J4 Bloopers and Other Fun Stuff (video)

All of the photos and videos on this blog, plus many additional photos can be viewed or downloaded from the Share Site. Some ideas: download photos & videos to make your own CD, order prints or design your own photo book from the share site.

March 28: Dual Race and End of Season Awards

The last run: no skis allowed!

J4 Awards 2009

Most achieved: Lara Lathrop, Finn McNamara

Most improved (girls): Beatrice Edmonds

Also nominated: Ali Davis, Keagan Hanley, Giana Congiusta, Mary Clare Crochiere

Most improved (boys): Will Horigan

Also nominated: Chris Kelling, Brendan O'Keefe

Coaches award (girls): Quin Feder

Also nominated: Mary Clare Crochiere, Beatrice Edmonds

Coaches award (boys): Scott Trudel

Also nominated: Jan Offermann, Chris Kelling

What are your GOALS and how can you REACH them?

Our Training Plan includes 12 primary movements that are important for high performance skiing and racing. If we score each primary movement (0 - 5) for an athlete we come up with a total score (maximum 60 points) that is a good indication of the athlete's overall performance.

The preliminary results of our research show a strong link between an athlete's total score and their race results:

1. An athlete scoring 34 could expect to finish in the top half at a J4 race
2. An athlete scoring 40 could expect to qualify for J4 States
3. An athlete scoring 47 could expect to finish in the top 15 at J4 States or qualify for J3 States
4. An athlete scoring 54 could expect to qualify for J3 Finals
5. An athlete scoring 58 could expect to qualify for J3 Junior Olympics

How can you reach your goal for race results? The more primary movements you master, and the better you can perform them, the higher your score. Add the appropriate tactics and your race results will track closely with your score.

Weekend March 21-22

U.S. Open Snowboard Championships at Stratton








Treasure Hunt/Clue Game

The culprit: Mary Clare with the Gate Wrench in the Ski Club Room!

1st place team: Brendan, Scott, Tyler, Jan, Chris, Jack & Andrew (1/2 day)

Finish judge: Yoda (900 years old)

Vermont State Championships at Killington (March 14-15)

Congratulations to Lara Lathrop, the new J-IV State GS Champion! Lara beat Vermont's fastest skiers (all 77 of them), with a 2.5 second lead over 2nd place. Lara also won the second SL run and placed 2nd overall in the SL race. Lara will be representing Vermont and STC at the J-IV Future Stars Camp. Photo from the Manchester Journal:

Congratulations to these athletes for their top 20 finishes: Finn McNamara (6th SL), Leah Fowler (13th GS & 15th SL), Oliver Shih (14th SL), and Ali Davis (18th SL & 18th GS).

A special congratulations to Beatrice Edmonds for placing in the top half (SL) as a 1st year J-IV.

It's not easy to "beat your bib number" but these athletes performed better than their seed in SL and/or GS: Lara Lathrop, Ali Davis, Mary Clare Crochiere, Keagan Hanley, Oliver Shih, Gabriel Hjorth, Tyler Smith, Michael Symecko, Hunter Barrett, and Grayson Bubrosky. Congratulations for stepping up your performance against Vermont's finest J-IV's!

And kudos to all of our athletes that competed at this event. This is the first time ever that STC has had 21 athletes (including Wilson from SMS/STC) qualify for the J-IV State Championships!

Mary Clare Crochiere, Leah Fowler, Michael Symecko, and Scott Trudel arrived early on Friday to free ski at Killington. They worked on turn initiation on steep terrain. Everyone discovered that what seemed intuitive was not always the most effective on the steeps. We made some adjustments to help improve our balance and bend the ski early in the turn. After some practice all were able to maintain constant speed on the steeps while making round turns.

The Competitors

At the "Caboose"





Ali's 12th birthday

Video: "Power and Grace on Highline"