Whitefish residents and U.S. Regional Telemark team members Maggie Doherty and Cole Schneider returned home last week from competing in World Cup Telemark ski races in Germany and Austria. They joined two other U.S. Telemark team members, Shane Anderson, of Cody, Wyo., and Cory Snyder, of Franconia, N.H.

The trip marked Doherty’s first World Cup race series, and it was Schneider’s first experience racing on foreign soil. In 2010, Schneider competed in the World Cup races held in Colorado.

“I had some good races and some bad races, but overall it was a very enjoyable experience,” Schneider said. “It was very exciting competing with the best in the world.”

Schneider posted two top-30 finishes between the races in Bad Hindelang-Oberjoch, Germany, and Rauris, Austria. Doherty’s best finish was 14th in the giant slalom at Rauris. Both racers are proud they were able to finish in all five of the races. The series in Slovenia was canceled due to rain and lack of snow.

“It was an incredible experience,” Doherty said. “To be exposed to that caliber of racing was phenomenal. I was humbled and learned a lot. Now I have a better sense of how to train and what to do to go fast.”

In March, the two will travel to Norway for the World Cup Finals in Norway. This month, they will compete in two races in Idaho and Montana, including the Don K Subaru Sprint Classic at Whitefish Mountain Resort on Feb. 26.

The upcoming sprint classic on Big Mountain will feature a GS-style course, jump and skating for competitors in a two-run format. New this year is the added novice category geared toward first-time Telemark racers. The race is offering categories for elite, citizen, junior and novice competitors.

 “The feedback from last year’s Nationals race was so positive that we plan to set this course in the same location,” race organizer Linda Hobbs said.

The course will take racers from the top of Chair 5 and down Ptarmigan Bowl. A few elite Whitefish racers are expected to race, such as five-time national champion Kelsey Schmid-Sommer and former world champion Reid Sabin.

Registration for the race will be held at Ed and Mully’s from 7:30-9 a.m. on Feb. 26. Cost is $30 and helmets are required. Prizes, raffle items and Big Sky Brewing beer will be available following the race at the awards ceremony.

Volunteer course workers are needed. Contact Linda Hobbs at 862-3303 to volunteer or with questions. More information can be found online at www.ustsa.org.