HOOD RIVER — The Hood River Valley boys and girls ski teams will compete in the 2026 Oregon Alpine Ski Racing State Championships on March 5-6 at Mt. Hood Meadows.
The Eagle girls, the defending team champion, will be led by four-time state meet competitor Zoe Mortensen and two teammates — Arlie Sparling and Eliotte Walsh — who also have state meet experience. Rowan McKenna, who led the Eagles in Mt. Hood Ski Racing League events this season; Rosina Hart; Lucia Kunkler; and Wren Eaton round out the HRV state roster.
McKenna, Sparling and Mortensen finished 1-2-4 in combined league racing this past season. Sparling, Mortensen and Walsh were part of the HRV state title team in 2025, when the race was held in Ashland.
The girls will compete in slalom on Thursday and giant slalom on Friday.
The HRV boys, who finished sixth at state in 2025, return three skiers from that team, including four-time state qualifier Lars Welch. Welch has finished sixth, fourth and ninth in combined individual racing at state his junior through freshman years.
Also back for the HRV boys team with state experience is four-time qualifier Jess Aubert and two-time qualifier Beckett Eaton. The Eagles are bolstered this season by Harrison Kunkler, who finished No. 3 in combined race finishes this league season. HRV’s Kunkler, Welch, Aubert and Eaton ranked 3-5-7-8 in league races, attesting to the team’s depth.
Wyatt Stewart, Gage Aubert and Damian Hochhalter round out the Eagle boys roster at state.
Boys slalom racing is March 5 with giant slalom competition on March 6.
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