Hey U19 Parents and Racers!
Welcome to the 19-20 season! Your coaches are very excited to meet and work with you to improve your skills and get faster! Your coaches this year are: myself, Troy Amuso, Doug Mann, Mark Colman & Lars Andersson.
We’ve had some great work by all on Sunday, Dec 15 on fundamentals with the focus on balance & stance while getting our ski legs back; and this past weekend as we worked on an active inside ski and the role of a pole plant in SL stubbies and full gates.
Holiday Race Camp
Race camp this year begins on Thursday, December 26th and ends on Monday, December 30th. Be prepared to ski SL on Thursday & Friday with pole guards, shin and chin guards. Our first race will be GS on Monday, December 30, and SL on Tuesday, December 31 @ Berkshire East (Beast). So we will begin GS specific gate training for it Saturday and Sunday. Training on Monday will TBA. There will be no official training from December 31 – Jan 3.
Tuning & Equipment
Just a few notes for the start to the season. First, make sure that your equipment is properly tuned and waxed. SL skis should be tuned to a 0.5 (or 1) degree base bevel and 3 degree side bevel. GS skis should be tuned to a 1 degree base bevel and 3 degree side bevel. This should first be done by a reputable ski shop. In lower Westchester, I recommend Hickory & Tweed and Pedigree Ski shops (Pedigree has a new Wintersteiger machine!). Up near the mountain we currently recommend Mike Steven’s Black Diamond Tuning Shop and are looking to others as well. Boots should not only fit correctly but should have the appropriate flex. Please ask your coaches if you have any questions regarding equipment.
Video and Still Photography
Special thanks to Raphael Kummer-Landau for volunteering to take video and stills of training at Catamount. Stills will be available through the following link: SmugMug link (password: “catamount”). I encourage your racer to purchase a training bib through Raphael Kummer-Landau and Ethan Leifer to more easily identify them during video sessions.
Video analysis will be conducted at the end of each training day in the Taconic Lodge at 2pm and available at Sprongo.com by email invitation. If you’re not a member yet, please contact me with your email address.
Finally we really need parent volunteers to take video during our races. Not only is it great visual feedback for our racers afterward but also proof that our racers did not DSQ or DNF if a protest is needed. Please let me know if you’re able to help out the team this season!
Looking forward to a great season with your continued support!
Coach Pat
“Ski fast…Take chances”