Durango, CO – Local alpine ski racers of the Durango Winter Sports Club, Brynley Feistner and Amelia Pierantoni, have achieved major milestones in their competitive skiing careers, earning selection to the prestigious Rocky Mountain Division (RMD) Team, an honor reserved for the region’s most exceptional young athletes.
RMD encompasses a broad and highly competitive territory including Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and Southeast Wyoming.
To qualify, athletes must perform among the top eight in their age group across the entire region – a benchmark both Durango skiers accomplished. The previous athletes in DWSC to accomplish this were Gracey Hening, Izzy Washburn and Nick Unkovskoy.
Feistner and Pierantoni secured their positions with standout performances throughout the season and at last year U12 and U16 Championship events, respectively. Season races and the championships tested athletes across multiple disciplines, including Downhill, Super‑G, Giant Slalom, Slalom, and Parallel Slalom. Their results showcased not only top-tier speed and technical skill, but also the consistency, resolve, and competitive maturity that set RMD athletes apart on a national scale.
Coaches and supporters describe both skiers as disciplined, driven, and exceptionally coachable – athletes who combine natural talent with a relentless work ethic. Throughout the season, their ability to pair precision with fearless racing placed them consistently at the front of the field, earning well-deserved recognition among the division’s rising stars.
Selection to the U14 and U16 RMD teams places Feistner and Pierantoni within an elite pipeline of U.S. Ski & Snowboard development, widely regarded as one of the most competitive divisions in the country. As members of the RMD Team, they will gain access to advanced training opportunities, higher-level race environments, and a pathway toward future regional and national success.
That momentum continued last weekend as DWSC’s U14 group delivered a standout qualifying performance. On Feb. 21–22, four Durango alpine racers, Feistner, Zaria Smith, Nora Scheid, and Wiley Robinson, competed in the U14 Rocky Mountain Division qualifiers at Powderhorn in Mesa. All four athletes skied extremely well, and all four qualified for the Rocky/Central Junior Championships, a major achievement and a strong statement about DWSC’s growing depth and competitiveness.
The qualification selections are based on performances in designated U14 qualifying events, such as the event at Powderhorn and the U14 Super G at Breckenridge from Jan. 24-26. It’s a modified World Cup point system with the best three of six races used, with only one Super G result allowed for scoring. Ninety-five athletes from the Rocky Mountain Division and Central Division qualify for the championships
For Feistner, Pierantoni, Smith, Scheid, and Robinson, these accomplishments represent the reward of countless hours of training and the beginning of an exciting next chapter.
