Flathead Valley ski racers qualify for championships

Thirteen alpine ski racers from the Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation (FVSEF) team qualified to represent the Northern Division team at regional and tri-divisional championship events this March.

Western Region championships include competitors from the Far West (California and Nevada), Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, northern Idaho), Alaska, Intermountain (Utah, southern Idaho, southern Wyoming), and Northern divisions (Montana, western South Dakota, northern Wyoming). The tri-divisional championship event includes competitors from Intermountain, Alaska, and Northern.

Jordon Jurasek of Polson qualified for the U18 Western Regional Junior Championships held March 12-17 at Mission Ridge near Wenatchee, Washington. Otto Lund (Polson), Kellie Klepper (Whitefish), Raiya McCutcheon (Whitefish), and Melody McNalley (Columbia Falls) all qualified to compete in the U16 Western Regional Championships held March 14-17 in Big Sky. In the younger age class, Jackson Surber (Missoula), Greta Lund (Polson), Sydney McPhie (Whitefish), and Lola Zinser (Whitefish) qualified for the U14 Western Regional Championships held March 24-27 at Mammoth Mountain, California.

The tri-divisional championships were held March 24-27 this year in Jackson, Wyoming. FVSEF athletes who qualified include Valerie Cross (Eureka) for the U16 age class and Parker Retz (Whitefish), Brayden Hoover (Columbia Falls), and Dynalea Tomblin (Whitefish) in the U14 age class.

FVSEF athletes also just competed in the Youth Ski League (YSL) Championships for racers younger than 12 years old held March 18-20 in Red Lodge, Montana. Kira Paatalo won the girl’s U12 giant slalom and took third overall for the weekend, while Colter Bengtson was third in the boy’s U12 slalom. In the U10 division, Louis Groom won the boy’s slalom and Nolan Shaw took second in the boy’s giant slalom.

For more information contact Hilary Lindh, FVSEF Director 907-500-2040.

Complete results are listed below:

Giant Slalom

Girls U12

Kira Paatalo 1st

Hazel Remley 7th

Lillie Groom 18th

Girls U10

Lucy Love 8th

Kessa Drendel 9th

Madeline Burton 15th

Boys U12

Colter Bengtson 7th

Wyatt Nadeau 12th

Ace Lee 24th

Boys U10

Nolan Shaw 2nd

Louis Groom 4th

Van Lee 14th

Slalom

Girls U12

Kira Paatalo 4th

Hazel Remley 10th

Lillie Groom 16th

Girls U10

Madeline Burton 11th

Boys U12

Colter Bengtson 3rd

Ace Lee 11th

Luke Rothfuss 26th

Duncan Degroot 29th

Boys U10

Louis Groom 1st

Nolan Shaw 4th

Van Lee 10th

Parallel Slalom

Girls U12

Kira Paatalo 7th

Hazel Remley 13th

Lillie Groom 17th

Girls U10

Lucy Love 6th

Kessa Drendel 7th

Madeline Burton 15th

Boys U12

Colter Bengtson 6th

Wyatt Nadeau 10th

Duncan Degroot 22nd

Ace Lee 23rd

Luke Rothfuss 31st

Boys U10

Nolan Shaw 5th

Van Lee 8th