UPDATE FROM NYSEF SNOWSPORTS
February 2018
Freeride Program: Takes on New England
NYSEF Freeride athletes competed in Waterville Valley, NH and Sunday River, ME this January. In Waterville Valley, the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Big Air Competition took place. NYSEF and Winter Term athlete, Avery Higgins-Lopez placed 9th and NYSEF athlete, Kaylen Reiley of Saranac Lake placed 16th. In Sunday River, ME the duo switched places in the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Slopestyle Competition. Kaylen Reiley placed 8th and Avery Higgins-Lopez placed 18th. More information on Freeride and can be found here.
Friendly and Familiar Faces at Gore
From Program Director, Rich Burnley: NYSEF-Gore has hosted a pool of races this January: the Shenendehowa High School race, Womens FIS series and lastly a U16-19 GS/SG series. The U16-19's were also getting turns in on on the road in the Catskills while the U14's raced locally in the western Adirondacks. More updates on Gore can be found here.
Andover to Ishpeming to Lake Placid
From Coach Colin Delaney: January was busy for the Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined teams as the competition season started. The Youth Jump Team competed in New Hampshire at sites such as Andover, Hanover, and Lebanon - back to back weekends in the Granite State. Meanwhile, the older athletes competed in the Midwest for a series of 3 US Cup competitions in Eau Claire, WI, Ishpeming, MI, and Fox River Grove, IL. Check out how the athletes performed here.
Leading into Junior Nationals
The U16 Alpine Team Is Crushing It
From Coach Patrick Purcell: The U16 Alpine Team at Whiteface has been hard at work. Athletes have logged an average of over 127 training runs in GS and SL with several days of full length SG. This translates to 180 minutes of actual moving time (training runs) on snow. Click here to check out the results generated by all these miles logged!
Hey, Pyeongchang, NYSEF is here
Congrats to the NYSEF alumni who are heading to PyeongChang to compete in the 2018 Olympic Games: Lowell Bailey, Tommy Biesemeyer, Tim Burke, Kevin Drury, Will Rhoads and Andrew Weibrecht. We will be cheering you on from Lake Placid! More information on what makes NYSEF athletes exceptional can be found here.
Athlete of the Month: Joseph Wilson
Joseph Wilson is a U18 Cross-Country (XC) athlete from Keene, N.Y. Unlike many of the XC junior athletes, Joseph began skiing with NYSEF two years ago in the summer of 2016. “I started skiing one a day a week working with the Saranac Lake modified team and joined NYSEF for more in depth training,” Joseph said.
Since Joseph’s time skiing competitively, he has made Junior Nationals and had a few podiums in several race events. When asked why the urge to join a XC ski program in high school, Joseph answered, “I appreciate how cardiovascular demanding the sport is, enjoy the community and most importantly, the camaraderie of having everyday training partners, my teammates.”
Head Coach, Shane MacDowell, said “Joseph takes a skill and applies it during training and in the race.” Shane has seen Joseph’s progress and his attention to focus on technique to strengthen himself as a racer. “Joseph has a great engine and is getting faster because he works hard,” Shane concluded.
Learn about Joseph's goals this season, here.
ALUM Spotlight: Gabby Armostrong
NYSEF Alum, Gabby Armstrong made history on January 20, 2017 as the FIRST American woman to compete in a Women's FIS Nordic Combined Continental Cup finishing 11th and 12th. Gabby proudly wore her NYSEF uniform while competing in Rena, Norway.
Gabby landed her first Ski Jumping National Championship podium in October 2016, where she flew 82 meters on her second leap to take third in the Normal Hill Competition.
Last year Gabby was also NYSEF's "Athlete of the Month!" Her advice to younger NYSEF athletes: "take skiing games seriously-- they help with technique and body awareness...never give up fighting for the best seat in the van because everyone knows from bench is more sought after than the competition win." WAY TO GO, Gabby!
Winter Term Highlights: February
Focus, Friendships, Flexibility, and FUN
From Winter Term Program Director, Beatty Schlueter
What do you get when you combine biathletes, alpine racers, a nordic combined athlete and make them train and study harder than they ever have? Not the latest and greatest reality TV show (however.... it would really make for a good one), YOU GET an evolving NYSEF Winter Term Program! It’s been tremendous watching this group of hugely talented and highly motivated student-athletes push out of their comfort zones and strive for success on the hill and in the classroom. Winter term is both an amazing and unique opportunity these athletes have been given. They continue to take advantage of our program to the fullest.
January is the start of the competition season for most, adding yet another layer to their already busy schedules. Between races, travel, training, school work, and recharging in between, these athletes are pushing some full days. Wondering what a day in the life of a Winter Term athlete looks like? Come on, take a look at our latest album, and learn what it’s like to be a Winter Termer!
NYSEF Winter Raffles are Out and About!
Nordic Raffle
Whiteface Alpine / Freeride Raffle
Gore Alpine / Freeride Raffle
Save the Dates
Double your Gift!
Sundays: NYSEF Noodle Night at the dack' Shack in Lake Placid
February 2-4, 2018: Empire State Winter Games - all disciplines
February 13-16, 2018: Women’s FIS NorAm GS/SL, Whiteface
February 19, 2018: USASA SX / BX - Gore
February 23-25, 2018: NYSSRA U16-19 State Championships, Gore
March 1-4, 2018: NYSSRA U14 State Championships, Whiteface
March 3, 2018: Ingrid Ormsby BBQ Fundraiser at Whiteface
March 15-18, 2018: US Ski and Snowboard Eastern U14 Championships, Whiteface
March 24, 2018: NYSEF Nordic Raffle ticket winner announced
March 30, 2018: NYSEF Alpine/Freeride Raffle ticket winner announced
May 20, 2018: Lake Placid Community Day- Horse Show Grounds
June 10, 2018: Annual Golf Classic - Social
August 18, 2018: Summer Benefit - Social
Many companies offer matching gift programs to encourage employees to contribute to charitable organizations like NYSEF.
Most of these programs match contributions dollar for dollar, and some will double or triple the amount of your gift!
Inquire with your Human Resources Department to find out if your company will match gifts to the NYSEF.
Staff Corner: Share Your Story!
Name: John Morgan
Job Title: Gead Alpine Coach- NYSEF Gore
Favorite Hobby: Fishing for Smallmouth Bass
How did you get involved with NYSEF Snowsports?
What are the top ‘unique’ things that make NYSEF special?
- The opportunity to use World-Class Olympic venues daily to prepare NYSEF athletes to compete on the world stage.
- The NYSEF Mission: Provide opportunities for athletes of all ages to reach their potential in snow sports - alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, snowboarding, ski jumping, cross country skiing, Nordic combined, and biathlon-- through professional guidance and financial support. NYSEF helps young people develop athletic capability, sportsmanship, self-discipline, and self-esteem, leaving them better equipped to achieve academic excellence.