I finally got to see my girl race today. I came up to NH yesterday for a quick weekend trip. Today she was at Stratton Mountain again for another boardercross race and tomorrow she's going to Mount Sunapee for a Giant Slalom race. I'm glad my sister-in-law lives in a good location so that Whitney can stay here when she wants to race in Vermont.
Today was a cold and windy day at Stratton. The races started mostly on time this morning. There were three racing in open class and surprisingly the largest group today was the 10-11 year old girls. Usually when we've been at races almost any of the boys groups are larger than the girls. It's not very often that I've seem them have to run heats for one of the girls groups.
One thing Whitney needs to work on, which she knows, is her racing during time trials. She doesn't do as well as she could. It's something she needs to work on since they use the time trails for seeding, which determines gate choice. Today she was third in time trials so had last gate choice.
After lunch they started the racing. The BX course is at Stratton is a short walk from the base of the mountain. That was nice so I didn't have to get a lift ticket for today. It's not really worth it to get a lift ticket, especially at a mountain that I don't know. Whitney is busy with race stuff that isn't exciting to watch until it's actual race time and I don't want to get a lift ticket to head down to watch one race. I don't like riding the mountain by myself if I've never been there before.
It was a nice walk up, although I could have done without the wind. I do love watching her races, the view from the mountain is always amazing. She was in heat 16 today so I had a chance to watch some of the other racers. There was a jump to a waterfall to the finish line. From where I was standing I couldn't see the finish line but I had a good view up the course so I was able to watch the racers coming and got some good video of Whitney as she came by.
She said she had the best start out of the gate but the other two girls had better lines. She was in third but around the second turn she was able to get ahead of one of the girls and they kept those positions until the finish. Whitney was happy with her finish, said it was a good race.
We drove home in the daylight, as opposed to this morning when it was still pretty dark, and the drive was quite lovely. Tomorrow it's off to Mount Sunapee and a new experience. She's ridden there quite a bit and knows the mountain but she's never raced in a New Hampshire series race and she's also never done GS before.
Saturday, February 4, 2017
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Northern Exposure
I'm heading north to watch my girl race this weekend. She's doing another boardercross race at Stratton on Saturday then a giant slalom race at Mount Sunapee on Sunday. We're going to hang out at my sister-in-law's to watch the Super Bowl Sunday night then we'll both head back out of town. I'm just hoping that the snow they're calling for on Sunday/Monday will amount to not much so I don't have problems getting home.
In the mean time, some pictures she's sent me/I've taken off of Snapchat of her recently at races.
In the mean time, some pictures she's sent me/I've taken off of Snapchat of her recently at races.
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| A bit warmer this day! |
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| Heading up the mountain. |
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| This was actually a couple of years ago at Wintergreen. Love this picture. |
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| My girls 💖 |
Sunday, January 29, 2017
When to Step In...
I may delete this post after I write it, maybe even before I publish it but I need to "think out loud" and vent a bit. It hasn't been the easiest thing this winter being a parent. There's stuff going on with the school snowboard team, specifically the coach, that leaves me wondering when to let Whitney deal with things and when we should step in. At the moment we are letting her deal with things but if the bullying and disrespect continues we may need to step in. It's very disappointing what's going on. She went to UMF partly because of the snowboard team and to have a coach that doesn't coach, doesn't act like a coach, basically bullies my daughter and uses the team as his personal staff for events that are supposedly for their benefit but are promoted more for his personal team rather than the UMF team, it's all really rubbing us the wrong way. We are left to wonder why the school is wasting their money paying this person. There's a lot more going on but I'll leave it at that.
Saturday, January 28, 2017
First Races Done
It's still weird not being at races. Two weeks ago were the first races of the new season. The first two races were at Sugarloaf, last weekend she was in Vermont at Stratton. It seems Sugarloaf is an interesting place. There are several resorts out west that were closed because they have too much snow. The lifts aren't going anywhere when the snow is almost up to the top of the pylon at the top of the lift. WAY too much snow. The problem at Sugarloaf is often too much wind. The Friday before the races was supposed to be a practice day but it was so windy they had to cancel that. Hard to get up the mountain when the lifts aren't running. Eventually Sugarloaf finally got one lift open but it wasn't near the race course. Whitney said that she got in several runs then called it a day. She was cold, she had sat around most of the morning, and was ready to go back to school to get a few things done.
The races at Sugarloaf were run in some serious cold. It was below zero when she got there in the morning and it didn't warm up too much during the day. She hadn't had too much training before those races and there were several girls in her class racing. She raced well and placed 5th on Saturday and 3rd on Sunday. With more practice under her belt and some good coaching she'll do better.
Stratton was last weekend. Another semi-frustrating weekend for her. The weather was really poor, very foggy and also rainy. It seemed like all the pictures I saw on social media last weekend it was the same story everywhere - a couple of USCSA and USASA races had bad fog, the BX races at Solitude were snowy with a bit of fog, and I think there was another race that had a lot of fog. It was kind of crazy, especially how bad the fog was in places and yet they still raced. That was Whitney's issue - the fog was really bad, almost unsafe especially with the rain and yet they raced. She, as well as a couple of the adults, said something to the race officials but they said they were already racing and it was ok. Not really. She had a poor start on Sunday due to the rain and wet gloves, slipped in the start gate and hit her head. Thankfully it's required that racers wear helmets and she's fine. But since she slipped she didn't get off well and ended up in second. She finished first in Saturday's race.
Right now she's ranked 2nd nationally in USASA. This year it doesn't matter too much how she's ranked. She'll be going to Copper in March but it will be for the USSA/FIS race, not USASA Nationals, so her ranking doesn't really matter (she doesn't need to rank high to qualify for Nationals since she's going for a different race).
She's got this weekend off from racing. Enjoying some training and fun time at Titcomb today, Sugarloaf tomorrow. Next weekend is a BX race at Stratton and a giant slalom race at Mount Sunapee. I'll be heading north to watch those. After that she'll be coming home for BX races at Massanutten as she enters the busiest part of the season.
The races at Sugarloaf were run in some serious cold. It was below zero when she got there in the morning and it didn't warm up too much during the day. She hadn't had too much training before those races and there were several girls in her class racing. She raced well and placed 5th on Saturday and 3rd on Sunday. With more practice under her belt and some good coaching she'll do better.
Stratton was last weekend. Another semi-frustrating weekend for her. The weather was really poor, very foggy and also rainy. It seemed like all the pictures I saw on social media last weekend it was the same story everywhere - a couple of USCSA and USASA races had bad fog, the BX races at Solitude were snowy with a bit of fog, and I think there was another race that had a lot of fog. It was kind of crazy, especially how bad the fog was in places and yet they still raced. That was Whitney's issue - the fog was really bad, almost unsafe especially with the rain and yet they raced. She, as well as a couple of the adults, said something to the race officials but they said they were already racing and it was ok. Not really. She had a poor start on Sunday due to the rain and wet gloves, slipped in the start gate and hit her head. Thankfully it's required that racers wear helmets and she's fine. But since she slipped she didn't get off well and ended up in second. She finished first in Saturday's race.
Right now she's ranked 2nd nationally in USASA. This year it doesn't matter too much how she's ranked. She'll be going to Copper in March but it will be for the USSA/FIS race, not USASA Nationals, so her ranking doesn't really matter (she doesn't need to rank high to qualify for Nationals since she's going for a different race).
She's got this weekend off from racing. Enjoying some training and fun time at Titcomb today, Sugarloaf tomorrow. Next weekend is a BX race at Stratton and a giant slalom race at Mount Sunapee. I'll be heading north to watch those. After that she'll be coming home for BX races at Massanutten as she enters the busiest part of the season.
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Winter Break
It's been lovely having my snowboarder home for winter break but her time here is drawing to a close. She's been relaxing, recovering from a tough semester, hitting the slopes at Massanutten a few times. Now it's time to finish the things that need to be done while she's home, do laundry, start packing, and on Monday hit the road to NH/Maine.
While we were at Massanutten she was able to ride with her old team. She went to practice with them a few times and enjoyed hanging out with the team and her old coaches. They were excited to see her and she found out she's got a reputation on the mountain. They're all proud of what she's accomplished so far and she's happy to say that she's from a tiny mountain in Virginia.
We had a long snowboard to-do list, most of which we accomplished. She reached out to a couple of new sponsors, tried to fix her Hook-It account (no success there yet), we'll be booking her flights home for the Massanutten race before she leaves, paperwork is done for CVA so she can hit the slopes with them when she gets back, and we took care of a few other miscellaneous odds and ends. We went over the USASA race schedule again; put it on a calendar she can take back with her and I kept a copy so we know where she's racing. Her coach at UMF wants her to race GS once so he can send her to the USCSA Nationals for that as well as BX so we had to find a race that would work in her schedule since BX is her priority.
She leaves Monday morning and will drive to her aunt's house in NH then on Tuesday head back to Maine. On the way she's stopping at Sunday River to pick up her new snowboard. It's really time for a second pair of bindings; having one pair with three boards isn't a recipe for success. But higher on the "need" list is a new pair of boots and pants.
She's heading back to school a week early to get some time in on the slopes as well as get to the first Maine Mountain BX race at Sugarloaf. She should get some training with CVA next week before the race. It's time to get on the mountains and get serious about race training. I'm working on my travel schedule to see her race and plan to head north to get to at least one weekend of racing.
It's time to get this season underway...she's off and riding!
While we were at Massanutten she was able to ride with her old team. She went to practice with them a few times and enjoyed hanging out with the team and her old coaches. They were excited to see her and she found out she's got a reputation on the mountain. They're all proud of what she's accomplished so far and she's happy to say that she's from a tiny mountain in Virginia.
We had a long snowboard to-do list, most of which we accomplished. She reached out to a couple of new sponsors, tried to fix her Hook-It account (no success there yet), we'll be booking her flights home for the Massanutten race before she leaves, paperwork is done for CVA so she can hit the slopes with them when she gets back, and we took care of a few other miscellaneous odds and ends. We went over the USASA race schedule again; put it on a calendar she can take back with her and I kept a copy so we know where she's racing. Her coach at UMF wants her to race GS once so he can send her to the USCSA Nationals for that as well as BX so we had to find a race that would work in her schedule since BX is her priority.
She leaves Monday morning and will drive to her aunt's house in NH then on Tuesday head back to Maine. On the way she's stopping at Sunday River to pick up her new snowboard. It's really time for a second pair of bindings; having one pair with three boards isn't a recipe for success. But higher on the "need" list is a new pair of boots and pants.
She's heading back to school a week early to get some time in on the slopes as well as get to the first Maine Mountain BX race at Sugarloaf. She should get some training with CVA next week before the race. It's time to get on the mountains and get serious about race training. I'm working on my travel schedule to see her race and plan to head north to get to at least one weekend of racing.
It's time to get this season underway...she's off and riding!
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
New Season, New Opportunities
While it's 70* here today in Virginia the snow has started to fall in Maine and the resorts are open. Whitney was home for a quick Thanksgiving break but had to be back in Maine on Saturday to hit the slopes. She was meeting up with her Never Summer rep during his demo day at Sunday River to try out boards to pick a new one for the season. She was so excited to be back on snow! She really enjoyed trying out several boards and should be getting her new one by the new year. She's also working on finding a few other sponsors for the season.
One huge opportunity, that she's been working on since last spring, has come together. Whitney and the head coach of the UMF Ski and Snowboard team have been talking with the Carrabassett Valley Academy (CVA) about getting Whitney some coaching time there since she hasn't been able to get good coaching at the school. She's excited, if a bit nervous, about working with CVA but considering who has gone there (Seth Wescott among them) and what they've accomplished she'll be in good hands. She'll get on-mountain coaching at practices and she should be able to get coaching at some competitions if other CVA athletes are there.
Speaking of competitions, all the USASA events are now posted. I looked over the schedule of races near her or close to her aunt in NH and she'll have a busy winter if she gets to them all. Starting the second week of January she could be racing every weekend until the first week of March except one. Most races are in Maine or Vermont although she will be coming home for the one at Massanutten in February. She's planning on going to the USCSA Nationals, which are March 5-11 then she'll have the rest of March off, at least from competitions, before heading to Colorado for USASA Nationals. She's also planning on racing in a Rev Tour/Hole Shot Tour race which is at Sugarloaf.
On a family note we need to get our passes for Massanutten so we can hit the slopes there. I also have to get over to the ski shop to get my season rentals. I need to be on the slopes much more often this winter; I was sorely out of shape when I went to Colorado last year and don't want a repeat of that! I also need to look at schedules and see if I can get up to Maine or Vermont to watch my girl race a time or two this year. Here's to a great winter and competition season!
One huge opportunity, that she's been working on since last spring, has come together. Whitney and the head coach of the UMF Ski and Snowboard team have been talking with the Carrabassett Valley Academy (CVA) about getting Whitney some coaching time there since she hasn't been able to get good coaching at the school. She's excited, if a bit nervous, about working with CVA but considering who has gone there (Seth Wescott among them) and what they've accomplished she'll be in good hands. She'll get on-mountain coaching at practices and she should be able to get coaching at some competitions if other CVA athletes are there.
Speaking of competitions, all the USASA events are now posted. I looked over the schedule of races near her or close to her aunt in NH and she'll have a busy winter if she gets to them all. Starting the second week of January she could be racing every weekend until the first week of March except one. Most races are in Maine or Vermont although she will be coming home for the one at Massanutten in February. She's planning on going to the USCSA Nationals, which are March 5-11 then she'll have the rest of March off, at least from competitions, before heading to Colorado for USASA Nationals. She's also planning on racing in a Rev Tour/Hole Shot Tour race which is at Sugarloaf.
On a family note we need to get our passes for Massanutten so we can hit the slopes there. I also have to get over to the ski shop to get my season rentals. I need to be on the slopes much more often this winter; I was sorely out of shape when I went to Colorado last year and don't want a repeat of that! I also need to look at schedules and see if I can get up to Maine or Vermont to watch my girl race a time or two this year. Here's to a great winter and competition season!
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Time for a New Season
Although the weather doesn't seem like it, fall is here and winter is just around the corner. Dry land practice has started in Maine, snow will start to fall soon, race schedules are being made up, and it will be soon time to hit the slopes.
Whitney was named a co-captain of the UMF Snowboard and Freeski team. There's no official division but she's mainly overseeing the racers and also helping navigate race registration. It's been a bit frustrating for her, several on the team still think of it as a club sport not the varsity sport that it is and are acting in a way that could be detrimental to the team and how it's viewed by the school. She's also frustrated with the coaching situation and is working with the head coach to get better coaching. We keep plotting to get her coach from Massanutten to move to Maine, at least for the next two or three years while she's there but he's not buying it.
So far there's not too many USASA series with their schedules published. She'll be at Sugarloaf and Sunday River in Maine, she's planning to come home and race at Massanutten. She's planning on going to Mt. Batchelor, Oregon for USCSA Nationals in March and Copper Mountain for USASA Nationals in early April. She hasn't looked into USSA races yet but hopes to make a few of those. A lot depends on location and her class schedule in the spring. Maybe she can catch some races during her winter break.
Here's to another great season!
Whitney was named a co-captain of the UMF Snowboard and Freeski team. There's no official division but she's mainly overseeing the racers and also helping navigate race registration. It's been a bit frustrating for her, several on the team still think of it as a club sport not the varsity sport that it is and are acting in a way that could be detrimental to the team and how it's viewed by the school. She's also frustrated with the coaching situation and is working with the head coach to get better coaching. We keep plotting to get her coach from Massanutten to move to Maine, at least for the next two or three years while she's there but he's not buying it.
So far there's not too many USASA series with their schedules published. She'll be at Sugarloaf and Sunday River in Maine, she's planning to come home and race at Massanutten. She's planning on going to Mt. Batchelor, Oregon for USCSA Nationals in March and Copper Mountain for USASA Nationals in early April. She hasn't looked into USSA races yet but hopes to make a few of those. A lot depends on location and her class schedule in the spring. Maybe she can catch some races during her winter break.
Here's to another great season!
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