March FTW

So the NYSSRA points series didn't exactly end up the way HURT nation had hoped, but that doesn't mean that the ski season slunk away into a miserable-mud-fest-of-an-unskiable-and-unbikable-March as many of us had feared and anticipated. Quite the contrary.  Has there ever been a better March of skiing? I mean....ever?

From our extensive (3 minute) research the only potential candidate for better skiing in March was 1899 and Fischer's "carbonlite" game was not on point according to Thorleif Haug. And waxing technology was still in the "bear-grease" phase of development.

Anyway.

March. For. The. Win.


HURT athletes and coaches jumped in to the resurgent winter with the U16 Championships at Gore.  With a small but feisty group of HURT and non-HURT juniors, coach Brian Halligan and DPK shepherded the up-an-comers to some podium spots and top tens.  HURT U16's included Sam Bordeau, Lucas Jenkin, and Paul Lindsay; and they were joined with Saranac Lake skiers, LP skiers and a troupe from Rochester.  It was awesome to get to know everyone.  The three days were jam packed with a 5K freestyle, 5K classic, 1.5K "skier-cross" and mixed relay. Racing at Gore was at its finest. For the coaches, it wasn't always pretty, with quick moving temps, snow squalls and track variations, but everyone came away with big successes and big lessons...

When all else fails...spread it thin to win.

New York can own the top step...

Small is good, bigger is better (next year!)...

Relays rock at all levels...

and Gore can put on a show!

This past weekend, Coach Halligan led the biggest NY team in many years to Rumford, ME for the Eastern High School Championships.  The best of the best from NY stacked this event and skiers came back from JN's in Utah looking to bring a major finish to the NY race season.  A huge thank you to all the coaches and parents that helped NY get SOOOO close to fielding a full team of 48.  Once again, NY found podium spots and top 10's in a race field that undoubtably sported some future Olympians.  Brian Beyerbach, Alex Fragomeni, Mikey Halligan, Lucas Jenkin, and Bryce Beyerbach, Emily Atamanchuk and Annalise Beyerbach all went out from HURT country and the pictures tell a tale of racing at its fiercest and finest.  

Not to be totally outdone by motivated juniors...some HURT Masters, alumni, and friends, got in on some Loppet action in Lake Placid.  It is yet to be determined if they were there for the competition or the beer and fried chicken served afterwards.  Sightings were made of Pete Pedrotty, Chris Lamothe, Bernadette O'Brien, Richard and Sherry Dixon, DPK and Brian Chrzan at varying speeds, techniques and times throughout the morning.  Thanks to some handy pack placement and internet thievery (thanks Mt. VanHovenberg and SMS) we have these pictures for you to enjoy...

25K and 50K skiers started together which made from some interesting pacing.  Here is DPK employing the "well here is this talented SMS junior doing half of my distance, so let's go at this pace" strategy. 

Still employed at Russian Hill.  

Great fun and great chicken was had by some.  

Winter is going to be here for a few more weeks.  Even when snow leaves your yard you should remember that the great venues in our area are flush with the white stuff, and the mountains are buried.  And they will be through the end of the month.  We know many of your non-skiing friends, loved ones and social media acquaintances are hating it and potentially you.  But come May, you will be dreaming of this March.

Have fun.