- U14 State Championship Thank You March 18, 2014Thanks to everyone who stepped up to make our U14 State Championships a success. The program director heard from every program in the state and each one had very positive things to say about the race and our program. Unlike most of the other programs in the state, we’re a SMALL community based organization that only holds a handful of races each year. In contrast, some programs hold up to a dozen races and require parents to “volunteer” to work 6 or more races! To help put this in perspective, our total U14 team only has 24 athletes. Some programs sent many more than this to the State Championships! Although we may have lacked race experience and people power, we clearly made up for it with enthusiasm and community support. Kudos to all! Special kudos:
- Gerd for his tireless efforts each day. I worked side-by-side each day and after he ran me into the ground, he continued to make sure every detail was accounted for. If it wasn’t done, he got it done. He was often first on the hill and last to get off.
- Jim Healy, Race Coordinator, for helping plan and coordinate the weekend.
- Suzi Curtis for making sure EVERY athlete walked away with a smile and style. Did I mention she also coordinated sweatshirts, goodie bags, logos, etc., for the U12s too?
- Jay Rozzi, Chief of Race, for making sure the training day and race days ran smoothly. He spent many hours in preparation for this race and he executed perfectly.
- Liz Hackett and the registration crew. You handled the masses and kept things running smoothly.
- U14 coaching staff who made sure our kids had positive attitudes while skiing fast!
- Countless other volunteers who stepped up beyond their min worker requirements to help make sure this was a success. Corey, Erzo, Petra, Edie, Karen, and all the other parents who make being part of this organization a joy.
- Maintaining the Jumps March 14, 2014
Thanks to the Byrne Foundation and many donors, the ski jumps at Oak Hill got much needed improvements this year. They are located just to the north and east of the parking lot at Oak Hill.
Continue reading → - Junior skiers excel at end of season races March 13, 2014
2014 USSA Cross Country Junior (J2) National Championships
March 1-9th, 2014 at Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe, VTThree local skiers qualified for the New England team competing in the National Junior Championships for cross country skiing: Ford Sayre and Dartmouth skier Sam Merrens (MU20, age 18-19); Ford Sayre skier Adam Glueck (MU16, age 14-15); and Norwich, Vt. resident, independent affiliation skier Kirsten Miller (FU16, junior women, age 14-15). This was quite a distinction as it designates the best junior skiers in the country. Adam Glueck achieved All-American status with his 6th place finish in the 5km classic race on Monday, March 3rd. The New England team took back the biggest prize in national junior cross country ski racing, winning the Alaska Cup as the best team at the 2014 USSA Junior National Championship. Last year the Alaskan team had bested New England when the championships were held in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Other local skiers of interest were Erin Perryman FU20 who is a Lebanon High School grad, currently skiing for St Lawrence University and Zane Fields MU18 who skis for the Woodstock ski team. Norwich resident, Elise Hardy FU18 raced for the Far West team as she currently attends the Sugar Bowl Academy in California.
Individual Results
Sam Merrens (MU20, junior men, age 18-19)
23rd (out of 54 competitors) in Mon., 3/3/14, Individual Start, 10k Classic, 30:00
38th (out of 52 competitors) in Friday, 3/7/14, Mass Start, 15k Freestyle, 42:43Adam Glueck (MU16, junior men, age 14-15)
6th (out of 63 competitors) in Mon., 3/3/14, Individual Start, 5k Classic, 14: 57* All American status
26th (out of 61 competitors) in Friday, 3/7/14, Mass Start, 5km Freestyle, 14: 00 (Adam was taken out of contention early by a large crash on the downhill section after the start)Kirsten Miller (FU16, junior women, age 14-15)
35th (out of 63 competitors) in Mon., 3/3/14, Individual Start, 5k Classic, 18:10
13th (out of 63 competitors) in Friday, 3/7/14, Mass Start, 5km Freestyle, 15:08organizer’s website: http://www.jn2014stowe.com/
full results: http://www.jn2014stowe.com/results
see more photos at: http://losborn.smugmug.com/share/FordSayre
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NENSA J2 Championships
March 7-9, 2014 at Rikert Nordic Center, Ripton, VTFord Sayre skier and Hanover High School student, Sara Spencer, racing for the New Hampshire team:
36th (out of 92 competitors) on Fri. 5K Freestyle. 16:32
34th (out of 94 competitors) on Sat. 5K Classic, 20:11
28th (out of 94 competitors) on Sat. 1K Freestyle sprint , 4:58Ford Sayre skier and Thetford Academy student, Erik Lindahl skiing for the Vermont team
18th (out of 95 competitors) on Fri. 5K Freestyle 13:32
54th (out of 96 competitors) on Sat. 5K Classic, 17:22
13th (out of 96 competitors) on Sat. 1K Freestyle sprint, 4:09Team Vermont came in first place of the five states (NY, NH, VT, MA, ME)
organizers website: http://www.frostmountainnordic.org/j2champs.html
full results at: http://www.barttiming.com/XCski/j2f2014.htm
- Wednesday AMP Cancelled March 12, 2014
The Wednesday AMP is cancelled today March 12.
However, if you have Ford Sayre bib, you may gain access to the mountain from 12:30 until 4:00. You can organize your own group, ski with your own kids. Kids that have a helmet sticker may ski from 12:30-4:00. Parents may purchase a ticket and ski with kids that have a helmet sticker. Unfortunately there is no access for the Kindergarten program.
To be clear, the roads are treacherous, two cars off the road already this morning. There is no Ford Sayre support, either in the lodge or at the lifts. Kids with helmet stickers must ski with an adult.
The Skiway expects 4-6 inches of heavy wet snow by this afternoon. This type of snow is difficult to ski at the level of most of our kids. It is not like the light fluffy snow we had earlier in the year.
Other than that, have a great time!
Continue reading → - Jumping at Oak Hill March 10, 2014
All these young Ford Sayre athletes jumped on the K32 last night.
K32 is the largest of the ski jumps at Oak Hill. Ski jumps are measured from the point of entry into the air to the bottom of the landing hill where it begins to flatten out. That “critical point” on the landing hill is referred to as the “Kritische Punkt” in German, hence the “K” in the name.
Continue reading →