Stratton ECups and Sugarbush Vermont Cup

As many of you are aware, the girls are into the heart of their season. We have been training hard since the beginning of November, and now it's go time! The team split up last week after departing from Smuggler's Notch. Most of the girls shifted gears, from training tech to speed. They have been working hard on the hill and prepping their skis for this week's FIS Super G series at Okemo. During that time period, Kristie Ryan and Kara Van Herwarde competed in 4 Eastern Cup Tech races at Stratton. This race series was stacked with NCAA Division I collegiate athletes, provincial team skiers, as well as other racers from ski academies. Ryan had a great showing during the first, 2 day GS series. She started bib 81 the first day and moved respectively up to 50th position. She geared up and did it again on the 2nd day! Kara was skiing well in the first section called "the beach". Unfortunately, she took a spill right over the roll over, where I started filming.
We endured some less than optimal weather during the slalom series. The lift wouldn't start on the 2nd day due to the ice that had accumulated, so the athletes practiced their skating and slipping skills until we were able to hold first run at 11am. Ryan skied well until straddling an exiting gate, coming out of the flush. During the 2nd day, Kara skied sections very well during 2nd run. We drove home in a whiteout, which made the 2 hour drive back home an adventure!
Yesterday, the whole team competed in a GS Vermont Cup at Sugarbush. After a 59 minute delay, due to timing issues, the race kicked off. We came down to a rough start for the first run, but saw vast improvements by certain athletes on the 2nd run. Kelly Rowland moved from 25th position after 1st, to 15th overall (coming in 8th on the 2nd run). Jessie McNeil moved from 37th to 26th position, after skiing the first pitch very well. Jocelyn Werle was 24th, Michelle Martin 39th, and Kara Van Herwarde 41st.
We have one day of training before heading to Okemo for Super G. Afterwards, the team will split up once again. The J2s will be staying on the speed track, going to NH for a 4 race super g series at Attitash. The J1s will be heading up to Collingwood, Ontario for a 4 day tech series. Stay tuned for results!

Slalom at Smuggs!

The girls wait for the awards ceremony after day 2.

This past weekend, we took the majority of the team up to Smuggler's Notch to race a slalom series. The girls competed against other Vermont schools such as SMS, GMVS and even St. Michael's College. On Saturday, we raced in abnormally warm weather for Smuggler's Notch. The track was soft, but the girls made the best of it. Even when it started to rain for second run!
Our better conditions and results came on Sunday. The surface firmed up, so the track held up much better than the day before. Kristie Ryan raced down first run to finish in 3rd place. Ryan was having an awesome 2nd run, but came into the flush (that Stags set!) too straight. She straddled the combo, then hiked. Our top KMS athlete was Jessie McNeill. McNeill finished 9th overall (6th for j2s). Our rookie, Alyce Ritchey was right behind her after first run, finishing 11th, then straddled a gate towards the bottom of 2nd run, (once again, on Stags course).
Rounding out the top 20 were Jocelyn Werle (14th), Kelly Rowland (15th), Michelle Martin (19th) and Heather Desino (20th). The girls agreed that they had an alright race series, but are hoping to podium and round out the top ten later in the season.
This week, Kristie Ryan will be competing in a 4 day Tech Eastern Cup series in Stratton. The rest of the team will be training and shifting gears to focus on speed events. The team is in to compete at the Eastern Cup Super G series at Okemo on Jan. 15th and 16th. There will be a lot of super g skis to prep and wax in the near future!