However...there is a fierce off-season competition brewing in Section 2 that just may pit friend-against-friend, neighbor-against-neighbor, and skier-against-skier.
Nope.....not early season time trails.
It's a fundraising competition to raise money to put a loop of snowmaking in the Glens Falls trail system known as Cole's Woods. The great folks at the Sportspage and Inside Edge have put together a great ski prize package for the Section 2 high school program that can have the highest fundraising average before August 1st. It's a big prize with a lot more that off-season bragging rights. (although that is worth a lot too!)
Nobody likes off-season competition more than our resident odd-oddsmaker..... he has spent a few seconds analyzing the team statistics and fundraising potential and come up with predictions that are 100% guaranteed to have a slim chance at being right...
Saratoga Nordic: The Blue Streaks lost some senior power to graduation and a lot of their success rides on whether they want to leave a legacy of success. HURT up-an-comers Adam Marino and Patrick Broderick anchor the returning squad and collegiate bound Seth Mares and Maine Winter Sports biathlete Brian Halligan create a formidable foursome that bring experience and passion for nordic skiing.
Odds of Winning - 7:1 Look for a fast start to their fundraising campaign... but terrible summer traffic in Saratoga and Halligan's inexperience with a stick shift will prevent them from canvasing lots of ground.
Shen Nordic: Young, enthusiastic and heavily represented by HURT nordic will help this team and nordic community raise some good money for snow guns. However, Coach PK is heading up this operation and he has a tendency to get distracted by shiny-bicycle-related objects in the summertime. We'll see if the Ducli, Huneck brothers, Chrzan brothers and Owen Putnam can rally support for a ski trail system that is 9 northway exits away.
Odds of Winning - 5:1 Lots of enthusiasm. Bikes are fun! Shiny! hehe!
Queensbury Nordic: Could be a tough group to contend with. It would be a hometown course. It's a nordic loving community and that might be the right recipe for success. However, Queensbury could be hampered by the droves of kids that are on the roster that could weigh down the team average. Coach Bob Underwood has so many kids he doesn't even know how many athletes he's got. Betting folk need to hope he can get the word out to enough kids that they can keep that team average up.
Odds of Winning - 7:2 Modified skiers count too. doh!
Scotia/Glenville and Guilderland: Moderately large size teams, passionate skiers. Good team Leadership from Matt Forshey and co (Scotia) and several dynamic coaches. This could be the winning ticket. However....miles make it a tough bet. Will the Scotia and Guilderland community be galvanized enough to raise money for snowmaking not exactly in their back yard, or their neighbors backyard, or their neighbors, neighbors, neighbors, backyard? Maybe they will raise enough money to put a one stop electric tram from Guilderland and Scotia to Glens Falls?
Odds of Winning - 12:1 "MIND THE GAP!"
Johnstown/Johnsburg/Mayfield/Lake George/Canjo/Glens Falls: Small school + big effort = WINNERS! All these schools have a real shot at unseating the section 2 big schools by taking advantage of that ever important team AVERAGE. A couple big donations from these nordic skiers could leave the big programs scratching their heads. Look for some surprising results from these teams. Glens Falls HS has some added incentive!
Odds of Winning - 4:1
SPA CATHOLIC : MAJOR DARK HORSE! 1 skier. How much money can one modified skier raise?
Odds of Winning - 3:1 Fortunately for you, he is distracted by baseball.
Good Luck to all the High School skiers as they try to change the landscape of Nordic Skiing in new York State. HISTORY IS ON THE LINE!!
