Tuesday, December 10, 2024
 
Click HERE to sign up to receive Eye On Sun Valley's Daily News Email
 
Haley Cutler Pitches World Cup Finals to Sun Valley Crowd
Loading
Grandpa James Cutler came from California to see Haley Cutler race in the 2016 National Alpine Championships held in Sun Valley. Cutler says her grandparents have been great sources of support.
   
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
 

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.

 
Loading
Haley Cutler raced during a National Alpine Championship at Sun Valley.
 

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.

 
Loading
Brandon Kuvara, owner of Whiskey’s on Main, has been signing marquee entertainers like Tracy Byrd for the free 5850 Fest during the 2025 World Cup Finals in Sun Valley.
 

“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.

 
Loading
Whiskey’s was packed by the time everyone showed up to hear about the World Cup Finals at Visit Sun Valley’s gathering.
 

“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.

 
Loading
Haley Cutler, a Wood River High School graduate, said she can’t wait to get started on her journey across the World Cup circuit in a month.
 

“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.”

~  Today's Topics ~


Salmon Moon Takes Nellie Burns Down the River of No Return

John and Leslie Mauldin to Headline Festive Holiday Concert

Santa Peppered with Questions
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Website problems? Contact:
Michael Hobbs
General Manager /Webmaster
Mike@EyeOnSunValley.com
 
Got a story? Contact:
Karen Bossick
Editor in Chief
(208) 578-2111
Karen@EyeOnSunValley.com
 
 
Advertising /Marketing /Public Relations
Leisa Hollister
Chief Marketing Officer
(208) 450-9993
leisahollister@gmail.com
 
Brandi Huizar
Talent / AE
(208) 329-2050
brandi@eyeonsunvalley.com
 
 
ABOUT US
EyeOnSunValley.com is the largest online daily news media service in The Wood River Valley, publishing 7 days a week. Our website publication features current news articles, feature stories, local sports articles and video content articles. The Eye On Sun Valley Show is a weekly primetime television show focusing on highlighted news stories of the week airing Monday-Sunday, COX Channel 13. See our interactive Kiosks around town throughout the Wood River Valley!
 
info@eyeonsunvalley.com      Press Releases only
 
P: 208.720.8212
P.O. Box 1453 Ketchum, ID  83340
LOGIN

© Copyright 2023 Eye on Sun Valley