More wildlife - Heads up for the UVM Carnival!

Following in our adventures with the porcupine earlier this week, Friday's training at Trapps on the race course gave us a close encounter with some young deer. For all you Carnival skiers coming to race next weekend, keep your eyes out between the 2.7km and 3.4km points of Morty's Maze. As Bear and I were skiing down the hill after the 3k mark, he suddenly pointed to the right, where no more than 6 feet off the trail a young deer was just sort of hanging out. Being a conscientious college ski racer out for training, he didn't stop. On the other hand, I'm a slow coach, so I'm more than happy to throw in a tele stop to check out the critters. For a couple minutes we had a stalemate. Maybe the deer was aware of the "no walking on the groomed trails" rule? A few minutes later Sam and Larissa came along at the 2.7km mark. I'm sure they wondered why I was just standing in the middle of the trail looking back up the hill. Once I tipped them off to the deer, who at that point was just starting to move across the tracks, we did a collective "check it out" for a few minutes. And then they noticed 2 more deer just 10-20 yards in front of the first one. This trio was showing no fear, as we were no more than 30-40 feet from them at times.

I'm sure the collective energy of a few hundred EISA skiers and their coaches and fans will chase the deer deeper into the woods during the races Friday and Saturday. But for those of you coming to train Thursday, if you're here late afternoon keep your eyes open and you may get your own close encounter.

Oh course, just like the porcupette, no pictures! Someone on this team needs to start training with their camera.

By the way, wanted to send a Thank You to Patrick Weaver and the UVM team for setting up the opportunity for a time trial with them yesterday on the Trapps race course. Very useful workout for our crew, hope we can do more of this in the future.

And finally, from the entire team to our assistant coach Lary Martell - Congratulations on a good race in the Craftsbury 50k yesterday.

(posted by Joe)

Colby Carnival-wax it up

Well, this is a tad (as in very) late but it will be a heroic recount of the SMC nordic team's conquest of Augusta, Maine. Stay tuned. . .

To start the weekend off we rolled up (or down a hill related to Everest) to the new ski venue Bond Brook. A preview of the course led to the discovery of a luge run at the 4k mark of the 5k loop. Thankfully for some and sadly for others after the coaches meeting the crazy downhill was ousted from the course. This turned the race loop into a 3.3k which both the women and men did three times on Friday and twice on Saturday.

The team got to stay at the luxurious Quality Inn of Augusta which boasted flat screen TV's and a complimentary continental breakfast (with Lucky Charms). We of course took advantage of that. The only problem was the waxing situation seeing as we had to set up our benches outside the hotel and it was kind of freezing. But if it's ok for the Big Green and the Ephs and the Crimson it's ok for the Purple Knights too. Also, unbeknownst to us, waxing is a spectator sport that somewhat sketchy men who stay at Quality Inns enjoy watching. Seriously, some guy was intrigued.

Friday..epic conditions for a classic race, heavy snow in Augusta most of the day...led to Bear's best collegiate finish with a 37th place out of the EISA varsity skiers.

Only 23 seconds out of NCAA points...making progress

The women's team did not see their best races this season, but Saturday brought better fortune. The races on Saturday were 6.6k skate relays and they were super fun. The course was kind of a slow 6.6k, but as Joe would say 'it was the same for everyone.' The women's team actually had the best relay finish that SMC has seen since 1999, AWESOME! Poor Larissa, however, was forced onto a team with two SLU girls at the last minute. I'm sure the girls were nice, but Larissa didn't know she was going to race until 45 minutes before, ahhh.

Larissa, Katlyn, Sam and Gabi...Looking happy after their relay

Afterwards, we watched Bear kill the hills like a champ on a team with two Harvard kids (thanks Torin & Kevin!). Nice job St. Mike's mens team. The 5 hour (approx.) ride back to SMC was full of cookies, sleep and glory. I think we can all take away a little something from this race: Joe knows how to drive up the sides of mountains.

Wednesday Night Worlds

A Sleepy Hollow tradition, so named by my original team back in 2002, Wednesday nights means Wednesday Night Worlds. Not sure if it was Mike Payne or Spencer Powlison or maybe Matt Mollo that came up with the name, but in any case we must have said it around the front desk of the lodge often enough that it's now become the semi-official name. If Eli uses the phrase, it counts! We don't get a chance to race WNW often enough due to the Carnival schedule, but with an off weekend between the Colby and UVM Carnivals, tonight was the perfect chance to have the team put on the bibs and mix it up on 3 laps of Sleepy's 2k night loop. This loop has it all-a short sharp climb, a longer easier climb ("easier" being relative), and a couple of small quick ups, plus a few flat sections that you have to work, a long easy straightaway downhill, and of course, a chance to bomb down the Tina Turner Trail with a hard left at the bottom. Great workout for sure that tests everything!

Gabi says "Not skiing in a t-shirt tonight"



Katlyn...digging in for the last V2 section before the big downhill

(posted by Joe)

Colby Weekend Pics

With not a lot of time on my hands before my next class I've decided to just throw out some fabulous pics from the weekend and send you HERE to see my thoughts on the weekend in Augusta, ME.

If you don't feel like doing a lot of reading just check these out for a visual...

Friday - Classic 10k

Bear skiing to 37th



Gabi



Larissa

Kat

Saturday - Skate 3x6k relays

Last leg of a team consisting of 2 Harvard skiers and Bear



Gabi scrambling



2nd leg - Kat

The tag

3rd leg - Sam

The 3rd leg of a relay consisting of Larissa and 2 SLU skiers.

You can find the rest of the Colby pictures along with pictures from every carnival HERE. Expertly taken by Coach joeconn.

Also, check out the Alpine Team Blog for an update on their weekend!

Porcupette

I'm just saying but is this not the cutest creature ever?? Our porcupine didn't quite look like this baby munchkin but he was still wicked awesome!

EPIC Nature Sighting January 25, 2011

As we skied at Sleepy Hallow this fine afternoon, we happened upon a most marvelous prickly creature. (drumroll please!) It was a PORCUPINE! He was just sitting up in a tree chillin' like a villain and munching on some nom nom, which, for him was some pine bark. He would crawl back and forth on the branch eating. He was quickly named Herman by Kat, (all I could come up with is Porky, which, is really unoriginal. I did learn later though from the outdoor hero (my mother) that baby porcupines are called Porcupettes and I think that'd be a pretty cool name too!) Sadly, being the super intense skiers that we are, we couldn't watch him forever which I totally would have done, and skied back down the trail to work on some skating technique. We skied back up and during our talk it over time, the porcupine decided that it wanted to switch branches, and in the process of trying to move promptly fell out of the tree. It was hilarious! He was fine, shook off his quills and went about his business of eating bark. He was awesome. But he does not replace our desire for a pet Hedgehog.

On a skiing note, sleepy was awesome, great snow, great trails! We'll be doing some sort of race there tomorrow, WOOT WOOT for 6K skate races!!! Should be a fun time! Unfortunately now I must continue my copious amounts of homework, (boo!) Until next time world, Rizzle out! (Larissa for those of you who are unaware of my gangsta name....)

Czech it out!

Hey everyone, Silke here. Just dropping you a line from the Czech Republic. I'm here and have finally started to settle into the routine. The first few days of the European race tours are always really crazy.

We left from Burlington airport on the 19th, unfortunately since we were delayed in Burlington, we ended up missing our connection from Philadelphia to Frankfurt. Lucky for us, there was a mostly empty flight heading from Philly to Munich not too much later. We made that flight and ended up grabbing a connection from Munich to Prague earlier than we had planned. Personally, I got 4 seats to myself to sleep on the flight over to Munich, so I couldn't care less that we missed our original connection.

After finally getting to Nove Mesto we discovered that team USA has actually taken over a small hotel. We got all our stuff put away, and went downs stairs for "Adidas Christmas". The uniforms are pretty this year (I don't look like a Smurf!). The food is actually amazing, which makes me really happy (for those of you who don't know, eating is one of my main hobbies).

We raced for the first time today, a Czech cup to warm up for worlds. Not my best race, but a good time to get out all the nerves on the new course. I came 17th, which I can handle, hopefully I continue to improve as the races progress.

Alright, I feel like I am starting to ramble. If you want to hear more about how my Czech adventure is going Czech out my blog!
*giggle giggle giggle*
Anyways, there are pretty pictures on my blog! Look at them!

Miss you guys! Good luck at the Carnivals!
Silke

The Jumps

Today we went on a ski jumping adventure! (Don't worry we didn't jump!) Here are the photos from this epic adventure!

USA ski jumping team member Mike Glasder!

Ski jumper Chris Lamb! (please note the epic shot!)

After watching for a little while we had a dance party...

Larissa and Kat breaking it down!

Colin joins our dancing fun!

We looked at snow flakes for a little while...

SO beautiful!

SNOW FLAKE (taken by sam's awesome camera!)

Colin, Bear, and Gabby chillin'

Colin, Gabby, and Bear

After this we headed up the elevator, up to the very very top!

Epic angle! SO STEEP!

I creeped and got a photo of the ski jumper chillin waiting to fly!

And then with frozen feet and chilly faces, we headed back to the van! Until next time, SMC Nordic out!

-Larissa

P.S. When things go less according to plan. Featuring our own Colin Delaney.

I'll be out there cheering. Look for the guy with the crutches.

-Colin

Pics From the Week

Larissa's update gives a great description of the last week or so. Check out my blog for some pictures!

-Sam

LAKE PLACIDDDD!!!!!

Hey everybody, Larissa here again!! We're here now in Lake Placid awaiting our first carnival of 2011!! I personally am excited and a little nervous! Lake Placid is AWESOME! This is my first time here and I am really enjoying all the old olympic stuff! When I was little I always wanted to be in the olympics so to see a place where it all happened is pretty wicked! We had a fantastic day today, skiing at Mt. Vanhovenburg (pardon if I butchered the spelling of that...) we pretty much skied in the massive dumping of the storm last night and it was pretty awesome! It was essentially back country skiing which is always fun! Me Sam and Kat skied to the Biathlon range and pretended to shoot with our poles which was fun :) It was a good ski which we finished with crepes and a walk around lake placid! Dinner was eventful with the setting off of the smoke alarm for the second time today, and dessert was yummy, milk shakes from Stewards! But enough about food, more about skiing! Before we came to Lake Placid on Tuesday, we started winter camp at my house in Jackson, NH! Skied for three days at Bretton Woods, which has AMAZING snow! Intervals with Lary, Sam, and Bear on Wednesday, then two longer skis on thursday with the ladies, and a 2.5 hour ski on friday to finish up our NH stay. It was fun and tiring! We headed back to SMC on friday afternoon, on our own for cooking, which is always interesting! Skied hard on saturday and sunday with an off day for me on monday. Then we came to Lake Placid which effectively leads us up to today! It's been an awesome trip so far and looking forward to the races this weekend!! Hope everyone had a great holiday season and until next time, cheers!!!

Update from Sam

I'm doing laundry (thanks mom) and packing up my stuff so I can head out for our winter camp. We're heading to Larissa's house in Jackson, New Hampshire for a few days on Wednesday morning. With the lack of snow we'll be one of many schools heading in the direction of Bretton Woods for some solid k's. We'll be back in Burlington on Friday and will head out for Lake Placid early next week. We'll ski for a few days there before the St. Lawrence carnival marks the beginning of our colligate race season.

The few days leading up to the big move back to school have been relaxing and it's hard to believe the break's just about over. Most of SMC still has two weeks, but with all the skiing they'll fly right by and before you know it I'll be heading into my nice and roomy 13 credit semester.

It's been incredibly warm and the Northeast has had a major melt down. This has been problematic for pretty much everyone. It's probably safe to say that those scrambling most are the people in charge of US Nationals at Black Mountain in Rumford, ME.

The YouTube clip is an interview with the chief of course, which should give you an idea of the predicament they've been in.

It seems Black Mountain has been making it happen, which is pretty impressive. There's a chance I may be heading up on Wednesday to watch the 15k as it's only an hour or so from Larissa's. I've been keeping an eye on results and blog posts (particularly Adam's) and following my brother and others as they race through the wet conditions. The most impressive finish to me was the 18th place finish from Colby's John Dixon. I know him through Adam and have seen him race since high school. His results just keep getting bigger and better.

For now I'm baking brownies, watching a movie, and enjoying my last real time at home until March.

My brother, Evan, skiing for BMA at Nat'ls.
("Borrowed" from Adam)

More snow on the way (hopefully) so cross your fingers!!

- Sam

Congrats Silke!

12/30/10 press release from the US Biathlon Association:

"Following the successful conclusion of the trials events today the US Biathlon Association International Competition Committee named the following athletes to the 2011 Youth World Championship Team. The Team will represent the USA at the Championships at Nove Mesto in the Czech Republic from 29 January through 5 February 2011.

Youth Women: Carly Wynn (Saratoga Biathlon, NY), Kelly Kjorlien (Mt. Itasca, MN), Silke Hynes (VT Biathlon), Tara Geraghty-Moats(Craftsbury, VT)"

I wish I had gotten a chance to attend the trials races. From looking through the results posted at http://www.eabiathlon.org/ it looks like Silke was one of the most accurate shooters on the range. In each of the 3 races she had only 2 misses, highlighted by a 0-0-0-2 in Wednesday's pursuit race.

Congratulations Silke!

(posted by Joe)