Jake Schlatter (U16)
17th - Cameron Beck (U16)
Men’s Open Race 1
1st - Ulrich Rossi (U18)
2nd - Conway Selznick (U18)
Men’s U16 Race 2
4th - Declan O'Toole (U16)
5th - Paxton Harris (U16)
10th - Corbin Flood (U16)
11th - Wyatt Limburg (U16)
13th - Henry Nordstrom (U16)
14th - Alex Brown (U16)
16th - Brooks Gove (U16)
Men’s Open Race 2
1st - Tucker Reimund (U18)
2nd - Conway Selznick (U18)
For a complete list of Laura Flood GS and SL race results, please visit https://imdalpine.org/race-results/ and click on U16/IMC Series.
Wins for SVSEF Freestyle Team at Roundhouse Rumble
Drake Lovelien and Wells Dolson lead results for SVSEF moguls team
The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) Freestyle team hosted the fourth annual Roundhouse Rumble Feb. 21-22 on Bald Mountain’s Roundhouse Slope. The competition welcomed 80 athletes from CA, CO, ID, and UT for two Singles Mogul events and one Dual Mogul event over the two days.
"The Freestyle crew had a great weekend at The Roundhouse Rumble competing in moguls and duals at Roundhouse. The team handled changing conditions well and showed strong progression in turns, air control, and speed," said SVSEF Freestyle Coach Rainey Wilson. "Lots of proud moments and great energy heading into the next stretch of competitions!"
The two-run Singles Mogul event was held on Saturday with Wells Dolson leading the way for SVSEF women with a runner-up finish and event score of 70.65. Isla Sundby rounded out the top 10 in 7th. On the men’s side, SVSEF freestyle skiers dominated the podium with Drake Lovlien (2nd), Will Hausman (4th), and Sylas Barrett (6th) all racing strongly.
Dolson again topped the SVSEF women’s field on Sunday for Moguls Singles Run competition with a 5th placed finish. Lovlien and Hausman delivered standout performances for the men with second and fifth placed finishes respectively. Sylas Barrett added another strong result in ninth.
It was a sweep at the top for the Duals Mogul with Dolson claiming the women’s title and Lovlien taking the men’s title in the bracket-style Duals competition. Beau Forelli was the next highest men’s finisher, advancing to the Top 8, with Hausman, Moises Bicas-Dolgen, and Sylas Barrett all reaching the Top 16.
SVSEF Freestyle skier Sylas Barrett flips through the air during the 2026 Roundhouse Rumble.
SVSEF Athlete Results
Saturday Two-Run Singles Moguls
Men Overall
2nd – Drake Lovlien (M19) – 78.01
4th – Will Hausmann (M19) – 77.04
6th – Sylas Barrett (M19) – 76.75
13th – Beau Forelli (M17) – 64.07
14th – Brodie Forelli (M15) – 64.03
16th – Moisés Bicas-Dolgen (M19) – 62.34
18th – Jack Kendall (M17) – 60.46
20th – Cal Strachan (M15) – 58.81
25th – Dax Latham (M15) – 48.46
28th – Dean Kennedy (M17) – 46.40
31st – Dunning Kochvar (M13) – 40.85
32nd – Charlie Pfau (M15) – 40.05
34th – Otto Latham (M13) – 35.34
39th – Tanner Barrett (M15) – 30.52
40th – Ren Berridge (M13) – 28.64
41st – Archie Dietz (M13) – 28.55
44th – Miles McLaughlin (M15) – 27.06
47th – George Berridge (M13) – 21.58
48th – Stigur Pratt (M15) – 21.33
49th – Eli Sattler (M15) – 18.04
51st – Waylon Harrigan (M15) – 17.53
53rd – Otis Harrigan (M13) – 16.14
54th – Mays Armeen (M13) – 15.92
55th – Ryder Sanborn (M13) – 15.64
56th – Jakob Slosson (M15) – 14.42
58th – Greyson Siegel (M15) – 12.84
Women Overall
2nd – Wells Dolson (F15) – 70.65
7th – Isla Sundby (F15) – 60.36
19th – Larkin Hayes (F15) – 28.14
23rd – Lexi Kennedy (F13) – 13.77
24th – Emily Chavez (F13) – 7.82
DNS – Sienna Loredo (F19)
Sunday One-Run Singles Moguls
Women Overall
5th – Wells Dolson (F15) – 56.17
16th – Isla Sundby (F15) – 37.07
21st – Larkin Hayes (F15) – 13.95
22nd – Lexi Kennedy (F13) – 7.43
24th – Emily Chavez (F13) – 1.61
DNS – Sienna Loredo (F19)
Men Overall
2nd – Drake Lovlien (M19) – 78.65
5th – Will Hausmann (M19) – 76.96
9th – Sylas Barrett (M19) – 71.82
14th – Moisés Bicas-Dolgen (M19) – 62.87
19th – Jack Kendall (M17) – 52.65
22nd – Beau Forelli (M17) – 45.66
23rd – Dunning Kochvar (M13) – 45.45
26th – Charlie Pfau (M15) – 41.16
29th – Dax Latham (M15) – 36.25
32nd – Tanner Barrett (M15) – 35.39
33rd – Cal Strachan (M15) – 33.95
35th – Miles McLaughlin (M15) – 32.30
36th – Archie Dietz (M13) – 31.58
39th – Ren Berridge (M13) – 28.05
44th – Otto Latham (M13) – 23.48
45th – Dean Kennedy (M17) – 22.19
46th – Eli Sattler (M15) – 21.19
47th – Brodie Forelli (M15) – 20.08
48th – Ryder Sanborn (M13) – 18.81
51st – Greyson Siegel (M15) – 15.11
52nd – George Berridge (M13) – 14.99
53rd – Jakob Slosson (M15) – 13.09
55th – Otis Harrigan (M13) – 5.74
57th – Waylon Harrigan (M15) – 1.21
58th – Mays Armeen (M13) – 0.33
Sunday Dual Moguls
Women Overall
1st – Wells Dolson (F15)
Top 8 – Isla Sundby (F15)
Top 32 – Larkin Hayes (F15)
Top 32 – Lexi Kennedy (F13)
Top 32 – Emily Chavez (F13)
Men Overall
1st – Drake Lovlien (M19)
Top 8 – Beau Forelli (M17)
Top 16 – Will Hausmann (M19)
Top 16 – Moisés Bicas-Dolgen (M19)
Top 16 – Sylas Barrett (M19)
Top 32 – Brodie Forelli (M15)
Top 32 – Jack Kendall (M17)
Top 32 – Cal Strachan (M15)
Top 32 – Archie Dietz (M13)
Top 32 – Dax Latham (M15)
Top 32 – Dean Kennedy (M17)
Top 32 – Otto Latham (M13)
Top 64 – Dunning Kochvar (M13)
Top 64 – Tanner Barrett (M15)
Top 64 – Miles McLaughlin (M15)
Top 64 – Mays Armeen (M13)
Top 64 – Stigur Pratt (M15)
Top 64 – Charlie Pfau (M15)
Top 64 – Waylon Harrigan (M15)
Top 64 – Otis Harrigan (M13)
Top 64 – Ryder Sanborn (M13)
Top 64 – Jakob Slosson (M15)
Top 64 – Eli Sattler (M15)
Top 64 – Ren Berridge (M13)
Top 64 – George Berridge (M13)
Top 64 – Greyson Siegel (M15)
Alpine U14 IMD Girls Deliver Strong Results at Tamarack Qualifier
Consistently fast racing and podium finishes highlight Super G series despite challenging conditions
Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) U14 IMD Alpine athletes competed at Tamarack Ski Resort from Feb. 6–9 in a Super G series that served as an Intermountain Division (IMD) qualifier. Skiers stayed focused on continually improving their performances despite limited snow coverage affecting the course.
The event featured three Super G races per gender. While the girls were able to complete all scheduled races, the boys’ races were ultimately canceled due to challenging conditions. As a result, the boys did not record official race results from the event.
“It was a good event for the girls,” said the Second Year Alpine U14 IMD Head Coach Angelica Birkner “Unfortunately, snow coverage was limited, but the weather was amazing for racing, and we were still able to see some great performances.”
The SVSEF U14 girls turned in a strong showing, highlighted by podium finishes and steady improvement across all three Super G races.
“We saw really good skiing from the girls,” said Birkner. “Our team is strong!”
Mia Huey led the way with back-to-back victories in Super G, while Savannah Pringle consistently found the podium and multiple athletes posted solid top-20 finishes.
“This is really fun,” said Huey following the races.
Up next for the Alpine U14 IMD team will be racing in Park City, UT Feb. 27-Mar. 1 which serves as the last chance to earn qualification points prior to championship races at the end of the season.
Photo: Mia Huey on the top step of the podium in Tamarack with Samantha Pringle close behind in second place.
SVSEF Athlete Results
Girls’ Super G – Race 1 (Friday, Feb. 6)
4th – Savannah Pringle
15th – Madlein Bakker
21st – Halley McGrew
23rd – Jennings Fraser
27th – Brianna Smiley
28th – Kinley Letson
30th – Ava Gilmour
31st – Stevie Crist
Girls’ Super G – Race 2 (Saturday, Feb. 7)
1st – Mia Huey
2nd – Savannah Pringle
12th – Brianna Smiley
15th – Halley McGrew
21st – Kinley Letson
25th – Maggie Leady
30th – Fraser Jennings
31st – Mable Diez
32nd – Madlein Bakker
33rd – Hope Lloyd
34th – Brady Bloomfield
Girls’ Super G – Race 3 (Saturday, Feb. 7)
1st – Mia Huey
2nd – Savannah Pringle
10th – Halley McGrew
18th – Jennings Fraser
22nd – Madlein Bakker
26th – Stevie Crist
28th – Maggie Leady
30th – Makkena Steel
31st (tie) – Brady Bloomfield
35th – Hope Lloyd
Complete results from the Tamarack IMD Super G series can be found online here.
SVSEF Cross Country Teams Build Momentum in Jackson Hole
Podium finishes, standout double wins, strong team spirit on display at IMD Junior National Qualifier #2
Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) Cross Country (XC) athletes from the Prep, Comp, and Post Grad (PG) teams delivered a strong weekend of racing at the IMD Junior National Qualifier #2, held Feb. 7-8 at Trail Creek in Wilson, Wyo. The two-day event featured a classic interval start race on Saturday followed by a skate mass start on Sunday, challenging athletes across disciplines and race formats.
Building on momentum from the previous qualifier at Soldier Hollow, Utah, SVSEF skiers laid down fast times and showed depth across age groups, with podium finishes in both classic and skate races. The weekend was highlighted by Nick Gardiner, who earned victories in both the classic and skate races in the MU18 category.
“The team continued their momentum from Soldier Hollow and laid down some fast times in the double distance race weekend,” said Chris Mallory, Head SVSEF XC Comp Team Coach. “It was fun to see some new faces step up on the podium, showing the depth this crew has.”
Saturday’s classic interval start races rewarded pacing and technical execution, while Sunday’s skate mass starts demanded tactical awareness and confidence racing head-to-head.
“Our Sun Valley skiers were flying out there this weekend,” said Kelley Yeates, SVSEF XC Head Prep Team Coach. “It was inspiring to see them take charge, especially in the mass start races.”
Across the weekend, athletes benefited from strong mentorship and team culture that spanned age groups.
“Athlete mentorship and camaraderie across ages enabled athletes to bring out their best,” added Assistant SVSEF XC Comp Team Coach Susie Quesnel.
SVSEF XC Post Grad Head Coach Max Polito noted the significance of the venue and competitive environment. “Racing at Jackson brought us back to the roots of Intermountain skiing as venues changed and the community stepped up to support our events…It was a weekend of learning, experimentation, and commitment, with goals ranging from process and technique focus to podium finishes.”
SVSEF Cross Country Program Director Becky Flynn highlighted both individual and team success. “This was a busy weekend full of lots of great racing for SVSEF XC. It was great to see Nick Gardiner take the win both days—he has been training well and it really came together for him. The rest of the team followed suit with podium finishes across days and disciplines. The PG, Comp, and Prep teams were cheering each other on throughout the weekend, and that showed in the results.”
Photo: XC athletes Henri Allaire (1st) and Stephen Chudleigh share the Mens U12 podium in Jackson Hole.
Athlete Results – IMD Junior National Qualifier #2
(Top three SVSEF athletes in each event)
Saturday – Classic Interval Start
MU20 7.5km
5th – Zach Quesnel
MU18 7.5km
1st – Nick Gardiner
2nd – Caleo Morrison
4th – Tait Boschen
MU16 7.5km
8th – Thijs Lloyd
11th – Bailey Kurtz
16th – Finn O’Donnell
MU14 3km
8th – Augie Allaire
11th – Cody Lloyd
22nd – Daniel Chudleigh
MU12 2km
2nd – Henri Allaire
4th – Stephen Chudleigh
6th – Vance Gardiner
FU20 7.5km
6th – Anna Gilman
FU18 7.5km
8th – Natalie Carlson
15th – Josie Bolinger
FU16 7.5km
6th – Stella St. George
8th – Josephine Renner
10th – Sydney Nelson
FU14 3km
5th – Nina O’Sullivan
10th – Payton Daley-Scheingraber
28th – Rose O’Grady
Sunday – Skate Mass Start
MU20 10km
5th – Zach Quesnel
MU18 10km
1st – Nick Gardiner
2nd – Tait Boschen
5th – Caleo Morrison
MU16 5km
8th – Finn O’Donnell
13th – Thijs Lloyd
21st – Bailey Kurtz
MU14 2.5km
8th – Augie Allaire
16th – Silas Seppa
21st – Daniel Chudleigh
MU12 2km
1st – Henri Allaire
3rd – Stephen Chudleigh
5th – Vance Gardiner
WU18 10km
7th – Natalie Carlson
WU16 5km
3rd – Stella St. George
4th – Josephine Renner
7th – Sydney Brown
WU14 2.5km
2nd – Nina O’Sullivan
5th – Payton Daley-Scheingraber
28th – Rose O’Grady
Complete results from Saturday’s racing are here, Sunday’s results can be found here.
SVSEF Cross Country athletes will next compete at the final IMD Junior National Qualifier in West Yellowstone, MT., where results will determine selections for the IMD Junior National Team.
FIS Alpine Team Athletes Open Speed Season with Top Results at Mammoth Mountain
Podium finishes, U18 Junior National qualifications, and strong progression highlight first FIS speed race of the winter
Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) Alpine FIS Team athletes kicked off their speed season at Mammoth Mountain, CA, competing in the FIS Western Region Speed Series Feb. 2–6. The event marked the first true FIS speed races of the winter for many SVSEF athletes and featured a deep field representing states across the West, including California, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, and Utah.
The five-day series included two downhill training runs followed by two downhill races and two Super G races. For several SVSEF athletes, the Super G results proved especially meaningful as strong performances earned qualification spots for the U18 Junior National Championships later this season.
“For many of our athletes, these were their first true FIS speed events, and the progress they made over the week was incredible,” said Charlotte Gourlay, SVSEF Assistant Alpine Director and FIS Assistant Coach. “Downhill and Super G can be truly intimidating, but the athletes showed great determination, mental fortitude, and a strong desire to learn and grow with each run.”
FIS skier Alyssa Huntsman echoed that sentiment, noting the value of the experience both on and off the course. “I think the race series went really well for all of us athletes. We gained more experience, learned a lot, and overall had a really fun time,” she said. “The weather was amazing, the vibes were high, and the courses were fun but challenging, giving a lot of athletes great experience. It was an awesome way to kick off our first speed races of the year.”
SVSEF athletes posted an impressive slate of results throughout the week, highlighted by multiple overall podium finishes and consistent racing across both downhill and Super G disciplines. Samantha Milne claimed back-to-back Super G victories, while Henry Roberts and Ulrich Rossi each earned podium finishes and led the U18 field in multiple races. Ava Huey delivered a series of strong top-ten finishes, and the SVSEF squad showed depth across the board, with athletes steadily improving their results as the series progressed.
Photo: Samantha Milne takes the top step of the podium with Ava Huey in 3rd place for Women's Super G Race #1 in Mammoth
SVSEF Athlete Results
Men’s Downhill – February 3
1st – Henry Roberts (1st U18)
4th – Huxley Flood (2nd U18)
11th – Conway Selznick (7th U18)
15th – Tucker Reimund (11th U18)
Women’s Downhill – February 3
5th – Ava Huey (5th U18)
7th – Elliot Leahy (6th U18)
23rd – Lucy Olson (20th U18)
27th – Alyssa Huntsman (24th U18)
28th – Perri DeGennaro (25th U18)
Men’s Downhill – February 4
3rd – Henry Roberts (1st U18)
4th – Conway Selznick (2nd U18)
9th – Huxley Flood (6th U18)
20th – Tucker Reimund (15th U18)
Women’s Downhill – February 4
5th – Ava Huey (4th U18)
11th – Elliot Leahy (9th U18)
23rd – Lucy Olson (19th U18)
26th – Perri DeGennaro (22nd U18)
30th – Alyssa Huntsman (26th U18
Men’s Super G – February 5
5th – Henry Roberts (1st U18)
7th – Ulrich Rossi (3rd U18)
10th – Conway Selznick (6th U18)
22nd – Tucker Reimund (16th U18)
Women’s Super G – February 5
1st – Samantha Milne (1st U18)
3rd – Ava Huey (3rd U18)
11th – Elliot Leahy (10th U18)
12th – Lucy Olson (11th U18)
26th – Alyssa Huntsman (23rd U18)
Men’s Super G – February 6
2nd – Ulrich Rossi (1st U18)
4th – Henry Roberts (2nd U18)
16th – Conway Selznick (11th U18)
19th – Tucker Reimund (12th U18)
30th – Huxley Flood (21st U18)
Women’s Super G – February 6
1st – Samantha Milne (1st U18)
6th – Ava Huey (5th U18)
15th – Lucy Olson (14th U18
Complete results can be found here: https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/event-details.html?sectorcode=AL&eventid=58644&seasoncode=2026\
Up next for the SVSEF Alpine FIS Team is an Elite Series race in Utah (Snowbird and the Utah Olympic Park) Feb 17-20, 2026. The series is comprised of 2SG/2GS/2SL and there are 15 SVSEF athletes qualified for it!
SVSEF XC Gold Team Shines at 53rd Annual Boulder Mountain Tour
Weenig and Koch go one-two in elite men’s field as Gold Team delivers standout hometown performance
Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) Cross Country (XC) Gold Team athletes delivered a memorable performance at the 53rd Annual Boulder Mountain Tour (BMT) on Feb. 7, racing the iconic 34-kilometer freestyle course from Galena Lodge to the finish at the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA). With sunny skies, fast conditions, and a deep elite field, the hometown race showcased SVSEF athletes skiing at the front of the pack in both the men’s and women’s elite waves.
In the men’s race, a small lead group broke away early and maintained a blistering pace throughout the point-to-point course. SVSEF XC Gold Team athletes Elijah Weenig and Will Koch battled stride-for-stride to the finish, claiming first and second overall. Peter Wolter also finished strong inside the top ten despite late-race cramping.
“The BMT this year was super fun,” said SVSEF XC Gold Team Coach Peter Holmes. “The top six men broke away pretty early and kept the pace high through the entire race. With the fast conditions, the Gold Team boys wanted to keep the pace high to try to set a new course record. I’m super stoked for Elijah for winning and almost getting the course record, especially after working through a back injury this fall. It was awesome to see Elijah and Will take the top two spots.”
On the women’s side, Mia Case turned in a solid performance to finish seventh overall after navigating early-race challenges in the crowded field. Additionally, SVSEF Alumni and Prep Team coach Annika Landis (EnjoyWinter) finished second overall in the women’s field and SVSEF XC Prep Team Coach Sarah Armstrong just outside the top 10 in 11th place.
“What a day for a cross country race,” said Becky Flynn, SVSEF Cross Country Program Director. “The sun was shining, the trail was in perfect shape thanks to the BCRD, and there was a great field of racers across all waves. It was spectacular to see the Gold Team skiing at the top in both the men’s and women’s elite waves and finishing together with the community cheering them on.”
Photo: SVSEF Gold Team Athletes Elijah Weenig in 1st place and Will Koch in 2nd place at the 2026 Boulder Mountain Tour
SVSEF XC Gold Team Athlete Results
Men – Overall
1st – Elijah Weenig
2nd – Will Koch
6th – Peter Wolter
Women – Overall
7th – Mia Case
The Gold Team will now turn its focus to a busy stretch of championship racing, including the Period 3 SuperTour in Minneapolis and the American Birkebeiner in Wisconsin later this month.
- February 14th, 2026 - Mayors XC Ski Challenge- 10k Classic Mass Start. Wirth Park. Minneapolis, MN
- February 15th, 2026 - Mayors XC Ski Challenge- 10k Freestyle Interval Start. Wirth Park. Minneapolis, MN
- February 21st, 2026 - The Birkie. 50k Freestyle Mass Start. Cable, WI to Hayward, WI
The leader of the SuperTour after Periods 1, 2, and 3 will earn start rights in Period 4 of the World Cup as the Continental Cup Leader.
Complete race results can be found here: https://zone4.ca/event/2026/QAwjrM/
Photo Credits below: Craig Wolfrom courtesy of the Boulder Mountain Tour, Jody Zarkos
Town Sprints Cross Country Race Brings Energy, Speed, and Community to Downtown Ketchum
Nordictown USA event brings together youth, elite athletes, and the XC community ahead of Boulder Mountain Tour weekend
The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) Cross Country (XC) program kicked off an exciting week of racing in the Wood River Valley with the annual Town Sprints, held Wednesday evening in downtown Ketchum. The event brought together athletes, families, and spectators for a fast-paced, short circuit sprint format that showcased the strength and spirit of the local cross-country community.
Participants ranged from 2nd graders (Devo) just beginning to find their stride to the elite SVSEF Gold Team athletes for whom the Town Sprints served as a warm up for the Boulder Mountain Tour (BMT) race on Saturday, February 7. Regardless of age, the annual Town Sprints has a distinct emphasis on building community and having fun with an energetic presence in the heart of downtown Ketchum.
The evening concluded with exciting elite team racing on the short sprint course with strong local representation, all except Annika Landis (EnjoyWinter) and Quincy Donley (APU) are members of the SVSEF XC Gold Team.
- 1st Place: Will Koch & Annika Landis
- 2nd Place: Peter Wolter & Quincy Donley
- 3rd Place: Elijah Weenig & Mia Case
SVSEF XC extends sincere thanks to Blaine County Recreation District (BCRD) for grooming and preparing an awesome course despite the challenging conditions. Appreciation also goes to the Boulder Mountain Tour for providing the prize purse for elite category winners, helping elevate the level of competition and excitement. The event would not have been possible without the many volunteers who supported course set-up, take-down, and event operations, nor without the local community who turned out to cheer, support, and celebrate Nordic skiing.
“The Town Sprints are a special event because they bring our entire Cross Country community together, from young skiers just starting out to elite athletes competing at the highest level,” said SVSEF XC Program Director Becky Flynn. “It’s an incredible way to kick off a big week of racing with the Boulder Mountain Tour and share our sport with the broader community.”
With strong momentum heading into Saturday’s Boulder Mountain Tour, the Town Sprints once again proved to be a cornerstone event that highlights the energy, engagement, and excitement of cross country skiing in the Wood River Valley.
Photo: From left to right Peter Wolter and Quincy Donley (2nd place), champions Will Koch and Annika Landis, Elijah Weenig and Mia Case (3rd place).
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF HANK DART - Thank You, Hank!