Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Training more vital than ever for SV Ski Team

Winter season debuts for over 200 racers


Dry land training has always been a big part of skiing, but the techniques are getting more sophisticated these days—and the time demands have been increasing on youngsters learning ski racing.

As Sun Valley Ski Team assistant alpine director Scott McGrew has said, "The times they are a'changing."

The Sun Valley Ski Team, entering its 36th season under the auspices of the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, has been busy creating a year-round alpine program that includes a lot of training that skiers didn't do in the past.

In large part the new training is in response to the shorter "shaped" skis that have revolutionized the sport. Younger kids seem to carve their turns a lot easier than in the past. And coaches have to re-learn how to teach them to improve.

The off-snow exercises are geared to strength and agility so as to better equip the young athletes with the speed, balance and power needed to compete at a high level in alpine racing.

McGrew said, "Our kids are simply required to be more acrobatic, more intuitive, more balanced and stronger in order to initiate command and control over gravity. By training them in a dynamic and ski-specific manner, it not only makes them faster, but safer—the two most important concerns for us as coaches."

Of course the SVSEF alpine program directed by Ruben Macaya has always had terrific coaches—34 of them this year to go along with a roster of 205 skiers on the "A", "B", "C" and Development squads.

Year-round training is essential for older, FIS (International Ski Federation) and Intermountain Cup racers.

In fact, 16 Sun Valley athletes and five coaches trained in Argentina in August. Two others—Carl Rixon Jr. and Lauren Eder—attended the U.S. National Development camps in Chile in September and in August in October.

They are two of Sun Valley's best alpine racers.

Eder, 17, two-time defending champion of the Laura Flood Memorial giant slalom, was the GS silver medalist at the 2005 National J2 Olympics last March at Sugarloaf, Me. Last Wednesday, the Wood River High School student earned a slalom third-place at the Western Region FIS Series held at Mammoth Mountain, Ca.

Rixon, 23, is one of Sun Valley's Olympic Development Team athletes along with 21-year-old Zac Brown and 20-year-old Sean Higgins.

Another top prospect is 18-year-old Lauren Parsons, an all-around threat who won bronze medals in GS, downhill and super giant slalom during March's Western Region J1/J2 Olympics at Jackson Hole, Wyo. Parsons excelled in the recent Eric Hays Memorial tech races at Park City, Utah.

Other Sun Valley skiers who were Junior Olympic selections last year included Dixon Mooseau at the J2 level, plus Riley Berman, Gregory Roos, Ainsley Gourlay and Ali Maricich in the J3 event.

Those picked for western regional finals were Calley Brown, Katie Rothgeb, Shanny Cohen, Laura Speck, Hunter Storey, Cameron Minor, Kristian Timmons, Soren Ireland, Tristan Brown, Taylor Stoecklein, Corey Bellinger, Amanda Alexander, McKenna Peterson, Alexis duPont, Sara Berman, Cassidy Doucette, Grayson Palmer and Bryce Newcomb.

Olympic Development program

Change has also affected the top levels of the SVSEF, causing the creation of the Olympic Development program.

SVSEF executive director Don Wiseman said, "The playing field for our athletes has changed tremendously since the 1980s. At that time the U.S. Ski Team's support reached further and deeper with many layers of team support.

"With the changing times and the need to become more competitive, the support was withdrawn from the lower-level athletes and increased dramatically for the elite. The results show for themselves. Our elite U.S. Ski Team athletes are a constant force in the World Cup and Olympic arenas."

Given this reality, Wiseman said, the SVSEF through the funding vision of Beverly Dechevrieux, Peter Sturdivant and Michel Rudigoz started the Olympic Development Fund within the SVSEF. Its mission was to support athletes caught in the "middle" as they tried to make the U.S. Ski Team.

By supporting skiers and riders who make a commitment to competition even after they graduate from college, the program works as a financial and athletic support system during the years when other interests could pull them away from their talents on the snow.

"It's a bridge between the Foundation and the U.S. Olympic Team," said Macaya. Wiseman added that the ODF is separate from all other SVSEF fund-raising efforts—similar, in fact, to university endowment drives for specific departments or colleges.

With the help of the program, Rixon will travel to Europe to compete in Europa Cup races in January. Brown, a skier on the University of Vermont's ski team, recently won the Eastern Cup slalom at Maine's Sugarloaf Mountain.

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2005-06 Alpine Ski Racing Schedule

For SVSEF, Ketchum Alpine Racing and Hailey Ski Team racers. Partial listing for the 2005-06 ski racing season including all scheduled junior events at Sun Valley (in bold type). The four-race Intermountain Cup (IMC) series is intended for J1 (ages 17-19) and J2 (15-16) racers. J3 (13-14) athletes have their own four-race J3 qualifying series, and are allowed to compete in selected Intermountain Cup races as well as the three-race Intermountain A-J3 Open Series. The North Series is intended for J1, J2, J3, J4 (ages 11-12) and J5 (ages 10-and-under) hopefuls.

DATES EVENT LOCATION

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December 14-17 Eric Hayes Memorial (A-J3 Open Series) Park City (Utah), 2 GS/2 SL

December 19-23 Western Region FIS Open (J1-J2) Mammoth (Ca.), 2 GS/ 2 SL

December 28-30 Topolino J3 Shootout (Western Region qualifier) Park City, GS/SL

January 7-10 Western Region FIS Elite J1-J2 Series Park City/Snowbird, 2 SL/2 GS

January 11-12 Western Region FIS U Elite Series Park City, GS/SL

January 13-15 Jackson Hole North Series J1-J4 Snow King (Wyo.), 3 SG

January 14-15 Western Region FIS U Elite Series Big Sky (Mt.), GS/SL

January 14-15 Snowbird Slaloms (IMD J1-J2 qualifier) Snowbird (Utah), 2 SL

January 18-24 Big Sky J1-J2 Speed Series Big Sky (Mt.), 2 DH/2 SG

January 21-22 Jackson Hole SLs (IMD J3 qualifier) Snow King, 2 SL

January 28-29 Cranston Cup North Series (J4-J5) Bogus Basin, 2 SL

January 28-February 1 Laura Flood Memorial IMD J1-J2 Qualifier Soldier Mt. and SV, 3 GS/1 SL

February 3-6 Western Region FIS Elite J1-J2 Series Park City, 2 GS/2 SL

February 4-5 Snowbasin GSs (IMD J3 qualifier) Snowbasin (Utah), 2 GS

Friday-Sunday, Feb. 10-26 2006 Olympic Winter Games Torino, Italy

February 10-12 Bogus Basin Men's Open (A-J3 Open Series) Bogus Basin, 3 SG

February 10-12 Bogus Basin Women's Open (A-J3 Open Series) Snowbird, 3 SG

February 14-16 Soldier Mountain DHs (J3 Open Series, IMD J1-J2) Soldier Mountain, 3 DH

February 21-27 Western FIS Elite J1-J2 Speed Series Alyeska (Ak.), 2 DH/2 SG

February 25 Monroe Cup/SV Invitational (North/South J4-J5) Sun Valley, SL

February 26 Lonnie Basolo Memorial (North/South J4-J5) Sun Valley, GS

March 4-5 Park City Tech Races (IMD J3 qualifier) Park City, GS/SL

March 5-12 Chevy Truck USSA National J2 Olympics Sun Valley, all disciplines

Wednesday-Saturday, March 8-11 NCAA Alpine Ski Championships Steamboat Springs, Colo.

March 9-12 Western Region FIS Sierra Crest Cup (J1-J2) Squaw Valley/Sugar Bowl, 2 GS/2 SL

March 11-12 Intermountain North-South J4/J5 Championships McCall, SL/GS

March 16-19 Western States J1-J2 Tech Championships Snow King (Wyo.), 2 GS/2 SL

Thursday-Saturday, March 16-18 Bill Janss Pro-Am Sun Valley

March 18-19 Park City Open A-J3 Series Park City, GS/SL

March 18-19 IMD North Series J1-J5 Championships Kelly Canyon, GS/SL

March 23-26 USSA Western J3 Olympics/J4 Festival Mt. Hood Meadows (Ore.), SG/GS/SL

March 24-27 Western Region FIS Series Finals Schweitzer Mountain, SG/GS/SL

March 25-30 Chevy Truck U.S. Alpine Nationals (J1-J2) Sugarloaf (Me.), all disciplines

March 31-April 3 62nd Last Chance IMC Snow Cup (J1-J2, J3s eligible) Snowbird, 2 GS/2 SL

April 5-10 Western Region FIS Elite Spring Series (J1-J2) Mammoth, 2 SL/2 GS/2 SG

April 9 Hobson Memorial Sun Valley

Notes—The Western Region FIS Series offers introductory level FIS racing for J1-J2 competitors....The Western Region Elite FIS Series are qualification races for NorAm and U.S. Alpine National Championships, plus tech qualification series for the National J2 Olympics. Results also determine Western Region overall champions and the Kyle Warren Memorial Award recognizing the Western junior champions....Schedule for the 2006 Winter Olympics at Torino, Italy is: Feb. 12, men's downhill; Feb. 14, men's combined SL/DH; Feb. 15, women's downhill; Feb. 17, women's combined SL/DH; Feb. 18, men's super giant slalom; Feb. 19, women's super giant slalom; Feb. 20, men's giant slalom; Feb. 22, women's slalom; Feb. 24, women's giant slalom; and Feb. 25, men's slalom.

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2005-06 Sun Valley Ski team roster

SUN VALLEY "A" AND "B" TEAMS

Alpine program director—Ruben Macaya.

Alpine program assistant director—Scott McGrew.

Head coach "A" team—Tyler Palmer. "A" team coaches—Ken Logie and Ruben Macaya.

Head coach "B" team—Scott McGrew. "B" team coaches—Pat Revallier, Karl Stingl, Yvan Pitte, Matt McNeal and Skip Merrick.

Part-time and special events—Michel Rudigoz and Hank Minor. Helpers—Lane Monroe, Pat Bauman and Brian Ros (race administration).

Alpine "A"/FIS racers (10)—Corey Bellinger, Teton Brown, Willi Cannell, Shanny Cohen, Lauren Eder, Lauren Parsons, Katie Rothgeb, Laura Speck, Elitsa Storey and Carl Rixon Jr. (Tuition $3,995, post-grad $4,750, includes on-snow Tuesday through Sunday, year-round training for ages 15-and-up).

Alpine "B"/Intermountain Cup/JO team racers (25)—Willi Adicoff, Mandy Alexander, Riley Berman, Nick Bowen, Colton Brehmer, Chase Caulkins, Lexie duPont, Madi duPont, Tanner Flanigan, Ainsley Gourlay, Michael Greer, Bo Brown, Emily O'Reilly, Grayson Palmer, Bergen Palmer, Bailey Ireland, Greg Roos, Hannah Rudolph, Annie Shafran, Karlee Stagg, Travis Stone, Ryon Campbell, Jasmine Campbell, Scott Isaacs and Scott Smith. (Tuition $3,540, ages 13-and-up, includes on-snow Tuesday through Sunday, year-round training).

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SUN VALLEY "C" TEAM

C-Travel head coach—Craig Kjesbo. C-Travel staff—Benji Hill, Justin Stevenson, Piper Loyd and Marina Etchart.

C-Home head coach—Rob Webb. C-Home staff—Ryan Dean, Kat Latham, Kat Crowley, Pat Savaria and Wes Powell.

Alpine "C-Travel"/JO/North Series team (32)—Grace Alexander, Jack Allenbaugh, Brandon Barry, Adam Brown, Dylan Carroll, Cole Caulkins, Harlan Collins, August Danielson, Tyler Davis, Tanner Dirstine, Molly Duff, Meghan Duff, Anne Duff, Josie Dawson, Debbie Horn, Connor Farrow, Tanner Farrow, Jake Freeman, Zachary Israel, Morgan Jones, Tim Kanellitsas, Jordan Levin, Erin Murphy, Christopher Nalen, Billy Nero, Teagen Palmer, Nicole Roos, Kipling Weisel, Sloan Storey, Natalie Vorsteveld, Colin Waycott and Hunter Weaver. (Tuition $2,240, ages 9-and-up, includes Wednesday through Sunday and holidays).

Alpine "C"-Home" racers (59)—Jake Adicoff, Josie Allison, Kaitlyn Black, Alexandra Black, Alexandre Bridgeman, Natalie Bunting, Dominic Calhoun, Cassidy Carson, Eli Conrad, Gus Conrad, Haley Cutler, Hannah Dies, Avery Dumke, Jordan Fitzgerald, Jake Flaherty, Zack Freeman, Emily Gillespie, Charlie Grabow, Will Harder, Mateja Heinrich, Addison Holmes, Tanner Josey, Karl Wilander, Emma Wilander, Ellie Punnett, Isobel Pollock, Lena Friesen, Chase Hutchinson, Morgan Roudabush, Johnny Woodcock, Ben Kanellitsas, Ethan Kjesbo, Jace Lieberman, Zachary Lindahl, Peter MacMillan, Reed Matthews, Madigan Miller, Megan Murphy, Lena Perenchio, Drew Punnett, Matt Reidy, Ty Reinemann, Gina Rickling, Jack Rizzo, Olivia Roche, K.J. Savaria, Austin Savaria, Frannie Sensenbrenner, Logan Shipley, Gavin Shipley, Rocket Stickney, Spencer Thomas, Michael Weaver, Corey Whitman, Reta Flynt, Sofia DeWolfe, Alysha Herich, Madeline Leopold and Claire Siderman. (Tuition $1,405, ages 9-and-up, includes Wednesday afternoons, weekends and holidays).

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SUN VALLEY DEVELOPMENT TEAM

Head coach and development coordinator—Doran Key.

Devo assistant coach—Susanne Connor. Staff—Kirk Mason, Jamie Collins, Adele Savaria, Maggie Acker, Chris Key, Twyla Bulcher, Jim Mulenos, Chase Gouley, Jason DeLance and Stacey Timmons.

Development racers (79)—Pete Allenbaugh, Joseph Begovich, Daniel Begovich, Harrison Bouch, Sarah Brown, Samantha Bunting, Samantha Busby, Grace Carroll, Chloe Chrysikopoulos, Hunter Dean, Madison Dean, Emma Dorinson, George Everitt, Henry Everitt, Lukas Ferrer, Rafi Ferrer, Jonathan Fitzgerald, Dane Flaherty, Braden Flaherty, Sean Flaherty, Kelsey Furlong, Thomas Gillespie, Lily Gillespie, Margot Griffith, Sydney Hagenbuch, Truman Hanks, Blair Baker, Griffin Curtis, Buck Horn, Connor Bennett, Pierson Carlsen, Kristian DeWolfe, Claire Farmer, Caroline Leopold, Matthew McGraw, Jack O'Gara, Colton Sholtis, Will Snyder, Ben Swift, George Kanellitsas, Marie Hoopes, Logan Kassner, Grady Kassner, Will Long, Ben Maffei, Madison Milgard, Carter Miller, Matthew Minford, Tatum Morell, J.T. Neeley, Jackie O'Reilly, Marleigh Poulson, Garrett Rawlings, Joey Reidy, Emmett Say, Isabelle Shafran, Kelsey Syms, Moyo Tian, Loni Unser, Charlie Veytia, Olivia Wentzell, Katherine Whitman, Erik Wilander, Ryan Willows-Munro, Eve Preucil, Peyton Achs, Samuel Brown, River Curtis, Lauren Robideaux, Collette Block, Lukas DeWolfe, Anna Dunn, Tripp Hutchinson, Gavin McDonald, Madeline Nelson, Illiah Pfau, Caitlyn Sholtis, Brooke Sundholm and Jake Thacker. (Tuition $690, ages 8-and-up, includes weekends).

2005-06 SVSEF Board of Directors—Graham Anderson (president), Gary Black Jr. (vice-president), Lori Johnston (secretary/treasurer), Kate Berman, Rufus M. Brown, William Cannell, Paul Fremont Smith, Chelle Gourlay, Alex Higgins, Daniel K. Hunt, Nick Maricich, Kipp Nelson, Michelle Praggastis, Michel Rudigoz, John Seiller and Mike Turzian.




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