Mountain Ski Training

Paul broke the news already, but I had the update half written by then, so I’ll recount the news.



Oh wow, bittersweet is the perfect word for this weekend. Want the good news or bad news first? I’ll pick bad first, that way the good news comes last, ending the update on a high note.

Friday found allot of team members tooling around Sno getting some free skiing in. Our J4 fast guy Michael Griffin was heading from Phoebe lift to the lodge when he ka-dumpt it hard, breaking his collar bone. A quick trip to the bone doc fixed him up, but sadly, he’ll miss states. The other bad part is that he did this smack-dab in front of the ski patrol chalet. Why bad? Well, what sort of story can he tell his girlfriend now? Poaching a ride in the yet to be finished 22’ half pipe and breaking a bone is cool. Falling in front of ski patrol, not cool. It’s like auguring your car into the emergency room. Get well soon Mikey!



Sunday we needed to find a new slope to train on as Smoke received a fresh 6 inches of powder and GS training would have been dangerous. Coach Chris set a dandy course on ‘Far Charlie’ and it was working well… Well until Coach Dante endo’d in grand fashion in front of his 4-5’s crew. At first, the thought was he simply dingied his leggie and after a trip to the bar all would be healed. That changed when the X-Ray showed a crack. 3 hours later and cast on hoof, Dante hobbled into the bar saddened and numb. A showering of compassion and comfort from the Women of the Sno Ski team along with bountiful brews and goopy food brought light to his face and the cool sly smile we all come to appreciate. Or, it could have been the mixture of pain meds and booze. Get well soon Dante!

So that’s the bad. The good is we have not broken the string of Sno Mt. racers to make the trip to the highest level of Eastern J3 racing, J3 Junior Olympics! To recap, Mike Mitchell started it 3 years ago, followed by Brian Dunleavey and last year, Molly Curran. This year, none other than Tommy Steinbach upholds the tradition and heads to Waterville!! Interestingly, Tommy set yet another record for the year in that he’s the first FIRST year J3 to make JO’s out of the other three listed above! Guess he’s a shoe in for next year, making him the first Sno racer to go twice?!?! Don’t wanna jinx him, sorry Way to go Tommy!!



Not sure why I haven’t received a race report from J3 States, hopefully soon coaches?!



This weekend the 1-2s head to Elk for the final string of races that will complete the 8 race cup circuit. Wish ‘em luck!

Next weekend, our 4’s and 5’s take a crack at post season. I was wishing Mikey was going, I’ll be coaching J4 Future Stars at Okemo later next month and he would have been a shoe-in!



Also, please visit this website http://picasaweb.google.com/steinbach.bill

And see if your pic is in there. Coach Bill has been busy taking pictures with a camera that snaps 4-5 shots in a second, giving a great sequential flow to a turn. There’s allot to be learned by looking at yourself.



Out takes from the weekend:



Nothing funny, but mongo thanks to Coach Bob Griffin. He of course ran Mike to the hospital, but two days later ran Dante as well. I think his car knows the route there all by itself. Also thanks to bob for keeping his race and support crew well nourished and hydrated all weekend.

Gaetano and Steph were 25 minutes late getting the little grommets back to the lodge Saturday afternoon due to a broken Iron Horse lift. Brian Dunleavey paced angrily as he waited for little sister Claire. He was mumbling that he was going to be late for a big date because he was in charge of getting Claire de-booted and in the car. When the unsuspecting tyke shuffled across the flats, Brian ran out, grabbed Claire and tossed her over his shoulder and made for the steps to the parking lot, with skis and poles still attached. She was giggling the whole way, but it did sort of resemble a kidnapping. Brian got home in time, but was reportedly dumped that night so he ended up going to the mall with the boys.



Paul and the Stienbachs were in 7-Springs for states leaving a skeleton crew at Sno. I had a big idea of teasing Paul by planting phone messages to him that everything was ok now that the cops showed up. We apparently set two training courses on Lightning and closed it off to public. When public complained ski patrol came and then there was a big fight that involved paramedics and prison. Funny stuff, but Mark’s plow truck taking flight down Smoke was still funnier



Lastly, kudos to Ryan Symancek for placing his butt on the podium at a Northern ski race event. Details are fuzzy because I received the call from big Mark during the fiasco with broken bones and wasn’t able to recall places and times. But it was a third and that rocks!



That’s that! Good luck to 1-2’s and 4-5’s, get some good training in this weekend, you’re big show is next weekend!

Coach Rolf



Quote for the day: “Positive anything is better than negative nothing” Elbert Hubbard