SVSEF’s Peter Wolter Toes the Line at Les Rousses World Cup
Hailey native makes the cut!
Hailey native Peter Wolter stepped onto the biggest skiing stage of his life last week at the Les Rousses World Cup in France. Wolter earned a start in both the Men’s Freestyle Interval Start 10km and the Men’s Classic Mass Start 20km races. He finished 56th and 54th respectively.
“Les Rousses was a great first World Cup experience for Peter,” said Chris Mallory, SVSEF XC Gold Team Coach. “Thousands of rowdy French fans came out to line the course. He felt good about the efforts on courses which featured some punishing climbs. Now it’s home for the Boulder Mountain Tour and a training block, with hopefully more opportunities on the horizon.”
Wolter grew up skiing with the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, went on to ski for Middlebury College where he was a two-time All American and Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association’s Rookie of the Year. He currently competes as a member of the SVSEF XC Gold Team. Wolter received the call of a lifetime from the U.S. Ski Team following his strong performance at this year’s U.S. Cross Country Ski National Championships in Houghton, MI followed up by his win at the Seeley Hills Classic in Hayward, WI. The call was inviting him to his first official World Cup start as a member of Team USA.
“Not many people get to achieve a childhood dream and this past weekend in Les Rousses, France I got to do just that and race a Nordic World Cup side by side with the best skiers in the world,” said Peter Wolter, SVSEF XC Gold Team athlete. “The experience surpassed all my expectations and I will do everything I can to get back to the World Cup. Thank you to every person who has supported my skiing since I stepped on skis 22 years ago.”
Up next for Wolter, he’ll compete here at home in the Boulder Mountain Tour on Saturday, Feb. 4 and will then travel to Minneapolis, MN for the beginning of Period 3 of the SuperTour, which will be held Feb. 18-19 in Wirth Park. Wolter is currently sitting in 2nd place overall in the SuperTour standings, just ahead of SVSEF Alum, John Steel Hagenbuch now skiing for Dartmouth College.
Chasing Podiums with the SVSEF Freeski Comp Team
The SVSEF Freeski team traveled to Woodward in Park City, UT for the third and fourth USASA Big Mountain West Slopestyle event and second rail jam event of the season.
“The athletes’ hard work has continued to pay off through the competition season, with multiple athletes finding their way to the podium,” said Tyler Conway SVSEF Freeski Head Coach. “The progression team had podiums from Caleb Covington and Barrett Beyer. The Futures team had podiums from Blue Allen, Zeppelin Pilaro, and Anton Holter.
“The second day of the competition was even better for the SVSEF Freeski Team, with eight athletes making their way to the podium,” said Conway. “We are hoping the athletes bring this momentum into the next and final USASA Big Mountain West series event that will be held at home on Dollar Mountain, Feb. 11-12. We also want to send good luck to the athletes competing at the Futures Tour event at Woodward Park City February 1-3!”
SVSEF Athlete Results:
Rail Jam
Freeski (11-14 Girls)
2nd Blue Allen
Freeski (11-14 Boys)
3rd Zack Torres
Freeski Open Class Men
3rd Anton Holter
Slopestyle 1
Freeski Grommet Boys (9-10)
2nd Caleb Covington
Freeski Menehune Boys (11-12)
2nd Barrett Beyer
Freeski Breaker Girls (13-14)
2nd Blue Allen
Freeski Youth Men (15-16)
3rd Zeppelin Pilaro
Freeski Open Class Men
2nd Anton Holter
Slopestyle 2
Freeski Grommet Boys
3rd Caleb Covington
Freeski Menehune Boys
2nd Barrett Beyer
3rd Emmett Crist
Freeski Breaker Girls
2nd Blue Allen
Freeski Breaker Boys
1st Kai Van Bueren
Freeski Youth Men
1st Zeppelin Pilaro
3rd Easton Turck
Freeski Open Men
3rd Anton Holter
For more info, please visit https://usasa.org/competitions/regional-competitions/regional-series-calendar
SVSEF Snowboard Team's First Trip of the Season
The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation Snowboard team made its first trip of the season to Woodward (WW) in Park City, UT to compete in the USASA Big Mountain West Slopestyle events Jan 25-26.
The Park Crew at WW provided a great course with two three-feature rail lines into a set of three jumps.
“Naomi Gorringe put together some great runs on the first day that featured her switch riding as well as her amplitude,” said SVSEF Snowboard Head Coach, Andy Gilbert. “Her best run featured boardslide, 50/50, boardslide 180 out, half-cab, nose grab, and a big frontside-180, which led to her win in the Breaker Girls 13-14 group the first day.”
“Karsen Miller got progressively better as the event went on, landing back to back 360's and adding a 540 to his contest run which landed him in third on day one in the Youth Men 15-16 group,” said Gilbert.
“Up and comer Rylan Olson kept pushing for more landings, almost corked out 360's before taking them to 540 before the end of the weekend. Rylan finished 4th both days in what might be the most competitive, Menehune Boys 11-12 group,” said Gilbert.
“It was Henry Georgiades first trip with the team and mixed up a really technical top section with clean straight airs to end up 11th and 12th respectively through the weekend,” said Gilbert.
The team also brought a training group along who could take in the events and also work towards some goals in Woodward's amazing park set up.
The SVSEF Snowboard team's next competition is coming up in a week. SVSEF will host the Big Mt. West USASA Dollar Mt./ Beverly Hay Snowboard Cup at Dollar from Feb 9-12.
SVSEF Athlete Results:
Day 1 Jan. 25
- Naomi Gorringe 1st Breaker Girls 13-14
- Karsen Miller 3rd Youth Men 15-16
- Rylan Olson 4th Menehune Boys 11-12
- Henry Georgiades 11th Breaker Boys 13-14
Day 2 Jan. 26
- Naomi Gorringe 2nd Breaker Girls 13-14
- Karsen Miller 4th Youth Men 15-16
- Rylan Olson 4th Menehune Boys 11-12
- Henry Georgiades 12th Breaker Boys 13-14
For more info, please visit https://usasa.org/competitions/regional-competitions/regional-series-calendar
Up next for the SVSEF Snowboard Team:
Big Mountain West USASA Dollar Mountain / Beverly Hay Snowboard Cup
- Thursday, February 9 — Boardercross #1/#2
- Friday, February 10 — Boardercross #3/#4
- Saturday, February 11 — Slopestyle
- Sunday, February 12 — Slopestyle
Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation Big Mountain Team Takes on Snowbird
The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) Big Mountain Team traveled to Snowbird this past weekend for their first International Freeskiers Association (IFSA) Junior Regional *2 Qualifier. Big Mountain competitions bring together skiers and riders from around the world to battle challenging, technical, and complex runs.
The Snowbird competition welcomed athletes from across the Intermountain Division. SVSEF skiers and riders competed in both Volume 1 and Volume 2 of the competition. Cruz Bilbro won Volume 1 in the 12-14 Ski Male category. The rest of the team consistently placed in the top ten amongst a super competitive field.
“My favorite part was standing in the start gate with all my coaches and friends,” said Cruz Bilbro, SVSEF Big Mountain Team Athlete. “It was the most fun run I’ve done; big and fast. Being with my friends all on the podium was amazing and totally unexpected.”
The SVSEF Big Mountain Team competes in two to three Regional IFSA competitions and two to three National IFSA competitions throughout the season.
“We had 27 athletes at this comp, which was almost our entire team,” said Sarah Verst, SVSEF Big Mountain Coach. “I couldn’t be more proud of our athletes, especially the ones who competed for the first time ever. The energy and excitement of the weekend was unbeatable and we’re so stoked for the next comp.”
Next up for the Big Mountain Team, athletes will travel to British Columbia for the 2023 RED Mountain IFSA Junior 3* National competition held at RED Mountain Resort Feb. 3-5.
SVSEF Athlete Results Volume 1:
12-14 Ski Male
1 - Cruz Bilbro
4 - Kobi Bilbro
9 - Isaac Burks
13 - Breck Lyon
15-18 Ski Male
7 - Abel Marx
9 - Asher Maxwell
12 - Charlie Price
14 - Zephyr Carruth
17 - Ry Mann
18 - Alexander Leahy
22 - Hunter Kari
24 - Reyn Gary
27 - Mathias Radl-Jones
30 - Jackson Wallace
31 - Liam Jensen
32 - Landon Verst
34 - Calvin Miller
37 - Lachlan McFarland
12-14 Ski Female
8 - Tess Lightner
15-18 Ski Female
7 - Addison Featherman
9 - Addie Warden
11 - Ripley Scales
14 - Maya Lightner
15-18 Snowboard Male
1 - Alec Palicki
SVSEF Athlete Results Volume 2:
15-18 Ski Female
5 - Ripley Scales
8 - Ella Shaughnessy
15-18 Ski Male
6 - Asher Maxwell
8 - Hunter Kari
9 - Reyn Gary
10 - Charlie Price
11 - Landon Verst
12 - Lachlan McFarland
13 - Alexander Leahy
16 - Mathias Radl-Jones
18 - Liam Jensen
21 - Zephyr Carruth
29 - Leo Molter
15-18 Snowboard Male
1 - Brody McBee
12-14 Ski Male
8 - Isaac Burks
15 - Breck Lyon
For more info, please visit the IFSA website here https://www.freeskiers.org/
Adicoff and Wood Bring Home Silver...With More Races This Week
On Sunday, Jake Adicoff, SVSEF XC Gold Team athlete and three-time Olympian, competed in the Men’s 18km Individual Start Classic, his first of four races at the 2023 FIS Para Nordic World Championships in Ostersund, Sweden. Adicoff brought home silver in the race, alongside his best friend and guide, Sam Wood.
“It was a good start to the week and I’m psyched to build off it for the rest of the competitions here,” said Adicoff. “It’s great to be in Ostersund, Sweden, the classic skiing was fantastic.” “Jake skied great today, really good energy, and he’s hungry,” said Chris Mallory, SVSEF XC Gold Team Head Coach. “It was great skiing, bomber tracks on a cold day. The Skate Sprint is on deck tomorrow and they’re ready to bring it.”
Adicoff and Wood have three races to come over the course of the championships, the next being Tuesday, Jan. 24 with the Individual Sprint. The complete schedule, video, and results for the Para Nordic World Championships can be found at this link: FIS-SKI.com
Donley Wins 2023 U18 Junior World Downhill Championship
Finnigan Donley, SVSEF FIS Team athlete, is on top of the world as the 2023 U18 Junior World Downhill Champion. Donley won the downhill on Thursday, Jan. 19 in St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria, where he finished first among U18 athletes and 29th overall. The next day, Donley won silver in the U18 Junior World Super G Championship event, placing second among U18s and 13th overall.
This is Donley’s first year as a member of Team USA’s Junior World Championship Team. "I had a great experience in St Anton," said Donley. "It was an incredible experience to see the level of ski racing from all the top countries at World Juniors. I learned a lot from my older teammates and I can’t wait to go back in the coming years and fight for U21 podiums!"
“Finn has done an amazing job of keeping things in perspective and enjoying the journey that he is on,” said Will Brandenburg, SVSEF Alpine Program Director. “Just making World Juniors at his age is something I’ve never seen before. To win the U18 gold there shows that this moment was never too big for him. It’s been a blast to support his journey and there are a lot of fun things in front of him.”
SVSEF Alpine Alumni, Dasha Romanov, and Ryder Sarchett are also in St. Anton competing as members of Team USA’s Junior World Championship Team. Romanov was the top American, placing 13th overall in Saturday’s Women’s Giant Slalom.
SVSEF Cross Country Teams Compete in First of Three Junior National Qualifiers
The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) Cross Country Comp and Prep Progression Teams traveled to Soldier Hollow, UT for their first Junior National Qualifier (JNQ) of the season. The Cross Country Comp team is all high school-aged athletes, and the Prep progression team is athletes ages 13 - 15.
Athletes traveled from all over the country to compete at this JNQ. SVSEF had 43 racers competing, ranging from U12 to U20 age categories. The U18/20 girls dominated their field, with consistent results in the top 30 in each event. On the men’s side, SVSEF XC Comp Team athlete, Miguel Fresco Hanlon, sprinted his way into 3rd place in the U18/20 Sprint race on Jan. 20. “It was a solid weekend of racing for our team!” said Becky Woods, SVSEF XC Program Director.
“Soldier Hollow is a great venue and really well run, which made it easy for everyone to give their best effort whether it was their first race or not,” said Miguel Fresco Hanlon, SVSEF XC Comp Team Athlete. “It was also really great to see everyone’s growth since the Sun Valley Super Tour.”
The breadth of age range across the event provides strong competition for athletes at every level across the Intermountain Division as well as athletes from other regions.
“We had a great weekend in Soldier Hollow at the Super Qualifier,” said Ashley Knox, SVSEF XC Comp Team Head Coach. “We raced against skiers from five regions across the West: Rocky Mountain, High Plains, Far West, PNSA, and our division—Intermountain. “This was our first of three Junior National qualifying race weekends. Our skiers are looking to qualify for the regional team to represent Intermountain at Junior Nationals in Fairbanks, AK in March.”
Through the weekend, the team had a mix of highs and lows, but regardless of their personal results, they continued to support each other and stay focused. “We had Molly Maybach, Berkeley Canfield, and Cora Scott all finishing in the top 10 for U18/20 girls in the skate sprint; and Miguel Fresco Hanlon finished 3rd in the U18/20 guys in a tight finish along with a lot of personal bests,” said Knox. “We also had many of our younger athletes race their first JNQ ever and the future is bright!”
SVSEF XC Comp Team athlete, Charlie St. George, had a strong finish among U16 boys in the Skate Sprint event. When talking with teammate Zach Quesnel before the race he gave this advice…“It’s a sprint—all you have to do is start out as hard as you can and finish harder, it’s pretty simple.”
The Soldier Hollow Qualifier is one of three qualifiers throughout the season, where athletes compete in effort to qualify for Junior Nationals at the end of the season. The 2023 Junior Nationals will take place in Fairbanks, AK March 13-16.
“One of my favorite moments from the weekend was when our youngest skier, Cam Gilman, finished his 4km classic race to the cheers of a crowd of older SVSEF athletes," said Kelly Yeates, XC Asst. Program Director and Prep Team Head Coach. “This is an individual sport but we are very much a TEAM! It didn’t matter if they were on the Comp or Prep team, our skiers went out of their way to support their teammates this weekend and it was inspiring!”
SVSEF Athlete Results: Super JNQ – Soldier Hollow
Friday 1/20/23 - Skate Sprint Results
U16 Girls
29 Mazzy Connors
78 Scout Kendall
84 Riley Siegel
92 Anna Gilman
95 Torin Vandenburgh
18/20 Girls
5 Molly Maybach
9 Berkeley Canfield
10 Cora Faye Scott
17 Anika Vandenburgh
18 Jodie Willow Maguire
30 Eloise Herbert
37 Aisley Grohusky
42 Gina Greenburg
62 Eden Keeney
64 Mia Schaffner
66 Elise Voorhees
70 Emma Singer
75 Lucy Carter
U16 Boys
23 Charlie St. George
30 Stratton Cunningham
47 Zach Quesnel
66 Nick Gardiner
70 McCallen Campbell
76 Cyrus Pott
83 Luca Finegan
86 Caleo Morrison
U18/20 Boys
3 Miguel Fresco Hanlon
12 Galen Grohusky
20 Dexter Morrison
30 Holden Archie
35 Teddy Hobbs
76 Dylan Prabowo
78 Dave Walters
104 Whit Brown
U14 Girls 1km Skate
14 Eavan Brown
34 Stella St. George
Novice 1km Skate
1 Joe Boccabella
U12 Boys 1km Skate
16 Cameron Gilman
U14 Boys 1km Skate
8 Tait Boschen
34 Bailey Kurtz
46 Duncan Fryberger
50 Callahan Hebert
Saturday 1/21/23 - Mass Start Classic
U12 Boys 4km Classic
15 Cam Gilman
U14 Boys 4km Classic
8 Tait Boschen
37 Bailey Kurtz
42 Duncan Fryberger
52 Callahan Hebert
U14 Girls 4km Classic
30 Stella St. George
34 Eavan Brown
Novice 4km Classic
1 Joe Boccabella
U16 Girls 5km Classic
28 Mazzy Conners
71 Riley Siegel
78 Scout Kendall
90 Anna Gilman
91 Torin Vandenburgh
U16 Boys 5km Classic
32 Zach Quesnel
42 Stratton Cunningham
44 McCallan Campbell
48 Charlie St. George
68 Nick Gardiner
76 Cyrus Pott
78 Caleo Morrison
95 Luca Finegan
U18/20 Boys 10km Classic
11 Miguel Fresco Hanlon
23 Teddy Hobbs
31 Dexter Morrison
33 Holden Archie
93 Whit Brown
97 Dylan Prabowo
U18/20 Girls 10km Classic
8 Berkely Canfield
17 Molly Maybach
19 Aisley Grohusky
20 Jodie Willow Maguire
24 Anika Vandenburgh
42 Emma Singer
47 Gina Greenburg
53 Elise Voorhees
For more info, please visit https://www.intermountainxc.com/new-events/2023/1/20/super-qualifier-at-soldier-hollow
SVSEF U12 and U14 Alpine Travel Teams Kick Off Their Seasons with Killer Results
The SVSEF Alpine U12 and U14 Travel teams were on the road in Wyoming this weekend, competing in their first away races of the season. Both teams achieved strong results in their races held at Grand Targhee and Snow King.
The U12 Travel Team traveled to Grand Targhee, WY for a series of giant slalom (GS) races. With a top-five podium sweep on the boy's side and consistent podiums on the girl's side, the team is poised for strong competition for the rest of the season.
“It was great to start the season off with two victories on Saturday and Sunday,” said Henry Questad, SVSEF U12 Travel Team athlete. “It was extra special to have SVSEF sweep the top five on Sunday. I couldn’t have done it without all of the coaches' help."
The first race of the season is where the athletes meet other Intermountain Division teams who they will compete against throughout the season.
“All the kids did a great job showing encouraging team spirit by cheering each other on throughout the weekend,” said Adele Savaria, U12 Travel Team Head Coach. “The athletes skied well and charged the courses in some really tough conditions, making huge leaps and bounds in their skiing.”
The U14 Travel Team raced in Snow King, WY for the first IMD U14 Qualifier and absolutely dominated each race. Competing with nearly 100 other racers and teams, the SVSEF girls and boys teams were consistently in the top five results in each slalom and giant slalom race. Conway Selznick and Elliot Leahy both secured the overall podium wins from the race series.
“These athletes ALL did a fantastic job,” said Charlotte Gourlay, SVSEF U14 Travel Team Head Coach. “Tons of great skiing out there, learning to tune/wax, finding what works best in race start routines, and everything else that will help the athletes excel further in ski racing. They each have something to hang their hat on after this weekend.”
With the first race jitters out of the way, these teams will continue to learn, succeed, and excel throughout the season.
"It was a fun and challenging series," said Conway Selznick, winner of the U14 overall boys' podium. "The best part was skiing with my teammates."
Please see below for the full results of SVSEF U12 and U14 athletes.
U12 Travel Team - North Series Targhee GS Races
GIRLS #1 GS (1/14/23)
Savannah Pringle - 1st
Piper Spengler - 5th
Jennings Fraser - 9th
Camille Reid - 10th
Fernanda Hurtado - 12th
Taylor Rundell - 16th
Olivia Harrington - 19th
Brianna Smiley - 27th
Halley McGrew - 27th
Aviella Buoncristiani - 28th
Ava Gilmour - 29th
Kinley Letson - 31st
Alta Questad - 33rd
Iliana Little - 35th
Brady Bloomfield - 38th
Payton Scheigraber - 39th
Irie Black - 41st
Makenna Steel - 42nd
Hannah Howard - 63rd
BOYS #1 GS (1/14/23)
Henry Questad - 1st
Corbin Flood - 4th
Charlie Spengler - 5th
Finn malone - 8th
Brixen Ehleringer - 12th
Cody Lloyd - 13th
Coen Lamb - 14th
James Holman - 16th
Cash Mintz - 18th
Eli Sattler - 21st
Wesley Sewell - 23rd
Hunter Gove - 28th
Walker Gove - 46th
GIRLS #2 GS (1/15/23)
Savannah Pringle - 2nd
Piper Spengler -7th
Olivia Harrington - 9th
Taylor Rundell - 12th
Fernanda Hurtado - 14th
Camille Reid - 15th
Halley McGrew - 21st
Ava Gilmour - 28th
Brianna Smiley - 29th
Aviella Buoncristiani - 30th
Alta Questad - 31st
Gaia, Luem - 35th
Payton Scheigraber - 36th
Kinley Letson - 37th
Iliana Little - 39th
Brady Bloomfield - 40th
Makenna Steel - 42nd
Irie Black - 47th
Hannah Howard - 62nd
BOYS #2 GS (1/15/23)
Henry Questad - 1st
Thijs Lloyd - 2nd
Cameron Beck - 3rd
Charlie Spengler - 4th
Corbin Flood - 5th
Finn Malone - 7th
James Holman - 11th
Brixen Ehleringer - 12th
Wesley Sewell - 17th
Cody Lloyd - 19th
Coen Lamb - 20th
Cash Mintz - 21st
Eli Sattler - 25th
Hunter Gove - 35th
Walker Gobe - 50th
U14 Travel Team - IMD U14 Qualifier at Snow King
Boy’s Overall - Conway Selznick
Girl’s Overall - Elliot Leahy
GIRLS GS (1/13/23)
Elliot Leahy - 2nd
Hadley Walker - 7th
Maya Gunn - 9th
Skye Pringle - 14th
Fleur Brazil - 21st
Colette Duke - 31st
Blakeslee Davis-Jeffers - 35th
Elle Deckard - 38th
Bianca Smith - 39th
Alexandra Heidel - 48th
Sasha Preuss - 50th
Helen Hobbs - 54th
Carolyn Fleming - 58th
BOYS GS (1/13/23)
Charlie Reid - 2nd
Conway Selznick - 4th
Tucker Reimund - 9th
Huxley Flood - 11th
Espen Schernthanner - 14th
Thatcher Beck - 19th
Wyatt Gilmour - 22nd
Declan O’Toole - 29th
Kai Sammis - 34th
Jack Heinz - 54th
Jake Schlatter - 57th
BOYS SL #1 (1/14/23)
Huxley Flood - 3rd
Conway Selznick - 4th
Charlie Reid - 5th
Declan O’Toole - 11th
Thatcher Beck - 14th
Espen Schernthanner - 15th
Sawyer Morgan - 17th
Kai Sammis - 24th
Jake Schlatter - 41st
Brooks Gove - 42nd
BOYS SL #2 (1/15/23)
Huxley Flood - 2nd
Conway Selznick - 3rd
Charlie Reid - 5th
Sawyer Morgan - 12th
Tucker Reimund - 13th
Wyatt Limburg - 16th
Thatcher Beck - 17th
Kai Sammis - 24th
Espen Schernthanner - 35th
Brooks Grove - 50th
Jake Schlatter - 53rd
GIRLS SL #1 (1/14/23)
Elliot Leahy - 2nd
Hadley Walker - 5th
Maya Gunn - 9th
Skyler Jensen - 14th
Fleur Brazil - 15th
Ruby Thurston - 17th
Colette Duke - 20th
Blakeslee Davis-Jeffers - 24th
Jasmine Smiley - 27th
Bianca Smith - 31st
Sasha Preuss - 36th
Elle Deckard - 39th
Carolyn Fleming - 43rd
Alexandra Heidel - 48th
Helen Hobbs - 51st
GIRLS SL #2 (1/15/23)
Elliot Leahy - 3rd
Maya Gunn - 15th
Ruby Thurston - 19th
Colette Duke - 26th
Jasmine Smiley - 29th
Blakslee Davis-Jeffers - 30th
Bianca Smith - 33rd
Sasha Preuss - 35th
Elle Deckard - 39th
Carolyn Fleming - 44th
Helen Hobbs - 55th
For more info, please visit Intermountain Results here.
SVSEF XC athletes Peter Wolter and Sammy Smith headed to the world stage
The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) Cross Country Program is excited to announce SVSEF XC Gold Team Athlete, Peter Wolter, has been called up to his first official World Cup start in Les Rousses, and SVSEF XC Comp Team Athlete, Sammy Smith, has qualified for the 2023 FIS Nordic Junior/U23 World Ski Championships. Both athletes shined at the recent 2023 Toyota U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships held in Houghton, MI, and results there qualified them for these upcoming starts.
With four starts in the U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships, Peter Wolter had his strongest showing ever at this year’s nationals. Wolter kicked things off with a 9th overall and 5th American finish in the 10km Freestyle Interval Start race. Next up was the 1.3km Classic Sprint where he finished 11th overall, and later in the week he finished 23rd overall in the 1.3km Freestyle Sprint. But Wolter rose to a new level in the 20km Classic Mass Start where he finished in 4th place overall after having led the race for a period of time, rotating leads with a group of four athletes and clocking the fastest split overall on the third lap of the 5km course.
“Although Houghton may not be a 5-star destination for the regular traveler, the ski trails there are all time,” said Peter Wolter, SVSEF XC Gold Team athlete. “My races at Houghton were very solid and some of my best yet. You can bet I am still wanting more out of the season, the best from me is yet to come.”
Wolter has been mostly a distance skier and has had success there throughout his career. He grew up racing through SVSEF, went on to race at Middlebury College, and is now back training and competing with the SVSEF XC Gold Team. According to his coaches, his distance racing is top notch, and his sprinting is getting stronger each race, which will ultimately give him the opportunity to compete in more events and earn starts at a higher level.
“One of the great things about Peter as an athlete is he is always ready to race,” said Rick Kapala, current SVSEF Director of Sport Development. Kapala was Wolter’s coach on the SVSEF XC Comp Team. “He’s a great blend of being chill and being tough. Racing at a high level requires that balance. This run of success he’s had recently is not surprising and we are so excited to see what he can do at the next level.”
From U.S. Nationals, Wolter traveled to Hayward, WI to compete at the Seeley Hills Classic on Jan. 14-15, the second-largest annual classic cross-country ski event on the Birkebeiner Trail. He came away with the overall win in the Seeley Hills Classic 32km SuperTour race with a time of 1:25:22, and followed that up with a 4th overall finish in the event’s Classic 1.3km sprint—his best sprint result ever as a senior racer.
“Heading into Seeley Hills where he’d be racing against many of the same competitors from U.S. Nationals, Peter really took what he learned from his experience there and focused on how to execute at the next SuperTour event—things like dialing in where to make moves and what tactics to employ when you are at the front of the pack,” said Becky Woods, SVSEF Cross Country Program Director. “He brought it all together in Wisconsin. Witnessing athletes as they find these moments of realization and then have the means to bring it all together on race day is one of the most rewarding aspects of being a coach—we’re super proud of Peter. He is so focused on the potential of making it to the big stage, so getting to see that play out is really exciting.”
Officially announced today, Wolter has been called up to race for Team U.S.A. in the 20km Classic Mass Start in Les Rousses, France on Jan. 29. This will be Wolter’s first official World Cup start, and he’ll find fellow SVSEF XC Gold Team teammate and member of Team U.S.A.’s Cross Country B Team, Kevin Bolger, on the start line as well. Wolter leaves this Wednesday for the race.
“Since I started skiing, I’ve always wanted to compete at the highest level possible,” said Wolter. “I’ve just qualified and received a confirmed spot for my first World Cup. This hopefully is just the beginning of what I have to offer as a Nordic skier, and I couldn’t be more excited. It’s taken a ton of work to get here, but it would not have been possible without my SVSEF and Middlebury coaches, and a monumental amount of support from my family and friends.
Wolter qualified for a World Cup two years ago in Czech, but it was canceled due to Covid. This upcoming World Cup in France was on the line due to snow issues; however, FIS released a confirmation of competition this morning.
“I want to mix it up in the big leagues, watch them ski, and then ski with them,” said Wolter.
*****
For the second consecutive year, SVSEF XC Comp Team and U.S. Cross Country Ski Development Team athlete, Sammy Smith, has qualified for the 2023 FIS Nordic Junior/U23 World Ski Championships. The event will be held Jan. 27-Feb. 5 in Whistler, British Columbia.
Smith’s performance at this year’s U.S. Nationals in Houghton, MI proved her strength, skill, focus, and tenacity to mix it up at the highest level. As a U18 junior, she finished in the top ranks among the collegiate and senior athletes, and on the U18 junior podium in all of her events.
In the 10km Freestyle Interval Start, Smith finished in 16th overall and took 2nd place on the U18 podium. She followed that up in the 1.3km Classic Sprint with an 8th overall and the top step of the U18 podium. In her final event at the U.S. Nationals, the 20km Classic Mass Start, Smith mixed it up with the senior girls holding her own in a lead group of about eight athletes. At times during the race, she helped push the pace in sixth then fifth place among the leaders. The race came down to a battle on the home stretch to the finish, where Smith finished 7th overall and again took 1st place on the U18 podium.
“U.S. National Championships is always a great event—it’s the perfect early season opportunity to have some really tough competition and see where you stack up,” said Sammy Smith, SVSEF XC Comp Team and U.S. Cross Country Ski Development Team athlete. “For me personally, I think it’s super valuable to compete there because it gives me an idea of what I need to focus on and what adjustments I need to make in training.”
Events like the U.S. Nationals that serve as qualifying events for World Juniors and the U18 Nordic Nations Cup are where the U.S. Ski Team looks at race results and the best racers for opportunities to move up in the sport and earn further international starts.
“This year I was able to qualify for World Juniors again, which I couldn’t be more excited about,” said Smith. “I’m so grateful to have this chance, and hopefully build off some of my results from last year. Every time you have the opportunity to represent your country it’s a surreal experience. Qualifying for these events wouldn’t be possible without my amazing coaches and endless support from my family. Go USA!”
While 17-year-old Smith is consistently excelling in the sport and has big goals on her mind, she is also thoughtful about how she moves forward with all these opportunities. Smith was also invited to compete in the prestigious U18 Nordic Nations Cup, which will take place in Jyvaskyla, Finland from Feb. 17-19, 2023.
“I made the difficult decision to decline the U18 Nordic Nations Cup (Scandos) because I felt that the OPA Cup, which is being held in March, would be better competition and a better development opportunity,” said Smith. “I’m excited to have a few weeks at home before leaving for OPA so I can prioritize my training and work on peaking for the races in Italy.”
“Sammy is truly a generational athlete for our team,” said Kapala. “She is committed in every fiber of her body to be better. If a race doesn’t go her way, she is already onto the next opportunity and how she’ll execute differently based on what she has learned. She’s always open to feedback, to learning—she operates with the ultimate growth mindset, she’s all-in.”
Western Region FIS Elite Series Brings Top Tech Skiers to Take on Baldy
DeHart, Blackburn, Lightner, Subith, and Hanna lead the way for SVSEF FIS Alpine Team
Nearly 200 athletes competed in the Western Region FIS Elite Tech Series at Sun Valley Jan. 12-15. Two giant slalom (GS) and two slalom (SL) races were on tap for both men and women across the four days. Top junior and collegiate ski racers from across the country qualified for this regional event, where they have the opportunity to lower their FIS points through their results, and ultimately work their way to the Nor-Am Series—the next level of ski racing in North America.
“Hosting an event like the Western Region FIS Elite Tech Series is a great opportunity for our SVSEF Alpine FIS Team to compete on home snow among many of the best athletes in the country,” said Will Brandenburg, Chief of Race and SVSEF Alpine Director. “We saw a lot of really strong skiing out here this weekend in somewhat challenging conditions for ski racing, and some solid results for Sun Valley athletes.”
Giant slalom was up first for the men on Thursday and Friday. Mikkel Solbakken, racing for Westminster College, took the top step on the overall podium both days. On Friday, SVSEF FIS Team athlete, Colin Hanna, took 3rd place among U21 men landing in 8th place overall. SVSEF’s Kai Subith finished in 9th place among U18 men, and Nils Galloway 12th among U21 men.
SVSEF women showed up strong for the first slalom race on Thursday with Paige DeHart coming in 2nd among U18 women and 8th overall, while teammate Jessica Blackburn placed 3rd among U21 women and 9th overall. SVSEF had six athletes in the top 15 among U18 women including Paige DeHart (2nd), Maya Lightner (5th), Natalie Gowe (7th), Meredith Bromley (9th), Lowie Watkins (12th), and Ruby Crist (14th). In Friday’s slalom, SVSEF’s Natalie Gowe raced to 4th place among U18 women and a top 15 overall in 13th. Three of Gowe’s teammates rounded out the top 15 for U18 women including Sasha McCourtie (11th), Ruby Crist (13th), and Sophia Hallstein (15th).
Nightly snow and unseasonably warm temperatures made for some challenging race conditions throughout the event. “We are beyond grateful for the hardworking course crew, the support of all the volunteers, and the team at Sun Valley Company,” said Brandenburg. “We had our work cut out for us this year. Ski racing definitely favors firm surfaces and cold temps, and the race crew and volunteers put in a tremendous effort to provide the best course conditions possible for the athletes.”
The men and women switched disciplines for the weekend, with the women on the Warm Springs giant slalom course and the men moving over to Hemingway-Greyhawk for slalom.
In Saturday’s first giant slalom race for the women, SVSEF’s Paige DeHart took 1st among U18 women and 10th overall, while teammates Maya Lightner took 5th and Meredith Bromley snuck into the U18’s top 15 in 14th. Jessica Blackburn placed 4th among U21 women and 11th overall. It was a powerful repeat by Paige DeHart on Sunday, again placing 1st among U18’s and landing in 7th overall on the day. Maya Lightner and Lowie Watkins finished in the top 15 among U18s in 8th and 12th respectively. Hannah Saethereng of Norway, skiing for Westminster College, continued her domination ultimately winning the overall at all four races of the series.
“Having a high-level race series at home is a special opportunity to race a hill we are familiar with,” said Paige DeHart, SVSEF FIS Team athlete. “It is always fun to have our family and friends there to support us. Thanks to SVSEF and Sun Valley Company for putting on a great race series!”
On the men’s side in Saturday’s first slalom race, Mikkel Solbakken found himself on the overall top step for the third time in three races of the weekend. SVSEF’s Kai Subith finished 6th among U18 men with an 11th overall finish, and Nils Galloway landed in 8th among U21 men and 24th overall. In Sunday’s slalom, three SVSEF athletes landed in the top 15 including Kai Subith (6th), Max Meucci (12th), and Sacha Stern-Pre (13th). Subith had an impressive day as the top U18 finisher in a race that only saw 36 of the 97 athletes on the start list finish both runs.
Complete official race results may be found at FIS-SKI.com.
WR FIS Elite Tech Series Sun Valley Podium Results:
Thursday, Jan. 12 Men's Giant Slalom:
- Mikkel Solbakken (NOR) / Westminster College
- Francesco Galdiolo (ITA) / Westminster College
- Andreas Unhjem Smith (NOR) / University of Nevada, Reno
Thursday, Jan. 12 Women’s Slalom:
- Hannah Saethereng (NOR) / Westminster College
- Ylva Tone Falksete (NOR) / Montana State University
- Brynne Hitchcock (USA) / Montana State University
Friday, Jan. 13 Men’s Giant Slalom:
- Mikkel Solbakken (NOR) / Westminster College
- Iver Cornelis Walday Naess (NOR) / University of Nevada, Reno
- Roman Elvidge (USA) / Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club
Friday, Jan. 13 Women’s Slalom:
- Hannah Saethereng (NOR) / Westminster College
- Ylva Tone Falksete (NOR) / Montana State University
- Annaliese Frohlich (USA) / Crystal Mountain Alpine Club
Saturday, Jan. 14 Women’s Giant Slalom
- Hannah Saethereng (NOR) / Westminster College
- Hilde Iren Sato (NOR) / Rocky Mountain College
- Allison Mollin (USA) / Team Palisades Tahoe
Saturday, Jan. 14 Men’s Slalom
- Mikkel Solbakken (NOR) / Westminster College
- Iver Cornelis Walday Naess (NOR) / University of Nevada, Reno
- Nick Demarco (USA) / Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club
Sunday, Jan. 15 Women’s Giant Slalom
- Hannah Saethereng (NOR) / Westminster College
- Hilde Iren Sato (NOR) / Rocky Mountain College
- Synne Gaustad Kvinlog (NOR) / Rocky Mountain College
Sunday, Jan. 15 Men’s Slalom
- Enzo Cenerelli (FRA) / Westminster College
- Jeger Groethe Halbjoerhus (NOR) / University of Nevada, Reno)
- Ulrik Rykhus Danielsen (NOR) / University of Nevada, Reno
TOP FEATURED PHOTO OF PAIGE DEHART BY TIM CARTER
RACE PHOTOS COURTESY OF TIM CARTER