Hi everyone!
Just in case we set a SL and GS training course on Saturday, please bring both sets of skis, poles, helmets & armor.
See you on the hill!
Coach Pat
“Ski fast…Take chances…”
Hi everyone!
I just got word that the Bousquet GS race has been rescheduled to Saturday, February 4th!
All times and race information still apply.
See you this Saturday for SL training and then at the BEAST for our race!
Cheers,
Coach Pat
“Ski fast…Take chances…”
Hey everyone!
I can’t thank everyone enough for the amazing teamwork shown on Saturday for GS training on Lower Alley Cat and the last minute change of equipment and plans for SL training on Sunday with the cancellation of our race. The 9:00am start for GS training on Saturday was probably the earliest I’ve seen in my short tenure at Catamount and only happened with the careful work between the mountain, ski patrol, coaches and parents! The training itself was very productive as improvement in confidence and technique was seen for every single racer. Many thanks to the parents who came to help in the morning and then again at the end of the day to break down the “B” netting.
Race Registration
Saturday SL Training – Race Slope
Sunday SL Race Day – Berkshire East “Beast”
Registration generally runs from 7:30am – 8:30am on the 2nd floor. We usually try to sit together on the 1st floor. The cafeteria is usually open and the food is pretty good. Inspection usually runs an hour with the start of the race at 9:30am. The order will run exactly as Bousquet would have. U12 Girls/U12 Boys/U14 Girls/U14 Boys. 1st run will be C-D-A-B and the 2nd run will be D-A-B-C. Inspection for the 2nd run generally starts about an hour after the end of the 1st run.
Looking forward to seeing you this weekend!
Coach Pat : )
“Ski fast… Take chances…”
Hi everyone,
Peter Chudy and the Parent Association have generously provided membership for all Tri-state racers to Sprongo.com, a great coaching/video website that both Lars and I have used for a couple of years now. However we need your help in providing a single preferred email address so that we may send an invitation to join the team online. Please only provide ONE email address as each email address counts as one membership. Please click on the link below to place your racer’s name and preferred single email address so that we may continue with Sprongo’s registration. On this website, you can access your videos, “pro” videos, use slow motion, side by side viewing etc.
The sooner you fill in your racer’s information in the provided Google Sheet, the sooner you’ll be able to access videos from your home computers or your phones!
Sprongo Registration Information
Thanks for your cooperation!
Coach Pat
“Ski fast…Take chances…”
Hey racers!
Great work last weekend from focusing on timing on Saturday and gradually working from Lower Catamount to Lower Alley Cat on Monday. Big thanks to Lars, Charles & Chris for setting a course that was U12/U14 “friendly.” And special big thanks to our parents who came to the course to help with fencing both in the morning at 8:20am to set up and at 12:15pm to break down! Coach Greg Smith and Andy Levin get a special “Pat-on-the-Back” for dragging 2 bundles of fencing from the bottom to halfway up the course!!
And what a great turnout for Sunday’s video analysis of the Butternut SL race and indoor session! Special thanks to Coach Doug and Coach Sonia for their hours of preparation in uploading video and creating the Google Slides presentation. If you didn’t get to see the video, you will be able to see it on Sprongo.com. Look for an invite in your email to join the website, courtesy of Peter Chudy and the Parent Association. Please click on the embedded link for Sonia’s Google Presentation.
Saturday Training
Just a reminder to everyone that our first GS race is held at Bousquet this coming Sunday. We will be training on Lower Alley Cat on Saturday along with the U16’s and with timing. Training on Lower Alley runs from 8:30am – 12:10am and we will again need parent assistance at 8:20am and 12:15pm to set up and break down fencing. A reminder to racers to remove your chinguards. Although protective for SL training, they can lead to neck injuries if worn during a fall at high speed during GS training.
Race Registration
Race Day
Registration at Bousquet starts at 7:30am on the 2nd floor of the lodge. Course inspection begins around 8:30am and the race begins at the end of inspection (between 9 & 9:30). Make sure to get there early so your racer can get a proper inspection of the course. They are responsible for making their way to the start BEFORE their bib # is called. If a racer misses their start, they will automatically be placed at the end of their age/gender group. The order of this (and every) race is as follows: U12 Girls; U12 Boys; U14 Girls; U14 Boys. The 1st run at Bousquet will run C, D, A then B. The 2nd run at Bousquet will follow the order D, A, B then C. My apologies for the correction for last week’s race order. At the end of the 1st run, the course is reset and then opened for inspection. The 2nd run usually begins about an hour after the last racer finishes from the 1st run.
Please feel free to ask if you have any questions regarding training or the race!
Go Catamount!
Coach Pat
liupatrickm@gmail.com
“Ski fast…Take chances…”
Hey Racers!
Just letting you know our plan for tomorrow.
We will be training on Lower Alley Cat and Lower Catamount from 8:30am – 12noon. Be prepared to have your GS skis, forearm guards (optional) and remember to remove your chin bar from your helmet. Please meet your coaches at the bottom of the Quad at 8:25am to warm up. Then from 1 – 2pm, we will be skiing GS specific drills to help prepare for our 1st GS race at Bousquet.
Parents we can really use your help in putting up fencing. Due to safety issues, no one can practice on the GS training course until proper fencing is set. Please be ready to board the Quad at 8:20am sharp (you do not need poles) and come to the pumphouse on Lower Alley Cat where you will be directed on how to help put up fencing! The quicker we get the fencing up, the quicker your racers can get on the practice course!
Then at 12:15pm, can you please come back to the top of the training course on Lower Alley Cat to help break down, roll up and carry/drag the fencing to the finish shack at the bottom of Lower Alley Cat. This season, the mountain has asked all Tristate coaching on Alley Cat to end by 12:30pm so that they may groom and open up the terrain back up to the public.
We’re excited to see you all tomorrow!
Ski you later!
Coach Pat
“Ski fast…Take chances…”
Hey everyone!
Just a reminder that Coach Doug has video of each racer from the Butternut SL (Thanks Coach Doug!) and will share it tomorrow in the Taconic Lodge from 12noon-2pm along with Coach Greg (Thanks Coach Greg!) and Coach Sonia’s presentation on SL & GS turns, terminology and how skills apply to each discipline (Thanks Coach Sonia!).
Please feel free to free ski (on your GS skis!) tomorrow but meet at the TV in the Taconic Lodge for the video/presentation.
Cheers,
Coach Pat
“Ski fast…Take chances…”
Hi everyone!
We are calling for parents to volunteer early on Saturday morning to help the U19 coaches set up safety netting on Lower Alley Cat in order to train for GS. The higher speeds and relatively narrow trails require “B” netting to be set up before racers can train. Once the netting is set up on Saturday, it can be kept up until Monday when the U12/U14/U16’s take the hill to also train for GS.
Please be ready to board the Quad at 8:20am without your poles. A coach should be there to direct parents to locate and carry/drag bundles of netting from skier’s left at the flat before the Pumphouse to the practice course on Lower Alley Cat.
Mark Colman, Ken Tingley and Ken Tingley, Jr are the U19 coaches and they will help direct you with the netting.
Then on Monday at 12 Noon, please come help break down the safety netting (no poles please!). The netting has to be tied into bundles and brought to the finish shack located at the bottom of Lower Alley Cat.
Please email me at: liupatrickm@gmail.com to let me know if you’re available to help out!
Thanks so much in advance!
Cheers,
Coach Pat
“Many hands…light load!!!”
Hi everyone! Here are the plans for this weekend’s GS training in preparation for our race at Bousquet on Sunday, January 22.
AM – Race Slope
8:30am – 11am
Flat – Apex drill with GS rhythm course
Flat to Dropoff – GS rhythm course with turning brush above and below the gate
PM – Race Slope
12pm – 2pm
Flat – Delay gates in GS
Flat to Dropoff – GS rhythm course with brushes marking the transition.
Sunday 1/15
Monday 1/16
AM – Lower Alley Cat (with the U16’s)
8:30am – 12pm
GS training
PM – Drills on Race Slope and/or Catamount
1pm – 2pm
Make sure to remove your racer’s SL chin guard from their helmet!
Looking forward to seeing everyone this weekend!
Coach Pat
“Ski fast…Take chances…”
Dear U16 parents,
Last weekend we had a good GS race at Berkshire East. The conditions were excellent, the set was very appropriate for a first race of the season and our skiers looked strong. The U16s were split up on Sunday with some racers at a U19 SL race and some training GS at Catamount.
This weekend is a three day weekend. As with other holidays, the mountain is expecting a lot of visitors on Sunday therefor the two training days will be Saturday and Monday. The current plan is:
Saturday 1/14/2017 8:30a – 12:20p – GS Training on Lower Alley Cat (with the U19s). Help with b-netting may be needed to speed-up the setup process.
Sunday 1/15/2017 – No formal on snow training, free-ski in your GS skis, practice your favorite drills.
Monday 1/16/2017 – 8:30a – 12:20p – GS Training on Lower Alley Cat (with the U12/14). Help with b-netting may be needed if anyone is available.
See you all Saturday!