BY WILL FALLTRICK

The Alpine U14 IMD girls from the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation ran their races. Then they had to put in some extra work climbing the podium.

The girls achieved a couple first-place finishes in their Super G races, while the boys’ race was cancelled due to poor snow conditions.

SVSEF U14 IMD Alpine athletes competed at Tamarack Ski Resort from Feb. 6–9 in a Super G series that served as an Intermountain Division (IMD) qualifier. Skiers stayed focused on continually improving their performances despite limited snow coverage affecting the course. 

Mia Huey and Samantha Pringle had to retrace their steps on the podium after the second Super G race.

The event featured three Super G races per gender. While the girls were able to complete all scheduled races, the boys’ races were ultimately canceled due to challenging conditions.

“It was a good event for the girls,” said the Second Year Alpine U14 IMD Head Coach Angelica Birkner “Unfortunately, snow coverage was limited, but the weather was amazing for racing, and we were still able to see some great performances.” 

The SVSEF U14 girls turned in a strong showing, highlighted by podium finishes and steady improvement across all three Super G races.

“We saw really good skiing from the girls,” said Birkner. “Our team is strong!”

Mia Huey led the way with back-to-back victories in Super G, while Savannah Pringle consistently found the podium and multiple athletes posted solid top-20 finishes.

“This is really fun,” said Huey, following the races.

The Alpine U14 IMD team will be racing in Park City, Utah, Feb. 27-March 1. That event serves as the last chance to earn qualification points prior to championship races at the end of the season. 

Meanwhile, The SVSEF is hosting the 36th Annual Laura Flood Memorial Race on the Warm Springs of Bald Mountain this week. The race was founded in 1991 to honor Laura Sharpe Flood, who loved life, the outdoors and ski racing. She died in a ski training accident at 19 while racing for the University of Colorado.

The race serves as a U16 Intermountain Cup qualifier with two giant slalom races and one slalom held on Greyhawk and Hemingway.

Moguls competitors will take part in the Roundhouse Rumble today and Sunday on Roundhouse Slope. The Roundhouse rumble will feature both singles and head-to-head duals.

SVSEF Athlete Results from Tamarack:

Girls’ Super G – Race 1 (Friday, Feb. 6)

4th – Savannah Pringle

15th – Madlein Bakker

21st – Halley McGrew

23rd – Jennings Fraser

27th – Brianna Smiley

28th – Kinley Letson

30th – Ava Gilmour

31st – Stevie Crist

Girls’ Super G – Race 2 (Saturday, Feb. 7)

1st – Mia Huey

2nd – Savannah Pringle

12th – Brianna Smiley

15th – Halley McGrew

21st – Kinley Letson

25th – Maggie Leady

30th – Fraser Jennings

31st – Mable Diez

32nd – Madlein Bakker

33rd – Hope Lloyd

34th – Brady Bloomfield

Girls’ Super G – Race 3 (Saturday, Feb. 7)

1st – Mia Huey

2nd – Savannah Pringle

10th – Halley McGrew

18th – Jennings Fraser

22nd – Madlein Bakker

26th – Stevie Crist

28th – Maggie Leady

30th – Makkena Steel

31st (tie) – Brady Bloomfield

35th – Hope Lloyd