Beacon Park is Now Open!
The Rotarun Beacon Park is Now Open!
The park is free and open to the public. It is located on the uphill side of the green operations garage on the west side of the hill. It is open during daylight hours (roughly 9am-6pm) during our ski season (January 1-March 31).
The wireless beacon training park contains buried transmitters and targets that can be set up for single or multiple buried scenarios. Participants will use their own beacons, shovels and probes.
To begin your search, open the black BCA transceiver control box and follow the instructions on the inside. Begin your search from the control box and search the area to "lookers right" of the groomed service road. Please turn the box off when you have completed your practice!
Learn more about using your avalanche rescue equipment through the Sawtooth Avalanche Center or Backcountry Access (BCA) online education videos.
"Mightier than its stature"
Rotarun opens for the season with a celebration of its people and history
By: Gabe Bernard for Idaho Mountain Express
"Rotarun Ski Area opened for the season on Saturday with a nod to its nearly 80-year history and a celebration of the generations of people key to its founding and persistence against the odds.
The nonprofit ski hill, with a vertical drop of less than 500 feet, is often referred to by its champions as “the little mountain with a big heart.” It’s known for its mission to unlock the thrill of skiing and snowboarding for kids and families by providing free or cheap education programs and lift tickets. It hosts free night skiing for all on Wednesdays, complete with a taco truck parked in the dirt lot at the base.
It’s also known for what many have described as its deep sense of community. Decades of efforts by ski area staff, volunteers and snow-sports enthusiasts to preserve the ski hill, just 3 miles west of downtown Hailey, have enabled it to thrive even as similar “mom and pop” ski areas across the U.S. have disappeared in droves, forced out of business by ski industry consolidation and decreasing snowfall.
Saturday’s opening festivities were designed to memorialize the efforts of those many mountain stewards and safeguard Rotarun’s history. The events began, fittingly, with a free pancake and sausage breakfast prepared by the Hailey Rotary Club, from which Rotarun’s name is derived. Breakfast was followed by the main event: the unveiling of a new permanent, multipaneled history exhibit that uses a written timeline, photos and historical mementos to chronicle the story of the ski area from its opening in 1948 to present day."
Read the full article at https://www.mtexpress.com/news/recreation/mightier-than-its-stature/article_46fcaac0-c0cc-11ef-a612-231ce287a4b5.html
Celebrating Rotarun's Legacy in the Wood River Valley
STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK
Levon Blatz was just 1 when he began skiing at Rotarun Ski Area. Now 5, he says he can ski downhill from the third tower no sweat.
“I know how to ski from the top, but it’s scary so I can stop at the third tower,” he said. “And I love the night skiing.”
Blatz, who attended the Hailey ski area’s opening day Saturday with his father Nick and 3-year-old sister Remy, knows it’s a special place. And Scotty McGrew, the volunteer director of Rotarun thinks other children will buy into that, as well, thanks to five history panels that were unveiled Saturday at the “little mountain with a big heart.”
“When kids walk off the blue bus that brings them here, they’re going to feel like they’re part of something. And, when you feel like you’re part of something, you own it and you want to protect it,” he told a small crowd that gathered for the unveiling and a flapjack feed hosted by the Hailey Rotary Club. “They’re going to feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves. This will become their story, and there are a lot of stories left to be told on this small but mighty mountain.”
The Rotarun History Preservation Project, constructed with a grant from the Wood River Women’s Foundation and volunteer labor by the Savaria family, Carl Rixon Jr. and Skip Merrick, tells the story of Rotarun Ski Area from its founding in 1948 through today.
It’s the brainchild of Heather Foster, a Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation planner who became fascinated with the stories her husband Jesse Foster told her about the ski hill while serving as Rotarun’s board president.
“Whenever I take a road trip, I love to pull over on the side of the highway and read the signs about Sacajawea or the headwaters in Montana,” she said. “One reason to preserve history is so people who come here can understand how it came to be. So many people have their fingerprints on this area and so many have stories. Jesse and I were even married here on Dec. 12, 2019--the first day they turned on snowmaking.”
Read the full article at Eye on Sun Valley
Watch the History Installment Ribbon Cutting Here
"A Collective Effort of Many"
Idaho Mountain Express SNOW EDITION - December 4, 2024
Words by: Gabe Bernard
Just a few miles west of downtown Hailey, “a little mountain with a big heart” rises roughly 400 feet from the valley floor.
A single Poma lift pulls skiers and riders young and old to the peak of this little mountain, from which they can begin their descent down one of just seven named ski runs.
There are no trees. There are no opulent lodges. There’s hardly any trail signs.
But Rotarun Ski Area doesn’t need the trappings of a typical ski resort to flourish. In fact, it’s the utter lack of such apparently superfluous extras that reveals what leaders of the nonprofit community ski hill recently described as its greatest strengths: purity and nostalgia. Rotarun, which has recently run on a grand total of about $300,000 in annual operating income, has been on a simple mission since 1948 to stoke within the snow-sports pupils who flock to its slopes the fundamental joy of skiing and snowboarding.
“It’s like the anti-resort,” Rotarun Ski Area Executive Director Scott McGrew said. “This place belongs to all of us.”
Rotarun unlocks the thrill of skiing and snowboarding through its accessibility. Its most expensive day pass is $15. A season pass covering a family of up to five people is $300. It boasts a free ski school for kids ages 5-11, as well as multiple other programs. Kids under 5 ski free at all times. Everyone skis free—yes, free—on Wednesday nights. During the 2020-21 ski season, Rotarun gifted 3,688 tickets to kids and logged 11,195 skier days, according to its annual report for the year. During the 2021-22 season, Rotarun gifted 3,782 lift tickets to kids and logged 12,073 skier days.
“We’ve removed all the barriers to entry,” Rotarun Mountain Manager Julian Tyo said. “There’s so much ski equipment here. … If you’re cold, we’ve got some extra coats. We’ll keep you warm.”
Yet Rotarun’s success is far from guaranteed. It’s a member of what McGrew calls “an endangered species” in the winter recreation industry. More than 160 “mom and pop” U.S. ski areas similar to Rotarun have shut down in the last 30 years, according to Rotarun, driven out of business by industry consolidation and the climate change-driven decrease in the likelihood of consistent snowfall.
“They’ve got the boot on their necks,” McGrew said. “It’s really too bad, so we’re trying to do it differently.”
A series of snowmaking infrastructure developments on the mountain in recent years has been key to Rotarun’s sustainability in this challenging climate, ski area leaders said. Now, Rotarun is in a transition between mountain managers who steward its slopes. It’s welcoming a new mountain manager, Tyo, and saluting former Mountain Manager Riley Berman, who helped shepherd Rotarun through its snowmaking evolution. In Rotarun’s moment of transition, these ski area leaders during interviews with the Express reflected on Rotarun’s development and looked to the future.
“[Berman] pulled together family and friends and people who have a really strong heartbeat for this small ski hill thing,” McGrew said. “It just felt like you were part of something bigger.”
Read the full Idaho Mountain Express article here.
Thank You to the 100 Men Who Care: Wood River Valley
Rotarun receives $6,200 through Men Who Care’s January grant cycle
HAILEY, Idaho – February 26, 2024 – At the January meeting of the 100 Men Who Care: Wood River Valley, Rotarun was voted as a grant recipient in the amount of $6,200. This generous gift will support the learn to ski and ride programming along with general operating expenses, to ensure the community can continue to enjoy this special gem in Hailey, ID.
Rotarun offers free learn to ski and ride programming to children ages 6-11 and middle-schoolers through the Rota-Rippers and Rota-Ravens programs, along with free public skiing on Wednesday nights from 6-9 p.m. Lift tickets are $10-$15 on additional public skiing days including Friday 6-9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 12-4 p.m. Children five and under always ski for free. Family “Tribe” season passes and “Freddy’s Pass Program” make skiing for the entire family accessible in a sport that often comes with a cost barrier for entry.
Marty Lyon of Lyon Landscape Architects founded 100 Men Who Care in 2013. inspired by a quote from Margaret Mead. We couldn’t agree more with what Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
“We feel truly honored that our cause and our mission resonate with this incredibly impactful group,” said Scott McGrew, Rotarun’s volunteer Executive Director. “Since 1948, Rotarun has been the little mountain with a big heart for the kids and for the community, and while the landscape continually evolves, it is the collective effort of individuals like the 100 Men Who Care and others that help make the magic happen at Rotarun.”
Since its founding, the 100 Men Who Care have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to local charities. To learn more about the 100 Men Who Care, please visit: https://www.100menwhocarewoodrivervalley.com/
For more information about Rotarun, visit rotarun.org
Photo courtesy of Rota-Rippers Volunteer Coach Jonna Mendes.
This Fully Non-Profit Ski Hill Restored My Faith In The Ski Community
by
When you hear of a ski hill with 475 feet vert and serviced by a single Poma lift you might not get your hopes high for a great ski experience but let me tell ya, next time I’m in Hailey, Idaho I’m 100% returning to Rotarun aka “The little mountain with a big heart.”
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY!
Alta Questad Repeats and Walker Gove Claims First Win at the 2024 Arkoosh Cup
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HAILEY, Idaho – Feb. 19, 2024 - More than 200 skiers registered to race in the 2024 Arkoosh Cup at Rotarun Ski Area, where boys and girls raced head-to-head within their age groups on the dual giant slalom course on Monday. Family members and friends cheered on their kids, and the competitive spirit was high. Age-class awards were presented at the conclusion of the event for the U8, U10, U12, and U14 categories, and the Arkoosh Cup was awarded to the winning girl and boy of the U10 category. Their names will be etched into the Arkoosh Cup trophy, which has a permanent home in the base lodge at Rotarun.
The overall fastest times for girls and boys in the U10 category and winners of this year’s Arkoosh Cup were, Alta Questad crossing the line in 23.70 and Walker Gove in 23.75. Questad, a member of the SVSEF U10 Travel Team, also won the Arkoosh Cup in 2023 as an eight-year-old (first-year U10) in the U10 category.
“We want to give the biggest thank you possible to Riley Berman and the staff at Rotarun for providing an impeccable venue for the race, to the coaches and volunteers for their hard work, and to all the families who support their kids and help share the love of ski racing,” said Chuck Harris, Arkoosh Cup Chief of Race.
The Cup is named for the Arkoosh family from Gooding, who in 1957 gave Rotarun a 99-year lease for $1 per year. In 1993, the property was deeded over to Blaine County, with the underlying lease from the Arkoosh family intact.
“The Arkoosh Cup is a truly special day for us to celebrate and remember the family who made this place possible, and for us to continue to foster a love of ski racing among the youth in our community,” said Wally Limburg, Rotarun’s Board President. “The healthy competitive spirit and camaraderie among the kids, whether they’re new to the sport or more experienced, is just a great thing to see, and it’s an opportunity for the families to connect around something their kids enjoy and are excited to share with their parents and siblings.”
Since the mid-1960's, the Arkoosh Cup has seen winners like Picabo Street, who won the Cup in 1983 and eventually went on to become an Olympic and World Champion. Winners from more recent years are currently racing at the FIS elite level including Paige DeHart (2017), Jessica Blackburn (2016), and Haley Cutler (2009). Others have gone on to become SVSEF Alpine coaches, such as Sage Rheinschild (2012), Haley Cutler (2009), KJ Savaria (2008), Charlotte Gourlay (1999), and Amanda Stelling and Connor Farrow (2007).
TOP FIVE PER AWARD CATEGORY RESULTS
U8 Men:
- Ford Rixon
- Werner McNamara
- Ronan Currie
- Nathan Sattler
- Samuel Sattler
U10 Men:
- Walker Gove (2024 Arkoosh Cup Winner)
- Asa Sattler
- Evan McGregor
- Dylan Smiley
- Ridge Crist
U12 Men:
- Hunter Gove
- Kelby Harris
- Evan Logsdon
- Lachlan Hollis
- Logan Snell
U8 Women:
- Quinn Woodward
- Lark Johnson
- Palmer Burwell
- Ruby Rogers
- Isla Young
U10 Women:
- Alta Questad (2024 Arkoosh Cup Winner)
- Marie McNeal
- Kayla Kloster
- Dylan Spengler
- Sophie Robins
U12 Women:
- Nina Viesturs
- Sophie Kanowski
- Piper Gerald
- Avery Logsdon
- Sara Stevens
Complete 2024 Arkoosh Cup results are posted at https://rotarun.org/arkoosh-cup/
Photo of Alta Questad by Heather Foster
Opening Day for Rotarun Ski Area Set for Sunday, Dec. 31
Rotarun to provide free day passes for all on New Year’s Eve Day
HAILEY, Idaho – December 28, 2023 – Public skiing at Rotarun Ski Area will officially open for the season on Sunday, Dec. 31 from 12-4 p.m. Skiers and snowboarders are encouraged to come take a few turns with free one-day passes valid for Sunday provided at the ticket window.
The local La Parilla food truck will be onsite with tacos, enchiladas, burritos, burgers, and more for sale—the makings for a perfect tailgate afternoon with family and friends.
“We are excited to open the hill for free public skiing this Sunday afternoon,” said Riley Berman, Rotarun’s Mountain Manager. “While we’re not quite ready for night skiing with the limited snowpack, the hill is in great shape to come out with the family and make some turns to welcome the new year.”
Rotarun Ski Area is open to skiers and snowboarders of all ages and abilities and hill access is via one surface platter lift. Free parking is available at the base area. Public skiing hours are Wednesdays and Fridays from 6-9 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 12-4 p.m. Public skiing is FREE on Wednesdays from 6-9 p.m.
Individual and family season passes for 2023/24 are available at rotarun.org. Day tickets are available in-person at the Rotarun ticket window and children 5 years and younger ski for free. Rotarun also offers the opportunity to host birthday parties on-site.
For more information about Rotarun, visit rotarun.org
About Rotarun
Located just three miles west of downtown Hailey, Idaho, Rotarun Ski Area has been a community hub for local snow sports enthusiasts since 1948. Rotarun offers affordable youth snowsport programming and public skiing throughout the winter season. Since 2017, Rotarun and the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF), separate 501c3 organizations, have worked together to collectively further learn-to-ski and ride programs and advanced training opportunities for the youth of the Wood River Valley. For more information, please visit www.rotarun.org.
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SVSEF's Grassroots to Grand Stage Diversity Project Inspires Inclusion and Opportunity
Our friends at SVSEF announced an initiative aiming to bring our community’s children closer together through winter sport
SUN VALLEY, Idaho – February 28, 2023 – The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) has introduced the Grassroots to Grand Stage Diversity Project to inspire ethnic and cultural diversity, inclusion, and opportunity for historically marginalized children to participate in SVSEF’s competitive sports programming. The project aims to raise $100,000 to help support these children who show a desire to continue, improve, and advance as winter sport athletes.
The Grassroots to Grand Stage Diversity Project (G2G Project) is designed to integrate with current learn-to-ski-and-ride programming at Rotarun Ski Area and Quigley Nordic Trails. The project will provide further support and education for athletes and families as they pursue higher level journeys with SVSEF across the spectrum of snowsport disciplines, from alpine and cross country, to snowboarding and other SVSEF programs.
“The free learn-to-ski Rota-Rippers after-school program has been incredibly successful in getting first generation skiers on the mountain,” said Sam Adicoff, Volunteer Coordinator for the G2G Project. “As a volunteer Rota-Rippers coach, I noticed that each year there were kids that really loved the program and were yearning for more. That was the genesis for this Grassroots to Grand Stage Diversity Project—providing funding and support for these kids to move into the competitive SVSEF programs.”
Support through grants, donors, and key partners in our community is pivotal to the G2G Project’s success. Scholarships including ski passes from Sun Valley Company, equipment leases from Sturtevant’s and PK’s Ski & Sports, SVSEF tuition support, and other mission-aligned expenses are some of the means of support provided to these young athletes so they can fully engage in the process and the opportunity before them. Cultivating healthy habits, skills, and passions also contribute to the project’s intent to foster well-rounded child development for youth in our mountain community.
“We recognize there are both cultural and financial hurdles that need to be addressed,” said Scott McGrew, Executive Director at SVSEF. “The G2G Project is the seed that can grow and beget further opportunities early and often for local families—specifically athletic opportunities to inspire deeper awareness and inclusion, which we’ve seen have lasting and profound implications on the life of a child.”
Fernanda Hurtado was six years old when she took her first turns on skis as part of the Rota-Rippers after-school program. She was inspired while watching the 2018 Winter Olympics on TV and hasn’t looked back. Now 11 years old, Fernanda has learned and grown through SVSEF Alpine’s LASAR program, Baldy Devo and Mini World Cup teams, and is now a member of the Alpine U12 Travel Team. “My favorite thing about ski racing is the speed and the gates—it’s fun and it makes me feel good!” said Fernanda Hurtado. “There are many things I like about being a part of SVSEF, but my favorite thing is the people and coaches.”
“Fernanda brings a contagious smile and a positive, driven attitude when she is at ski team," said Adele Savaria, Alpine U12 Travel Team Head Coach. “She is making new friends in her age group, which has been awesome to see her only continue to thrive in this environment.”
Following in his sister’s footsteps, Octavio “Tavi” Hurtado, too found his first snow legs with the Rota-Rippers and has since discovered his love for the moguls on the SVSEF Freestyle Progression Team. “I love the jumps and the moguls,” said Octavio Hurtado. “The coaches and the community are what I like the most about SVSEF.”
“Athletes like Octavio are what make our program as special as it is,” said Alec Poster, SVSEF Freestyle Progression Coach. “Tavi inspires his peers with his work ethic and keeps the environment fun with his sense of humor. He’s an old spirit that continues to push himself and all who have the pleasure of skiing with him.”
“Whether Octavio is on the hill or in the air barn, he consistently pushes for improvement,” said Wyatt Wilson, SVSEF Freestyle Travel Coach. “I cannot wait to see the heights that his dedication will bring him to. And congrats on the flip!”
“SVSEF is like family for us—we are blessed to be able to have Octavio and Fernanda in these programs,” said Fernando and Nallely Hurtado, Fernanda and Octavio’s parents. “We can see how they have evolved in this world of skiing—it’s more than a sport for them, it’s their passion! The different programs they practice are an art of expression—they love and respect their coaches, and they look up to them.”
Athletes like Fernanda and Octavio, and families like the Hurtado’s, have really provided the inspiration for the G2G Project—and now an upcoming group of talented, determined, and powerful young athletes have begun to shape the desired goals and outcomes and will continue to help guide the future of the project.
Eight-year-old Eva Gonzalez, a 3rd grader at Alturas Elementary School in Hailey, is one young athlete who has helped grow the passion and idea for the G2G Project. Eva is on the SVSEF Cross Country Devo South Team and plans to join SVSEF’s LASAR (Learn to Alpine Ski and Race) program held at Rotarun.[RS1] She is an eager and determined young athlete with hopes and dreams of becoming the best skier she can.
Linda Hernandez is 10 years old and in 4th grade at Hemingway Elementary School in Ketchum. She is also on SVSEF’s Cross Country Devo South Team. In addition to skiing, Linda has been doing gymnastics for seven years, and like many kids her age, enjoys singing pop music and her favorite artist is Taylor Swift. Linda’s favorite thing about the Wood River Valley is the snow and her favorite thing about the ski team is she gets good exercise and it’s still fun!
“My husband and I think sports are important in our children’s lives,” said Sirlene Nunes, Linda’s mom. “My son and my husband snowboard but I don't ski downhill. About four years ago I had the opportunity to try cross country skiing and loved it, so the next season I asked Linda if she would like to try cross country with me and she loved it. That's how she started and now she is in her second year on the SVSEF development team.”
Ian Lozada attends Hemingway School in Ketchum as a 5th grader, loves math class, and aspires to be an architect when he is older. His parents came to the Wood River Valley over 20 years ago from Mexico and his father Hugo works for AC Houston Lumber. “My favorite thing about skiing is going fast downhill in the mountain environment with the forest around me,” said Ian, member of SVSEF’s Alpine U12 Home Team.
Justin Armas is a fourth grader at Hemingway Elementary School, where his favorite subject is science because he likes building things. He is skiing on both the Cross Country Devo North Team and the Alpine Baldy Devo Team and his favorite thing about being on ski team is going fast! Aside from skiing, Justin has been swimming and playing soccer for five years and started learning Jiu Jitsu last year. He wants to be a hip hop singer when he is older. Janet and Richard, Justin’s parents, are from Peru and have lived in Blaine County for 20 years. Richard’s first job was working in the Seattle Ridge Lodge for Sun Valley Company, and he is now self-employed as a painter and handyman.
People of color are vastly underrepresented in historically non-diverse pursuits like skiing. The G2G project takes representation as an initial step in shifting this narrative, while working closely with parents and community members to ensure the process is relevant and equitable. And sharing the impacts of the project with the broader community while celebrating through storytelling, fostering new and existing partnerships with our community, and highlighting the achievements of these young athletes will ultimately inspire a virtuous cycle of inclusion for generations to come.
The vision and goals of the G2G Project are designed to grow and expand as they gain community knowledge and financial support. Funds raised for the project will be utilized to support children identified through the grassroots programs who show a desire to continue, improve, and advance as winter sport athletes within SVSEF’s competitive programs.
The G2G Project will make long-term commitments to these dedicated athletes on the basis of annual reviews, and project outcomes will be measured by continued athlete participation, growth of the program, and athletic achievement.
To learn more or to support the Grassroots to Grand Stage Diversity Project, please contact Scott McGrew at scott@svsef.org or 208-726-4129.