USA U16 Athletes Shine at FESA Alpine Ski Cup in Andorra

9 months ago

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Peter Lange

Photos provided by Scott Graham FESA Cup project leader

The Federation of European Ski & Snowboard Associations (FESA) Alpine Ski Cup recently took place in Soldeu, Andorra, drawing athletes born in 2008 and 2009 from nine Central European countries. Despite the United States being the only invited nation and not a member, its athletes showcased exceptional talent and spirit at this prestigious international U16 race.

Scott Graham, the Eastern Region Youth Development Coach who spearheaded the U16 project to Soldeu Andorra, provided insights into this unique event. Here’s a glimpse into the excitement and achievements of the FESA Alpine Ski Cup.

The journey for US athletes to qualify for the FESA Alpine Ski Cup began at the U16 National Performance Series races at Burke Mountain VT, where the top U16 athletes competed to qualify.

All qualifying athletes participated in the Andorra race. Scott Graham remarked, “Everyone attends the FESA race that qualifies. We’ve never had anybody not.”

click on images to enlarge

Field composition

Athletes from 11 countries attended the event, creating an international flavor and showcasing U16’s enthusiasm for ski racing. Each race featured approximately 40 athletes. The participating countries were Andorra, Austria, the Czech Republic, Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Liechtenstein, Slovenia, Switzerland, and the United States.

The race format featured two-run racing, including two slaloms and two giant slaloms, across four exciting days of competition. The race venue was the World Cup Despite logistical challenges due to low snow conditions in Andorra, the event proceeded smoothly, showcasing the resilience and adaptability of young athletes.

US athletes who competed at the FESA Cup included Jackson Leever, Caiyu DeMaggio, William Erickson, Logan Grosdidier, Katie Rowekamp, and Lara Huml. Their impressive performances led to eight podium finishes, demonstrating the strength and depth of American U16 ski racing talent.

Reflecting on the experience, Scott Graham highlighted the value of European ski racing exposure for athletes and coaches. He mentioned, “A huge benefit to the athletes is ski racing in Europe, not necessarily the level at this age…just the entire experience of having to fly that far and being in a different culture.”

Parents played a supportive role, with at least one parent accompanying each athlete, fostering a sense of unity and support within the US team.

US athletes’ thoughts

The FESA Alpine Ski Cup was about competition, cultural exchange, and camaraderie. All the teams stayed in the same hotel, which provided opportunities for creating relationships. Athletes like Katie Rowekamp, Lara Huml, Logan Grosdidier, and Caiyu DeMaggio shared their memorable experiences, highlighting the friendships forged and lessons learned from competing on a global stage.

“It was a great way to get exposure to European racing and it helped me learn how to deal with the stresses of big races. The experience was very cool and interesting to meet people from different countries and to learn what racing is like outside of the U.S. It didn’t end up being as scary as I thought it would be.” – Katie Rowekamp, Burke Mountain Academy, VT.

“Skiing at the World Cup venue at Grandvalira-Soldeu, where we competed against some of the best U16 athletes in the world, was challenging and exhilarating! What was especially fun was how all the athletes and coaches gelled into a great team. – Lara Huml, Ski and Snowboard Club Vail

“It was such a great experience to meet all of my peers and see that they’ve worked just as hard to get to this point. Going to this race helped me realize that I have such strong competition in the USA alone, and that’s what will help me push myself to become a better racer. Getting 2nd and 3rd in the slaloms and 3rd in the GS really helped build my confidence in the sport.” – Logan Grosdidier, Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club.

“Not only training with the best athletes in the world but meeting them was an experience I’ll remember.” – Caiyu DeMaggio, Bretton Woods Club.