Elite Skiers, Engaged Students
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Rowmark News & Results
All
It’s been an incredible season for five Rowmark alums competing at the international level.
Four of those alums—Breezy Johnson ’13, Katie Hensien ’18, Mary Bocock ’22, and Elisabeth Bocock ’23—are members of the US Ski Team, and one, Madi Hoffman ’18, is a member of the Australian National Team.
“It’s exciting to have this many alums performing at such a high level at one time, and it’s been wonderful to watch our athletes excel this season,” said Rowmark Ski Academy Program Director Todd Brickson.
It’s exciting to have this many alums performing at such a high level at one time, and it’s been wonderful to watch our athletes excel this season.—Todd Brickson, Rowmark Ski Academy program director
The fun kicked off early at the World Cup in Solden, Austria, where, on October 26, Katie Hensien took fourth place in the opening giant slalom event, then won her second run. Less than two months later, at the first NorAm Cup races of the season at Panorama Mountain Resort, British Columbia, Madi Hoffman won first place in giant slalom and second and third in slalom, and Mary Bocock placed third in giant slalom.
The Rowmark community saw gold in February when Breezy Johnson made history by winning the World Championships downhill in Saalbach, Austria. Breezy is only the third American woman to win gold in downhill at worlds. Just three days later, Breezy and teammate Mikaela Shiffrin took gold in the team combined event by 0.4 seconds. Katie Hensien also competed in the team combined event, skiing to 10th place out of 26 teams with partner Jackie Wiles.
Later that month, Elizabeth Bocock raced at the World Junior Championships in Tarvisio, Italy, where she took the bronze in the team parallel event and the giant slalom race. And in March, sister Mary Bocock put a bow on the season by winning both a NorAm downhill and NorAm super-G at Sugarloaf, Maine. What a year!
Congratulations to all on a banner season—it’s been an honor to cheer you on and watch you represent Rowmark on the international stage.
Alumni
By Andy Hare, Junior Program Director
U14 Season Recap
As we wrap up an incredible season of training and racing, we’re proud of the progress, passion, and perseverance each athlete has shown. From Tri-Divisionals to Regionals, IMD Finals to Family Race Day, this group has pushed hard—and it shows.
We had some fantastic results from regionals at Mammoth for both genders. Challenging conditions made things difficult, but our team rose to the challenge. Overall it was a weekend full of determination, progress, and strong finishes across the board. Many thanks to Hans for leading the team at regionals.
Spring Fling at Grand Targhee was a huge success for the whole team, and Snow Cup at Snowbird for our second years was also a great experience for those hopefully moving up to the Academy.
We’ll also have a few additional skiing opportunities in May for those looking to stay sharp. More details to come soon.
U12 Season Recap
We logged an impressive 75 days on snow, with 15 of those dedicated to freeskiing, giving athletes the chance to explore terrain, build confidence, and enjoy the mountain outside of structured training. In addition, we had one day at Woodward and one trampoline session, adding some fun and variety to our training while working on air awareness and agility.
Our athletes earned a total of six medals this season, a testament to their hard work, growth, and competitive spirit.
Throughout the winter, we had the opportunity to ski at a great range of resorts, including Park City Mountain Resort, Solitude, Snowbird, Big Sky, Deer Valley, Alta, and Snowbasin. Each venue offered unique terrain and challenges that helped our skiers progress and adapt in different environments.
U10 Season Recap
This year, our athletes had a fantastic season, with 52 total days on snow, well above the 30–45 days the program typically calls for. Of those, we spent 25 days skiing at resorts and 27 days at Utah Olympic Park, showing a great balance between technical training and all-mountain development.
We skied nine Epic Pass resort days and 15 days at Ikon resorts, including Solitude, Brighton, Alta, Snowbird, Snowbasin, and Deer Valley. We also spent one day at Woodward, which gave the athletes a fun chance to build confidence in a creative, progressive environment.
Collectively, the group logged an impressive 421,000 vertical feet skied this year—with 300,000 feet at resorts and 121,000 at Utah Olympic Park.
On top of the skiing, our athletes earned eight medals at races, and they began learning combination turns in both slalom and giant slalom, setting them up for future success in the U10 Skill Series. We also had a great team outing to the trampoline park to mix in some off-snow fun and build air awareness.
U8 Season Recap
What a season our U8s had! Our team of young athletes took to the slopes this winter with big smiles, even bigger hearts, and great progress.
Under the direction of coaches Alyson Ronald, Maeve Crimmins, and Wendy Hare, our athletes worked on character development and mastering technical skills. This year we explored many different renowned Utah ski resorts, where our youngest Rowmarkers were able to build their confidence and skills to navigate all types of challenging and fun terrain. Hands down, powder skiing in the trees was by far the most desired terrain, closely followed by the terrain parks. This terrain helped the athletes develop the quick feet skills to navigate the slalom and giant slalom courses during our training sessions at the Utah Olympic Park. The athletes enjoyed and had just as fun training gates as they did freeskiing in the trees. Many of our athletes tried their new race skills competing at the YSL race hosted by Rowmark at the Utah Olympic Park as well as the YSL Finals at Snowbasin.
By the end of the season our athletes consistently showed gratitude towards the mountain staff as they loaded and unloaded the chairlift, were respectful of their fellow teammates and coaches, and showed up to training and freeskiing with a positive attitude. We are proud of the progress that each athlete made this season. They showed great courage, determination, and a love for skiing and ski racing that is just beginning.
Thanks to all the families, teachers, and coaches for a great season—we’re proud of what the athletes accomplished and excited for what’s ahead!
Rowmark Junior Program Staff Updates
We would like to welcome the following new coaches to our program.
Sean Sullivan, U12 Head Coach
Carlee McCardel, U12 Coach
Nick Sheetz, U12 Coach
Joey Berg, U10 Coach
Parker Hare, U10 Coach
Alyson Ronald, U8 Head Coach
Maeve Crimmins, U8 Coach
By Todd Brickson, Program Director, April 15, 2025
Rowmark Ski Academy had a very successful season, highlighted below. More important was the camaraderie, teamwork, and effort that was exhibited by our team throughout the season. Our team supported and pushed each other to new heights through many challenging snow and weather conditions across the US, as well as in Canada and Europe.
Competition Highlights
Below are competition highlights of current Rowmarkers who captured top finishes during the last month of the competition season.
U18 National Championships, Aspen, CO, February 25–March 3
Four of our U18s competed in the prestigious U18 National Championships at Aspen Highlands. Vivian Turner WON the slalom (SL) and is the U18 National SL Champion! This is Vivian's first FIS victory of her young career, and she was also 7th in the giant slalom (GS). Maya Eisner was impressive with a 10th in SL and 19th in GS. Bea Martin was fast in the super-G (SG), with a 20th place. Jack Hoffman had two strong races, with a 22nd in SL and 25th in GS.
Western Region Junior Championships, Mission Ridge, WA, March 12–17
Many of our FIS team competed in the Western Region Junior Championships at Mission Ridge, WA, with impressive finishes in the top 30. Jack Hoffman led the way on the boys’ side with an 8th in SL and two 12ths in GS. Jamison Oleksy was also fast with a 16th and 28th in SL. For the Rowmark girls, Sophia Hijjawi was impressively consistent with an 11th and 22nd in SL, and 23rd and 24th in GS. Ruby Rosh also cracked into the top 30 with a 26th in GS.
NorAm Finals Sugarloaf, ME, and Burke, VT, March 17–20
Karsten Schillinger had a breakthrough NorAm SL race at Sugarloaf by making the flip, WINNING the second run and moving all the way up to seventh overall and second for juniors! At the same time, the Women’s NorAms were taking place at Burke Mountain, VT, where Vivian Turner raced to 27th in GS and 30th in SL, and Brooke Brown placed 28th in SL and 29th in SG.
Western Region U16 Championships, Schweitzer, ID, March 18–21
Ten of our U16s competed in the Western Region U16 Championships at Schweitzer, ID, with exciting results in the top 30. Andrew Hanrahan raced to a podium with a third in SG, and 14th in SL. Cree Gilmour also had a great series with a fourth in SL, sixth and eighth in SG, and 15th in GS. Nate Brown was sixth in SL, 11th and 15th in SG, and 13th in GS. Luke Kanarowski was 16th in GS, 22nd in SL, and 26th in SG. Adrian Marquart was 18th in SG and 25th in SL. Rhys Schillinger was 21st in GS, and Riley Oleksy was 26th in SL. For the girls, Riley Cooper was 23rd and 24th in SG, and Lola Zinser was 27th in SL. From these races, four Rowmark boys—Cree, Andrew, Nate, and Luke—qualified for U16 Nationals in Sugarloaf, ME.
IMD Tri-Divisional Championships, Jackson Hole, WY, March 18–21
The Tri-Divisional Championships were contested at Jackson Hole, where our U16 and U14 teams performed very well. For the boys, Porter Taxin was second in the SG, third in GS, won the SL, and also won the overall series championship! Wyatt Williams was sixth in SG. Jake Snyder was 10th in GS and 10th in SL. U14 Chet Rhodes had a strong series with a 13th in GS (third for U14s), and 22nd in SG (fifth for U14s). Dylan Kinkead was 23rd in SL (10th for U14s). For the girls, Paulina Ize-Cedillo skied well with a seventh in SL, eighth in SG, and ninth in GS. Aster Schillinger was fast with eighth in SL (second for U14s). Stella Copeland was 21st in SL (fourth for U14s), 21st in GS (seventh for U14s), and 22nd in SG (eighth for U14s). Hadley Rhodes was 13th in SL (fifth for U14s), 24th in GS (ninth for U14s), and 31st in SG (13th for U14s).
US National Championships, Vail, CO, March 29–April 1
Three of our US Ski Team alums and four of our current Rowmarkers competed in the prestigious US Alpine Championships in Vail. Brooke Brown raced to 13th in both SL and GS, Karsten Schillinger was 15th in SL and on the junior podium in third, and Vivian Turner cracked into the top 30 in GS.
U16 National Championships, Sugarloaf, ME, April 1–5
Four of our U16 boys qualified for the prestigious U16 Nationals in Sugarloaf, ME, and competed with great results. Andrew Hanrahan blazed to fifth in SL. Luke Kanarowski was seventh in GS and 27th in SL. Cree Gilmour was 11th in SL, 14th in SG, and 16th in GS. Nate Brown was 13th in SG, 17th in SL, and 23rd in GS.
IMD Snow Cup, Snowbird, UT, April 5–8
Our U16s and second-year U14s had their final races of the season at the annual IMD Bryce Astle Memorial Snow Cup races at Snowbird. Perfect weather and snow conditions created a fun, competitive venue, and our team really stepped up with exciting performances. Here are our results in the top 30: Leading the way for the boys was Andrew Hanrahan with second- and third-place finishes in GS. Rhys Schillinger skied to a third and seventh in GS. Nate Brown was fourth in the first GS. Porter Taxin was eighth in SL,16th in the first GS, and fourth in the second GS. Adrian Marquart was fifth in SL, and fifth and 17th in GS. Riley Oleksy was 10th and 14th in SL, and 10th and 11th in GS. U14 Chet Rhodes was 23rd in SL. Jake Snyder was 18th in SL, and 27th in GS. For the girls, Elizabeth Hutcheson had a great series with a second in SL, and fourth and eighth in GS. Lola Zinser was fourth and 10th in SL, and 15th in GS. Reilly Cooper was consistently fast with sixth and 13th in SL, and seventh and seventh in GS. U14 Julia Kehl was 19th in SL, and 20th and 27th in GS. U14 Alessa Lattanzi was 19th in GS. Paulina Ize-Cedillo was steady with a 22nd and 26th in SL, and 23rd and 21st in GS. Great way to end the season!
The year-end 2025 Bryce Astle IMD Cup Awards were given out at the conclusion of the Snow Cup. U16 Rowmarkers earned five of the prestigious cumulative awards from the best four SL, best four GS, and best two SG race finishes of the 2025 IMD Cup season: Nate Brown: first place SL; Andrew Hanrahan: third place SL and second place GS; Cree Gilmour: third place GS; and Luke Kanarowski: third place SG.
U16 Whistler Cup, Whistler, BC, April 9–13
Rowmarker Cree Gilmour qualified for the Whistler Cup from his results at U16 Nationals. Cree performed very well at this prestigious event against many of the best U16 racers from North America and Europe. Cree was 20th and 13th in SG, and was fourth after the first run of SL before skiing out in the second run.
FIS Spring Series, Palisades Tahoe, CA, April 10–13
Our FIS team competed in their final races of the season at Palisades Tahoe in the WR FIS Spring Series 2SL/2GS races this past week against very deep fields and challenging conditions, with very high DNF rates throughout the start order. Vivian Turner had a great series with a fourth (first for U18s) and 10th in GS (second for U18s), and fifth in SL (first for U18s). Maya Eisner was fast in the first SL with a 12th (second for U18s). For the boys, Karsten Schillinger was eighth in GS. Cracking into the top 30 were Jack Zipp in 27th and Milan Mickelson with a 29th in SL, and Jack Hoffman with a 29th and 31st in GS (third for U18s). At the series end, the Western Region year-long titles were awarded.
Western Region Year-End Awards 2024–2025
Vivian Turner walked away with first for the WR 2025 GS title as well as the junior GS title, and was second in the overall and third for the junior GS category. Brooke Brown finished third for the overall SL and junior SL title, as well as second in the junior SL category.
News from Rowmarkers on the US Ski Team and NCAA and USCSA Teams
World Cup, Solden, Austria, October 26
An incredible breakthrough for US Ski Team member and Rowmark/Rowland Hall alum Katie Hensien ’18, who stormed to fourth place in the opening World Cup GS at Solden, Austria! Katie won the second run!
NorAm Panorama, December 12–15
Madi Hoffman ’18 had an amazing three days with a first in GS and a second and third in SL, while Mary Bocock ’22 was third in GS.
World Championships, Saalbach, Austria, February 4–16
Breezy Johnson ’13 is a world champion! Wow! The US Ski Team veteran and Rowmark/Rowland Hall alum won the World Championships downhill (DH) in Saalbach, Austria! This historic achievement is the first win for Breezy on this stage after seven previous podium finishes at the World Cup level. Congratulations to Breezy for her perseverance, skill, and incredible hard work over many years to come back from several injuries.
In a second milestone achievement in just two days, Breezy teamed up with all-time great Mikaela Shiffrin to bring home the victory in the team combined event, where Breezy skied the DH portion and Mikaela skied the SL portion. Their combined time was good for a 0.4 seconds win. Fellow Rowmark alum and US Ski Team veteran Katie Hensien ’18 raced the SL portion and was paired with Jackie Wiles. They skied to 10th place out of 26 teams.
World Junior Championships, Tarvisio, Italy, February 25–March 6
After teaming up for the bronze in the World Junior Championships team parallel event, Elizabeth Bocock ’23 was on the podium again, snatching the bronze in the GS race! Wow!
NorAm Speed Finals Sugarloaf, ME, March 10–15
Mary Bocock ’22 won both a NorAm DH and a NorAm SG at Sugarloaf, ME, over two days.
USCSA Collegiate National Championships, Mt. Bachelor, OR, March 11–13
Alum Ian Hanrahan ’23 was impressive with a seventh in GS and ninth in SL to help propel the University of Connecticut to seventh place overall, while fellow alum Charlotte Morris ’24 skied to 16th in SL to score points for Colgate University, who were fifth overall.
US National Championships, Vail, CO, March 29–April 1
Three of our US Ski Team alums competed in the prestigious US Alpine Championships in Vail. Elisabeth Bocock ’23 won the GS, her second national championship of her career, and was also on the podium in third in the SG. Katie Hensien ’18 blazed to second in SL and fourth in GS. Mary Bocock ’22 showed her impressive all-around skill with a fifth in the SG, seventh in the GS, and 15th in SL.
Congratulations to all the Rowmarkers for their effort, teamwork, determination, and resilience, and their resulting strong finishes to the competition season!
Rowland Hall is pleased to announce that Per Lundstam has been named the new director of Rowmark Ski Academy.
Per brings over two decades of high-performance sports experience to the role, as well as a strong background in coaching and athlete development, including for high-level athletes as young as eight years old. This diverse background makes him exceptionally well-suited to lead Rowmark Ski Academy in its next chapter.
Per’s impressive coaching background includes serving as men’s assistant World Cup downhill/super-G coach, men’s assistant World Cup slalom/giant slalom coach, and head conditioning coach for US Ski & Snowboard. He also served as men’s assistant World Cup coach and head conditioning coach for the Swedish Ski Federation. Per earned Level 500 coaching certification, the highest level of coaching credential, from US Ski & Snowboard.
We are thrilled to have Per guiding Rowmark into the future. He is a highly respected, exceptionally knowledgeable, and innovative leader in the alpine ski-racing community.—Todd Brickson, outgoing Rowmark Ski Academy director
Per’s career features significant leadership roles within top-tier sports. He’s currently the alpine sport science director for US Ski & Snowboard, where he drives innovative sports science programming. Prior to that role, Per was director of high performance for Red Bull North America, where he managed performance strategies for a wide array of elite athletes.
Throughout his career, Per has demonstrated a strong ability to build meaningful relationships and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders. Again and again, Per’s references spoke about his deep knowledge, his expertise in skiing and coaching, and his commitment to supporting each skier’s athletic and personal progression. He is known as a collaborative leader who listens deeply and leads with kindness.
“As I pass the torch, we are thrilled to have Per guiding Rowmark into the future,” said Todd Brickson, current Rowmark Ski Academy director. “He is a highly respected, exceptionally knowledgeable, and innovative leader in the alpine ski-racing community, and we look forward to the vision and direction he will bring to the program.”
Welcome, Per! We look forward to Rowmark Ski Academy’s bright future under your direction.
Rowmark
Breezy Johnson ’13 is on fire!
The Rowland Hall/Rowmark Ski Academy alum etched her name into ski-racing history on February 8 when she took gold in a stunning downhill performance at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Saalbach, Austria.
Listen to this story | Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
Despite stiff competition, as well as a demanding downhill track, Breezy blazed to victory, clocking 1:41.29—a mere 0.15 seconds faster than the next competitor—to secure her first downhill world champion title.
“This victory means everything to me,” Breezy said in a post-race interview with Eurosport. “I’ve been working toward this moment my entire life, and to achieve it on this stage, with my family and teammates here, is a dream come true.”
Raised in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Breezy, who specializes in the downhill and super-G speed disciplines, refined her skills at Rowmark before joining the US Ski Team in 2014. Since then, she’s represented the United States in multiple World Cup seasons (in addition to this year’s victories, she has seven World Cup podiums to her name) and was a member of Team USA at the 2018 and 2022 Olympic Games.
And even after being crowned a world champion, Breezy wasn’t done. On Tuesday, February 11, she teamed up with fellow US Ski Team member Mikaela Shiffrin for the women’s team combined event, where Breezy had a strong downhill performance, finishing in third. Mikaela then followed with a slalom run time that allowed the duo to secure gold for the US. What a week!
“All of us at Rowmark are so proud of Breezy,” said Todd Brickson, program director, who has for years watched this former Rowmark athlete inspire others with her dedication, persistence, and passion for alpine ski racing.
“Ever since she was at U16 at Rowmark, she had a dream to be a world champion,” Todd continued. “After many years of commitment, injury, blood, sweat, and tears, she has reached this huge milestone. Her perseverance and work ethic are second to none, and now that she has broken through on the highest stage, this likely is the tip of the iceberg for her.”
Congratulations, Breezy! We can’t wait to see what you’ll do next.
Alumni
By Todd Brickson and Andy Hare
Rowmark Summer and Fall Highlights
Our Academy and Junior Program summer and fall activities have been very busy and productive, with off-season ski camps, team building, and daily dryland conditioning.
For our U16s, our on-snow preparation period started back in May, with four days of late-season directed free-skiing and drills at the local Snowbird Resort, which is known worldwide for its extended ski season on world-class terrain (their season goes through May, and sometimes well into June).
Our U14s began with a June ski camp at Mt. Hood, Oregon, where the snow conditions were excellent and the on-hill skill development was very high on vast, moderate terrain above the famous Timberline Lodge.
Then in August, our FIS team traveled to the southern hemisphere, to El Colorado, Chile, for a two-week ski camp where they were also greeted with great winter conditions and had a very productive time. During the same time, our U16s and U14s drove up to Mt. Hood for another week of dynamic ski training on the Palmer Snowfield.
In late September, our FIS team headed out again, this time to Saas-Fee, Switzerland, for their second off-season ski camp. They had a few storm days where the mountain was closed due to a prolonged early-season snowstorm, but the weather cleared and they took advantage of the good early season snow conditions on the Allalin Glacier (3,600 meters above sea level). For the second year in a row, the camp provided our FIS team with a great ski training environment and an immersive experience of Swiss culture.
In early September, our Academy Team headed south to the San Rafael Swell and Goblin Valley State Park in Southern Utah for our annual Academy fall orientation weekend. There, we challenged the Rowmarkers’ teamwork skills while navigating the Goblin’s Lair and Little Wild Horse Slot Canyon hikes over two days. Then, in the evening around a campfire, we held a leadership exercise that involved re-forming our expectations statement around the theme What I expect from myself, from my teammates, and from my coaches.
Similarly, the U14 program recently hosted a team-building day at the Utah Olympic Park. The day was packed with team-oriented activities designed to build camaraderie and teamwork. Highlights included running an obstacle course, log carrying, a Q&A with Academy athletes, tug-of-war, and running the 110-meter ski jump stairs—all done together as a team, not individually. It was a fantastic way to strengthen both physical skills and team spirit.
Last week, both our FIS and U16 teams were in Colorado for a four-day slalom and giant slalom camp at Copper Mountain. The U14 team is currently in Loveland, Colorado, attending an early-season directed free-ski camp, and it’s going exceptionally well. The conditions this year are very different from last season, when we had to cancel the camp. This time, we’re experiencing true winter conditions at 11,000 feet—ideal for training and building a solid foundation.
Next week, our FIS, U16, U14, and U12 teams head out to Big Sky, Montana, for our final off-season camp of our preparation period before we get on snow here locally at the Utah Olympic Park and Park City Mountain Resort. At these camps, the Rowmarkers are focused on and further developing their skills, technique, and tactics, and dialing in their new ski equipment ahead of our fast-approaching competition season. The days are long and intense, with 3–4 hours of on-snow training, followed by dryland workouts, study hall, ski tuning, and video analysis. These are highly focused, high-performance training camps designed to prepare them for the competition season ahead. These camps also challenge the Rowmarkers’ academic and time management abilities, as they miss several days of school for the fall camps and work to keep up with school during evening study halls.
In between all these camps, our teams have been busy with daily after-school dryland conditioning, which includes strength training, intervals, core, cardio, agility, coordination, and games as we finally get on snow full time here in Utah to prepare for the fast-approaching competition season. Good luck to all!
Rowmark Staff Updates
We would like to welcome the following new coaches to our programs!
- Alexis Hollister, FIS (U18 and older) assistant academy coach
- Sean Sullivan, U12 head coach
- Carlee McCardel, U12 coach
- Nick Sheetz, U12 coach
- Joey Berg, U10 coach and parent of Rowmark/Rowland Hall students Molly, Max, and Warren
- Parker Hare, U10 coach
- Alyson Ronald, U8 head coach
- Maeve Crimmins, U8 coach
- Sophie Felici, U8 coach
Alumni Update
An incredible breakthrough two weeks ago for US Ski Team member and Rowmark/Rowland Hall alum Katie Hensien ’18, who stormed to fourth place in the opening World Cup giant slalom at Solden, Austria. Katie won her second run! Even more remarkable is that Katie is returning from a season-ending knee injury she suffered last winter.
Congratulations, Katie, and good luck to four of her fellow Rowmark/Rowland Hall grads, Breezy Johnson ’13, Madison Hoffman ’18, Mary Bocock ’21, and Elisabeth Bocock ’23, on their NorAm, Europa Cup, and World Cup races this season!
By Andy Hare, Junior Program Director
As we reflect on another season, the achievements of the Rowmark Junior Program shine brightly across various fronts. Despite a sluggish start, the season gained momentum, and with the onset of snowfall, our focus intensified, leading to valuable training sessions as we geared up for the qualifying races across all age groups and, ultimately, the end-of-season races and championships.
I’m very proud of our team and our team culture. As part of our team values, we focus on the skills of teamwork, determination, perseverance, and resilience. We executed our mission of providing our athletes with an amazing experience both on and off the snow, creating memories for a lifetime.
Our on-snow sessions at the Utah Olympic Park (UOP) continue to provide an exceptional experience and a venue for optimal training. The UOP proves to be one of the leading ski race training facilities in the country. With it only open to ski racing programs that are a part of the community, we avoid dealing with any of the issues that are negatively impacting the resorts around the country, such as overcrowding and lack of parking. The UOP has none of these issues, making it truly a private training facility. We also continue to benefit from our freeskiing at local resorts of Park City, Canyons, Deer Valley, Snowbird, Alta, Solitude, and Brighton.
And of course, a huge shout-out to our amazing coaching staff! Their professionalism and dedication to character development are clearly evident in the success and admiration they receive from the athletes. It’s wonderful to see such a strong team supporting the growth and achievements of our program. Thank you, Matt, Hans, Tyler, Sydney, TJ, Penny, Charley, Andrea, Megan, Zach, Hayley, and Wendy. Here's to more seasons filled with growth, success, and passion for skiing!
Competition Highlights
Over the course of the season, our goal is to be at our peak during March and April. This all starts with our dryland training in the fall, on-snow training in the winter, and our sports psychology sessions. Everything builds as we move through the season with qualifiers as we prepare for the championships and critical races in the closing of our season. Below are competition highlights of current Rowmarkers during the last months of the season.
U14 Regionals, Grand Targhee, WY
Our U14 Academy Prep program had five athletes qualify for regional championships. This event is held for the top 60 U14s in the Western US and is the pinnacle of the Rowmark Junior Program, providing a clear path as the athletes continue their ski racing journey. Congratulations to Finley Taptitch, Alessa Lattanzi, Cree Gilmour, Asher Kinsman, and Jake Snyder, who all qualified. At the series, Asher Kinsman earned the Bibo Hard Charger Award in Slalom, where he started with bib #54 and ended up with a 7th-place finish! His best finish was a 5th place in Giant Slalom. And to top that off, Cree Gilmour came home with a silver medal in Super G and a gold medal in the Giant Slalom, which made him the series overall winner and qualified him for the Whistler Cup race series.
The Whistler Cup, Whistler, British Columbia, Canada
The Whistler Cup is an elite international junior race series where the best junior racers in the world compete. At the Whistler Cup, Cree Gilmour did an exceptional job, finishing 4th in the Slalom, 1st American, and 4th in the team overall event. Congratulations, Cree!
Grand Targhee IMD U14 SG Qualifier, Grand Targhee, WY
Hannah Hijjawi had a very strong showing at the Speed series in Grand Targhee, WY, where she led the Rowmark ladies with three top-15 finishes. The rest of her teammates did an excellent job navigating their way down the challenging Super G course, with a 100% finish rate.
Tri-Divisional Championships, Big Sky and Bridger Bowl, MT
This event provides an additional tier for our U14 and U16 athletes as they compete alongside Northern and Alaska divisions. Congratulations to Elle Hanlon, Will Hanlon, Mei Mei Morgan, Chet Rhodes, Rohan Pani, and Asher Williams, who all qualified and competed in the Tri-Divisional Championships.
IMD Championships, Tamarack, ID
Rowmark U12 All Stars who were all new to the program this year—Brittan Corcoran, Josey Huang-Kim, Lucas Szoka, and Ari Kinsman—had a great season and really represented all the traits of a great Rowmarker. Ari placed second in the Slalom event. Both Brittan and Josey also did an excellent job in their first year of competitive racing.
YSL Finals, Snowbasin, UT
This is the premier event for our U10 All-Mountain Rippers. The YSL Finals brings all the programs across the state of Utah together. Rowmark’s All-Mountain Ripper team excelled at the Utah Youth Ski League races, which culminated at the Snowbasin YSL Finals in March. Our team captains, Beck King and Mila Patel, excelled as leaders from dryland training in September to the YSL Finals in March. Our strongest performers on the racecourse consisted of: Charlotte Fiore, Beck King, Jinnun Kim (Most Improved Male), Noa Kinsman, Max Matlin, William Nguyen, Sophia Shojai, Lilla Sneen, Easton Walker, and Alessandra Waters (Most Improved Female).
Spring Fling, Grand Targhee, WY
Alessa Lattanzi, Elle Wucetich, Evie Chen, Stella Copeland, Dylan Kinkead, Aaron Chen, and Owen Donigan just returned from an exciting end-of-season race called Spring Fling, held in Grand Targhee, WY. They all finished out the season strong, and Alessa was on the podium twice in second place in both Slalom and Giant Slalom!
Snowcup Series, Snowbird, UT
This event invites the second-year U14s to race with older athletes, including our own Academy athletes. Congratulations to Asher Kinsman, with a 4th place finish, and Jake Snyder, with a 9th place finish, in the U14 age group in Slalom. On day two, Jake finished 11th for the U14 group in Giant Slalom.
Rowmark All Stars
The All Star Junior Program has wrapped up another fantastic season. The 21 athletes started this year's journey at Mammoth camp, learning great fundamental skills and creating a positive culture to encourage each other to keep learning all year. They worked hard at dryland and another camp at Big Sky to help prepare physically for the season to come. It was great to watch the athletes learn new carving skills and apply them to the course. The team performed better each race. Some standout second years (2012): Hadley Rhodes, 1st place on the season and winner of the overall at Champs. Ari Kingsman, 2nd on the season and 2nd place at Champs in SL. Aster Schillinger was third overall on the season and she put two runs together for the dual and got 4th. Walter Wucetich is a strong 2013, coming in 8th in season for his age group and staying constant at champs at 8th. He will be one to watch next year at the u12 level. Bergen Sneen made some great improvements from the start of season to end. He couldn’t put two runs together but we are excited to see how he keeps improving next year. Eliza Phyfe, Cecelia Quinn, and Pedro Huerta Strodthoff attended the YSL Champs at Snowbasin and had some great results, with 9th, 3rd, and 9th, respectively. Josephine Huang-Kim took her skiing to the next level joining Rowmark this year. She was an Alta freeskier and SL really clicked. She was 23 on the season and two top-15 finishes for SL. Keira Kinkead is another first year to look out for next year. She was consistently a top-20 finisher all season. With all the great results the team had a great time free skiing and having a fun time. Until next year…
Congratulations on a great season to all our Rowmark Junior athletes!
By Todd Brickson, Program Director
It’s been a successful race season filled with many highs, lows, and learning moments. Our Academy Rowmarkers traveled all over the Western US for competitions, and many also had the opportunity to experience the Eastern US, Alaska, Canada, and Europe. The generally warm winter provided many challenges with training and race conditions, but this is the nature of our sport. The ever-changing snow conditions and weather, combined with the variety of race destinations, mean that no two days are the same. This is what makes ski racing so fascinating and keeps us always coming back for more!
Competition Highlights
Below are competition highlights of current Rowmarkers who captured top finishes during the last month of the competition season.
U18 National Championships, Jackson, WY, March 2–8
The U18 National Championships is a prestigious event and Rowmark had six athletes qualify: Jack Hoffman, Karsten Schillinger, Brooke Brown, Maya Eisner (couldn't participate due to injury), Bea Martin, and Vivian Turner. The slalom (SL) and giant slalom (GS) races were held at Snow King, WY. Karsten had two outstanding races, vaulting onto the podium twice with 2nd place in SL and 5th in GS. Brooke also reached a milestone, ascending onto the podium in 3rd place in SL. Vivian was impressive with an 11th in SL, and Bea was solid returning from injury in 31st in SL. The downhill (DH) race was postponed three days in a row due to consecutive dumps of snow and was finally canceled in favor of the Super-G (SG), which they were able to squeeze in under soft snow conditions on the final day. Brooke backed up her 3rd place in SL earlier in the week with a 6th place in Super-G!
Western Region Junior Championships, Stevens Pass, WA, March 3–8
Many of the Rowmark boys FIS Team returned from the Western Region Junior Championships 2SL/2GS/2SG at Stevens Pass, WA, with excellent results. Jamison Oleksy started the series off with a podium finish in 3rd in the first SL! He finished every race in the top 13, with an 11th in the second SL, 8th and 10th in the GSs, and 9th and 13th in the Super-Gs. Leo Martin had several excellent races also, with a 6th and 13th in GS, 14th and 17th in SL, and 12th and 14th in SG. Jack Zipp was also consistently fast, with a 10th and 10th in SL, 18th and 24th in GS, and 11th and 16th in SG. Morgan Jacquin had four top-30 results, with 26th and 26th in GS, and 27th and 29th in SG. Milan Mickelson was 27th and 29th in SL, and 29th and 32nd in GS. Declan Morasch finished 28th in SL, 37th in GS, and 33rd in SG.
Western Region U16 Championships, Alyeska, AK, March 19–22
Congratulations to 11 of our Rowmark U16s for qualifying and competing in the 2024 U16 Western Region Championships in Alyeska, AK! They are: Finn Copeland, Andrew Hanrahan, Sophia Hijjawi, Luke Kanarowski, Adrian Marquart, Lukas Postnieks, Ruby Rosh, Jax Salinas, Rhys Schillinger, Teo Shamah, and AJ Socolean. Our top performers were Ruby Rosh with a 7th and 11th in Super-G; Teo Shamah, 9th in GS; Sophia Hijjawi, 11th in SL and 20th in GS; Luke Kanarowski, 14th in SL and 21st in GS; AJ Socolean, 15th in SL, 16th and 25th in SG; Andrew Hanrahan, 15th in SG; Lukas Postnieks, 19th in SL; Adrian Marquart, 23rd and 27th in SG; Finn Copeland, 23rd in GS; and Rhys Schillinger, 27th in GS. Congratulations to all and to Ruby and Sophia for qualifying for U16 Nationals in Vail, CO.
IMD Tri-Divisional Championships, Big Sky and Bridger Bowl, MT, March 21–24
Five of our Rowmark U16s qualified for and competed in the 2024 Tri-Divisional Championships at Big Sky and Bridger Bowl, MT. They were: Paulina Ize-Cedillo, Alden Rhodes, Darshan Pani, Tallulah Proulx, and Wyatt Williams. Tallulah was consistently fast, with 2nd place finishes in all three races, and she captured the overall series title. Alden was equally impressive in winning both the Super-G and GS races by large margins. Wyatt captured his first podium of the season with 5th in the SL. Paulina had a solid SL in 24th. Darshan had his best finish of the year with 26th in SL.
US National Championships, Sun Valley, ID, March 21–24
Three of our current FIS Rowmarkers competed in the US National Championships at Sun Valley with impressive results. Brooke Brown was 13th in Super-G (3rd for U18s) and 21st in SL (5th for U18s). Vivian Turer was 33rd in the GS (11th for U18s). For the boys, Karsten Schillinger continued his impressive season with a 26th in GS (1st for U18s) and 23rd in SL (2nd for U18s).
U16 National Championships, Vail, CO, March 31–April 4
Sophia Hijjawi and Ruby Rosh both competed in the prestigious U16 Nationals at Vail, CO, this week. Ruby had a strong GS race in 19th, and Sophia was solid with a 31st in GS and 33rd in SL.
IMD Snow Cup, Snowbird, UT, April 6–9
The U16s raced in their final series of the season at the IMD Snowbird Snow Cup 2SL/2GS. For the girls, Ruby Rosh continued her podium string with 2nd and 3rd in the SLs, as well as a 5th and 7th in GS. Sophia Hijjawi was also fast with a 4th in SL, 10th and 15th in GS. Tallulah Proulx was 23rd in SL and 16th in GS. Paulina Ize-Cedillo cracked into the top 30 with a 29th in the final GS. The Rowmark boys filled up the top 20 each day, led by Luke Kanarowski with a 7th and 8th in SL, 8th and onto the podium with a 2nd in the final GS. Finn Copeland skied to an 11th in SL, and then really stepped up with a podium 3rd and 4th in GS. AJ Socolean was 4th and 7th in SL, 5th in GS. Teo Shamah was 6th in SL, 7th and 8th in GS. Lukas Postnieks was 9th and 10th in SL, 18th and 9th in GS. Rhys Schillinger also scored a top 10, with a 10th in GS, as well as a 16th in SL. Andrew Hanrahan had a pair of 14ths in SL, and 12th and 16th in GS. Alden Rhodes was 20th in SL, 13th and 14th in GS. Adrian Marquart was 15th in SL, 13th in GS.
The year-end 2024 Bryce Astle IMD Cup Awards were given out at the conclusion of the Snow Cup. U16 Rowmarkers earned three of the prestigious cumulative awards from the best four SL, best four GS, and best two Super-G race finishes of the 2024 IMD Cup season: AJ Socolean (1st place Super-G), Ruby Rosh (1st place SL), and Teo Shamah (2nd place SL).
FIS Spring Series, Mammoth and Palisades Tahoe, CA, April 8–18
Our Rowmark FIS Team finished their competition season in the Far West Spring FIS Series with many great performances. Three of our boys attended the speed series at Mammoth and the rest of our boys and girls came in to join them at the tech series at Palisades Tahoe. At Mammoth, Jamison Oleksy was consistently fast with 21st and 22nd in DH and 18th in Super-G, while Declan Morasch was 39th, 42nd in DH, and 37th in SG. Morgan Jacquin was 44th in both DHs and 40th in SG.
At Palisades, Karsten Schillinger was 10th in SL (2nd for U18s), 23rd in GS (3rd for U18s). Jamison Oleksy was 25th, 38th in GS. Jack Hoffman was 29th in SL, 38th in GS. Jack Zipp was 34th in SL. For the girls, Vivian Turner was 7th and 12th in SL (1st and 2nd for U18s). Brooke Brown was 7th (1st for U18s) and 18th in SL, 14 in GS. Lili Honey was 22nd and 34th in GS, 29th in SL. Bea Martin was 26th and 27th in SL, Hayden Mengason was 37th and 43rd in SL, Hayden Kaufman Schiller was 41st in GS, and Kiri Mannelin was 47th in SL.
At the end of the series, Brooke Brown was awarded the Western Region Overall title as well as 1st in the Junior SL and SG standings. Vivian Turner was 6th in the Junior Overall and 3rd in the Junior SL standings. For the boys, Karsten Schillinger was 3rd in the WR Overall and 1st in Junior SL standings.
News from Rowmarkers on US Ski Team and NCAA Teams
World Junior Championships, Portes Du Soleil, France, January 28–February 3
Rowmarkers and US Ski Team members Elisabeth Bocock ’23 and Mary Bocock ’22 competed in the World Junior Championships in Portes Du Soleil, France, in early February with great success! Elisabeth was 3rd in the Team Parallel event, 5th in the GS, 9th in the Women's Team event, 14th in the SL, and 24th in the SG. She was the top American finisher in both the GS and SL! Mary was 9th in the Women's Team event, 20th in the SG, and 20th in the DH.
NCAA National Championships, Steamboat Springs, CO, March 6–9
In defense of her NCAA SL and GS Championships from 2023, Madi Hoffman ’18 of the University of Utah climbed the podium again, this time in 2nd place in both SL and GS, helping to propel the U to second place in the nation.
US National Championships, Sun Valley, ID, March 21–24
Elisabeth Bocock ’23 won the Super-G and was 2nd in GS (1st for U21s) and 5th in SL (1st for U21s). Madi Hoffman ’18 was 3rd in GS and won the SL. These were the first US National Championship titles for both. Mary Bocock ’22 was 6th in both the Super-G and GS.
Congratulations to all the Rowmarkers for their effort, teamwork, determination, and resilience, and for their resulting strong finishes to the competition season!
Results & Athlete Awards
By Troy Price, Junior Program Director
As I take time to reflect on the past season, I see so many areas where the Rowmark Junior Program has been successful. I’m very proud of our program. As part of our team values, we focus on the skills of perseverance and determination. This past season has presented its challenges, yet in every case the Rowmark community has persevered. We had to adapt to a new race schedule splitting genders or teams. Parents stepped up to provide transportation and lodging as needed to meet protocols. Coaches have picked up extra hours and created training sessions to meet the needs of every athlete. The athletes continue to thrive as they find balance in pursuing their sport at the highest level and also stay committed to their academic workload.
Our training sessions at the Utah Olympic Park (UOP) and Park City Mountain Resort continue to provide the ideal mix of terrain and course setting, allowing our athletes to develop new skills. We also continue to benefit from our use of the Ikon Pass, as we free-ski our local resorts: Deer Valley, Snowbird, Alta, Solitude, and Brighton.
The return of our Love-to-Ski program for first- and second-grade students was a great success. Thanks to Wendy Hare for leading this group. Big shout-out to our Middle School athletes as they served as mentors, paving the way for the next generation. This was yet another area where the UOP venue provided exactly what we needed.
The month of March was full of championship events. We had Rowmarkers invited to all levels, and several podium finishes. A Rowmarker won the overall award in all three levels of championship events. Congrats to Paxton Cichos, Luke Kanarowski, and Jack Hoffman for winning the overall for their respective championship events.
YSL Finals, UOP, March 13–14
Girls Slalom
- Harper Jensen: 2nd (U10)
- Zoe Rankin: 3rd (U10)
- Dylan Galen: 8th (U12)
Girls Giant Slalom
- Harper Jensen: 4th (U10)
- Zoe Rankin: 6th (U10)
- Addison August: 9th (U12)
- Dylan Galen: 10th (U12)
Boys Slalom
- Asher Williams: WINNER (U10)
- Will Hanlon: 9th (U10)
- Paxton Cichos: WINNER (U12)
- Niklas Tognina: 7th (U12)
- Andrew Wentz: 9th (U12)
Boys Giant Slalom
- Will Hanlon: WINNER (U10)
- Asher Williams: 2nd (U10)
- Andrew Wentz: 7th (U12)
- Niklas Tognina: 10th (U12)
OVERALL WINNER: Paxton Cichos
IMD SS Champs, Snowbasin, March 17–19
March 17
- Lukas Postnieks: 5th (slalom)
- Niklas Tognina: 6th (giant slalom)
March 18
- Zoe Rankin: 7th (giant slalom); 8th (slalom)
- Harper Jensen: 5th (slalom)
March 19
- Luke Kanarowski: 4th (giant slalom); WINNER (slalom)
- Andrew Hanrahan: 5th (giant slalom); 3rd (slalom)
- Rhys Schillinger: 9th (slalom)
- Brynn Copinga: 4th (giant slalom)
- Callie Lipson: 10th (slalom)
OVERALL WINNER: Luke Kanarowski
U14 IMD Champs, Jackson Hole, March 24–28
March 24–26
- Sophia Hijjawi: 7th (super-G); 2nd (giant slalom)
- Jack Hoffman: WINNER (super-G); 2nd (giant slalom); WINNER (slalom)
March 27–28
- Lukas Postnieks: 8th (giant slalom); 3rd (slalom)
OVERALL WINNER: Jack Hoffman
Spring Series, Grand Targhee, April
Girls
- Sophia Hijjawi: WINNER (slalom); 4th (giant slalom); 2nd (Kombi)
- Tallulah Proulx: 3rd (Kombi)
Boys
- Luke Kanarowski: WINNER (slalom); 2nd (giant slalom)
- Teo Shamah: 6th (slalom); 5th (giant slalom); 2nd (Kombi)
- Chase Dennis: 8th (slalom)
- Andrew Hanrahan: 4th (giant slalom)
As I write this article, I’m in Squaw Valley, California. Jack Hoffman and Sophia Hijjawi both qualified to represent the Intermountain Division, as they were selected to attend a special development project hosted by the Western Region as an introduction to the National Development system. Jack and Sophia are joined with the best U14s in the Western US.
This has been a successful season and a true reflection of our core values, where everyone has preserved against the challenges of ski racing during a global pandemic.
Special thanks to our new staff members, Matt Brown, Parker Acosta, Jules Parke, Lucy Doyle, and Tiffany Flygare, for making a positive impact on our program during their first year.
Note regarding banner photo: Due to COVID-19 delays, 2020–2021 Rowmark Junior Programs photos have not yet been released. We will update the above banner image when we receive those photos.
Rowmark
By Todd Brickson, Program Director
Competition Highlights
Below are competition highlights of current Rowmarkers who captured top finishes during the last month of the season.
FIS Elite Races, California
Many of our U19s raced in FIS Elite races at Sugar Bowl Resort and Squaw Valley, California, in mid-March against the best 100 boys and 100 girls in the Western US.
- Maddie Welling: Seventh overall (fifth for U19s) in slalom #1; eighth overall (and second for U19s) in slalom #2
- Mary Bocock: 10th overall (and second for U19s) in giant slalom; 11th overall (and fourth for U19s) in slalom
- Harry Hoffman: 10th overall (second for U19s) in slalom; 13th overall (second for U19s) in giant slalom
Divisional FIS Race, Wyoming
At the same time as the California races, Snow King Mountain Resort in Wyoming hosted a Divisional FIS race where the other half of our U19s competed.
- Charlotte Altman: Eighth in slalom; 14th in giant slalom
- Dagny Brickson: 15th in slalom
- Preston Bolus: 19th in slalom; 19th in giant slalom
Tri-Divisional Championships, Montana
Many of our U16s raced in the Tri-Divisional Championships at Big Sky Resort in Montana from March 18–21.
Boys:
- Matt Siegal: First in super-G; eighth in giant slalom; seventh in slalom
- Henry Cunningham: Second and third in super-G
- Leo Martin: Ninth in giant slalom
- Jack Zipp: 11th in slalom; 13th in giant slalom
Girls:
- Arden Louchheim: Second in super-G; third in giant slalom
- Kaia Brickson: Fourth in slalom
- Charlotte Morris: Fifth in slalom
- Hayden Kaufman Schiller: Seventh in super-G
South Series Finals, Utah
U16 freshman Declan Morasch competed in the South Series Finals at Snowbasin, Utah, in late March, where he placed first in giant slalom.
77th Annual Snowcup, Utah
The 77th Annual Snowcup at Snowbird, Utah, held March 30 to April 2, was an excellent race for Rowmark, with outstanding finishes from across the team. Notably, Ian Hanrahan and Elisabeth Bocock won the prestigious Snowcup overall titles! Below are some standout finishes from this series.
Boys:
- Ian Hanrahan: Second in slalom; first and second in giant slalom; first overall
- Jack Abuhaidar: Second in slalom; first and second in giant slalom
- Ford Hodgkins: Third and third in slalom
- Preston Bolus: 10th in slalom; fourth and seventh in giant slalom
- Frank Stearns: Fifth and 11th in slalom
- Karsten Schillinger: Sixth in slalom; 14th in giant slalom
- Henry Cunningham: 10th in slalom; 13th in giant slalom
Girls:
- Elisabeth Bocock: First and first in giant slalom; first and second in slalom; first overall
- Madi Dean: First and fifth in slalom; fifth and sixth in giant slalom
- Mary Clancy: 12th in giant slalom; second and fifth in slalom
- Charlotte Morris: 15th in slalom
Western Region U16 Championships, California
Three Rowmark athletes—Elisabeth Bocock, Lili Honey, and Karsten Shillinger—qualified to compete in the exclusive Western Region U16 Championships in Mammoth, California, which consists of the best U16 athletes in the entire Western Region of the United States. Elisabeth Bocock finished first in super-G, first in giant slalom, and second in slalom, securing her the Western Region Overall Championship and a spot in the U16 Nationals, which, unfortunately, was cancelled due to COVID-19 protocols. Lili Honey and Karsten Shillinger both also had some strong top-25 finishes.
FIS Spring Series, California
Some of the FIS Rowmarkers managed to get a spot in the Squaw Spring Series races at Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows. Post-graduate Madi Dean charged to a fifth and sixth in slalom, and junior Maddie Welling had some standout performances and secured 10th in giant slalom.
FIS Spring Series, Colorado
Mary Bocock won the giant slalom race in Breckenridge, Colorado. With this finish, Mary is now ranked second in the nation and sixth in the world in giant slalom for her age, as well as first and ninth in the world in super-G!
US National Championships, Colorado
Three of our FIS athletes had the outstanding achievement of qualifying to the prestigious US National Championships in Aspen from April 5–16. Harry Hoffman competed in the men’s US Nationals this past week with strong results, while Mary Bocock had an outstanding 12th in super-G and Maddie Welling had two top-30 finishes, with a 24th in the alpine combined and a 29th in super-G.
Western Region FIS Downhills, California
Finally, five Rowmarkers finished the season with downhill races at Mammoth Mountain, California. For the men, Ford Hodgkins led the way with a 13th and 26th, while, for the women, Dagny Brickson was 11th on the first downhill and an impressive eighth place in the final race.
Congratulations to our entire team for a great season despite all the craziness!
Alum News
Rowmark alum and US Ski Team star Breezy Johnson ’13 had a nearly unprecedented series of podium results on the World Cup, with four consecutive third place downhill podium finishes, followed by a fifth! With this streak, Breezy placed fourth in the Overall World Cup downhill standings for the 2021 season. Incredible!
Rowmark alum and emerging US Ski Team member Katie Hensien ’18 scored her first World Cup points, with an 18th in a World Cup slalom in Croatia in March. Katie also won the 2020 National Championship giant slalom and was third in the slalom back in November.
Congratulations to Rowmark alum Alice McKennis Duran ’08 on her retirement from ski racing after an impressive career of 13 years on the US Ski Team, including a World Cup victory, three podiums, 10 top-10 finishes, two Olympic Games (fifth in downhill in 2018), and two National Championships. Rowmark Ski Academy is very proud of your accomplishments, and even more proud of your incredible determination and resilience to return to the top of the sport after several serious injuries. (Read more in this US Ski Team post highlighting Alice's stellar career.)
Rowmark
By Troy Price, Rowmark Junior Program Director
The world of skiing racing came to a halt on March 15. Many Rowmarkers were either en route to their championship events or attending their final training sessions in preparation for champs. I will recognize these athletes later in the article, but first I want to discuss the remarkable community we have in the Rowmark Junior Program.
Our community of athletes, coaches, parents, teachers, and administrators created an incredible environment centered around our core values. The development of the whole athlete is paramount to me, and we were able to find the balance of academics and athletics. More so, we were able to identify the best opportunities for each athlete. The coaching staff and athletes created an environment of high expectations and inclusivity. They practiced the positive characters traits of trust and perseverance. Meanwhile, there was always a balance between team pride and sportsmanship. Our Rowmark parents were supportive of all competitors and thankful for the volunteers at each race. I’m very pleased with our team culture and look forward to building upon our successes moving forward.
I’m so very proud of the hard work that all our student-athletes have applied this season. They were ready to showcase their talents at their given championships across the Western US. Please join me in celebrating the following Rowmark athletes for reaching their championship events.
U14 Regionals | Mammoth Mountain, Mammoth, CA
Kaia Brickson, Morgan Jacquin, Henry Cunningham, Alan Dugan, and Jack Hoffman
U14 Tri-Divisionals | Big Sky Resort, Big Sky, Montana
Lucy Nolan, Joe Lennon, Declan Morasch, and Jack Zipp
U12 IMD Championships | Bogus Basin, Boise, Idaho
Brooke Copinga, Chase Dennis, Andrew Hanrahan, Sophia Hijjawi, Luke Kanarowski, Jameson Moore, Lukas Postnieks, Tallaulah Proulx, Abi Quinn, Eli Rankin, Teo Shamah, Wyatt Williams, and Jett Winkler
U12 IMD Finals | Sundance Resort, Sundance, Utah
Julian Bamberger, Dean Hijjawi, Drew Lipson, Kirsten Mannelin, Milan Mickelson, Kendra Larson, Darshan Pani, Addison August, Andrew Wentz, Asher Williams, Brynn Copinga, Callie Lipson, Dylan Galen, James Steele, Miles Bauer, Niklas Tognina, Paxton Cichos, and William Youngtok
Honorable Mention: Kendall Kanarowski
Kendall tore her ACL in December and has committed her season to her physical therapy. I know she will be ready for next season and I look forward to having her back full time.
2019–2020 will be a season we all remember for a long time. I’m thankful to everyone for making it a successful season.
2019–2020 Rowmark All-Star Team
2019–2020 All-Mountain Rippers
Top photo: 2019–2020 Rowmark Academy Prep Team
Rowmark
By Todd Brickson, Rowmark Program Director
Despite the fact that our competition season was cut short due to the pandemic, Rowmark Ski Academy had a great season and many successful races regionally and nationally. Most importantly, our teams exhibited tremendous work ethic, camaraderie, and teamwork throughout the season for which the coaches are very proud.
New Value Statement
We are very proud of our team for creating and living up to our new Rowmark value statement—Teamwork, Balance, and Determination—throughout the season. This statement was created over a series of team workshops this fall.
Teamwork = Kindness and Sportsmanship
Balance = Academic and Athletic Excellence
Determination = Effort and Resilience
Utah Olympic Park
The addition of the Utah Olympic Park (UOP) Alpine Expansion Project as another training venue for our program has been the single most important development in my many years at Rowmark Ski Academy. I want to again extend a huge thank you to our generous donors who helped make this project a reality. We now have a dedicated training arena to extend our season—one that provides quality snow surface and a variance of terrain, while at the same time increasing our training volume. When combined with our longtime venues at Park City Mountain Resort, we now have all the spaces to train at the highest level. It is a game changer for the enjoyment, progression, and security of all of our Rowmark teams, as well as for the growth and prosperity of ski racing in our community for years to come. Rowmark has been very excited to partner with Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation (UOLF), Park City Ski and Snowboard, and the University of Utah on this critical project, and we want to thank Colin Hilton and his UOLF staff for their vision, leadership, and commitment to this initiative.
Here is a wrap-up of our competition highlights from each of the winter months.
December 2019
Our Rowmark teams completed their first competitions of the year in December with outstanding performances, including several top-10 results and a few very impressive victories. We are equally as proud of the Rowmarkers who are in the first years of their age groups, thereby starting at the back of the pack in these early races and battling their way up the start list as the season progresses.
At the World Cup level, US Ski Team member and Rowmark alum Alice McKennis ’08 completed another successful comeback from major injury to take her ninth top-10 finish in the downhill at Lake Louise, Canada. Recent graduate Katie Hensien ’18, now skiing for the US Ski Team and University of Denver, captured her third NorAm victory and two more top-fives at Nakiska, Canada, in the slalom (SL). At the same races, Madison Hoffman ’18 scored two top-six finishes and two U21 podiums as well.
At the regional FIS level, senior Eliza Hodgkins had her finest FIS race to date, with an eighth at the Western Region FIS races in the first SL at Snow King, Wyoming, while sophomore Mary Bocock was 10th in the second SL and ninth in the third SL. Then Mary topped those results with a sixth place in SL at the Steamboat FIS races the following week.
Mary’s younger sister and freshman Elisabeth Bocock was not to be outdone, with several great races, including a victory and two second-place finishes at the USSA Intermountain Division races at Snow King just before Christmas. Elisabeth also took the Series Overall Award. Eighth grader Molly Friedman had an outstanding series of her own, with a 10th, ninth, fifth, and fourth, while freshman Arden Louchheim skied her way into 9th place in the final SL race. For the boys, sophomore Jack AbuHaidar led the way with a sixth and ninth in giant slalom (GS), while eighth grader Alan Dugan popped into 10th in the final SL race.
In the Western Region U16 Performance Series at Mission Ridge, the highest level of U16 regional racing, sophomore Ford Hodgkins skied onto the GS podium in third, while freshman Harry Hoffman took the victory in GS.
January 2020
Rowmark had a great weekend of racing (and powder skiing!) at the Jackson Hole IMD Open Wes Barron Memorial 3 Super-Gs January 10–12. The boys and girls raced to several top-15 finishes, including a rare podium sweep in the last boys race—with Harry Hoffman first, Jack AbuHaidar second, and Ford Hodgkins third! Harry also won the second race and was second in the first race, taking the Overall Series Title for the weekend. Ford was third in all three races. Preston Bolus was fifth in the first race, while Jack added a ninth and 10th, Ian Hanrahan had a 10th and 11th, and U19 Mason Schlopy continued his steady progress with a 14th. For the girls, first-year U16s Elizabeth Bocock skied to a ninth and Molly Friedman earned an impressive 14th.
Our Rowmark U19 team earned many impressive top-15 results against the region’s top SL and GS skiers at the Western Region FIS Elite 2SL/2GS races at Big Sky January 9–14. For the boys, Alessandro Gandini had a fifth, seventh, 10th, and 15th, while Carter Louchheim also clawed his way onto the first page with a seventh and 14th. For the girls, Mary Bocock earned a sixth, eighth, and 13th, while Ellie Nichols skied to an impressive sixth in the final GS and had two other top-20 finishes. Eliza Hodgkins and Bridget Lennon each had a top 20 of their own as well.
The Rowmark U16 Team had their first of three IMD Qualifier races of the season January 24–26, where they went head to head with 150 racers from across the Intermountain Division, all vying to qualify for the Western Region Championships in March.
For the boys, Harry Hoffman dominated the weekend by winning all three races. Also finding the podium was Ford Hodgkins, with a third place in GS. Ian Hanrahan had a great weekend as well, with a seventh in GS and fifth in SL, while Frank Stearns cracked into the top-10 with a ninth in SL, along with Preston Bolus, who was 10th in GS. Skiing with a broken thumb, Jack AbuHaidar clawed his way to 11th in GS, while eighth grader Matt Siegal had a breakthrough race with a 15th in SL.
For the girls, Elisabeth Bocock continued her impressive season with a third place in GS and a victory in the first SL. Molly Friedman had two strong races with an 11th in GS and 12th in SL.
Our teams exhibited tremendous work ethic, camaraderie, and teamwork throughout the season for which the coaches are very proud.
Our Rowmark FIS Team divided and conquered, with two different race trips in late January. Coaches Ker and Graham and seven U19s made the trek to Schweitzer, Idaho, for the Western Region FIS Elite 2DH/2SG series, with several top-10 finishes in challenging snowy conditions. For the girls, Ellie Nichols raced to a fourth and 10th; Eliza Hodgkins earned a fifth, seventh, and eighth; first-year U19 Dagny Brickson had a breakout series with a sixth, eighth, and ninth; and Bridget Lennon skied to a sixth and ninth of her own. For the boys, Carter Louchheim charged to a sixth and eighth in super-G (SG), and Ale Gandini finished the series strong with a ninth in the last SG race. Dagny and Eliza also each won the Hard Charger Award—Dagny in downhill (DH) #1 and Eliza in DH #2—which goes to the competitor with the biggest move up the results sheet compared to their start position each day.
Meanwhile, Coach Lauren and three U19 girls cruised over to the Colorado Ski Cup FIS 2GS in Steamboat, Colorado. Mary Bocock led the way with an eighth and ninth against steep competition, including a handful of the best NCAA college skiers in the country.
February 2020
Our Rowmark Team competed in the IMD U16 Super-G Qualifier/U19 Open Races February 7–9 at Snowbasin with determination, teamwork, and several personal bests. Elizabeth Bocock had a great weekend, with a first, second, and fourth. Arden Louchheim had an excellent race on Saturday with a 10th, and Molly Friedman finished the series strong, coming in 13th in the final race. For the boys, Harry Hoffman continued to show his excellent form with two seconds and a third; Ford Hodgkins also made his way to the podium with a third; Ian Hanrahan was impressive with a fifth, 14th, and 14th; Jack AbuHaidar was very fast and consistent with a seventh, eighth, and 10th; Preston Bolus had a fine weekend with a seventh, 11th, and 14th; while Mason Schlopy cracked onto the first page with a 12th.
Mary Bocock, in her first year of FIS racing, had her first opportunity to compete at the NorAm level in SL and GS February 4–12 in Collingwood, Ontario, and Whiteface, New York, against the top FIS racers in the US and Canada. Mary started near the back of the pack in the 70s–80s and consistently finished in the 30s–40s. Even more impressive is that Mary finished in the top-two twice, top-three twice, and top-four once, for all first-year FIS athletes competing in the races.
At the same time, the rest of our FIS Team raced in the Bryce Astle Memorial WR FIS Elite 2GS/2SL Series at Park City and Snowbird, competing against a deep field from the entire Western Region. Breaking into the top 30 were Ellie Nichols with a 22nd, Mary Clancy with a 24th and 29th, and Eliza Hodgkins with a 25th.
The Rowmark U16s competed in their final qualifier races of the season in Sun Valley, Idaho, February 21–23. Harry Hoffman again led the way with a 1st and 2nd in GS and 1st also in SL, which earned him the Laura Flood Memorial overall series trophy. Jack AbuHaidar skied to a career-best podium finish with a third as well as an eighth in GS. Ian Hanaran was close behind, with a sixth in GS and a sixth in SL. For the girls, Molly Friedman cracked into the top 10 with a ninth in SL.
Qualifying for the U16 Western Region Championships to be held in Schweitzer, Idaho, March 11–14 were Harry Hoffman, Ian Hanrahan, Jack AbuHaidar, Ford Hodgkins, Frank Stearns, Preston Bolus, Matt Siegal, Elisabeth Bocock, Molly Friedman, and Arden Louchheim.
Five of our Rowmark U19s competed in the prestigious US National Junior Alpine Championships February 24–28 at Snowbasin: Ale Gandini, Carter Louchheim, Mary Bocock, Bridget Lennon, and Ellie Nichols. In the super-G, Mary rocketed from the 41st start position onto the podium into third place! After a DNF in GS, Mary also had a great SL race, with a 10th place finish. Bridget and Ale both cracked into the top 30, with Bridget 28th in the super-G and Ale 29th in SL. Carter had two solid races with a 37th in super-G and 42nd in GS.
The Women’s Open FIS 2SL at Snowbird and Men’s FIS GS/SL National Performance Series races at Snowbasin were contested directly after the National Junior Championships. For the women, Eliza Hodgkins had two breakout SL races, with fourth and fifth place finishes! Mary Bocock continued her solid string of races with a sixth and 15th. Ellie Nichols (with a 23rd), Mary Clancy (with a 26th), Dagny Brickson (with a 34th and 38th), and Charlotte Altman (with a 37th) all significantly improved from their start positions in the deep field. At the Men’s NPS GS races, Ale Gandini and Carter Louchheim also moved way up from their start positions, with Ale finishing 24th and Carter in 36th against the best U19–21s from across the US.
March 2020
Due to the pandemic, racing came to a grinding halt in mid-March with the cancellation of the remainder of the ski season nationwide, including many of the championships and all of the spring series races. However, the first half of March was action-packed, with many impressive Rowmark performances.
The U19s raced March 7–11 at Sun Valley FIS Open Series. Eliza Hodgkins kept her momentum going from her previous races, roaring onto the podium into second place in the first slalom race as well as an eighth in GS. Also cracking into the top 20 were Bridget Lennon with a 16th and Dagny Brickson with a 14th, 20th, and 20th. For the boys, Carter Louchheim had a great SL race in fifth, while Ale Gandini stepped up with an eighth and 11th.
It turned out that the last races of the season were the Western Region U16 Championships at Schweitzer, Idaho. Rowmark was proud to qualify 10 athletes to represent the Intermountain Division Team: Elisabeth Bocock, Arden Louchheim, Molly Friedman, Jack AbuHaidar, Harry Hoffman, Ford Hodgkins, Ian Hanrahan, Preston Bolus, Frank Stearns, and Matt Siegal.
For the girls, Elisabeth Bocock led once again, with fourth and sixth in the super-G, and onto the podium with a third place in GS. Arden Louchheim also had standout performances, with a 12th in SG and 21st in GS.
For the boys, Jack AbuHaidar broke through and surprised many by taking the victory in the first super-G! Harry Hoffman skied to sixth and seventh in super-G, and 10th in GS, while Ford Hodgkins was 13th and 14th in super-G and seventh in GS, and Ian Hanrahan was 11th in GS. Unfortunately, as Rowmark has a very strong U16 SL team poised to land on the podium, the SL race was canceled.
April 2020
Qualifying out of the Regionals to the prestigious U16 National Championship, which was to be held April 1–5 in Sugarloaf, Maine, before being canceled, were Elisabeth Bocock, Arden Louchheim, Harry Hoffman, and Ford Hodgkins.
The Rowmark Spring Awards Banquet, originally slated for April 30, is postponed (TBA). We are looking forward to honoring deserving Rowmarkers with our annual awards when the time comes.
Rowmark
March Madness has arrived! Rowmarkers have been traveling across the country to compete in championship events.
U16 Team
U16 Western Regional Championships
Sun Valley, Idaho | March 14–17
The top U16s from all over the West come together to duke it out to qualify for the U16 Nationals. Six Rowmark athletes qualified for the Western Regional Championships: Mary Bocock, Dagny Brickson, Preston Bolus, Ian Hanrahan, Ford Hodgkins, and Harry Hoffman. These skiers qualified from a season-long series of competitions. Rowmark had some great performances under bluebird skies. In the GS, Ford Hodgkins finished 13th and first for the 2004 age group. Harry Hoffman was second in the SL, first for 2004s, and Mary Bocock was second in the Super-G and also second in the SL. In the GS race, both Preston Bolus and Dagny Brickson won the Hard Charger Award for the biggest moves from their start position to finish position. Preston moved up 48 places and Dagny moved up 41 places. Ian Hanrahan also skied very well, moving up eight spots in the SL and 10 in the SG.
U16 National Championships
Breckenridge, Colorado | March 31–April 4
Mary Bocock, Jack Hodgkins, and Harry Hoffman qualified for this prestigious event. Mary will be looking to defend her U16 Super G National title!
Tri-Divisional Championships
Jackson Hole, Wyoming | March 21–24
The Tri-Divisional Championships are held each year with teams from Intermountain, Alaska, and Northern divisions. Rowmark competes in the Intermountain Division, and three of our U16s competed, earning some great results. Leading the pack was Jack AbuHaidar, who was first in the Super-G, second in the GS, and fourth in the SL; these three top finishes earned Jack the Overall Tri-Divisional Series Championship! Frank Stearns had his best races of the season with a second in the SL and 14th in the GS. Mason Schlopy also skied well, with a ninth-place finish in Super-G and 10th in GS. Way to go, boys!
U19 Team
The U19s have been traveling far and wide this year and still have two race series before the season ends. Some highlights up to this point:
Western Region Junior Championships
Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows, California | March 12–17
This year Rowmark qualified a full contingent, one of our biggest teams ever, to the Western Region Junior Championships, where athletes from all over the Western US competed. Qualifying from Rowmark were Charlotte Altman, Anya Biskupiak, Mary Clancy, Eliza Hodgkins, Bridget Lennon, Anya Mulligan, Ellie Nichols, Elena Zipp, Jake Bleil, Andrei Dan, Tommy Hoffman, Carter Louchheim, and Greg Olszanskyj. All enjoyed some fast skiing and beautiful weather!
Women:
- SL 1: Rowmark had four women finish in the top 25: Ellie Nichols (15th), Anya Biskupiak (16th), Elena Zipp (18th), and Bridget Lennon (22nd)
- SL 2: Anya Biskupiak finished 17th and Anya Mulligan skied away with the win—first place!
- SL 3: Anya Biskupiak finished 12th
- GS 1: Ellie Nichols finished 16th (winning the second run!)
- GS 2: Anya Mulligan finished ninth
- GS 3: Anya Mulligan finished fifth
Men:
- SL 1: Andrei Dan finished 10th
- SL 2: Carter Louchheim finished 30th after starting 68th
- SL 3: Rowmark had three men in the top 15: Andrei Dan (10th), Jake Bleil (13th), and Carter Louchheim (15th after starting 70th!)
- GS 1: Tommy Hoffman finished 12th
- GS 2: Andrei Dan finished seventh and Tommy Hoffman finished 11th
- GS 3: Tommy Hoffman (13th), Carter Louchheim (27th), and Greg Olszanskyj (29th)
US Alpine National Championships
Waterville Valley, New Hampshire | March 23–30
Seniors Anya Mulligan and Elena Zipp both qualified for the US Alpine Championships and Junior National Championships. Elena finished 12th and Anya 22nd in the Junior Nationals Super-G. Congratulations!
Alumni Updates
2019 World Junior Championships
Katie Hensien '18, currently a freshman at Denver University and a US Ski Team member, qualified for the World Junior Championships held in Italy. Katie finished 10th in the SL and second in the team event! The US Ski Team had their best showing ever, finishing third overall in the standings. Way to go, Katie!
Unfortunately, Rowmark’s two US Ski Team World Cup team members and Olympians Alice McKennis '07 and Breezy Johnson '13 both suffered season-ending injuries before competitions ramped up. We look forward to their return to the World Cup stage for the 2019–2020 season.
Rowmark Spring Banquet on April 24
We look forward to celebrating Rowmark accomplishments and announcing our annual awards for sportsmanship, conditioning, perseverance, most improved, and skier of the year. We’ll also honor Team Manager Sarah Getzelman, who is leaving Rowmark after 12 incredible years serving our Academy and Junior Program.
Rowmark
The Junior Rowmark Program had another great season.
Youth Ski League Championships
Brianhead, Utah | March 9–10
William Youngtok and Wyatt Williams medaled.
Intermountain Division Championships
Snowbasin, Utah | March 15–17
Thirteen Rowmarkers attended this championship event. Jack Hoffman won the overall after winning the SL race and placing fourth in the GS.
Tri-Divisional Championships
Jackson Hole, Wyoming | March 21–24
Eight Junior Rowmarkers qualified for this high-level event. Congratulations to Lucy Nolan, Kaia Brickson, Morgan Jacquin, Lalya Hijjawi, Alan Dugan, Matt Seigel, Henry Cunningham, and Jack Zipp. Morgan and Henry both had breakout performances: Morgan was third in the SL and Henry was fourth in SG and third in GS.
U14 Regionals Championships
Big Sky, Montana | March 20–24
Molly Friedman, Arden Louchheim, and Elisabeth Bocock were named to the IMD Divisional Team for this prestigious event. Elisabeth and Arden skied their way to a podium finish in the GS, with Elisabeth in fourth and Arden in 10th.
Rowmark
The Rowmark Junior Program had extraordinary success this year! From the older eighth grade Academy Prep skiers to the young All-Mountain Rippers, there were podium finishes and medals galore. This is a true testament to the hard work the athletes and coaches put in all year.
Read on for season highlights.
Academy Prep
The following students qualified for the U14 Western Region Championships in Jackson, Wyoming: Harry Hoffman, Preston Bolus, Jack AbuHaidar, Ford Hodgkins, and Ian Hanrahan.
Leading the charge was Harry Hoffman, winning both the super-G and giant slalom (GS). Preston Bolus placed third in the super-G followed by Jack AbuHaidar in fourth and Ian Hanrahan in ninth. Other top-10 finishes included Jack placing third in the giant slalom and Ford Hodgkins finishing 10th. All five boys collected medals, which was an amazing feat. Harry's results qualified him for the U16 National Championships, where he will join Rowmark Academy teammates Mary Bocock, Lindley Friedman, and Carter Louchheim in Mission Ridge, Washington.
Preston Bolus and Jack AbuHaidar qualified to the 2018 Whistler Cup in Canada April 12–16. This prestigious international children's event hosts athletes from all over the world. Harry Hoffman will also be competing with his home country of Australia.
Qualifying for the Tri-Divisional Championships at Snowbasin, Utah, were Arden Louchheim, Kate Altman, Davern Cigarran, Remy Mickelson, Molly Friedman, Hayley Brathwaite, Frank Stearns, and Angus Percy. The weather started off pretty wild, with plenty of rain, forcing the cancellation of the super-G. In the GS, Arden put together two great runs to capture first place! In the SL event, teammate Molly won, followed by Arden in third and Kate Altman in fifth.
All-Stars
The All-Stars consist of U10 and U12 skiers. Qualifying from this group to the U10/U12 Intermountain Champs were Kaia Brickson, Sophia Hijjawi, Kirsten Mannelin, Pippa Brathwaite, Lucy Nolan, Morgan Jacquin, Alan Dugan, Henry Cunningham, Jack Zipp, Cooper Percy, Anders Silitch, Lukas Postnieks, Chase Dennis, Jack Hoffman, and Cael Eley. The event was held at Grand Targhee in Wyoming and consisted of a GS, SL, dual event, and crazy, ever-changing weather.
In the SL event Alan Dugan tied for third place, while Kaia Brickson finished fourth. Henry Cunningham finished 14th, Jack Zipp 15th, and Anders Silitch 19th. In the GS, Henry finished eighth, Jack Zipp 16th, and Alan 20th.
For the U10s, Sophia Hijjawi finished third in GS and sixth in the SL, Pippa Brathwaite finished eighth in GS and 11th in SL, Lukas Postnieks finished first in the SL, Chase Dennis finished fourth in SL and 12th in GS, and Cael Eley finished eighth in the GS.
To top off the weekend, Olympian and Rowmark alumna Breezy Johnson '13 stopped by to give words of encouragement.
All-Mountain Rippers
Our All-Mountain Rippers group had success throughout the season, starting with the YSL race on our home hill at Park City. They continued their development and finished the season with two outstanding races: Brian Head (Utah) and Bogus Basin (Idaho). Congrats to Noah Helms, Julian Bamberger, Chase Noteware, Andrew Hanrahan, Eli Rankin, Henry Damico, and Wyatt Williams!
Rowmark
This year could be summed up as the winter that wasn't! After record-breaking snowfall last season, the 2017–2018 season was the complete opposite. Most of the Intermountain West suffered a snow drought for a good portion of the season, so the skiers had to travel extensively in the beginning of the year to find snow for training. Rowmark only trained a handful of times in the Eagle Race Arena at Park City Mountain. Luckily, there was no drought in the medal count for the Rowmark Ski Academy athletes.
U19 Roundup
Women's Head Coach: Jim Tschabrun
Men's Head Coach: Dave Kerwynn
Women's Assistant Coach: Mary Joyce
Men's Assistant Coach: Brian Morgan
Once again, the Rowmark women's U19 team showed their strength by placing strong at regional and national events all year.
Senior Australian sensation Madison Hoffman competed in numerous Nor Am and FIS U competitions all over the country and Canada, scoring in the top 10. When competing in Regional FIS races at Snowbird she managed a first and second place in the slaloms along with a victory in the giant slalom (GS). Madison was often accompanied by PG athlete Katie Vesterstein '17, whose main focus was competing in the FIS U races this year. Katie has signed a letter of intent with the University of Utah starting next fall. Fellow senior and US Ski team member Katie Hensien also had an extraordinary year, finishing second in a Nor Am Slalom, fourth in the World Jr. Championship Slalom, and starting in two World Cup Slaloms.
Juniors Elena Zipp and Anya Mulligan have had a fantastic season to date, with many top three finishes in the Regional FIS circuit. A highlight was when they both tied for first in GS at the Wild West classic in Jackson, Wyoming! More podiums were captured when they traveled to chilly Lutsen, Minnesota, along with fellow teammate senior Camryn Glick. The Lutsen race series included top junior skiers and college athletes from around the country. All three girls—Camruyn, Elena, and Anya Mulligan—had many fast runs with top-three finishes. Junior Anya Biskupiak and senior Addie Beasley fought hard this season, with some respectable finishes and brilliant runs. Both qualified for the Western Region Junior Championships.
Unfortunately, the squad suffered some injuries. After a strong early start with third place in GS at the Australian Junior National Championships, captain Lucy Neill was unable to compete due to concussions. Sophomore Eliza Hodgkins, who was coming off a stellar soccer season for Rowland Hall, suffered a season-ending ACL tear in January. Freshman Mary Clancy suffered a season-ending injury in January. Still, seven out of 10 Rowmark women landed on an international podium this year, which is the best depth the team has had in the past five years.
On the men's side, senior Scottie Bocock racked up some serious mileage traveling to numerous race series. Scottie has been competing in the US Ski Team's National Performance Series, which includes various camps and competitions with other boys his age from all over the country. With many top-10 finishes to date, Scottie's best series has been the Western Region Junior Championships (WRJC) in Schweitzer, Idaho, where he placed first and second in the GS and sixth in the SL and the super-G. Other boys qualifying to the WRJC in Schweitzer were Andrei Dan, Jake Bleil (injured), Greg Olszanskyj, Liam Michael, Alex Percy, and Ned Friedman. Senior Liam Michael placed fifth and sixth in super-G along with an eight in the GS. Liam had numerous top 20 results in FIS races this year, as well as some crashes.
PG athlete Nick Fontaine '17 rounded out his season with two trips to Lutsen, Minnesota, for FIS races, where he finished fourth in the SL and sixth in the GS. Nick also scored two top-10 finishes at the Wild West FIS series in Jackson, Wyoming. One of the hardest working athletes in the weight room, Nick looks to finish out strong this season. Captain Daniel Mulligan was unfortunately sidelined most of the season with a chronic hip injury and looks get back to conditioning this spring.
The men's squad has a few races series left this season at Mammoth Mountain, Aspen, and Snowbird.
U16 Roundup
Head Coach: Todd Brickson
Assistant Coach: Skip Puckett
The U16 group had another incredible year! The U16 Rowmarkers were on numerous podiums during the season-long IMD qualifying series.
Competing in the U16 Western Regional Championship in Alyeska, Alaska, were Mary Bocock, Dagny Brickson, Lindley Friedman, Charlotte Altman, Danika Mannelin, Ellie Nichols, Zoe Michael, Alex Deubel, Nick Orfanakis, Tommy Hoffman, Carter Louchheim, and Jimmy Bocock.
Rowmark scored great results under perfect weather, hard snow, and breathtaking views in every direction. To start off the week, Tommy Hoffman and Mary Bocock both won the SkillsQuest competition. Lindley Friedman skied to a fourth place in the slalom and 26th in GS. Carter Louchheim was seventh in the GS and fourth in the super-G. Jimmy Bocock was 12th in the GS, 14th in the SL, and 25th in the super-G. Ellie Nichols was seventh in the GS and Alex Deubel was 27th in the super-G. Nick Orfanakis moved up to 29th in the SL and won the Hard Charger Award in the super-G, starting 80th and finishing 38th. Mary then finished off the week with a convincing victory in the super-G.
Qualifying for the upcoming U16 National Championships is Mary Bocock, Lindley Friedman, and Carter Louchheim, along with seventh grader Harry Hoffman, who dominated at the U14 Championships. The event will be held March 30–April 4 in Mission Ridge, Washington.
Update April 1, 2018: Mary Bocock won the Super-G at the U16 Nationals in Mission Ridge!
The U16s will wind down their season at the last Intermountain Division open races scheduled for Snowbird in April.
For more results and photos, please visit Rowmark Ski Academy's Facebook page.
Rowmark
Feature Stories
It’s been an incredible season for five Rowmark alums competing at the international level.
Four of those alums—Breezy Johnson ’13, Katie Hensien ’18, Mary Bocock ’22, and Elisabeth Bocock ’23—are members of the US Ski Team, and one, Madi Hoffman ’18, is a member of the Australian National Team.
“It’s exciting to have this many alums performing at such a high level at one time, and it’s been wonderful to watch our athletes excel this season,” said Rowmark Ski Academy Program Director Todd Brickson.
It’s exciting to have this many alums performing at such a high level at one time, and it’s been wonderful to watch our athletes excel this season.—Todd Brickson, Rowmark Ski Academy program director
The fun kicked off early at the World Cup in Solden, Austria, where, on October 26, Katie Hensien took fourth place in the opening giant slalom event, then won her second run. Less than two months later, at the first NorAm Cup races of the season at Panorama Mountain Resort, British Columbia, Madi Hoffman won first place in giant slalom and second and third in slalom, and Mary Bocock placed third in giant slalom.
The Rowmark community saw gold in February when Breezy Johnson made history by winning the World Championships downhill in Saalbach, Austria. Breezy is only the third American woman to win gold in downhill at worlds. Just three days later, Breezy and teammate Mikaela Shiffrin took gold in the team combined event by 0.4 seconds. Katie Hensien also competed in the team combined event, skiing to 10th place out of 26 teams with partner Jackie Wiles.
Later that month, Elizabeth Bocock raced at the World Junior Championships in Tarvisio, Italy, where she took the bronze in the team parallel event and the giant slalom race. And in March, sister Mary Bocock put a bow on the season by winning both a NorAm downhill and NorAm super-G at Sugarloaf, Maine. What a year!
Congratulations to all on a banner season—it’s been an honor to cheer you on and watch you represent Rowmark on the international stage.
Alumni
Rowland Hall is pleased to announce that Per Lundstam has been named the new director of Rowmark Ski Academy.
Per brings over two decades of high-performance sports experience to the role, as well as a strong background in coaching and athlete development, including for high-level athletes as young as eight years old. This diverse background makes him exceptionally well-suited to lead Rowmark Ski Academy in its next chapter.
Per’s impressive coaching background includes serving as men’s assistant World Cup downhill/super-G coach, men’s assistant World Cup slalom/giant slalom coach, and head conditioning coach for US Ski & Snowboard. He also served as men’s assistant World Cup coach and head conditioning coach for the Swedish Ski Federation. Per earned Level 500 coaching certification, the highest level of coaching credential, from US Ski & Snowboard.
We are thrilled to have Per guiding Rowmark into the future. He is a highly respected, exceptionally knowledgeable, and innovative leader in the alpine ski-racing community.—Todd Brickson, outgoing Rowmark Ski Academy director
Per’s career features significant leadership roles within top-tier sports. He’s currently the alpine sport science director for US Ski & Snowboard, where he drives innovative sports science programming. Prior to that role, Per was director of high performance for Red Bull North America, where he managed performance strategies for a wide array of elite athletes.
Throughout his career, Per has demonstrated a strong ability to build meaningful relationships and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders. Again and again, Per’s references spoke about his deep knowledge, his expertise in skiing and coaching, and his commitment to supporting each skier’s athletic and personal progression. He is known as a collaborative leader who listens deeply and leads with kindness.
“As I pass the torch, we are thrilled to have Per guiding Rowmark into the future,” said Todd Brickson, current Rowmark Ski Academy director. “He is a highly respected, exceptionally knowledgeable, and innovative leader in the alpine ski-racing community, and we look forward to the vision and direction he will bring to the program.”
Welcome, Per! We look forward to Rowmark Ski Academy’s bright future under your direction.
Rowmark
Breezy Johnson ’13 is on fire!
The Rowland Hall/Rowmark Ski Academy alum etched her name into ski-racing history on February 8 when she took gold in a stunning downhill performance at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Saalbach, Austria.
Listen to this story | Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
Despite stiff competition, as well as a demanding downhill track, Breezy blazed to victory, clocking 1:41.29—a mere 0.15 seconds faster than the next competitor—to secure her first downhill world champion title.
“This victory means everything to me,” Breezy said in a post-race interview with Eurosport. “I’ve been working toward this moment my entire life, and to achieve it on this stage, with my family and teammates here, is a dream come true.”
Raised in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Breezy, who specializes in the downhill and super-G speed disciplines, refined her skills at Rowmark before joining the US Ski Team in 2014. Since then, she’s represented the United States in multiple World Cup seasons (in addition to this year’s victories, she has seven World Cup podiums to her name) and was a member of Team USA at the 2018 and 2022 Olympic Games.
And even after being crowned a world champion, Breezy wasn’t done. On Tuesday, February 11, she teamed up with fellow US Ski Team member Mikaela Shiffrin for the women’s team combined event, where Breezy had a strong downhill performance, finishing in third. Mikaela then followed with a slalom run time that allowed the duo to secure gold for the US. What a week!
“All of us at Rowmark are so proud of Breezy,” said Todd Brickson, program director, who has for years watched this former Rowmark athlete inspire others with her dedication, persistence, and passion for alpine ski racing.
“Ever since she was at U16 at Rowmark, she had a dream to be a world champion,” Todd continued. “After many years of commitment, injury, blood, sweat, and tears, she has reached this huge milestone. Her perseverance and work ethic are second to none, and now that she has broken through on the highest stage, this likely is the tip of the iceberg for her.”
Congratulations, Breezy! We can’t wait to see what you’ll do next.
Alumni
Todd Brickson stands tall as a mountain in the world of ski racing.
For the past 20 years, he has served as the program director of Rowmark Ski Academy, Rowland Hall’s world-class ski racing program, founded in 1982. An international level 500 coach in the US Ski & Snowboard Association, Todd has worked with hundreds of top-level Olympic, World Cup, and collegiate athletes. But, even with all that experience, those who know Todd don’t immediately bring up his coaching prowess, or his experience on the slopes. Instead, they talk about who he is as a person—and for good reason.
Priority one, before coaching, is to be a very good role model. You need to be the kind of person who young people aspire to be one day. Todd is solid in that way.—Olle Larsson, Rowmark Ski Academy co-founder
“Priority one, before coaching, is to be a very good role model in front of people. If you fail that, it doesn’t matter what kind of coach you are,” said Olle Larsson, former Rowmark program director and the co-founder of the program, who was instrumental in hiring Todd. “You need to be the kind of person who young people aspire to be one day. Todd is solid in that way.”
Building athletes of good character is central to Todd. He makes that clear on the first page of the handbook given to all team members. There, he writes that the main goal of the program is “for each Rowmarker to learn and develop responsible independence.” He emphasizes that there is more to being on the team than just making it down the hill, adding, “This is above all a process, a time of trial and error, a time to learn from mistakes, a time to learn how to win—and learn how to lose.”
The values of responsibility and independence that Todd promotes create a strong bedrock on which he builds exceptional competitors and people. But here is where Todd steps back a bit, to let the athletes find that fire within that’s needed to push themselves farther and achieve more. He’s the iconic definition of a coach in these moments, trusting that his athletes are capable of practicing what to do, and he allows them to do it. That mutual respect is what launches Rowmark athletes into greatness.
Todd on the mountain in 2005.
“Todd provided me with tools and then didn't put any pressure or expectation on race day. He knew that pushing wouldn’t help, and that I needed to figure it out,” said former Rowmarker and Olympic athlete Breezy Johnson ’13. “He provided me with the means to reach my incredibly high goals, and then was there with a hug and a word of advice, win or lose, at the end of the day.”
Todd does teach competitive spirit, but not in ways you may expect. He meets his students in competition in other arenas to show them that he respects them enough to go nose to nose. It may be on the golf course, in a go-kart, or by the side of a lake with a fishing pole in hand. Todd understands that coaching is a disposition and not contained to a certain time or place.
“There have been times when Todd has played hockey with us on a pond after skiing, or field hockey on dry land,” said Elisabeth Bocock, a senior who currently competes for both Rowmark and the US Ski Team. “He is never afraid to go shoulder on shoulder with us if that’s what it takes. He is super intense and does what he needs to do to win the game.”
And in his 20 years with the program, Todd’s intensity has helped raise the bar for Rowmark as an elite ski academy. Since 1988, there has been a representative from Rowmark at each Winter Olympics, and in 2014, the program became one of the first in the nation to achieve the Gold Certification level from the US Ski & Snowboard Association, and they’ve held onto that certification in the eight years since.
Rowmark’s skiers achieve off the slopes as well. The team currently has a 100 percent college placement rate, and its students are sought after by the best colleges and universities in the nation. “Todd is very involved in our academic success,” said Ian Hanrahan, co-captain of the Rowmark Academy Program. “He and the other coaches do a lot of work to make sure our teachers understand our busy schedules to help us stay on top of school and make sure we are successful skiers while still growing our academic careers.”
And Todd’s concern about the success of Rowmark skiers starts before they are even on the team. From the outset, he makes sure new recruits can thrive in the program. “Todd gives so much time to prospective families,” said Kathy Gunderson, former director of admission for Rowland Hall. “He cares so much about the candidates not only being a good fit for Rowmark but also finding academic success at the school as well. He’s brought recruiting to the next level.”
Todd’s recruiting prowess also extends to the coaches he selects to help guide the team. Every coach on Todd’s team knows they were selected for their excellence and are expected to reach extraordinarily high standards. But they also know that Todd views them as peers and wants them to feel welcome and able to grow as professionals through trial and error.
Todd, fourth from left, with the Rowmark coaching team in 2010.
“Todd works to develop his staff,” said Rowmark Junior Program Director Troy Price. “Recently, three former staff members have gone on to coach for the US Ski Team. You must have excellent training to get job offers at that level.”
Staff development goes beyond coaching skills under Todd’s mentorship. After all, there is much more to the job than improving skiing skills. There are also all the logistical concerns, financial planning, health tracking, and emotional support needs that must be handled. Then there are the moments that are totally unexpected.
“My first season with the team we had a group of Rowmarkers involved in a head-on car accident while racing in Oregon,” said Troy. “Todd was coaching at another race in Whistler, Canada, yet he made arrangements to get to Portland. He stayed with our injured members during this extremely difficult time and was the glue that held everyone together. His empathy for others and his ability to stay calm in difficult situations is unmatched.”
Todd was a very important person in my development as an athlete. He taught me the tools I needed both technically with the fundamentals, and the greater work ethic required to make it to the highest level.—Breezy Johnson ‘13, Olympian
Todd’s two decades with Rowmark have left an indelible mark on all aspects of the program, and that impact will only continue to grow in the coming years. In 2019, an alpine training addition to the Utah Olympic Park became the team’s primary training facility, giving athletes access to the very slopes where their idols have competed. “This is the most important development for Rowmark since 1982,” said Olle. “The training arena that they now have does not exist anywhere else in the Northern Hemisphere.”
Time will tell what athletes will come off those slopes and into the national and international spotlights, but it’s clear that all of them will have benefitted from having Todd Brickson as a coach, mentor, and friend, just as those who came before them have.
“Todd was a very important person in my development as an athlete,” said Breezy. “He taught me the tools I needed both technically with the fundamentals, and the greater work ethic required to make it to the highest level.”
Rowmark
Todd's anniversary isn't the only celebration for Rowmark Ski Academy this year. Rowmark is also excited to celebrate its 40th anniversary with a celebration weekend, March 10–12.
At only 18 years old, Rowmarker Mary Bocock has already had an impressive skiing career.
In addition to her achievements as a top Rowmark Ski Academy athlete, Mary had the chance to compete with the US Ski & Snowboard Team in Europe in January 2021, an opportunity that led to her first nomination to the US Alpine Ski Team later that year. Earlier this month, she was nominated to the US Ski Team for a second time. And prior to sustaining a knee injury in December, Mary was ranked first in super-G, third in giant slalom, and eighth in slalom in the United States for her age.
Mary will soon add another achievement to her resume—college athlete—when she joins the Dartmouth College women’s ski team next year. She plans to enroll as a first-year student in fall 2023, after taking a gap year to continue her healing and focus on her commitment to the US Ski Team before she dives back into a routine of balancing school, training, and racing.
“Joining the Dartmouth ski team has been one of my athletic goals since I started thinking about colleges,” said Mary, who long considered the Ivy League school not only because it offered a top ski program, but also because of its academic excellence.
“This is a great fit for Mary on all levels,” said Todd Brickson, Rowmark Ski Academy program director. “Dartmouth has a long history of developing world-class ski racers within their storied NCAA Division I ski team, in conjunction with their flexible academic structure and top-notch education.”
To celebrate Mary’s plan to attend Dartmouth, we asked her a few questions about her decision and her journey as a skier. The following interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
When did you find out that you have a spot on Dartmouth's ski team? How did it feel to receive that news?
I started talking to the coach about a year and a half before I committed to skiing for him. I knew the coach was interested in me, but I knew that I shouldn’t get my hopes up because there could be other girls out there. So when he told me he wanted to offer me a spot in the fall of 2023, I felt relieved and excited that I didn’t have to worry about my college experience.
You'll be taking a gap year before heading to Dartmouth. Why did you make that choice?
I will be taking a gap year after I graduate in the spring so that I can focus on my commitment to the US Ski Team and take advantage of all the resources they provide. Throughout my whole racing career, I have always had to balance traveling and school, so I want to experience the sport without having to balance the stresses of high school alongside the pressure of performing well in races and traveling. The Dartmouth coach actually offered me a spot to start in the fall of 2022, but I decided that I want to take a year to mature as an athlete and really focus on racing to make the most of my opportunity with the US Ski Team.
You've been offered a spot on the Dartmouth team and you're on the US Ski Team—basically, you've achieved two of your dreams. While you can't know what lies ahead, how are you approaching these two amazing opportunities?
I feel very lucky to have these two incredible opportunities ahead of me. I am trying to stay present and not worry about how I will balance the two programs. I am just trying to take advantage of the places and lessons I am experiencing. I always try to not take anything for granted—especially after COVID—and make the most of my time traveling and exploring new mountains and countries.
Mary, left, with fellow Rowmarkers Carter Louchheim and Mary Clancy in January 2020.
Focusing on your time at Rowland Hall, what moment as a member of Rowmark are you most proud of?
I’ve had a lot of great experiences on Rowmark, so it’s hard for me to pick my favorite moment. But if I had to, I would say one of my favorite memories is when I won a GS [giant slalom] race in Breckenridge, Colorado, at the end of my junior year. It was that race that helped me lower my points enough to make criteria for the US Ski Team. When I came down and everyone was cheering for me, I was so excited that I couldn’t stop smiling. Then, a few minutes later, my coach came down and gave me a hug (which is rare because he’s not one for hugs), and I started to experience an overwhelming amount of emotions because it all felt real.
On the other side, some of the most memorable experiences from Rowmark have been off the snow. The conditioning/team bonding week is always a highlight of the year because the whole team comes together to compete with each other in a very cohesive way. Competition is one of my favorite aspects of ski racing, so I always have a lot of fun on the camping weekend when the whole trip is just filled with competition.
Tell us about the skills you built at Rowland Hall and on Rowmark that you'll be taking with you after graduation.
One of the most notable skills I’ve learned from being on Rowmark while attending a challenging high school is time management and communication. In order for me to keep up with my work while I’m gone, I have to be very diligent with letting my teachers know when I will be gone and updating them on my progress throughout my trips. My first few training camps with the US Ski Team have been very different compared to those with Rowmark because nobody else in my group is in school. I am the only one trying to keep up with classes while skiing at a high level. I have to find time to separate myself and sit down and do school work while my teammates do their other activities. However, I have actually started to really enjoy Zooming into my classes while I'm away on ski trips because it is an opportunity for me to take time off from thinking about skiing and still feel connected with my life at home.
Congratulations, Mary!
Athletics
Congratulations to junior Elisabeth Bocock, who this week was nominated to the US Ski Team.
Elisabeth is one of 42 athletes nominated to the US Alpine Ski Team and one of three athletes who will be joining the women’s Development Team (D-Team) for the first time for the 2022–2023 competition season. (Athletes qualify for the team in the spring based on selection criteria, and the official team is announced in the fall once nominees complete physical fitness testing and medical department clearance.) She is the youngest addition to the D-Team and the only new member from the state of Utah.
“It was unreal,” said Elisabeth of the moment she received the call from US Ski Team Coach Chip Knight congratulating her on her season and confirming her place on the team. “It was what I’ve been hoping for basically my whole life.”
She’s not kidding. Thanks to her family’s love of skiing, Elisabeth has been involved with the sport for as long as she can remember: she clipped into her first pair of skis at age two, and some of her earliest memories include traveling with her family to Colorado to watch the World Cup—an experience that inspired her first dreams of joining the US Ski Team. “Seeing people on the team there was super exciting,” she remembered. “It made me want to be a part of that.”
It was unreal. It was what I’ve been hoping for basically my whole life.—Elisabeth Bocock, class of 2023, on being nominated to the US Ski Team
It also didn’t hurt that Elisabeth has three older siblings—brothers Scottie ’18 and Jimmy, and sister Mary—who were early naturals on the slopes and whose ski racing journeys inspired her own competitive drive. Elisabeth began racing for the Snowbird Ski Team at age six, and she joined Rowmark Ski Academy at age 13—a move she credits for preparing her to excel in both racing and academics, and where she’s had an exceptional career. In the 2021–2022 season alone, Elisabeth had five podium finishes in elite-level FIS races and is currently ranked first for her age in the US in slalom, giant slalom, and super-G, and second in the world in giant slalom.
“What is so impressive about Elisabeth objectively earning a spot on the US Ski Team is that her season was filled with setbacks,” said Foreste Peterson, Rowmark Ski Academy’s head women's FIS coach. “Whether it was having to quarantine from COVID exposures, or the many hard crashes she took that left her concussed, bloody, bruised, and banged up, she was knocked down time and time again. Yet, she bounced back every time, better than before, and always with a smile on her face. It was truly a pleasure to work with Elisabeth this year, and I so look forward to seeing what her future holds.”
And while Elisabeth’s riding the high of simply making the US Ski Team, she’s also enjoying an additional perk not available to every athlete in her position: the knowledge that this new experience will include her older sister (and role model), Mary, who was nominated to the US Ski Team last spring. “I’m super excited to work together in a different atmosphere,” said Elisabeth. “Mary’s been a real inspiration to me and has shown me what it takes to get to where I need to go.”
We can’t wait to see where she goes next. Congratulations, Elisabeth—we’ll be cheering you on!
Rowmark
We are proud of the Olympians representing Rowmark Ski Academy and Rowland Hall at this month's Olympic Games, which kick off February 4.
Since their earliest days on the mountain, these skiers have been on a journey toward athletic excellence. Being named to their countries’ alpine ski teams is one of the highest honors of their careers, and represents hours of sacrifice and a steady commitment to intense training and competition.
While four of our former athletes qualified for the 2022 Olympics, two will be competing in Beijing this month.
“Unfortunately, Breezy Johnson and Madi Hoffman both sustained season-ending knee injuries while training for the Games and will not be able to compete,” said Todd Brickson, Rowmark Ski Academy program director. “Nevertheless, they qualified for the Olympics and we could not be more proud of Breezy and Madi. Injury is a common reality in our sport and the timing is devastating, but they will be back stronger than ever. Katie Hensien and Katie Vesterstein will carry the Rowmark Ski Academy and Rowland Hall torch, and we will be watching!”
To help the Rowland Hall community prepare to cheer on our former Rowmarkers at the Games, we have provided brief overviews of the Olympians below (as well as a throwback photo for each!).
Team USA: Katie Hensien ’18
Katie Hensien graduated from Rowmark and Rowland Hall in 2018. She is a five-year member of the US Ski Team, and also currently skis for and attends the University of Denver. Katie is originally from Redmond, Washington, and will make her Olympic debut in Beijing. She is the 2020 national champion in giant slalom and was a part of the Junior World Championships team that won the silver medal in the team event in Val di Fassa, Italy.
“Katie is an incredible talent and hard worker, and is someone who always has a huge smile on her face,” said Todd. “She brings incredible energy and positive vibes into every room.”
Update February 9, 2022: Katie placed 26th in slalom.
Team Estonia: Kaitlyn (Katie) Vesterstein ’17
Katie Vesterstein graduated from Rowmark and Rowland Hall in 2017. A native of Duluth, Minnesota, Katie is currently a senior at the University of Utah and an All-American member of the university’s national champion ski team. Katie is a dual citizen of the US and Estonia and will be representing Estonia at the Beijing Games.
“Katie is a fierce competitor and incredibly kind teammate who grew up ski racing on the small hills of Minnesota before joining Rowmark and Rowland Hall for two years and propelling herself onto the prestigious University of Utah ski team,” said Todd.
Update February 7, 2022: Katie placed 35th in giant slalom.
Update February 9, 2022: Due to a crash, Katie received a DNF in slalom.
Team Australia: Madison (Madi) Hoffman ’18 (Injured)
Madi Hoffman graduated from Rowmark and Rowland Hall in 2018. She has been a member of the Australian National Team for several years and is also a two-year member of the national champion University of Utah ski team. Madi is a three-time Australian National Champion in slalom and giant slalom, and was one of only two Aussie women to qualify for the 2022 Olympics in alpine skiing. She had been preparing for this moment with her coach (and former Rowmark head coach) Jim Tschabrun for four years.
“Madi is one of the hardest working and thoughtful young women I have ever had the pleasure to coach,” said Todd. “Her unfortunate knee injury will keep her from competing in this Olympics, but she is a very determined, talented ski racer, and I have no doubt that she will be back stronger than ever."
Team USA: Breezy Johnson ’13 (Injured)
Breezy Johnson graduated from Rowmark and Rowland Hall in 2013. Originally from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Breezy joined the US Ski Team in 2014 and qualified for her first Olympic Games in 2018, where she placed seventh in downhill and 14th in super-G. Prior to her knee injury, Breezy was a clear medal contender after reeling off seven podium finishes and nine top-fives in her last 10 World Cup downhill races.
“In Breezy's time at Rowland Hall and Rowmark, she was incredibly determined and hardworking, both on the hill and in the classroom. At a young age Breezy had a very strong belief in herself and what was possible for her to achieve,” said Todd. “All I can say is that she is one of the world's best and she will be back with a vengeance.”
Schedule
Women’s alpine skiing events begin on Monday, February 7. Check out the full Alpine skiing schedule for event information.
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Banner: Katie Hensien competing for Rowmark Ski Academy.
Alumni
Since the age of six, Rowland Hall junior—and passionate ski racer—Mary Bocock has had a big goal: to join the US Ski Team. That dream just came true.
I’ve wanted to be on the team ever since I started racing, so getting the call felt like I was achieving a goal I’d had for over 10 years.—Mary Bocock, class of 2022
On May 3, US Ski & Snowboard announced that 44 top national athletes, including Mary, have been nominated to the US Alpine Ski Team for the 2021–2022 competition season (athletes qualify based on published selection criteria in the prior season). Mary is one of only three new members of the women’s Development Team, also known as the D-Team; she’s also the youngest addition to that team and the only new member hailing from the state of Utah.
“When I got the call from [US Ski Team Coach] Chip Knight congratulating me on my nomination to the D-Team, I was overwhelmed with excitement,” said Mary. “I’ve wanted to be on the team ever since I started racing, so getting the call felt like I was achieving a goal I’d had for over 10 years. I am looking forward to skiing with a group of girls who push me and who know what it takes to be the best.”
Mary had a sensational 2020–2021 race season, which included a November 2020 US Nationals performance with Rowmark Ski Academy that earned her an invitation to compete with the US Ski Team in Europe. After placing in several races in Cortina, Italy, and Garmisch, Germany, in early 2021, Mary returned to the United States to finish the season: at the FIS Elite Races at Sugar Bowl Resort and Squaw Valley, California, she took 10th place overall (second for U19s) in giant slalom, and 11th place overall (fourth for U19s) in slalom. At the FIS Spring Series in Breckenridge, Colorado, she won the giant slalom race—a win that currently ranks her second in the nation and sixth in the world in giant slalom for her age, as well as first and ninth in the world in super-G. Finally, she ended the season with a 12th-place finish in super-G at the US National Championships in Aspen, Colorado.
Mary's fierce competitive nature is among the best in the world and I'm confident that she will take advantage of this opportunity.—Graham Flinn, head FIS coach
“Mary has worked incredibly hard day in, day out, not only this season but for many years in order to put herself in a position to accomplish the goal of being named to the US Ski Team,” said Graham Flinn, head FIS coach for Rowmark Ski Academy. “I'm very proud of the way she carried herself throughout this past year's successes and challenges. She continues to impress with her drive and ability to be a student of the sport. Her fierce competitive nature is among the best in the world and I'm confident that she will take advantage of this opportunity.”
The US Ski Team’s alpine athletes have already kicked off pre-season camps, and the official team will be announced this fall once nominees complete required physical fitness testing and US Ski & Snowboard medical department clearance. We will continue to update the Rowland Hall community on Mary’s progress in this exciting new chapter in her ski-racing career—which she’ll balance alongside her senior year at Rowland Hall—through the fall and winter.
Congratulations, Mary!
The below video, first shared with the Rowland Hall community in April 2021, features Mary's reflections on competing in Europe earlier this year.
Rowmark