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.
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 19th 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 55th 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
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.
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, NHSVSEF Athlete Results:
Women’s U18 Downhill - March 10
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6th - Maya Lightner
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16th - Ruby Crist
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28th - Natalie Gowe
Men’s U18 Downhill - March 11
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1st - Finnigan Donley
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11th - Kai Subith
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31st - Max Meucci
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32nd - Larson Overby
Men’s U18 Super G - March 12
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1st - Finnigan Donley
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23rd - Kai Subith
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32nd - Larson Overby
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39th - Max Meucci
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63rd - Sacha Stern-Pre
Women’s U18 Super G - March 12
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14th - Paige DeHart
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25th - Maya Lightner
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49th - Maddie Vieara-McCarthy
Men’s U18 Giant Slalom - March 13
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6th - Finnigan Donley
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7th - Kai Subith
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35th - Sacha Stern-Pre
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38th - Max Meucci
Women’s U18 Giant Slalom - March 13
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5th - Paige DeHart
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39th - Madison Vieara-McCarthy
Men’s U18 Slalom - March 14
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3rd - Finnigan Donley
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27th - Max Meucci
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29th - Larson Overby
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37th - Sacha Stern-Pre
Women’s U18 Slalom - March 15
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8th - Paige DeHart
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27th - Natalie Gowe
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38th - Madison Vieara-McCarthy
For complete U18 Nationals results, click HERE.
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.
Conway Selznick Wins the Overall at David Wright Memorial U14 Qualifier
The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) Alpine U14 Travel Team traveled to Park City, UT for the David Wright Memorial U14 Qualifier March 4-5. This was the last qualifier of the season before the Western Region U14 Regional Championships, which will take place in Jackson Hole, WY March 23-26. SVSEF has 10 athletes attending U14 Regionals this year. 17 SVSEF athletes will compete at the Tri-Divisional Championships in Grand Targhee, ID March 23-26.
With powdery conditions and one canceled Slalom (SL) race, athletes competed in two Giant Slalom (GS) races over the weekend. In GS Race 1, Conway Selznick came in second on the men’s side, and Elliot Leahy came in first on the women’s side. In GS Race 2, Tucker Reimund came in first and Conway Selznick in second on the men’s side. Skyler Jensen came in fifth on the women's side. Conway Selznick came home as the Overall Winner of the series.
“We definitely had a ton of shining moments out there, and these athletes charged through some really tough conditions,” said SVSEF Alpine U14 Head Coach, Charlotte Gourlay. “It was great to see all these athletes attack a new hill with confidence.”
The weekend of racing was accompanied by the SVSEF Alpine U14 Travel Team “Golden Helmet” award for the month of February. Each month throughout the season, U14 coaches choose an athlete who exemplifies a specific character trait for that month. The trait for February was “courage” and Alex Heidel took home the Golden Helmet. Prior Golden Helmet winners this season are Skyler Jensen (CARE), Jake Schlatter (LEADERSHIP), and Fleur Brazil (DISCIPLINE).
“This month, Alex personified courage, from stepping up her aggression in training to challenging herself in new ways at every opportunity,” said Gourlay. “It was exciting to watch her step it up throughout the month.”
SVSEF Athlete Results:
Men GS 1 (3/3/23)
2 - Conway Selznick
9 - Tucker Reimund
21 - Declan O’Toole
23 - Kai Sammis
24 - Wyatt Limburg
27 - Morgan Sawyer
35 - Espen Schernthanner
46 - Wyatt Gilmour
47 - Huxley Flood
56 - Thatcher Beck
60 - Jake Schlatter
64 - Jack Heinz
65 - Brooks Gove
74 - Asher May
Women GS 1 (3/3/23)
1 - Elliot Leahy
8 - Skyler Jensen
12 - Fleur Brazil
13 - Maya Gunn
20 - Ruby Thurston
22 - Bianca Smith
24 - Jasmine Smiley
29 - Colette Duke
33 - Lily Larrabee
36 - Elle Deckard
45 - Blakeslee Davis-Jeffers
50 - Carolyn Fleming
58 - Alexandra Heidel
Men GS 2 (3/4/23)
1 - Tucker Reimund
2 - Conway Selznick
6 - Morgan Sawyer
9 - Wyatt Limburg
11 - Kai Sammis
26 - Henry Flynn
27 - Wyatt Gilmour
33 - Thatcher Beck
44 - Espen Schernthanner
46 - Jack Schlatter
54 - Brooks Grove
59 - Jack Heinz
60 - Asher May
Women GS 2 (3/4/23)
5 - Skyler Jensen
6 - Maya Gunn
7 - Bianca Smith
19 - Hadley Walker
20 - Elliot Leahy
24 - Lily Larrabee
31 - Ruby Thurston
35 - Colette Duke
36 - Blakeslee Davis-Jeffers
39 - Jasmine Smiley
42 - Elle Deckard
44 - Skye Pringle
49 - Alexandra Heidel
55 - Carolyn Fleming
For complete race results, please visit https://www.imdalpine.org/alpine/races22/U14.php
Wolter and Holmes head to OPA Cup Finals in Italy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Plus additional FIS race brings opportunity to fine-tune pursuit racing
SVSEF XC Gold Team Member Peter Wolter and Coach Peter Holmes are heading to Italy for the OPA Cup Finals.
Peter Wolter has been selected to compete for the U.S. Ski Team in the OPA Cup Finals in Dobbiaco/Toblach, Italy, March 17-19. Wolter, who recently traveled to Les Rousses, France for his first World Cup, is thrilled to have the opportunity to again represent Team USA in this race series.
“I’m excited to be racing the OPA Finals in Italy because it’s a pretty big step up from SuperTour level racing but not as giant of a leap as the World Cup,” said Wolter. “It provides an opportunity to take it up a notch but not get totally thrown into the deep end.”
SVSEF Assistant Comp Team Coach, Peter Holmes, will be joining the U.S. coaching staff for the trip. Holmes, who retired as a competitor from the SVSEF XC Gold Team last winter, has seamlessly moved into the coaching realm. Holmes said he is “really excited to go to Toblach and work with Peter and the other U.S. athletes who will be there. I have only been on trips with the U.S. Ski Team as an athlete, so it will be great to see what it’s like on the other side.”
The U.S. contingent, Wolter and Holmes included, will first head to Falcade, Italy for a few FIS tune up races March 11-12. Events include a 10km individual start classic on Saturday and a 15km freestyle pursuit on Sunday.
The OPA Cup Finals begin Friday, March 17 with a freestyle sprint. “With all the Central European countries competing, it’s a great stepping stone back to the World Cup,” said SVSEF XC Gold Team Coach, Chris Mallory.
March 18-19 will include a 10km individual start freestyle on Saturday and 15km classic pursuit on Sunday. Each athlete's start time for Sunday’s classic pursuit race is determined by their time back from Saturday’s winner. For example, if second place finished 20 seconds behind the winner on Saturday, they will start Sunday’s race 20 seconds behind and so on. Then whoever crosses the line first, wins the pursuit race. “Classic distance is one of Peter’s strengths, so look for him to move up in the results on Sunday,” said Becky Woods, SVSEF Cross Country Program Director.
As Wolter thinks ahead to the races, he knows “it will be great to have Holmes there as a wax tech and coach to help make the situation feel more normal, which is always important for the mental game when you step it up to the next level.”
“And stepping up to the next level is what both Peter Wolter and Peter Holmes are doing,” said Woods. “We can’t wait to see how this all plays out!”
Falcade, Italy FIS Races, March 11-12 / Check in daily for start lists, live timing and results here.
Dobbiaco/Toblach, Italy OPA Cup Finals, March 17-19 / Check in daily for start lists, live timing and results here.
Photo of Peter Wolter (bib #49) at 2023 Les Rousses World Cup. Photo credit: NordicFocus
SVSEF XC Gold Team’s Katie Feldman Conquers 99th Swedish Vasaloppet
SVSEF Gold Team member Katie Feldman was the first American woman to cross the finish line in the 99th edition of the Swedish Vasaloppet on March 4. The historic 90 km classic race from Sälen to Mora, Sweden is the largest cross country ski race in the world.
Feldman toed the line with 15,800 other racers, all prepared to race through 90 kilometers of forest, picturesque villages, and across open trails through the Swedish countryside. The race honors the first King of Sweden, Gustav Eriksson Vasa’s journey to the country. Along the way, Feldman was cheered on by thousands of onlookers, offered traditional blueberry soup at the checkpoints, and was treated to a historic adventure across the Swedish landscape.
“It was HARD,” said Feldman, who is spending the winter racing cross country skiing marathons in Europe. “Crossing the start line with 15,000 people who love this sport as much as I do is almost incomprehensible. The race was grueling with a lot of highs and lows, and I’m really happy to have crossed the finish line. This was the 99th year of the Vasaloppet, and it’s really cool to participate in such an iconic event!”
Feldman finished the 90 km course in five hours and three minutes—overall the 56th woman and first American woman to cross the line.
“It’s great to see Katie embracing the marathon series in Europe this season—we are so impressed with her resilience over the course of the winter,” said Becky Woods, SVSEF XC Program Director. “Some people race one marathon in their life, and Katie will have raced more than 10 by the time she returns to the states!”
Next up for Katie Feldman is the 2023 Norwegian Birkebeinerrennet on March 18.
Results for the Swedish Vasaloppet can be found here. A fun history of the Vasaloppet can be found here.
SVSEF Alpine U12 Travel Team Tackles Tamarack Kombi Races
The Sun Valley Ski Education (SVSEF) Alpine U12 Travel Team traveled to Tamarack, ID this weekend for the 2023 Tamarack North GS and Kombi Race. This was the last qualifier of the season before the Intermountain Division (IMD) U12 Championships, where the North and South meet in Snowbird, UT, March 17-19. SVSEF will have 22 girls and 15 boys competing at the IMD U12 Champs.
SVSEF athletes dominated the podium in both GS races and Kombi races. For the women’s GS, Savannah Pringle came in first, and Fernanda Hurtado in third. The men’s GS podium was a full-team sweep with Corbin Flood in first, Thijs Loyd in second, and Charlie Spengler in third.
“The Kombi is a true test of learning to adapt to changing environments within one course,” said Adele Savaria, SVSEF Alpine U12 Travel Team Head Coach. “The race is a mix of Giant Slalom (GS), Panel Slalom (SL), Regular Slalom (SL), and stubbies all in one course.”
The Kombi race podium on the women's side was tackled by Savannah Pringle in second, Camille Reid in third, and Taylor Rundell in fourth. For the men, Corbin Flood came in first, Henry Questad in second, Charlie Spengler in third, and Thijs Lloyd in fifth.
“It was a great weekend at Tamarack for our team with awesome results in both races,” said Savaria. “We are very proud of all our athletes, especially being great teammates and always cheering each other on.”
SVSEF Athlete Results:
Women - GS (3/4/23)
1 - Savannah Pringle
3 - Fernanda Hurtado
4 - Olivia Harrington
6 - Imogen Hutchisen
7 - Camille Reid
8 - Piper Spengler
14 - Alta Questad
19 - Jennings Fraser
20 - Brady Bloomfield
23 - Gaia Luem
25 - Iliana Little
26 - Kinley Letson
27 - Brianna Smiley
28 - Stevie Crist
29 - Ava Gilmour
30 - Aviella Buoncristiani
31 - Makenna Steel
33 - Halley McGrew
38 - Payton Daley-Scheigraber
39 - Amelia Beck
41 - Irie Black
48 - Hannah Howard
Men - GS (3/4/23)
1 - Corbin Flood
2 - Thijs Lloyd
3 - Charlie Spengler
9 - James Holman
10 - Finn Malone
11 - Cash Mintz
12 - Eli Sattler
15 - Cody Lloyd
16 - Coen Lamb
17 - Wesley Sewell
18 - Brixen Ehleringer
26 - Hunter Gove
Women - Kombi (3/5/23)
2 - Savannah Pringle
3 - Camille Reid
4 - Taylor Rundell
6 - Piper Spengler
7 - Fernanda Hurtado
10 - Jennings Fraser
12 - Imogen Hutchisen
13 - Olivia Harrington
15 - Ava Gilmour
19 - Alta Questad
21 - Gaia Luem
22 - Brady Bloomfield
25 - Makena Steel
25 - Stevie Crist
28 - Brianna Smiley
29 - Iliana Little
30 - Kinley Letson
31 - Aviella Buoncristiani
34 - Amelia Beck
40 - Payton Daley-Scheingraber
42 - Irie Black
48 - Hannah Howard
Men - Kombi (3/5/23)
1 - Corbin Flood
2 - Henry Questad
3 - Charlie Spengler
5 - Thijs Lloyd
11 - Finn Malone
13 - Cash Mintz
14 - Brixen Ehleringer
16 - Eli Sattler
17 - Wesley Sewell
19 - Coen Lamb
20 - Cody Lloyd
21 - James Holman
24 - Hunter Gove
For complete race results, please visit https://www.imdalpine.org/alpine/races22/north.php
Adicoff and Wood Mine First Two Silvers at 2023 U.S. Para Nordic World Cup
The duo looks to claim gold in 20 km freestyle event on March 8
Two days into the 2023 U.S. Para Nordic World Cup at Soldier Hollow in Midway, UT and SVSEF XC Gold Team and U.S. Para Nordic Team member Jake Adicoff with guide Sam Wood have two silver medals around their necks. The World Cup races continue at Soldier Hollow through March 8.
In the sprint race on March 1, Adicoff and Wood skied themselves through the heats into a second place finish in the A final, just behind the Swedish team of Zebastian Modin with guide D. Richardsson who claimed the gold.
“Yeah, pretty tight turnaround from a race in Switzerland over the weekend, and the classic sprint was pretty grueling,” said Adicoff. “But we turned it around and skied a competitive race in the 5k. Fun to be back with the para team, and really awesome to race at such an iconic venue so close to home.”
On day two, the dynamic duo found themselves on the podium again, claiming the silver in a fast and furious 5-kilometer freestyle race. Sweden’s Modin again claimed the gold, USA’s Adicoff and Wood in second, followed in third by Germany’s Nico Messinger with guide R. Wunderle.
“Jake knows the courses well at Soho, and has recently competed in a few marathons in Central Europe, so he’s feeling good about his race endurance going into the 20km freestyle on March 8th,” said SVSEF XC Gold Team Head Coach, Chris Mallory. “We can’t wait to see what happens!”
Tune into results and live timing here.
Photos by Brennan Smith