Snowbasin stages IMD J4-J5 finals for kids
Snowbasin's Wildflower run was the destination for 147 of the Intermountain Division's top 9-12 year-old alpine racers last weekend as the Intermountain J4/J5 Championships came to the Utah slope.
The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation and Hailey Ski Team sent 17 boys and 11 girls for three days of racing.
Friday's test was a Kombi featuring stubs, terrain rollers, giant slalom, a small jump and super giant slalom. Saturday and Sunday had the more traditional giant slalom and slalom for the youngsters from Idaho, Wyoming and Utah.
Among the most consistent locals were J4s (ages 11-12) Samantha Busby, who cracked the top 10 twice in Kombi and GS, and William Harder (7th Kombi, 4th GS, 5th SL). Abby Norton in J5 (9-10) girls improved each day and finished up with a second place in Sunday's slalom.
In J5 boys, Kyle Maxwell won the Kombi ahead of teammate Yuri McClure. Tanner Josey was fourth overall in the Kombi and J4 Jordan Fitzgerald eighth overall in Kombi.
Top local placings:
J4 (11-12) girls: Jordan Fitzgerald 6-K, DNF-GS, 26-SL; Samantha Busby 9-K, 9-GS, 11-SL; Haley Cutler 15-K, 13-GS, DNF-SL; Alexandra Black 18-K, 15-GS, 30-SL; Megan Murphy 19-K, 12-GS, 14-SL; Madison Milgard 20-K, 21-GS, 16-SL; Marcia Smith 28-K, 31-GS, 29-SL; and Loni Unser 35-K, 35-GS, 32-SL. Also racing was Josie Allison.
J4 boys: Tanner Josey 4-K, 7-GS, 19-SL; William Harder 7-K, 4-GS, 5-SL; Austin Savaria 17-K, 9-GS, 10-SL; Emmett Say 19-K, 16-GS, 30-SL; Taylor Cooper 25-K, 38-GS, 28-SL; Will Long 29-K; Griffin Curtis 30-K, 33-GS, DQ-SL; Gavin Shipley 31-K, 46-GS, 37-SL; Michael Levy 34-K, 32-GS, DNF-SL; Jack Rizzo 38-K, 47-GS, 34-SL; Samuel Brown 46-K, 50-GS, 31-SL; and Jay Fitzgerald 47-K, 24-GS, 29-SL. Also racing was Finn Isaacson.
J5 (9-10) girls: Katelyn Rathfon 11-K, 10-GS, 9-SL; Abby Norton 13-K, 5-GS, 2-SL.
J5 boys: Kyle Maxwell 1-K, 5-GS; Yuri McClure 2-K, DNF-GS; Wyatt Smith 6-K, 10-GS, 11-SL; and Will Snyder 8-K, 15-GS, 9-SL.
Coleman Open brings freestylers to Baldy
Picking up the torch for the fallen Tamarack Resort, the Sun Valley Resort will stage the fourth annual "Coleman Open" freestyle competition Thursday through Sunday, April 2-5 on Baldy's terrain.
The "Coleman Open" is named for Chad Coleman, former freestyle ski director at Tamarack Resort south of McCall. Coleman broke his back and is paralyzed from the waist down, according to Sun Valley Freestyle/Freeride Team head coach Andy Ware.
Previously held at Tamarack Resort, which closed this past winter, "Coleman Open" will now be held on Baldy. Final registration deadline is today, Wednesday at 12 noon through the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, 726-4129 ext. 109.
Entry fees are $45 for each event. Late fee is $15.
Here is the schedule, all competitions starting at 10:30 a.m. preceded by training:
Thursday, April 2: Slopestyle at Warm Springs Terrain Park, awards at Apple's Bar & Grill at the bottom of the hill.
Friday, April 3: Halfpipe at Warm Springs Terrain Park, awards afterward at Apple's. Moguls training from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Roundhouse Slope.
Saturday, April 4: Single moguls on Roundhouse Slope, awards at River Run Lodge.
Sunday, April 5: Dual moguls on Roundhouse Slope, awards at River Run Lodge.
