Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club cross-country skiers claimed five victories at the largest junior race in the country held at Soldier Hollow, Utah. The event, spanning January 22 to 25, 2026, drew over 700 young athletes competing in a Junior National Qualifier and Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Skiing Association race. Performances highlighted strong showings across multiple age groups and disciplines.
The competition at Soldier Hollow kicked off strongly on Friday with the classic sprint races. In the combined U18/U20 women's category, Antigone Loomis took first place, while Sophia McGinnis-Smith earned third. Among the U16 men, Sawyer Landers secured victory, with Conor Devin and Bode Rhodes finishing 10th and 11th, respectively. Forrest Bishop dominated the U12 classic sprint, claiming the top spot.
The momentum carried into the individual start freestyle races. Bode Rhodes improved dramatically in the U16 men's event, winning gold after his previous day's 11th place. Conor Devin came close to the podium, finishing fourth just 0.4 seconds behind third, and Sawyer Landers placed sixth. On the women's side, first-year U16 skiers Lylah Keller and Livia Spector shone with third and sixth places, respectively. U14 athlete Annike Weidel rounded out a solid performance by finishing eighth in her race. Forrest Bishop continued his success, winning the U12 freestyle event as well.
Additionally, Grey Barbier, representing the Montana State Bobcats, placed ninth in the freestyle race and 10th in the classic. These results underscore the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club's depth and talent in junior cross-country skiing. The team now looks ahead to the next Junior National Qualifier in Frisco, Colorado.
