Durtschi in Cherry Blossom biking
Hammer/CMG Elite Racing Team bicyclist Max Durtschi, 17, of Ketchum traveled to Oregon last week for the four-day Cherry Blossom Classic stage race that attracted professional teams from the Pacific Northwest. Also a member of the Sun Valley Junior Nordic ski team, Durtschi is completing his junior year of high school as a dual-enrolled student at Hailey's Wood River High School and through home schooling.
Durtschi used the Cherry Blossom Classic to begin his training and racing for the 2009 cycling season. Durtschi, now competing as a Category 1/2 racer, finished with the pack. He said, "It was a great first race of the season. Racing against professionals was really tough, but also exciting. My cardio fitness is there from Nordic skiing—now I just need to get my cycling legs back."
Hammer/CMG, coached by two-time Olympic cyclist Butch Martin, lends riders to the U.S. Junior National Cycling Team for international competitions. The team next travels to The Sea Otter Classic April 16-19 at Monterey, Ca.
Spring Series at Mammoth Mountain
A couple of promising Sun Valley 15-year-olds, Sierra Fox and Tanner Farrow, mixed it up with some of the country's top alpine ski racers—most in the 18-22 age class—during the Western Region FIS Spring Series this past week at Mammoth Mountain, Ca. Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation racer Farrow was the eighth J2 and 61st overall in Saturday's men's slalom. Fox was the sixth J2 and 39th in Saturday's women's giant slalom race.
Figure skaters in San Diego
Four Sun Valley Figure Skating Club members enjoyed sun, surf and competitive skating April 2-5 in San Diego. The San Diego FSC's La Grande competition offered a look at competitive skating in the larger southwest region. Coach Darlin Baker accompanied the skaters.
Entered in the IJS system at the Open Juvenile level for the first time, Telar McClure took a silver medal in Light Artistic and placed fourth in Freeskate. Competing at levels comparable to the Northwest region's Non-Test level, Lane Letourneau won a silver medal in Light Artistic and placed eighth in Freeskate.
Blake Letourneau won a bronze medal in Light Artistic and placed seventh in Freeskate. Competing one level higher, Arizona Semones placed eighth in Light Artistic and eleventh in Freeskate.
Hailey Coed Softball meeting planned for April 16
League commissioner Mike Beall (720-6842) said the organizational meeting of the Hailey Coed Softball League is Thursday, April 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Wicked Spud, Hailey.
Mexia fifth in Barking Spider Expert ride
Scott-sponsored mountain biker Moses Mexia of Hailey rode to fifth place in the Men's 30-39 Category 1 Expert class with a time of 2.07:12 in Saturday's 14th annual Barking Spider 29-mile cross country race south of Nampa. In the first event of the 2009 Wild Rockies series, Mexia was 12th overall, about 14 minutes off the winning time in his Expert class. Boise-based Pro class winners with the top three-lap times of the day were Shawn Mitchell (1.51:59) and Sarah Barber (6th place, 2.08:31).
Other Wood River Valley riders and their places and times were—Singlespeed Men (29 miles): 8—Reed Melton 2.15:13. 10—Mark Driver 2.25:17. Sport Men 40-49 (19.4 miles): 2—Chris Gardner 1.31:25 (4th overall Sport). 14—Brent Van Bueren 1.47:11. Sport Men 50-and-up: 6—Steve Edsall 1.56:51.
Community School plans fundraising golf tournament
On its Web site, The Community School has announced its first annual Parents Association golf tournament for Thursday, May 7 at Elkhorn Golf Course. Format is a nine-hole scramble with a 3:15 p.m. shotgun start.
Following the round, players, friends and families will gather at the Elkhorn Clubhouse for an awards ceremony featuring no-host drinks and food. There will be 15 five-person teams, meaning spots are available for 60 golfers. Deadline for sign-ups is Friday, April 24. Entry is $125 per player. It includes golf and cart. Visit communityschool.org.
