{"id":803615,"date":"2020-01-29T16:05:51","date_gmt":"2020-01-29T23:05:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/?p=378196"},"modified":"2020-01-29T16:05:51","modified_gmt":"2020-01-29T23:05:51","slug":"summits-grace-staberg-wins-world-cup-ski-mountaineering-race-in-andorra","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/local-news\/summits-grace-staberg-wins-world-cup-ski-mountaineering-race-in-andorra\/","title":{"rendered":"Summit\u2019s Grace Staberg wins World Cup ski mountaineering race in Andorra"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The U.S. contingent at last weekend’s International Ski Mountaineering Federation World Cup event in Andorra, including Summit County locals Sierra Anderson (far left), Grace Staberg (second from left) and Connor Albin (second from right) pose for a team photo together during the competition.<\/strong>
Sierra Anderson \/ Special to The Daily<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

FRISCO \u2014 Thinking back to her solo participation on the International Ski Mountaineering Federation World Cup circuit last year, Summit local Sierra Anderson heard many national anthems when races recognized the top-3 podium placers. But there was one song noticeably missing \u201cThe Star-Spangled Banner.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember thinking how cool it would be to be over here competing and have that as part of our experience,\u201d Anderson said Wednesday.<\/p>\n

With five American ski mountaineers competing \u2014 including three from Summit County \u2014 Anderson and her fellow Americans got the chance to hear the national anthem on Sunday when Summit High senior Grace Staberg won the women\u2019s junior World Cup race in Arinsal, Andorra.<\/p>\n

Staberg skied away from the 18 to 20-year-old competition in Sunday\u2019s 1,300-foot elevation-gain vertical race, finishing almost a full-minute ahead of her nearest competitor. That runner-up happened to be Staberg and Anderson\u2019s good friend Samantha Bertolina, one of the world\u2019s best young ski mountaineers who spent part of last summer living in Summit County with Staberg<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The day prior, Bertolina bested Staberg in the World Cup\u2019s individual race, where the Summit County local finished as runner-up to her international skimo pal.<\/p>\n

Staberg won Saturday\u2019s race in typical Grace fashion, giving it her all from the get-go. She took the lead after just 30 seconds of racing and held on for the win with no gas left in the tank.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoing to the podium ceremony and hearing the national anthem was definitely memorable for me,\u201d Staberg said. \u201cThat moment in particular stands out. When I look back on this year, there\u2019s great memories of all of the events. I feel I\u2019ve been learning so much. It\u2019s such a great experience for me. I feel all of the races were just as important to me as that win was. I\u2019ve grown so much as a competitor from all of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Anderson also competed in the individual race Saturday and vertical race Sunday. Though the results weren\u2019t her strongest, Anderson said the weekend was special because she and Staberg \u2014 who have been living and training at a chalet in France through the winter \u2014 were joined for the races by Summit youth Connor Albin, John Gaston from Aspen and Cameron Smith from Crested Butte.<\/p>\n

This coming weekend in Berchtesgarden, Germany, the American crew will be joined by Rory Kelly from Boulder and Eric Carter. Having a larger, stronger U.S. contingent over in Europe, even if still smaller than the scale of the European teams, means a lot to Anderson and Staberg.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s exciting to have them here,\u201d Anderson said. \u201cIt\u2019s nice to keep showing up together, and to let it be known we are here and staying. It\u2019s fun and rewarding to go to World Cups and have that team atmosphere, to know you have that person to share it with.\u201d<\/p>\n

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