2k10 NYSEF Nordic Kids Festival

Mark your calendars! The 2010 NYSEF NORDIC KIDS FESTIVAL will be held March 20 & 21 at the Olympic Ski Jumps in Lake Placid.

The weekend will feature a mass-start skate/nordic combined race, K6 and K18 jumping competitions, skate sprints and paintball biathlon. Athletes are encouraged to join us for both days, but can register for either day independently for $20. Registration will take place online and will remain open until Wednesday, March 17th. For details see flyer below.

Link to online registration: http://nysef.org/xcraceregister.html

Parent-Child Meet... Huge Success!

Results are finally online from our Parent-Child Extravaganza. Congratulations to all participants on a phenomenal season of LEARNTO FLY WEDNESDAYS! If you have pictures from the event, send 'em our way: david.mccahill@gmail.com and we'll get 'em up. Also, enjoy this terrific video put together by Jackie Gilmore. Thanks Jackie!

Don't forget to join us for Grasshopper training and summer Grasshopper camp fun!

Dave & Evan

Parent-Child Extravaganza

The most competitive class on the hill: Landing Hill Rider Extravaganza!

Bill.

SLAM. DUNK.

From the ADK Enterprise:

Saranac Lake Central School Superintendent Gerald Goldman was principal at the high school when Demong was a teenager. He remembered catching him trying to scale a 40-foot brick wall outside the gym one day.

"He was about three-quarters of the way up the wall, and there was really no way to hold on," Goldman said. "I told him to go to the top or come down, whatever was more comfortable."

From all your buddies at NYSEF who've known you could do it this whole time, congratulations Olympic champion Bill Demong. Thanks for reminding us that the best way to climb is up.

US NC vs. World

Huge.

Johnny Spillane. Everywhere you want to be.

Best way to recover following an individual Olympic event? Back home, shredding your local stash. Duh.

One left, do us proud boys.

Thoughts on Podium Ceremonies

Jump/NC Fans:

It's no secret that when Empire State Games have come and gone that the jump season has finally started to creep its way towards completion. Oh sure, we've got Lead Dog and Lions Club, and JO's right around the corner. But at this point, the hay is in the barn.

Yep, we sure did host the 30th annual Empire State Games here in LP this weekend. And what a scene it was at McKenzie-Intervale. A special thanks to all the families who came out, and especially to those who braved the elements while judging and marking alongside the hill(s).

If you're looking for a tidy write-up and prompt results, look no further. Don West has again outdone himself and provided what you seek:

http://skijumpeast.com/results/rslt10n.htm

Now instead of offering the same stagnant event highlight-reel abound with adjectives such as "epic", "phenomenal", or "monster-truck rally"... we're trying something new. Some candid thoughts on podium ceremonies.

To preface, we had an epic junior class on the 18 this weekend. Almost 30 youngsters, first competition for most, throwing deep on a well-manicured K18 Flugschanze. We also had a killer NC race, held under blustery conditions on the trusty Van Ho biathlon side. Now here's the podium from the J5 Bros nordic combined event:

And the podium from the Vancouver 2010 Normal Hill XC:

Let's run through this, shall we? Olympics. First off, the podium itself, what is that faux cedar posterboard? Are they offering olive branches as an exchange for peace from the Whistler Weather Gods? And heck, Alessandro Pittin looks like he just had his wallet stolen.

Flashback to our J5 boys. They just finished their first NC race ever. Heck, two of 'em still have their skis on! No, they don't have medals because we forgot all the awards at the jumps... 4 miles away (medals Wednesday, boys!) They're standing on a solid plywood podium, beefy enough for 33 people. Aiden in spot 2 is ready to pop a takeoff off the darn thing. Scottie, the champ, has packed three of his closest buddies right there on the top spot with him. Matt's getting a noogie, and Kaleb is rapelling right off the front. Landon's patiently waiting for his hardware. Adrian's just waiting for the ceremony to be over so he can go ski a second lap. James McGuire? He's just making sure Scottie doesn't get out of line.

So what's the point of this mindless rant? Empire State Games rocked. Nordic combined rules. And most importantly, you know you're having fun when you can ski your way right onto the podium. Literally.

Learn to Fly Finale: Parent-Child Extravaganza & Ice Cream Bash!

Don't worry, we still have one standard-issue LEARN TO FLY WEDNESDAY left until our finale on February 24th. But mark your calendars-- our final event will consist of regular training from 3-4pm followed by a fun Parent-Child Competition. Each jumper will partner up with a parent, (don't worry non-skiing parents-- we'll have plenty of top-tier Eastern jumpers on hand to serve as "parents" for "orphaned" jumpers), and take two jumps or landing hill rides to count.

Following the event, we'll have great prizes and an Ice Cream Social with tasty Stewart's Ice Cream. So get yourself-- and your parent-- psyched up for next week!

Still need a little inspiration? Check out this great video:

Watch ski jump recruiting video in Sports | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Brattleboro

Clamb pulling for the bottom of the hill

What a beautiful weekend down in southern Vermont we had for this years Pepsi challenge at Harris Hill! We had some of our top US athletes competing and even some euros made the trip across the Atlantic to see if they could but their name on the famous winged trophy.

Hats go off to Larry Stone, Dan "mouse" Warner and Kenny Barker for getting the hill in great shape. Both days saw the hill record broken by member of the Project X team member Chris Lamb and also some far jumps by teammate Nick Fairall. As a first timer to the new hill it was a great experience to see what the kids could do in the 2nd year of competition on the new hill. To check out full results head to http://www.skijumpeast.com/ and continue to whats new on the web page.

Looking forward to this weekends comps for Empire State Games and some training tune ups for our eastern JO team.

Nick Fairall,Chris Lamb,Rozie Zagar

Podium from Sat. Competition

US Nordic Combined-- Goin' Deep!

Hope everyone's following our local athletes lay down some fantastic performances in Vancouver. US NC made history by jetting Johnny Spillane into the silver medal spot after a dominating final sprint with Todd, Johnny and Billy Demong all in the hunt. Todd in 4th and Bill close in 6th. Congrats boys... we're hoping for big things in the large hill and team events!

Catch the highlights of the NC normal hill sprint here:

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=4325cae9-cfe6-4a08-aefe-c5a15cf10b56.html#replays+xc

NYSEF boys Nick Alexander and Pete Frenette with solid jumps in the normal hill competition:

http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=e9d2b2d2-6ae2-4e3c-8d60-b2b93b27bbff.html#u+s+fails+advance

Junior Jumping in Lake Placid Soars to New Heights

If you're worried about the status of junior ski jumping and nordic combined in Lake Placid, you can rest easy. Rumor has it that due to 2010 Olympic Fever, the folks at the water treatment plant have dumped a "go try ski jumping stimulant" into our pristine waterways, sending kids flocking to the McKenzie Intervale complex. Check out these staggering stats:

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Number of kids who've tried ski jumping through the LEARNTO FLY WEDNESDAY program: 53

Number of kids present at today's Friday Junior Jump Practice: 24

Number of kids who refused to stop jumping after practice was "over": 24

Number of kids who we expect to see at next week's LEARNTO FLY WEDNESDAY: 57

Distance flown today by first-winter jumpers Alex "Airborne" Hohman and Landon "Leanin' over the skis" Liveri: 20 meters/65.6 feet

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We're psyched. It's an Olympic year, and three of our NYSEF jumpers are prepared to slam-dunk the Vancouver Games. From the look of things, we'll have a similarly strong squad heading to 2018.

Nordic Combined Athletes Hit the Backcountry: Whiteface Landing Excursion

The NYSEF XC and Nordic Combined squads ditched the confines of smooth corduroy and opted instead for the fresh pow, making tracks to Whiteface Landing. Amidst bluebird skies, we managed to get some killer cross skiing in, as well as some a few top secret jump technique sessions. Must-see videos of Gabby's terrific crash on the big descent and some phenomenal air-flight tweaking off the Whiteface Landing proper.

Empire State Games

They're comin' up fast, folks! Here's the updated schedule for Empire State Games Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined:

Saturday, February 20th

• 8:30am K18 opens for training
• 9:30am K18 Competition*
• 10:30am K48 Competition
• 1pm K90 Competition

The nordic combined race for all events will be held at 3pm at the Biathlon Side of Mount Van Hoevenberg.

The entry fee for the K18 event is $10, includes Nordic Combined. Please register by sending an email to Evan Bliss at blisster101@yahoo.com

It'll be a great day for jumping, cross-racing, and spectating, so be sure to bring the fam and check it out!

*Note: Because the Empire State Games are designated by NYS as "State Championship Events", they don't permit athletes under 13 to compete (in any discipline).Therefore, our 18 meter event is technically a non-sanctioned ESG event, even though it's super awesome and all the Nordic Combined races will all be held at the same time.

End of an Era

Well folks, what a weekend. The Salisbury Invitational is perpetually the highpoint of the Eastern Jump Calendar. In case you missed it, here's the highlight reel:

1. Kenny Barker, Larry Stone, Bullet, Cricket, all at the same venue.
2. Annie Frenette raiding the cook shack for all the free burgers she could muster.
3. Miles taking one downtown on Saturday, then opting to take the ambulance downtown Sunday.
4. Most competitive Ladies Class since... well... ever?
5. Spencer Knickerbocker paying off his first mortgage payment, Northwood tuition, coaching fees, and past parking tickets all in two days of jumping.
6. A no-holes-barred XC race, designed by DJ Spenny-K, which had the same fervor as a monster truck rally.
7. A killer junior class, shoutouts to Landon L, Gabby A, Rory R. We'll have you guys on the coaching payroll next week.

It was an awesome weekend, thanks again to the SWSA volunteers, hill crew, Jennie & Martina for the silent auction, and all those who helped out. We couldn't have been more thrilled to take the final jumps on the famous K64 that consistently soils the trousers of more adolescents than does the first day of high school.

If it's results you're after, Don had 'em posted before the events even started (so it seems!):

http://skijumpeast.com/results/rslt10l.htm#easterns

Sunday's Mötley Crüe

DJ Spenmeister K, psyched that his Chittenden Bank account is back into the black

The Nordic Combined race.

See you next year on the new Satre Hill K185.

Why is Sven Hannawald so excited?

Because he won each and every leg of the 4-Hills Tournee in 2002? Wrong. He's excited, as are you, because tomorrow is LEARN TO FLY WEDNESDAY!

Same drill, we wouldn't dare change it up on you at this point in the season. We're also rumored to have some exciting celebrity appearances by former US Ski Team Coach Larry Stone, and numerous top-tier Eastern Jumpers.

3-5:30. Jump Base Lodge. Fun. Excitement. Sven Hannawald.

Also, be sure to check out the NYSEF SJ/NC exclusive with Pete Frenette, who spills everything on his alleged ongoing affair with Jennifer Aniston* and what it felt like to ski into a barstart during his Learn to Fly days on the K18**:

http://nysefskijumping.blogspot.com/2010/02/nysef-sjnc-blog-exclusive-mano-mano.html

* False

**True

Hats off to our handsome SJ/NC Junior Olympic Team

Come and getcha' some!

After three greuling weekends of qualification in Lebanon NH (K50), Fox River Grove IL (K70), and this past weekend in Salisbury CT at the Eastern Ski Jumping Championships (K64)*, the scores have been tallied, the quotients finalized and the remainders carried. It's official folks, the handsome 9 folks below (plus Tara, not pictured) will be knockin' heads with the best of 'em in Steamboat Springs from March 1-6th.

So wish 'em luck. And keep in mind, this is a team with quite the track record-- three former members of this squad are now representing the US in Vancouver: Nick Alexander, Pete Frenette, and Bill Demong.

Top Row (L-R): Nate Capone, Zach Daniels, Danielle Lussi, Spencer Knickerbocker, Annie Frenette

Bottom Row (L-R): Nina Lussi, Luke Daniels, Miles Lussi, Matthew Doyle

Not Pictured: Tara Garraghty-Moats

* Crowds at Salisbury. Oh yes.

NYSEF SJ/NC Blog Exclusive: Mano a Mano with Pete Frenette

Pete Frenette is a busy dude these days. Honestly, he's either housing a bowl of Marshmallow Mateys, jumping, or giving an interview. Thankfully, our NYSEF SJ/NC Reporters managed to gain a sizzlin' interview with the Vancouver-bound Saranac Lake Native, and it's far less serious than the Peter Graves/Universal Sports edition found here:

http://www.universalsports.com/news/article/newsid=402609.html

Your jump career started on the good old K-18 here in LP. Describe your first jump. Were you nervous?

I was definitely a little nervous and one of my first jumps I kind of fell of the bar, so after that I was scared to use the bar starts for a while.

Favorite food to eat before a jump comp? After a jump comp?

I don’t really like to eat much before a comp, but after a comp a big bowl of lucky charms or marshmallow mateys!

Farthest jump?

My farthest jump is 135 meters on Park City’s k120

Favorite hill on the Eastern circuit?

Salisbury is by far my favorite hill and place on the eastern curcuit. The hill is sweet and its always a good time.

Funniest thing you've seen in Europe?

On my first trip to Europe we went to a small restaurant and our waitress had some weird hair, after a while we realized her hair was painted on. We figured it out when we saw some of her hair dripping down her face. The whole team had some good laughs at that.

What are two pieces of advice for young Saranac Lakers who want to follow in your footsteps? Come to Learn to Fly Wednesdays or just play Wii Fit Ski Jump?

I mean Wii Fit ski jumping is a good time, but it will only get you so far. All the young Saranac Lakers need to come to the ski jumps and get some experience on the real deal. It may even help out with their Wii Fit techniques.

Favorite Ben & Jerry's flavor?

The half baked flavor is by far the best!

Couldn't resist. Grip it and rip it next week Pete!

Fantastic February

February of an Olympic year, yee-haw. Things in ski land will soon be cranked waaay past 11 in a matter of days; remember to wish our boys luck out in Vancouver!

In the meantime, we hosted another fantastic LEARN TO FLY WEDNESDAY last night, what a turnout! Thanks to the families and athletes who came out to get some rides in. Fast tracks made for some long rides by Beckett & Forest Ledger, Landon & Logan Livieri, Gabby Armstrong, Rory Riggins, and dozens of other up-and-comers. Remember, we'll have regular practice from 3-5 this Friday-- see you there.

Last, we'll leave you with this sizzlin' photo of NYSEF superstar Pete Frenette soaking it in on the podium in Lauscha, Deutschland. Yeaaah Pete!

Chicago Junior Olympic Qualifier

We had three great days for jumping this past weekend up in Fox River Grove where the kids showed some up and down jumps on the big K70 meter that was in great shape after some heavy rain that wiped the jumps out a week earlier. We had Annie, Miles, Luke, Matt, Nate, Danielle, Spencer, Zach, and Sam come with Dave and I to Chicago and test their game on some of the best juniors in the country and some learned that they have some work to do if they want to be named to the JO team and some learned they have a ways to go if they want to be called the JO champ come March.

Many of them failed to finish their jumps off with landings putting them off the podium and some off the top of the podium. All showed good signs of improvement and did not get discouraged when they had a bad jump knowing there was a second round to improve and make up ground on the others. The trip was kept interesting with games of beat the heat in the van ride, Late night high stakes poker games where David made most of his coaching wage, and NHL 09 on xbox.

To see full results from the weekend check out this link: http://www.skijumpingusa.com/

Like to say thanks to the Glasders and Browns for housing our athletes!

Must-See Jump

Killer jump by Slovenia's Robert Kranjec this past weekend in Oberstdorf, Germany. Come getcha' some!

NASDAQ & Nordic Combined?

While NPR is busy reporting on Obama's dealings with our tanking federal budget, they're also fiendishly covering winter sports... specifically Nordic Combined! Thanks to Ann Mangan, photographer extraordinare for tipping me off to this great feature on NYSEF headliner Bill Demong:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123232974

So check it out, get psyched, and pack your boots and helmet for another exciting month of LEARN TO FLY WEDNESDAY clinics at the jumps. A special thanks to all the families and athletes who have joined in on the fun thus far, and for the overwhelming enthusiasm to warrant a second month of the clinics! Evan, Casey and I are all so excited to have so many youngsters soaring on the K18. We're planning a super-fun competition and bash for the final event in Wednesday complete with awesome prizes, so stay tuned. Should be a great way to conclude an awesome series!

See you Wednesday,

Dave & Evan