Big Dogs Shine on the Snow
From international venues to home-turf competitions, CVA athletes continue to deliver standout performances across ski cross, freestyle moguls, snowboard, freeski, and alpine racing. Competing against deep and talented fields, Big Dogs posted podium finishes, personal bests, and breakthrough results, demonstrating both the depth of the programs and the strength of athlete development across all disciplines.
Ski Cross: Strong Finishes at Nakiska
CVA Ski Cross athletes brought speed, grit, and intensity to Nakiska Ski Area in Alberta, Canada, a premier venue that regularly hosts Nor-Am events and FIS World Cup races. Racing against elite international competition, the Big Dogs delivered confident performances and multiple personal bests.
Prior to the Christmas holiday, CVA athletes competed at the Nor-Am Cup, highlighted by an impressive fourth-place finish from alumnus Sully Butler and several top-10 results from current team members. That momentum carried into January, with Aidan Butler earning a personal-best sixth-place finish in a field of 26 international competitors. Jamison Hering followed with top-10 finishes in the next two races, underscoring the team’s continued progress on the international stage.
Freestyle Moguls: Podium Success and Rising Talent
Despite cold and windy conditions, CVA freestyle moguls athletes rose to the challenge at the 2026 Kagan Cup on Skidder. Alumni Chase Littlefield and Jack Egan led the boys’ field with an impressive one-two finish, while Kenadie Dickey captured bronze on the girls’ side.
Newcomers also made an immediate impact, with Atticus Ray and Eleanor Riotte each claiming gold in their respective age groups. Coach Nate praised the team’s effort, singling out Eleanor for handling a particularly demanding course “like a veteran.”
The following weekend, the CVA Moguls Team competed at Sunday River for the Mogul Maine-ia Competition. Penny Riotte earned a podium finish in U15 individual moguls, while Brynn Royall delivered a strong eighth-place result in the dual mogul event. For such a young roster, these results signal a team gaining confidence and momentum.
Snowboard & Freeski: Dominating Slopestyle on Home Turf
Sugarloaf hosted the Maine Mountain Series Slopestyle competition, and CVA athletes delivered strong performances across all age groups despite variable snow conditions. Athletes showcased technical skill and style on the rails, boxes, and jumps of the Cruiser terrain park.
In freeski, William-Bertram Deckelman WP earned second place in the 11–12 boys division, with Miles Diffenderfer finishing fourth. Althea Payne WP took bronze in the girls’ 11–12 division. The 13–14 boys division saw Fin Prime-Spivak WP capture gold, followed closely by Logan Snyder in second, while Ossian Prime-Spivak earned gold in the 15–16 division. In the Open Class, Grant Schad and Reggie Hicks finished first and second, respectively.
CVA snowboarders also impressed following a training trip to Waterville Valley. Declyn Kirk won the 11–12 boys division, Julian Fleurant claimed gold in the 13–14 boys division, and in the 17–18 men’s division, Josh Paquette finished first with Brandon Walker in second, rounding out a strong weekend across disciplines.
Alpine: Podiums, Personal Bests, and Progress
The CVA Women’s FIS team posted an excellent weekend at the National Junior Race at Sunday River, highlighted by podium finishes and key performance milestones. Mia Bruno led the team with a second-place finish in giant slalom and third place in slalom. Lily-Jane Sparkes earned her first sub-100 FIS points in giant slalom and narrowly missed the podium with a fourth-place finish. Abby Manson also reached an important milestone with her first sub-100 FIS points in slalom. Lucia Littlefield showed strong speed with an impressive opening slalom run, while Rosa Farmer and Madeline Bruguier rounded out a weekend defined by steady improvement.
At the National Junior Race at Stowe Mountain Resort, the CVA Men’s FIS team delivered strong results across the board. Rocco Lazzaro ’26 led the way with a gold medal in slalom and a fourth-place finish in giant slalom. Jack Hepburn ’26 cracked the top 20 in slalom, while Max Roy ’27 and Nick Klemperer ’27 recorded personal-best FIS points in giant slalom, highlighting meaningful progress across the roster.
CVA’s U-14 athletes capped off the alpine results with confident performances at the Bill Bousum U-14 Giant Slalom. Preston Ponitz captured first place and proudly inscribed his name on the Bill Bousum plaque. Strong efforts from the rest of the team resulted in multiple top-five finishes, with standout runs from Camille Cannan, Henry Brochu, Molly Holman, Henry Sapak, Isla Dakers, Addie Gray, and Gunnar Goethert.
Looking Ahead
Across every discipline, CVA athletes continue to demonstrate the results of hard work, quality coaching, and a commitment to improvement. Whether racing on the international stage or competing at home, these performances reflect a program built for both immediate success and long-term development. As the season continues, CVA athletes are well-positioned to carry this momentum forward and make an even bigger impact in the weeks ahead.
CVA Ski Cross athletes brought speed, grit, and intensity to Nakiska Ski Area in Alberta, Canada, a premier venue that regularly hosts Nor-Am events and FIS World Cup races. Racing against elite international competition, the Big Dogs delivered confident performances and multiple personal bests.
Prior to the Christmas holiday, CVA athletes competed at the Nor-Am Cup, highlighted by an impressive fourth-place finish from alumnus Sully Butler and several top-10 results from current team members. That momentum carried into January, with Aidan Butler earning a personal-best sixth-place finish in a field of 26 international competitors. Jamison Hering followed with top-10 finishes in the next two races, underscoring the team’s continued progress on the international stage.
Freestyle Moguls: Podium Success and Rising Talent
Despite cold and windy conditions, CVA freestyle moguls athletes rose to the challenge at the 2026 Kagan Cup on Skidder. Alumni Chase Littlefield and Jack Egan led the boys’ field with an impressive one-two finish, while Kenadie Dickey captured bronze on the girls’ side.
Newcomers also made an immediate impact, with Atticus Ray and Eleanor Riotte each claiming gold in their respective age groups. Coach Nate praised the team’s effort, singling out Eleanor for handling a particularly demanding course “like a veteran.”
The following weekend, the CVA Moguls Team competed at Sunday River for the Mogul Maine-ia Competition. Penny Riotte earned a podium finish in U15 individual moguls, while Brynn Royall delivered a strong eighth-place result in the dual mogul event. For such a young roster, these results signal a team gaining confidence and momentum.
Snowboard & Freeski: Dominating Slopestyle on Home Turf
Sugarloaf hosted the Maine Mountain Series Slopestyle competition, and CVA athletes delivered strong performances across all age groups despite variable snow conditions. Athletes showcased technical skill and style on the rails, boxes, and jumps of the Cruiser terrain park.
In freeski, William-Bertram Deckelman WP earned second place in the 11–12 boys division, with Miles Diffenderfer finishing fourth. Althea Payne WP took bronze in the girls’ 11–12 division. The 13–14 boys division saw Fin Prime-Spivak WP capture gold, followed closely by Logan Snyder in second, while Ossian Prime-Spivak earned gold in the 15–16 division. In the Open Class, Grant Schad and Reggie Hicks finished first and second, respectively.
CVA snowboarders also impressed following a training trip to Waterville Valley. Declyn Kirk won the 11–12 boys division, Julian Fleurant claimed gold in the 13–14 boys division, and in the 17–18 men’s division, Josh Paquette finished first with Brandon Walker in second, rounding out a strong weekend across disciplines.
Alpine: Podiums, Personal Bests, and Progress
The CVA Women’s FIS team posted an excellent weekend at the National Junior Race at Sunday River, highlighted by podium finishes and key performance milestones. Mia Bruno led the team with a second-place finish in giant slalom and third place in slalom. Lily-Jane Sparkes earned her first sub-100 FIS points in giant slalom and narrowly missed the podium with a fourth-place finish. Abby Manson also reached an important milestone with her first sub-100 FIS points in slalom. Lucia Littlefield showed strong speed with an impressive opening slalom run, while Rosa Farmer and Madeline Bruguier rounded out a weekend defined by steady improvement.
At the National Junior Race at Stowe Mountain Resort, the CVA Men’s FIS team delivered strong results across the board. Rocco Lazzaro ’26 led the way with a gold medal in slalom and a fourth-place finish in giant slalom. Jack Hepburn ’26 cracked the top 20 in slalom, while Max Roy ’27 and Nick Klemperer ’27 recorded personal-best FIS points in giant slalom, highlighting meaningful progress across the roster.
CVA’s U-14 athletes capped off the alpine results with confident performances at the Bill Bousum U-14 Giant Slalom. Preston Ponitz captured first place and proudly inscribed his name on the Bill Bousum plaque. Strong efforts from the rest of the team resulted in multiple top-five finishes, with standout runs from Camille Cannan, Henry Brochu, Molly Holman, Henry Sapak, Isla Dakers, Addie Gray, and Gunnar Goethert.
Looking Ahead
Across every discipline, CVA athletes continue to demonstrate the results of hard work, quality coaching, and a commitment to improvement. Whether racing on the international stage or competing at home, these performances reflect a program built for both immediate success and long-term development. As the season continues, CVA athletes are well-positioned to carry this momentum forward and make an even bigger impact in the weeks ahead.
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Big Dogs Shine on the Snow
From international venues to home-turf competitions, CVA athletes continue to deliver standout performances across ski cross, freestyle moguls, snowboard, freeski, and alpine racing. Competing against deep and talented fields, Big Dogs posted podium finishes, personal bests, and breakthrough results, demonstrating both the depth of the programs and the strength of athlete development across all disciplines.Read More -
CVA Welcomes Dr. Crawford C. Campbell
Read MoreJust before the holiday break, CVA welcomed Dr. Crawford C. Campbell to campus for an engaging and informative presentation with students in grades 10–12. A two-time CVA parent alum and longtime Sugarloafer, Dr. Campbell shared his medical expertise to help students better understand the science of addiction and how substances affect the brain and body. -
December Student Spotlights: CVA Values in Action
Read MoreEach month, Carrabassett Valley Academy celebrates students who exemplify the values at the heart of our community—kindness, respect, commitment, and gratitude. The December Student Spotlight Award recipients embody these ideals through their dedication, leadership, and willingness to support others, both on and off campus.
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