HURT Camp, Are You Ready?

HURT's 2nd Annual Junior Development Camp is set to start tomorrow, July 17th.

Are you ready? 

The HURT Tour rolls on

This past Monday the 2012 Tour de HURT rolled into Warren County and brought with them their large numbers of enthusiastic rollerskiers.   While much of the rollerskiing in past weeks has been confined to the flat and rolling stages of Saratoga County this was a chance to ski in the high mountains of HURT country and test some of the climbing legs of the real contenders.   Alpe de 149 and the Col de la Magique Foret were conquered as the skiers wound their way down to Lake George and back.  The creative signage greeted the skiers as they crested the summits past the screaming and yelling masses*

*by "screaming masses" we mean people running terrified from the creepy Santa claus and Uncle Sam at Magic Forest in Queensbury.  

Joining the HURT stalwarts Tim, Austin, Aaron, DPK, Andy, and Becky C. were northerners Brian "Peter Sagan" Halligan, Sean "Jens Voigt" Halligan, Chris "Horner" Freilinghaus, Seth "Cavendish" Mares and Nick "Fab" Underwood.  Even the HURT hiking squad grew this week as Barb Beall and Kristin Halligan joined Gina Huneck while the team rolled on.

Meet us next week at the tech park in Malta.  Bring your skate skis again and check the team calendar for directions.

See....it really is basically the same thing....

Le Tour....

Le Nightmare....

Records and Rainbows

The Director has heads turning in Clifton Park.  In back to back weeks HURT has seen a record number of junior and master skiers get together in Clifton Park for the Monday night workout.  Normally known as a soccer town, Clifton Park is poised to change the town name (Ski-ville), town logo, town slogan ("Clifton Park - a Great Place to Live, Work and Rollerski on Monday nights") based on the new dedication shown by the HURT skiers.  HURT juniors are amping up for summer camps and HURT masters are gearing up for the IMT, Prospect Climb and an early winter.  

Even the rain couldn't dampen the HURT spirits or keep the masses away.  Not only did Chris Y, Andy W, DPK, Tim H, Austin H, Aaron H, Becky C, Katie C, Brian H, Sara D, Amy D and Chloe B all make it out to ski in the rain but the HURT hikin' division was launched as Ann C, Gina H, and Mary D strapped on their parkas and headed off down the Zim Smith Trail. (It is unknown just how long the trek lasted or if they were waylaid by a trail side coffee shop or martini bar.) But it is speculated that the three brave hikers went "a distance".  

The Clifton Park show is traveling north next week.  We hope to bring these numbers up to the Warren County bikeway and get some of the HURT northerners in on the action.  Come on! Bring out your skis and get your game on!

Big turnout in CP.

Mother Nature responds to HURT enthusiasm by changing her attitude

Visual approximation of the HURT hiking division 

Super Fun at the SuperFund

This past Monday saw HURT nordic move their team training to a new training facility for the 2012 summer season.  Luther Forest Tech park in Malta, NY.  The move has caught the attention of skeptics and team critics from across the nation.  Luther Forest, an ex-"SUPERFUND" site, had the reputation of producing more three-eyed fish than top caliber nordic skiers for decades. But with new Saudi investment, (don't those Saudi's know a thing or two about top caliber nordic skiing? They at least can afford a team bus, right?), access to top of the line micro-chip technology (it's not doping....it's bugging), and brand new running trails,  wide bike paths and rolling hills the new Director has the team  staring down the barrel to greatness......or at the very least, a third eye.

So...those things scoop out ALL the toxic rocket chemicals out right?

Luther Forest Tech Park......trails galore!

Great Bike Paths

Here is the Director breaking away from the peloton.

While the Director has yet to join his club on rollerskis he is providing plenty of motivation as he is flexing his dominance in the world of pee-wee cycling.  Whatever he is doing, it seems to be working because this past training session had a group that nearly rivaled peak 2009 training group numbers when hardmen MDH, J. Tetlow and Andy Farry were regulars on the circuit.  Things are certainly picking up as DPK, Chris Y, Tim H, Austin H, Becky C, Katie C, Andy W all made it out on Monday! Grab your rollerskis and come join us.  Next Monday we will be skiing in Country Knolls at 6:30. That's a new later time now that we have late daylight. Come and get after it!

Huneck's tackle the Patch Sprint

The end of May brings summer-series racing around the state.  Whether it is on a mountain bike, running, road bike or rollerskiing, HURT athletes are improving fitness and jumping in off-season races to keep their engine tuned.  For the first time ever, HURT sent two star athletes to challenge the trail running legions who annually compete in the Patch Sprint Trail race in the Adirondacks.

Typically this is a race that is dominated by Peru faithful.  Situated in the belly of the beast (backyard of Peru Nordic) the race held a number of questions for the rookie racers.  Would their be trail markers? Would their be a trail? Would I get attacked by hawks? Should I wear my gorilla suit? Do I have to carry a foam finger? How many times do I have change costumes?  

The antics of Patch Sprint trekkers and trainers have been well-documented at Windbriefs and the Hunecks had to be prepared for anything.

All these questions were answered on race day.

A. Huneck challenged the race leaders early and competed the three peak summits in 4th place, father Huneck took advantage of some 46 high peak experience and finished in a solid 6th.  They were tripped up at the gorilla suit, tele-tubby suit exchange at the base of Sugarloaf and with a year experience under their belts they should be back to challenge for the title. You can read an in depth race report here.  

Congrats to both racers!  Now get on ya' skis and get ready for the IMT.

HURT charging at the start.

The race leaders at the second costume exchange at the base of sugarloaf (visual approximation)

Get Ch'a Train On!

Director Decree....

May 14th.  New Season.  New Goals.  New Director.  Get cha' Train on!


See you on the trails.  Check the team schedule on the website for details.  www.hurtnordicskiing.com.

New HURT Director announces New HURT Camp

Big things are in the air since Aaron Huneck stepped down as Steward of HURT nation.  After winning his third consecutive club championship, the Director set off to anoint his new replacement.  After much deliberation he settled on the accomplished, competitive, ruthless (and most importantly, diminutive) Travis Kozoil to take hold of the HURT reigns and carry the title "Director".  (Despite his relinquished title, A. Huneck only responds when addressed as "Director", as is customary among retired heads-of-state.) When questioned about what he looks forward to now that the responsibility of HURT nation is off his mighty shoulders, Huneck said he "was excited about focusing on developing female talent." When asked to clarify, he indicated that he "was 110% focused on skiing ability, mom"

-Travis has wasted no time in introducing some big summer initiatives into the HURT Summer Program.  His first move was to organize and lead a "Pick-up-your-'trash-cause-I-am-gonna-build-ski-trails-everywhere-campaign" on Earth Day.  Here is the Director leading his army in the effort.      

As his second item of business he has released the information about the upcoming 2012 HURT junior development camp.  The general camp will be held July 20-22 in Queensbury, NY and will be based out of Camp Meadowbrook which is mere minutes away from the Warren County bikeway.  The camp this year will feature furnished cabins (no tents necessary this year!) among other deluxe amenities to keep the campers having fun and working hard.  To see the camp flyer and learn more about the 2012 HURT junior camp visit...

http://www.hurtnordicskiing.com/trainingdays.html

If you are a supporter, fan, family member, team member or "skier-with-no-priors-and-a-lover-of-volunteer-work" (unless you ski for the evil empire) and are interested in helping out please email hurtnordic@gmail.com and let us know if you can volunteer.  The camp will only be successful if we get the type of community support we saw last year.  Please consider volunteering your time that weekend. 

Any juniors interested in participating in the camp should email hurtnordic@gmail.com and the Director will send you the official 2012 camp info packet.  Sign up today!  The camp should fill up and you don't want to be left out!