The end of another season has come around and it's been a really good one. There were some pretty awesome race days, like the snowy day at Massanutten followed by the beautiful sunny day after.
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| in the start gate at Massanutten |
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| the snowy race |
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| the beautiful day after |
There were some ok race days, like at Blue Mountain which took forever. Even though it lasted way longer than we thought it would, the racing was really good; Whitney beat the boys!
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| the neon orange really helps her stand out |
Whitney's skills improved this year, she was stronger, racing faster, and had a better grasp on the technical side of racing this season.
Of course, Nationals was the cap to an awesome season. Heading out there, confident but not overly so, having her coach out there again as well as a couple of teammates really helped. The weather was beautiful, the course was good, and the racing was even better. To finish the season as National Champion was a major goal reached and exceeded.
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| Whitney and Chad, a relaxed moment in the start gate |
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| the National Champion |
It's the end of the season, but it's also the end of our time with the Massanutten Snowboard team. She'll be heading to college in the fall and will join the University of Maine, Farmington ski and snowboard team. It's been a really good experience at Massanutten, although it had it's frustrations. I'll miss going to all of Whitney's races next year as it's a long drive to Maine, but I'll try to get to some. Hopefully there will be a race at Massanutten again next year and if the timing is right, she'll be home on break and can race there again. Huge thanks go out to Chad, Target, and all the other coaches at Massanutten that have worked with Whitney over the last four years. Thanks also to Ellen and Mark, directors of the USASA Appalachian Series for their help and friendship the last couple of years and the hard work they've put in getting races set up for the kids (and adults). One chapter ends and a new one begins.
