SBSEF Summer Ski Camps:

SBSEF is offering two summer ski camp opportunities designed to sharpen fundamentals and skill development.

  • Mt. Hood, Oregon | June 22–29 Technical (GS and SL) on the iconic Palmer glacier with a lot of fun post skiing activities in and around Government Camp, OR.
  • La Parva, Chile | July 19–27 Experience authentic winter conditions in the Southern Hemisphere. Train GS and Super G fundamentals alongside World Cup and Europa Cup teams.

If interested in either of these opportunities please reach out to Alpine director (bo@SBSEF.com) or your head coach. 

Devo Team Update:

The low snow year in Little Cottonwood didn’t slow Devos down one bit! When conditions didn’t cooperate, the group made the most of it and kept the stoke high all season long. From carving turns down a icy firm Regulator, to hunting down pockets of powder in Tiger Tail, to even tackling first hikes up Baldy, it was a winter full of memorable moments.

Most importantly, one thing never changed—whenever you came across a Devo group on the mountain, there was no shortage of smiles. That positive energy and love for skiing defined the season once again.  We pivoted from slaying powder all year to really focusing on fundamental skiing technique and everyone made big improvements in their skiing!

The Snowbird Devo program ended the season on a high note with The Good Vibes Only Freeride Competition.  This is a Devo favorite and with the challenging snow conditions this year we had to pivot and move the venue from Rasta Chutes to the old Wilbere lift line.  Much to the pleasure of the athletes, there just happened to be a cat track they could launch off at the bottom of the venue.  Everyone brought their A Game, and while it wasn’t the most challenging venue it certainly was one of the more entertaining Devo Freeride comps to watch!

  • Olivia R and Josh S lead the charge on Saturday as the top female and male athletes
  • Annabelle K and Kevin Z crushed it on Sunday as the top female and male athletes
  • Inty H and Mikk E threw down the biggest thrills with the most air time!

It takes a village to manage Devos and our Devo parent coordinators were a tremendous help!  Thank you, Kirsten Walker and Melanie Edwards, for your time and effort to help make Devos more enjoyable with BBQ’s and Hot Cocoa parties.

~ Jason Stone

Jfast Update:

The Snowbird JFast U10 and U12 programs concluded a highly successful competition season this March. IMD Finals started with some logistical shifts—including the relocation to Snowbird due to snow conditions in Park City. IMD U12 Championships were held the following week at Jackson Hole—our athletes demonstrated remarkable adaptability. Both weekends served as a testament to the hard work and dedication shown by our racers throughout the year.

Following a period of unseasonably warm weather, athletes were met with cold temperatures and a “durable” surface at Snowbird. The poise and confidence with which our U10 and U12 athletes navigated these challenging conditions was commendable.

IMD Finals

Giant Slalom Highlights: The SBSEF roster displayed immense depth across all divisions, most notably in a near-sweep of the U14+ Girls podium.

  • U12 Boys: Anders T. secured a commanding 1st place finish.
  • U14+ Girls: In a standout performance, Ripley C. (1st), Tennyson W. (2nd), and Ayoe J. (3rd) swept the podium, with Sam L. finishing strongly in 4th.
  • U10 Boys: Bond A. and Oliver D. earned 2nd and 3rd place finishes, respectively.
  • U14+ Boys: Remi R. delivered a consistent performance to secure 3rd place.
  • U12 Girls: Penny B. earned a top-five result, finishing in 5th place.

Slalom Highlights: On Sunday, the focus shifted to technical Slalom skills, where our athletes continued their momentum.

  • Performance of the Weekend: Anders T. (U12 Boys) delivered a masterclass in Slalom, clinching 1st place by a remarkable margin of over 11 seconds.
  • U10 Boys: A dominant team saw four SBSEF athletes in the top five: Bond A. (1st), Oliver D. (3rd), Penn A. (4th), and Alasdair A. (5th).
  • U14+ Girls: Tennyson W. claimed 1st place, followed by Ivy W. in 5th.
  • U14+ Boys: Lucas Q. demonstrated great resilience to finish in 4th place.

IMD U12 Championships

The following weekend, a select group of U10 and U12 athletes traveled to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to compete against the premier racers of the Intermountain Division.

Overall Championship Honors: SBSEF is thrilled to announce that Tate A. was crowned the IMD Championship Girls Overall Winner and adds her name to a long history of Snowbird athletes who have claimed this overall title. Her consistent speed and technical proficiency throughout the season culminated in this well-deserved honor.

IMD Champs Highlights

  • Giant Slalom: Olive B. led the girls’ team with a 4th place finish, followed by Abbie Y. in 7th.
  • Slalom: The SBSEF Girls’ team captured three of the top five positions, led by Tate A. (1st), Olive B. (4th), and Abbie Y. (5th).
  • Boys Slalom: Our athletes occupied half of the top 10 rankings: Callum A. (2nd), Gavin K. (7th), Chase K. (8th), Bodhi S. (9th), and Lukas S. (10th).
  • Parallel Slalom: In head-to-head competition, Tate A. maintained her dominance with a 1st place finish. For the boys, Forest K. earned a 3rd-place podium, with Lukas S. (5th), Callum A. (8th), and Gavin K. (10th) also placing in the top ten.

U10 Achievement: A special commendation is due to Niam S. and Wyatt F. While IMD Championships do not officially recognize U10 athletes for awards, both Niam and Wyatt qualified for this elite event within the U12 category. Qualifying for this championship is a significant milestone; to do so as a U10 athlete in the highly competitive IMD South field is truly extraordinary.

JFast Shout out!

  • Palmer B.: Palmer has consistently performed above expectations throughout the season. As a first-year U10, he demonstrated a new level of competitive maturity at the IMD Finals. We look forward to his continued progression next season.
  • Jett F.: The Giant Slalom in Jackson Hole proved to be a challenging test for the division’s best. Jett met this challenge with technical precision and tactical intelligence, earning a highly respectable 25th place. His dedication and significant technical improvements this season have not gone unnoticed.

Congratulations to all SBSEF athletes on an exemplary season. Your growth, sportsmanship, and competitive spirit continue to represent the very best of our program.

Also, a huge thank you goes out to our parent coordinators, Trevor Kavanaugh and Katie Young, as well as every parent who dedicated time and energy to ensuring that all JFAST athletes and coaches were well cared for this competition season. While ski racing, at its heart, is an individual sport, the team’s success is a huge group effort. Thanks a million!

~ Bo Maciejko & Chloe Lavelle

U14 Team Update:

Team U14 came out swinging for the Championship season, despite challenging conditions. All 3 of our Championship events got moved to different venues based on a lack of snow and melting conditions. This created a lot of changing plans and moving parts- kudos to our u14 families for being agile and adapting well. Our athletes remained focused and met the challenge with remarkable results. 

At IMD Finals– moving from Park City to Snowbird: 

Within U14’s, Ayoe J. finished 2 in GS, Ivy W. finished 4th in SL, Ripley C. finished 1st in GS, 5th in SL, Sam L. finished 3rd in GS, Lucas Q. finished 4th in SL and Remy R. had a 3rd-place finish within U14’s. Congratulations!

At Tri-Divisionals– moving from Snowbasin to Grand Targhee:

Within U14’s, Alba C. finished 15th in SG, 10th in SL. Charlie F. finished 13th in SL. Evelyn V. had a 12th-place finish in GS. Gage S. cracked the top 10 with 9th in SL. Zach M. put down a 2nd-place finish in GS. Ledger E. put down a blistering fast run, starting 55 and finishing 1st for the U14’s! Way to go!

At Western Regional Championships– moving from Bachelor to Sugar Bowl:

Norah C. raced consistently, with her best finish in SL in 21st. Quinn W. had a 5th-place finish in SG and a 3rd-place finish in GS to finish 5th overall for the boys! These incredible results qualified Quinn for a spot at the Whistler Cup, which is a huge accomplishment!

Whistler Cup: Quinn finished 5th overall in GS at this international event. Quinn has demonstrated how hard work and goal setting can take you to the highest levels of our sport. His determination and dedication this season have been impressive! His focus- especially during inspection- has helped him reach these goals. What is also impressive is watching Quinn help his teammates find this same focus. His leadership on the team helps bring his teammates up to his level. Congratulations Quinn!

Special shoutout to our Parent Coordinator, Ellie Volckmann, for stepping up this year! Thank you for organizing and coordinating meals for coaches on race day, bringing good vibes to the tent, and being super helpful to the coaching staff. We are super grateful to you!

Thanks for a great season!

~ Ben Reeder

U16 Team Update

Team U16 had an incredible season. Despite the snow challenges, we took advantage of everything that Snowbird was able to offer us and stayed focused on constantly learning. The questions we asked daily were, “What did you learn today?” “What changes would you like to make for tomorrow?” and “How are you going to take what you learned and implement those into your skiing and your approach to racing?” These questions allowed us to stay focused on the process as well as what we are able to control in an outdoor sport versus our desired outcomes. It is a testament to the parents, volunteers, coaches, and athletes for our strong results. 

With a quick pivot from Snowbasin to Grand Targhee Resort for the Tri-Divisional Championships, our U16 athletes showed up in full force, ready to show the changes to their skiing they have worked on all season. Huge shoutout to Ellie B for the Tri-Divisional Overall Women’s Championship

SG:

  • Ellie B 4th overall – 3rd U16
  • Jack G 16th overall – 9th U16

GS:

  • Ellie B 1st Overall
  • Carson S 6th Overall – 6th U16
  • Jack G 11th Overall – 9th U16

SL:

  • Ellie B 6th Overall – 4th U16
  • Ceci P 12th Overall – 7th U16
  • Addi O 21st Overall – 10th U16
  • Jack G 3rd Overall – 2nd U16
  • Carson S 6th Overall – 3rd U16
  • Jack L 8th Overall – 4th U16

The U16 Nationals athletes also had a last-minute pivot from SnowKing Resort to Grand Targhee Resort, where three Snowbird athletes had strong showings against the top U16’s across the country. 

Congratulations to:

  • Axl D – 11th TeamCombined SL, 15th SkillsQuest, 12th GS
  • Cedar K – 5th SG, 7th SkillsQuest
  • Vonn K – 9th SG, 15th SL

Our final shoutout is to our parent coordinator, Darrell Dain. None of this would be possible without Darrell helping support the parents, coaches, and athletes along the way this season. From keeping us fed to supporting race registration and refereeing races. Darrell has gone above and beyond for us this season, and we are eternally grateful for him!

~ Ali Spencer

FIS Team Update:

Mid-March to mid-April was a very busy time for the FIS group. We would like to thank all the athletes and parents for their willingness to roll with the changes and uncertainty we have experienced this season. That said, it has been a pretty full and productive year. Some of the group have been to 4 race series since the last newsletter. We have had races in Sugar Bowl, Keystone/Winter Park, Sun Valley, and Big Sky. Of these 4 different series of races, only the Sun Valley series was held at the resort where it was originally scheduled. Once again, flexibility has been the name of the game for this season.

From the Sugar Bowl series, Talise Larsh came home with two 6th-place finishes in SL and her best SL points result ever (88). After a quick turnaround, we were off to Colorado, where Mia Pagano and Ashton Clark both had their best SL and GS finishes of the year, Talise Larsh skied to 5th overall, and Halle Hipple was 3rd for U18’s at the Winter Park GS. Shortly after our return home from Colorado, we were off to Sun Valley, where Halle took another 3rd for U18’s in GS. Our next trip took us to Big Sky, Montana, for the Western Region Spring Series, which was originally sited for Palisades Tahoe, but shifted to Big Sky due to low snow. Talise had a strong showing there as well. She had her best 2 GS point results and 2nd-best SL result. Our final series, the speed series originally scheduled for Mt. Bachelor, but moved to Mammoth, was unfortunately canceled at the last minute due to too much snow!… Go Figure. This was a highly anticipated trip and a big disappointment for all.

Two more quick things: a big thank you goes out to Justin and Katie Hipple for being our parent coordinators. They did a fantastic job and were greatly appreciated. Lastly, we just want to recognize the high school seniors of our group and wish them well, whether sticking around or moving on. Congrats to Halle, Mia, Avery, Sophia, and Calvin.

Hope to see you all at the awards on the 27th.

~ Kevin Chaffee

Posted in Alpine