State Qualifier Recap

This past weekend we had our Sectional Races. Sectionals are used to crown  Individual and Team Champions for our designated area within NY State (Section 5). The races are also used to qualify individuals and teams for the State Championship. The top 12 overall finishers will move on to the State Championship as well as the top Men's and Women's team. 

Having a single race to determine who makes it to the State championships is always going to be an arena of excitement, nerves, pressure, jubilation, accomplishment, disappointment, and exhilaration. This year was no different. 

Though we are untied through our friendship, training, team and sport RNR athletes compete for almost every school within the section so the level of competition is high. Each year it becomes more and more apparent that if you are not at least thinking about skiing 365 days a year your going to be at a disadvantage. The sport is to demanding physically, technically, and mentally to excel at if your only thinking about it 3 months of the year. 

Don't believe me? Then just look at the  results they speak for themselves.  

I will start with the boys !  All of the boys skied really, really well. Gavin led the way and won the individual title, but Tommy was hot on his heels only 6 seconds back ! Langton finished strong and rounded out the podium just edging Marco by .9 seconds. Peter was next in 5th place ! We were off to a good start going 1-5 but it only got better. Jack came in 7th followed by Josh in 8th and then with one of his best races EVER Scott was in 9th ! If your keeping track that's 8 skiers in the top 9 ! What a day ! Derrick, Rob, and Chris were just out of it finishing 13th, 14th and 15th. Tim had a great race finishing in 17th with Wes just behind him in 18th Ryan just missed the top 20 finishing 21st. All in all it was a great day for everyone !  14 in the top 21 I will take it ! These results are not only a reflection of our program but also that of the high schools that these guys ski for ! Without the support of those coaches and programs I would not be able to do what I do and I really appreciate that ! 

(Langton, Gavin, and Tommy)

Next up it were the girls ! Not to be outdone Riley was gunning for the win and came up just short finishing 1.7 seconds behind here HF-L teammate Hanna. Jenna had a great race and joined Riley on the podium in 3rd. Colleen was the next one across the finish line in 6th ! 3 in the top 6 another great start ! Then came the real excitement when Katie, Sara, Magie, and Madi went 9, 10, 11, and 12th to secure their spot at the State Championship ! Katie D also had a great race finishing in 21st just missing the top 20 !  Booooom 7 in the top 12 almost matching the boys with 8 making it to states.

When it was all said and done 15 of the 24 athletes qualifying for states were participants in this years summer program ! That's pretty awesome stuff. It was great to see everyone having a good day when it really counted but a few things really stuck out to me. Gavin coming back from a disappointing season last year to Win a sectional title, Tommy absolutely throwing it down to finish 2nd only 5 seconds back from Gavin, Scott having the race of his life and finishing 8th and getting Fairport back in to the big show ! On the girls side it was a great battle between Hanna and Riley one that anyone watching should feel privileged to watch ! Two young ladies just hammering on each other to find out what the other one has ! Jenna making it a clean sweep for HF-L on the podium, Colleen battling back from an injury to have a great race, Sara getting the Webster back to the big show !!! and Katie making it to states after finishing 13th two years in a row ! ! Awesome Stuff

Monday was the relay ! There was not to much excitement after the 1st leg of the boys race. Peter and Josh had great lead-off legs for there respective schools but Tommy dropped the field on the second leg and left nothing to doubt tagging off to Gavin to bring home the relay win as well as the sectional crown to the Pittsford Mendon Boys Team ! 

(Pittsford Boys Sectional Champions)

As with the boys race the HF-L girls did not leave much to chance going 1,2,3 in the relay and securing the sectional crown as well. 

(HF-L Girls Sectional Champion )

Congratulation to all of those athletes who have qualified for the State Championship and also to those who have come to the end of another great season !     

LP Loppet, Trapp EC, and MORE !

It's been a while since I have updated the blog but that's because we have been on the road in search of Snow, Races, Points, and FUN !  

Let's start by rewinding back the the weekend of the Lake Placid Loppet and JNQ's at Old Forge. The Senior Crew packed up and headed to LP to take on the Loppet. I always head to the Loppet with mixed emotions. I'm excited to race and visit with friends new and old, but in the back of my mind I know what I'm in for. 

"Yeah that x 2"

The Loppet is a great event and very well run, I know a lot of people work hard on pulling off a great event but I wish it was bigger and better ! I don't know if people are scared of the course, the lack of prize money, or what but I'm hoping the event keeps growing and starts to pull in some more elite racers from around the country. There is no reason that the Loppet can't be the Berkie of the EAST ! Maybe we should call it the "Beast of the East"©®™ Did I just trademark that? I hope so...

"These guys may have beat me to it, but I will wrestle them for it"

The Loppet went well and I was personally able to have my best result yet 2nd place overall. I skied with JUOM for the entire race until about the final 200m when he somehow found the sprint speed that eluded him for ever ! In all honesty once him and I were able to get rid of everyone else I knew I was in for a fight because when the going get's tough the tough get going, and I'm not sure I know anyone who is tougher than JUOM. He has proved that throughout his skiing career !

(You don't want to see this guy going in to the final 200m of a 50k)

Even if you look like this ! 

(It was a cold one with temps around -16 when we woke up warming to 5 or so during the race)

Chad, Marty, Derrick, and Frencski also raced and had good day's out on the trail. All in all it was a good weekend hanging and racing with some of my closest friends. 

(Chad lapping through the stadium) 

(Derrick grabbing a drink, thanks to Nancy and Libby for the feeds)

On Sunday I loaded up the car and headed to Old Forge for the Final JNQ race of the year. The junior crew was on scene the day before as well, and the were kickin butt ! 

On Saturday Conner and Adam led the way for the boys going 1st and 2nd, Rob got in to the mix finishing 5th making it a good day for the OJ/J1 boys. Ryan led the way for the J2 boys finishing 4th. Madi also made the trip east and finished 7th in the J2 girls race. On Sunday more of the crew came out and they were ready to put the HURT to the rest of the NY scene ! 

	Last/First	Nordic	NYSSRA	USSA	Out	In	Elapsed
	Name	Team	License	Class	Time	Time	Time
49	Luban, Adam	RNR		J1M	00:02:20	00:28:48	00:26:28
45	Hess, Gavin	RNR		J1M	00:02:00	00:28:47	00:26:47
42	Mallery, Peter	RNR		J1M	00:01:45	00:29:21	00:27:36
47	Green, Connor	RNR		J1M	00:02:10	00:30:19	00:28:09
41	Huneck, Austin	HURT		J1M	00:01:40	00:30:05	00:28:25
48	Criss, Colin	Polar Bears		OJM	00:02:15	00:32:21	00:30:06
43	Murn, Tom	Wolverine		J1M	00:01:50	00:33:47	00:31:57
39	Britton, Wesley	RNR	Yes	J1M	00:01:30	00:33:56	00:32:26
44	Straw, Scott	Fairport Nordic		J1M	00:01:55	00:36:08	00:34:13
40	Ruud, Tor	Polar Bear		J1M	00:01:35	00:37:52	00:36:17

The Boys have been skiing well all year long and today was no different ! Sara also had a great race finishing 3rd in the J1 girls race and Madi had another solid day finishing 5th in the J2 girls race.  Griffin made his official RNR debut and had a good day finishing 5th in the J2 boys race with Tim close behind in 8th. 

Here is a short video of the boys on the first lap.

(Taken with my iphone) 

With the Loppet and JNQ behind us the next stop for Trapp for the NENSA EC and UVM Carnival. 

Before the races even went down the weekend was a success due to the fact that there were so many 

Mid-A skiers in one place getting ready to throw down ! We are always overshadowed by our cousins to the East but Mid-A is producing some fast guys and girls all the way from the WC down to the EC ! Our RNR alums are also starting to shine. Steve Mangan who is skiing at Dartmouth is having a great year with the BIG GREEN, Reed and Margot are skiing great for SLU with Reed having some of his best results of the season, and Hanna is improving each week skiing with the Harvard crew ! ! Not to be outdone Gavin, Adam and Conner had great days. On Saturday Gavin led the way finishing as the 6th J1 and on Sunday Adam took over the lead position finishing as the 7th J1. We make the trip east to race against some of the fastest guys and girls in the country with the goal of becoming more and more competitive, things are headed in the right direction but we still have A LOT of work to do ! 

(Gavin skating well this season) 

(Conner continuing to have solid results each weekend)

( As always we are powered by TOKO and MADSHUS) 

Well we were off in Vermont the senior crew headed south to Art Roscoe Loppet. The boys did well during the race but really won the raffle ! 

(Swag from WINNING the Race and the Raffle ! )

(Now you know who is coming for YOU) 

Next up we have our high school sectional championships, followed by the State championship and then we are off to FAIRBANKS.