Hey U16 Racers and Parents!
I just got word from Berkshire East that the GS race this Saturday has been postponed. No date has been provided for its rescheduling. As soon as I hear I will share the new date with you.
Instead we will train SL on both Saturday and Sunday in the AM and drills in the PM. Please be prepared with SL skis/poles,and chin/shin guards. Meet Coach Pat at the Quad at 8:25am sharp to warm up!
Cheers,
Coach Pat
“Ski fast…Take chances…”
Hey U16 racers and parents!
Thanks for a great race camp! And thanks again to everyone today in helping to set up and take down B-Netting so that we could train safely on Lower Alley Cat. I think it took a record 10 minutes to break down the course and fencing!
Since many of our racers are heading to the Beast for the SL Shaefer Cup and no one let me know that they would be coming to the mountain tomorrow, training is cancelled for the day. Everyone is welcome to come to the mountain to ski and Coach Sonia has arranged for a SL course to be set by 9:30am for the morning. If anyone would like to hop on the course, I’m sure Coach Sonia would welcome you!
Have a Happy New Year, good luck to our racers tomorrow and see you all at the Beast next Saturday for our 1st race of the season! (GS)
Cheers to a great week!
Coach Pat
”Ski fast…Take chances…”
Hey U16 racers!
It was cold outside but the skiing was hot, hot, hot!!! Great focus today despite the cold feet and hands and we look to improve even more tomorrow and Saturday!
Optional Slalom training for Beast Shaefer Cup Racers tomorrow
All racers planning on racing @ Beast this coming Sunday have the option of training slalom with the U19’s on Lower Alley Cat for the full day tomorrow. Everyone else will be training GS tomorrow on Race Slope.
GS Training Plans for Friday and Saturday
We will be training on Race Slope tomorrow and on Lower Alley Cat on Saturday. Volunteers will be needed on Saturday morning at 8:40am at the Pump House on the top of Lower Alley Cat to set up B-netting then again at 12:30pm to take down the course and B-netting at the end of the training session. Please find me (Coach Pat) tomorrow in the Taconic Lodge to let me know that you will be able to help! (You won’t need your poles, they’ll just get in the way)
SL training for Beast Shaefer Cup Racers Saturday PM
All racers planning on racing @ Beast this coming Sunday should come prepared with BOTH GS & SL gear (skis, chin/shin guards, GS & SL poles/pole guards) on Saturday. After training GS on Lower Alley Cat in the AM and a quick lunch, head over to Race Slope to join the U19’s for SL training.
As always, please be ready to meet Coach Adam at 8:25am sharp! And at the end of all training sessions report to the top of the course to help break down!
Cheers,
Coach Pat
“Ski fast…Take chances…”
Hey U16 parents!
Parent volunteers
Just letting you know that Thursday, Friday and Saturday we intend on training GS. If we are lucky enough to get onto Lower Alley Cat (hopefully on Friday) then we will need a lot of help setting up B-netting as soon as the lifts open. Coaches will take an early load on the Quad and begin setting at 7:45am. If parents can meet at the pump house as soon as the Quad opens for the public, we can get the course ready for racers by 9am! Training on Lower Alley Cat ends at 12 noon. We will let you know if the B-netting needs to be taken down at that time!
Beast Shaefer Cup
If your racer is planning on racing at the U19 SL Shaefer Cup at Berkshire East this coming Sunday, you must register by Friday at noon. After that will be considered a late registrant subject to a $20 late fee. Saturday is the last day to register.
Here is a link to adminskiracing.com.
If there is any racer planning on attending the Shaefer Cup, bring BOTH SL and GS gear with you on Saturday. You can train GS in the AM and join the U19 SL training course in the PM.
Please remind your racers to be outside next to the Quad by 8:25am to warm up, and at the end of the day to return to the course to help break down the course and ski out the berms. Thanks so much for your cooperation!
Cheers to a great week of training!
Coach Pat
“Many hands…Light load…”
Hey racers and parents!
Welcome to the 17-18 season! Your coaches are very excited to meet and work with you to improve your skills and get faster! Your coaches this year are: Charles Gagnon, Adam Nielsen and on occasion, Carl Forcheski.
It was great to see everyone this past weekend where we worked on fundamentals such as balance and stance; edging and pressure. My thighs still hurt from our 1-ski skiing off the triple chair on Sunday!!! We will continue to work on fundamentals this coming Saturday with the focus on angulation in the AM and starts/finishes in the PM. Please come prepared to train in your SL skis with no armor or chin guard.
There will be no official training on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. However Coach Adam has generously offered to ski with any U16 who would like to ski as a group for a 1/2 day on Sunday, Christmas Eve!
Holiday Race Camp
Race camp this year begins on Tuesday, December 26th and ends on Saturday, December 30th. Be prepared to ski SL on Tuesday and Wednesday with pole guards, shin and chin guards. Our first race will be on Saturday, January 6th, GS @ Berkshire East (Beast). So we will begin GS specific gate training for it Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Although there will be no official training on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day, Coach Charles has also generously offered to ski with any U16 who would like to ski as a group for a 1/2 day on Sunday, New Year’s Eve!
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. Up at the mountain we currently recommend Mike Steven’s 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.
Looking forward to a great season with your continued support!
Coach Pat
“Ski fast…Take chances”
We have only a few days to finalize an order for ski team jackets. We need a minimum order of 25. They will be the same style as last years. The orders must be in by Thursday April 6th.
Youth Sizes only.
Here is the link to order the jackets:
https://squareup.com/store/catamount-race-team
Greetings IC Parents,
Bousquet Coaching Staff and a return to winter conditions provided our contingent of IC racers with an efficiently orchestrated race. Several members of our coach cadre, Mac and Doug in particular, stepped forward and contributed additional logistic support to ensure smooth sailing (racing) throughout the day.
Compared to our home-based race, fewer racers, 42 boys and 39 girls, trekked to Bousquet. Non-the-less, our racers were energized and closed out a successful season on the up beat. 17 boys (40% of total) and 14 girls (36%) achieved podium status. An additional 13 girls (70% total) and 11 boys (67% of total) completed their season with top 10 finishes.
Throughout the season our U13-15 racers provided a spark to the overall success of the team. Numerous racers from this class achieved consistent podium status. As a group (8 boys and 3 girls) they have earned the right to advance to Tri State for next season. In terms of age and overall ability prowess, they demonstrated that they are prepared to continue their development within the Tri State system. Bravo!
We also witnessed consistent podium finishes from our 11-12 girls and boys as well. Our coaching staff supports and encourages these racers to consider continuing their technical and tactical advancement at the Tri State level of competition. Parents can check with individual coaches for additional feedback. Potential age limits may be introduced on a league basis for next season stipulating an upper level age cut-off for competition. Stay tuned.
A strong turnout for our annual dual GS challenge provided a vigorous and enthusiastic ending to our race season. Thanks to everyone, racers, staff and parents who participated. As is typically the case, the smorgasbord was superb. Hopefully everyone savored the home-style waffle selection provided by the Dohr family.
In parting here are a few pearls of wisdom gleaned from the book, Mastery… by George Leonard:
“We fail to realize that mastery is not about perfection. It’s about a process, a journey. The master is the one who stays on the path day after day, year after year. The master is the one who is willing to try, and fail, and try again, for as long as he or she lives. When your’re climbing a mountain, in other words, be aware that the peak is ahead, but don’t keep looking up at it. Keep your eyes on the path. And when you reach the top of the mountain (podium, finish line, promotion, etc.), as the Zen saying goes, keep on climbing.”
Please share with your racers.
Regards,
John Greaser
We will be having a Parents Association meeting at 2PM on Saturday. We will be discussing planning for the next year and potential enhancements to the program. Meeting is open to all parents.
Hey everyone,
Since the Garden State Ski Club has cancelled their races on Saturday, I will be setting a “fun SL” course on Race Slope on Saturday.
Cheers,
Coach Pat
“Ski fast…Take chances…”
There has been a request to change the timing at bit. We should have a dual course GS set up by 10AM which is a perfect time to have our racers beat their parents
We are planning for lunch at 12:30 with awards to follow.