STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Flying Squirrel looked like a Swiss mecca at one point so many skiers were schussing down it, their Swiss flags catching the breeze behind them.

Ketchum has burgeoned with pedestrians carrying the green and yellow flag of Brazil and Croation ski team members walking around in ski parkas covered with the checkerboard look of their country.

At the ski races, adults and kids alike have been ringing the heck out of cowbells given away by representatives of Atomic and Head skis. And Sun Valley employees have been offering tiny American flags for those who want to cheer on Team USA.

The “Star Spangled Banner” plays about 15 minutes before the races start. But one might argue they really start when the Swiss cowbells arrive.

Sun Valley and Ketchum have become a feast for the eyes and senses during the 2025 Audi FIS World Cup Finals as country music resonates across the Warm Springs Plaza, and the aroma of New York Pop Up Bagels permeates the air at 5850 Fest.

“It’s been awesome,” said Sun Valley’s Sondra Van Ert, one of the first snowboarders to compete at the Olympics when the sport debuted at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. “I love seeing all these people walking around town. It feels revitalized.”

Tim Ryan who used to broadcast the Winter Olympics with Sun Valley Olympian Christin Cooper, said it’s been nice to see old friends from when he covered skiing. He was particularly gratified to have Lindsey Vonn’s father thank him for the kind things he said about his daughter.

“The next day Lindsey spotted me and thanked me, too. ‘My dad said he talked to you,’ ” he recounted.

This couple is one of numerous people who arrived with Croatian flags—they are even wearing the flags.

Ryan used to live in Sun Valley but now lives in Victoria, B.C., thanks to his dual citizenship.

“I knew Sun Valley would do a good job with this, but my European friends are blown away—it’s beautiful, well organized, and they love the festival atmosphere.”

Lisa Driscoll, who with fellow volunteer Rebecca Waycott has been answering visitors’ questions, said she’s met a lot of first-time visitors to Sun Valley. They all want to see where the first chairlift is on Bald Mountain, she said.

“But I have to point them over there,” she said, gesturing to where the world’s first chairlift can be seen on Proctor Mountain.

Bands have played at Warm Springs Plaza with images of skiers moving across the screen behind them.

The Waxroom’s Curtis Bacca, who tuned skis for World Cup and Olympic champions for 30 years, said he also has enjoyed seeing so many friends from his days on the World Cup Circuit. And it’s been nice for him getting to watch the races, as a fan rather than being focused on one racer.

“I knew Sun Valley would do a good job but I didn’t know this would be this well received,” he said.

“It’s great to see these great racers in front of us,” added Jasmine Smiley, who skis with the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation.

Former Sun Valley ski school supervisor Ann Erickson was among those who attended the last World Cup race Sun Valley Resort hosted during the 1976-77 season. It was the year drought rendered most runs on Baldy unskiable since Sun Valley did not boast the arsenal of snow guns it has today.

Bianca Smith, Alex Heidel and Jasmine Smiley are among Wood River Valley youth who have taken advantage of Spring Break to watch the races in temperatures that have climbed into the 60s.

But there were enough snow guns on the race course that the resort was able to pull it off.

“I was in my early 20s and it was so much fun. They didn’t have three layers of netting then—people didn’t ski as fast as they do today—so we were could ski right up to the course to watch skiers like Ingemar Stenmark,” she said.

“I always thought Sun Valley would always have the World Cup so it’s wonderful to bring it back. And the crowds—they certainly outnumber the people watching the World Cup. The crowds then were not even close. I just wish I was 40 years younger so I could party all the time!”