STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Haley Cutler raced in Chile this summer as part of her training for her upcoming World Cup races. But her sights are set on the 2025 Alpine World Cup Finals being held on her home turf in Sun Valley March 20-27, 2025.

“My goal is to come back here and race at home,” she said.

Cutler, who was born and raised in Sun Valley, realized her long-sought goal to race on the World Cup following a podium finish at the NorAm Finals at Panorama, B.C., last spring She had five top finishes during the season before heading into the downhill finals at the NorAm Finals—all while rehabbing a knee injury.

Her World Cup season will kick off on Dec. 14 at Beaver Creek in Colorado.

But this week she joined the hometown fans in Whiskey’s on Main, promoting the 2025 World Cup Finals during a gathering organized by Visit Sun Valley.

“I’m not nervous. I’m excited. The time has come!” she said as she hobnobbed with those enjoying Whiskey’s pepperoni and margherita pizza.

Cutler’s parents Jeff and Chelsea put their daughter on skis when she was 2—just months after the family moved here to work for Sun Valley Resort.

“It was cold, but I realized I could go fast,” she recounted.

Cutler raced in the Kindercup—an annual rite of passage for Sun Valley youngsters—a couple years later. And, by the time she crossed the finish line, she was hooked on racing. She raced with the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation and then went on to ski at the University of New Mexico and Montana State University before becoming a coach for the Ski Education Foundation’s U-12 team.

At 25 she jumped back into racing. And, after securing her place on the World Cup circuit in British Columbia, she posted first and second Giant Slalom finishes in Chile at Valle Nevado, and first and third Super G finishes and first and second Downhill finishes at the South American Cup in La Parva, Chile

She incited a cheer from the audience at Whiskey’s when she told them she’ll be racing in the Downhill on the World Cup circuit.

“Racing on Greyhawk is so much fun because it’s scary. For powder skiing, I really like Plaza (now known as Picabo Street). Bald Mountain is very challenging and its snow surface perfect for race training because it’s consistently hard. But it also has amazing all-mountain skiing.”

To get ready for the looming race season, Cutler has been doing Crossfit training. And she’s upped the amount of protein she eats.

She qualified for the World Cup as an independent skier and will travel with the U.S. Ski Team.

“Only the top 25 skiers in the world get into each skiing discipline in the World Cup Finals so this is a really cool deal for the community,” she told those at Whiskey’s.

“I’m not receiving any funding so I could use some money!” she added, noting that tax-deductible donations can be made to World Cup Dreams Foundation at https://www.worldcupdreams.org/.

WORLD CUP FINAL UPDATE:

The first World Cup Finals held in Sun Valley since 1977 will bolster the local economy in a winter that is lagging behind in hotel bookings through February.

Between 5,000 and 6,000 athletes, ski coaches and technicians, family members and spectators are expected to come to Sun Valley during a 10-day period, said Harry Griffith, executive director of Sun Valley Economic Development.

“We want you to get your friends to come into town for this. It’s going to be a great way to reconnect over an awesome event.”

The event already has all the volunteers it needs for on-the-hill jobs, but there are plenty of other volunteer opportunities, such as transportation.

“If they can’t get to an event on time, there’s going to be some disappointed people,” said Griffith.

Brandon Kuvara, owner of Whiskey’s on Main, said that country music star Tracy Byrd will be among the headliners at the free 5850 Fest concerts, along with Grammy-nominated rock band Sugar Ray and DJ Brandi Cyrus.

“More artists to come very, very soon,” he added, noting that the festival will feature two to three stars each night.

VIP passes are on sale at https://5850fest.eventive.org/passes/buy. The full access pass, which costs $5,000, offers entry to all the coveted events, with private lounges, gourmet cuisine and cocktails at the bottom of the race course, front-row seats at the main stage concerts, luxury shuttle service provided by Moment Luxury Rental, swag bags, meet and greets with artists and personalities and culinary experiences.

WINTER OUTLOOK:

Ray Gadd, executive director of the Visit Sun Valley destination marketing organization, said that to date December bookings are down 25 percent and January bookings down 23 percent. February is up 1 percent, thanks in part to the Boulder Mountain Tour which is sold out.

March is up 43 percent, thanks to the World Cup Finals.

Gadd said his organization has directed 90 percent of its advertising towards winter this year: “Last year there was no snow and it was challenging. We also had an election this year and there’s a drop-off on travel when you have an election.”

Gadd said that June tourism was up 2 percent; July, up 6 percent, and August, up 2 percent, thanks to events like Sun Valley Resort’s Bluebird Festival and rapid snowmelt opening up recreational opportunities in June.

September looked like it was going to be down 30 percent but ended up down only 17 percent.

The drop-off was caused in part by Labor Day coming early—on the 2nd; kids in Washington and California going back to school early. In addition, there was no Governor’s Cup.

Local Option Taxes are down in Ketchum, primarily due to road construction, he said.

“Two years ago, we had a backlog of weddings due to COVID; they’re caught up now.”