By Shannon Lukens for Steamboat Radio News/Blizzard Broadcasting.

Photo Captions: Photos courtesy Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, Ann West.  U16 Rocky/Central Championships SSWSC Qualifiers photo: Reed Pope, Ryder Roth, Owen Applequist, Felix Hadley, Brielle Walsh, Miya Lippuner, Ella Orton, Chloe Kafka, and Rylee Thomsen. (missing athlete include Soren Shepherd and Jonathan Nichols)

 

The U.S. Ski & Snowboard U16 Rocky/Central Alpine Junior Championships start Wednesday in Steamboat Springs, (March 4-8). Racing is at Steamboat Ski Resort and Howelsen Hill. About 100 of the top qualifying U16 ski racers, ages 14-15, from the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Rocky and Central Alpine Divisions will compete for regional titles in downhill, super-G, giant slalom, slalom, alpine combined, and team parallel. That includes 11 from Steamboat Springs. Athletes representing 18 states, from Michigan west to Arizona, are here.

 

Press Release from Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club

Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club U16 Alpine Team Closes Out Qualifiers in Vail
Eleven SSWSC athletes advance to Rocky/Central U16 Junior Championships in Steamboat Springs

 

Steamboat Springs, Colo. — Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club U16 Alpine Team wrapped up its final Rocky/Central U16 Championship qualifiers Feb. 12-15 in Vail, Colorado, competing in two slalom and two giant slalom races per gender. Challenging conditions and demanding course sets provided tough competition, valuable lessons and measurable growth heading into championships.

The women set the tone early. Chloe Kafka powered to a fifth-place finish in the opening slalom, while Miya Lippuner placed eighth in the second slalom race, closely followed by Brielle Walsh in 10th. In giant slalom, the women demonstrated depth, combining for five top-15 finishes across the two races.

The men matched that momentum. Owen Applequist led the charge in giant slalom with a fourth-place finish, and Reed Pope delivered a standout third-place result in the second slalom race of the weekend. Across all four races, the men tallied 12 top-15 finishes, demonstrating consistency and competitive drive.

At the conclusion of the series, 11 Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club athletes earned spots at the Rocky/Central U16 Championships, scheduled for March 4-8, 2026, in Steamboat Springs:

Rylee Thomsen
Brielle Walsh
Miya Lippuner
Chloe Kafka
Ella Orton
Reed Pope
Soren Shepherd
Owen Applequist
Jonathan Nichols
Felix Hadley
Ryder Roth

Vail Qualifier Results

Vail Qualifier Women

Slalom Race One: Fifth, Chloe Kafka; 16th, Brielle Walsh; 25th, Rylee Thomsen.

Slalom Race Two: Eighth, Miya Lippuner; 10th, Brielle Walsh; 19th, Ella Orton; 21st, Rylee Thomsen.

Giant Slalom Race One: Eighth, Chloe Kafka; Ninth, Rylee Thomsen; 13th, Ella Orton.

Giant Slalom Race Two: 12th, Chloe Kafka; 15th, Rylee Thomsen; 17th, Ella Orton; 19th, Miya Lippuner; 20th, Brielle Walsh.

 

Vail Qualifier Men

Slalom Race One: Seventh, Reed Pope; Ninth, Ryder Roth; 10th, Soren Shepherd; 17th, Jonathan Nichols; 25th, Bretton Fleming; 27th, Thacher Starrett; 30th, William Volk.

Slalom Race Two: Third, Reed Pope; 18th, William Volk.

Giant Slalom Race One: Ninth, Soren Shepherd; 10th, Ryder Roth; 13th, Owen Applequist; 14th, Jonathan Nichols; 15th, Felix Hadley; 17th, Reed Pope; 27th, Thacher Starrett; 28th, Bretton Fleming; 30th, William Volk.

Giant Slalom Race Two: Fourth, Owen Applequist; Sixth, Jonathan Nichols; 10th, Felix Hadley; 18th, Thacher Starrett; 19th, Bretton Fleming; 21st, William Volk.

 

U.S. Ski & Snowboard U16 Rocky/Central Alpine Junior Championships in Steamboat Springs, March 4-8, 2026

Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club is proud to host the U.S. Ski & Snowboard U16 Rocky/Central Alpine Junior Championships in Steamboat Springs, March 4-8, 2026. The event is presented by David Baldinger Jr. of Steamboat Sotheby’s International Realty. Racing will take place at Steamboat Ski Resort and Howelsen Hill. Approximately 100 of the top qualifying U16 ski racers, ages 14 and 15, from the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Rocky and Central Alpine Divisions will compete for regional titles in downhill, super-G, giant slalom, slalom, alpine combined, and team parallel. Athletes representing 18 states, from Michigan west to Arizona, are expected to compete.

 

Schedule of Events

March 4, 2026

Downhill training, Steamboat Ski Resort

 

March 5, 2026

Downhill race, Steamboat Ski Resort

Opening ceremony, Howelsen Hill

 

March 6, 2026

Super-G race, Steamboat Ski Resort

Team parallel and night festival, Howelsen Hill

 

March 7, 2026

Slalom race, Howelsen Hill

 

March 8, 2026

Giant slalom race, Steamboat Ski Resort

 

Women’s 2nd SL race Europa Cup Tier Podium: 1st Miya Lippuner (SSWSC), 2nd Brielle Walsh (SSWSC), 3rd Kaia Riter (SUM)

 

Men’s 2nd GS race NorAm Cup Tier Podium: 1st Liam Burns (AFT), 2nd Matteo Pacini (SUM), 3rd William Volk (SSWSC)

 

Men’s 2nd GS race Europa Cup Tier Podium: 1st Marc Drai (SSCV), 2nd Owen Applequist (SSWSC), 3rd Jonathan Nichols (SSWSC)

 

Women’s 1st GS race Europa Cup Tier Podium: 1st Lejla Bambur (SSCV), 2nd Rylee Thomsen (SSWSC), 3rd Ella Orton (SSWSC)