The Western Region FIS Elite Spring Series wrapped on Monday after a six-day race series at Sun Valley Mountain Resort—a successful event foretelling next season’s U.S. Alpine Champs.
Each gender had two slaloms, two giant slaloms and two super G races as a part of the series. The U.S. dominated the speed events, taking all podiums but one in the super G races. Hometown girl Haley Cutler (Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation) won the ladies’ first super G, followed by Tenaya Standteiner (Squaw Valley Ski Team) and Isabella Wright (Snowbird Sports Educational Foundation). In the second super G, Canadian Rae Swette took the victory with Madison Ostergren (Rowmark Ski Academy) taking second and Cutler in third.
In the men’s super G races, Bronson Wright (Snowbird Sports Educational Foundation) took the first win with Eric Haferman (Bridger Ski Foundation) in second and Luke Winters (Sugar Bowl Ski Team & Academy) third. Luke Mathers (Rowmark Ski Academy) won the second race, Wright was second and James Lebel (Lake Tahoe Racing) was third.
Foreign-born racers, mostly ones that race in the NCAAs, shred the tech events. But there were a few glimmers of American talent. Will Brandenburg and Sun Valley-local Hailey Duke (Boise, ID – Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation) capturing podium spots in the slalom, both taking second place in one race. Duke was also fourth in the other slalom. In the GS races, Ty Sprock (Treble Cone Ski Academy) took second in one race and was fourth in the other.
International racers from Utah colleges ruled the tech events. Germany’s Ann-Kathrin Breuning of Westminster College took both women’s giant slaloms and one slalom, while University of Utah’s Andy Trow of Canada won back-to-back men’s giant slaloms. Westminster College’s Sofija Novoselic of Croatia won the other women’s slalom and Endre Bjertness of University of Utah and Giulio Bosca of Westminster College split the men’s slalom.
This high-caliber event showcased Sun Valley’s excitement to host the 2016 U.S. Alpine Championships, in which many of these young athletes will compete against World Cup stars for their chance at the top.
HIGHLIGHTS
- U.S. racers dominated the Western Region Spring Series super G races with Americans taking 11 out of the 12 podium spots.
- Bronson Wright and Luke Mathers won the men’s super Gs and Haley Cutler won a race on the women’s side.
- Will Brandenburg, Hailey Duke and Ty Sprock took podium spots in the tech events.
- Utah colleges conquered the tech events, with foreign athletes from University of Utah and Westminster College winning seven out of the eight events.
RESULTS
Men’s super G (1, 2)
Women’s super G (1, 2)
Men’s giant slalom (1, 2)
Women’s giant slalom (1, 2)
Men’s slalom (1, 2)
Women’s slalom (1, 2)
