Robin Leahy enjoys a bluebird Tuesday on Baldy before heading to Averell's for beer and fondue! Photo by Julie Molema

The snow on Baldy has been solid this week, as Chatham Baker shows with this "wheelie." Photo by Tal Roberts.

By Katie Matteson

The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) has a storied history of cultivating elite winter athletes. For over 40 years, the SVSEF’s ski, snowboard, freestyle and Nordic teams have coached, trained and taught local athletes to be the best athletes they can be, encouraging “strong minds, strong bodies, strong futures.” Each winter, over 500 local skiers and boarders join the teams, learning discipline, balance, commitment and how to enjoy skiing and snowboarding for a lifetime. Whether these athletes go on to become professional athletes or just well-rounded community members, the SVSEF plays an important role in the development of the local participants. Athletes like Kristin Cooper, Picabo Street, Graham Watanabe, and the Crist Brothers are all alums of the SVSEF. They are also all Olympic athletes.

Based on this tradition of elite athleticism, the SVSEF has now launched an additional mission, “Six@Sochi,” with a goal of getting six SVSEF athletes at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. These athletes, members of the SVSEF’s Gold Team, are all at the top of their discipline and the Sochi Olympics are within their grasp. This year’s Gold Team (many of whom are current US Ski or Snowboard Team Members) includes Nordic racers Morgan Arritola, Simi Hamilton, Chelsea Holmes, Matt Gelso, Mike Sinnott and Alexa Turzian, Alpine racers Tanner Farrow, Teagen Palmer and Kipling Wiesel , snowboarder Kaitlyn Farrington, and freestyle skiers Tai Barrymore and Shane Cordeau.

Here is a roundup of a few of these local athletes, Nordic skiers, freestyle skiers, bump skiers, snowboarders and alpine racers. So next time they pass you on a Nordic trail, ride up the lift with you or boost out of the halfpipe on Dollar right in front of your astonished eyes, you might just be in the company of a future Olympic Champion. (Athlete profiles courtesy of the SVSEF).

Kaitlyn Farrington: US Snowboard Team Member

Kaitlyn Farrington

As a junior in the SVSEF Snowboard Program Kaitlyn always showed potential in the halfpipe, then she exploded to the top of the ranks last year. In 2010 Kaitlyn dominated the results and was recognized as one of the best women halfpipe riders competing. A few of Kaitlyn’s successes in 2010: Winter Dew Tour Overall Champion; won the European X-Games, beating Vancouver Olympic Gold Medalist Torah Bright; and was on the podium 6 of her last 7 competitions. Needless to say, Kaitlyn was named to the US Snowboard Team and is looking for the Gold in Sochi.

Shane Cordeau: US Ski Team Member

Shane Cordeau

Shane was born and raised here in Sun Valley.  He grew up chasing his father, 4x World mogul champion, Joe Cordeau all around Baldy.  Those ski lessons paid off and in 2009 Shane finished 2nd on the Nor-Am Mogul tour earning a spot on the U.S. Freestyle ski team.  Shane got his rookie season off to a fast start finishing 1st at the U.S. Freestyle Selections event in December 2010.  He followed that up with a 4th place at the U.S Olympic Trials in Steamboat Springs, Co., two weeks later.  Shane made his World Cup debut at Deer Valley, UT., in January 2011.  Shane was the highest qualifying American and finished an impressive 13th overall.  Shane had two more top 25 results in World Cup competitions before suffering a season ending injury. Now fully recovered Shane has set his sights on this coming season, “I am ready to continue my pursuit of taking over the World Cup circuit during the next four years leading up to the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Tai Barrymore: SVSEF Gold Team Member

Tai Barrymore

Tai returns to the SVSEF Gold Team after another successful season of Half-pipe competitions. Tai is one of the youngest athletes competing in the Dew Tour, North Face Open, U.S. Grand Prix, and X Games. Tai travelled to 4 different countries on 3 different continents and competed in 10 halfpipe events last year.  It was a whirlwind season.  He made the finals of every major event he entered and remained healthy throughout the year.  His results include:

• 2010 Dew Tour-Breckenridge, Co 14th

• 2010 U.S. Grand Prix-Copper Mtn, Co 19th

• 2011 North Face Open-Northstar, Ca 9th

• 2011 SFR French Open-Tignes, Fr, 1st

• 2011 World Cup- La Plange, Fr, 13th

• 2011 Euro X Games- Tignes, Fr, 16th

• 2011 World Superpipe Championships- Whistler, Ca 14th

• 2011 New Zealand Open- Cadrona, NZ, 7th

The IOC has officially announced that Ski Half-pipe will be included in the 2014 Olympics.  Tai is focused on competing at that event.  He is excited for another whirlwind season competing in one of the most dynamic and physically challenging ski disciplines in the world.  Tai continues to train year round with our younger athletes; mentoring, encouraging and supporting the team.  He is an inspiration to all of our athletes and is living proof that you can get there from here!

Morgan Arritola: US Ski Team Member

Morgan Arritola

Morgan is currently regarded as one of nation’s top female Nordic athletes.  At the young age of 25 she already has an impressive list of results tallied to her name, including over a half dozen podiums at National Championships, competitive world-class results at numerous World Championships and the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.  Morgan’s athletic talents extend beyond skis to the XC running trails where during the 2011 summer she chalked up two national titles- one at the XC running Half Marathon National Championships in Bend, OR., and the second in the XTerra Half Marathon National Championships in Ogden, UT.  Morgan is primed for an outstanding 2011-12 ski season and will be a legitimate contender in any distance race she enters the entire season.

Carrier Highlights:

• 21st Place 30K Mass Start Skate 2011 World Ski Championships Oslo, NOR

• 19th Place 15K Mass Start Skate 2010 World Cup La Clusaz, FRA

• 22nd Place 30k Mass Start Skate 2009 World Ski Championships Liberec, CZE

Call the Sun Valley Snowsports School at 622-2289 to reserve your place!

The schedule:
Sunday, March 27
8:30pm – Der Weisse Rausch

Monday, March 28
9:00am- Best of John Jay
11:00am – Sun Valley Collection: Sun Valley’s 50th & Union Pacific’s Sun Valley Skiing
2:00pm – Ski Time by Warren Miller
4:00pm- Ski The Outer Limits
4:30pm – The Performer
8:00pm – Ski Racer
8:30pm – Legends of American Skiing

Tuesday, March 29
11:00am – Sun Valley Collection, It Happened In Sun Valley & Skifully Yours
2:00pm – Sun Valley Serenade
4:00pm- Last of the Ski Bums
9:00pm – Gliding Through Time

Wednesday, March 30
9:00am- Ski The Outer Limits
9:30am – Blizzard of Aahhhs
11:00am – Sun Valley Collection, Union Pacific’s It’s On Ice & Moon Over Sun Valley
2:00pm – Ski Time by Warren Miller
4:30pm- Sun Valley Serenade
6:30pm – Roger Brown’s Freestyle (rough cut)
7:30pm – Barrymore Evening, The Performers & Last of the Ski Bums

Thursday, March 31
9:00am – Ski Racer
9:30am- Legends of American Skiing
11:00am – Sun Valley Collection, Union Pacific’s It’s On Ice & Moon Over Sun Valley
2;00pm Der Weisse Rausch
7:30pm – Ski The Outer Limits
8:00pm – “Ski Time” Warren Miller

Friday, April 1
9:00am- Ski Race
9:30am- Legends of American Skiing
11:00am – Sun Valley Collection, It Happened In Sun Valley & Skifully Yours
2:00pm – Best of John Jay
4:00pm- Sun Valley Serenade
6:00pm – The FIS 100 Years
7:30pm – Blizzard of Aahhs
9:00pm- Winter Equinox

“This festival is a celebration of the best ski films ever made. There are many different kinds of ski films so a real variety were nominated and became chosen for many different reasons. Some were innovative or influential leading the way, others captured people, events or times. But together I think they are our sport’s essentials and this week’s festival offers a rare moment to see them as they should be seen, on a big screen. It is interesting that all these were made on film, no video production was selected. Anyone who comes to the awards ceremony Tuesday will see a glimpse of each film, and hear from the filmmakers. From celebrating our sport’s storied past we gain the perspective to view its future.” Ric Moulton, chairman Film Institute Steering Committee, explained.

Friday, March 18
Adult clinic will be offered from 10am -12pm.
Kid’s clinic (6-18 yrs.) will be held 1:30pm to 3:30pm.
Saturday, March 19
Open clinic for all ages from 10am – noon.
Saturday, March 26
Open clinic for all ages from 10am – noon.

Following completion of any one of the clinics skiers/boarders will be able to run the course as many times as they want from 1-3:30 pm Saturday.

To enter the course, all skiers/boarders must complete a clinic. Helmets are mandatory.
The clinics are $35 and may be reserved at the Dollar Mountain Lodge SnowSports School desk or, by calling 208-622-2289.

Pete Lane’s is having a sale of up to 40% off on all 2011 & 2010 skiwear and sportswear in the store. For more information call (208) 622-2276.

Want to be a part of the action and volunteer at the race events? All volunteers get a one-day lift ticket for a day of skiing on Baldy. Please contact Marshall McInnis via email at: mmcinnis@sunvalley.com

Click here for downloadable pdf schedule of events. Schedule is subject to change.

Check out the following link for all the event results.

http://www.live-timing.com/race2.php?r=26210&u=10&maxr=10

You can also check out live streaming video coverage at:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/uscsa-national-championships-2011

Both links are also on the home page of our website: http://www.sunvalley.com/

For more information visit: www.USCSA.com

Feb Guest Coach Carol Levine

• The total cost for each Her Turn Clinic is $575.00 per 3-day session
• Daily lift pass discounts available for participants.
• Classes will meet daily at 8:30am inside River Run Lodge.
• Class sizes are limited. Sign up early at the Sun Valley SnowSports School (208) 622-2289 to insure your space.