Vail, Colo. February 25, 2022 – With a venue of such a high-caliber as Golden Peak to call home turf, Ski & Snowboard Club Vail (SSCV) is proud to have been selected by US Ski & Snowboard to host the U18 Alpine National Championships. The young athletes qualifying for this prestigious championship series represent so many of the next generation of alpine World Cup and Olympic hopefuls in the US.  This event, which is being held for the first time in five years, will take place on Golden Peak and the Golden Peak Expansion in Vail on March 1-7. Twenty SSCV athletes qualified  from the Rocky/Central Region for this unique event, more than any other club in the Region.

The U18 National Championships is a unique opportunity for high-level U18 alpine athletes (birth year 2004 – 2005) to compete in four different disciplines and showcase their skills on a national stage.  The competition consists of men’s and women’s Downhill on March 3rd (preceded by training runs the two days prior), men’s and women’s Super-G on March 4th, men’s Giant Slalom on March 5th, women’s Giant Slalom on March 6th and men’s and women’s Slalom on March 7th. The downhill event will be the first race held from the top of the Golden Peak Expansion to the base of the mountain, showing this world-class venue in all its glory.

“It will be an amazing opportunity for these U18 alpine athletes from across  the nation to compete head to head on Golden Peak,” said Brad Wall, SSCV Alpine Program Director.

“It is no small feat to prepare a venue and create a surface, first amidst lack of snow and of late with an abundance of snow, for both technical and speed events, not to mention a top to bottom downhill race.  Many thanks go out to Vail Resorts, the race crew, cat drivers, US Ski & Snowboard  and the SSCV coaching staff for their relentless efforts and resources throughout the month to have things in great shape for these competitors.”

“It is also incredible to be holding the first race fully top to bottom starting at Golden Peak Expansion. It opens so many new doors for our ability to hold these types of competitions.”

Many thanks to SSCV U18 National Championship sponsors to date Alpine Bank,  Arrigoni Woods, ASP, Christy Sports, Cold River, Head, Knapp Harvest, Phunkshun Wear, Rossignol, The Feed and Vail Valley Pharmacy.

Below is the list of SSCV athletes selected for U18 National Championships:

Men: 

Sebastian Kolhofer

Hunter Salani

Carson Hume

Everett Dooley

William Wasserman

Nick Kirkwood

Julian Arthur

Kai Ogawa

Hunter Roach

Women:

Kjersti Moritz

Liv Moritz

Zoie Palmer

Kaitlin Keane

Sophie Stocker

Tianna Bruce

Avery Schaffler

Danielle Burke

Molly Roberts

Sydney Birtwhistle

Avery Forstl

If you would like to get involved in this competition, whether as a spectator (or a volunteer for those who are comfortable on the Golden Peak terrain), come on down to Golden Peak.  For more information on volunteering go to skiclubvail.org  >  members  > Volunteer Requirement as SSCV is looking for volunteers. Get out there and watch these amazing young alpine racers up close! Many thanks to SSCV volunteers and supporters of alpine events.