Olympic Valley CA – A calm breeze and sunny skies greeted guests for Lake Tahoe Ski Club Foundation’s 17th annual Gourmet Asado held on the Plaza Sun Deck at Squaw Valley USA. Past and future North Tahoe Olympians gathered to celebrate the rich history of ski racing in our region and to help raise funds for our next generation athletes. An integral part of the afternoons festivities are the Lake Tahoe Ski Club’s annual awards program. Top honors went to Sugar Bowl Ski Team athlete Forest Petersen who was just recently named to the US Ski Team. The top J1 awards were given to two other Sugar Bowl Ski Team athletes Jacqui Lebel who just received an NCAA scholarship to the University of New Hampshire and Mark Engel who was the #1 ranked J1 male in the Far West. The Lake Tahoe Ski Clubs top sportsmanship award was given to Sugar Bowl Academy athlete Chris Fitzpatrick.

US Ski Team VP of Communications Tom Kelly was the events guest of honor and in his presentation he commented that no where else in the county is the history of producing Olympic caliber athletes as great as it is in the North Tahoe Truckee area. “The Lake Tahoe Ski Club embodies the spirit of Olympism by digging in to help support your local kids to reach their Olympic dreams” commented Kelly. “I have no doubt that within the ranks of the kids here today and those supported by the Lake Tahoe Ski Club that there are future US Ski Team Olympians” Kelly went on to say.

After a full review of Sugar Bowl Academies’ extensive self-study and three day visit, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges has granted Sugar Bowl Academy a six-year term (the maximum allowable) of accreditation, expiring on June 30, 2016.

The action was taking after a careful study of the Visiting Committee Report which noted many laudable aspects of Sugar Bowl Academy including the high level of teaching and learning taking place at SBA, the close, trusting, and supportive relationship between students and staff, as well as the leadership and vision at the school.

The Visiting Committee reported, "Sugar Bowl Academy is a high quality learning institution that supports its unique mission to ski athletes with a highly rigorous academic program and a supporting community for student growth."

Foreste Peterson’s hard work and determination paid off this spring as she was selected to represent her county on the U.S. Ski Team. Foreste, and good friend Jacqui Lebel, had good reason for showing their big smiles in the finish of many races this season. Foreste competed best when it counted most at the Junior National Championships held at Sugarbush, Maine. Peterson dominated, winning a gold medal in the GS, a silver in the Slalom, and a gold in the combined.

Jacqui’s results earned her an athletic scholarship at the University of New Hampshire. Their bright demeanor and athletic skill will be missed at Sugar Bowl. We wish them the best of luck.

Sugar Bowl Academy’s partnership with the Treble Cone Race Academy (TCRA) program yielded some great results as SBA/TCRA athletes dominated the front page of the opening FIS races of the 2010-11 season. With racers from Austria, Norway, Italy, Japan, Spain, Korea, Great Britan, Australia and New Zealand it was for many, their first taste of real international competition. Kicking things off at Cardrona for the opening Slalom of the year it was Sugar Bowl Academy (SBA) athletes Dylan Brooks in 8th, Scott Cooper in 10th James Clifford in 11th, Brent Talbott in 12th, Charlie Klein in 14th, and Dylan Murtha rounding out the front page in 15th. Of the total race field, TRCA male athletes made up 8 of the top 15 finishers. For the women it was Ellie Patterson in 15th. All totaled, TCRA women athletes took 6 of the top 15 spots.

Under perfect racing conditions, day two’s GS races at Cardrona were again dominated by SBA/TCRA athletes. International exchange racer Adam Barwood who stayed with the Engel family of Truckee last winter and raced with Sugar Bowl Academy led the charge winning his first FIS race on his birthday! Dylan Brooks stepped it up in a big way taking 3rd, Scott Cooper was 7th and Dylan Murtha cracked the top 10. Treble Cone Race Academy men finished the day with 10 of the top 15 places. For the women, Sugar Bowl Academy racer Grace Hutton finished 8th spot and TCRA women took 7 of the top 15 places.

Racing action moved from Cardrona to Treble Cone in the South Island of New Zealand for the next pairing of Slalom and Giant Slalom races. Giant Slalom, day three, game on…Barwood with his second win, Brooks in 3rd, and Dylan Murtha in 12th with TCRA taking 10 of the top 15 again. For the gals it’s SBA’s Grace Hutton again with an 11th, and with the TCRA girls taking 6 of the top 15.

As ominous gale force winds stirred the air in the Southern Alps it was questionable whether the Wanaka Ski and Snow sports Club and Treble Cone Race Department could pull the race in time. An outstanding team effort prevailed and the club and race crew did an outstanding job of pulling off the final slalom before the onslaught of a major storm. Barwood took the second step, Brooks was 5th, Cooper 9th, and Murtha 13th with TCRA taking 12 of the 15 top spots. For the women, Ellie Patterson cracked the top ten with a 9th place finish and Grace Hutton was 14th. All totaled, the TCRA women took 8 of the top 15 spots.

Training for a number of North Tahoe athletes continues as they prepare for the Japanese FIS races later this month with the TCRA Elite FIS program. Treble Cone Race Academy Program Director and Sugar Bowl Academy Head Men’s Coach Guenther Birgmann was ecstatic with the results, "We couldn’t have asked our kids to have performed any better. TCRA dominated the opening FIS races of the year and two thirds of the TCRA athletes were scoring their best career results ever. We’ve been working with a number of these athletes in both the Northern and Southern hemisphere for several years now and their commitment and hard work is really starting to pay off."

Full results from Cardrona
Full results from Treble Cone

On Saturday, June 12th Sugar Bowl Academy held its graduation ceremony at the Mount Judah Lodge at Sugar Bowl Ski Resort. In keeping with Sugar Bowl Academy tradition, underclassmen introduced each graduating senior before awarding them with their diplomas. The underclassmen provided examples of the senior’s personality and character in a manner that made evident the influence of the seniors on the entire SBA student body. Mallory Duncan, Zoe Fiorio, Sonia Giacomazzi, Max Krone, Jacqui Lebel, Macaulay Lyon, Jake Scannell, Brent Talbott, Corey Talbott, and Lance Topper all received diplomas.

Held on the deck of the Judah Lodge overlooking a snowy Mt. Disney, the ceremony’s speakers highlighted the accomplishments of Sugar Bowl Academy’s unique student body. Teacher and dorm parent Andy Giordano gave the address to the senior class, in which he reminded them of how their sense of togetherness has helped develop Sugar Bowl Academy into the school it is today. "You have defined a legacy of kindness and humor; of intelligence and sound decision making… these students in the crowd today, they have you to thank for breaking trail."

With thoughtful and humorous reflection, valedictorian and Truckee resident, Jacqui Lebel, spoke about the long-term value of a Sugar Bowl Academy education and how the perseverance, independence, and character built by students during their time at SBA will enable them to climb the many mountains ahead. She stated, "We have climbed one giant mountain. But, there will be more to come. As one Haitian proverb states, 'Beyond the mountains there are mountains.' But we shall not fear, by attending SBA we are ready to take on the world."

Anton (Toni) Standteiner, a former U.S. Ski Team member, NCAA All-American and long-time Truckee resident, was the commencement speaker. With personal reflection, Standteiner spoke about the ways his experiences as a ski racer and student helped shape him into the person he is today and the importance of giving back to one’s community.

Although the Class of 2010 was center stage during the event, the ceremony also included the presentation of awards to other members of the student body for academic achievement, athletic success, and leadership. Lebel took top honors in the awards ceremony earning the SBA’s Student-Athlete of the Year Award for all around excellence and the Outstanding J1/J2 Female award for her outstanding ski season. Dylan Brooks earned the Williams College Book Award for his leadership. Truckee residents, Drew Hartley, Austin Meng, Dylan Murtha, and Jake Scannell were also recognized for outstanding academic and athletic performances this year.

Head of School, Tracy Wilson, closed the ceremony by delivering a personal message to each graduating senior and giving them a copy of Dr. Seuss’s quintessential graduation book, Oh! The Places You’ll Go.

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