What a difference a week can make, especially in the Yin-Yang world of IC Ski Racing. A week ago at Butternut we were struggling to keep our composure and focus on the “Tao of Ski Racing.” Timing issues galore interrupted the smooth transition between boys’ and girls’ classes. We are not completely certain as to why two courses were necessary. At Catamount, we make no distinctions between U7s and U14s when it comes to setting courses. We do not designate terrain for U7s only. The Catamount race bares testament to our younger racers’ up and coming racing prowess. If they can manage the terrain during a grueling training session, they earn the right to race “IT.” In comparison, Butternut terrain falls way short of Catamount’s degree of difficulty, yet younger racers were assigned a less challenging course to race. What lesson did we take away from the Butternut experience? For one, whatever road we travel , it’s a good idea to know when Yang is upsetting our Yin and vice versa.
Not wanting to dwell any longer on Butternut , I feel the Tao is encouraging us to move toward the light. The light being Catamount Race Day. For the first time this season, one hundred enthusiastic Catamount IC racers entered the start gate. My tally sheet indicates that 51 boys and 49 girls respectively demonstrated their ever-improving race skills, techniques and strategies. After a challenging training day on Saturday, on less than favorably conditions, some members of the coaching staff were experiencing aggida in anticipation of questionable surface conditions for race day. Oh contraire, conditions couldn’t had been any better. The night groomers laid down a beautiful carpet, the course setting crew set a line to our racers’ delight, and our racers responded with glee as they performed admirably. No timing issues; Lindsy made sure of that. Ski patrol positioned on their ready alert, and when needed for assistance responded with no hesitation. It was a joy to watch IC graduates forerun the course. Coaches ever present with encouragement for their racers. Parents volunteering in all capacities; you betcha. Thanks Peter. Prompt tabulation of results, Oh Yea! The race was completed with plenty of reserve time to allow families to travel to their destination and root for the Jets or Patriots. What a day!
A number of patterns across age classes are beginning to surface between races. In each of our races to date, Cat U7 boys have attained quite an unprecedented accomplishment. They have secured the top 5 spots in every race. Several other classes have come close to sweeping the podium also. Our interclub league is divided into 14 classes; 7 classes for girls and 7 for boys. Over the course of the past two races, Cat racers have earned 7 first place finishes at each race. In other words, 50% of the first place honors have been bestowed upon Cat team members. Our racers accumulated a total of 26 top 5 podium spots for the day, boys 16 and girls 10. Stretching the results out to top 10 achievements we note that a total of 47 racers, or close to 50% sizzled through the course. 27 boys and 20 girls skied fast enough to make it to this bracket. Very few faults, DNF/DSQ, were recorded for the day.
We have two bye weeks and then back-to-back races to complete the 2016 season. We will shift gears over the course of the next several weeks and begin preparation for the Otis SL and Bousquet Combi. Thanks for the continued support. A few more snow events would be nice.
Regards,
John Greaser