The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation celebrated the end of the alpine season with an awards banquet Tuesday at the nexStage Theater in Ketchum. Almost 200 people attended the banquet, held in part, to honor members of the J1-J2, J3 and C-Travel teams, and put a cap on a season that began in October with dryland training.
Perpetual trophies in honor of Sun Valley skiing pioneers Sigi and Peggy Engl and Leif Odmark were also awarded. The Engl Award is given to the skiers who most exemplify skiing development, academic excellence and a great attitude. Characteristics of Odmark recipients are a love of skiing and superb sportsmanship.
Roughly seven months after the season started, coaches and teammates singled out the following athletes for their contributions throughout the season:
2008 Alpine Awards
J1-J2 IMD Team
MVP—Karlee Stagg, Bergen Palmer
Most Improved—Bailey Ireland, Scott Smith
Most Inspirational (voted on by team members): Bailey Ireland, Bo Brown
Engl Cup—Bailey Ireland, Tyler Davis
Leif Odmark Award: Bailey Ireland, Tyler Davis
J3 IMD Team
MVP—Natalie Vorsteveld, Tanner Farrow
Most Improved—Corrine Smith, Alex Bridgeman
Most Inspirational (voted on by team members): Natalie Vorsteveld, Tim Kanellitsas
C-Travel Team
MVP—Natalie Bunting, Cole Caulkins
Most Improved—Marcia Smith, Reed Matthews
Most Inspirational (voted on by team members): Sofia De Wolfe, Kipling Weisel
Engl Cup—Jordan Fitzgerald, KJ Savaria
Leif Odmark Award—Spencer Thomas, Will Harder
Colter Brehmer was the recipient of the "Mountain Kid Award," given to the person who most embodies the true alpine spirit of Sun Valley. The Academic Award went to Community School junior Riley Berman, who managed to keep up his grades despite lengthy absences for ski racing. The Howard Dean Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Tyler Davis.
