SAMMY SMITH ON HER WAY TO THE WORLD CUP

from WRW 8 MARCH 2023

PRODIGIOUS PICKLEBALL PLANS Pickleball a year-round sport in Wood River Valley

Smith to race with Team USA in Norway, Sweden, Estonia, and Finland

un Valley Ski Education Foundation Cross Country Comp Team member Sammy Smith is heading to the World Cup. Smith, who recently competed in the Junior World Championships in Whistler, Canada, was nominated to represent the U.S. Ski Team in four World Cup sprints in March. This opportunity will override Smith’s original plans to race at the Opa Cup Finals in Italy, which take place

“With strong racing at World Juniors and a second-place qualifier in the Minneapolis SuperTour, Sammy Smith has been awarded Sprint starts in the remaining World Cup competitions,” said Chris Mallory, SVSEF XC Gold Team head coach. “As one of the youngest Americans to ever start a World Cup, she’s beyond excited to dip her toe into World Cup racing and learn from our strong women’s team.”

The day after Sammy was offered the World Cup spots, she walked into the Lake Creek hut for training and her smile said it all. “She was grinning from ear to ear,” said Becky Woods, SVSEF crosscountry program director. “Her goal this season has been to qualify to ski in the World Cup and now it is in front of her. The opportunity to be around the best skiers in the world and live, train, and race with the likes of Jessie Diggins is a dream come true. So.. off she goes to compete for the U.S. Cross-Country Ski Team!”

Smith will be competing in four sprint World Cup races, the first will be a classic sprint in Drammen, Norway, on March 14. From there the team will head to Falun, Sweden; then Tallinn, Estonia; Competing at this level is not new to Smith, who also represented Team USA at the U17 World Junior Soccer Championships in India this past fall.

“It takes a special talent to be able to compete at the highest level in two sports—especially given the differences in soccer and crosscountry skiing,” said Woods. “I have been with Sammy enough to know that she is a special athlete. Her ability to prioritize training for both sports, and her laser focus when she is competing in each discipline, is incredible. She has big aspirations and we’re behind her all the way to go for it!”

Pickleball

for founding members), members will receive first access to tournaments, training, clinics, official pickleball ratings, discounts on paddles, balls and accessories, a WRPA bag tag and regular “dinks & drinks” social events.

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About Wood River Valley Pickleball Alliance

The Wood River Valley Pickleball Alliance was founded in 2019 as a welcoming, volunteer-friendly organization to build community through the sport of pickleball. The alliance is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) corporation and governed by a dedicated volunteer board of directors. Activities include promoting the pickleball communities of Ketchum, Sun Valley, Elkhorn, mid-Valley, Hailey and Bellevue, providing an authoritative body to govern and promote a code of conduct and enhancing the pickleball experience through social, educational and competitive events. For additional information, contact Lee Sponaugle at woodriverpickleball@gmail.com.