Alternate Course in 2023 for 45th Annual Baldy Hill Climb

Hike, Run or Race River Run to Roundhouse in Support of SVSEF!

Online registration is open for the 45th Annual Baldy Hill Climb, which will be held on Saturday, Sept. 30. For the past 44 years, come rain, sun, or even snow, runners and hikers have made their way up Bald Mountain in support of Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) programming. New in 2023, the course will move from Warm Springs to the River Run side of Bald Mountain due to the ongoing new chairlift construction.

“The Baldy Hill Climb is one of the longest running athletic traditions in our Valley,” said Rick Kapala, SVSEF’s Director of Sport Development. “It’s simple, and that is what makes it great! Climb up Baldy, as fast as you can. It is just you, your shoes, and your sheer determination; and at the end it’s a chance for you to get together with friends and family and celebrate our community and the wonderful place that we live.”

“This year will be the second time in forty-five years that we’ve had to move the event to the River Run side of the mountain, and we are just grateful for Sun Valley’s partnership and collaboration to host the event in a year when they have such large-scale priorities on Baldy,” said Kapala.

Organized by the SVSEF Cross-Country Ski Team, this year’s course will challenge participants to a grueling 1.8 miles and 2,045 vertical feet—from the bottom of River Run, straight up Lower River Run through mid-River Run, and across Roundhouse Lane to the Roundhouse, which sits at 7,700 feet. All participants receive an iconic event t-shirt and a refuel at the summit aid station. In addition, and in partnership with Sun Valley Company, participants receive a much-deserved ride down on the gondola after they finish. 

“The Baldy Hill Climb welcomes the fall season and gets everyone excited for what’s to come this winter,” said Becky Woods, SVSEF’s Cross Country Program Director. “Our teams and coaches love to put on this challenging event that helps support our programming and brings the ski community together to enjoy an invigorating run or hike up the mountain. A huge thank you Sun Valley Company for their continued support of SVSEF—we wouldn't be where we are today without their commitment to our programs. And a special thank you to Olin Glenne and Sturtevant's for their title sponsorship, as well as all of our supporting sponsors—they give so much to this town and we couldn't be more grateful for their support.” 

The traditional Warm Springs Baldy Hill Climb course is 1.86 miles and 3,140 vertical feet, topping out at 9,020 feet at the top of the former Challenger chairlift. 

Online registration closes on Thursday, Sept. 28 at 11:59 p.m. There is no race day registration. Uphill lift service will not be available.

Event Schedule:

Thursday, September 28

11:59 p.m. REGISTRATION CLOSES - NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION

Friday, September 29

3 - 6 p.m. Optional race bib pick-up at Sturtevants, 340 N. Main St., Ketchum

Saturday, September 30

8:00 a.m. Check-In Opens

8:30 a.m. Kinder Climb Start: Free for kids 11 years and under. No pre-registration. 

9:00 a.m. Hike Start

10:00 a.m. Race Start

12 p.m. Awards at the summit

Thank you to title sponsor Sturtevants and lead partner Sun Valley Company, along with our supporting sponsors Atkinsons’ Market, Proctor Mountain Group, Durance Cycleworks, Salomon, Coxa Carry, Backwoods Mountain Sports, Elephant’s Perch, and Boulder Mountain Clayworks.

by Heather Foster

SVSEF Summer Start Trail Race Welcomes Athletes, Alumni, Families, and Friends

CLICK HERE FOR RESULTS

First annual trail race to benefit SVSEF Cross Country teams welcomes warmth of summer

The first annual SVSEF Summer Start Trail Race held true to its name, welcoming what felt like the first true day of summer on Saturday. Runners of all ages came out to participate in the two-mile or five-mile trail race held on the Croy trails under bluebird skies. Proceeds from the event support the SVSEF Cross Country teams.

“It was really special to see the community come out to support the team, to race, volunteer, and enjoy what the Croy trails offer,” said SVSEF Cross Country Program Director Becky Woods. “We’re so grateful to the BLM, BCRD, and the neighborhood at Rotarun for supporting this event—I’m excited to see it become a fun part of the fabric of this community!”

Runners started and finished in the Rotarun Ski Area parking lot and the courses took them out Nadya’s Trail to Two Dog, Wilson Gulch, and the five-miler had some time on Centerline. 

“It was a super fun race—I thought it was fantastic!” said Bentley Walker-Broose, member of the SVSEF XC Gold Team. Walker-Broose took second place for the men in the five-mile race, finishing 39 seconds behind SVSEF XC Alum Taylor Sundali, who took the win with a blistering fast time of 0:33:06. SVSEF XC Gold Team athlete Peter Wolter finished third just behind Walker-Broose in 0:33:49.

In the women’s five-mile race, Andie Cornish, a cross country runner at the University of Vermont, took the win with a time of 0:36:31. Anja Grover, SVSEF Alum and currently skiing for Dartmouth College, finished in second place and SVSEF XC Comp Team Coach Maddie Morgan in third.

In the two-mile race, SVSEF Alpine FIS Team athlete Ava Murphy took the win for the women in a time of 0:16:17. Eden Keeney from the SVSEF XC Comp Team took second and Avryl Haas from the SVSEF Alpine FIS Team finished in third. On the men’s side, it was one-two for the SVSEF XC Prep Team with 13-year-old Duncan Fryberger finishing first with a time of 0:16:22 and 10-year-old Cody Lloyd just seven seconds behind in second place. Athlete parent Travis Scott took third place in seventeen seconds flat.

SVSEF XC Prep Team Head Coach and Assistant Program Director Kelley Yeates echoed Woods, saying, “It was a really great inaugural event and I can’t wait to see it grow in future years! We are so appreciative of all our volunteers and loved seeing so many of our families  and community members participating—not just the skiers!”

by Heather Foster

SVSEF’s Charlotte Gourlay Awarded Intermountain Division Coach of the Year

Congratulations to Charlotte Gourlay, IMD Coach of the Year and Sean O’Connor, IMD Volunteer of the Year!

At the 2022/23 Intermountain Division (IMD) Annual Meeting Awards Banquet held in Jackpot, NV this spring, the SVSEF community came away with three distinguished awards. The awards are voted on annually by the IMD Alpine Competition Committee and the directors of all clubs in the division. SVSEF Alum Charlotte Gourlay was awarded the Nick Lewis Coach of the Year, Sean O’Conner was named the Steve Schowengerdt Volunteer of the Year, and 2023 SVSEF graduate and new member of the U.S. Alpine D Team, Finnigan Donley, was presented with the Steve Bounous Excellence in Skiing Award.

“I’m incredibly honored to win this award, but it really isn’t about me!” said Charlotte Gourlay, SVSEF Alpine U14 Travel Team Head Coach and recipient of the IMD Coach of the Year award. “I am here to support our alpine athletes in their journey and help them become the best versions of themselves in sport and in life. SVSEF is an incredible community, and I wouldn’t be where I am without the encouragement from all the incredible coaches, mentors, support staff, and parents. A big shout-out to the athletes for buying into all the crazy challenges we throw at them. Thank you, SVSEF community, for allowing me to be a part of such a great organization!”

As one of the hardest working coaches in the IMD, other coaches often look to Gourlay as the sounding board for them to make the U14 Series the best it can be. Charlotte is very involved with the Intermountain Division as the U14 Working Group Chair and gives of her time as a volunteer head coach for the IMD U14 Regionals. In this role as a volunteer IMD coach, she takes care of the IMD Team in its entirety, including the SVSEF athletes. Charlotte is also aggressively pursuing her Coaches Certifications with USSS Level 300 already under her belt, along with various Alpine Officials Certifications. She consistently pursues opportunities to learn and grow herself, in order to best provide for her athletes.

“Charlotte is both a phenomenal coach and an extraordinary person,” said Will Brandenburg, SVSEF Alpine Program Director. “Her ability to balance fun and progression is something that I truly admire in her coaching. Her team had a phenomenal season with great results, and what is exciting is the joy the athletes on her team have for the sport. These kids love ski racing and working hard. They buy into the programming hook, line, and sinker; and that’s due to the culture she sets for the athletes. She never talks about results but still keeps them motivated. She cares more about the kid than the skier and uses the sport as a vehicle for growth.”

Long-time volunteer for SVSEF and the ski-racing community, Sean O’Connor, was presented with the IMD Volunteer of the Year award. 

“Quite simply, Sean is instrumental in our team’s ability to host high-quality ski races in this valley,” said Brandenburg. “He works so hard and cares so much that he inspires everyone around him. Putting on races is a lot of work, and our team enjoys it in large part through the culture Sean and his crew create. I honestly can't wait to work a race again with this team next season and it’s cool to see that others throughout our division see how much Sean puts into it!”

SVSEF recipients of the annual IMD awards across the last decade include:

• 2022-23 Coach of the Year - Charlotte Gourlay
• 2022-23 Volunteer of the Year - Sean O’Connor
• 2022-23 Steve Bounous Excellence in Skiing Award (Men) - Finnigan Donley
• 2021-22 Official of the Year - Riley Berman
• 2020-21 Steve Bounous Excellence in Skiing Award (Men) - Ryder Sarchett
• 2017-18 Official of the Year - Scott McGrew
• 2016-17 Bryce Astle Intermountain Cup Award (Men) - Jack Smith
• 2016-17 Bryce Astle Intermountain Cup Award (Women) - Lily Fitzgerald
• 2016-17 Coach of the Year - Nate Schwing
• 2016-17 Volunteer of the Year - Heather Flood Daves
• 2015-16 Bryce Astle Intermountain Cup Award (Women) - Lily Fitzgerald
• 2014-15 IMD Scholar Award - Stockton Troyer
• 2012-13 Intermountain Cup Award (Women) - Kyla Miller

For more information, visit https://www.imdalpine.org/news/2022-23-IMD-Award-Winners/ 

by Heather Foster

SVSEF Summer Start Trail Race at Rotarun

Join SVSEF and the XC crew for a first-ever Summer Start Trail Race! Mark your calendars, and get your trail shoes ready for Saturday, June 24th at 9:00 am at Rotarun Ski Area. Make sure to arrive between 8:00-8:45 am for registration. Registration is day of ONLY. The race entry fee is $30 and supports all of the SVSEF XC Teams. Racers can choose a distance to race in either a 5-mile or 2-mile loop! The 5-mile loop will race on trails Two Dog — Center Line —Wilson Gulch. The 2-mile loop will race on Two Dog — Wilson Gulch. The race will start and end at Rotarun Ski Area. There will be cookies and snacks provided — YUM!

Parking will be limited, so make sure to carpool with your friends! All trails in the area will be open to other trail users and bikers, please use proper trail etiquette!

Volunteers will be stationed at key points throughout the course! Want to volunteer? Sign up HERE NOW! 

Please bring a donation of canned or dry food to benefit the Hunger Coalition!

A BIG THANK YOU to the BCRD, BLM, and the Rotarun neighborhood for their support of this race!

We can't wait to see everyone out there whether it's to race, volunteer, or cheer we will see you there!

by Heather Foster

Seven SVSEF Athletes/Alumni Qualify for 2023-24 National Teams

U.S. Ski and Snowboard announces cross country and alpine nominations for next season

Last week brought exciting news for Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation athletes and alumni. SVSEF Cross Country Alumni John Steel Hagenbuch and Sydney Palmer-Leger, along with SVSEF XC Gold Team athlete Sammy Smith, were again named to the Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team. SVSEF Alpine Alumni Jack Smith and Dasha Romanov return to the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team, along with newcomers Finnigan Donley and Colin Hanna, both graduating in 2023.

On May 9, 23 athletes were nominated to the U.S. Cross Country Ski Team based on set criteria. Johnny Hagenbuch returns to the B team and Sydney Palmer-Leger makes a move from the Development team to the B team based on her strong results last season.

“I’m really excited to keep working towards my goals with the U.S. Ski Team and Dartmouth,” said John Steel Hagenbuch, SVSEF Alum now skiing for Dartmouth College and the Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team. “Next year my main focus is to achieve top results at the World U23 Championships in Planica and at the NCAA Championships in Steamboat Springs.”

Rising high school senior Sammy Smith will be back for her second year with the Stifel U.S. Cross Country Development team after racing her first World Cup last season in Drammen, Norway; while also competing as a member of the SVSEF XC Gold Team during the 2023-24 season. 

“I’m super grateful to be back on the U.S. Ski Team for my second season,” said Sammy Smith, Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team and SVSEF XC Gold Team athlete. “Getting to ski on a team with such a supportive and positive culture is an incredible privilege, and opportunities to represent the U.S. and compete at the international level are experiences that I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.”

According to U.S. Ski & Snowboard, each athlete who accepts their nomination to the Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team will receive top-of-the-line athletic and medical support, world-class coaching, sport science, sports medicine and access to the USANA Center of Excellence facilities, including on-site high performance staff and education. 

Two days later on May 11, 55 athletes were named to the U.S. Alpine Team based on their published nomination criteria. SVSEF Alumni Jack Smith and Dasha Romanov make the move up to the C team, while Finnigan Donley and Colin Hanna will join the D team for the coming competition season.

“I’m super excited for my third year with the Stifel U.S. Alpine Women’s Ski Team!” said Dasha Romanov, U.S. Ski Team athlete and SVSEF Alum. “Moving up from D to C team has been a goal of mine so I’m super happy to accomplish that! I’m super thankful for the support I have received from Sun Valley to help me accomplish these goals. Also could not have done this without my parents. They have been my biggest supporters in ski racing and I would not be where I am today without them. It truly takes a big team and I’m really grateful for everyone who has helped me along in this journey so far.”

High school senior and SVSEF FIS Team athlete Finnigan Donley was named “Rookie of the Year” by U.S. Ski & Snowboard during the opening ceremonies at the U.S. Alpine Nationals held in Sun Valley in March. The award was voted on by U.S. Ski Team athletes. Donley was voted in as rookie of the year for his impressive results at U18 Nationals, where he won the super-G and was second in the downhill.

“It’s a great honor to be named to the U.S. Ski Team,” said Finnigan Donley, SVSEF Alum (class of 2023) and new member of the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team. “This has been a dream of mine since I was a kid. I am excited to work hard during the off-season and push myself against other high level skiers!”

Colin Hanna will graduate from Sun Valley Community School this spring, and also met the qualification criteria to be nominated to the alpine team.

“I am super excited for what is to come, and I can’t thank SVSEF and all of my coaches throughout the years for making this possible,” said Colin Hanna, SVSEF Alum (class of 2023) and new member of the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team.

Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team:
C Team:

• Dasha Romanov ‘19
• Jack Smith ‘19

D Team:

• Finnigan Donley ‘23
• Colin Hanna ‘23

Stifel U.S. Cross Country Team:

B Team:

• John Steel Hagenbuch ‘19
• Sydney Palmer-Leger ‘19

D Team:

• Sammy Smith ‘24

For complete U.S. Ski & Snowboard team announcements, visit the following links:

• Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team announcement
• Stifel U.S. Cross Country Team announcement

Photo credits:

• Dasha Romanov by Heather Black 
• Finnigan Donley by Tim Carter
• Sammy Smith at 2023 Jr Worlds by FlyingPointRoad
• Colin Hanna by Tim Carter
• Sydney Palmer-Leger by Glen Allison
• John Steel Hagenbuch by Glen Allison

by Heather Foster

SVSEF Freeski Team Brings Passion, Talent, and Heart to USASA Freeski Nationals 

Progression and strong potential shine bright for the future of the SVSEF Freeski Team

The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) Freeski Team traveled to Copper Mountain, CO April 8-12 to partake in the USASA Freeski Nationals. SVSEF had 14 athletes qualify and compete in three different events: Slopestyle, Halfpipe, and Rail Jam. Woodward and Copper hosted more than 1500 snowboard and freeski athletes from across the United States over the course of the week. The competition was strong, with 32 regional divisions competing. 

“This past week of competition proved that this crew of young skiers has something far more important than medals or points, they have immense passion and huge hearts," said SVSEF Freeski Futures Head Coach Gui Mattheis-Brown. “Their character is top notch, and their support for one another is surreal.”

First up was the Men’s Open Class Slopestyle, where Anton Holter shined bright with an extremely technical second run featuring a switch unnatural 1080 with a mute grab, securing him a spot in the finals and winning the hearts of several coaches with this very difficult maneuver. This was Holter’s first crack at the National Open Class level of competition, and he made the valley proud by making his way into finals with an incredibly stacked field. 

“Congrats to this young man for his impeccable style and steely determination,” said Mattheis-Brown. 

The same day, Blue Allen took to the Rail Jam course, with a smile on her face and radiating positivity. Allen skied incredibly well during qualifiers, earning a spot in the final. She earned a solid eighth place finish and her energy and passion earned her much respect from the other competitors and coaches. 

Next up, it was the Breaker Girls (13-14) and Menehune Boys (11-12) turn to show their skills on the Slopestyle course. Blue Allen skied flawlessly during training, putting down a run which included a massive right side 540, but was unable to transfer that momentum into her qualifying runs. “This girl has what it takes, and her future is very bright!” said Mattheis-Brown.

For the Menehune Boys, Barrett Beyer displayed his talents with very technical runs, but unfortunately missed out on the finals. Emmett Crist skied his heart out, spun in every direction, but he ended up missing finals by less than one point, earning him a solid 11th place finish. 

Leo Hayes put down a solid first run with a stylish cork 720, earning him a place into the final. In the finals, Leo continued his strong skiing and barely missed out on the podium, securing a well-deserved fourth place finish amongst an incredibly talented field.

On Wednesday, the Youth Men (15-16) and Breaker Boys (13-14) took to the Slopestyle course with tenacity and determination. George Corkery and Zeppelin Pilaro represented SVSEF in the Youth Men category. Corkery showed some serious character after taking a nasty fall in training and chipping a tooth. He came back to compete and posted a respectable score and a ninth-place finish in his qualifying heat. Pilaro put down an insane run featuring a massive double cork 1260 with a mute grab, but unfortunately fell on a rail and was unable to make it through to finals. 

“Respect to both of these young men for their heart and character. Big things to come in the future from these two!” said Mattheis-Brown.

For the Breaker Boys, Leon Vo, Anders Coulter, Zack Torres, and Kai Van Bueren all took on the Slopestyle course. Vo skied the best he skied all season, and his style was apparent throughout his run. Coulter linked some very technical tricks and locked on to the rails, but unfortunately neither of these two made it to the finals. 

Torres put down a very clean second run with big 900’s in multiple directions, earning him a score of 79.00, just out of the bubble to make it to the finals. “Zack’s improvement this season has been phenomenal, and his 11th place finish solidifies his status as a big-time threat for years to come,” said Mattheis-Brown.

Van Bueren was the last of the SVSEF Breaker Boys to drop, and on his second run he earned a spot into the finals with some extremely unique grabs and uncanny creativity through the rail section. During the finals, he gave it his all and earned a very respectable ninth place. 

“These young men and women are definitely hungry, and their progression over this season has been tremendous,” said Mattheis-Brown. “Although the results were maybe not what everyone was hopeful for, the quality of athletes on this team cannot be overstated. We are so proud of these young men and women for their commitment to having fun and seeing where it takes them; after all—that’s what freeskiing is all about!” 

For complete event results, visit: USASA Freeski National Results 

by Heather Foster

What it takes: A thank you to our community

Sunday, April 2 will be a day I will never forget. I got to the mountain a little before 5 a.m. Riley Berman (Chief of Course for U.S. Alpine National Championships) was driving on Warm Springs Road just behind me. The weeks leading up to this morning had been brutal on the entire crew as mother winter extended her stay this year. After watering the venue top to bottom, the grooming team had no choice but to blade off the new snow to maintain the race surface needed for an event of this magnitude. This takes extensive hours of cat work, and the grooming team had been at it relentlessly for weeks. Because of this, we had to keep most of the B-net off the hill. The snow that came in on Saturday gave us no choice but to set up the majority of the protection on a world-class Super G course the morning of the event, meaning a super early load Sunday morning.

I drank a cup of coffee and walked over to the yurt to meet Riley and the crew. I was expecting to see the normal crew there, but when I opened the door, it was standing room only. It was 6 a.m. and nearly 100 people had shown up to help. School teachers, doctors, chiropractors, restaurant owners, bankers, trainers and so many community members were there to show their support and help pull off the event.

Then it was Riley’s time to shine. On the big screen in the yurt, Riley had it all mapped out. He had nearly every name in the room organized with a specific job to do. Within the 15-minute meeting, everyone had a plan and jumped on the old Challenger lift to create one last memory with her. Complete with headlamps on, the team started building the venue.

We told the coaches the night before about the plan at the Team Captains’ meeting and asked for their help. They were kind of looking at us like we were crazy, and it didn’t seem like they had much faith we would pull the race off. But as our crew started setting up, a wave of coaches from across the country showed up to lend a hand. By 9:10 a.m., the jury was able to confirm the schedule and we opened the course inspection on time. We set up more than 200 rolls of B-net and prepared the track in less than three hours.

By noon, the sun was out and so was our community to support. The crowd was awesome, and the venue looked spectacular. Three SVSEF athletes were in the top five that day, with Finnigan Donley winning the U21 National Championship in Super G. After the races, the crew met at the yurt and hugged and laughed. Just 24 hours before, it seemed as though all the hard work by so many for months was about to go down the drain. But we never stopped trying and our community came together to pull it off.

On the day after hosting U.S. Nationals, it felt weird driving to Warm Springs only to look up and not see B-net on Greyhawk. I missed seeing the venue we built together and its beauty. I missed the camaraderie with the team. Cleaning the yurt that morning, I realized the venue will never look the same again with the changes coming to Warm Springs. Please don’t get me wrong, I’m stoked for the upgrades, and it’s totally needed; but these weeks were the last races on Greyhawk and Challenger. This is the first time since I’ve lived here that something is going to change that I care about and am connected to. I’m new to this feeling of change that so many locals know too well, but I sure am going to miss 10 and 7.

This event has been inspiring to be a part of. It simply doesn’t happen to this level without a group of people that find joy in being a part of something bigger than oneself.

I can’t thank Sun Valley Company enough for their support in bringing this event to our community. I can’t thank our community enough for their sacrifice and support for the sport I love. For those of you that put in time over the weeks to support, I can’t thank you enough. For others in our community that find ski racing a nuisance, thank you for your sacrifice as well, and I appreciate your putting up with us. I love ski racing and snow sports, and it takes all of us coming together to be good at it.

Our valley has the opportunity to consistently be one of the best venues in ski racing in the world. It is so fun to be a part of this! Thank you!

by Heather Foster

SVSEF Snowboard Team Makes a Statement at 2023 USASA Nationals

Two-time Olympian and SVSEF Alum Chase Josey supports as coach for the competition

Nine riders from the SVSEF Snowboard Team qualified for the 2023 USASA National Championships March 31-April 6 at Copper Mountain, CO, and five made the trip to compete. This was the first experience at Nationals for all the athletes except Naomi Gorringe, and the team had two-time Olympian and SVSEF Snowboard Team Alum Chase Josey along for the ride in a coaching capacity.

Naomi Gorringe (Breaker Girls 13-14), Vivian Smith (Menehune Girls 11-12), and Camille Armeen (Menehune Girls 11-12) competed in all three events—Slopestyle, Boardercross, and Halfpipe. Karsen Miller (Youth Men 15-16) competed in Slopestyle, and Callie Allen (Breaker Girls 13-14) competed in Slopestyle and Halfpipe.

“This was my second year at USASA Snowboard Nationals and it’s so fun to ride with my friends, coaches, and people that I don’t even know on a mountain that I am not familiar with,” said Naomi Gorringe. “This year, my coach Andy Gilbert and two-time Olympian Chase Josey came up with me to help coach in the start. The first day I had Half Pipe which is probably my favorite event, then I had Slopestyle on Tuesday, and finally on Wednesday I had Boardercross. To finish it up, on Thursday I got to watch the Menehunes do halfpipe, and I also got to ride with my friends, Callie Allen, Andy Gilbert, Chase Josey, Joey Okesson, and a few more people. I love the USASA Nationals, and I hope I can keep competing for a long time.”  

In Slopestyle, Karsen Miller was the lone rider having to compete on the big jump line that had by far the biggest jumps he had hit all season. Miller stepped up showing no sign of apprehension. His run included frontside 360 to two nice straight airs and a clean rail line, which landed him in 27th in the Youth Men 15-16 division. It was a top third of the field finish and a great result for Miller going forward.

The young women of SVSEF Snowboarding were next in the Breaker Girls 13-14. Callie Allen was smooth all day with a Half Cab back 360 combo and a smooth rail game. Her confidence on course grabbed her 14th overall, just missing the cut for finals. Naomi Gorringe (Breaker Girls 13-14), who was a contender in all the events she qualified for, was trying for a very technical run to pair with her always big amplitude. The run she wanted was half cab/front 360 stale/back 360 and then boardslides on the hardest rail features. It just wasn’t her day and she had trouble on the second feature and bobbled both runs. Naomi is a fierce competitor and this will serve as fuel going into next season and beyond. She is an amazing rider with a bright future, stay tuned.

In the Menehune Girls 11-12, Vivian Smith came to play! Smith stood out with her smooth grabs and airs and a confident style between features. In her very first Nationals, she nabbed a top ten finish—10th place and only two spots out of the final. Camille Armeen, who is kind of the opposite of Smith in her riding style, showed the power and amplitude she has been working on all season. Starting things off with half cab to smooth second jump air, Armeen landed in 15th and proved she deserved the spot at Nationals this season. Chase Josey was the “Hype Man” these young riders needed and he did a great job making tweaks to runs and getting the girls to believe they had the bag of tricks to perform on the day. 

Boardercross, the most unpredictable of the snowboard disciplines, gave us a great course in a new location at Copper Mountain this season. Sun Valley riders have always done well in this event coming from Baldy with its long runs, and coaches tried to channel that saying “it’s just like running Machine Road back home!” The time trial shook out as expected with all the Sun Valley riders landing solidly in the knockout heats and not having to claw through the last chance brackets. The strategy started moving into the heats, where the course featured a long straight away, with a rhythm section to a hard-left turn that favored the goofy-footed riders. 

Smith, one of the smallest riders in the field, used it as an advantage staying nimble and allowing riders to make mistakes before making a move. Gorringe, who was seeded to get second or third gate pick, would drop in from the left and push all the other riders high and to the right to set herself up to take the low left line to advance. Armeen used the same strategy and made the move of the day with a hard, low cut to slingshot past two girls in front of her. All three Sun Valley riders advanced two rounds to the quarter finals before getting knocked out, again showing that they are real ATV snowboarders! At the conclusion of the heats, it was Armeen 10th in Menehune Girls 11-12, Smith 11th in Menehune Girls 11-12, and Gorringe 14th in Breaker Girls 13-14.

The Halfpipe was up next and the riding on display all week was high level. Particularly in the women’s division it was smooth and creative and the ladies were going big. Smith and Armeen, who made one pipe trip this year to qualify for this event, were in a division (Menehune Girls 11-12) that featured 11-year-old Patti Yizhu Zhou, who finished on the podium at this year’s Dew Tour Halfpipe event. The girls dropped in back to back and were smooth and confident with straight airs at and just above the lip of the 22-foot pipe. Both girls grabbed their airs and after the first runs were sitting just on the bubble to make the 10-girl final. 

Chase discussed their second runs with them in the start gate and it was agreed they would add a frontside 360. Smith went first adding the 360 at the bottom of her run and improving her first run score. Armeen went bigger on her straight airs and looked smoother between the walls, so much so that she ran out of room to try the 360, but the intent was there. Smith and Armeen finished 17th and 19th respectively. This is an amazing result for first time National riders in a discipline we don’t get to ride that often. 

Gorringe and Allen in the Breaker Girls 13-14 division showed us what’s to come for them in the halfpipe, and they showcased their different styles and approach to snowboarding. Gorringe is the go big, take risks, and throw unique tricks and combos. Allen is the calculated, smooth, and subtle rider that just makes it look good. After a good practice, a look at the landscape, and realizing they did indeed belong among this field, the girls got to work. 

Allen was smooth between the walls, looking almost at ease as she got out of the pipe, grabbing everything, and adding an FS 360-Halfcab to her run. Gorringe went bigger than most of the field on all her straight airs, grabbing the attention of everyone there including the judges. The pipe was long and most girls were getting at least six to seven hits. Gorringe was getting five and had to just squeeze in her 360 at the bottom. 

This group was extremely competitive and the judging was tough to figure if big or tech was the rule of the day. The girls and coaches wanted to continue to play to the strengths that got them there, and just wanted to clean up what had already been shown in hopes of a little boost in score. When the smoke cleared, Gorringe finished just off the podium in fourth, with Allen right behind her in fifth! 

The Breaker Girls 13-14 was one of the groups that U.S. Team coaches attended to get a glimpse of what’s coming, and the two SVSEF riders made an impression to be sure. This was an amazing result for both girls and proof that Sun Valley is still producing great pipe riders with the fundamentals they learn riding Baldy every day.

This was an amazing “fact finding” trip for everyone who attended. The team often competes in a bit of a bubble and it’s invaluable for the riders to see where they stack up nationally, that they are competitive, and in many cases they are contenders.

by Heather Foster