JHSC Club and Community Nordic Update
Happenings of the JHSC Nordic Program, Trail Creek Nordic Center, and Local Nordic Community
Welcome to the January Edition of “What’s Going On” for the 2023-2024 season!
Happy New Year from the JHSC Nordic program and Trail Creek Nordic Center! As we roll into January things are going to get really busy at Trail Creek. Beginning January 3rd , especially Monday and Wednesday after school, things will be crazy fun at Trail Creek. The general weekly schedule is below:
Welcome to 2024! Hopefully there will be more snow in the months to come than in the months that were, but the end of 2023 had some great high points. The Betty Woolsey Classic saw record participation with over 150 athletes registered! There were high performing athletes, promising young kids, older community members, and even a triple classic ski team! It was a truly inclusive event for all kinds of cross country skiers of all ages and abilities.
Right after the New Year we will start all of our programs off at full steam on January 3rd! The Comp Team is heading to Soldier Hollow, the site of the 2002 Olympics, for US National Championships the first week of January while our youth programs get off the ground.
Looking further ahead into January we will host our Johnny Curtis Memorial Junior National Qualifier on January 13-14; to which all community members should come out and participate and spectate! It will be one of the largest cross country ski races ever held in Jackson Hole. Qualifying season for the older athletes, youth programs, TCSD winter sports programming, and everything else will all be going on simultaneously! January is one of our biggest months and we will be providing programming to over 300 people this month!
Think snow! All we need to have a great season is a little more white stuff!—
Will Wicherski
Nordic Program Director
Lollipoppers
The Lollipoppers, our youngest skiers, begin training the first week of January. This heartwarming group, led by a bevy of coaches, with head coach Sam Johnson in the lead, will be learning all the joys of Nordic skiing as the season progresses. In addition to learning the basics of kicking and gliding, lots of fun and games happen along the way.
Lollipopper head coach Sam Johnson reports, “The Lollipopers are starting this week. They will be playing all sorts of games to get comfortable on skis and make new friends!!”
A sighting of a Lollipopper group always brings a smile to your face, keep your eyes open on Mondays and Wednesdays!
Teewinots
A small and mighty group of Teewinot Team athletes braved early season conditions in December - the earliest that programming has been offered to this age group. About ten young athletes jump-started their Nordic season skiing two afternoons a week in December. These kids quickly made new friends and embraced games like Squirrels & Nuts, Cut the Rope and Disappearing Strides, with notable improvement to both their classic and skate technique. Daily Trail Creek adventures included skiing to Sam the Truck, up and down Grunt Hill (sometimes multiple laps!) and around Woolsey Woods. These kids are super excited about Nordic skiing and will be terrific Teewinot Team ambassadors to the 40+ teammates joining them in early January.
Teewinot Team focuses on athlete development through fun--games, adventures, friendship and camaraderie. The goal is to create a culture where kids see their peers laughing, learning new ski skills and becoming great teammates through play. Athletes develop FUNdamentals together. A December highlight was a Solstice Soiree--a trailside hot cocoa and pom-pom party. Kids donned their pole straps with pom-poms, which served as a visual queue to keep hands in front while tackling big downhills like Grunt Hill.
We have a great group of coaches looking forward to January 3rd when our full Teewinot Team will descend on Trail Creek. Keep up your snow dances!
Libby Hall
Teewinot Head Coach
Devos
The Development Team has been training since Halloween and we have an awesome group of talented, fun, and spirited skiers this season. Everyone has kept team moral high by making the most out of practices with the tough conditions we have had. There have been lots of laughs, wipe-outs, silly games, and even a hot cocoa party with the Junior Team.
Many of the Development skiers have already been racing in Lander, West Yellowstone, and of course the Betty Woolsey, which had a huge Devo turnout! The coaches have been really impressed not just by the kids' skiing, but also their grit, team spirit, and fun energy. We are excited to watch them progress this winter!
Kaya Morelli
Head Devo Coach
Junior Team
Winter has brought a flurry of excitement for our Junior Nordic Team! Here's a quick snapshot of our recent activities:
Trail Creek Bliss: Our young skiers have been hitting the scenic trails at Trail Creek, honing their skills, and soaking in the beauty of winter landscapes.
Lander Race Success: A group of enthusiastic athletes recently traveled to Lander for an exhilarating race, showcasing their determination, sportsmanship, and the spirit of the Jackson Hole Ski Club.
Betty Woolsey Challenge: Our juniors did not shy away from competition as they took on the Betty Woolsey race, pushing their limits and making us proud with their impressive performances.
Winter Carnival Fun: We wrapped up our recent adventures with a fantastic time at the Winter Carnival. Our Juniors took to the trails skiing laps, not just for the sheer joy of it, but also to raise funds that support our beloved Nordic program.
As we continue to foster a love for Nordic skiing and build a strong sense of community among our young athletes, we want to express our gratitude for your ongoing support. Here's to more snowy adventures and achievements in the coming weeks!
Cheers,
George Cartwright
Junior Nordic Team Head Coach
Ositos
The Ositos will have the first day of practice on January 4th, with about 35 kids in the program ranging from 2nd through 5th grade. This year things will be a little different, with the older kids getting to practice twice a week rather than just once.
Coombs Outdoors was also able to secure a grant with Fischer for a fleet of new classic skis, and the Ski Club purchased 15 sets of skate skis for the older kids. The opportunity for the Ositos to try skate skiing was never really an option in the past, so this is really exciting to have the gear this winter! The coaches are looking forward to a fun season on snow with the Ositos Team!
Kaya Morelli
Head Ositos Coach
Prep/Comp Team
Happy New Year from the Prep/Comp squad! The last month of 2023 was a good one for the team, highlighted by the first races of the season at the IMD Opener in West Yellowstone, MT, which hosted a great weekend of racing. Our athletes got to practice their race day routines and face off against the strong IMD competition. We had numerous top 10’s, podiums, and some standout personal bests. The momentum is just getting going for this team!
While the weather has not been exactly perfect for trail conditions, we have been fortunate to have decent skiing at Trail Creek, thanks to efforts from our groomer and coaches. We have been able to enjoy our home trails for training, as well as a bit of racing during the Betty Woolsey race, which changed to a skate format this year. Prep/Comp athletes skied impressively on the two laps of the 5km loop in the 10k race. We have also celebrated the holiday season with a Secret Santa gift exchange, hot cocoa, and a game of Trash Ball.
We are getting good, consistent training in over winter break, and 9 current JHSC Comp team skiers (and 1 alumni) will be traveling to Soldier Hollow, UT for a week of racing at the US National Championships. This event is part of the Continental Super Tour race series, is a qualifier for international junior racing opportunities, and is a great way to participate in high level racing as we get the race season rolling. Coming up soon after that, we are hosting the first Junior National Qualifier January 13-14 at Trail Creek!
We are excited for all of the racing to come!
Luna Wasson
Head Coach and Nordic Program Director
Nordic Masters
The new Recreational Nordic Masters team got off to a great start at Teton Pines in December. The first session was classic skiing, and the athletes spent time refreshing skills and, for many, getting out on snow for the first time. The focus on lower body position and diagonal stride centered our practice around fundamentals. After some drills and free skiing, skiers came together for a rousing Diminishing Equipment relay. Adults, too, can benefit from learning through play!
Our first skate session followed the same path, with some drills, free skiing, and games. The focus for skate was also lower body position, and the skiers worked on ankle flexion and talked about V1 technique. The skate skiers dribbled a soccer ball between their skis as they raced around a cone in this week’s relay. The snow is thin at Teton Pines, but there is enough for fairly high-quality Nordic skiing. We are looking forward to getting back on skis after the holiday break.
Rob Murphy
Nordic Masters Head Coach
Adam Meyer
If you have ever meet Adam hanging out around Trail Creek, you will not forget it. This JHSC Nordic coach carries an infectious energy that seems to bring joy to the people around him. His energy level seems limitless whenever he is coaching the kids. Read on to learn a little more about this amazing coach!
Where did you grow up and where did you ski growing up?
I grew up in Falmouth, Maine and I started skiing in high school at Pineland Farms, a 5,000 acre dairy farm. I owe my start in Nordic skiing to fellow cross country running teammate, Jay Lesser. During a run late in the fall of my first year of high school Jay suggested I join the Nordic team. The rest is history.
What is your history of Nordic skiing up to this point in your life?
I raced in high school and then college on the USCSA circuit after my besties at UVM suggested I create the Tufts Team. To avoid extra paperwork and rules, the creation of the Tufts USCSA Nordic Team was a secret to Tufts. I was so secretive that at nationals I hid from the Tufts USCSA Alpine team. I ordered a Rossignol race suit off Amazon and considered that the Tufts uniform. Fortunately, UVM would house me at races. I got away with it all and never had to do any Tufts club creation paperwork and the team ceased to exist after I graduated.
After college, I moved to Burlington, VT and assistant coached the Essex High School team. Then I moved to ColoRADo (sic) for snowier weather and head coached the Crested Butte Devo team. Most recently, I moved to Jackson for a younger community and have been assistant coaching the Juniors and Teewinots since 2022.
Does your family ski?
My dad is big into Nordic skiing on his trusty three pin skis (he’s part of the reason why I ski in my bumble-bee-yellow SNS boots. But @willwicherski don’t worry, I got NNN boots to use for wax testing this season) and he can be coaxed into riding the lifts including the time he had a work conference in Vancouver and skied Whistler in jeans.
Do you have any memorable races from your high school or college days?
In college, I got to race at Trail Creek for USCSA Nationals and during the distance race (15k?) I remember making one kid VERY angry for drafting behind him in the lower fields. It got to the point where he was zig zagging from side to side trying to drop me. Hehe.
Where do you like to ski when you aren’t at Trail Creek?
I used to live in 3 Creek employee housing. The trails there are fast and scenic. Uh la la.
What is your educational background?
I studied environmental economics at Tufts and was using that knowledge as a *gasp* remote worker for the past 3.5 years.
Do you have other work for the off season?
This past summer I was doing my laptop job, catering, and coaching mountain biking for Mountain Bike the Tetons. Who knows what next summer will entail.
How often do you ski now?
~6 days a week.
What is your favorite memory of skiing for JHSC or at Trail Creek?
Last year, I got to ski with a Teewinot along the fence line up to the top of Faceplant. He stopped at the conservation sign and read every word in the paragraph. It was a fun “stop and smell the flowers” moment.
What is the biggest challenge of being a coach?
Parents.
Do you have a “coaching philosophy?”
Keep it fun and productive.
Racing is up and running at full speed already this winter. While the Thanksgiving event at West Yellowstone had to be cancelled this year due to low snow, the high school racers got their first chance to compete in Lander December 8th and 9th. Results for that race are here. The race scheduled for December in Casper was postponed to January 5th and 6th due to a lack of snow.
The IMD racers got their first chance to compete at the West Yellowstone IMD Opener December 16th and 17th. Our JHSC racers made a fantastic showing, with a great number of first place finishes, far ahead of the competition on the classic day. Race results for this event are available here.
Finally, the results from the record number of participants of the Betty Woolsey Race on December 23rd can be found on the event website.
Let it snow!
El Niño seems to have arrived in full force this winter with end of the year snow totals some of the lowest on record. In spite of a lack of moisture, skiing has been actually not too bad so far this season. Early and occasional snows have been enough to cover most of the trails, and the continued moderate temps and weak midwinter sun have allowed the snow that has fallen to work very hard, providing lots of skier opportunities.
As of report time the near term forecast is continuing to look dry while the longer term forecast shows a trend to snowier conditions. Keep hoping! An epic Nordic winter is still a possibility.
Looking ahead this month, there are plenty of volunteer opportunities, with a busy three day race coming up January 12-14. This race will not only be a JNQ Qualifier, but a Wyoming High School competition as well. Also, as January rolls in, every JHSC program will be taking advantage of Trail Creek, making for some very busy times.
As far as wildlife goes at Trail Creek, the balmy conditions have delayed some of the regular winter inhabitants. There have been a few moose and elk hanging out, but it seems that many are staying high, taking advantage of the, thus far, easy winter. Our most entertaining and habituated carnivore, a fox, has given many viewing opportunities, and other examples of the rich biodiversity recently spotted include squirrels, weasels, grouse, and some unidentified raptors cruising the trails.
Remember to get your passes purchased (at the Trail Creek Page) so you are ready to jump on the snow as soon as it falls. It is going to be a great Nordic year!
Youth racing kicks into high gear in January, with IMD racers gathering at Trail Creek January 12-14 for the Johnny Curtis Memorial Junior National Qualifier #1. This race will also be a Wyoming High School race, with additional Wyoming High School racing at White Pine Resort in Pinedale January 19-20.
One of the biggest local Nordic events of the year is the JH Nordic Free Ski Day at Turpin Meadow Ranch, which happens on January 7th this year. Masters have plenty of opportunities as well in January, with the JHSC Masters Clinics on Thursdays, the Spud Chase January 20th, and the Pinedale Stampede on January 27th.
In short, there is no lack of opportunity to ski or spectate in the busy month ahead, so get those skis waxed and be ready to keep on skiing! Click here or on the image below to go to the full calendar, complete with clickable links.
Thanks so much to the skiers and sponsors who make this all possible, with an extra special thanks to our season pass holders!
Thanks to our dedicated members!
Bitzer Family, Peggy Boggs, Boltax Gallop Family, Patricia Campbell, Curtis Family, Randol Family, Kate Falk, Kylie Fletcher, Bob Gordon, Parker Gotham, Elissa Gramling, Gross Family, Eric Huber, Springer Family, Lindsay Kissel, Jennifer Kohlhardt, Maddie Krasula, Nancy Leon, Lovett Family, MacWilliams Family, Ann Makley, Jackson Moss, William Oliphant, Olsson Family, Sean O’Malley, Teya Paciulli, Peacock Family, Wayne Petsch, Kristy Rans, Thal Family, Wattenmaker Family, Astoria Weenig, Wheeler Family, White Family, and Pete Wiswell.
Thanks to our amazing staff!
Charlotte Cadow, Kirsys Campbell, George Cartwright, Zoe Curran, Jon Filardo, Annabel Hagen, Sevi Hagen, Libby Hall, Elsie Hall, Scott Horn, Lillian Horne, Griffin Hurlbut, Lizzie Johnson, Sam Johnson, Axel Klomparens, Leah Lange, Nancy Leon, Amelia Mayer, Bill Mayer, Trisha Mayers, Adam Meyer, Kaya Morelli, Ben Morley, Rob Murphy, Brent Peacock, Dori Sinclair, Chloe Stines, Megan Tattersall, Stephanie Thomas, Luna Wasson, Will Wicherski, Stephanie Williams, Sydney Wilmot, Matt Wiseman, and Tyra (JT) Wynn.
Thank you to the multitude of youth athletes, for whom this program is designed. Without your dedication and support, this would not be possible!
A special thanks to Jackson Hole Nordic for being a strong supporter of our programs.
