Eleven SSWSC athletes traveled to Soldier Hollow, the 2002 Olympic venue and a venue for the 2034 Olympics, last weekend to compete in the Schutzenski Rollerski Festival. The competition was high-level, featuring World Championship competitors, Olympic medalists, most of the U.S. national team and several collegiate teams.
Athletes competed on matched rollerskis to ensure a fair racing environment. Soldier Hollow’s rollerski trails also offer a unique challenge, with fast, highly technical terrain that is difficult to replicate on typical roads.
Friday: 10-kilometer classic
Friday’s racing featured a 10-kilometer classic race, with SSWSC athletes putting together several impressive performances.
Women’s Race
- Georgia Bishop finished third in the junior women’s field and second in the U18 category.
- Antigone Loomis placed fourth in the junior women’s field, finishing less than 2 seconds behind Bishop.
- Livia Spector won the U16 category.
- Sophia McGinnis-Smith, Maren Sachs and Maia McGinnis-Smith finished eighth, 12th and 13th, respectively, in the U18 field.
Men’s Race
- Sawyer Landers, Bode Rhodes and Henry Patten finished second, third and fourth, respectively, in the U18 field.
- Luke Hodge placed fifth in the U16 field.
Saturday: Freestyle sprint
Three SSWSC girls qualified for the senior heats, led by Loomis, who finished second among juniors in the qualifier. Bishop and Sophia McGinnis-Smith also qualified for the senior rounds.
Loomis went on to win the junior sprint rounds. Rhodes also advanced to the junior A final but broke a pole during the competition.
Story submitted by U16/U18/U20 Head Coach Josh Smullin.
Top Photo: Tig Loomis on the podium, left.
Tig Loomis
Bode Rhodes
Sophia McGinnis-Smith
Georgia Bishop
Sawyer Landers
Henry Patten
