The SSWSC cross country ski team had over thirty athletes compete in two Rocky Mountain Nordic Junior National Qualifying races in Winter Park on December 20 and 21. Race distances are determined by age, with older athletes racing longer distances and younger athletes racing shorter distances. The first race was an individual start classic race, using a time trial format with skiers starting at 30-second intervals.
Due to extreme December weather, it took a great deal of effort for the Winter Park Competition Center to host two successful cross country races at the Snow Mountain Ranch Nordic Center in Granby, CO. Race courses were moved to a higher elevation on the Blue Ridge Trail, where snow is kept cold by higher elevation, thick woods, and a northern aspect.
SSWSC athletes posted impressive results over the weekend. On Saturday, in the classic interval start race, Georgia Bishop won the U16 women’s race, and Lylah Keller placed 2nd. Livia Spector also posted a top-ten result in 6th place. The U16 men completely dominated the field, sweeping the podium and adding a fourth-place finish, with Sawyer Landers in 1st place, Bode Rhodes in 2nd place, Conor Devin in 3rd place, and LP Brinkman in 4th place. The U18 women also dominated, taking every spot from 2nd to 5th place: Maia McGinnis-Smith in 2nd, Tig Loomis in 3rd, Sophia McGinnis-Smith in 4th, and Anna Rhodes in 5th. SSWSC alumni athletes skiing in college and home for the break also performed well in the senior division, with Grey Barbier (Montana State University) placing 1st and Campbell McLaren (University of Vermont) placing 6th.
On Sunday, similar results played out in the individual start freestyle (skate) race. The U16 men continued their podium sweep streak, with Bode Rhodes in 1st place, Sawyer Landers in 2nd place, and Conor Devin in 3rd place. Langdon Devin also finished in 6th place. In the U16 women’s race, Georgia Bishop took her second win of the weekend, with Lylah Keller in 4th place and Livia Spector in 7th. The U18 women also fared well, with Anna Rhodes taking 4th place, Maia McGinnis-Smith 5th place, Tig Loomis 6th place, and Sophia McGinnis-Smith 9th place. In the senior division, SSWSC alumni Grey Barbier placed 2nd, and Henry Magill (Dartmouth College) finished in 5th place.
FULL CLASSIC RACE RESULTS – December 20, 2025
FULL SKATE RACE RESULTS – December 21, 2025
Saturday – December 20, 2025 | Classic Interval Start
U10 Male: Simi Smullin 6th, Jurgen Jones 7th
U12 Male: Forrest Bishop 4th place, Cedar Savage 5th place, Nico Schulz 9th place
U14 Female: Annika Wiedel 2nd place
U16 Female: Georgia Bishop 1st place, Lylah Keller 2nd place, Livia Spector 6th place
U16 Male: Sawyer Landers 1st place, Bode Rhodes 2nd place, Conor Devin 3rd place, LP Brinkman 4th place, Langdon Devin 8th place (an SSWSC sweep)
U18 Female: Maia McGinnis-Smith 2nd place, Tig Loomis 3rd place, Sophia McGinnis-Smith 4th place, Anna Rhodes 5th place
SSWSC Alumni – Senior Division: Grey Barbier (MSU) 1st place, Campbell McLaren (UVM) 6th place
Sunday – December 21, 2025 | Individual Start Freestyle Skate
U10 Female: Kirra Lodico 2nd place, Lena Miller 3rd place
U10 Male: Simi Smullin 2nd place, Jurgen Jones 5th place, Bergen Colvin 8th place
U12 Male: Forrest Bishop 1st place, Alistair Jones 6th place, Nico Schulz 9th place
U14 Female: Annika Wiedel 2nd place, Nova Lake Van Wyk 10th place
U16 Male: Bode Rhodes 1st place, Sawyer Landers 2nd place, Conor Devin 3rd place, Langdon Devin 6th place
U16 Female: Georgia Bishop 1st place, Lylah Keller 4th place, Livia Spector 7th place
U18 Female: Anna Rhodes 4th place, Maia McGinnis-Smith 5th place, Tig Loomis 6th place, Sophia McGinnis-Smith 9th place
SSWSC Alumni – Senior Division: Grey Barbier (MSU) 2nd place, Henry Magill (Dartmouth) 5th place
