BY HEATHER FOSTER
Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation Snowboard athletes are looking forward to the USASA Big Mountain West Series at Dollar Mountain Thursday through Sunday, Jan. 30-Feb. 2, after solid showings at Woodward Park City, Utah this past weekend.
Naomi Gorringe extended the success she had during the 2023-24 season to earn a first and second place there.
Ten riders from the SVSEF Snowboard Team traveled to Woodward Park City, Utah, this past weekend for two Halfpipe events and one Slopestyle event as part of the USASA Big Mountain West Series. The comp offered regional points towards the USASA National Championships in April at Copper Mountain, Colo.
In true Sun Valley Snowboard Team fashion, riders are always participating in a multitude of disciplines working towards becoming the best all-around riders they can be—Halfpipe being amongst them. Learning to ride on the steeps of Baldy lends itself to the skills needed to ride halfpipe well and the team showed that.
“Rylan Olson had smooth linked trick runs that had the judges taking their time to turn in scores and he was rewarded with two third place podium spots for his efforts,” said Andy Gilbert, SVSEF Snowboard Futures Team head coach.
The young women of the team also came to play.
”Camille Armeen rode a smooth line all day,” said Gilbert. “Vivian Smith was adding Alley-Oop spins to her runs and Naomi Gorringe went big on every first hit, making the judges take note. Halfpipe riding is in good hands with this group of riders—this being the first pipe events for many of the team.”
“We had great runs from all our riders and I think this was an eye opener for many of our riders that they have the skills for this discipline,” said Gilbert.
Slopestyle in Park City is known to be a showcase for great park riding and this weekend was no different. It was a great event for the Sun Valley Snowboard Team as they showed their hard work places them in the mix with the Park City “Park Rats!”
“SVSEF Snowboarders in the Youth Men’s division are on the rise, linking tricks and putting together creative runs that are starting to get the attention of the judges in the series,” said Gilbert. “Charlie Theobald, Henry Georgiades and Bixby Swanger will be riders to watch as the series moves on.”
Karsen Miller grabbed third place in the Junior Men’s Division 17-18 with a Half Cab, front 360, back 360 combo. Uzzi Almaras had the best park runs his coaches can remember, stepping up to bigger jumps and rails with confidence and landed just off the podium in fourth—a great result for him.
“On the Women’s side, we saw some great riding and a ton to work with moving forward,” said Gilbert. “Camille Armeen had Backside 360’s on lock; a small loss of speed on a rail feature kept her just off the podium in fourth. Viv Smith went smooth and big on the straight airs, linking her runs and ending up in third. Naomi Gorringe is pushing toward very difficult runs and is still fine tuning linking it all together—she grabbed a silver medal in the Youth Women’s division 15-16. All-in-all a solid day in Slopestyle for the squad.”
SVSEF Athlete Results
Woodward Park City Halfpipe 1:
BREAKER BOYS 13-14
3rd Rylan Olson
BREAKER GIRLS 13-14
3rd Camille Armeen
4th Vivian Smith
YOUTH MEN 15-16
7th Henry Georgiades
8th Charlie Theobald
YOUTH WOMEN 15-16
1st Naomi Gorringe
Woodward Park City Halfpipe 2:
BREAKER BOYS 13-14
3rd Rylan Olson
BREAKER GIRLS 13-14
3rd Camille Armeen
4th Vivian Smith
YOUTH MEN 15-16
5th Charlie Theobald
6th Bixby Swanger
7th Henry Georgiades
YOUTH WOMEN 15-16
1st Naomi Gorringe
Woodward Park City Slopestyle:
BREAKER GIRLS 13-14
3rd Vivian Smith
4th Camille Armeen
YOUTH MEN 15-16
12th Charlie Theobald
14th Henry Georgiades
15th Bixby Swanger
YOUTH WOMEN 15-16
2nd Naomi Gorringe
JUNIOR MEN 17-18
3rd Karsen Miller
4th Uzziel Almaras