Whitefish alpine skiers earn team title at home event

As daylight faded under gray, snowy skies Sunday afternoon, Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation racers skied their way to the Overall Team Title at the Sportsman Ski Haus-Northern Division U.S. Ski Association Youth Ski League race series in Whitefish.

More than 170 youth skiers from throughout Montana competed at Whitefish Mountain Resort on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. En route to capturing the team championship, FVSEF skiers garnered 15 podium spots, including nine first place finishes.

Perennial rival teams from Big Sky and Bridger Bowl finished second and third in the team standings.

The Northern Division includes all of Montana and parts of Wyoming and South Dakota. The events were qualifying races for the U14 Regional to be held in Mammoth Mountain, California, in March. Racers ranging in age from 8 to 15 were entered representing clubs in Anaconda, Bozeman, Butte, Dillon, Great Falls, Helena, Missoula, Red Lodge, Rapid City, South Dakota, and the Flathead Valley.

The competitors had to contend sleet, snow and fog all three days with a brief respite during the Sunday morning runs.

The Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation is a nonprofit community-based organization that promotes athletic, academic and personal excellence for Flathead Valley youth through participation on the FVSEF Ski Team. For more information please contact Tim Hinderman at 406-885-2730.

Girls Friday Slalom

U10

1.Kira Paatalo

7. Corina Kneeland

8. Hazel Remley

11. Avery Retz

U12

1. Greta Lund

6. Liesel Brust

10. Lola Zinser

12. Guinevere Tomblin

18. Dynalea Tomblin

U14

2. Raiya McCutcheon

5. Katie Hersom

6. Isla Bougard-Duncan

7. Melody McNally

14. Amelia Remley

16. Rylan Veikle

Saturday Giant Slalom Girls

U10

3. Kira Paatalo

9. Avery Retz

14. Hazel Remley

15. Corina Kneeland

U12

3. Greta Lund

4. Liesl Brust

9. Guinevere Tomblin

15. Dynalea Tomblin

U14

3. Raiya McCutcheon

3. Melody McNally

7. Katie Hersom

12. Isla Bougard-Duncan

13. Amelia Remley

15. Kellie Klepper

18. Rylan Veikle

Boys Friday Slalom

U12

6. Parker Retz

11. Gus Paatalo

15. Diego Bougard-Duncan

18. Brady Heitz

20. Thomas Airhart

U14

1.Christian Lund

2. Broderick Kneeland

8. Bryce Remley

12. Isaac Gibbs

Boys Saturday Giant Slalom

U10

4. Colter Bengtson

10. Rylan Hoover

U12

4. Parker Retz

10. Gus Paatalo

16. Cassius Keim

20. Brayden Hoover

21. Thomas Airhart

U14

1. Broderick Kneeland

4. Christian Lund

6. Bryce Remley

8. Buren Brust

9. Isaac Gibbs 9th

U16

1. Coody Hoover

Sunday Giant Slalom Girls

U8

2. Cadence Ashcroft

U10

3. Kira Paatalo

10. Corina Kneeland

15. Avery Retz

U12

4. Greta Lund

5. Liesel Brust

13. Guinevere Tomblin

15. Lola Zinser

19. Dynalea Tomblin

U14

1. Raiya McCutcheon

5. Melody McNally

7. Katie Hersom

8. Campbell Fox

11. Isla Bougard-Duncan

12. Kellie Klepper

16. Amelia Remley

22. Rylan Veikle

Sunday Giant Slalom

Boys

U10

3. Wyatt Nadeau

5. Colter Bengtson

U12

9. Parker Retz

12. Diego Bougard-Duncan

15. Casius Keim

17. Brady Heitz

18. Thomas Airhart

U14

1. Broderick Kneeland

5. Christian Lund

8. Bruce Remley

9. Buren Brust

12. Isaac Gibbs