Elkins rides LOTOJA bike race
Brian E. Elkins, 56, of Ketchum crossed the finish line for the LOTOJA Classic one-day bicycle race staged Saturday, Sept. 8 from Logan, Utah to Jackson Hole, Wyo.
Elkins placed sixth in his age class with a final time of 10 hours, 34 minutes and 29 seconds. He must be getting faster because, five years ago, he finished in 11 hours, 8 minutes.
At 206 miles LOTOJA is known as the longest one-day USCF-sanctioned bicycle race in the U.S. Elevation gain is 9,738 feet, with three mountain climbs in the first 110 miles.
In other news about the race, a LOTOJA (Logan to Jackson) bicyclist crashed on a bridge in Wyoming and fell about 35 feet to his death into the Snake River.
He was Robert Verhaaren, 42, of Mesa, Az., a Brigham Young University graduate and the married father of three. Authorities said Verhaaren swerved and crashed on U.S. 89 about eight miles from the finish line. Race spokesman Dave Bern said it was the first fatality in the race's 30-year history.
Play golf for junior hockey on Friday
Sun Valley Youth Hockey is holding its third annual golf tournament fundraising event for Friday, Sept. 14 with a 3 p.m. shotgun start at Bigwood Golf Course at Thunder Spring.
Participants will “Nine and Dine” playing nine holes of golf with cart and enjoying dinner, silent auction and no-host bar for $85 per person. Attending the dinner/auction costs $30. Raffle tickets will be sold for $10 apiece or six for $50 and if you win, you choose your prize—either a 2012-13 Baldy season ski pass or a $1,000 Atkinsons’ Market gift card.
Organizer Sarah Benson said there will also be an online raffle on the Bidding for Good Web site starting next week. For details contact Benson at 720-3086 or sarah@solut.com
Tigers hold off WRHS volleyball rally
They showed resiliency and determination in making a big comeback, but Wood River High School varsity volleyball players came up short in their Great Basin Conference home clash with the Jerome Tigers Thursday in Hailey.
Jerome showed more firepower in winning its first league match 25-19, 13-25, 26-24, 25-13 over the Wolverines (6-6, 1-1 league).
The Tigers, last year’s GBC tournament runner-up to Twin Falls, went on to make the championship match of last weekend’s Twin Falls Invitational tournament. Jerome fell to Twin Falls in two games in Saturday’s finale.
Wood River’s big comeback happened in the pivotal third game against a Jerome squad filled with eight seniors.
Trailing 23-12, Wood River stormed back on 11 consecutive winning serves by senior co-captain Kori Paradis (6 kills, 4 aces) and aggressive play at the net by senior co-captain Lily Richards (10 kills).
With the score tied 24-24, Jerome found holes in Wood River’s defense and closed out its 26-24 win on tips by seniors Savannah Lott and Ali Bingham. Lott had 2 blocks and 5 kills in the game, while senior Kaitlyn Kelley finished the match with 10 kills.
The Hailey defense sparked by sophomore Ciceley Peavey helped the home team in its comeback, but the close loss took the wind out of Wood River’s sails and Jerome won easily in the fourth game.
Wood River coach Tim Richards said, “Overall, some good things and yet many things still to improve upon. Our total of 24 kills is not going to win a lot of matches.”
Earlier, Wood River dominated Jerome in its 25-13 second-game victory with Paradis making 3 blocks and sophomore Brittney Bradley (20 assists) serving the final five points. Sophomore Haley Cutler played a good all-around match against Jerome, coach Richards said, and Peavey contributed a lot of digs.
The 32nd annual Wood River Invitational varsity tourney begins Friday, Sept. 14, at 3:45 p.m. in the Hailey gym and continues Saturday at 9 a.m.
Four-time defending Wood River champion and reigning Idaho 5A titlist Idaho Falls leads the 10-team field along with Wood River, Borah of Boise, Mountain Home, Preston, Filer, Timberline of Boise, Kimberly, Kuna and Burley.
Golf tournaments gear up in September
September is a great month for golf tournaments in the Wood River Valley starting with two local events.
· Sun Valley Golf Course stages its 36-hole stroke play club championships Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 15-16.
· Ketchum’s Bigwood Golf Course at Thunder Springs holds its annual Bigwood Open 36-hole meet Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 15-16 at 9 a.m. Cost is $50 for passholders, or $120. Sign up at 726-4024.
Winners of the Sun Valley and Bigwood club championships this coming weekend are eligible to play in the Idaho Golf Association’s Tournament of Champions Sept. 29-30 at Elkhorn Golf Course.
Runs in Hailey, Twin Falls
· Blaine County Senior Connection holds its third annual 5-kilometer Roadrunner Run/Walk to benefit Meals on Wheels Saturday, Sept. 15 at the Hailey facility. Registration takes place at 10 a.m. with the running and walking at 11 a.m. Expect lots of prizes, raffle, food, street vendors, music, a Farmers’ Market and more. Entry fee is $20 per person, $10 for those under 18, or $50 for families, corporates or groups. Raffle tickets are 1 for $3, 4 for $10 and 10 for $20. Sign up at blainecountyseniors.org.
· Habitat for Humanity of Twin Falls benefits from the annual Rim 2 Rim 7.5-mile run and Half Rim run/walk Saturday, Sept. 15, with the run starting at Bass Lake at Blue Lakes Country Club. A tradition spanning 33 years, the event has been sponsored since 2006 by Habitat for Humanity. It is the organization’s largest fundraiser each year, raising money to build affordable homes in the Magic Valley. The walk begins at 9 a.m., the Half Rim run at 9:30 a.m. ($25 entry fee) and the Rim 2 Rim run 10 a.m. ($45). Sign up at bluecirclesports.com or visit habitatmagicvalley.org for details.
Classic Boulder Mountain Bicycle Tour returns Sunday
Ride your bike to Galena Lodge 23 miles north of Ketchum on Sunday, Sept. 16 as part of the Classic Boulder Mountain Bicycle Tour.
Road bikers should meet at Ketchum Town Square at 10 a.m., or mountain bikers should gather at the SNRA headquarters north of Ketchum at 9 a.m. There is no entry fee. The $10 lunch buffet will be served at the ending point, Galena Lodge, and a shuttle back to Ketchum will be offered. The group Spare Change will perform at the lodge from 11-2. It will be the final day of summer operation for Galena Lodge. Call 726-4010 for more details.
Baldy Hill Climb is Sept. 29
It is 18 days and counting until the 34th annual Baldy Hill Climb community event sponsored by the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation. It has grown from a foot race and hiking climb, to also include mountain biking. This year’s event is Saturday, Sept. 29. Entry fee is $30 when paid online at spondoro.com. You can also obtain information at svsef.org. The traditional 1.86-mile Warm Springs course rises 3,140 vertical feet from the Warm Springs ski run bridge—elevation 5,880 feet—to the top of Baldy—elevation 9,020 feet. The event includes a biking class and the “Cheeso Double,” which includes mountain biking and hiking the course.
