Wonder who's behind the wheel of NYSEF Ski Jumping and NC? Meet our handsome coaching staff!

Head Coach Casey Colby

NYSEF ski jumping head coach Casey Colby is no stranger to the jumps at the McKenzie-Intervale complex. Word on the street is that his some odd 17,872 combined jumps on the 18, 48, 90 and 120 meter hills were what helped him take top honors in the 1998 Chevrolet Gold Cup Olympic qualifier, prior to posting the top US result at the Nagano Olympic Games. Casey's prowess as an athlete have led him to become on the of the country's most respected technical jump coaches.

An avid tele skier, cut-throat bowler, golf guru and savvy traveler, Casey works primarily with our elite athletes, but isn't afraid to shape young talent on the 48 and 18 meter hills.

Reach him at caseyc@nysef.org

Small Hills Director Evan Bliss

Peruse some recent results of ski jumping competitions around the country and you'll be hard pressed not to dig up the Palmares of NYSEF Small Hills Head Coach Evan Bliss. Countless wins at the Empire State Games. Lead dog for the US at World Junior Championships, 2003, Sollaftea Sweden. Toed at the line by US Ski teamer Andrew Weibrecht in the ultra-prestigious Lake Placid Lead Dog Ski Meister Extravaganza. You name it, he's been there. Coach Bliss now brings his wealth of knowledge and experience in top-level ski jumping to the NYSEF youth development program. Former National Sports Foundation Small Hills coach in Park City, Utah, Evan has the know-how and experience to help our area juniors become top-level athletes.

When not shaping young minds on the jump hill, you'll find Coach Bliss carving the slopes of Whiteface, tearing apart the fairways of the Lake Placid Resort links, and reeling in lunkers out of the Ausable West branch. Just don't ask him where-- secrets of the trade.

Co-director of the LEARN TO FLY WEDNESDAYS program, Evan is a top resource for any and all info for young and aspiring flyers. Contact him at evanb@nysef.org

Nordic Combined and Small Hills Coach David McCahill

The catch phrase, "Delightfully tacky, yet unrefined" well encompasses the personality which is Small Hills and Nordic Combined coach David McCahill. A former scholar of Environmental Science and Public Policy and Captain of the Harvard Nordic Ski Team, David now shoulders the duty of young jumper development with Evan Bliss. A graduate of the NYSEF elite Nordic Combined program, David's ski career took him across the country, culminating with the overall title of LP Lead Dog Ski Meister, 2003. A competitor in numerous National and World Cup B competitions, David is now imparting his experience onto young athletes taking their first leaps off the Intervale K-18 ski flying hill.

A fan of aerobic-oriented pursuits in addition to adrenaline activities, David enjoys shredding local backcountry on tele boards, skating smooth tracks at Mt. van Ho, and partaking in local bike and triathlon events. For the record, he has been known to knock a few drives past Evan and Casey on the links, but his short game most often leaves him beached in sand or hacking out of the rough.

Co-Director of the LEARN TO FLY WEDNESDAYS program, David can be reached at davem@nysef.org

To meet these Nordic gurus in person, come out for LEARN TO FLY WEDNESDAYS, swing by the NYSEF Office at the ski jumps, or during the warmer months, track 'em down on the LPR Links Course!

NYSEF Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined Grips and Rips at Andover Jump Fest!

Some chilly temps and gusty winds didn't seem to phase the NYSEF SJ and NC crew this past weekend. January 10th marked the annual Andover, NH Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Festival at the world-renowned Blackwater Hill facility. Comps were held on the K5, 18, 34 and 38. And, yep, you guessed it, NYSEF athletes threw down.

The K5 meet was ruled by up and coming NYSEF stars Payton and Grant Thurston. Stick with it, boys- identical twins seem to have a pretty good track record in the sport of Nordic Combined!

Young flyers Alex Hohman, Avery Thurston and newcomer Landon Livreri threw deep in the 18 meter class, with Alex winning the J-4 class and Avery and Landon taking 5th and 2nd, respectively. Nicely done, boys.

The 38 meter class saw some deep rides, with seasoned vets Nate Capone, Miles "Milos" Lussi, Annie Frenette, Matt Doyle, Sam Shapiro and Luke Daniels all showing the swarming spectator crowd how it's done.

The crew then ditched their long boards for the skinnies, hammering the juicy Blackwater XC trail network. Special shout-out to Alex Hohman, Nate Capone, Sam Shapiro and Annie Frenette for taking top honors in their categories! Yee-haw! Check out this killer pic of Miles pipping AOC's Matt Doyle at the line. Epic.

All in all a fantastic weekend with some long jumps and sharp skiing. Check back soon for results from next weekend's jaunt to the Vermont Academy Hills in Saxton's River!