Happenings of the JHSC Nordic Program, Trail Creek Nordic Center, and Local Nordic Community
Welcome to the December 28th edition “What’s Going On”. Read on for all the scoop…
Teewinot Team
The Teewinots have a strong team this year with 26 kids and we will be starting off the season with an adventure skate ski at Trail Creek next week. The focus for the first couple weeks of practice will be getting used to being on skis again, getting to know fellow teammates and the coaches and, of course, having fun! The Teewinots will be practicing on the same days as the Development team this season, which will allow for some group game days and possible cross-over for kids skiing at different ability levels.
We have an incredible coaching staff this season. Nathan Hough is returning again this season in between his research in the field for the Teton Raptor Center. Nathan and I raced on the Nordic Team in Laramie where we both graduated from the University of Wyoming. He has so much to offer and we are excited to have him back again this season. Robin Spielman is from Alaska and is splitting her time between ski instructing at the Village and coaching the Teewinots. Robin plans to ski the American Birkebeiner this February and is excited to be spending time on Nordic skis with the kiddos. Also joining the coaching staff is JHSC alumni and national champion, Anna Gibson. She is taking a semester off from Brown University and is excited to be involved with the Nordic community this season.
Sevi Hagen
Teewinot Head Coach
Junior Team
The Junior Team has been busy training and prepping for our racing season that kicked off in Bozeman, Montana last weekend (December 22-23). The Juniors raced a Classic Sprint on Saturday, where Aurora Stiles, Peter Concanon, and Colton Petsch made the podium in first, second and third, respectively. Sunday brought about some great racing in a mass start 3.3 kilometer loop where we had some quality performances all around, specifically from Cecily Ross and Lucas Wilmot, who both hung tough with the top packs of racers.
Now we are focusing on our V2, with balance work on riding a flat ski and fully committing weight to the gliding ski. With the Betty Woolsey Classic coming up this weekend, our Friday practice will involve running the course and working key transition areas where we can maintain speed and shave off seconds. Thanks again for all the awesome grooming so far this year, we couldn't do what we do without you.
Calvin Wight
Head Coach of the Junior Nordic Ski Team
Devo Team
The Development team has officially found their ski legs and is ready to begin the next phase. We will focus on agility in January with an approach that includes skill work, adventures, and games. One of our featured games this month is Speedball—sort of like soccer with your hands on skis; you advance the ball by throwing to teammates. Participants in this game will gain edging and cornering skills as well as develop acceleration and balance. We play games to have fun and to help athletes develop real-world ski skills where decision-making and problem-solving become second nature. We will continue to work on technique each week and, with ample snow, will take our adventures off trail!
Rob Murphy
Development Team Head Coach
Prep/Comp Teams
Prep and Comp team athletes are welcoming a new year and carrying a very high level of energy from the years’ past training into the 2019 competition season. The team took charge with confidence at the first junior national qualifier in Bozeman, MT, posting very competitive results and displaying composure and maturity during times of anxiousness and pre-season jitters.
The classic sprint course presented an opportunity for the athletes to put their double pole strength to the test. With only two short classic striding technique zones that were regulated, the race focus called for strong and quick double poling. Hard training, focus and commitment to the sport were required attributes to be competitive in Saturday's race. JHSC athletes posted very strong results; their efforts in the prelim and heats signified a status of understanding those attributes.
Aurora Stiles cruised to a 19 second prelim classic sprint victory and carried her momentum all the way to winning the final. Other top ten sprint qualifying results include Kate Brigham, Natalie O'Brien, Peter Concannon, David King, Bridger Stiles, Mason Wheeler and Sam Johnson. Natalie skied through to the B final finishing in 7th, bettering her 9th qualifying time. Mason bettered his 10th place finish to 7th, Josh Roubin cracked the top 10, skiing his way up through the heats, and David King finished in a very strong 4th. Sam Johnson battled through a very competitive U18/U20 combined field into the B final. Chloe Stines, Andi Cornish and Birch Klomparens joined their teammates in qualifying for their heats with top 30 prelim finishes.
Sunday's mass start skate distance races presented a completely different picture in terms of tactics and physiological demands. At the same time the course was rock hard fast so there was little time to make many moves before the finish line. Elijah Weenig finished with a strong 4th among U18, top 10th overall and was less than a minute behind world cup skier and U.S ski team athlete Andrew Newell. David King cracked the top 5 in U16 men, and Bridger Stiles and Mason Wheeler posted JN qualifying results. Natalie O'Brien cracked the top 10 among U16 women. Other JHSC top ten results include Auroa Stiles 4th U14s and Peter Concannon 4th U14s.
To round out the weekend, 6 athletes posted 9 junior national qualifying results. Other athletes made huge breakthroughs in experiencing sensations of 'everything coming together' and surprising themselves with strong results.
The team is looking forward to the next qualifier at Soldier Hollow the weekend of January 18th. A switch of skate sprint and classic mass start will test the teams' and athletes' ability to remain dynamic with distances and techniques. With a complete 4-week training block before the event, athletes have an opportunity to make adjustments and better their current standing with focused training.
Ben Morley
Nordic Program Director & Head Coach
This issue we are featuring one of our former program participants for which skiing has been a big part of his life. Sam Wiswell was always one of the most positive team members during his tenure at JHSC and is continuing to ski as an adult. Below is a quick interview with Sam. Many thanks, Sam, for talking to us.
At what age did you start skiing with the program?
6th Grade on the Middle School Team - I had been Nordic skiing since I was two with my family up to that point.
Did you ski all the way through high school?
Yes, sophomore through senior year with the Ski Club and solely the Jackson Hole High School Team freshman year.
What kind of skiing did you do in college?
I skied on Michigan Technological University's NCAA Ski Team for one year and then transferred to the University of Wyoming and skied on their club team, racing both NCAA and USCSA Races for 4 years. During my time at the University of Wyoming I also was fortunate enough to race on the USA Team at three World University Games (Winter Universiade) - Trentino Italy 2013, Štrbské Pleso Slovakia 2015, and Almaty Kazakstan 2017. While at the University of Wyoming our men's team won three team national championships.
Have you ever coached?
Yes, I was a Volunteer Assistant Coach last winter for the West Yellowstone Ski Education Foundation in the winter of 2017-2018 and have plans to continue coaching somewhere in the WY, ID, MT, or CO after a hiatus this winter.
How often do you ski now and where?
I try my best to ski multiple times a week (both downhill and Nordic) despite living a little far from skiable snow.
Where are you living now?
Duchesne, UT for most of the year; nomadic for periods when life allows.
What is your career?
I currently work for the US Forest Service as the Wilderness/Trails Coordinator for a portion of the Ashley National Forest in North-Central Utah.
What is your favorite memory of skiing for JHSC or at Trail Creek?
Every Nordic X, Ali's homemade cookies after Christmas Eve intervals, Mr. Wizard and Liver Eatin’ Johnston, Skidich. There are countless good memories of racing and training with awesome teams throughout the years. Every time I ski at Trail Creek now brings back a slew of wonderful and different memories.
Were there any big challenges in the early days?
So many things- slapping my tails classic skiing, looking up, skiing all the way up Armin's without stopping, learning how to properly recover—the list goes on. I think the beauty of this sport is that there is always something to work on improving and it will certainly keep me coming back for many years to come.
Any other thoughts you would like to share with the Nordic community?
The JH Nordic community is an extended family I will always feel a deep connection with. I spent countless hours at Trail Creek and training with the Ski Club growing up and I don't regret one second of it. I will forever be grateful for all of my coaches along the way; they all were outstanding mentors who fostered a lifelong passion for Nordic skiing and taught me how to be kind, self-motivated, and a leader, among so many other things. I also want to extend my deepest appreciation for all of those who volunteered (and continue to volunteer) at so many fundraisers and races. Know that all of those early mornings and frozen fingers and toes resulted in some of the most cherished moments of my life.
Scott Lacy
At what age did you start skiing?
Don't remember, my dad had me out skiing in a snuggy before I could walk.
What kind of Nordic skiing did you do up through high school?
I raced for the Aspen Valley Ski Club and Rocky Mountain Division for freshman and sophomore year throughout Colorado and the US, then for the US Development team junior and senior year throughout Europe.
What kind of skiing did you do in college?
In college I raced varsity for Dartmouth College on the NCAA circuit all four years.
What kind of competitions have you participated in?
All kinds...
What year did you start coaching for JHSC?
2014
What exactly is your role as a JHSC Nordic coach?
I am a prep and comp coach.
Have you coached anywhere else?
Nope
How often do you ski now?
Every single day.
What is your favorite memory of skiing for JHSC or at Trail Creek?
There have been a few times of skiing by moonlight as a practice ran into darkness. There is something pretty magical about skiing through the woods with the kids by moonlight.
What is the biggest challenge of coaching?
Being busy on weekends when most of the world is free.
What was your biggest life adventure?
Spending 2 months kayaking down the Blue Nile from the source to the Sahara Desert, dealing with food shortages, malaria, crocodiles, hippos, leopards, civil war, trench foot and a sour military.
Any other interesting tidbits about you?
I have a small side business called Scotty's Biscotti where I make biscotti and sell them through Sweet Cheeks Meats.
Any other thoughts you would like to share with the Nordic community?
Nordic is much more than a sport, it is a life style. An awesome life style.
Racing season is running at full speed. The coach reports above covered most of the details of the recent Junior National Qualifier in Bozeman. The entire results are available at the Bridger Ski Foundations JNQ page here.
While the IMD team was competing in Bozeman, the Jackson High School team was competing in a Wyoming High School competition at the Pahaska Teepee area above Cody. Coach Katie sent the image above of some team members skiing in the moonlight. You can see all the results of the Cody race here. Top Jackson finishers on Friday included Jamison Peacock 9th boys’ varsity, Lillian Peacock 1st girls JV, and Parker Smith 10th girls’ varsity race. Saturday top finishers included Ben Williams 9th boys’ varsity, Lillian Brazil 1st girl’s JV, and Parker Smith 10th girls’ varsity.
Unfortunately Santa’s Classic was cancelled at Teton Pines, so not many results have been posted yet for the Sandbag racers.
December has been a great month for Nordic skiing at Trail Creek, with steady moderate temperatures and an adequate snow base. The “middle school on up” teams have been ripping up the tracks most afternoons and a steady flow of community skiers have also been out and about.
Our wildlife levels are about as high as ever, with sightings of moose, elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, grouse, pine martins, and one very curious weasel just to name a few of the sightings.
Looking ahead we are entering the busiest season with the youngest JHSC teams hitting the snow in January, as well as the community elementary school ski programs. One huge event not yet on our calendar below is a collegiate level national championship that Trail Creek will be hosting in March. Plans are in the works with more details to follow, but it should be a whole new experience for Trail Creek.
While the snow levels began on a very positive note, recent snowfall has been just a bit short. As of December 28th the Phillips Bench snow pack was 84% of normal. The consequence of this is that we still aren’t skiing the Upper East Fields and a few spots in the woods still have pretty thin cover. All in all, however, the vast majority of the trails have been skiing really well, with lots of happy skiers. Make sure to grab your Nordic skis and come on out to Trail Creek for a great Nordic ski!
The December 29th Betty Woolsey Classic Race is almost upon us; high school and IMD teams are racing in Pinedale on January 4-5; and the next Sandbag Series race is the Teton Ridge Classic on January 12th, so make sure you keep those classic skis well waxed. A very special event coming up is the free ski day at Turpin Meadows on January 6th the details of which can be found here.
A hopefully somewhat accurate tabulation of all the multitude of events for IMD, High School, and the community are below. If you would like to add an event, email trailcreeknordic@gmail.com
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2018-2019 Total Nordic Calendar |
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Date |
Event |
Location |
Technique |
Group |
|
November 20-24, 2018 |
Yellowstone Ski Fest |
West Yellowstone, MT |
IMD/Public |
|
|
Saturday, December 01, 2018 |
Super Tour Opener |
West Yellowstone, MT |
Fr |
Public |
|
Sunday, December 02, 2018 |
Super Tour Opener |
West Yellowstone, MT |
Fr |
Public |
|
Friday, December 07, 2018 |
WY High School |
Casper |
WY High School |
|
|
Saturday, December 08, 2018 |
WY High School |
Casper |
WY High School |
|
|
Saturday, December 08, 2018 |
Targhee Tune-up |
Grand Targhee |
Sprints Fr |
Sandbag |
|
Friday, December 21, 2018 |
WY High School |
Cody |
Cl |
WY High School |
|
Saturday, December 22, 2018 |
WY High School |
Cody |
Fr |
WY High School |
|
Saturday, December 22, 2018 |
Santa's Relays |
Teton Pines |
Fr |
Sandbag |
|
Saturday, December 22, 2018 |
IMD Qualifier |
Bozeman, MT |
Cl |
IMD |
|
Sunday, December 23, 2018 |
IMD Qualifier |
Bozeman, MT |
Fr |
IMD |
|
Saturday, December 29, 2018 |
Betty Woolsey Classic |
Trail Creek |
10K Cl |
Sandbag |
|
Friday, January 04, 2019 |
WY High School |
Pinedale |
Fr |
WY High School |
|
Saturday, January 05, 2019 |
WY High School |
Pinedale |
Cl |
WY High School |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sunday, January 06, 2019 |
Free Ski Day |
Turpin Meadows |
JH Nordic |
|
|
Saturday, January 12, 2019 |
Teton Ridge Classic |
Teton Ridge Ranch |
28K Cl |
Sandbag |
|
Friday, January 18, 2019 |
IMD Qualifier |
Soldier Hollow, UT |
Fr |
IMD/WY High School |
|
Saturday, January 19, 2019 |
IMD Qualifier |
Soldier Hollow, UT |
Cl |
IMD/WY High School |
|
Saturday, January 19, 2019 |
Buffalo Stampede |
Teton Pines |
10K Fr |
Sandbag |
|
Saturday, January 26, 2019 |
Spud Chase |
Teton Springs |
16K Fr |
Sandbag |
|
Friday, February 01, 2019 |
WY High School |
Trail Creek |
Fr |
WY High School |
|
Saturday, February 02, 2019 |
WY High School |
Trail Creek |
Cl |
WY High School |
|
Saturday, February 02, 2019 |
Boulder Mtn Tour |
Sun Valley |
32K Fr |
Sandbag |
|
Friday, February 08, 2019 |
WY High School |
Casper |
Fr |
WY High School |
|
Saturday, February 09, 2019 |
WY High School |
Casper |
Cl |
WY High School |
|
Saturday, February 09, 2019 |
Alta Skate Race |
Alta, WY |
20K Fr |
Sandbag |
|
Saturday, February 09, 2019 |
IMD Qualifier |
Boise, ID |
Cl |
IMD |
|
Sunday, February 10, 2019 |
IMD Qualifier |
Boise, ID |
Fr |
IMD |
|
Saturday, February 16, 2019 |
Moose Chase |
Trail Creek |
30K Fr Cl |
Sandbag |
|
Friday, February 22, 2019 |
WY State Champ. |
Lander |
Cl |
WY High School |
|
Saturday, February 23, 2019 |
WY State Champ. |
Lander |
Fr |
WY High School |
|
Saturday, February 23, 2019 |
American Birkebeiner |
Hayward, WI |
50K Fr Cl |
Sandbag |
|
Saturday, February 23, 2019 |
IMD Youth Champ. |
Trail Creek |
IMD |
|
|
Sunday, February 24, 2019 |
IMD Youth Champ. |
Trail Creek |
IMD |
|
|
Saturday, March 02, 2019 |
Yellowstone Rendezvous |
West Yellowstone |
50K Fr Cl |
Sandbag |
|
March 08-17, 2019 |
Junior Nationals |
Anchorage, AK |
Fr Cl |
IMD |
|
Saturday, March 09, 2019 |
Sandbag Finals |
Trail Creek |
10K Cl |
Sandbag |
|
Saturday, March 09, 2019 |
Western Club Champ |
Soldier Hollow, UT |
IMD |
|
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Sunday, March 10, 2019 |
Western Club Champ |
Soldier Hollow, UT |
IMD |
|
|
Saturday, March 23, 2019 |
PPP |
Shooting Star |
Sandbag |
|
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More Community events at https://jhnordic.com/events/ |
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Thanks so much to the members and sponsors who make this all possible!
Adams Family; Eric Balog; Matthew Brazell; Brigham Family; Broughton Coburn; Janet Conway Heslin; Culver Family; Curtis-Adams Family; DesLauriers Family; Goelet Family; Gordon-Mick Family; Eliot Goss; Ann Harvey; Hall Family; Scott Horn; King Family; Kohlhardt Family; Nancy Lee; Mark Lovett; Rob Mahoney; Ann Makley; Kelly McCloskey; McGee Family; Lars Moller; Neal Family; O'Brien Family; William Oliphant; Wayne Petsch; Michael Price; Pruzan Family; Sheafor Family; Springer Family; Stanley Family; Stiles Family; Jocelyn Wasson; Chris Wimberg; Wiswell Family
Jackson Hole Nordic
Sponsor the Trail Creek and The Nordic Program
We are still searching for Gold Level Sponsors. If you or your business would like to sign on as a Trail Creek and Nordic Program Sponsor, this is a special opportunity to place your logo on new event fencing. With a handful of large and high profile events for the 2019 season, this is an opportune time to get involved. For any questions contact Nordic Program Director Ben Morley-bmorley@jhskiclub.org
