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