STORY AND PHOTOS BY DEREK SVENNUNGSEN

The inaugural Sun Valley Stampede took place over the weekend, and what a fabulous event that Sun Valley and POWDER Magazine put on!

Saturday saw dozens of men and women put their best skis and boards forward on the multi-discipline course comprised of a Giant Slalom, Big Air jump, an off-piste section, skier-cross and then some free ski rails, pipes and jumps to close out the run.

Athletes went head-to-head, and each run resulted in a winner who moved on, and a second-place finisher, who got to brag, “I competed in the first Sun Valley Stampede!”

Judges register their scores as Uncle Ernst jabbers on at the bottom of the course.

Beyond the competition, athlete after athlete attested to the camaraderie and the spirit of the event, and how it was a chance to ski and ride with others who love to ski and ride.

Sunday’s final heats featured 16 women and 32 men. Local skier Ruby Smith defeated Samantha Milne, also from Sun Valley, to claim the women’s title and $2,500 in cash. On the men’s side of the draw, local Harlan Collins defeated Jim Ryan from Jackson Hole in the men’s final, also earning $2,500.

Shaw Dean, a former Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation racer and now a coach in the program, made it to the Men’s Round of 32.

“The Stampede is sick and a lot of fun,” he said. “Lots of variety, from park into off-piste into skier cross. I’m a racer so I just try to go as fast as I can, full send.”

Skiers started on a giant slalom course on mid-Warm Springs.

Ella Viesturs, a former SVSEF racer, made it to the Women’s Round of 8.

“It’s an awesome event. I was hearing whispers about it and I am super stoked it’s happening at my home mountain,” she said.

Jim Ryan from Jackson Hole, made it all the way through to compete for the title of Best Skier in the West.

“It’s an incredible event, bringing together so many incredible skiers,” he said. “We were just taking turns watching each other ski. Everyone’s nervous and we’re all in it together. No one really knows how it’s judged and scored, which is kinda fun because we’re all just skiing and not trying to ski to a formula and break a code.”

The moguls course is starting to look a little brushy, thanks to this year’s 101 inches of natural snow, which is less than half of what Sun Valley normally gets.

Harper Mallett, a former SVSEF freeskier, made it to the Men’s Round of 16.

“This is a new type of event and style, and I wanted to try it out, showing off the different types of skiing I am capable of,” he said. “I’m not a racer so, for sure, the Giant Slalom gates are the hardest part—I’ve never raced gates!

“But it was great skiing with all of my best friends. I lost to my former coach Harlan (Harlan Collins eventually took top spot among the men) and there was nothing but good vibes. If this event returns to Sun Valley, I am 100 percent doing it again.”

Ellis Mallett, Harper’s sister, made it to the Women’s Round of 16.

Shaw Dean gives a thumbs up to the competition.

“My brother Harper encouraged me to participate in the Stampede. I was home from college at Skidmore College in New York and wanted to do something fun. It was never about winning, but about proving something to myself--that I could do something like this. Mainly I wanted to be an example for younger girls, who need to see more ‘badass chick skiers.’ This is an event for skiers, by skiers, and I absolutely hope we can do this again in Sun Valley.”