Ashley, a valley resident who preferred not to give her last name, said she was impressed with how the event came together and was even more excited for the tentative World Cup races next year.

“Hopefully, with the World Cup next year I will be able to spectate from the course,” she said, as she only watched the Alpine Championships from the spectators area below the finish line. “It’s just cool to see all of this with all the racing culture and history we have here.”

Paul Cressman, a part-time Sun Valley resident whose daughter and grandchildren live in Hailey, said what he appreciated most about the event was how kind all the athletes were.

“My granddaughter probably collected about 30 signatures [from athletes],” he said. “And the nice thing is how approachable all of them were. They’re just easy to talk to.”

Athletes said the event was well-run and the skiing was fun.

“Being a local, the first time I saw a race like this [on Baldy] was probably 2010,” Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation racer Lowie Watkins said. “So it’s exciting getting to race on this hill and have all my best friends watching.”

Ryder Sarchett, a competitor hailing from Ketchum, said he felt a bit of added pressure because he was competing at his home mountain. But he said it was a great experience all in all.

“I love it here—it’s my favorite place and my favorite mountain,” he said. “I’m just really happy to be home.”

Husband and wife Jerry and Jeri Edelbrock, of Hailey, rode their bikes up along the Wood River Path to see their niece, former ski racer Foreste Peterson, coach some of the young athletes entered in the races.

“We are so proud of her, and it’s great to have her energy around here,” Jeri said. “One of her racers came in second yesterday!”

Jerry said the level of help from volunteers at the event was nothing short of amazing.

“So many locals putting up their own time for the past four days, it’s great,” he said.

Adam and Shana Angel, of Hailey, were beyond impressed with the level of skiing they saw over the weekend. They said one of the coolest parts of watching was getting to see professional athletes take on a race course made of ski runs they enjoy in an average day on Baldy.

“It’s incredibly exciting to get to watch this level of skiing right here,” Adam said. “It’s particularly fun to watch the local kids race it at a higher level without having to travel. That’s the extra level of excitement. Just watching the kids that have grown up here have a chance to go toe to toe with stiff competition.”

Kevin Douglas had his eye on a particular skier. He traveled from Vail, Colorado, to watch his daughter, Maizy Douglas, compete. He was not a ski racer himself, so he considered it extra special watching his daughter do what she does best.

“She started at the local ski club and just really took to it,” he said. “There aren’t too many races where [the whole U.S. Ski] team is here, so it’s special.”

Peggy Wiley, a new Ketchum resident, said she has fallen in love with how involved the town is.

“There’s a lot of culture and the whole town participates in everything,” she said.

She said the most impressive part of the skiers she watched on Sunday afternoon was their rhythm.

John, who preferred not to give his last name, agreed. A resident of Hailey, he said that he gave up skiing a few years ago as he grew older but felt inspired to get back on the hill after watching the racers do their thing.

“Walking through the Warm Springs parking lot, the old stomping grounds, put a smile on my face and made me think maybe I should go back,” he said.

Across the street from the festivities, the legendary Irving’s Red Hots cart had a slew of customers lined up to buy its cheap and delicious hot dogs. Two kids taking a break from the hill discussed their favorite parts of the day over a few chili dogs while a father helped his young daughter decide what she wanted. Mountain Rides buses dropped off excited riders in front of the Warm Springs Lodge.

Wiley said the most exciting part of the day was buying a proper ski racing cowbell.

“A family member of mine qualified for the Olympics in Lake Placid, and the big things were cowbells,” she said. “So I got one of my own.”

Ashley, who preferred not to give her last name, said she loved the slushy skiing conditions this time of year brings and was excited for the next couple weeks of ski season at Sun Valley Resort.

For many skiers, spring promises fun laps clad in Hawaiian shirts followed by food and beverages at the lodge. For the athletes competing in last weekend’s races, it marked the near end of another competitive season and the beginning of off-season training.

Wendy, who was standing by the road waiting for a ride and preferred not to give her last name, said the best part of the day was the prize winning skiers walked away with—and she wasn’t talking about their medals.

“They got a ten- or twenty-pound box of Sun Valley potatoes,” she said with excitement. “I saw a girl walking with her skis and a big box of potatoes, and I told her, ‘Congrats, you must have gotten first!’”