FREE! MAGAZINE Vermont’S Authority on Outdoor Fitness and Adventure

BUSTING BLISTERS i UNKNOWN ROCK STARS i YOUNG SKIERS IN THE SPOTLIGHT i CALENDAR OF OUTDOOR EVENTS VERMONT SPORTS FREE! MAGAZINE Vermont’s Authority on Outdoor Fitness and Adventure

JANUARY 2011 VOLUME XX | NO. III GETTING DERBY-IZED

5 BACKCOUNTRY EVENTS TO SKI THIS WINTER VT NORDIC SKATING LIST IF THE BOOT FITS, SKI IT! 2 VERMONT SPORTS December 2010 VERMONT DEPARTMENTS SPORTS 4 Editor Commentary MAGAZINE CONTENTS Ruud Vekemans. Ruud Lost and Found Publisher 4 Out & About Sky Barsch Gleiner Getting Derby-ized [email protected] 8 A Few Sports Highlights Managing Editor from 2010 Kate Carter [email protected] 5 Retail Junkie Superstar Advertising Sales If the Boot Fits, Ski It! Get to Know an Unknown [email protected] 10 Rock Star Art Direction and Production Shawn Braley 6 Sports Medicine [email protected] Busting Blisters To advertise call the main ofﬁ ce VT Nordic Skating List Phone: 802-754-2997 (o/f) 802-279-0077 (m) 12-13 7 18 & Under or email [email protected] Skiing Into the Spotlight This month’s contributing writers Kate Carter; Sky Barsch Gleiner; Kirk Kardashian; 5 Backcountry Events to Chris Keller; Ryan Leclerc; Brian Mohr; Bob LoCicero; 16-17 Reader Athletes John Morton; Phyl Newbeck; Robert Rinaldi, DPM 14-15 Ski This Winter Alyson Ruby Grzyb and This month’s contributing photographers Paul Bierman Glenn Callahan; Kate Carter; Ed Linton; Bob LoCicero; Brian Mohr; Ruud Vekemans 19-22 Calendar of Events Editorial Ofﬁ ce Vermont Sports Publishing, LLC 19 High St., Orleans, VT 05860 22 Vermont Sports 802-754-2997 (o/f) 802-279-0077 (m) Business Directory [email protected]

We welcome unsolicited material On the cover: Tim Donahue (67) of Nashua, NH, Joel Bradley (16) of New York City, NY, and Marc Gilbertson (70) of Morrisville, VT, at the 2010 but do not guarantee its safe return. TDBanknorth Craftsbury Marathon, to be held this year on January 29. For another perspective of the marathon, see 10-time Craftsbury Marathon Production Ofﬁ ce participant Paul Bierman’s interview on page 17. Photo by Kate Carter. Vermont Sports Publishing, LLC 19 High St., Orleans, VT 05860 802-754-2997 (o/f) 802-279-0077 (m) THIS MONTH ON VTSPORTS.COM [email protected] Vermont Sports is owned and operated by SHIRES OF VERMONT BUILDING YOUR BASELINE, CARBON OFFSETS AND GREEN Vermont Sports Publishing, LLC, A Vermont limited liability company. MARATHON TRIMMING YOUR WAISTLINE RACING USING THE WINTER WISELY By Tim Reynolds Vermont Sports is published 11 times per year. By Declan Connolly, Ph.D, FACSM, CSCS* Established 1990

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January 2011 VERMONT SPORTS 3 EDITOR COMMENTARY BY KATE CARTER LOST AND FOUND

’m on a roll. Starting this past Oc- til then, it’s bouncing around in the on another dog walk with the above- tact. I don’t put stuff on top of my tober I’ve found a nice collection back of my car. mentioned umbrella friend and we car anymore, but it’s taken some Iof items that people have lost on The next fi nd was a major score. had reached the turn-around point serious discipline to keep myself trails or at trailheads. I am happy to Draped over a low-growing shrub at of our walk. We saw something that from doing that. Maybe if I had a return these goodies to their rightful a scenic attraction trailhead I found a looked like a crumpled Bud Lite beer different car with a higher roof, owners, so, as you read this column, if Columbia Titanium technical jacket, can on the ground, half covered with instead one that’s at such a conve- you think I’ve found something that men’s large. This was during peak fo- ice and snow. Good Samaritan that nient height, it wouldn’t be such a is yours, all you have to do is contact liage, and I suspect a visitor on a bus she is, my friend thought she should problem. me and tell me where you lost it. No tour misplaced it. I rifl ed through all pack it out. She bent over to pick it up There was a slight lull in my location identifi cation, no reclama- the pockets—and there were a lot of and Lo! A headlamp! And it worked! recent stuff-fi nding streak, but tion. With that in mind, I will refrain them—looking for identifi cation, and The headband was missing, which sure enough, it happened again. from naming trails or trailheads in it occurred to me that someone had probably explains its separation from After a short hike up a nearby the following litany. already done that because all the zip- its owner. Since I got the umbrella, trail, I returned to my car. It was getting dark, but I could just make It all started on a cool rainy day pers were unzipped. I took it home she got the headlamp. and placed a “found” ad in the local I can’t help but wonder about all out a small lump in the parking in early October at a nearby haunt, paper. I got one response, but the this lost stuff I’m fi nding, but I’m writ- lot. It looked like it had been there where I met a friend and we took our caller was looking for something else, ing it off as payback. I’ve lost plenty of a few days—snow-covered with dogs for a walk. Upon returning to so I still have the jacket. It’s brown stuff myself, usually by putting it on tire tracks over it. I snagged it our cars we both spotted something and gray, which are not my colors, so top of the car and driving off. Once with my hiking pole tip and took a colorful lying in the parking area. An it’s become a yard jacket. It’s become I found a very nice Buck knife right closer look. As luck would have it, umbrella! A very nice umbrella. Since my jacket of choice when I do things in the middle of Route 100. I fi gured it was a Smartwool beanie, and a I’ve been without an umbrella most of around the yard in the rain—clean that was replacement for the Swiss great color—purple! Beanies usu- my life, I got to claim the prize. up the last of the garden debris, fi ll Army Knife I lost when it went fl ying ally give me wicked hat head, but Not long after that, in another fa- potholes in the driveway with the off the roof of my car in a sharp turn. this one looks really nice, and it’s vorite haunt, I found a small camera load of stay-mat I had dumped in the Same thing happened with a nice pair not so tight that my face looks like bag. It’s nothing I can use, since my parking area, pick up all the agility of Bolle sunglasses. I even did it with it’s popping out of a grape. I’ll prob- cameras are big and this bag is for equipment that’s strewn around the my wallet at a gas station. When I ably wear it. Unless it’s yours. If one of those small point-and-shoots, yard and drag it to the garage for got home and realized my wallet was you think it is, send me an email, and I can’t even use it to store fi lm, winter storage—that sort of thing. gone I retraced my steps and found it [email protected], and tell me since that’s ancient history, so I’m re- Then came the surprise fi nd right on the edge of the road. It had been where I found it. ally hoping someone will claim it. Un- in the middle of a closed road. I was run over a few times, but was still in- —Kate Carter

OUT & ABOUT BY JOHN MORTON A FEW SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2010

efore anticipating a brand new ing the limits of the run in an effort to ey games—the original USA-Canada bad news as well. The revelations about year of sporting thrills and spills, make their sport more exciting for televi- men’s battle where the American goalie Tiger Woods’ private life seemed at fi rst BI can’t help a quick glance back at sion. kept his teammates in the contest, and unbelievable, and then agonizingly pain- some of the major sports stories of 2010. United States skiers and snowboard- the gold medal event where the Canadi- ful. He may eventually recover his prow- I apologize in advance, since my interest ers turned in their strongest performance ans reestablished their claim to their na- ess on the golf course, but as a person he rarely coincides with conventional wis- in Winter Olympic history. Lindsey Vonn tional pastime. has forever lost the respect and admira- dom. For example, I understand that the and Julie Mancuso were impressive in Although I’m not a fanatic football tion of millions. biggest story of the year for many sports the women’s alpine events, while Bode fan, I was captivated by the Saints’ Super It was this past year that former slug- fans was LeBron James’ defection from Miller toned down his controversial an- Bowl victory. New Orleans seems to have ger Mark McGuire fi nally admitted to us- Cleveland to Miami. I empathize with the tics and simply skied well. Shaun White endured so many hardships recently, and ing steroids in the 1998 season when he Cleveland fans, but beyond that, yawn….. continued his domination of the men’s for many years the Saints were so pa- eclipsed Roger Maris’ 37-year-old home Ten months after the fact, I still have halfpipe, but the real fi reworks were de- thetic that even getting to the Super Bowl run record. I suppose McGuire deserves wonderful memories of the Vancouver livered by a trio of U.S. Nordic combined was fantasy. But, in spite of (perhaps be- credit for fi nally fessing up, but 13 years Winter Olympics. For starters, the Ca- skiers who commanded the podium after cause of) the hardships, the team rose on seems like a long time for his conscience nadians did a super job organizing the years of being so very close. a groundswell of local support and won to kick in. Maybe he’ll inspire Roger Cle- Games, as I had confi dence they would Let me add a couple of fl eeting memo- the Lombardi Trophy. Hollywood couldn’t mens to come clean… since Calgary, back in 1988, was such a ries of the Vancouver Games. The Inter- have concocted a more inspiring story Oh, and the winner of the Tour de success. In spite of uncharacteristically national Olympic Committee should have line. France was busted for doping, but that’s warm, wet weather, the events went off on let the women jump. Although they may Speaking of inspiration, I enjoyed fol- not news, it happens every year. schedule. Sadly, the opening days of the be few in number internationally, the lowing the World Cup Soccer events from Here’s hoping 2011 starts off with competitions were marred by the tragic gals who have been ski jumping have South Africa. Although the games them- cold temperatures and lots of snow! death of a luge rider from the former So- clearly demonstrated their dedication selves may not keep me on the edge of my viet republic of Georgia. Although, at the and capability. In fact, I suspect that may seat, it’s impressive to consider how many John Morton is a former Olympic biathlete time there was plenty of fi nger pointing to have been the issue; they are so good, the of the world’s population are joined in and Nordic ski coach. He lives in Thetford assign blame for the accident, I’m not sure tough old boys overseeing international their passion for the sport. I can’t think of Center, VT, where he designs Nordic ski if it was ever determined whether the ath- ski jumping were probably afraid the another event, except perhaps the Sum- trails. You can reach him through his web- lete was experienced enough for top-level girls were going to fl oat farther down the mer Olympics, that involves the people of site, www.mortontrails.com. international competition, or whether the hill than the guys. all the continents so completely. International Luge Federation was push- A second memory was of two ice hock- Of course the year had its share of 4 VERMONT SPORTS January 2011 RETAIL JUNKIE SUPERSTAR GET TO KNOW AN UNKNOWN ROCK STAR BY once mentioned to Bart, my hands- who also work at the shop. And the three unknown rock stars, who do something RYAN JAMES LECLERC down favorite fellow coworker, that of us are in an unknown rock band. else, something a little different togeth- II am a rock star. I wasn’t kidding Any retail junkie who has ever at- er, something that doesn’t involve exer- around; I was being serious. Being tended a sales seminar and lived to tell cise or high speeds or anything having rooted in logic and reason, he of course about it has probably sat through the to do with the products that we sell or you realize that you have more high- went into immediate argument mode, “Be a Rock Star” motivational speech. the active, outdoor lifestyle we promote. end racing poles in stock than you can disputing my claim with piles of tangible The motivational speaker is referring to Once a week, usually on Thursday realistically sell in a year, or three evidence that proves his contradiction to another type of a rock star, the sales fl oor nights, Crash and Bash and I set up in years for that matter. And it can be be sound. He was being literal and I un- chart topper if you like, who welcomes the basement of the bike shop and rock monotonous, like when you check the derstand that. No, as Bart pointed out, I customers within 20 seconds or 20 feet out together. Crash plays the drums, time and it’s a half hour earlier than am not a successful performer with mil- from walking in the door, who tactfully Bash sings and plays the guitar, and I when you checked it a half hour ago. lions of dollars nor am I a celebrated tal- suggests and successfully sells custom play the bass, and we all drink beers. All these things can grind you down, ent with legions of adoring fans. And no, insoles with every footwear purchase, For a few hours, nothing else in the world but when you’re an unknown rock star, I am not a heralded axe man with racks and who embraces boring tasks that ev- matters. No, we don’t have a record deal. you can strike a power chord in your of Gibson Les Paul guitars piled in the eryone else avoids, like making a com- No, we don’t a gig lined up. No, we don’t brain and the challenges, stress, and back of my black and gold colored tour pelling display for inner tubes or Presta have a name, but when we’re playing monotony of the daily grind become a bus and I am certainly not a bestselling valve adapters. Every shop needs these music in the basement of the bike shop bit easier to deal with. artist with racks of multiple Grammy types of rock stars, and we have them in and we turn up the volume of our ampli- To all the unknown rock stars out awards piled in the trophy room of my our ranks, but this is not the kind of rock fi ers enough to drown out the boiler, and there, keep rocking and rolling. To all rock star mansion. star that I claim to be. (Although if the I manage to play a few correct notes in a the sales fl oor chart toppers out there, Yes, I do work at a bike shop and yes boss asks, please tell him that I am that row, there is a magical feeling that only keep selling and restocking. And to all I am lousy at playing guitar and even type, too). rock stars like us get to experience. The the real rock stars out there, look out. worse at playing bass. And it is true Most of us who work at the shop have feeling is so intense, that I would break As soon as I learn how to play better that, not counting my lovely wife, I have a lot in common and we do a lot of ac- into real rock star poses and throw my zero adoring fans. My rock star mansion tivities together outside of work. We ride arm in the air and jump up and down and we come up with a name, we’re may currently be a humble abode and my bikes together and then we drink beers if I wasn’t worried about knocking over coming after your Grammys. tour bus may be a blue and rust colored together. We ski mountains together Frank’s repair stand. Subaru, but that doesn’t matter. I am and then we drink beers together. When This magical feeling carries over to Ryan James Leclerc has worked in re- still a rock star. I’m just not a real rock we’re not playing in the great outdoors, the next day and stays with us. This is tail longer than you. Although he has star. we go to the Three Penny Taproom to- important, because even though there is recently made the move from the sales Maybe Bart could wrap his head gether and then we drink beers while no other job we’d rather be doing, work fl oor to the offi ce of Onion River Sports, around the idea if I had said that I’m a complaining about being broke together. at the shop can at times be challenging, he likes to reminisce about the good old different type of rock star. I am an un- We are coworkers, but we are also good like when a customer wants to return days using the present tense narrative. known rock star, and I am not alone. friends, which is one of the things that I long underwear because after a day of He lives in Burlington with his lovely There are two other unknown rock appreciate most about my job. snowshoeing, they weren’t breathable wife Mckalyn. You can reach him at ry- stars—Crash Davis and Bash Baker— And then there are a few of us, the enough. It can be stressful, like when [email protected].

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January 2011 VERMONT SPORTS 5 SPORTS MEDICINE BY ROBERT RINALDI, DPM BUSTING BLISTERS ore than 400,000 athletes par- cess of formation may debunk some long- with just plain walking. That said, un- inside the shoe. At heel-strike the foot ticipate in marathons every standing myths about blister treatment. derstanding the reason for formation of will begin its slide forward and at toe-off Myear. In the shorter distances, The blister begins with a tearing of the friction blister has offered little help the shoe will begin a track backwards. participation is well into the millions. All the top three layers of the skin—stratum in the prevention of blisters. As the skin warms up and moisture in- this running, just in the United States! corneum, stratum lucidum, and stratum creases, the foot will literally be sloshing Training miles for these runners must granulosum—from the underlying stra- DEBUNKING OLD WIVES’ TALES around in the shoe. When the shoe is too be an awesome fi gure. tum spinosum. The skin’s lowest basal Folk medicine lore is replete with tips tight it will increase friction on the skin The injury most frequently treated cell layer and dermis remain unharmed. and tricks for the prevention of the fric- almost immediately. The shoe must fi t in running race medical tents is the The space created from the tear fi lls tion blister. Sadly, most of the remedies properly; it can be neither too tight nor painful friction blister. Consider these with a “blister fl uid’ that is very similar have been shown to offer little help in re- too loose. statistics: to plasma. The original tear is caused by solving the dilemma. Exhaustive studies I always suggest that you shop for • An estimated 39 percent of runners a shearing force or frictional force that performed by the U. S. Army have shown your athletic foot wear in a quality sport experience disability from blistering develops between the skin and an object that applying an antiperspirant to the shop with trained staff. We are blessed feet during a race. that has less mobility and greater ten- sole of the foot not only did not prevent here in Vermont with Skirack in Burl- • The United States military records sile strength. Once the plasma-like fl uid blistering, but added the possibility of ington, Onion River Sports in Montpe- show blister treatment for over 40 fi lls the space it will actually begin to an allergic skin response to the products lier, and Stateline Sports in West Leba- percent of all inductees in training. add insult to injury by further dissect- used. non, NH. You could not fi nd better staff • An estimated 50 percent of hikers ing tissue as it moves about, making the Another popular blister prevention to meet your fi t needs. and backpackers suffer from blisters. blister larger. trick is to use a moisture-absorbing The fi nal answer to blister preven- • The friction blister is common, Frictional forces are important in powder, such as cornstarch. A premi- tion may be in the socks. Studies have painful, and disabling, yet prevention the process of movement and for the foot um-grade baby powder was most popu- shown that acrylic fi bers are best, blow- and treatment are still fi xed on a to work normally. These forces will help lar, but studies found that the talc or ing cotton fi bers out of the running. paradigm of traditions that was set develop stability and traction, working cornstarch absorbed moisture and also High-grade acrylic fi ber with minimal more than 30 years ago. with the enormous amount of neuro-re- the sharp edges of the particles, which underfoot padding combined with shoe ceptors on the plantar aspect of the hu- would further irritate the skin, result- insoles constructed with closed cell neo- BLISTER DANGER man foot. Frictional force will increase ing in the formation of a blister. prene fi ber such as Spenco has shown to With blisters, pain may be the most mi- with heat or moisture. Exercise will in- Finally, the use of lubricants such as reduce blistering as much as 25 percent. nor of problems. Blisters can become increase metabolic activity and cause heat petroleum jelly, K-Y Jelly, and a product fected, leading to sepsis, cellulites, and build-up. Studies have shown that as lit- that was marketed as Unpetroleum Jelly BLISTERING SUMMARY even toxic shock. With a high potential tle as a four-degree increase in heat will were tested. The results showed that in Close to nothing is worse than a blister for serious complication it is a wonder increase blister formation by 50 percent. most cases the formation of the blister in the long run. Though there is no cure that more attention has not been placed Skin temperature on the plantar aspect was increased. nor prevention, the next best thing is to on prevention. Understanding the pro- of the foot will increase by six degrees use athletic shoes that are appropriate SHOES AND SOCKS for your foot type, and control hyperpro- The solution for blister prevention might nation if necessary. Equally important— Josh Kahan. Father, computer company owner, Ironman be found in footwear. Think of the shoe use thin, high-grade acrylic socks. as a glove on your foot. If the glove is too If you get a blister it is best to stop large it will be cumbersome and give your activity. Leaving the fl uid in the your hand only fumbling protection. blister will cause it to get larger in a Josh avoided surgery Work will be out of the question since all process called fl uid dissection, so I rec- dexterity will be lost. Conversely, if the ommend opening the blister in several and got back to competing glove is too tight it will constrict blood places, allowing it to drain, then apply fl ow, impinge nerve endings, and gener- Betadine solution to help prevent infec- ally be very uncomfortable. tion. Betadine also acts as a drying, de- Josh Kahan had just three miles left to So it is with a shoe. A shoe that is hydrating solution. Finally, do not cover too loose will increase the chances of the wound with a bandage, so it can dry run in an Ironman triathlon being held blisters, since the foot will move about and heal. under the hot Kentucky sun when he ruptured two tendons in one ankle. Robert Rinaldi is a board-certifi ed podiatrist and podiatric surgeon at the Gifford Med- Normally, surgery would be the solution, ical Center in Randolph, VT. He is a fellow and a founding member of the American but his Sharon Health Center sports Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, and a podiatric consultant to the Dartmouth College track and cross-country teams. He is a former nationally ranked long-distance medicine provider offered new hope runner, having competed in 25 world-class marathons. You can reach him at Gifford — platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP). Sports Medicine and Surgery Clinics in Randolph, VT, or at the Sharon Health Clinic in Sharon, VT, 802-728-2490 or 802-763-8000 or at [email protected]. PRP is simple injections of the healing components of your own blood into injured joints. Two PRP treatments later and Josh was back to racing. He did two half-Ironmans and two full Ironmans last year, and planned to do the same this year — pain-free. “I’m ecstatic,” says Josh. “To me, it’s been an incredibly positive experience. It saved my season.”

Sharon Health Center 763-8000

14 Shippee Lane • Sharon, VT www.giffordmed.org

6 VERMONT SPORTS January 2011 18 & UNDER BY SKIING INTO THE SPOTLIGHT CHRIS KELLER

hen it comes to big-time sports, Like the Millers, cross-country ski- it is exceedingly rare for ath- ing seems to run in the Hegman family letes from Vermont to excel on W gene pool. Jack’s older brother Peter is a a national stage. Our diminutive state sophomore on the University of Vermont might be able to go toe-to-toe against its 49 big brothers in maple syrup pro- ski team while his younger brother Ben duction, but when it comes to producing is a freshman on the MMU team. “We national-class athletes, we just do not compare year to year where we were,” stack up. Jack says of an ongoing competition with Nevertheless, the Green Mountain his older brother. “We can add up our State does have its sporting niches, one places and see who was the better skier. of the most prominent ones being cross- My freshman year he won and beat me country skiing. Sure, Bill Koch and Liz by a couple points, but my sophomore Stephen might not be household names year I beat him. I think it will be re- to most Americans, but they have helped ally close again this season because my put Vermont on the map nonetheless. brother had a really good junior year.” Our fl air for putting Nordic skiers in Despite the friendly rivalry between the national spotlight shows no sign of the siblings, Jack lists Peter as one of slowing down, either, thanks to an abun- the reasons he picked up skis in the fi rst dance of talented young ski racers across place. “I saw my brother racing since the state. So what should you do the next when he was young. He was fast and I time your relatives from New Hampshire wanted to be like him. I looked up to him dare you to name one athlete from Ver- and watched his race s closely. He helped mont who is making national headlines? Jack Hegman Hannah Miller me be a much better skier and helped me You should look them dead in the eye and love the sport.” tell them about Hannah Miller and Jack me and my sister out there before we re- Olympics. Huntington’s Jack Hegman In 10 years, Hannah Miller and Jack Hegman, two of our state’s most talented ally knew what we were doing.” Part of fi nished in the top ten in all four of his adolescent cross-country skiers. this exposure stems from the fact that races, including a second-place fi nish Hegman probably won’t grace the cover Like most home-schooled students, her mom works at Trapp Family Lodge, in the 5-kilometer classic event and a of Sports Illustrated. (Not many people Hannah Miller is not lacking in the in- where Hannah trains when she isn’t ski- win in the freestyle relay. The junior from Vermont do, in case you haven’t trinsic motivation department. Despite ing with her Craftsbury teammates. “My at Mount Mansfi eld Union High School noticed.) One thing is for sure, how- the dearth of teachers and peers to push sister and I work there as well,” she adds. hopes to build off that success this sea- ever: if they keep skiing their way into her, the 16-year-old from Elmore man- Despite her extensive exposure to son. “I’m really excited for the upcoming the spotlight, they’ll sustain Vermont’s ages to get done everything she needs to cross-country skiing, Hannah sports season,” he says. “I’m excited to see how rich cross-country skiing tradition and get done. “I kind of look at what I have to a mature sense of perspective that be- I’ll do in the Eastern Cup Races. There help keep the Green Mountain State on do by the end of the year and do what I lies her notable success in the sport. “I were a total of eight races last year and the map. have to do based on that,” she says. Natu- would not want to go to a ski school,” I won the fi rst four and fi nished second rally, this inner focus lends itself well to she says. “For me, personally, I wouldn’t in the last four.” Because he is making Chris Keller is a senior at Montpelier Nordic skiing: coincidentally, Hannah is want to dedicate my entire life to rac- the transition from a J2 to a J1, Jack’s High School. His hobbies including, no slouch on the ski trails. Hannah, who ing. It’s a great hobby, but I wouldn’t races will be fi ve to ten kilometers longer running, hiking, listening to music, and trains with the Craftsbury junior team, necessarily want to go to school for rac- than they were last year, a transition he eating jars of peanut butter. If you know raced well at Junior Olympics last sea- ing.” The standout skier is also well- says he is eager to make. “I like longer someone age 18 or under who would be a son. Duking it out against the best skiers traveled: she hopes to do a gap year in distances better. I do better the longer good candidate for this column, feel free India before college and went hiking in the country, she qualifi ed for the fast- the race.” to email Chris at [email protected]. est heat of the classic sprints, making in Scotland last summer. “The high- her one of the top six skiers in the nation l ight of my hiking trip to Scotland was in that discipline. spending three solid weeks with my sis- THE VERMONT SPORTS ANNUAL Hannah and her older sister Kai- ter and mom. Getting to see a country tlynn, a freshman on the Bowdoin Col- from the perspective of walking through ADVENTURE DOGS lege ski team, have been immersed it as opposed to driving was really PHOTO CONTEST in the sport for as long as they can re- cool, too.” member. “I’ve been cross-country skiing Hannah was not the only Ver- See page 22 since I was two,” she said. “My mom got monter to stand out at the 2010 Junior for more info OG

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January 2011 VERMONT SPORTS 7 Getting Derby-ized BY KIRK KARDASHIAN

Glenn Callahan

hen I fi rst heard about the Stowe Derby a few years ago, it sounded like one of those crazy “Going this fast on skinny skis doesn’t feel right, WYankee traditions that’s more guts and idi- ocy than anything else. “You ski down Mansfi eld on Nordic skis?” I recall asking my friend, who informed but you shut off that inner voice and push on.” me of the event. “I bet I would break something.” I took a pass. On top, things the wooden bridge, and then turn left onto Ranch Turns out, the race began as a bet in 1945, but STOWE DERBY start to make more Camp. This climbs even more and takes us over the one that displayed the “can-do” spirit of the Greatest sense. The sun is peek- ridge to the Trapp Family Lodge land. Generation, not the sullen sarcasm of mine. When: Feb. 27 ing through clouds, I pass a few folks at this point, but soon realize Sepp Ruschp, an Austrian-born ski racer who Where: Mount Mansfield and bunches of Nor- that I’ve miscalculated my effort. My heart rate is turned Stowe into a world-class resort, wagered that Register: dic skiers are milling fi rmly in the red zone now and I hope to not get passed he could make it from the top of the Mount Mansfi eld around. Some take off www.stowederby.com by those whom I’ve just overtaken. In a few minutes, Toll Road down to the Village of Stowe faster than up the slope to stay one guy passes me and skis up the hill. I try to follow, his friend Erling Strom, a famous ski-mountaineer. by Feb. 22 warm, others soak up but he just walks away and I resign myself to a sus- Strom put in a good fi ght, but Ruschp won the day. Cost: $30 to $90 the experience and tainable rhythm. Sixty-six years later, the Stowe Derby is still go- More info: steel themselves for By now, my legs are tired (I hadn’t considered the ing strong. In fact, Pascale Savard, who organizes the (802) 253-7704 the trip down. I wait effect of all that downhill skiing) and my form suffers. race for the Mount Mansfi eld Ski Club, expects 1,000 near the start line to The track, too, isn’t pristine, and the combination of participants on race day this year, which is scheduled see the fi rst wave of slippery, choppy snow wreaks havoc on my muscles. I for Sunday, February 27. racers go off. Their order has been determined by last fl ail and gyrate and just try to keep some semblance The course covers 16 kilometers and drops over year’s results, and these guys look serious. of forward momentum. Soon it is my turn, and I line up with about seven 3,000 vertical feet from the top of the Lookout lift to Exiting the cross-country trails, I come to a wide or eight others. Some are wearing Lycra; a woman is the white-steeple church in Stowe. Fancy yourself open fi eld basking in the sun. At the upper parking wearing a frilly skirt; and I’m somewhere in between. tough? Then choose the Derby-Meister, where you do lot for the Rec Path, people are ringing cow bells and The beeps start and we take off. I get into second po- the course twice: once on skate skis and the other on cheering. I smile, grunt and keep going. I cross the sition on the fi rst straightaway, and then take the classic gear. river three times, poling over the narrow bridges, fi rst couple of switchbacks cleanly. The snow is fi rm The most important rule is that racers must com- then reach the Mountain Road, where a line of cars but grippy and it makes for solid turning. It feels like plete the route using only one pair of skis. Why? Be- is stopped and waiting for me. I speed up so as to cause the trail descends steadily from the top and then a skier-cross race at this point, with big switchback turns and people jockeying for position, but soon look like I’m really trying, and ski across the narrow undulates before turning pancake-fl at for the fi nal six tongue of snow covering the macadam. kilometers. Which makes picking your equipment a enough the places get sorted out. After the fi rst two turns there’s a long straight- The tall white steeple of the church comes into little tricky. You’re free to use a pair of alpine skis, view. It’s a welcome sight. I ski as hard as I can, which but you’ll never make up enough time on the down- away, and people in-the-know get into a tuck and pick up speed. I follow suit. Then we do a few turns and isn’t too hard, and smile as I cross the fi nish. What a hill to hold off the packs of Lycra-clad Nordic skiers feeling! double-poling and V2-ing their way to the fi nish line. traverse another straight section. Going this fast on skinny skis doesn’t feel right, but you shut off that in- I’m bumbling and dizzy, sort of in a daze from the The best tactic, according to Cap Chenoweth, a Stowe ner voice and push on. effort. My time was good enough for 139th place. Not resident who’s completed 30 Derbys, is to use cross- The woman in the frilly skirt passes me, then great, but not terrible, either. My goal was to not crash country skis, play it safe and steady on the fi rst part crashes on a turn and I pass her (she was fi ne). Soon on the downhills and ski hard to the fi nish, and that’s of the course, and then ski hard to the end. we are at the top of the powerline, a long, straight sec- what I did. That was my plan last February, when curiosity tion that drops down into the Stowe Mountain Resort Will I do the Derby next year? You bet. about the race overcame my instincts of self preserva- Cross Country Ski Center. We make a hard right, with tion. an off-camber corner, and enter the forested cross- Kirk Kardashian is a freelance journalist who lives in The weirdness of this activity fi rst hits you when country trails. Here we start climbing gradually on Woodstock. You can see more of his work at www.kirk- you get on the chairlift and your skinny skis dangle the Timberlane Trail, and then the Burt Trail, cross kardashian.com. over black diamond runs littered with moguls. 8 VERMONT SPORTS January 2011 Men’s PedShed

T U R E ™ V E N A D O R F T I F

Farm-Way Inc. Outdoor Gear Exchange Danform Shoes &$EOWba@]OR # 1VS``gAb`SSb 4W\ROab]`S\SO`g]c( 0ÒRT]`RDB#!! 0c`ZW\Ub]\DB#" eeeRO\T]`[aV]SQ][ & '! $ & &$ ' SHELL SELECTION Dewey begins by fi nding a shell that fi ts and has a fl ex that matches the skier’s weight. To fi nd the cor- IF THE rect length, he has the skier step into a “cut-away”—a shell cut down to just above the sole—and slide his or her foot forward to touch the front end. The size is right if no more than two fi ngers can be placed be- BOOT FITS, tween the heel and shell. The fl ex of a ski boot shell is determined by the thickness and composition of its plastic. Manufactur- ers assign a number that indicates the stiffness rela- tive to the other boots in their line. The numbers are LEFT TO RIGHT: Punching a boot. A heated shell is stretched only meaningful within a line and cannot be used to by applying pressure against a fi xed anvil inside the shell. compare boots from different manufacturers. Cut-aways used for shell sizing. Dewey pumps epoxy into the SKITEXT AND PHOTOS BY BOB LOCICEROIT! Shell fl ex is important because it determines how gap created to adjust the boot cant. The boot has been angled much effort is required to bend it while skiing. Tem- 3 degrees in from 90 to match the skier’s cant. The boot in the any skiers will tell you the best part of perature affects fl ex, and manufacturers design for background is marked for a 1-degree correction. skiing is taking their boots off at day’s different median temperatures. For Vermont skiers, Dewey selects boots that perform well at 20 degrees end. It’s a shame: it doesn’t have to be checks alignment by placing a gauge on the knee. A M Fahrenheit. that way. Why live with pain if you don’t have to? rod runs from the knee to the toe, showing the angle. After determining the correct length, shell shape, He places shims under the boot to correct the angle, or Finding comfortable ski boots that work prop- and fl ex, the skier’s preferences for brand, style, and cant, of the leg. erly isn’t easy. Boots must fi t tightly to effi ciently cost narrow the boot selection to one or two models. Dewey uses the angle measured to change the sole transfer muscle movement to the skis, but tight- The selected pair becomes the starting point for cus- of the boot, correcting the skier’s cant. He removes a tomization. fi tting boots can hurt. Ski boots are designed to fi t section of the sole, stacking washers on the inside or a generic foot that no one has. The result is a com- outside of the gap to create the correct angle. He fi lls COLLISION DECISIONS the gap with epoxy and then routes the binding tabs promise, fi tting comfortably in some places, while The foot collides with the shell when the boot is too to level, making sure to keep them within DIN stan- pinching, pressuring, and hurting in others. tight. In boots that are too big, the foot slides, slam- dards. “Boots that are too big are the biggest problem ming into the shell. The body protects itself by build- The entire process typically takes two-and-a-half we see,” says PJ Dewey, master boot fi tter and own- ing up the collision area with calcium, resulting in a hours. Satisfi ed customers sign the walls at Race er of Race Stock Sports in Waterbury. “People try bone spur. Stock and return with each new set of boots. Once you “I mark the hard parts of the foot where clearly realize what an expert fi tter can do, taking your boots on boots and pick the one that doesn’t hurt when there is going to be collision,” says Dewey. The inside off will no longer be the best part of your ski day. sitting around the shop. The liner packs out and and outside of the ankle, the top of the instep, the bone they end up with boots that are too big,” he ex- on the outside of the foot, the “sixth toe,” big toe, and Bob LoCicero is a skiing, mountain biking and hiking plains. pinky toe are common spots for collisions. He then enthusiast. He lives and works in Huntington, VT. He Dewey knows boots. He was a boot technician stretches the shell—called “punching the boot”—to can be reached at [email protected]. create space. for Lange Racing on the World Cup ski tour before To punch the boot, Dewey slowly heats the shell starting Race Stock Sports in 1993. Race Stock to 350 degrees using heat guns. A pneumatic ram, MORE INFO: now specializes in crafting boots for ski racers and inserted into the shell, pushes a form into the target Vermont skiers are fortunate to have qualifi ed boot fi tters in area, stretching the plastic. Dewey has two dozen cus- advanced recreational skiers. locations around the state. The America’s Best Boot Fitters tom cherry wood and aluminum forms, each designed A stock ski boot is a starting point, not a fi n- web site lists certifi ed shops and has boot reviews and fi t tips. to solve a specifi c problem. ished product. An expert boot fi tter, such as Dewey, To become certifi ed, a shop must have a supervising boot fi t- ”Most guys are impatient. They just want to just ter with at least 10 years experience and at least two staff begins by fi nding a boot that is close to the skier’s get it done,” Dewey says. “Heating too quickly can members who have achieved Masters Certifi cation from needs and then changes the boot to fi t. Dewey says melt or burn the boot,” he notes. Masterfi t University, the ski and snowboard industry-run pressure, not pain, defi nes a good fi t. training center for boot fi tting—America’s Best Boot Fitters, FOOT BED FUNDAMENTALS bootfi tters.com/oldsite/index.html. While the pneumatic ram stretches the shell, Dewey customizes the foot bed. “Any foot bed is better than the stock foot bed,” Dewey says. The stock foot bed NOTEWORTHY VERMONT BOOT FITTERS does not support the foot properly and is discarded. Ideally, the customer will have a custom foot bed Alpine Options, Warren made. Custom foot beds last up to 10 years and Dewey 802-583-1763, 888-888-9131, alpineoptions.com encourages skiers to get them. “I have athletes who Green Mountain Orthotic Lab at First Run Ski Shop, Stratton like their foot beds so much the move them around to Mountain Village their other shoes,” Dewey notes. “Whether it’s a cut- 802-875-1122, gmolfoot.com to-fi t one or a custom one, the most important thing is Inner Bootworks, Stowe the technician knows how to work with it.” 802-253-6929, innerbootworks.com Northern Ski Works, Killington Road, Killington BODY ALIGNMENT 802-422-9675, northernski.com After shaping the shell, Dewey checks the knee and Northern Ski Works, Main St., Ludlow ankle alignment. Legs can be bowed, skewed, or an- 802-228-3344, northernski.com gled in. Past injuries sometimes leave one leg longer Peak Performance Skip Shop, Killington than the other. Frequently he discovers problems ski- On the Ski Magazine Top 50 list of ski shops for the last ers did not know they had. “We’re measuring in milli- 9 years. 802-422-9447, peakskishop.com meters. They usually haven’t been through something Race Stock Sports, Waterbury this precise before,” he explains. 802-578-3585, racestocksports.com The skiers take their skiing stance in the align- The Boot Pro, Ludlow ment tool while wearing their new boots. Dewey 802-228-2776, bootfi tters.com/oldsite/shops/thebootpro.html 10 VERMONT SPORTS January 2011 MUSCLES NOT MOTORS GEAR GUIDE BY RYAN JAMES LECLERC Whether you’re a snowboarder or snowshoer, mountain hiker or mountain biker, Nordic skier or Nordic walker, you need gear. Each month, I review, right here, three items that I personally feel are es- pecially cool. Here are my picks for this month.

SIERRA DESIGNS GNAR JACKET FOR MEN AND WOMEN If you don’t own a lightweight down jacket, or have never borrowed one indefi nite- BRUNTON ADC PRO ly from a dear friend, you’re missing out on what many people refer to as their fa- ATMOSPHERIC DATA vorite piece of gear. To give you an idea of CENTER just how special they are, I left one at an Forget those hacks on the radio and be- airport bar once and was so distraught come your own weatherman or weather- I couldn’t sleep for a week. The Sierra woman with the Brunton ADC Pro. With Designs Gnar jacket is highly compress- this slick 2.4-ounce weather station in ible, super versatile, and unbelievably your hand, you can observe an array lightweight and can be worn under a of current weather conditions, includ- shell as the perfect insulating layer for ing temperature, wind speed, baromet- ultra cold days, or as a super stylish out- ric pressure, and humidity, as well as er layer on cool to pretty darn cold days. track up-to-the-minute trends that af- When compressed, it takes up very little fect the skies in your area. Dazzle your space inside your pack but makes all the friends with your meteorological skills difference in the world when pulled out by correctly predicting that the giant and zipped on. The Gnar jacket is built Nor’Easter the weather guys are all with 800-fi ll goose down and a 100-per- excited about will turn out to be noth- cent nylon rip-stop shell that is treated ing more than a Nor’Incher. The wind with a DWR (Durable Water Resistant) speed feature on the waterproof ADC fi nish. It features a single zippered chest Pro can also be used to determine water pocket for your camera, season pass, or speed, so you can once again dazzle your MP3 player, and two larger pockets for friends the next time you’re sailing by your hands, a couple of grapefruits, or correctly informing them how fast you’re the keys to your soul. To keep the cool air going. Other cool features include a ski from creeping in, it also features elastic run counter, wind speed and wind chill cuffs with thumb holes and an adjust- alarms, and an altitude alarm. $205. able hem. $199. www.sierradesigns.com. www.brunton.com.

new Rossignol BC 125s to the back bowls ROSSIGNOL BC 125 because they are the perfect skis for ses- BACKCOUNTRY SKIS sioning a good hillside until all the pow- After work during the winter, when we der is tracked out. The BC 125s have a want some fresh air and exercise, but full metal edge, a wide profi le (125-90- don’t feel like travelling too far, we often 115mm), and a single camber with a nice grab our headlamps and head to the se- round fl ex so they perform great pointed cret “back bowls” to go skiing. The name downhill in deep snow, but unlike stan- is a joke of course—the “back bowls” are dard tele skis, they have a Posi-Track nothing more than an a few open fi elds waxless base which allows you to get to in back of a certain place with decent the top without climbing skins. For kick- Come Ski With Us! pitch that allow for about six or seven ing around the backcounty with a pri- good turns before fl attening out—but mary focus of making sweet turns down February 13th, 2011 for post work, in-town skiing, they’re relatively short descents, these skis are not too shabby, and after 10 or 15 laps, ideal. And I’m terribly sorry, but I can’t you’ve burned some serious calories. tell you where to fi nd the secret back www.camelshumpchallenge.com This year, we’re thrilled to take the all bowls. $400. www.rossignol.com.

January 2011 VERMONT SPORTS 11 VT Nordic Skating List

Spreading the Gospel of Natural Ice

BY PHYL NEWBECK

Skating from Basin Harbor by Palisades cliffs on 12 VERMONT SPORTS Lake Champlain. Photo January by Ed Linton.2011 s the days get colder and the calendar turns to December Aand then January, the VT Nor- “There was black ice, sun, little wind ... dic Skating listserv begins to heat up. There’s Jan, asking if anyone wants to hike up to Sterling Pond, where he had I was going full speed, just making sure a memorable skate one November. Oth- ers chime in with reports of skateable my skates touched the ice soundlessly.” or not-so-skateable ice in their necks of —Jan DeVries, co-founder of the VT Nordic Skating List. the woods. Usually, the fi rst to provide a report of solid ice on a larger surface is Chris, up at Lake Carmi. The VT Nordic Skating listserv is the brainchild of Jan DeVries, a tall, slender native of Friesland, Holland, who now resides in Underhill. The VT Nordic Skating listserv is a way for prac- titioners of that very ephemeral sport to keep each other appraised of good skating conditions in Vermont and beyond (by way of full disclosure I should note that I collaborated with Jan on the founding of the listserv). Nordic skating, sometimes referred to as “wild skating” by Jamie Hess, the man who almost singlehandedly intro- duced the state to the sport, uses Nordic ski boots with detachable skate blades on natural ice surfaces. Hess opened his store, Nordic Skater, in his basement in 1999, moving to a storefront in Norwich fi ve years later. For years, Hess has sent out a Friday night e-mail to his contact list, letting skaters know where the ice is Jan DeVries, skating on Sterling Pond near Spruce Peak in Stowe/Jeffersonville. Photo by Ruud Vekemans. good. While that missive is helpful, some felt that more immediate knowledge would be more benefi cial and thus, the The thrill of Nordic skating lies in to seeing hundreds of skaters on the ice VT Nordic Skating listserv was born. MORE INFO its unpredictability. Some winters the in Europe, often wonders why more peo- Established in January of 2008, Almost Great Lake freezes beautifully, ple don’t skate outdoors. A veteran of sev- word of the list quickly spread in the To join the list, go to http:// while in other years an early snow or a eral skating marathons, including the tight-knit community where there is groups.yahoo.com/group/ freeze/thaw cycle makes for an uneven famous Elfstedentocht or Eleven Cities defi nitely safety in numbers. There are VTNordicSkating surface. In early 2010, members of the Tour in Holland, he recognizes the perils currently over 160 members, with sev- listserv read glowing reports of lengthy of natural ice, particularly after a recent jarring fall, but believes people are miss- eral residing outside the state. As Vince To check out equipment, go to trips (the high for last season was 40 miles, but several skaters managed ing out by skating in circles in tempera- Rossano of landlocked Montpelier notes, http://www.nordicskater.com “Timely information is absolutely criti- multiple trips in the 25-mile range) on ture-controlled indoor rinks, rather than cal to our sport and the list has made the the Inland Sea, with more than a few venturing outdoors. “One day on Lake Champlain,” he difference between hitting the ice just Bar, we’ll hear from John that the ice making the trek from Milton to North says, “there was black ice, sun, little right and taking long drives to disap- between Charlotte and Essex, NY, has Hero for lunch at Hero’s Welcome. Skat- wind, just the amphitheatre formed by pointment.” frozen over. In 2009-10, that never hap- ers simply remove their blades to walk the Adirondacks and the Green Moun- Skaters use the list to provide ice pened. across Route 2 in their boots for lunch, tains, and I was going full speed, just reports and post planned trips in the Last winter several list members before the return trip. On one such out- making sure my skates touched the ice hope of attracting additional skaters. In put together an introductory day off the ing, a stiff south wind opened up a pres- contrast to backcountry skiers who may Sand Bar, complete with demo equip- sure ridge, revealing open water, mak- soundlessly. Who would have thought zealously guard a powder stash, there is ment provided by Hess. At least two doz- ing the return trip a bit more exciting. that after more than sixty years of skat- nothing to be lost and plenty to be gained en skaters, both novice and veteran, took The main page of the Nordic Skat- ing on Dutch canals and lakes, the best by telling others where the ice is good. to the ice that day, and several converts ing site has become more than an ar- was still to come?” Several skaters have taken a leap of were born. Recognizing that skating on chive of old posts. There are fi les with DeVries’s enthusiasm is contagious. faith, opening up their homes to others natural ice is inherently dangerous, an- instructions on how to avoid bad ice and As Rossano notes, “The list is helping us if they have direct access to bodies of wa- other list member set up an opportunity photos from some of the better outings. create a sub-culture of Nordic skating ter. One winter, I crashed the homes of for “plurrövning”—a Swedish word for Some skaters include GPS maps with nuts who feel good about the sport and, two complete strangers, neither of whom self-rescue. Local rescue crews were on their photos to show their exact routes. mostly, about each other. They want to turned out to be serial killers. hand as skaters deliberately jumped into The elder statesmen of the group have help make it a better experience for all of Although many Nordic skaters have a man-made hole in the ice to practice provided invaluable information about us. And that’s great!” their local ponds, the real excitement self-extrication while video cameras re- safety equipment and ice arcana such comes from the bigger bodies of water, corded their efforts. More than a few of as gas holes; information which is not Phyl Newbeck lives in Jericho with her so when Chris reports that Lake Carmi us have fallen through unintentionally; readily available outside Scandinavia. A partner Bryan and two cats. She has is frozen, skaters jump in their cars and in fact a memorable post to the listserv Google map shows locations for skating had several memorable outings on Lake throughout the northeast with descrip- head up to Franklin for a shot at the was titled “Swimming in Wrightsville Champlain, thanks to the VT Nordic black ice. A bigger thrill comes when the Reservoir.” For this reason, virtually all tions of each body of water. The list isn’t Skating listserv. Phyl is a skier, skater, folks living in Milton and South Hero of us carry poles (also useful when cross- always dry and factual; one poster from cyclist, kayaker, and lover of virtually any start reporting good conditions. The Van ing pressure ridges or fi ghting against Maine offers up ice-themed poetry. The sport which does not involve motors. She Everest Fish and Wildlife Access and the the wind), ice claws (which have sharp fi rst videos of the 2010-11 season came Sand Bar are favored starting locations points to help pull a skater out of the wa- with the warning, “These videos show is the author of Virginia Hasn’t Always for those looking to explore the Inland ter), and a sealed bag with a change of tantalizing conditions; viewer discretion Been for Lovers: Interracial Marriage Sea. With any luck, when snow starts clothes in our backpacks. Nordic skating advised.” Bans and the Case of Richard and Mil- to cover the surface north of the Sand is not a minimalist sport. The 75-year-old DeVries, accustomed dred Loving. January 2011 VERMONT SPORTS 13 5 venturesSkicountryFive Back-Ad- BackcountryMohrBymontin BrianVer- Eventsto SKI TEXT AND PHOTOS BY This WinterBRIAN MOHR

of clinics fi lling the winter calendar. Whether you are atmosphere. The program is designed for beginner to looking to explore backcountry skiing for the fi rst time intermediate skiers. No backcountry experience is or race along the spine of the Green Mountains, you are necessary. All proceeds from the event will benefi t sure to fi nd an event to meet your desires. Girls Move Mountains, a Montpelier-based organiza- Here are fi ve backcountry adventures that span tion that nurtures girls’ innate capacity for confi dence, a broad range of terrain. For a complete list of events, courage, and leadership through adventure-based ex- please check the Vermont Sports online calendar (www. periential education. vtsports.com) or see pages 18-21 of this issue. MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR SKI MOUNTAINEERING RACE GET OUT AND Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011, Mad River Glen/Sugarbush BACKCOUNTRY FESTIVAL Ski Areas Sunday, Jan. 23, Bolton Valley Nordic Center www.ussma.org/races www.catamounttrail.org Now in its fi fth year, the Mountain Hardwear Ski Come out and support the Catamount Trail Associa- Mountaineering Race returns to Vermont’s Mad River tion, keepers of North America’s longest backcountry Valley to challenge backcountry skiers of all abilities on ski trail, and take your interest in backcountry skiing a beautiful course connecting the legendary Mad River to the next level. Lessons and tours led by expert in- Glen and Sugarbush ski areas. The event is part of structors will be offered throughout the day on Bolton’s the U.S. Ski Mountaineering Association Race Series, beautiful and varied backcountry terrain. Skiers of all which culminates with a championship race out west abilities are encouraged to come prepared with their in late winter. While most skiers “race” this strikingly own skiing equipment, but demos of the latest skis and beautiful course (top female and male skiers fi nish in boots will be available. The day will wrap up with an under two-and-a-half hours), many skiers are perfectly aprés-ski gathering and video review session. Pack your content to simply enjoy a challenging tour. The course own lunch or buy lunch at the Bolton Valley Deli or caf- starts with a 2,000-foot skin from the base of Mad hile Vermont’s alpine and Nordic ski areas eteria. Pre-registration by January 20 is required and River Glen, before traversing the Long Trail south to continue to offer world-class skiing experi- limited to 65 people. the summit ridge of Mount Ellen (Sugarbush North). Wences, skiers of all abilities are utilizing Ver- Skiers then descend via Sugarbush’s Lower FIS run mont’s tremendous variety of backcountry trails and ski to the base of Slidebrook Basin, before climbing out terrain like never before. Many skiers are content to ski GIRLS MOVE MOUNTAINS, INTRO TO of Slidebrook to the North Lynx area at Sugarbush locally, if not right out the back door, or explore terrain BACKCOUNTRY SKIING FOR WOMEN South. A fi nal descent leads to the fi nish at the base on state or national forest lands. Ski resorts such as Feb. 5-6, 2011, Bolton Valley Nordic Center area of Sugarbush. Skiers gather at a post-race party Bolton Valley and Trapp Family Lodge are catering to www.girlsmovemountains.com in the afternoon, where event organizers host a big an increasing demand for downhill-oriented backcoun- For those women eager to explore the world of back- raffl e and award prizes to the fastest fi nishers in try skiing by hosting regular events and opening new country skiing, this is your event. You will become several categories. terrain. Improvements in backcountry ski gear make familiar with backcountry skiing basics, along with the challenge of backcountry skiing more approachable important skills for being safe and comfortable when than ever. exploring the mountains in winter, while skiing CAMEL’S HUMP CHALLENGE Around the state, new backcountry skiing events Bolton’s variety of groomed and backcountry terrain. Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011, Huntington are cropping up each year. There are now backcoun- The two-day workshop features expert instruction, www.camelshumpchallenge.com try-oriented races, organized ski tours, and a variety a 1:5 instructor to participant ratio, and a fun group The Camel’s Hump Challenge is a backcountry ski tra-

14 VERMONT SPORTS January 2011 tains a relatively steady course between 2,500 and 3,500 feet, and a few downhill sections can be quite challenging if the snow conditions are fi rm. Skiers should be competent backcountry skiers and be prepared to spend the good part of day in the remote Camel’s Hump backcountry. The route is swept and monitored by vol- unteer ski patrollers, and fi nishing skiers will be rewarded with hot food and drinks and a warm fi re. BOLTON TO THE BARNS Saturday, March 5, Bolton Ski Area to Richmond Monitor Barns www.vycc.org After a sunny and successful fi rst year event, the Bolton to the Barns ski tour will be back again this March, provid- ing backcountry skiers with a unique opportunity to explore the Bolton’s re- gion’s abundant backcountry terrain with friends and fellow skiers. The event features two options for the tour: a mod- erate, rolling 11-mile route and a more Peter Wadsworth strenuous 17-mile route. The tours start verse and circumnavigation of Camel’s at Bolton Valley Nordic Center and fi nish Hump (4,083 feet) conceived by the late at the VYCC Monitor Barns in Richmond. Dr. Warren Beeken, an avid Camel’s The event is a fundraiser for the VYCC, Hump skier. Skiers participate by rais- and a fun apres-ski gathering features ing at least $125 in pledges, which the warm food, libations, bonfi re, and more. CHC organizers donate to the Vermont Alzheimer’s Association. The event is Brian Mohr and his wife, Emily Johnson, not a race, but rather a demanding and of Moretown, VT, photograph for a wide well-organized 25K backcountry ski tour variety of publications, manufacturers, through one of Vermont’s most beautiful and organizations throughout the outdoor mountain environments, including hard- industry. They publish AdventureSkier. woods, birch glades, conifer stands, boul- com, and organize their own slideshow der gardens, scenic windows, and more. series that features human-powered After climbing away from the start of adventure. You can learn more about the tour in Huntington, the route main- them at EmberPhoto.com.

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January 2011 VERMONT SPORTS 15 VS: You’ll be snowshoeing in the Tubbs READER ATHLETE I’ve been really happy ever since. I love Romp to Stomp Out Breast Cancer this ALYSON RUBY it. month. How many years have you done GRZYB this? VS: How did you get interested in teaching? AG: This will be my eighth, all in Ver- AG: When I was in college, I was study- mont. Age: 36 ing liberal arts with a focus on psycholo- Residence: Sunderland gy, but didn’t really know what I wanted VS: What was the inspiration for partici- Family: Husband, Steve Grzyb to do. I had been babysitting since I was pating? 12 years old. When I graduated, I got AG: I believe January 2003 was the Occupation: Preschool teacher a nanny job for the summer and I was fi rst year there was a Romp in Ver- Primary sport: Snowshoeing looking for anything that might interest mont. I heard about it on the radio, but me. Working with kids was something that year I already had plans for that I thought I wanted to do. A position weekend. The next summer, my mom opened at a preschool in Branford, CT. It was diagnosed with breast cancer. That was sort of a part-time assistant teach- fall, I heard about the Romp again, and er position to start, but it quickly grew I called up my sister who lives in Mary- into full-time, lead teacher position. I for money, you tend to get a pretty big VS: What was it about your mom that en- land. I said, “This sounds like a really went back to school and started work- response. We’re pretty spread out, too. I deared her to so many people? fun thing, why don’t you guys come up ing toward a Master’s in early childhood coordinate the team here from Vermont, AG: My mom was just one of those people and we’ll do it together?” That was when ed. And I got my teacher’s license in but a majority of people come from differ- that everyone loves. She was cute and the Romp was much smaller. And the Vermont. funny. She was a good listener. She liked team was pretty small, so just the four ent states. My dad is in Connecticut, my sister and her husband live in Maryland, to have fun. She had a kind and gener- of us–she and her husband and my then- VS: What do you enjoy about it? and they bring friends. I have cousins ous heart. boyfriend and I–did it, and we tried to AG: I love the innocence and wonder. from Massachusetts and the Chicago raise some money, but only raised about They’re learning so much, and so fast, area, so we’re pulling from a wide range VS: How does it feel to contribute that $1,500. The next year, my mom was a that you can actually watch that hap- of people. We also have a few deep pock- much to breast cancer research? lot sicker, and we got a lot of friends to- pen. I think it’s so fascinating to be a ets to ask from. There have been a num- AG: It’s pretty exciting. The fi rst couple gether who came and joined us in sup- part of that. And also to be uncondition- ber of people over the years who have of years, when we jumped from raising port of my mom. My mom and dad joined ally loved by them and adored. They are consistently given us $500 donations or $1,500 to the next year was $10,000 ... us in 2005. But sadly, my mom passed awesome. Then they go off to elementary even $1,000 donations. We have good giv- We thought, “Wow this is a lot of money.” away in June 2005. Since then, it’s kind school and pick up bad habits. ers. Also, I think because we’ve been do- When I tell people about it they’re blown of the same core group of people who get ing it so many years, some people expect away. together. We’ve lost a few and added a VS: What is your favorite place to hike? it, so they plan on it. few. Consistently I would say for the past AG: There’s a place up in Brandon called VS: What brought you to Vermont? four years, we have had about 20 team Rattlesnake Cliff and the Falls of Lana. VS: How do your friends in warmer cli- AG: That’s a long story. My now-husband members, and lately we’ve been raising I’ve only been there a couple times, but mates prepare for a long snowshoe? brought me to Vermont. We are both around $15,000. it’s awesome. I do a lot of hiking around AG: Snowshoeing on a relatively fl at and from Trumbull, CT. We went to high this area, at Mount Equinox, Bromley, groomed trail (which is what you fi nd school together. He moved up here after Lye Brook Falls. I’m a member of the VS: How are you so successful at fundraising? at the Romp) is not too diffi cult. Just high school, and I had some other friends Green Mountain Club Manchester sec- AG: My mom was very loved by a lot of walking is enough to prepare you. If we who moved to Vermont as well. I would tion, so I do some trail work with them people, and so in one respect, because were doing some back-country trailblaz- say seven years later one of our mutual and group hikes. she died, a lot of people that knew her ing they might need to do more cardio- friends moved back to Connecticut, and and loved her are very willing to donate vascular training, but for a simple walk it was through him that we saw each VS: You enjoy reading–what’s a good to this cause. I just got a check in the they are okay. The thing that usually other again and then started dating and book you’ve read lately? mail from my grandmother and she said, hinders them the most is the cold weath- did the long distance thing for a couple AG: I liked The Help by Kathryn Stockett. “Here’s my little piece of remembering er, but they have learned to dress in years. We decided one of us should move, your mom.” With 20 people all asking many layers! and I was ready for a change in scenery. —Sky Barsch Gleiner

16 VERMONT SPORTS January 2011 VS: Why do you compete in the TDBank READER ATHLETE out place I’ve been for fi eldwork. We did Craftsbury Marathon? PAUL bring a set of skis and skied on an ice PB: I guess it’s a personal challenge. sheet, at midnight, under the midnight This will be my 10th one this year; I’ve BIERMAN sun, just for fun. done it every year since 2002. I guess I did it on a lark the fi rst year. Our fi rst VS: Have you seen any signifi cant threats Age: 49 to our ability to ski in Vermont in the near daughter had just been born, or maybe Residence: Burlington she was about a year old, and I just future? thought I would do it. It took me fi ve and- Family: Wife, Christine Massey; PB: We have. I had a Master’s student a-half hours. My goal was to be faster daughters Marika, 11, Quincy, 7 last year, who studied precipitation and than the previous year, and I’ve done Occupation: Geology Professor runoff records for the Winooski River that each year. at UVM Basin. There has been a 15 percent increase in the last 75 years in runoff, and Primary sport: Nordic Skiing slight increase in temperature. It’s defi - VS: What’s your training like? nitely getting wetter, and it’s not quite PB: I swim a lot and rollerski as much as as cold as it was. If it’s going to get wet- I can. We have a great bike path in Bur- ter, there may be more snow, but there lington, so usually I get a couple days on last year, and both kids did it. It was her and I skied there for a couple days. I’ve maybe more rain on snow. the rollerskis each week, a couple days fi rst time doing something that long. done the ski marathon down there—the swimming, and a couple days weight Kangaroo Hopet—it’s a 42-kilometer VS: What do you enjoy doing with your training at the Y, after a few friends rec- skate. It’s great fun—it’s completely off- VS: What is the most grueling portion of family, beside skiing? ommended weight training. season and at about a mile-high eleva- the race? PB: We like hiking and other kinds of tion. It’s about the same size as Crafts- PB: The climb up to the Common. When exercise. We also like putting old houses VS: Do you like the course better as a clo- bury, about 1,000 people, and it’s almost you don’t have that much wax left and back together. Our house in Greensboro all above treeline skiing. When the ver leaf, or did you prefer to the end-to- don’t have much left in your legs, you’ve is 150 years old, and we also have an old weather is great, it’s fantastic. When it’s end route? got that climb. But overall, it’s my favor- Victorian in Burlington. PB: I guess I like the conditions on the ite race; it’s incredibly well run. It’s fun awful, it’s … incredible. One year there was a storm and you couldn’t see 30 feet cloverleaf, but I like the scenery of the to ski what is essentially a home course. VS: You’re taking a sabbatical next se- end-to end route. I certainly understand We probably ski 30 or 40 times a year at in front of you, and at the end of the race, mester. What do you plan to do? why they went to a cloverleaf. But when the center and another 30 or 40 times a a thunderstorm came through. They cut PB: Finish up a textbook I’ve been work- it was point to point, it went by the back year on the Highland Lodge trails and it to 28 kilometers. ing on, Key Concepts in Geomorphol- yard of our Greensboro house. The kids surrounding trails. ogy, and skiing a lot! I hope to do four or would camp out and cheer there. VS: What has been your favorite research fi ve marathons as well as some shorter project? VS: You’ve been involved in many research races, and really work on my technique PB: Greenland. Greenland’s an amazing VS: The tour has been separated and has projects through your work at UVM. What since we’ll be at the Craftsbury Center place. We were looking at the times in the its own date now. How do you feel about is the farthest you’ve traveled for a project? at least several times a week with the past when the ice sheet has either gotten that? PB: Last summer I was in southern Na- kids, who will be training with Pepa much smaller or disappeared. It involved PB: I think it’s a nice compromise. The mibia, Africa, for 10 days. Another time I Miloucheva and the BKL group. tour is still point to point. My daughter went to Australia to meet with some col- a lot of hiking and a lot of helicopter time. That’s probably been the most way Quincy turned 7 the day before the 25K leagues and write a research proposal, —Sky Barsch Gleiner INTRODUCING THE ORIGIN SERIES OF HYDRATION PACKS.

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January 2011 VERMONT SPORTS 17 To have an event listed in our events calendar, your event must be posted on our website at www. CALENDAR OF vtsports.com, and you must register on the site. From the home page, click on “Events” in the navigation bar and then on the event page, click the red “Add a New Event” button on the right of EVENTS the page. Follow the instructions from there and be sure to select “I wish to be an event poster.” Your registration should be approved within 12 hours, usually sooner.

8 Winter Trails Day, Smugglers’ Nordic Ski and 29 30th Annual TD Bank Craftsbury Marathon 50K/25K ADVENTURE RACING Snowshoe Adventure Center, Smugglers’ Notch and 25K Tour, Craftsbury Outdoor Center, Craftsbury, Resort, Jeffersonville, VT, Zeke Zucker, 802-644-1173, VT, www.craftsbury.com FEBRUARY [email protected], www.smuggs.com 30 NENSA Women’s Day, Bolton Valley Nordic Center, 26 MVP Health Care Frigid Inﬂ iction Winter Adventure 9 Vermont Ski Museum Antique Classic, 2.5-mile race Bolton, VT, Abby Weissman, [email protected], www. Race, Bolton Valley Resort, Bolton, VT, Tim Curtin, 802- on antique gear, Trapp Family Lodge Cross-Country nensa.net 578-2972, [email protected], www.gmara.org Center, Stowe, VT, 802-253-8511, info@trappfamily. FEBRUARY com, www.trappfamily.com 4-5 UVM Winter Carnival, Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe, VT, BIATHLON 15 Maple Onion Ski Weekend at Morse Farm, Sprint [email protected] Races on 1.5K loop, Morse Farm Cross-Country ONGOING 5-6 Girls Move Mountains Introduction to Backcountry Center, Montpelier, VT, Carrie Stahler, 802-229-9409, Skiing for Women, Bolton Valley Resort, Bolton, Thursdays, Biathlon Winter Race Series (Jan. 6 thru Feb. 17), [email protected], www.onionriver.com VT, Meghan Giroux, 802-229-2976, info@girls 4:30PM, freestyle, under lights, beginners welcome, 16 Maple Onion Ski Weekend at Morse Farm, 15K movemountains.org, www.girlsmovemountains.org Ethan Allen Biathlon Range, Jericho Center, VT, John Freestyle Race, Morse Farm Cross-Country Center, 10 Stowe Derby RECON (run the Stowe Derby course), Madigan, [email protected] Montpelier, VT, Carrie Stahler, 802-229-9409, 1:30PM, Stowe Mountain Resort, Stowe, VT, Pascale [email protected], www.onionriver.com Savard, 802-253-9216, [email protected], CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING 16 Tour de Stowe, Trapp Family Lodge Cross-Country www.stowederby.com Center to downtown Stowe, VT, 802-253-8511, info@ JANUARY 13 Camel’s Hump Challenge, 25K backcountry ski, trappfamily.com, www.trappfamily.com Huntington, VT, Jared Poor, 802-985-2913, camels 1 Mount Hor Hop, Lake Willoughby State Park, 23 Race to Slayton Pasture Cabin, Stowe, VT, Trapp Family [email protected], www.camelshump Westmore, VT, Mike Kiser, [email protected] Lodge Cross-Country Center, Stowe, VT, 802-253- challenge.com 8 Tour de Trapp (1st Annual) 40K, Trapp Family Lodge 8511, [email protected], www.trappfamily.com 27 Stowe Derby, 16K from the summit of Mount Cross-Country Center, Stowe, VT, 802-253-8511, 23 Get Out and Backcountry Festival with the Catamount Mansﬁ eld to the town of Stowe, classic, freestyle, [email protected], www.trappfamily.com Trail Assoc., Bolton Valley Nordic Center, Bolton, and Derbymeister divisions, Pascale Savard, 802- 8 Catamount Trail Association Women’s Nordic Ski Expo VT, Jim Fredericks, 802-864-5794, jfredericks@ 253-7704 ext. 22 or 802-253-9216, stowederby@ & Clinics, Trapp Family Lodge Cross-Country Center, catamounttrail.org, www.catamounttrail.org teammmsc.org, www.stowederby.com Stowe, VT, Joanne Hanowski, [email protected], 26 Toko Wax Clinic with Dave Boucher, Onion River www.catamounttrail.org Sports, Montpelier, VT, Carrie Stahler, 802-229-9409, [email protected], www.onionriver.com

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18 VERMONT SPORTS January 2011 MARCH ONGOING FEBRUARY 5 Bolton to the Barns backcountry ski tours, Bolton Monday through Friday, 2:45-5PM, Team Vermont 5 Winter Wild Uphill Series #2 (run, snowshoe, ski uphill, Valley, VT, Breck Knauft, 802-434-3969, breck. Weightlifting (Olympic Lifts), Essex Middle School, then come back down), Ragged Mountain, Danbury, [email protected], www.vycc.org Essex, VT, Chris Polakowski, 802-879-7252 (eves.), NH, Chad Denning, 603-748-1070, recreation@nl-nh. 9-12 NCAA Ski Championships, cross-country ski races 802-879-7173 (days) com, www.winterwild.com are Thursday and Saturday at Trapp Family Lodge, Wednesdays, 6-9PM, Dodge Ball League, Racquet’s Edge 2, 19 Winter Wild Uphill Series #3 (run, snowshoe, ski downhill races are Wednesday and Friday at Stowe Essex Jct., VT, Jen, 802-879-7736 ext. 134 uphill, then come back down), Pats Peak, Henniker, Mountain Resort, Stowe, VT, [email protected] Thursdays, Greater Burlington Fencing Club & Open Fencing, NH, Chad Denning, 603-748-1070, recreation@nl-nh. 12-13 CTA Pemi Overnight Traverse for advanced skiers, Youth & Adults, 6:30-9PM, Burlington, VT, Ann Miller, com, www.winterwild.com Bretton Woods, NH, Pete Lane, 774-249-9649, pete. 802-865-1763 or Dale Rodgers, 802-878-2902 [email protected], www.catamounttrail.org Sundays, 10AM-2PM, The Shelburne Athletic Fencing Club, ONGOING 13 4th Annual Catamount Trail 15K Backcountry Race Instruction and Open Fencing, Shelburne Athletic Tuesdays, 5PM, On Track Striders Track Workouts/Group and Tour, Trapp Family Lodge to Bolton Valley Resort, Club, 802-985-2229 or Dale Rogers, 802-878-2902 Runs, Union Station, Burlington, VT, Kim Loeffl er, 802- VT, Jim Fredericks, 802-864-5794, jfredericks@ Sundays, 4:30-6PM, Montpelier Unicycle Club indoor 865-2226 catamounttrail.org, www.catamounttrail.org riding, Montpelier Rec Dept. Gym, Montpelier, VT, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5-6PM, Running Unlimited, for ONGOING Bill Merrylees, 802-223-4951, [email protected], runners preparing to race any distance, First in Fitness, Saturdays (most Saturdays through March), Catamount Trail www.vtunicycle.com/whenwhere.html Berlin, VT, Linda Freeman, 802-233-6161, lfreeman@ Association organized ski tours on various parts of the fi rstinfi tness.com, www.fi rstinfi tness.com Catamount Trail, www.catamounttrail.org for specifi c PILATES Tuesdays, 5:15PM, Northern Vermont Ridge Runners Track details Practices for runners of all abilities, People’s Academy, Sundays (through March 13), 10:30AM-1PM, Nordic Kids, for ONGOING Route 15A, Morrisville, VT kids ages 6-12, Bolton Valley, VT, Liz Hollenbach, 802- Mondays & Thursdays, 6-7PM, Pilates Group Mat Classes, 434-6876, [email protected], www. Timberlane Physical Therapy North, Winooski, VT, boltonvalley.com Nancy, 802-864-3785 Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30AM, Pilates Group Mat Classes, We Can Help FIRST AID/FIRST RESPONDER Timberlane Physical Therapy, So. Burlington, VT, Nancy, 802-864-3785 Straighten You Out JANUARY RUNNING 8-16 Wilderness First Responder with Aerie Backcountry Medicine, SCA Center for Conservation Service, JANUARY Charlestown, NH, Lew Shelley, [email protected], 1 First Run Burlington 5K & Kids’ Half-Mile Fun www.thesca.org Run, Memorial Auditorium, Burlington, VT, Joe Connelly, 802-863-8412, [email protected], MISCELLANEOUS www.runvermont.org 15 Winter Wild Uphill Series #1 (run, snowshoe, ski JANUARY uphill, then come back down), Whaleback Mountain, 9 Lake Morey WinterFest, Hulbert Outdoor Center, Enfi eld, NH, Chad Denning, 603-748-1070, Fairlee, VT, Deb Williams, 802-333-3405, Deb_ [email protected], www.winterwild.com Call 802.244.1365 [email protected], www.alohafoundation. 19 Team in Training Information Meeting, Fleet Feet, for an appointment org Essex Junction, VT, Gail Deuso, 802-233-0014, gail. 28-29 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour, 7PM, UVM [email protected] Davis Center, Burlington, VT, Will Skolochenko, 802- 22 Team in Training Information Meeting, Fletcher 658-3313, [email protected], www.skirack.com Memorial Library, Ludlow, VT, Gail Deuso, 802-233- 29 Vermont Adaptive Ski-A-Thon, Bolton Valley 0014, [email protected] Resort, Bolton, VT, [email protected], www. 25 Team in Training Information Meeting, Courtyard boltonvalley.com LTD.TD.TD. Marriott, Burlington, VT, Gail Deuso, 802-233-0014, [email protected]

STOWE DERBY Registration Form JOIN THE Name Birth Date M/F EVERBANK STOWE TEAM CHALLENGE Address CREATE A TEAM OF 4 SKIERS City State/ZIP Phone AND RACE FOR BRAGGING RIGHTS! DERBY MORE INFORMATION ONLINE EMAIL www.stowederby.com STOWE DERBY I wish to enter CHECKS PAYABLE TO MMSC ( ) LONG COURSE SKATE (Ages 14+) $50/$60 Mt. Mansﬁ eld Ski Club

403 Spruce Peak ( ) LONG COURSE CLASSICAL (Ages 14+) $50/$60 Stowe, VT 05672

ph: 802-253-7704 ( ) DERBY MEISTER (Expert racers ONLY) $80/$90 fx: 802-253-9657 ( ) Short Course (ages 5+) $30/$35 Deadlines are Feb 21th/Feb 26th. email: [email protected] No entries on race day, Sunday Feb 27th web: www.stowederby.com 66th Anniversary Have you raced in the Derby in past 2 years? Sunday, Feb 27 For your FREE t-shirt, please indicate male or female cut and size ENCLOSED $ Phone and fax entries accepted (visa or mc card only) add $10 per call. 2011 REGISTER ONLINE - www.stowederby.com

January 2011 VERMONT SPORTS 19 Wednesdays, 6PM, Hard’ack 5K Trail Running Series, off 20-23 Dew Tour multi-sport event, featuring snowboard Congress St., St. Albans, VT, Kelly Viens, 802-524-1500 and freeskiing, superpipe and slopestyle, Killington, x266 VT, [email protected] Thursdays, 5:30PM, Skirack Trail Runs at Red Rocks Park, 29-30 Captain Ahab’s 24/12 Endurance Challenge, Burlington, VT, Will Skolochenko, 802-658-3313 Whaleback Mountain, Enfi eld, NH, Peter Krass, Sunday Morning Training Runs, Small City Road Runners [email protected] Club, 1-4 miles on a loop course, Vergennes City 30 USASA Slopestyle, Bolton Valley Resort, Bolton, VT, Park, Vergennes, VT, Ramey Armell, 802-377-9906, [email protected], www.boltonvalley.com [email protected] FEBRUARY Sundays, Team in Training group runs, Burlington area, for 19 K-Town Showdown #3 (Slopestyle), Killington, VT, meeting locations contact Jan Leja, www.runwithjan. [email protected], www.killington.com com Sundays, 8AM, Vermont City Marathon/Green Mountain Athletic Association Social Runs, Twin Oaks, Farrell St., So. Burlington, VT, Mike Desanto, 802-893-0547, SNOWSHOEING [email protected] Sundays, BKVR Training Runs, Southwestern Vermont, Jim JANUARY 29 Tubbs Romp to Stomp Out Breast Cancer Snowshoe Sullivan, 802-375-2813, www.bkvr.org Series, Stratton, VT, romptostomp@tubbssnowshoes. SKI, SKATE, SNOWBOARD SWAPS com FEBRUARY JANUARY 6 10th Annual Northern Vermont Snowshoe Race and 8-9 Skirack’s Annual Ski & Snowboard Swap, drop-off Jan. Family Snowshoe Festival, Smugglers’ Nordic Ski 3-7, sale Jan. 8-9, Burlington, VT, Will Skolochenko, and Snowshoe Adventure Center, Smugglers’ Notch 802-658-3313, [email protected], www.skirack.com Resort, Jeffersonville, VT, Zeke Zucker, 802-644-1173, [email protected], www.smuggs.com SNOWBOARDING 12 Fight for Air: Bolton Valley Snowshoe Shuffl e 5K/10K , Bolton, VT, Brynn Wikgren, [email protected] JANUARY 15 K-Town Showdown #2 (Rail Jam), Killington, VT, SWIMMING [email protected], www.killington.com ONGOING Mon., Wed., Fri., 5:30-7AM, VT Masters Swim, Twin Oaks, Farrell Street, So. Burlington, VT, Debbie Alsofrom, 802-865-2512 Mon., Wed., Fri., 6-7AM, Masters Swimming at The Swimming Hole, coached from the water, Stowe, Ethan Allen Biathlon Club VT, Charlotte Brynn, 802-253-9669, cbrynn@ 2011 Winter Race Series theswimmingholestowe.com Tues & Thurs., 6-7AM, Coached Masters Swimming, Sports Jan 6, 13, 20, Feb 3, 10, 17 DATES & Fitness Edge, Williston, VT, Danielle Graham, TIMES 5 pm - Registration & novice clinic [email protected] 5 to 5:45 pm - rifle zeroing Daily, Masters Swim Practice, call for times, Upper Valley 6 pm - race start Aquatics Center, White River Junction, VT, Barbara Hummel, 802-296-2850, www.uvac-swim.org Ethan Allen Biathlon Club WHERE Tues. & Thurs., Edge Swim Club practice, Age Group Teams, Ethan Allen Rd., Jericho, VT 6-7:30PM, Sports & Fitness Edge of Williston, VT, $10 per race or $50 for the six race series Melinda Antonucci, 802-860-3343 ext. 21 Tues. & Thurs., 8:30-9:30AM, Masters Swimming at The Swimming Hole, coached from the deck, Stowe, Info: VT, Charlotte Brynn, 802-253-9669, cbrynn@ www.eabiathlon.org theswimmingholestowe.com

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20 VERMONT SPORTS January 2011 Thursdays, 6PM, Ongoing Swim Practice at First in Fitness FEBRUARY (coaching available), Berlin, VT, John Spinney, john@ 13 Intro to Telemark Skiing #2 with Wendy Bridgewater, qt2systems.com Stowe Mountain Resort, Stowe, VT, call Umiak Outﬁ tters, Steve Brownlee, 802-253-2317, paddle@ TELEMARK SKIING umiak.com, www.umiak.com ONGOING JANUARY Thursdays (through March 17), Tele Thursdays, 5:30-8PM, 9 Nordic Downhill & Telemark Improvement Clinic with lessons, rentals, lifts, Bolton Valley Resort, Bolton, VT, the Catamount Trail Association, Pico Peak, Killington, [email protected], www.boltonvalley.com FOR A COMPREHENSIVE VT, Bob Jordan, 802-869-2784, bobjord@earthlink. CALENDAR OF OUTDOOR net, www.catamounttrail.org EVENTS, GO TO 16 Intro to Telemark Skiing with Wendy Bridgewater, Stowe Mountain Resort, Stowe, VT, call Umiak WWW.VTSPORTS.COM/ Outﬁ tters, Steve Brownlee, 802-253-2317, paddle@ EVENTS. umiak.com, www.umiak.com SUBSCRIBE TO

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Kick off your 2011 KBVCM training season with NEW YEAR’S DAY 5K & YOUTH 1-MILE AND ½ MILE FUN RUNS RunVermont’s Movie Night and Mini-Expo featuring…

January 15, 2011 // 4pm & 7pm // Main St. Landing, Burlington, VT. Tickets: www.runvermont.org // 802.863.8412 you’re invited to join us ...

www.runvermont.org

January 2011 VERMONT SPORTS 21 NY Times, Nov. 30, 2006: VERMONT “Mastering snow and ice can be a ticket to a top college SPORTS that has more student athletes applying.…[Students] are willing BUSINESS DIRECTORY to sacrifice a traditional high school experience…for a few more hours of play each day.” SCHOOL, -/9 t “So many, many, many thanks. My teachers [in DiÛi«ÊÞÕÀÊÃ}ÊÀÊÃÜL>À`}Ê my home school] were ÃÃÊÊÌ iÊÕÌ>]ÊÜ iÊV«iÌ}Ê all incredibly impressed ÞÕÀÊÃV ÜÀÊ>ÌÊ/ iÊ/ÕÌÀ>Ê iÌiÀt at how well I was able to keep up and I couldn’t /«ÊµÕ>ÌÞÊ>V>ìVÊÃÌÀÕVÌÊÌ >ÌÊ have done it without iiÌÃÊÌ iÊ iÊÃV ½ÃÊÀiµÕÀiiÌÃp you guys. I think all [The vÀÊ}iiÀ>ÊÃÌÕìÃÊÌÊÉ*ÊiÛiÊ Tutorial Center] teachers ÃÕLiVÌÃpvÀÊÃÌÕìÌÃÊÊ}À>ìÃÊÎ£Ó°Ê were fabulous - I will make sure to update 7iÊ >ÛiÊ >`ÊÃÌÕìÌÃÊvÀÊÌ iÊwiÃÌÊ you as soon as I find out «ÀÛ>ÌiÊÃV ÃÊ>`Ê«ÕLVÊÃV Ã]ÊvÀÊ about colleges!” >VÀÃÃÊÌ iÊ>Ì° - Lucy Ann (snowboard student -i>Ã}ÊÀÊÃ ÀÌÌiÀÊÃÌÀÕVÌ° carrying 4 A/P subjects) ÀÊìÌ>Ã]ÊVÌ>VÌÊÕÃÊ>ÌÊnäÓÎÈÓäÓÓÓÊÀÊ ÃJÌÕÌÀ>ViÌiÀ°À} ADVERTISE YOUR The Cross Country Skiing BUSINESS TUTORIAL CENTER, INC. our specialty ÎxÓÊ,V ÛiÊ,`ÊUÊ >V iÃÌiÀ]Ê6/ÊUÊÎÈÓäÓÓÓ RACE ■ RECREATIONAL FOR AS iiLÀ>Ì}ÊÎÊ9i>ÀÃÊ>ÃÊ6/½ÃÊ ÃÌÊ «Ài iÃÛiÊi>À}Ê iÌiÀ BACKCOUNTRY RENTALS ■ SKI TUNING LITTLE AS PRACTICAL APPAREL Exit 4, I-91 ■ www.westhillshop.com ■ 802-387-5718 $40

XC • AT • Back Country Skis Fischer • Atomic • Swix PER Black Diamond • Cloudveil Expert sales, service MONTH. and hand tuning Call (802) 754-2997 Paradise Sports or e-mail 38 Park Rd. Windsor, VT 05089 advertising@ www.paradisesportsshop.com 802-674-6742 vtsports.com.

COMING IN APRIL, 2011 THE VERMONT SPORTS ANNUAL ADVENTURE DOGS PHOTO CONTEST START SHOOTING NOW! DEADLINE FOR PHOTO SUBMISSIONS IS MARCH 1, 2011 FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO ENTER THE CONTEST, GO TO WWW.VTSPORTS.COM

22 VERMONT SPORTS January 2011 Tough. Love. Sometimes you have to avoid the obstacles after you’ve hit them. DECIDE Finding the strength to take what once only felt probable and making it possible.

DEDICATE Never stopping to think we’ve reached our limits, focusing intensely on our purpose, always pushing forward to achieve greater heights. DELIVER For both world class athletes and world class medicine, it’s about giving your best—in the right place, at the right time, every time.

Visit DecideDedicateDeliver.com to learn why Hannah and her sports medicine team at Dartmouth-Hitchcock would settle for nothing less than her best.

Hannah Kearney

2010 Olympic Gold Medalist and Lebanon, Concord, Manchester, Nashua, Keene, NH

World Champion freestyle skier Hannah Kearney (Olympic Gold Medalist and World Champion freestyle skier) chose Dartmouth-Hitchcock for laser vision correction and her orthopaedic and sports medicine care. Dartmouth-Hitchcock is pleased to provide ﬁ nancial support for Hannah Kearney’s training and travel in connection with her paid endorsement.