BY WILL FALLTRICK

Members of Sun Valley ski Education Foundation’s Alpine U16 IMC Team climbed the podium eight times at the Snowbird IMC Qualifier this past weekend.

The competition at Snowbird Resort near Salt Lake City was the first of three qualifying events for the U16 Regional Championships and Tri-Divisional Championships. The four-day event featured two slalom and two giant slalom races with deep fields for men and women. 

Snowbird delivered ideal racing conditions throughout the series. SVSEF athletes remained focused and adaptable across the demanding schedule, showing composure and commitment from run to run as they kicked off their competitive qualifying race season. 

Paxton Harris took first place in the Men’s slalom.

“The Alpine U16s competed well at Snowbird in our first divisional qualifiers for U16 Regionals and Tri-Divisional Championships,” said SVSEF Alpine U16 Head Coach Nate Schwing. “We were greeted with four consecutive bluebird days with quality racing surfaces. Our athletes were locked in for four days of racing. They did well adapting daily and committed to giving their all from run to run on race day.”

Neena DeGennaro led the women with second-place finishes in both giant slalom races, along with a second-place finish in slalom, while Bianca Smith earned a third-place finish in giant slalom.

On the men’s side, Paxton Harris captured a first-place finish in slalom and followed up with a second-place result in giant slalom, while Corbin Flood secured a first-place finish in giant slalom. Colter Bengston added to the podium count with a second-place finish in giant slalom and multiple top-ten results across the series.

“A lot of positives were taken away from this series, and now we train towards our next race series, competing in Super G at the Wes Barron in Jackson,” said Schwing.

The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation’s U16 Team competed last weekend at Snowbird Resort in Utah.

SVSEF Athlete Results:

U16 Women’s SL #1 Jan. 11

5th – Neena DeGennaro

8th – Jasmine Smiley

Neena DeGennaro finished second in the slalom.

14th – Piper Spengler

15th – Bianca Smith

16th Colette Duke

U16 Men’s SL #1 Jan. 11

7th – Henry Questad

U16 Women’s SL #2 Jan. 12

2nd – Neena DeGennaro

8th – Jasmine Smiley

9th – Piper Spengler

14th – Bianca Smith

15th – Olivia Harrington

16th – Camille Reid

18th – Colette Duke

U16 Men’s SL #2 Jan. 12

1st – Paxton Harris

7th – Colter Bengston

8th – Henry Questad

18th – Cameron Beck

U16 Women’s GS #1 Jan. 13

2nd – Neena DeGennaro

5th – Bianca Smith

11th – Jasmine Smiley

15th – Colette Duke

18th – Alexandra Heidel

20th – Piper Spengler

U16 Men’s GS #1 Jan. 13

1st – Corbin Flood

2nd – Colter Bengston

7th – Jake Schlatter

8th – Henry Questsd

13th – Brooks Gove

U16 Women’s GS #2 Jan. 14

2nd – Neena DeGennaro

3rd – Bianca Smith

9th – Jasmine Smiley

16th – Colette Duke

17th – Alexandra Heidel

U16 Men’s GS #2 Jan. 14

2nd – Paxton Harris

6th – Colter Bengston

7th – Cameron Beck

8th – Wyatt Limburg

15th – Henry Nordstrom

17th – Brooks Gove

18th – Kai Sammis

For complete U16 IMD race results, click on the following link and go to the U16 Series button:  https://imdalpine.org/race-results/.