Featured Image: Emma Resnick of Stifel US Ski Team competing at the Stifel Success NorAm Cup. Credit: Eva/Mike Morin

From January 2nd to the 5th, the Stifel Success NorAm Cup unfolded in the Northeast region. Stratton Mountain hosted the women’s field, while Burke Mountain welcomed the men’s competition. Both events showcased the remarkable strength, skill, and determination required to excel in the highly competitive NorAm circuit.

Women: Stifel Success Giant Slalom and Slalom NorAms

Over four days, the women showcased their skills at Stratton Mountain Resort, engaging in thrilling giant slalom and slalom races. The conditions remained optimal, enabling the women to test their boundaries and conquer the track.

Stifel, Stratton Mountain Resort, and Stratton Mountain School collaborated to host a stellar event. The race organizers brought together a race crew and volunteers to ensure that the event was successful for the athletes and spectators.

Two athletes shined on the podium several times. Sara Rask of Sweden and Arianne Forget of Canada had the most podium finishes throughout the week; both achieved three podium results. 

Sara Rask is racing on the University of Denver team and has been on the NorAm podium eight times. Her first NorAm podium was in 2022, and the 23-year-old has scored in one World Cup since 2021 in Flachau, Austria.

Arianne Forget is having a remarkable return to racing this season. After spending over a year and a half off snow due to injury, she had her inaugural races in Tremblant. She achieved 4th and 6th place in giant slalom and slalom, which kicked off her winter on a solid note. She displayed an even more remarkable comeback throughout the previous week, securing three podium finishes. This outstanding achievement marked her fifth time reaching the top 3 on the NorAm circuit.

She stated, “I was definitely not expecting these results to come this early in the season, since it is my coming back season since my injury. I am really happy about it though because the points I made will give me better start bibs for World Junior Championships,” she continued, “I already had high goals, but these results felt good because each day I am getting closer to achieving those goals.”

Stifel US Ski Team athlete Allie Resnick overcam adversities and shined in Stratton with two podium finishes and a 6th-place result. The athlete has reached 13 NorAm podiums and will be looking for more when they compete in Canada for the conclusion of the NorAm circuit. However, It was challenging for her to. stay focused on the race after her sister, Emma Resnick got taken down in a sled on the first day.

She stated, “It was extremely hard to stay focused on the skiing knowing what had just happened. I am taking away lots of learning and emotions this week. This sport is full of so many ups and downs. This week I feel like I experienced the lowest low with my sister out for the 3rd season in a row, as well as the highest high watching one of my closest friends AJ Hurt get her first World Cup podium.”

For the Bobock sisters from the Stifel US Ski Team, the Stratton NorAm races were successful overall. Elisabeth Bocock earned herself two 7th-place finishes, one in slalom and one in GS. Mary Bocock achieved one podium, a 7th-place result, and two top-25 finishes. 

Mary stated, “Some of my skiing at the NorAms felt okay, while other parts of it felt like it was not where it should be. I think my GS is still just continuing to progress with every run, so I’m feeling confident for the later half of the season.”

Eleri Smart, a SYNC independent US athlete, finished the four days with two top-5 results, a top-10, and an 11th-place finish. She stated, “I was really happy with my GS performance at Stratton; getting 4th the first day was a personal best NorAm result in GS for me, so I was excited about that,” she continued, “ For the next few races, I’m really trying to just focus on executing the way I ski in training!”

Men: Stifel Success Giant Slalom and Slalom NorAms

The men competed in four rewarding days at Burke Mountain. 

Jesse Hunt, The Sports Director at Burke Mountain, stated, “We stop at nothing to put on high-quality events. We have a great venue, and we ensure the venue is in great condition for the races. Our staff is experienced and hard-working. Athletes are excited to come and race here because of the dedicated staff and atmosphere.”

The week started with Swiss athlete Sandro Zurbruegg winning the giant slaloms back-to-back. Zurbruegg gained confidence this season in his first World Cup in the Val d’Isère giant slalom. The 21-year-old moved from bib 69 to 30th during the first run. However, he was not satisfied with just scoring; he attacked the second run and achieved 17th place. These two wins were his first victories on the NorAm circuit. 

Canadian SYNC athlete Simon Fournier had a strong showing at the Stifel Success NorAm Cup. He concluded the four days with a podium finish, two top-10 results, and a 12-place result. The podium finish was Fournier’s 15th time in the top 3 on the NorAm circuit. He is striving to score his first World Cup points, but this season, he has not yet competed in a World Cup.

Stifel US Ski Team member Camden Palmquist achieved victory in the slalom last week and a 3rd-place finish. He found the strong line and rhythm and attacked each gate with the eagerness to cross the finish line in the top 3. Palmquist built his confidence in Beaver Creek at the first NorAm slaloms of the season. He earned himself a 3rd and 4th-place, which gave him the confidence to aim for a win. This was his first NorAm win of his alpine career. 

Teammate Bridger Gile raced in both giant slalom days and achieved a 2nd-place result on the second day. This marked his 8th time on the NorAm podium. 

Jimmy Krupka, an independent SYNC US athlete, also achieved a podium finish. In the slalom, Krupka threw down two solid runs, which landed him in 2nd place. In the giant slalom, he earned himself a top-10 finish. 

The Stifel Success NorAm Cups in the East witnessed two exhilarating events, brimming with fresh accomplishments for athletes and providing an opportunity for numerous individuals to further enhance their already achieved success. The rest of the NorAm series will be in Canada. The women will be in Ontario at Devil’s Glen and Georgian Peaks, and the men will compete in Quebec at Mont Ste-Marie.

For more results on the men’s Stifel Success NorAm Cup in Burke Mountain

For more results on the women’s Stifel Success NorAm Cup in Stratton Mountain Resort