Ian Olson takes top spot in U18 giant slalom
The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association Southern Series of the Rocky Mountain division held its season championship Saturday and Sunday (March 26-27) at Taos Ski Valley. Twenty-five Taos Winter Sports Team (TWST) athletes competed against nearly 200 youth athletes from Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. This was their final exam for the ski season, and TWST athletes aced it.
Athletes competed on an aggressive giant slalom course during the first day of competition, followed by two slalom courses on Sunday. Competitors were greeted with firm snow set up by cold overnight conditions. As the sun took its place in the sky, slushy spring snow slowed down the athletes just enough to allow them to hear supportive cheers from parents, teammates and spectators.
In the U8 field, Elinor Turner earned a third-place finish in giant slalom. In U12, Phoebe Snow Desatoff was followed by teammate Whitney Schilling. Livia Turner earned a third-place finish followed by Grace Jindra against the unscored U14 women.
Axel Vaskas, James Jindra and Mac Braun competed against the U10 men. Cullen McLean, Vincent Brady and Malik Boukhalfa earned top-10 finishes for the U12 men followed by teammates Joseph Gallegos and Oliver Mosby. Silas Conn competed in the unscored U14 men and took the top spot on the podium.
The U16 women on the local team earned top-10 finishes in both giant slalom and slalom. Solano Pearl earned second place followed by Rowan Heflin in third place and Greta Klinkmann in fourth place for giant slalom. During the slalom, Rowan Heflin earned second place, followed by Josephine Leeson in third place and Greta Klinkmann in fifth place.
Ian Olson competed against the U18 men and took the top spot on the podium for giant slalom. Isaac Olson, Ian McLean and Aksel Boukhalfa finished in the top 10 of the scored men during the giant slalom event, followed by Sasho McDowell and Max Oliver. Isaac Olson earned the top spot on the podium for the U16 men slalom event, followed by Aksel Boukhalfa in second place. Ian McLean, Konik Pearl and Max Oliver earned top 10 finishes for the slalom competing against an aggressive U14 field of athletes. Isaac Olson was recognized by the Southern Series, earning a jacket to memorialize his achievement as the overall U16 series champion.
Competitors and spectators packed the plaza on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons to honor athletes during the awards ceremony.