BY WILL FALLTRICK

Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation’s Cross Country Prep and Devo athletes captured the Overall Team Award at the Intermountain Youth Championships last weekend, rising to the top of a field of nearly 200 competitors from eight regional clubs.

The races were held at Lake Creek Trails north of Ketchum.

The two-day championship event featured skate distance and Skier X disciplines on Saturday, followed by mass start classic distance races on Sunday. SVSEF athletes earned the Overall Team Award based on top-five finishes across all age categories, showcasing the depth and strength of the program.

Nina O’Sullivan, Violet Resko, Sadie Guss and Rose O’Grady competed at the Intermountain Youth Championships held on the Lake Creek trails.

Bivi Scott-Clair led the individual performances with two first-place finishes in the FU10 category, winning both the 1km skate and 1km classic races. Alexandra Chudleigh matched that achievement in the FU8 division, also claiming victory in both disciplines.

Additional standout performances included Hazel Schmidt, who earned second place in the FU12 2km mass start classic distance and second in the 2km skate distance, and Nina O’Sullivan, who took third in both the FU14 2.6km skate distance and mass start classic distance races. Catherine Jameson rounded out multiple podium finishes with third in the FU12 2km skate distance and fifth in the 2km mass start classic distance.

“I’m amazed at the norm we live in…with kids growing up who have the gumption and courage to ski with toothpicks strapped to their feet and swords whipping around in their hands, it’s remarkable we call it fun!” said XC Devo North Head Coach Martha Pendl. “But the fun is a result of the time, kindness, and the simple JOY our skiers, families, and coaches practice all season long. We love building our own best adventures, and it certainly showed at IYCs.”

The event took on special significance after being relocated to Sun Valley just weeks before the competition due to this year’s limited snowpack across the West. Despite the last-minute venue change, the championships brought together eight of the Intermountain Division’s 14 clubs for a celebration of cross country skiing complete with costumes, obstacle courses and high energy throughout the weekend.

The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation cross-country skiers won the overall title at the Intermountain Youth Championships

“In a season when kids have had to be so adaptable to changing conditions, I think it was so meaningful and important to all of them to have the event,” said Kelley Yeates, Head Prep Team Coach and IYC Race Director. “It was reflective in their smiles all weekend long. It was really special, and we are so glad we could pull it off for our division.”

SVSEF Cross Country Program Director Becky Flynn added: “This weekend was exactly what we all needed! The IYC’s are a celebration of cross-country skiing, racing and fun! There were costumes, wigs, obstacle courses, coach races and the energy and enthusiasm was high! A huge thank you to our race crew, the BCRD, our sponsors and our volunteers – they made this event what it was!”

SVSEF Athlete Results (Top 3 SVSEF Athletes in Each Event)

Saturday, February 28

MU14 - 2.6km Skate Distance

8. Augie Allaire

14. Ben Wellner

20. Jed Schmidt

FU14 - 2.6km Skate Distance

3. Nina O’Sullivan

4. Payton Daley-Scheingraber

22. Penelope Zook

MU12 - 2km Skate Distance

4. Henry Allaire

5. Stephen Chudleigh

7. Graham Lyle

FU12 - 2km Skate Distance

2. Hazel Schmidt

3. Catherine Jameson

7. Juniper Farmer

MU10 - 1km Skate Distance

4. Simon Reuter

5. Ry Hopeman

6. McKay Johnson

FU10 - 1km Skate Distance

1. Bivi Scott-Clair

7. Grace Boccabella

8. Nora Seppa

MU8 - 1km Skate Distance

3. Finn Mallory

FU8 - 1km Skate Distance

1. Alexandra Chudleigh

2. Finley Vaughan

3. Hayes Marsted

Sunday, March 1 – Classic, Mass Start

MU14 - 2.6km Classic Distance

4. Augie Allaire

15. Ben Wellner

17. Cody Lloyd

FU14 - 2.6km Classic Distance

3. Nina O’Sullivan

8. Payton Daley-Scheingraber

28. Sadie Guss

MU12 - 2km Classic Distance

4. Henry Allaire

4. Stephen Chudleigh

10. Graham Lyle

FU12 - 2km Classic Distance

2. Hazel Schmidt

5. Catherine Jameson

11. Tallulah Gerald

MU10 - 1km Classic Distance

5. Simon Reuter

6. Veikko Paxson

7. Ry Hopeman

FU10 - 1km Classic Distance

1. Bivi Scott-Clair

7. Roxanna Gawlinski

8. Nora Seppa

MU8 - 1km Classic Distance

2. Finn Mallory

6. Luke Harris

FU8 - 1km Classic Distance

1. Alexandra Chudleigh

3. Finley Vaughan

For complete event results, visit https://zone4.ca/event/2026/RrwN5l/.