Cross Country Team Finishes Race Season with 2024 International Spring Series
The Cross Country International Spring Series returned from March 29 to April 6, 2024, after an eight-year hiatus. This Year, the series offered six high-level competitive races split between Jackson Hole and Sun Valley, attracting junior teams from Norway and Germany, many collegiate racers from the West, and some prominent junior teams from the East.

The first races in Jackson were held at the Trail Creek Nordic Center at the base of Teton Pass. Saturday’s freestyle sprint qualifiers and heats were held on a 1.4-kilometer course. Tristan Thrasher had the best result of the day with a 2nd place in the 16 men’s race, Bode Rhodes was 11th. Tristan was poised for the win but got bogged down in the fresh snow trying to pass the eventual winner, Landon Laverdiere (SSCV), in the final 300 meters. In the U16 women’s race Sophia McGinnis-Smith was 3rd, Beatrice Bishop 5th, and Maia McGinnis-Smith was 6th. Sophia and Maia are twins who recently joined SSWSC. Maia was in an excellent position just behind the lead skier when the leader crashed, taking Maia down and eliminating her chances for a podium spot. In the U18/U20 men’s race, Henry Magill finished 7th and Jackson Menand 51st in a very competitive field. In the U18/U20 women, Anna Rhodes was 29th.

Race number two was a format taken from the World Cup—a mixed technique, mixed team, four-person relay. The first two legs were classic technique, and the last two were skate. SSWSC Team #1 finished 6th, team members included Henry Magill, Maia McGinnis-Smith, Tristan Thrasher, Anna Rhodes. SSWSC Team #2 finished 22nd. Team members included Jackson Menand, Sophia McGinnis-Smith, Bode Rhodes, Beatrice Bishop.

The final race in the Jackson series was an individual start classic race and, finally, a bluebird day with excellent conditions. The U16 women had a podium sweep, with Georgia Bishop taking first place, Maia McGinnis-Smith in second, and Sophia McGinnis-Smith in third. Beatrice Bishop finished 7th. Bode Rhodes finished a respectable 5th place in the U16 men’s race. Anna Rhodes was 33rd in the U18/20 women’s race, and Henry Magill was 17th in the U18/U20 men’s race.

Henry Magill, Anna Rhodes, Bode Rhodes, and Henry Patten will finish up their seasons after they race to Sun Valley for the next leg of the Spring Series.

SSWSC XC results were:
FREESTYLE SPRINT
U16M - Tristan Thrasher 2nd
U16M - Bode Rhodes 11th
U16F- Sophia McGinnis-Smith, 3rd
U16F - Beatrice Bishop, 5th
U16F - Maia McGinnis-Smith, 6th
U18/20M - Henry Magill, 7th
U18/20M - Jackson Menand, 51st
U18/20F- Anna Rhodes, 29th

MIXED TEAM RELAY
SSWSC Team #1, 6th.
Team members: Henry Magill, Maia McGinnis-Smith, Tristan Thrasher, Anna Rhodes
SSWSC Team #2, 22nd
Team members: Jackson Menand, Sophia McGinnis-Smith, Bode Rhodes, Beatrice Bishop

INDIVIDUAL START CLASSIC
The U16F - Georgia Bishop, 1st
U16F - Maia McGinnis-Smith, 2nd
U16F - Sophia McGinnis-Smith, 3rd
U16F - Beatrice Bishop, 7th
U16M - Bode Rhodes, 5th
U18/20F- Anna Rhodes, 33rd
U18/20M- Henry Magill, 17th

PHOTOS TOP TO BOTTOM:
1. Anya McGinnis-Smith photo, Georgia Bishop, Maia McGinnis-Smith, Sophia McGinnis-Smith
2. Brian Tate photo, Bode Rhodes skier
3. Anya McGinnis-Smith photo,  Maia McGinnis-Smith skier