STORY BY HEATHER FOSTER
PHOTO BY ERIKA RIXON
Ford Rixon doubled down to claim the men’s title and Elise Eng claimed the girl’s title at the 2026 Rotarun Arkoosh Cup held on President’s Day.
More than 160 skiers registered to race in the 2026 Arkoosh Cup at Rotarun Ski Area on Monday.
Boys and girls raced within their age groups on the dual format giant slalom course in what has become a President’s Day holiday tradition. Family members and friends took the day to cheer on their racers, and the fun competitive spirit was high.
Age-class awards were presented at the conclusion of the event for the U6, U8, U10, U12, Junior, and Snowboard categories. Snowboarders had one of their largest turnouts with 10 athletes for this year’s edition of the race.
The Arkoosh Cup was awarded to the winning girl and boy of the U10 category. Their names will be etched into the Arkoosh Cup trophy, which has a permanent home in the base lodge at Rotarun.
The overall fastest times for girls and boys in the U10 category and winners of this year’s Arkoosh Cup are both members of the SVSEF Alpine U10 Mini World Cup Team. Elise Eng crossed the line in 30.56 seconds and Ford Rixon in 25.60. Rixon also won the Arkoosh Cup in 2025 as an eight-year-old (first-year U10) in the U10 category.
“We want to give the biggest thank you possible to Julian Tyo and the staff at Rotarun for providing an amazing venue for the race, to the coaches and volunteers for their hard work, and to all the families who support their kids and help share the love of ski and snowboard racing,” said Chuck Harris, Arkoosh Cup chief of Race.
The Cup is named for the Arkoosh family from Gooding, who in 1957 gave Rotarun a 99-year lease for $1 per year. In 1993, the property was deeded over to Blaine County, with the underlying lease from the Arkoosh family intact.
“The Arkoosh Cup capped off a great month of ski racing at Rotarun!” said Julian Tyo, Rotarun’s Mountain Manager. “The Arkoosh Cup holds a truly special place in the history of Rotarun and is an opportunity to remember and celebrate both the incredible family who had a vision for this little hill outside of Hailey, and some incredible local talent past and present. Our team is honored to host this devoted gathering of local families—especially against the backdrop of this season’s challenging weather pattern!”
Since the mid-1960's, the Arkoosh Cup has seen winners like Picabo Street, who won the Cup in 1983 and eventually went on to become an Olympic and World Champion.
Winners from more recent years are currently racing at the FIS elite and collegiate level. Among them, Paige DeHart (2017) now skiing for the University of Colorado/Boulder and Jessica Blackburn (2016) for the University of Nevada/Reno.
Haley Cutler (2009) is currently ranked 28th in the world on the World Cup Downhill circuit, racing as an independent and vying for a spot on the 2026/27 U.S. Ski Team. Others have gone on to become SVSEF Alpine coaches, such as Sage Rheinschild (2012), KJ Savaria (2008), Charlotte Gourlay (1999) and Amanda Stelling and Connor Farrow (2007).
TOP FIVE PER AWARD CATEGORY RESULTS
U6 Boys:
Isaac Kloster
Rigby Wilson
Pierce Burwell
Don Surdoval
Boone Brandenburg
U8 Boys:
Harrison Brumbach
Dean Carr
Bodhi Zelaya
Jasper Rogers
Wilder Spangenberger
U10 Boys:
Ford Rixon (2026 Arkoosh Cup Winner)
Evan Schwing
Sam Sattler
Werner McNamara
Patrick Phillips
Junior Boys:
John Massa
Grey Alexander
Tucker Marino
U6 Girls:
Pryce Jaeger
Silvia Schirf
Blair Gerry
Lily Kloster
Sammi Minor
U8 Girls:
Anna Kloster
Jasie Goitiandia
Emilia Eng
Finey Harmon
Vivien Luce
U10 Girls:
Elise Eng (2026 Arkoosh Cup Winner)
Clementine Brumbach
Emma Osher
Quinn Woodward
Beau Jaeger
U12 Girls:
Evelyn Phillips
Maite Finegan
Delaney Woodward
Juniper Farmer
Theo Young
Junior Girls:
McKenna Minas
Sloan Heinz
Reese Woodward
Charlotte Pittsley
Hannah Lyle
Snowboard:
Jackson Neet
Serena Sheue
Ava Klemer
Presley Flour
Henrick Holesinsky
Complete 2026 Arkoosh Cup results may be found at rotarun.org.