STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
While Sun Valley Resort has just embarked on its 88th winter season, the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation is gearing up for its 57th season.
SVSEF is heading into the 2023-24 season with more than 850 athletes on 31 teams across seven disciplines including Alpine, Big Mountain, Cross Country, Freeski, Freestyle, Mini X, and Snowboarding.
Ten SVSEF athletes and/or Alumni are representing the U.S. National Teams in 2023-24:
- Chase Josey, U.S. Snowboard Halfpipe Team (SVSEF Snowboarding Alum)
- Colin Hanna, U.S. Alpine Development (D) Team (SVSEF Alpine Alum)
- Dasha Romanov, U.S. Alpine C Team (SVSEF Alpine Alum)
- Finnigan Donley, U.S. Alpine Development (D) Team (SVSEF Alum)
- Jack Smith, U.S. Alpine C Team (SVSEF Alpine Alum)
- Jake Adicoff, U.S. ParaNordic Team (SVSEF XC Gold Team)
- Jesse Keefe, U.S. ParaAlpine A Team (SVSEF Alpine Alum)
- Johnny Hagenbuch, U.S. Cross Country B Team (SVSEF XC Alum)
- Sammy Smith, U.S. Cross Country Development (D) Team ( SVSEF XC Gold Team)
- Sydney Palmer-Leger, U.S. Cross Country B Team (SVSEF XC Alum)
SVSEF will host several events/competitions in 2023-24, including but not limited to the following. All dates are subject to change.
Alpine
- Nov 18-22 Pre-Thanksgiving Training Camp at Sun Valley and Rotarun
- Jan 29-Jan 31 Soldier Mountain Speed Project U14
- Feb 5- Feb 7 Soldier Mountain Speed Project U16
- Feb 9-11 33rd Annual Laura Flood Memorial Race at Sun Valley (U16)
- Feb 24-25 Monroe Cup at Rotarun (hosted by SVSEF)
- Feb 19 54th Annual Arkoosh Cup at Rotarun (hosted by Rotarun)
- Mar 20-24 U.S. Alpine National Championships (hosted by Sun Valley)
- Mar 25-28 Western Region FIS Open
- Mar 30 7th Annual Gary Black, Jr. Memorial Race
Cross Country
- Dec 10 Winterstart at Galena Lodge
- Dec 27 Holiday Bonfire & Relays at Lake Creek
- Jan 6 Snowmaker Classic at Lake Creek
- Jan 14 Community Day - Learn to ski w/SVSEF XC Gold Team
- Jan 21 Quigley Cup at Quigley Nordic Center
- Feb 1 Ketchum NordicTown Sprints in Downtown Ketchum
- Feb 3 Boulder Mountain Tour (SVSEF not host, but athletes compete)
- Mar 2-3 3 Intermountain Youth Cross Country Ski Champs at Lake Creek
- March 9 Cross Country Devo Festival at Lake Creek
- April 4-6 International Spring Series at Lake Creek
Freestyle
- Dec 26-28 Freestyle Spectacular at Roundhouse, Sun Valley
- Feb 9-11 Roundhouse Rumble at Roundhouse, Sun Valley
Snowboarding
- Date TBD Baldy Banked Slalom, Sun Valley (hosted by Sun Valley)
Snowboarding + Freeski
- Feb 1-4 USASA Slopestyle and Boardercross Big Mountain West, Dollar Mountain, Sun Valley
Special / Fundraising Events
- Nov 21 Free Movie Night at the Sun Valley Opera House / Movies: 4 p.m. Downhill Racer and 7 p.m. Aspen Extreme
- Nov 24 Sip & Shop at J. McLaughlin in Ketchum
- Dec 1 47th Annual Wild Game Dinner at Limelight Room, Sun Valley Inn
- Apr 4-6 25th Annual Janss Pro-Am Classic at Sun Valley
The SVSEF was founded in 1996. It offers an array of programs from learn-to-ski-and ride, as well as a program for elite skiers competing on the international level. It also offers financial assistance to families.
For more information, see https://svsef.org/.