Overall winners Maddie Ferris and Oliver Parazette. Photo © Jim Grossman.

ALPINE

Laura Flood Memorial

“Use your senses, go with your feelings and instincts, dare to be different, dare to experience.” These words, which were spoken by Laura Flood and grace the trophy for the annual event which bears her name, remind athletes to trust themselves, acknowledge their individuality in lieu of conformism, and to choose their own routes in life. Hosted by the SVSEF annually in honor of Laura, the series featured three days of slalom and giant slalom racing. “Conditions were good, even though we received snow on Monday. This was a really unique opportunity to be able to race the U.S. National GS venue before anyone else has had a chance to race it,” commented Alpine Program Coordinator Riley Berman. “Having this new track is a game-changer for the Intermountain division. Our athletes were energized and eager to put their all into this course, and it was a great weekend of racing.”A big thanks to volunteers who kept the event running smoothly and who dedicated their time and effort to make it happen.
Taking home the Laura Sharpe Flood perpetual trophy, awarded to combined winners from the series, were SVSEF’s Maddie Ferris and Jackson Hole’s Oliver Parazette. Maddie had a strong series, finishing third in the slalom and second in both giant slaloms. Teammate Lily Fitzgerald joined her on the slalom podium in first. Marit Kaiser grabbed two fifths and a seventh place (GS). Carly Walther-Porino, Sage Curtis, Grace Pepin and Elizabeth Vanderkloot all secured top-10s throughout the weekend for a strong SVSEF showing. Spencer Wright, Thomas Klose, Buey Grossman and Charlie Snyder took first, third, fourth and sixth to start the weekend with a bang for SVSEF in the slalom. Thomas Klose again found the podium in the first giant slalom in third, and Buey, Charlier and Jake Blackburn rounded out the top-10 in eighth, ninth and tenth. The men went three-for-three on finding the podium, with Buey taking third in the second giant slalom. Jake finished fifth, Finn Mallinen ninth and Ian Hanna 10th.
RESULTS

Lane Monroe, Heather Flood Daves, Michel Rudigoz and Scott McGrew. Photo © Jim Grossman.

 

USSA

The following athletes have qualified for the Western Region U16 Championships in Alaska.  March 20-26, 2018.
 
Men:  Ryder Sarchett, Buey Grossman, Charlie Snyder, Ridley Lindstrom, Finn Mallinen, Josh Blackburn, and Max Moss.
Women:  Marit Kaiser, Carly Walther-Porino, Sage Curtis, Anhwei Kirk, Falon Hanna, and Emma MacGuffie.
 
 

North Series

The North Series team headed to McCall for the Cranston Cup, with slalom and giant slalom races. A highlight for the weekend was Tucker Smith taking the overall win for both days for boys.
“Our kids skied so well this weekend, considering they have not been on soft snow with big ruts all year,” remarked Head Coach Adele Savaria. “Since it dumped light, fresh snow the whole weekend, they all had a great time in and around their race runs powder skiing.  There were lots of smiles and laughter all weekend.”
 
Top finishes:
U10 Boys:
Joey Pierre – 8th
 
U12 Boys:
Tucker Smith – 1st, Max Meucci – 3rd, Will Kogelmann – 5th, Paxton Sammis – 8th, Owen Walker – 9th, Drew Kogelmann – 15th, Jensen Pierre – 11th, Sacha Stern-Pre – 16th, Abel Marx – 20th, Bodin Lee – 21st
 
U14 Boys:
Levi Loomis – 4th, Bryce Kanowsky – 6th
 
U10 Girls:
Reese Kelley – 6th
 
U12 Girls: 
Natalie Gowe – 2nd, Ruby Crist – 3rd, Taylor Hovey – 6th, Norah Davis-Jeffers – 7th, Ripley Scales- 12th, Bridgette Normand – 13th, Josie Sarchett – 16th, Scarlet Rixon – 17th, Ava Agnew – 20th, Rowan Desler – 21st, Ella Shaughnessy – 22nd, Scarlett Carruth – 24th, Marina Monschke – 30th, Hanna Bailey – 32nd, Molly Belle Poderick – 34th
 
U14 Girls:
Samanatha Beaudoin – 5th
RESULTS
 
 

FIS

FIS athletes competed at Steamboat Springs in University races – this was a great opportunity to test limits against athletes attending top ski universities in the west, as well as international racers representing those schools.
 
Top results:
Erin Smith – 24th in 2/23 slalom
Haley Cutler (alumni) –  17th in 2/25 giant slalom
 
Tanner Farrow (alumni) – 19th 2/23 slalom
John Blackburn – 43rd 2/23 slalom
Max Noddings – 48th 2/23 slalom
Hayden Terjeson – 59th 2/25 giant slalom
Noah Leininger – 55th 2/24 giant slalom
Bennett Snyder – 59th 2/24 giant slalom
RESULTS

Paris Pratt – 4, Molly Kucher – 5

PARK & PIPE

IFSA Big Mountain

SVSEF Big Mountain skiers returned to Targhee, this time for national-level competition – the event brought athletes from all over the U.S., with representatives from the reaches of Maine and Alaska. Thursday, February 22nd were qualifiers for 12-14 year olds, 15-18 year olds had qualifiers on the 23rd, and finals for all were on the 24th. Five SVSEF athletes made it past the qualifying rounds into finals. Paris Pratt was fourth for girls 15-18 and Molly Kucher was fifth, and SVSEF athletes Charlie Stumph, Axel Diehl and Alex LaFleur finished 11th, 12th and 14th, respectively in the boys 15-18 category. “The athletes who ended up having faults or crashes had some really cool lines picked out, and I’m glad that everyone got after it,” said Head Coach Conor Davis. The team headed out for some freeskiing afterwards, and are preparing for their next regional competition at Bogus Basin.
 

Travel

Ryan Dobi, Harper Mallett and Will Griffith competed among the nation’s best at the Aspen Snowmass Freeskiing Open. Harper laid it on the line in the halfpipe, walking away with 15th overall in a field of 41 – although he didn’t make it into finals, this was a great finish for the caliber of athletes in attendance. Will, who finished 66th in slopestyle, next heads to Park City to compete in the Rev Tour slopestyle event. Ryan’s top finish was 57th in slopestyle.
RESULTS
 

SVSEF alumni (and now coaches and parents) with longtime coach Dave Bingham.

CROSS COUNTRY

Prep/Devo

Prep and Devo athletes raced at the Intermountain Youth Championships in Jackson Hole, which brings elementary and middle school aged students from across the Intermountain region together for a final weekend of racing. Athletes competed in 2/3km freestyle and classic races, as well as a “skiercross” race, which featured jumps, tables and obstacles. Despite cold temperatures, overcast days, snow and strong winds, the skiers prepared well, stayed focused and raced hard both days. Taking home the girls U14 Cup was Sammy Smith, who won all three events for U14 girls, and won the skiercross event overall (including male and female athletes, U12-U16). This title was based on races throughout the season. Anja Grover was a close second overall, having won a few races previously. Anja placed second, sixth and third in the freestyle, skiercross and classic races for the weekend. Other highlights from the weekend included a sweep by Berkeley Canfield in all three U12 girls races, a fourth place finish for Teddy Hobbs in the U12 boys skiercross and second for McCallen Campbell in the U10 boys freestyle. U10 boys had a three-four-five streak (Zach Torres, McCallen and Huxley Flood) in the skiercross, and Eloise Hebert and Anika Vandenburgh took third and fourth in the U14 girls skiercross. Teammate Gretel Huss was ninth.
RESULTS

Start of the U14 girls classic mass start.

Alumni

Katie Feldman (senior) and Peter Wolter (freshman), SVSEF alumni who are athletes on the Middlebury Ski Team, have qualified for NCAAs, which start next week in Steamboat. Peter also received the Rookie of the Year award for EISA (Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association). Katie was named to the EISA All-East Second Team, and PG alum and Middlebury athlete Sam Wood joined Peter in being named to the EISA All-East Second Team for men.
PHOTOS/EISA ALL-EAST TEAMS