Stacey Cook SVST scholarship winners announced

By Published On: November 28th, 2013Comments Off on Stacey Cook SVST scholarship winners announced
Stacey Cook at last season's World Cup Finals (GEPA/Wolfgang Grebien)

Stacey Cook at last season’s World Cup Finals (GEPA/Wolfgang Grebien)

MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN, Calif. – Two-time Olympic downhiller Stacey Cook and long-time U.S. Ski Team partner Sun Valley Ski Tools (SVST) have announced the 2013 Stacey Cook/SVST Scholarship Winners. Sinead Danager, Trisha Mangan, Rosie Hust, Ali Betsch, Paige Hourigan and Natalie Riffel – each members of top U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association club programs — will receive $1000 worth of wax and tuning equipment from SVST. Former SVST athletes include U.S. Ski Team World Cup racers Marco Sullivan, Erik Fisher, and Ryan Cochran-Siegle, and the scholarship is now in its eighth season.

Tricia Mangan – Derby, N.Y.
I am 16 years old, one of six kids, all of whom have been or are ski racers. I am from a small town north of Buffalo, NY and grew up skiing and racing for Holimont. I qualified last year for the national training group (my current team) at U16 Nationals where I placed second in slalom, fourth in giant slalom and 4th overall. When not on the slopes you will find me doing anything active, be it playing soccer, waterskiing, sailing, unicycling, swimming or just playing football with my four brothers. I am extremely honored to have won this award and will represent the SVST team with integrity, hard work and hopefully fast skiing.

Rosie Hust – Orono, Minn.
My mom taught me to ski when I was 18 months old. Since then I have loved every day that I have been skiing. Skiing for me is so much more than a sport. Every aspect of skiing mesmerizes me, from watching park competitions to tuning clinics. I was third in slalom at the U16 Rocky/Central Junior Championships last season and qualified me for U16 Nationals. Along with being on the Buck Hill Ski Team I also ski for the Orono High School Ski Team.

Paige Hourigan – Truckee, Calif.
I am 14 and a first year U16 skier and train with Lake Tahoe Racing, a small private team coached by Aaron Atkins, Hermann Gollner, and Tom Arnstein. My favorite part of skiing for Lake Tahoe Racing is the small team environment. I love my coaches who all bring a different coaching style to the table. They have taught me an incredible amount in just one year. Skiing is my passion. There is nothing in the world that I would rather do.

Ali Betsch – Colorado Springs, Colo.
I am a freshman in high school and race for Loveland Ski Club which trains at Loveland Ski Area.  Year round, I really enjoy going to the gym and increasing my lifting capacity on various Olympic lifts. As strange as it may sound, I enjoy putting my time and energy into my schoolwork to make sure that everything displays my best effort. My best result so far has been a second place at a Junior Olympic qualifying event in giant slalom. It is such an honor to be selected as a recipient of this scholarship, and I am very excited to use the products this winter.

Natalie Riffel – Mammoth Lakes, Calif.
I am 17 years old and was born and raised in Mammoth Lakes with my older brother Spencer and older sister Madeline. My brother passed away when he was fourteen and my sister is a current member of the U.S. Ski Cross Team. We have all been skiing since we were able to walk and talk, our parents couldn’t wait to show us this amazing sport. I am so grateful to Stacey for selecting me this year as a recipient of her wonderful scholarship. I have been applying to it ever since I was old enough. It’s great to have people like her around to support athletes like me, who are just trying to be the best they can be!

Sinead Danagher – Truckee, Calif.
I am 15 years old, but started ski racing at 9 and have been in love ever since. Shortly after I won two overall season titles in Tahoe League (when I was 10 and 11.) Nearly three years ago, I moved teams to Sugar Bowl Academy in order to further my opportunities in this sport and begin racing Far West. Some of my best results since my move have been a few top 15 results and a top five finish out of the U16s at an open giant slalom last year. My other favorite things to do include playing soccer (which I’ve been doing since the age of four) and painting.

Find more information on the Stacey Cook/SVST Scholarship program here.

Release courtesy of USSA

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