Skiers race down Big Mountain

More than 60 young skiers from throughout Montana, north Idaho and eastern Washington competed at Whitefish Mountain Resort in the Sportsman Ski Haus Northern Division U14 Qualifier, which wrapped up on Monday.

Racers ranging in age 12 to 14 were entered representing clubs from Anaconda, Bozeman, Butte, Great Falls, Helena, Missoula, Red Lodge, Rapid City, South Dakota, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Spokane, Washington, and the Flathead Valley.

The Saturday Slalom races were held on Nice Day run and the Sunday Giant Slalom races took place on Ed’s Run on Chair 2. The weather and snow conditions were good for the Slalom races Saturday, and nearly ideal for the Giant Slalom events Sunday, with partly cloudy sky and a smooth hard-packed surface.

The races were part of the nationwide U.S. Ski & Snowboard Series and were qualifying races for the Western Region U14 Championships to be held in March at Big Sky Resort.

Skiers from the Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation/Whitefish Mountain Resort fared very well on their home hill. At the conclusion of racing on Sunday, the boys’ team from FVSEF had captured five of the six podium spots available for the weekend.

Saturday, Jan. 26, Slalom

Ladies U-14

Raiya McCutcheon, 11th place

Addison Bahr, 12th place

Isla Bougard-Duncan, 16th place

Men U-14

Broderick Kneeland, 1st Place

Ryder Elliott, 2nd Place

Christian Lund, 6th Place

Wyatt Breck, 17thth Place

Sunday, Jan. 27, Giant Slalom

Ladies U-14

Raiya McCutcheon, 10th Place

Tess Lewison, 11th Place

Isla Bougard-Duncan, 19th Place

Men U-14

Broderick Kneeland, 1st Place

Ryder Elliott, 2nd Place

Wyatt Breck, 3rd Place