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

SVSEF XC Gold Team Athletes Wolter and Adicoff back on U.S. trails

Peter Wolter has had a dreamy season and it just keeps going. Wolter is returning from a successful trip to Dobbiaco, Italy where he represented the U.S. Ski Team in the OPA Cup Finals. Jake Adicoff is returning from Norway after skiing the historic Norwegian Birkebeiner. Both are currently finishing up the race season in Craftsbury, VT at the 2023 US Super Tour Finals.    

Wolter, currently in second place in the overall U.S. SuperTour standings, is back racing on familiar trails in Craftsbury, VT, where he raced collegiately for Middlebury College. In the 10 km classic, the first of three races at the tour, Wolter finished sixth overall, just seconds out of the top three. The goal; to finish the season as the Super Tour leader, a position that would grant him automatic World Cup starts in Period 1 next season.   

“Peter got a little worn down over the final few OPA Cup starts in Italy, but bounced back well three days later for a sixth in the 10km Classic at Super Tour Finals in Vermont,” said Head SVSEF XC Gold Team Coach Chris Mallory. “It’s a tight battle at the top of the SuperTour standings with Ketchum local and SVSEF Alum Hagenbuch, Wolter, and Alaskan Zanden McMullen. With two National Championship races to go it’ll be an exciting finale to the season.” 

Adicoff, who has had a “golden” season on the U.S. Para Nordic Team is excited to be back on U.S. trails. He changed up his race attire from Team USA to shorts and a race shirt to match the spring conditions, finishing in 43rd place in the 10km race.   

US Super Tour Finals continue Friday, March 24 with a Freestyle sprint and Sunday, March 26 with a 50km Classic mass start race. Adicoff and Wolter will both be competing. 

Other SVSEF Cross Country News: 

John Steel Hagenbuch, SVSEF Alum and Dartmouth College, took the win in the 10km classic at the U.S. Super Tour Finals and fellow alum Anika Landis, finished 19th in the women’s 10km classic. 

On March 3, Katie Feldman, SVSEF XC Gold Team member finished the Norwegian Birkebeiner in 46th place in the Elite Women’s category. “The Birkie could not have been a better day…it was gloriously sunny, the fans were energetic, and we were kicking 45 (hard wax)!  I was also sooo happy to do some striding and not just double pole,” said Feldman, who has had a tremendous winter racing the European marathon and Ski Classics series. She has one more marathon weekend to go and it just happens to be some of the hardest courses on the circuit. Follow along as Katie competes in the Norwegian Reistadlopet April 1-2. 

by Heather Foster

SVSEF XC Comp Team Claims Five Podiums at Western Club Championships

Members of the SVSEF Cross Country Comp Team traveled to the Western Club Championships in Truckee, CA for the last race series of the season. It was a relaxed and fun atmosphere, promoting racing of all ages.

Day one saw sunshine and warm temperatures, a classic California winter day and one that they haven’t seen much of this winter. The snowfall was beyond what we have ever seen—25 feet and more in the forecast. From the Auburn Ski Club building where you can sit inside and watch the races, all you could see was a 20-foot wall of snow with steps chiseled into the snowpack to get into the building.

The first race, a 5km skiathlon, consisted of one lap of classic skiing, and one lap of freestyle skiing, with a change of gear in between. The team set up their “ski exchanges” in the designated area and off they went. In the U18 boys’ race, Galen Grohusky skied his way onto the podium in third place, followed closely by Dave Walters and Holden Archie in fifth and seventh. Zach Quesnel took third in the U16 race with teammate Winton Gallegos finishing seventh. Emma Singer joined her teammates on the third place podium in the girls U18 race. Mia Schaffner and Lucy Carter were close behind in fourth and fifth.

“It was great to have the opportunity to race one more time and the Western Club Championships was just the series we needed,” said Becky Woods, SVSEF Cross Country Program Director. “The atmosphere was great, everyone was excited to be in California racing. It was the perfect way to wrap up the season.”

Sunday brought a day of familiar wintery weather (at least three more inches) with a 7.5km freestyle mass start race on deck for the U18 boys and girls, and a 5km for the U16’s. In the girl’s U18 race, Emma Singer again found the podium, finishing third, followed by Mia Schaffner in fifth. In the U18 boys’ race, Teddy Hobbs skied his way on to the podium, finishing third. Teammates Galen Grohusky, and Holden Archie were close behind in fourth and eighth respectfully. In the U16 boys race Zach Quesnel skied to a seventh place finish with Winston close behind in ninth.

The weekend marked the closure of the race season for the SVSEF XC Comp Team.

SVSEF ATHLETE & COMPLETE WEEKEND RESULTS

Boys – Day 1 - U18/16 (3/18/23)
3 - Galen Grohusky
5 - Dave Walters
7 - Holden Archie
11 - Zach Quesnel
18 - Winston Gallegos
https://www.live-timing.com/report/251637%20Race%20Results.pdf

Girls – Day 1 - U18 (3/18/23)
6 - Emma Singer
11 - Mia Schaffner
13 - Lucy Carter
https://www.live-timing.com/race2.php?r=251639

Girls – Day 2 - U18 (3/19/23)
3 - Emma Singer
5 - Mia Schaffner
https://www.live-timing.com/race2.php?r=251728

Boys – Day 2 - U18 (3/19/23)
3 - Teddy Hobbs
4 - Galen Grohusky
8 - Holden Archie
10 - Dave Walters
https://www.live-timing.com/race2.php?r=251729

Boys – Day 2 - U16 (3/19/23)
7 - Zach Quesnel
9 - Winston Gallegos
https://www.live-timing.com/race2.php?r=251732

by Heather Foster

SVSEF Dominates 2023 U12 Intermountain Championships at Snowbird, UT

The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) U12 Travel team traveled to Snowbird March 17-19 to compete in their final race of the season—the U12 Intermountain Division Championships. SVSEF had 14 boys and 19 girls qualify to compete in the championship series. Throughout the season, SVSEF U12 athletes compete against athletes from the northern region of the Intermountain Division (IMD).

The 2023 IMD Championships brings the northern and southern regions of the Intermountain Division together, making the field of athletes bigger and the competition that much more competitive. In Snowbird, 200 athletes competed in one Giant Slalom (GS), one Slalom (SL), and one Kombi race.

“These athletes did a great job attacking each of the courses, skiing and finishing the season with some of their best skiing, and also having loads of fun at a new venue,” said Adele Savaria, SVSEF Alpine U12 Travel Head Coach. “As coaches, we are so proud of everything these athletes accomplished this season, and can’t wait for next season.”

SVSEF’s Savannah Pringle brought home the overall girls U12 IMD Championship title. Her strong results in each event earned Pringle the overall win, with a third place in the GS, second in the SL, and second in the Kombi. Henry Questad also had a great championship series coming in second in the men’s SL and fifth in the GS.

For complete race results please click HERE.

SVSEF Athlete Results:
MEN 3/17/23 GS:
5 - Henry Questad
6 - Cameron Beck
10 - Corbin Flood
12 - Charlie Spengler
16 - Thijs Lloyd
25 - Finn Malone
31 - James Holman
39 - Brixen Ehleringer
51 - Alex Grant
54 - Eli Sattler
58 - Cody Lloyd
68 - Cash Mintz
69 - Halsten Bruun

WOMEN 3/17/23 GS:
3 - Savannah Pringle
14 - Imogen Hutchisen
17 - Piper Spengler
22 - Olivia Harrington
25 - Camille Reid
28 - Brianna Smiley
30 - Jennings Fraser
47 - Gaia Luem
63 - Ava Gilmour
65 - Alta Questad
66 - Payton Daley-Scheigraber
70 - Taylor Rundell
71 - Aviella Buoncristiani
74 - Brady Bloomfield
76 - Iliana Little
83 - Makenna Steel
91 - Irie Black

MEN 3/18/23 SL
2 - Henry Questad
3 - Cameron Beck
5 - Corbin Flood
9 - Charlie Spengler
10 - Thijs Lloyd
15 - Finn Malone
26 - Brixen Ehleringer
33 - Coen Lamb
63 - Cody Lloyd
68 - Cash Mintz
70 - Eli Sattler

WOMEN 3/18/23 SL
2 - Savannah Pringle
13 - Imogen Hutchisen
15 - Piper Spengler
16 - Olivia Harrington
20 - Jennings Fraser
28 - Camille Reid
39 - Taylor Rundell
45 - Gaia Luem
53 - Brianna Smiley
54 - Iliana Little
59 - Aviella Buoncristiani
61 - Payton Daley-Scheigraber
72 - Makenna Steel
80 - Irie Black
82 - Amelia Beck

MEN 3/19/23 KOMBI
7 - Cameron Beck
11 - Corbin Flood
13 - Thijs Lloyd
19 - Charlie Spengler
31 - Brixen Ehleringer
47 - Finn Malone
48 - Alex Grant
50 - Cash Mintz
51 - Eli Sattler
57 - Coen Lamb
68 - Cody Lloyd

WOMEN 3/19/23 KOMBI
2 - Savannah Pringle
15 - Imogen Hutchisen
17 - Piper Spengler
22 - Jennings Fraser
33 - Olivia Harrington
35 - Camille Reid
44 - Taylor Rundell
47 - Brianna Smiley
52 - Alta Questad
58 - Gaia Luem
61 - Iliana Little
63 - Payton Daley-Scheigraber
66 - Makenna Steel
67 - Aviella Buoncristiani
83 - Amelia Beck
84 - Irie Black

by Heather Foster

SVSEF XC Comp Team members shine at Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, AK 

IMD finishes second in overall Alaska Cup 

Cold temps and wind were a breeze for the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) junior national team skiers who showed weather is just part of the show at the 2023 USSA Cross Country Ski Junior National Championships in Fairbanks, AK. The team skied some of the hardest courses of the year and helped the Intermountain Division finish second in the overall Alaska Cup, the best finish for the division in years.

Day one started cold… and ended colder. The temperature was four degrees at race time, with perfect tracks and a racecourse that was as challenging as it gets. Jodie Maguire led the U18 SVSEF girls contingent with a solid 13th place finish in the 7.5km classic race. She was followed closely by Berkeley Canfield, Ani Vandenburgh, Aisley Grohusky, Molly Maybach, and Eloise Hebert. Less than three minutes separated the finish times. On the same course, Cora Faye Scott led the U16 girls, followed by Mazzy Conners. “It was really cold,” said Conners. In his first ever junior national race, Dexter Morrison finished the 7.5km race with a time of 26:08, good enough for 61st place in the U18 boys field. Miguel Fresco Hanlon found himself in 17th for U20’s to round out the day.

“Our athletes raced some of their best races of the season on exciting and challenging courses in Fairbanks,” said SVSEF Guest Coach Bob Thompson. “The fight the Sun Valley skiers showed was inspiring.”

Cold temperatures stayed put for day two of the event, and the winds added yet another element to the freestyle sprint. The team bundled up and showed real grit when it came time to race. Fresco led the way for U20 boys, finishing fourth overall and first for IMD. Dexter Morrison showed his sprint skills with a 27th overall finish for U18 boys. Cora Faye Scott continued the streak with a blazing fifth place overall finish in the U16 girls race with teammate Mazzy Conners finding her way to 62nd.  In the U18 girls sprint, it was Molly Maybach and Ani Vandenburgh at the top, finishing sixth and ninth respectively. They were followed closely by Maguire and Canfield. Grohusky and Hebert rounded out the scoring for IMD, putting the division in second overall going into the last day of racing.

The last day of racing brought smiles, blankets to keep warm at the start/finish, and another solid day of race results from IMD and the SVSEF crew. Maguire continued her distance dominance for the U18’s, finishing 12th overall in the 10km freestyle mass start. SVSEF/IMD teammates could see each other the whole way, helping to motivate one another in the last race of the championships. Canfield, Maybach, Grohusky, Hebert and Vandenburgh completed the race within minutes of each other, helping IMD build a lead going into the last few races. In the U16 girls race, Scott led the SVSEF crew finishing 23rd and Conners tied her best result finishing 62nd. The result of the day came from Fresco-Hanlon with a sixth-place result in the U20 boys  10km mass start freestyle event, once again leading the way for IMD.

“It was really cool to get to represent Sun Valley and the region and just being there was a blast,” said Fresco Hanlon. “Also, doing well for me was an added bonus.”

In the true essence of sport, SVSEF Comp Team athlete Ani Vandenburg was named the “Spirit of IMD” by her Intermountain Division teammates. Vandenburgh was a leader on and off the racecourse, showing kindness and compassion to her teammates as well as leading by example. “She was one of the toughest athletes out there on the last day,” said Coach Thompson. “Her shins locked up on her and she stuck it out in a lot of pain.”

In the coveted Alaska Cup at Junior Nationals, IMD had its best showing in years, displaying the strength of the region. “It is exciting to be a part of a competitive Nordic community here in Intermountain,” said Becky Woods, SVSEF Cross Country Program Director. “When we go to Junior National qualifiers throughout the winter, we know that the competition there is similar to that of Junior Nationals. It is a positive shift that will allow our athletes to compete with the best in the country as we ski into the future.”

Alaska Cup 

1 New England:  822

2 Intermountain (IMD): 785

3 Midwest: 667

Day 1 

Classic 7.5km interval start 

U16 Women 

14 Cora Faye Scott

72 Mazzy Conners

U18 Women 

13 JodieWillow Maguire

19 Berkeley Canfield

24 Ani Vandenburgh

29 Aisley Grohusky

34 Molly Maybach

55 Eloise Hebert

U18 Men 

61 Dexter Morrison

U20 Men 

17 Miguel Fresco Hanlon

Day 2 

Freestyle Sprint 

U16 Women 

5 Cora Fay Scott*

62 Mazzy Conners

U18 Women 

6 Molly Maybach*

9 Ani Vandenburgh*

14 JodieWillow Maguire

17 Berkeley Canfield

48 Aisley Grohusky

54 Eloise Hebert

U18 Men 

27 Dexter Morrison

U20 Men 

4 Miguel Fresco Hanlon*

Day 3 

Freestyle Mass Start 

U16 Women - 5km 

23 Cora Faye Scott

62 Mazzy Conners

U18 Women - 10km 

12 JodieWillow Maguire

25 Berkeley Canfield

31 Molly Maybach

49 Aisley Grohusky

53 Eloise Hebert

58 Ani Vandenburgh

U20 Men 

6 Miguel Fresco Hanlon*

*All American honors go to the top 10 in every race. 

For more information and results, visit: 2023 JN Fairbanks Results

Photos courtesy of Tory Canfield.

by Heather Foster

Sammy Smith joins Kevin Bolger in World Cup 4 X 5km Relay in Falun

Smith and Bolger to race final World Cup sprint in Lahti, Finland 

In a trip that has just been getting better and better, SVSEF Comp Team and U.S. Development team member Sammy Smith continues to show the world what she can do. In Tuesday’s freestyle sprint in Tallinn, Estonia, Smith once again qualified for the heats by placing 19^th in the qualifier. The top 30 move on to compete in heats of six, and then finish with an A final and a B final for the top twelve spots. Smith finished 30th overall. SVSEF XC Gold Team and U.S. Ski Team member Kevin Bolger finished 55^th in the qualifier, just missing the heats. 

This has been an epic trip for seventeen-year-old Smith, who is competing on her first world cup circuit after a successful showing at the FIS Junior World Ski Championships.  She was originally set to compete in four World Cup sprints but was given two more starts—the 10km freestyle in Tallinn as well as the 4 X 5km relay.  As luck would have it, she was on the same relay team as SVSEF teammate Kevin Bolger, who skied the third leg in the relay and tagged off to Smith.  

“Sammy’s debut in the World Cup has been incredible,” said SVSEF XC Gold Team Head Coach Chris Mallory.  “While she went over there excited to gain some experience in sprinting, she stepped up to the challenge and qualified for heats in the top 30 twice!  It was also really cool to see her and fellow Gold Teamer Kevin Bolger on the same USA Relay team in Falun, Sweden, where they battled for 11th place on the day.” 

Smith and Bolger are both set to compete in the final World Cup Sprint this weekend in Lahti, Finland. Their weekend schedule is here. 

Photo: Sammy Smith at 2023 World Junior Championships
Photographer: FlyingPointRoad.com

by Heather Foster

SVSEF & Sun Valley Host U16 Western Regional Championships March 21-24

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT: Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation and Sun Valley Host U.S. Ski & Snowboard U16 Western Region Championships this week. The U.S. Ski & Snowboard U16 Western Region Championships is a championship event for racers ages 14 and 15 years old only, from the five divisions of the Western Region. The five divisions include: Alaska, Far West, Intermountain, Northern, and Pacific Northwest. 170 athletes (80 boys, 90 girls) will compete in three disciplines over four days—Super G, Giant Slalom, and Slalom (SL).

WHERE: Warm Springs side of Sun Valley

WHEN: Tuesday - Friday, March 21-24

11 SVSEF Alpine U16 Team Athletes Qualified for U16 Western Region Championships:

• Alyssa Huntsman
• Ruby Smith
• Madalyn Neal
• Josie Sarchett
• Taylor Hovey – Qualified but not racing due to injury
• Jay Blackburn
• Declan White
• Owen Lancaster
• Tucker Smith
• Paxton Sammis
• Reyn Gary

EVENT SCHEDULE:

Tuesday, March 21st / Super G Race

Men’s Start: 9:45am

Women’s Start: 11:00am

Wednesday, March 22nd / WR U16 Championship Super G

Men’s Start: 9:45

Women’s Start: 11:00

Thursday, March 23rd / Men’s Championship SL and Women’s Championship GS

Men’s SL Run 1 start time 9:00am

Men’s SL Run 2 start time 10:45am

Women’s GS Run 1 start time 12:00pm

Women’s GS Run 2 start 1:45pm

Awards Banquet for the first three days held at Limelight Room, Sun Valley Inn at 7:00 p.m.

Friday, March 24th / Women’s Championship SL and Men’s Championship GS

Women’s Run 1 start time 9:00am

Women’s Run 2 start time 10:45am

Men’s GS Run 1 start time 12:00pm

Men’s GS Run 2 start 1:45pm

Awards for the last day will be presented after the race in the Warm Springs base area.

Event schedule posted HERE

Once races begin, live unofficial race results can be found on Live Timing HERE.

by Heather Foster

Finnigan Donley Brings Home 2023 U18 Nationals Overall Men’s Title

Ten members of the Sun Valley Ski Education Alpine FIS Team qualified to compete in the 2023 U18 Nationals in Mittersill, NH, March 9-16. The athletes competed in both speed and tech events including downhill, super G, giant slalom, and slalom. At the conclusion of the series, SVSEF’s Finnigan Donley was crowned Overall U18 Men’s Champion and on the women’s side, Paige DeHart brought home two top ten finishes in the nation including fifth on the podium in giant slalom and eighth in slalom.

Five men and five women made up the team that traveled east to compete against their strongest contemporaries across the country. Finnigan Donley, Kai Subith, Larson Overby, Max Meucci, and Sacha Stern-Pre filled the men’s SVSEF roster; while Maya Lightner, Madison Vieara-McCarthy, Natalie Gowe, Paige DeHart, and Ruby Crist qualified for the women.

“I had a great time at the U18 Nationals,” said Finnigan Donley, SVSEF FIS Team athlete and 2023 Overall U18 Men’s Champion. “National championship races are both mentally and physically challenging because there are four races in the span of four days. I am proud of my results throughout the week because I was able to stay at a high level from the first day to the last day!”

SVSEF FIS Coach Sue Schwartz accompanied the team to Mittersill for the race series. “I’m incredibly proud of these athletes for qualifying for U18 Nationals,” said Schwartz. “While seeing athletes reach the pinnacle of their sport and earn a title is exciting and rewarding, it’s not all about podiums and top fives. I’m proud of how they did, how they conducted themselves, of their performances on the hill, and of the consistent improvement we’re seeing in their skiing. They were awesome—they tried extremely hard and SVSEF was well-represented. Major kudos to all of our athletes.”

“This was my first trip to the east coast,” said Paige DeHart, SVSEF FIS team athlete. “It was a great trip and the racing conditions were excellent. Overall it was a successful race series for myself and SVSEF.”

On the first day of competition in the Women’s Downhill, Maya Lightner finished just off the podium in sixth place and Ruby Crist had a standout finish moving from her start position in 43rd to land in 16th place overall. Natalie Gowe finished in the top 30 in 28th place. In the Men’s Downhill, Finnigan Donley stood atop the podium, Kai Subith found his way to a top 15 in 11th place, and Max Meucci and Larson Overby finished just outside the top 30 in 31st and 32nd respectively.

Donley followed up with another win in the Men’s Super G and DeHart landed top 15 in 14th for the women in the Super G. Donley continued a strong series placing sixth in Men’s Giant Slalom with Subith just on his heels in 7th place. DeHart stood on the podium in fifth for the women in Giant Slalom. Donley raced to his third podium of the series in the Men’s Slalom, placing third. DeHart again had the top finish for the women earning a top-ten in 8th place for the Women’s Slalom.

Of the team that traveled to U18 Nationals, five SVSEF FIS Team athletes have also qualified for the upcoming 2023 U.S. Alpine National Championships in Sun Valley. In preparation for racing on the big stage, Finnigan Donley and Kai Subith will travel to Minnesota to compete in the Northern Michigan University Lutsen Spring Series, March 23-26, Paige DeHart and Madison Vieara-McCarthy will head to Montana to compete in the giant slalom at the Western Region FIS Open at Big Sky, March 30-31, and Maya Lightner will resume training in preparation for the U.S. Alpine Nationals, April 2-5.

U18 Nationals, Mittersill, NH
SVSEF Athlete Results:

Women’s U18 Downhill - March 10

• 6th - Maya Lightner

• 16th - Ruby Crist

• 28th - Natalie Gowe

Men’s U18 Downhill - March 11

• 1st - Finnigan Donley

• 11th - Kai Subith 

• 31st - Max Meucci

• 32nd - Larson Overby

Men’s U18 Super G - March 12

• 1st - Finnigan Donley

• 23rd - Kai Subith

• 32nd - Larson Overby

• 39th - Max Meucci

• 63rd - Sacha Stern-Pre

Women’s U18 Super G - March 12

• 14th - Paige DeHart

• 25th - Maya Lightner

• 49th - Maddie Vieara-McCarthy

Men’s U18 Giant Slalom - March 13

• 6th - Finnigan Donley

• 7th - Kai Subith

• 35th - Sacha Stern-Pre

• 38th - Max Meucci

Women’s U18 Giant Slalom - March 13

• 5th - Paige DeHart

• 39th - Madison Vieara-McCarthy

Men’s U18 Slalom - March 14

• 3rd - Finnigan Donley

• 27th - Max Meucci

• 29th - Larson Overby

• 37th - Sacha Stern-Pre

Women’s U18 Slalom - March 15

• 8th - Paige DeHart

• 27th - Natalie Gowe

• 38th - Madison Vieara-McCarthy

For complete U18 Nationals results, click HERE.

by Heather Foster

SVSEF Snowboarding Wraps Big Mountain West Series at Woodward Park City

The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation Snowboard Team drove south to Woodward Park City for the final events of the USASA Big Mountain West Series Mar 9-11. On tap was the final Slopestyle and Rail Jam followed by the first and only four halfpipe events of the season for most SVSEF riders.

Riders competing this weekend were also gunning for another Slopestyle result to gain points for the USASA National Championship, which will be held March 31-April 12 at Copper Mountain, CO.

Rylan Olson took to the course with a smooth 540-FS180-360 combo that put him in the mix with a really competitive field of riders from the Intermountain region. Callie Allen, in her first away-trip of the year, stepped up with stylish straight airs and also used the most challenging of the rail features. Camille Armeen and Vivian Smith showed what’s to come in the Menehune 11-12 Girls group charging the line all day long. Karsen Miller stomped his first run, spinning both directions. On his second run, he threw his first BS Rodeo he’s ever done in competition—unfortunately he over cooked it a bit and took a spill in the landing. Even with the fall, the stoke level was high for the attempt.

Woodward Park City Slopestyle SVSEF Athlete Results:

Menehune Girls 11-12

Camille Armeen 2nd

Vivian Smith 3rd

Menehune Boys 11-12

Rylan Olson 4th

Breaker Girls 13-14

Callie Allen 1st

Breaker Boys 13-14

Henry Georgiades 6th

Youth Men 15-16

Karsen Miller 3rd

The SVSEF Snowboard Team had two riders take part in the Rail Jam. Snowboard 11-14 group athletes Bixby Swanger and Henry Georgiades showed a variety in both trick selection and the features they used. Bixby had a really cool FS Smith on the down tube that made the judges and announcers take note. Henry decided to spin 360 on and off of the flat box in front of the judges, which seemed to raise the stakes as things heated up. Bixby “Bix” has such a different take on rail riding, and at least one judge shared afterwards they liked his style during the event.

Woodward Park City Rail Jam SVSEF Athlete Results:

Snowboard 11-14

Bixby Swanger 12th

Henry Georgiades 13th

For the final events on Friday and Saturday, athletes took to the halfpipe. Sun Valley riders have a long and storied history in the halfpipe. People ask how SVSEF athletes train without one. The reality of this discipline is that the best freeriders make for many of the best pipe riders. Baldy’s steep pitch teaches the great edge control needed to ride a halfpipe wall. The progression in the halfpipe over the four days the team was at Woodward was amazing and the stoke for this new skill was on the face of the whole team.

Callie Allen worked super hard getting out of the pipe with a mix of grabs on her straight air and an FS 360 to Cab 360 combo that gave her the win in the Breaker Girls 13-14 group.

Rylan Olson was rewarded for charging the pipe with style, landing in third in the Menehune Boys 11-12 group in his first-ever pipe event. Henry Georgiades showed maybe the most natural adaptation to the halfpipe looking clean between the walls and going bigger with each run. Miles Hatzenbuehler started right where he left off in the pipe last year throwing a couple of nice runs during the two events on Friday. Enzo Schmillen was super consistent all week, gaining confidence and skill along the way; and had a nice alley-oop 360 to finish his runs. Naomi Gorringe, who was splitting time between a hockey tournament in Salt Lake City, managed to squeeze in two of the four pipe events, blasting out of the pipe and making the most of only getting four hits with combo grabs and 360’s.

Park City Head Coach, Rick Shimpeno, and SVSEF Head Coach, Andy Gilbert, agreed this event seemed to be a turning point for halfpipe in the Intermountain region. “Great field size and the riding was really good!” said Gilbert. “The kids are indeed alright!”

Woodward Park City SVSEF Athlete Results in Halfpipe (HP) 1 through 4

Breaker Girls 13-14

Callie Allen HP2 1st, HP3 1st, HP4 1st

Callie is the Big Mountain West Series Champion, earning an automatic spot at Nationals in Halfpipe

Naomi Gorringe HP1 1st, HP4 2nd

Breaker Boys 13-14

Henry Georgiades HP1 4th, HP3 4th, HP4 4th

Miles Hatzenbuehler HP1 6th, HP2 5th

Menehune Girls 11-12

Camille Armeen HP1 3rd

Vivian Smith HP1 4th

Menehune Boys 11-12

Rylan Olson HP2 3rd

Enzo Schmillen HP1 4th, HP2 5th, HP3 4th, HP4 4th

The team also got to participate in the “Ride for Jake” ride out. It was a mass drop-in from the top of the hill at Woodward in honor of Jake Burton Carpenter and his immense contribution to snowboarding! It was a great reminder that the culture and community of snowboarding matters and should be recognized. It was so fun that the team took two laps!

“This was a great week of progression and bonding for our team!” said Gilbert. “We would like to thank Kim Raymer, everyone at the Big Mountain West Series, and the Woodward Park City crew!”

Further athlete qualifications for the 2023 USASA National Championship will be announced in the coming week.

by Heather Foster