UPDATE FROM NYSEF SNOWSPORTS
INVESTING IN VENUES, FAMILIES AND STAFF
By John Norton, Executive Director/Alpine Program Director
For over 45 years, NYSEF has been a leading program for competitive skiing and snowboarding in the U.S. World-class venues, the Olympic legacy, and a long list of athletic accomplishments are all elements to its success. However, our biggest asset is the mass of individuals that make up the greater NYSEF community. Athletes, family, friends, parents, volunteers and our staff all play integral roles in spinning the supportive webbing that holds us up. As we enter the 2019-2020 season, we have invested in the largest, most qualified coaching staff we’ve ever had at NYSEF. I’m very proud of where we’ve been, where we are and where we’re headed. Thank you for your continued support - see you on the snow!
MOTIVATION TO COMPETE AND DEDICATION TO EDUCATION
By Beatty Schlueter, Winter Term Director
The NYSEF Junior Development Winter Term Program is driving the success and participation of junior ski racing in New York State. This season has been the most competitive application field NYSEF Winter Term has ever seen. We have received the largest number of applicants since the program started in 2012. The continued support from the Lake Placid Training Center elevates our programming to a world-class standard. With the addition of our dedicated coaching staff and seasoned tutors, we are one of the premier programs in the country offering individualized support in competitive youth snowsports. We are excited for the start of the season and we are thankful for a community with such a strong Olympic history that provides the tools for these athletes to thrive.
MAKING SNOW FROM A PHONE AND A NEW CHALET
By Rich Burnley, Gore Program Director
Snow coverage on the trails at Gore will be better than ever this season! Why? The new automated snowmaking system on Twister, Quicksilver, Topridge, Tahawaus and Pine Knot was completed this summer. This system can be controlled remotely from the pump house or even a cell phone. Additionally, and with much excitement, NYSEF has purchased and installed a new warming chalet at the top of Burnt Ridge. This 12’ x 32’ heated building will be a welcome relief for racers, volunteers, coaches, guests and friends on cold race days. Thank you to the Town of Johnsburg, the Gore Ski Club and Gore Mountain for supporting this project!
NEW HIRE, VAN HO UPDATES AND DEVO BIATHLON
By Shane MacDowell, Head Biathlon and XC Coach
Along with great training this summer, NYSEF has demonstrated significant support for our growing programs by adding Julianne Stemp, a NYSEF and UNH Nordic Team alum, as a full-time assistant coach. We are excited to have her aboard for the coming season! Additionally, we are pleased to announce that NYSEF now offers new and improved training facilities with the completion of numerous venue updates at Mt. Van Hoevenberg in recent months. Last but not least, let’s talk about the next generation of Lowell Baileys and Tim Burkes and NYSEF’s budding devo biathlon program. The program is gaining traction and NYSEF is committed to purchasing rifles to help immerse younger athletes in the sport. NYSEF’s ownership of a small stock will alleviate the pressure of borrowing rifles while allowing us to fully submerge an interested athlete without the immediate financial burden.
LIGHTING UP THE SKY AND TRAVELING THE WORLD
By Colin Delaney, Head Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined Coach
The Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined program has been on the road while venue improvements are underway at the Olympic Jumping Complex. With these enhancements, we will have the most modern - and dare I say - best ski jumping training facility in North America when the project is complete. We will be the first venue with a new, refrigerated track on our 90 and 120 meter jumps. In anticipation of these upgrades, we used our summer season to train on new venues in Slovenia and Austria, and to work with coaches from around the world. I was able to work with USA Nordic team director, Alan Alborn, to learn how to inspire athletes to be professional in all areas of the sport as well as how to maximize their potential in their athletic careers.
FULFILLING THE NYSEF CULTURE AT BELLEAYRE
By Jim Catalano, Belleayre Program Director
NYSEF is entering its second year at Belleayre Mountain and the focus this season is on education and culture of the sport. Culture will develop as a byproduct of coming together and supporting each other to fulfill the vision of NYSEF. To that end, we are striving to develop a strong and supportive environment that motivates each athlete to perform at his or her best. Upcoming projects include improvements to our race and training hill with new start and finish locations, the relocation of the cross track and the development of 5 new training spaces. Finally, we are carving out a space downstairs in the Longhouse Lodge. This will become the operations home base for coaches and staff. In addition to being a central meeting place, we will have the ability to review video, repair equipment and prep for daily training.
PREMIERE FREERIDE EVENTS IN THE PIPELINE
By Mike Kirchner, Freeride Program Director
The latest news in the freeride world is that the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hole Shot Revolution Tour will be making its first ever stop at Gore Mountain this February. The Hole Shot Revolution Tour is a Ski Cross/Snowboard Cross Nor-Am that will be taking place on the newly widened Wild Air and Pot Luck trails, finishing in front of the base lodge. This will be an exciting addition to Gore and a great opportunity for some of our NYSEF athletes to get experience at the international level. The event will also serve as preparation for World University Games coming up in 2023 which will see competition across 11 different event disciplines at venues in North Creek, Lake Placid, and Wilmington.
VOLUNTEERING IN THE COMMUNITY
Without the local community, NYSEF would not be where it is today. We are very grateful to all of the community members who continue to volunteer for our events throughout the winter season. In turn, NYSEF athletes and staff try to provide support at as many community events as we can. From marching in the local 4th of July Parade to running one of the Ironman aid stations, we are eager to pay it forward!
SAFETY INITIATIVE: “STOP THE BLEED” SPIN-A-THON
Athletes, coaches and even a few toddlers hopped on bikes on September 16th to raise money for the “Stop the Bleed” program in partnership with the Kelly Brush Foundation (KBF). With rapid developments in alpine ski technology and tuning techniques, there has been a dramatic increase in life-threatening lacerations to ski racers. The “Stop the Bleed” initiative aims to train coaches and distribute life-saving bleeding control kits to alpine ski programs around the country. The NYSEF/Northwood team raised over $4,000, which will provide over 100 kits to programs throughout the U.S.
2019 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE, HORST WEBER
NYSEF had over 250 family and friends join us for the Summer Benefit at Heaven Hill Farm in Lake Placid where we inducted Horst Weber into our Hall of Fame. We celebrated the culture that Horst helped create at NYSEF and his commitment to instilling a love of snowsports in athletes and families. NYSEF staff and the Board of Directors provided silent auction items for the event raising over $6,000 in support of the Horst Weber Scholarship Fund. The fund provides support to local athletes who demonstrate a commitment towards reaching their potential in snowsport competition. Thank you Horst for making NYSEF what it is today!
THANK YOU to everyone who supported NYSEF this fiscal year!
The annual report acknowledges gifts received by NYSEF between September 1, 2018 - August 31, 2019.
The names under each membership level reflect gifts of cash, securities and in-kind. The report is compiled by the staff and the Board of Directors. The utmost care has been taken in preparing this report. Occasionally, however, errors do occur. We apologize if this has happened and ask that you notify us with any inaccuracies or omissions.
CLICK HERE to access our 2019 Annual Report.
A Special THANK YOU To Those Who Volunteer Their Time And Treasure And Support NYSEF, We Are Grateful For Your Commitment!
Support The Future Of Snowsports!
We want to thank our generous supporters for investing financial resources throughout the season. With your help, NYSEF awarded $115,000 in scholarship during the 2018- 2019 season. We are very proud of this! However, the most challenging issue faced by programs across the country is a high drop-out rate as young athletes move up through the age classifications. No one seems to have found a solution, but it is clear that affordability is one, and possibly the most important. Whether you attend a social event or buy a raffle ticket from an athlete, you are helping us in our efforts to boost participation. Many thanks to all! Oh, and if you’re the lucky ticket, you may walk off with a new mountain bike. Looking forward to a great season!
- Board Chairman, Greg Harden
