BY HEATHER FOSTER
Eighty-six athletes from across the West found their groove and threw down for strong competition on Baldy’s Roundhouse Slope during Saturday and Sunday’s Freestyle Spectacular. The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation Freestyle Team brought their A-game, landing several age class podiums on home snow.
“It was impressive to see such a high level of competition this past weekend,” said John Grigsby, SVSEF Freestyle Program Director.
Amongst the field of competitors were athletes who competed in World Cups last season. Also there: Chase Littlefield, a bronze medalist from the Junior World Championships held in Kazakhstan a few weeks ago.
“I was excited to see how much our program has improved over the past year,” said Grigsby.
Notable standouts were a few of SVSEF’s up and coming young guns—Will Hausmann from Sun Valley Community School and Drake Lovlien from the Sage School. Both placed in the top 10 overall, having been back and forth on the podium this season.
Wells Dolson, also from Sun Valley Community School, won her age class (F15) both days for singles and is one to watch in the years to come with her already high level of tricks and jumps.
“It was great to see Will’s hard work starting to pay off,” said Grigsby. “He received his highest turn and air scores of the season which landed him in second place between Junior World Championship bronze medalist Chase Littlefield, and Billy Brown, one of the top Australian Mogul skiers.”
SVSEF Athlete Results:
Saturday Results Singles competition
Sienna Loredo 2nd F17
Abigail Hobbs 3rd F17
Wells Dolson 1st F15, 8th Overall
Isla Sundby 1st F13, 9th Overall
Nic Rubenstein (SVSEF Alumni) M19 3rd, 5th Overall
Will Hausmann 2nd M 17, 6th Overall
Sunday Results
Isla Sundby 1st F13, 9th Overall in Singles
Wells Dolson 2nd F15, 10th Overall in Singles, 5th in Duals
Sienna Loredo 3rd F17 Singles
Nic Rubenstein (SVSEF Alumni) 2nd in Duals
Will Hausmann 2nd Overall in Singles and 1st M17
Drake Lovlien 9th Overall in Singles