2.24.2011
Team Spirit!
by Emily
Preparing for ski races not only involves being rested, fast skis, and good coaches, but also team spirit. In order to ensure that we had enough this weekend the girls decided to dye a strip of their hair blue. It was quite a complicated process involving bleach, shower caps, and blue bathtubs, but in the end the result was worth it. The blue should last for several weeks, so identifying us should be quite easy.
In order to be all in for team spirit we managed to convince Scottie and Jennie to temporarily dye their hair. At our organizing team dinner at the Montshire we gave them each a blue stripe as well.
Decorating the van before the final eastern cup has been a tradition for many years. On Friday before practice many of us did so. With a window marker we wrote this years van's name “the polar bear” on one side and all of our names on the other. The interior was adorned with streamers, balloons, and even an American flag. Ultimately it was quite a masterpiece and we were very proud of it.
Preparing for ski races not only involves being rested, fast skis, and good coaches, but also team spirit. In order to ensure that we had enough this weekend the girls decided to dye a strip of their hair blue. It was quite a complicated process involving bleach, shower caps, and blue bathtubs, but in the end the result was worth it. The blue should last for several weeks, so identifying us should be quite easy.
In order to be all in for team spirit we managed to convince Scottie and Jennie to temporarily dye their hair. At our organizing team dinner at the Montshire we gave them each a blue stripe as well.
Decorating the van before the final eastern cup has been a tradition for many years. On Friday before practice many of us did so. With a window marker we wrote this years van's name “the polar bear” on one side and all of our names on the other. The interior was adorned with streamers, balloons, and even an American flag. Ultimately it was quite a masterpiece and we were very proud of it.
2.18.2011
Thanks to the snow gods!
by Sam R
This winter has not only been an awesome skiing year, but also therefore an awesome grooming year. I have been grooming more this winter than ever, which is better some days than others. But no matter how many times I get stuck, it is awesome to be able to walk out the front door right onto fresh corduroy and newly set track. Living next door to the Mountain School, in Vershire Vermont, I have complete access to 5k of beautiful machined ski trails. Designed by John Morton, they have tight S-turns, rolling terrain, and a few steep climbs. Even though I have groomed and skied these same loops every week for the past four years I still have not got bored of them. Let's hope that it cools down and we can get a couple more months out of this awesome season! If you are ever Near Vershire, feel free to stop by for a ski.
This winter has not only been an awesome skiing year, but also therefore an awesome grooming year. I have been grooming more this winter than ever, which is better some days than others. But no matter how many times I get stuck, it is awesome to be able to walk out the front door right onto fresh corduroy and newly set track. Living next door to the Mountain School, in Vershire Vermont, I have complete access to 5k of beautiful machined ski trails. Designed by John Morton, they have tight S-turns, rolling terrain, and a few steep climbs. Even though I have groomed and skied these same loops every week for the past four years I still have not got bored of them. Let's hope that it cools down and we can get a couple more months out of this awesome season! If you are ever Near Vershire, feel free to stop by for a ski.
Backcountry Trek
by Spencer
A couple of Wednesdays ago we were blessed with a big snow storm. The predicted foot plus of snow was enough to close schools in advance. With this in mind, plans were made for a back-country ski through the woods of Norwich. Later in the day on Wednesday, 4 of us were able to meet at parcel 5. We planned to ski up Brown School House Road and then on to my house via the roadside fields. This turned out be easier said than done. The new foot of powder was both a blessing and a cursing; some of us ended up on the ground with surprising frequency. After 45+ minutes and several adventures with fallen trees, we emerged on Bragg Hill Road. Luckily the road had not been plowed recently, which made for nice and speedy skiing. Happy and soaked we reached my house and traded the skis for hot chocolate.
A couple of Wednesdays ago we were blessed with a big snow storm. The predicted foot plus of snow was enough to close schools in advance. With this in mind, plans were made for a back-country ski through the woods of Norwich. Later in the day on Wednesday, 4 of us were able to meet at parcel 5. We planned to ski up Brown School House Road and then on to my house via the roadside fields. This turned out be easier said than done. The new foot of powder was both a blessing and a cursing; some of us ended up on the ground with surprising frequency. After 45+ minutes and several adventures with fallen trees, we emerged on Bragg Hill Road. Luckily the road had not been plowed recently, which made for nice and speedy skiing. Happy and soaked we reached my house and traded the skis for hot chocolate.
2.10.2011
Race Report: Stowe 10/15k CL, Sun 6 Feb 2011
J1 girls: 10k CL
by Caitlin
Another Big Day at the Races
This sunday was the classic races for the weekend and had many of us pushing our distances: a 10k for the women and a 15k for the men. After Saturday night's wild weather, the roads were closer to a skating rink than drivable roads making the logistics of the morning a bit of a challenge. Our driveway was steep and icy so the van was decommissioned for the morning until the plow came with salt and gravel. In the mean time, we worked out an advanced shuttle plan to get everyone to their respective races on time and the house all cleaned out.
For the J1 girls, this meant getting to the race site an hour before our start. I personally prefer to get to races with only a little time to spare, sitting around the race site tends to be pretty intimidating before a race, so I actually liked our arrival time. I don't think the other girls are with me on this point; the time pressure was a bit nerve racking. But what ever happened before the start, we left it all at the start line and gave a good hard effort out there on the course. A classic 10k is one of the longer distance races we do each season and the Stowe course is especially mountainous. Overall it's a tough course but we all rose to the challenge and felt we had good races. The finish line was a bit of a scene as all of us hugged and congratulated each other, relieved to be done and infinitely proud of one another to be out there racing.
by Caitlin
Another Big Day at the Races
This sunday was the classic races for the weekend and had many of us pushing our distances: a 10k for the women and a 15k for the men. After Saturday night's wild weather, the roads were closer to a skating rink than drivable roads making the logistics of the morning a bit of a challenge. Our driveway was steep and icy so the van was decommissioned for the morning until the plow came with salt and gravel. In the mean time, we worked out an advanced shuttle plan to get everyone to their respective races on time and the house all cleaned out.
For the J1 girls, this meant getting to the race site an hour before our start. I personally prefer to get to races with only a little time to spare, sitting around the race site tends to be pretty intimidating before a race, so I actually liked our arrival time. I don't think the other girls are with me on this point; the time pressure was a bit nerve racking. But what ever happened before the start, we left it all at the start line and gave a good hard effort out there on the course. A classic 10k is one of the longer distance races we do each season and the Stowe course is especially mountainous. Overall it's a tough course but we all rose to the challenge and felt we had good races. The finish line was a bit of a scene as all of us hugged and congratulated each other, relieved to be done and infinitely proud of one another to be out there racing.
J1 boys: 15k CL
by George
The Sunday Classic Race:
Sunday was an eventful day for all of us, J2's had their regular 5K, J1 women had their 10K a beautiful 2 laps, and the J1 men had a lovely sight seeing trip around the course 3 times for a grand total of 15K. As the morning progressed we all began to notice that today wasn't going to be like the day before which was a lovely day. Sunday was a much cooler day, which led to more challenge when warming up. As the day progressed further on and our races drew closer and closer the time in the bus became much quieter as we mentally prepared for the first 15K of the season.
As we all got our skis on and went off to do our own race warm-up we had thoughts of what we wanted to accomplish in the race, it varies for all of us. And then as time dwindled down into the 15 minute mark we all gathered near the start to get our race skis and start getting the wax ready. And finally it was time to get into the tracks, and once that happens all of the thoughts that we spend time coming up with get flushed out and all you can do is focus on what is ahead. The grueling course of Stowe managed to take a lot out of us by the time we had managed to make it around 3 times, but with the help of spectators and coaches we all made it in.
Once it is over you realize that it wasn't that bad, no where near the trip to the underworld you were expecting. When we were all nice and "recovered" after the race the cool-down came next and once we were nice and relaxed and ready for the bus ride back we piled all of the remaining gear and headed out on the road. With the customary stop at Champlain Chocolates on the way.
2.07.2011
Race Report: Stowe 5k FS, Sat 5 Feb 2011
by Sam M and Noah
J2 Boys
They woke up at 645, ate breakfast at 7 and headed off to the races with the girls. There, they did an easy course preview loop on our training skis. When we got back we talked some tactics and then grabbed our race skis and headed off to warm up. Our warmups consisted of some speeds, hills, and work in level 3 (aerobic threshold). We got to our starts with 5 minutes to go, and got into line. Noah started just 15 seconds ahead of Sam M. and Tucker only a couple minutes behind as the Ford Sayre skiers left the starting gate with pride. The course began with a fast downhill, so we had to be extra warmed up before the race. By the first uphill Sam had caught and passed Noah, but Noah wasn't going down without a fight! The two skiers flew around the twisted trail, passing other racers as they went. At the end of the biggest uphill however, they were quite fatigued. Noah passed Sam at the top and somehow (with the help of the amazing Ford Sayre training they had been through) they powererd up the last two brutal uphills and ended up 4th (Sam), and 6th (Noah). Meanwhile, Tucker had motored up the first uphill and skied strongly around the rest of the course (somehow pulling through the brutal hills at the end) and finished 19th. Overall, the Ford Sayre J2 Boys represented the team extremely well, and lent much credence to how much Vermont skiers excel on the hardest courses.
J1 Boys
no words yet from this crew - thanks to Janet for these great photos!
J2 Boys
They woke up at 645, ate breakfast at 7 and headed off to the races with the girls. There, they did an easy course preview loop on our training skis. When we got back we talked some tactics and then grabbed our race skis and headed off to warm up. Our warmups consisted of some speeds, hills, and work in level 3 (aerobic threshold). We got to our starts with 5 minutes to go, and got into line. Noah started just 15 seconds ahead of Sam M. and Tucker only a couple minutes behind as the Ford Sayre skiers left the starting gate with pride. The course began with a fast downhill, so we had to be extra warmed up before the race. By the first uphill Sam had caught and passed Noah, but Noah wasn't going down without a fight! The two skiers flew around the twisted trail, passing other racers as they went. At the end of the biggest uphill however, they were quite fatigued. Noah passed Sam at the top and somehow (with the help of the amazing Ford Sayre training they had been through) they powererd up the last two brutal uphills and ended up 4th (Sam), and 6th (Noah). Meanwhile, Tucker had motored up the first uphill and skied strongly around the rest of the course (somehow pulling through the brutal hills at the end) and finished 19th. Overall, the Ford Sayre J2 Boys represented the team extremely well, and lent much credence to how much Vermont skiers excel on the hardest courses.
J1 Boys
no words yet from this crew - thanks to Janet for these great photos!
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