The Jackson Hole Ski & Snowboard Club's Nordic Program raced in the final Intermountain Junior National Qualifier at Jug Mountain Ranch in McCall, ID this past weekend. 
Here are some weekend highlights.

On Saturday, February 11, we had an interval start Freestyle race. Luke Brecheen was 5th for the J3 Boys 3km. Peter Neal was 4th for the J2 Boys 5km. Sara McCandless, Mariah Bredal and Reily Gibson were 7th, 8th and 9th respectively in the J2 Girls 5km. Luna Wasson was 7th for the J1/OJ Girls 10km. Nick Lovett had a great day, in the first 5km lap he was steady with the field, but he wanted more. On the second lap of the course he really put the hammer down and wound up winning the J1/OJ Boys 10km by over 1 minute. Lars Schou also had a very strong day finishing 6th in the J1/OJ Boys 10km. 

On Sunday, February 12, we had a mass start Classic Race. The 5km course for the J2 and J1/OJ races featured a couple of challenging hairpin turns, these turns in combination with firm snow conditions made for very exciting races. The day started off with the J1/OJ Boys, and the Jackson crew had 9 racers in this field. Due to the tricky, multi-layer klister waxing, the Coaches did not get all of the boys their skis on time for the race. As the field was lined up getting the final instructions from the starters, Nick Lovett ran to his number 1 starting position and clicked into his skis. The technical delegate, then told Nick to step off the starting line, which he did and the gun went off. Nick waited for further instruction from the TD, but when he received none, he chased after the field. Tyler McIntosh clicked into his race skis about 30 sec after the gun went off. The excitement for the boys did not end there, Gus Pierce's binding came loose in the start and after about 100m, one of his skis was no longer with him, causing Gus to turn around and back track for the ski.

Out on the race course the boys were all working together and moving up through the field. Taking advantage of their fast glide and great kick. When the dust settled for their race, Lars Schou and Riis Wilbrecht finished 5th & 6th respectively. Nick was able to move up to 16th, Gus moved up to 26th and Tyler moved up to 28th. Needless to say it was a wild start for the day. The excitement wasn't over yet though, as JHSC still had twelve racers to go for the day. In the J1/OJ Girls race. Luna Wasson just missed the top 10, finishing a strong 11th. Next up were the J2 Boys, when the dust settled for this group, Peter Neal crossed the finish line first for the win and had the fastest time of the day for all age groups. Eric Brecheen was having a strong race until he took a big tumble out on one of the hairpin turns. For the J2 Girls Reily Gibson and Sara McCandless unfortunately both found Eric's landing spot and also took big tumbles out on one of the hairpins. Mariah Bredal managed to stay on her feet through that spot, but also took a couple of tumbles in other spots on the course. But the J2 Girls still had strong finished, Reily, Sara & Mariah finished 8th, 10th & 11th respectively. For the J3 Boys, Luke Brecheen again had a strong day finishing 5th in the J3 Boys 3km.

These were the final Junior National Qualifying races. In order to qualify for the Intermountain Junior National Team, the athletes must compete in at least three of the six qualifying races. The athletes are ranked using their single best Skate result plus their single best Classic result plus their next best result of either technique. In order to qualify J2 athletes must be in the top 9 of the points list, and J1/OJ athletes must be in the top 12. The 2012 Junior Nationals will be in Soldier Hollow, UT, March 5-10. 

Congratulations to JHSC Athletes qualified for the 2012 Intermountain Junior National Team:
J1/OJ Boys 
Nick Lovett - (ranked 2nd)
Lars Schou - (ranked 10th)
J1/OJ Girls
Luna Wasson (ranked 13th) - 1st Alternate
J2 Boys
Peter Neal - (ranked 3rd)
J2 Girls 
Reily Gibson - (ranked 7th)
Sara McCandless - (ranked 10th) - 1st Alternate

EARLY WINTER NORDIC SCENE

Light, little snow flakes are falling at Trail Creek as I write this, I hope that these flakes come together to form a deep, strong layer throughout Jackson. Although the snow is somewhat thin, the skiing at Trail Creek has been terrific the past month.

Fall Training

The IMD Team was busy training four days each week after school and three mornings each week before school; running, roller skiing, lifting, and doing yoga. All of the athletes improved on their Testing Week results throughout the dryland period. Dryland training is like "money in the bank," the kids put in hours and hours of training now, so that when the winter comes they know that they have a great base to propel them through the racing season.

Miles Yazzolino getting his hands up high and over his hips, Charlotte Pierce getting over each ski and Gus Pierce bringing his hands and his hips up in some drop-in Classic rollerski intervals.

Thanksgiving Training Camp - West Yellowstone, MT

With over 6 months of dryland training under their belts the IMD Nordic Team was super excited to head to West Yellowstone for a week of on-snow training and racing. The kids skied hundreds of kilometers in West, took daily naps and even had the energy to race at the end of the week! Thanks to the many families that helped put together our biggest Thanksgiving Feast - I think that over 60 mouths were fed by this crew!

Peter Neal, Chris Watters & Cole Hammond (the J2 Boy Crew) fueling up while Molly Lovett & Mariah Bredal enjoy the view up on the South Plateau during the annual Adventure Ski in West.

Sam Wiswell getting after it in the first race of the year, and Riis Wilbrecht finishing strong at the West Yellowstone Super Tour.

Highlights from the first High School Races - Casper & Cody

The IMD Team was then off to the first Wyoming High School Races for some fast skiing & fun times. The first race was the annual night Sprint Relays in Casper. The Boys had a strong showing finishing with a one/two punch and the Girls team finished a strong second place. The following day was a 5km Classic and the Jackson Crew kicked some serious butt with six Jackson boys finishing in the top ten, and four Jackson girls finishing in the top ten.

Chris Watters heading to a 27th place finish, Sam Wiswell heading to a 2nd place finish, Reily Gibson heading to an eigth place finish & Graham Marousek heading to a 3rd place finish - Cody HS Race 2011.

Molly Lovett heading to a 14th place finish, Tyler McIntosh heading to a 10th place finish & Timmy Watters heading to a 28th place finish - Cody HS Race 2011.

Next we headed to Cody, WY for a relaxing weekend of training and racing. We are so lucky to be able to enjoy the Pahaska Tepee and ski right out our door. The boys continued their strong efforts with eight Jackson boys finishing in the top ten on Friday in the Skate race, and another six Jackson boys finishing in the top ten on Saturday in the Classic race. The girls also had a stellar weekend of racing with three Jackson girls finishing in the top ten on both Friday for the Skate race and Saturday for the Classic race.

Peter Neal heading to a 5th place finish, Luna Wasson heading to a 3rd place finish & Wilton Springer heading to a 33rd place finish - Cody HS Race 2011.  

Congratulations to Nick Lovett for a great start of the Wyoming High School racing season.  With four race starts under his belt, he has four first place finishes as well.  Great job Nick!

For a complete look at the Wyoming High School race results, clickhere.

Junior Nordic & Development Team News

It has been such a pleasure to get to know and ski with all of the Junior and Devo athletes so far this season.  The teams are filled with characters and amazing upbeat attitudes and I feel very lucky to get to know all of you in this beautiful place and... while participating in such a fun and challenging sport.  Every 3 weeks the one or two skiers who show the best attitude, who are the most supportive of their teammates, and who give their best effort during the training sessions are rewarded with a handmade buff.  Those athletes who have shown these exceptional qualities so far have been: Michelle Slaughter, Sydney Wiswell, Reed Carlman, Nick Fenn, Bjorn Schou, and Max Polito.  Congratulations!  - Nina Clark, JHSC Junior Head Coach

Click HERE for the Junior Nordic training schedule and HERE for the Devo training schedule.

Teewinot & Lollipopper Teams

I am looking forward to skiing with the Lollipopers and Teewinots.  This year each skier will receive a Grand Teton chart and the challenge will be to see how far up and or across each skier can go by the end of the season.  The skiers will be able to fill in the distance of all of the days that they ski, with and without the team.  As this is the first season we have included the Lollipopers (ages 6 & 7) as their own group I think back to the beginning of the season in West Yellowstone.  At West Yellowstone Ski Festival the oldest (95 year old man) and youngest (6 year old girl) were brought up on stage.  It is known, but rarely shown so dramatically, that Cross-country skiing is a life long sport and I truly hope that the Lollipopers fall in love with the fun and challenge of skiing and enjoy it until they are 95.  - Nina Clark, JHSC Junior Head Coach

Click HERE for a look at the training schedule.  

Masters Nordic Training Program

After the first month of on snow training with the Masters crew, things are just getting started with more snow at Trail Creek and a consistent crew showing up for primarily technique training sessions. After covering the body position fundamentals in Classic and Skate, we have moved on to more specific technique drills in an effort to fine tune efficient skiing. Along with video review and critique, we will be moving into a more fitness based phase as the race season picks up and our technique improves, while always remembering how technique fits into the equation. If you're reading this the day of this release, come out and join us at 11a.m. at Trail Creek for Classic intervals in preparation for the Betty Wolsey race on Saturday. We will be doing 3 longer intervals on a 3 kilometer loop to emulate more of a race pace. We meet regularly on Monday and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to about 1 p.m., depending on the workout. I hope that you will join us. - Ben Morley, JHSC Masters Coach

Check out the Masters Training Schedule HERE.

Trail Creek Trails

Thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole, discounted lumber from Jackson Lumber and hard work of the US Forest Service and Ski Club a new bridge and trail has been added to the Nordic trail system near the Big Rock Access Trail. The new trail will separate users allowing for dedicated access up to Big Rock for walkers and snowshoers as well as a skier's only Nordic track for young athletes and Master's Skiers. The new track will connect with Trail Creek trail system leaving the traditional access trail for the walkers and snowshoers. Now we just need some new snow and we will be able to use this great new trail!

Click HERE for a look at the daily grooming report.  

UPCOMING FUN

Some things for you to keep in mind this week...

Holiday Bonfire - Wednesday December 28th

Please Bring: Your skis for the luminary race - AND - Something to Share for the Grill - AND - Something to offer the Snow GODS!?Let's celebrate the arrival of the racing season! Fire will be lit about 5:30.

Equipment Check Out Night - Friday December 30th

This upcoming Friday evening we will be doing our final Gear Rental night at the Trail Creek Cabin. We will be fitting kids from 5-6pm that evening. Please send Nina your children's foot size, height and weight so that we can streamline the fittings. Thank you and I look forward to seeing you soon!

Betty Woolsey Classic Race - Saturday December 31st

Start Time is 10am. Entry fee is $10. 
Distances: 10km, 5km, & 3km

Teewinot & Lollipopper Teams - Tuesday January 3rd

Both the Teewinot & Lollipopper Teams are getting started next week, so be sure to check out the training schedule on the website. We are excited to get to know each of you and have a ton of fun on snow!

I hope to see you out on the trails!

Ali Deines

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