Some families took off early for spring break, but Saturday's 30th annual Hobson Memorial alpine ski races still had a lot of support—109 kids enjoying a spectacular sunny spring day on Baldy's Cozy run.
The athletes, eagerly anticipating at least one week of school vacation, had fun skiing and sharing the day with friends and families.
Competing in the event that dates to 1978 were Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation and Hailey Ski Team racers.
Winning the coveted Hobson Memorial trophies for being the fastest girl and boy were J1 Mandy Alexander (17.90 seconds best run) and J2 Colter Brehmer (17.19).
Mrs. Dorothy Hobson Krumm sponsors the race each year, in memory of her husband Roy L. Hobson and her daughter, Sheila Hobson Dolsot. Volunteers made it all happen, particularly Mike Wrobel of the Sun Valley Race Department.
The top racers earned trophies named after renowned Sun Valley skiers like Christin Cooper, Pete Patterson, Susan Corrock and Gretchen Fraser. All of the perpetual trophies are on display in Sun Valley Lodge outside Lodge Dining Room.
Winners of perpetual trophies were: Tyler Chandler (Darrock Crookes); Mandy Alexander (Susan Corrock); Colter Brehmer (Pete Lane); Ainsley Gourlay (Christin Cooper); Tyler Davis (Smith Goggle); Sierra Fox (Bonnie Russell); Christopher Nalen (Billy Kleine); Marlow Mizer (Kathleen Harriman Mortimer); Tanner Josey (Pete Patterson); and Josie Allison (Gretchen Fraser).
Earning the Howard Dean Awards at Saturday's festive Hobson picnic were Julia Vorsteveld, Jay Fitzgerald and Thomas Gillespie.
The Engl "D Team" Awards went to Margot Griffith and Sam Brown. Collecting the Engl "C Home Team: Awards were Ellie Punnett and Taylor Adler. The "D Team" Coaches Awards were presented to Loni Unser, Jolie Blair, Ben Swift and Joseph Begovich.
Dean Scholarship deadline
The application deadline is Wednesday, April 4 at the SVSEF office for the Howard Dean Scholarship—a full tuition scholarship that goes to a deserving ski team athlete.
Winner of this year's Dean Scholarship will be announced at the annual SVSEF Alpine Banquet Sunday, April 15.
Dean, who learned to ski as a youngster in California, moved to Ketchum in 1978 with his wife, Peggy, and children Jana and Ryan. The year before he had purchased a gas station south of Ketchum that is still known as Dean Tire.
With their father serving as a volunteer ski coach and member of the SVSEF board of directors, the Dean children were involved with the SVSEF through their high school years. Ryan is now an alpine coach for the SVSEF. Subsequent to Howard's death in 1994, his wife Peggy established a scholarship in his name. It has been presented ever since.
Pete Patterson Award winner Tanner Josey scoots down Cozy en route to first place in the J5 boys category for Saturday?s Hobson Memorial. Photo by Willy Cook
