BY HEATHER FOSTER

More than 150 of the best ski racers in the region traveled to Sun Valley for the 31^st Annual Laura Flood Memorial Race this past weekend--Feb. 25-27. The race also served as an Intermountain Cup U16 qualifier.

At the conclusion of the weekend, the Laura Flood Memorial Race Perpetual Trophy was presented to the top U16 female and male skier after two giant slalom and one slalom race. Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation’s Lowie Watkins took the overall win for the women, and Romark Ski Academy’s Karsten Schillinger for the men.  

Lowie Watkins was in top form taking 3^rd in Friday’s giant slalom, 1^st in Saturday’s giant slalom, and 4^th in Sunday’s slalom. Watkins started skiing at the age of three and has skied for SVSEF since the second grade.

She started on the Mini World Cup team and has worked her way up through the North Series and Intermountain Division (IMD) teams and is now skiing for SVSEF’s USSA team as a U16 athlete.

“I’ve been working at this sport for a long time,” said Watkins. “It was great to have such a successful weekend especially in my home town.” 

When asked what the best advice is that she’s received from a coach, Watkins shared: “Training is the time to push yourself and acquire new skills and races are the time to use those skills.”  

“The USSA Staff was very proud of our team this weekend,” said Nate Schwing, SVSEF USSA Head Team Coach. “It was very rewarding to see the many hours of training we put in result in an inspiring display of skiing and camaraderie from the group over the weekend! The team represented very well on our home hill in front of friends and family!” 

Over the three days, SVSEF took home 18 podiums including six in the Open (U18) category and 12 in the U16 category. Awards were given to top three in the U18 category and top five for U16. In the U18 Men’s Giant Slalom, SVSEF swept the podium in both races.

On Friday, it was Carter Sammis, Nicolas Tilander, and Cole Curci taking one, two and three. On Saturday, it was Shaw McCoubrey, Nicolas Tilander, and Halston Wilkey in 1st, 2nd, and 3^rd. 

Max Meucci had a solid weekend taking 1^st place in Friday’s U16 giant slalom and 2^nd in Sunday’s slalom. In the women’s U16 slalom, three of the five podium steps went to SVSEF with Natalie Gowe in 2^nd place, Lowie Watkins in 4^th, and Taylor Hovey in 5^th.

Gowe also took 5^th in Saturday’s giant slalom, 3.29 seconds back from Lowie Watkins in 1^st. Meredith Bromley took the top step in Friday’s U16 giant slalom with her teammate Watkins just 0.82 seconds behind in 3^rd place. Alan Dugan raced to 5^th in Friday’s U16 giant slalom and Will Kogelman 4^th in Sunday’s slalom to round out the successful weekend for SVSEF.  

The Laura Flood Memorial Race holds a very special place in the ski racing and local community, held each year in memory of Laura Flood. Laura lost her life during a ski training accident at the age of nineteen while racing for the University of Colorado. The Race is made possible through the efforts of the entire community—the Flood family, coaches, volunteers, families, athletes and Sun Valley Company, which ensures an incredible race venue.  

For complete event results, visit: https://www.imdalpine.org/news/2022-Laura-Flood-results-are-in/