Sun Valley Snowboard Team riders made the podium in nearly all events and posted solid results at the first United States of America Snowboard Association (USASA) competition of the season Jan. 22-23 held in Jackson Hole, Wyo.
Coaches Andy Gilbert, Josh Keefer and Jacob Tyler accompanied the kids to Wyoming and were pleased to find the 7-12 year-old age groups had increased in size over last year. "The kids brought a good game and had a great attitude for the whole weekend," Gilbert said.
New snow forced the cancellation of Saturday's slopestyle, but Sunday's colder weather resulted in better conditions for the halfpipe. Several of the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation competitors were Prep Team riders in their first meet away from home.
Gilbert said, "The halfpipe in Jackson is quite small in comparison to our great pipe in Sun Valley and the riders had to adjust to the smaller height." They adjusted well, though, and Sun Valley's Youth Men did particularly well in what was the event's biggest field.
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Results:
Open Class: 1—Chase Josey.
Youth Men (ages 14-15): 1—Ryan Roemer. 2—Cameron St. Pierre. 10—Michael Niedrich. 11—Brandon Dolenar. 13—Zach Lewis.
Junior Girls (16-17): 1—Hayley Rheinschild. 2—Ali Appleton.
Junior Boys (16-17): 1—Rex Kelly. 4—Florian Bourdot (French exchange student who was missing his Alps until he arrived in Jackson Hole). 5—Dash Stethem.
Boys 8-9: 1—Elk Spencer.
Girls 10-11: 2—Cora Schneider.
Boys 10-11: 4—Clyde Montgomery.
Boys 12-13: 3—Dehner Figge. 9—Jake Whitlock.
