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So, I saw snow this week.  You may have even gone skiing at the 'Ho ..... or on the toll road.

This means it is winter.

Bikes away. Scrape your skis. Change back to your poll baskets. and be prepared to be a little depressed each and every morning until the cold temps stick around and the world is coated in white. 

While you are waiting for the racing season to kick off you can begin to plan your racing schedule.  We here at the HRT newsroom want to help you plan for a great a winter and will help you by highlighting the CAN'T MISS  races of 2016-17.

In keeping with the grand tradition of all the major cable news networks and other non-major-wannabe-upstart-news-media-facebook-thingys.....we are going to present you with a "100%-guaranteed-non-biased-non-partisan-non-corporateinfluenced-non-sexist-non-racist-non-agenda-filled" breakdown of all the Nordic ski races (that HURT is hosting) that you should plan on attending.

Here are our editors Top 5 Race Events for 2016-17 (that HURT is hosting...in order by date)

1) HURT Nordic NYS Rollerski Championship:  November 19th.  You ever ski the Kingston Rollerski race? If so, it is the same deal....just moved north.  Same great format. Same great prizes.  Same great organizer....thanks, Greg.  You can swing by the Saratoga Winter Expo after the race for some great gear deals. https://www.skireg.com/nys-rollerski-champs

visual approximation of the awesomeness of ski races that will be at SPAC.

2) North Creek Nordic Festival: December 16th, 17th, 18th.  Welcome to the Gore Mountain Ski Bowl. If you don't know what's been cooking up there....welcome back from your spelunking trip.  Friday night is a Family Night fun ski with ski-cross under the lights, Saturday will be a Classic race, Sunday is a full Freestyle Sprint event.  That's right...sprint. Yes.  Skate Sprint.  Register now.
https://www.skireg.com/johnsburg-nordic-fest
https://www.skireg.com/ncnfsat
https://www.skireg.com/ncnfsun

that's right kitty-cat.....a Sprint race. In NY. 

3) JNQ Weekend: January 7th and 8th.  Two of the biggest days in racing in NY.  Saturday's classic 5K is a Wilkinson Cup Series race, JNQ, high school race weekend and it will be a PARTY!  If you want come enjoy a mass of nordic humanity, great crowds spectating, big race fields, great prizes then Saturday will be your day.  Sunday's freestyle 5K/10K looks to keep that party going.
https://www.skireg.com/gore-mountain-jnq-classic
https://www.skireg.com/gore-mountain-jnq-skate

4) The Mega-Relay: January 14th.  If you never have done this event, you really should try it out. It is like no other. Come to Garnet Hill for a full 6 hour relay event that continues to be one the most hotly contested and highly anticipated events of the NY calendar.  In the women's race....will the WINOS continue their undefeated streak?
https://www.skireg.com/hurt-mega-relay

5) The HURTathon.  February 12th.  Are you craving a nordic throwback? I mean kicking it OLD-SCHOOL?  How about an individual start 15K classic? Who knows, maybe Juha Mieto and Thomas Wassberg will be there.
https://www.skireg.com/hurt-athon

yeah....that old school (check his pole length...is that legal?)

For full details about all these events visit the HURT Nordic website. All HURT events can be found on Ski-reg.  We look forward to seeing you throughout the season!  http://www.hurtnordicskiing.com/events.html

As always....if you haven't signed up for your 2016-17 NYSSRA racing license you should do so now! https://www.skireg.com/nyssra-nordic-membership--17

If you want to ski for HURT this winter...we'd love to have you join us!  Team info is here: http://www.hurtnordicskiing.com/race-team.html

HURT Camp Vermont

As the summer winds down and kids begin to transition from rambunctious trouble makers back to students eager to learn, team HURT jumped on the opportunity to teach about skiing. With a trip to Jericho, Vermont, athletes found out that learning happens everywhere.

The first thing the team learned: how to entertain themselves on long car rides. This is crucial because if everything goes well this winter, we will be spending quite a bit of time in the car. What’s the best thing to pass time in the car? Freestyle rapping, of course.

The first day was full of fear conquering. The trails at Jericho can be intimidating, but the team went in with full of confidence. By the end of the week everyone enjoyed flying around the big sweeping turns. That afternoon the team went cliff jumping at the Bolton Potholes and really learned how to get past the imaginary wall in their brain holding them back.

Maybe the most important thing the team learned during the trip was if you are unhappy with the way something is, do something about it: the team was upset there wasn’t a camp shirt. So we while on our trip to Walmart, the whole team bought matching shirts reading “Camp Vermont” so with a few orange and green sharpies the team made official “HURT Camp Vermont” shirts.

Over the week the team met many high caliber athletes from around the continent and hopefully learned by example. New York athletes such as Tim Burke and Lowell Bailey were great models and Coach Halligan didn’t pass up the opportunity to use these athletes as technique examples.

HURT watches Sochi Olympian Russell Currier

Since the team was so close to Burlington, they decided to check out Church Street after dinner one night. Not 4 minutes into getting to Burlington, HURT’s Mikey Halligan almost got into a rap battle at The North Face. Luckily Mikey’s intimidating beats from his phone were enough to scare the challenger away. But it goes to show you: it pays to freestyle for 2.5 hours on your way to ski camp.

The whole point of the trip, however, was to watch the biathlon Rollerski races and learn from the best. And thanks to cooperative weather, there were great races.

Tim Burke Showing us how it's done

New Yorkers Unite!

HURT had an awesome opportunity to meet arguably the most successful biathlete of all time.
Andrea Henkle-Burke is a multi-time Olympic Champion, World Champion and Overall World Cup Winner.

The Trip ended with one last learning opportunity that doesn’t have much to do with skiing but is an essential life skill. As the team pulled up to the gas station to fill up for the ride home, athlete/team driver Nino Manzella admitted “coach, I have no idea what I’m doing.” Referring to the gas pump.

So as you can see team HURT is getting a jump start on the learning as school is right around the corner. 

The Road

In July, the road to success for a skier can feel a lot like this.

No one wants to be on it.

The weather is hot. Continually pounding the pavement on rollerskis can be a real drag. And there are plenty of warm-weather distractions that can pull focus from skiing fast in March. 

We believe that there is no better time to have HURT camp.  With team sites set on Junior Nationals in Lake Placid and EHSC in Chittenden, VT it was the biathletes that came out to make the 2016 HURT Camp the best one ever.  New HURT development coach and former-world-junior-biathlete-and-original-part-of-the-three-headed-monster*, Brian Halligan, was added to a coaching roster and with him came a guest appearance by friend and Olympian Sean Doherty.  The skiers at camp spent the day with Sean learning about his path to success and some great technique cues that will help on skis.  The week featured bounding, classic OD's, technique drills, on-ski agility, skate OD's, hiking*, trail running**, uphill-time-trial-running, dryland agility, 2.7K freestyle time trial and plenty of swimming, cooking, eating, mini-golfing, ice-creaming***, and rapping****(?!)

*HURT historians will know all about that

*"hiking" may include "getting lost for a bit in the forest"

**"trail running" may include "running back to the correct trail"

*** Thanks to Stewart's Shops for supporting our ice cream intake at camp!

****HURT nordic may be partially responsible for the launch of several will-be-famous rappers who dropped some serious rhymes in our camp's impromptu "rap battle" (Sponsored by Rudy Project sunglasses)

The pictures tell the tale best.  We know it is what the people want....

Sean Doherty spent the day with HURT campers on a gorgeous SPAC day.

Coach Halligan opens camp with thoughts on building the whole athlete.

Buck Summit (finally!!) photo.  Now quick.....back to the vans!  (and don't forget Caron!)

Those that were there, know what happened....

minds were blown.

Skate TT podium

Skate TT podium

Here are the full results:

Brian B - 8:15

Owen P - 8:23

Nino M - 8:48

Dan M - 8:59

Aaron H - 9:07

Seamus - 9:07

Tony - 9:15

Alex - 9:27

Bryce 9:46

Justin 9:57

Mikey - 10:13

Casey - 10:42

Joe - 10:43

James C - 11:26

Brendan - 11:27

Tyler - 11:54

Colby - 11:58

Gabe - 12:23

Harry - 12:36

Paul 13:07

James - 14:13

Anna W - 9:47

Emily G - 10:15

Eliza B - 10:30

Julianne - 10:36

Emily A - 10:42

Laura L - 11:12

Sohyun - 11:24

Maggie B - 11:25

Baleigh - 11:34

Briana - 12:22

Abby - 12:56

Meghana - 13:02

Emily D - 14:12

Coach Callie rocked everyone's Buck Mountain hike.  

It was that kind of week....

The group photo

Bounding and technique drills with Coach PK

West Mountain TT photo.  

Thanks to the kids from Mansfield Nordic who came out to run the TT with us and do our dryland agility course.  Results for both the uphill run and agility course are currently MIA....they will be added to our archive if eventually found...Some of us are still weeding through the bags of dirty laundry....

The HURT truck to LP is filling up fast....we hope you are on board!!

And we will finish off with a movie....Thanks for the edit coach Terko!

I want to thanks everyone who had a hand in helping make our week so great.  Special thanks to our great camp sponsors...Stewart's Shops (who gave us a special grant this year to invite Sean Doherty) and supported our ice cream addiction!  Rudy Project (who donated sun glasses, hats, coupons and stickers), SWIX SPORT (who donated jackets and gave us a great deal on drink belts) and The Sportspage Ski and Patio Shop (who do a great job of helping our local skiers and give ski ties and poles to our camp.) and Price Chopper who generously donates to our massive food budget. 

And thanks to all the coaches who pitched in large and small ways....Bob Underwood, Bill Parks, Paul Allison, Jeff Crotty, Sean Doherty

And the great coaching staff I get to work with all week.....Steve Tomb, Brian Halligan, Callie Douglass and Adam Terko. 

You all certainly make the July road feel like this 

#RoadtoLP

Team Testing

It is testing season for those in school and those in HURT country.  But unlike the chap pictured above, HURT skiers are enthusiastically crushing it on the slopes of West Mountain and roads in Saratoga.

Coach Halligan and the HURT uphill TT'ers ready to roll up West. 

The sessions this week are focused on gathering baseline times that can be used to track progress throughout the training season.  HURT's three tests: West Mountain uphill TT run, Canadian Strength Test, and a 2.97 K skate TT at SPAC.  We hope to see big gains in all areas as athletes prepare for the new season and JN's in Lake Placid.  Great job by the athletes who ripped through the rainy TT.  Success doesn't wait for sunny days!

Oh Canada!

West Results:

1.Brian Beyerbach--  16:01

2. Seamus Tomb--    17:26

3. Casey Tomb--       19:43

4.Harry Helinski--       20:35
5. Eliza Blood -       22:00

6. Brian Halligan--      23:00 **with back pack full of water bottles**

7. Brendan Tomb--     23:52
8. Steve Tomb--        27:57

9. Suzzane Tomb--    28:26

Canadian Strength Results

1) Brian Halligan*   306    *coach

2) Brian Beyerbach  270

3) Seamus Tomb   234

4) Harry Helinski   175

5) Casey Tomb   163

6) Brendan Tomb   145

Skate TT results

1) Brian Beyerbach   7:36

2) Brian Halligan*   8:04  

3) Dan Manzella  8:24

4) Seamus Tomb   8:56

5) Dave Paarlberg-Kvam*   9:02

6) Casey Tomb    9:51

7) Harry Helinski    11:59

8) Brendan Tomb     12:03

All HURT athletes will be rolling Tuesdays and the Silver Team rolls again on Fridays.  Keep your eye on the team schedule for times and locations.  If you miss us, we would love to see your best pics from Spring training.  Share with us on your tweet-o-gram and #RoadtoLP

June is for registering

Summer sure is coming but if you have stumbled on our little nordic ski click-hole there is part of you with your eyes on the winter and you are aiming to be skiing fast.  Be sure to keep your eyes on our summer training opportunities.  

Training for our Silver level team members will begin on June 3rd and Open-team training for all HURT skiers starts on June 7th.  There is still time to join at any level and plan to join us for great group training.  Details about workout locations will be posted here by May 25th.  

HURT camp will look to once again bring motivated high school ski racers together for fitness training, technique review, and skier education under the guidance of top level club, high school and collegiate coaches. The camp dates will be July 16-21st. This year we are offering a beginner camp option from July 14-16th.  There are still some open slots at camp this years camp and there is time to register before the June 21st deadline. The 2016 camp details are available to download here.  Encourage your friends and teammates.  We look forward to seeing you at our camp! 

We hope you can join our team for some training this summer.  As one of our co-Directresses recently said of our training plans....."that will be priddy priddy fun!"

Strong finish and stronger beginning

Mid-A team March-es on.*

*cheesy springtime pun intended.

While most of us were looking at mud and patches of greening grass during the first few weeks of March, for HURT juniors it was full of racing; the culmination of a season's worth of hard work.**  The Midwest played host to this year's Junior National Ski Championship and the team from Mid-A featured some strong HURT talent.  Aaron Huneck, Owen Putman, Nino Manzella, Maggie Borgos, Brian Beyerbach, Eliza Blood, Seamus Tomb and Dan Manzella all suited up for Mid-A and had some great results over the course of the week.  Next to NYSEF, HURT qualified the most athletes from NY and enjoyed a week of sun and snow out in Wisconsin.  Folks at home neglected their professional requirements and risked gainful employment to watch the live coverage provided by the race organizers.  Our Pics tell the story best. Race results are here.


**many HURT athletes were ALSO looking at mud.  It just happened to be next to a ribbon of snow miraculously used to ski on.  

Snow stuck around in Ripton, VT, despite rain and high temps, and the Eastern High School Championships at Rikert saw a host of HURT nordies out for one last hurrah.  Anna Manzella, Eliza Blood, Aaron Huneck, Julianne Burns, Meghana Caron, Brendan Tomb, Seamus Tomb, Alex Fragomeni, Eve Schoen and Soyhun Pak all tackled the 4 races in 3 days at Rikert.  It was amazing to see so many of our younger juniors jump in races against the top U18 racers in New England.  With no U16 team from NY this year it was awesome to see our kids willing to seek out this tougher competition.  It was inspiring for them, extremely motivating, and will pay huge dividends as they develop into top level juniors.    

Overall it was a strong finish to the season for all our kids....the type of finish that leads to a bright and productive off-season.  As you are busy cleaning the klister spots out of the inside of your ski bag and storage waxing your boards, it is a good time to think about new goals and new paths to success. We are working to do our part...

HURT is excited to bring HURT-alum and USA junior biathlete Brian Halligan to our summer coaching staff.  Brian and DPK will be expanding the summer training opportunities for the whole team and offering new levels of coaching and membership for athletes seeking an edge. With Junior Nationals slated for Lake Placid next year, now if a great time to invest in your development.  See our new membership  options and learn more about our new coach.

Oh yeah.....and HURT CAMP!  Get cha' some...

Read about this year's camp on our events page

Better Late than Never

Since the beginning, the HRT news team has always been on the very cutting edge of journalism and reporting.  In an age of 24 hour news cycles, live-timing, insta-photos and live feeds the HRT team is working tirelessly to pioneer the "week late" recap.  We try our best to report on happenings just as you are about to forget about them...

It was a big week to say the least.  the NYSSRA season wrapped up at Gore Mountain with a spectacular weekend at the Ski Bowl.  Expectations were low with a week of rain leading up to races but the team at Gore once again proved up to the challenge.  The course was amazing and both days had top caliber conditions.

Here is a quick recap of the races in CHAMPS BY THE NUMBERS:

18 - there were 18 more skiers in this year's NYSSRA champs than last year

366 - The number laps completed in the distance race

18 - Also the number of HURT athletes who ripped through the course in the distance race

61 - total number of athletes who started the distance race

2 - the place of the top finisher from HURT nordic.....nice to have B. Halligan back in GREEN!

6 - the number of HURT athletes in the top 12

18 - the number of natural snow flakes found on the champs course

2132 - the approximate number of flags and cones Sam Allison set up (...and then replaced after the wind) over the course of the weekend 

1 - number of U6 Champions from HURT.....WHOOHOO ANNA!!

7 - approximate number of gallons of blue liquid Steve sprayed on the course

7 - also the number of NYSSRA championship banners won by HURT!!

1 - number of times HURT has captured the Relay Championship Title! "Better Late than Never!"

18 - the number of hours that Halligan and Putman are going to spend working on their flag handoff.

 

1,000,000 - the number of thank you's owed to Gore Mountain

Thanks to everyone who made it a great weekend.  It was nice to have a good end to a challenging season.   Looking forward to our summer offerings.  There will be "big doin's" for HURT nation this summer....so stay tuned!

 And if you haven't shared it...#ActOnClimateNY.