Sunshine and Snow

I have come to accept that I can only ski on the weekends but I have to admit that this year the weekends have been great. It seems like every time I come to Waterville it is either sunny or snowing, even when everyone else is getting rain. Today was no exception. It was 60 degrees and sunny. The snow that WV got at the end of last weekend and beginning of the week was noticeable. Great coverage and classic spring skiing. These are the days that you wait for all season. The snow is soft and the bumps are forgiving.
The whole week I was wondering if the snow would be good at the mountain because I basically have green grass at my house. Well my question was answered today. There is plenty of snow and if the weather pattern stays like this I will be able to work on that goofy goggle tan that everyone in my office makes fun of me for. Looking forward to tomorrow and some more hero snow.

Gagnon Tops the Stacked Women’s GS Field at 2010 Nor Am Cup Finals

The women wrapped up their first event of the 2010 Nor Am Cup Finals as Marie-Michele Gagnon won the Giant Slalom Overall and Julia Ford won the Giant Slalom Juniors under sunny blue skies in Waterville Valley, NH. Following Gagnon in the overall awards were Olympian Sarah Schleper and Megan McJames- winning second and third respectively.

Abby Fucigna, 2009 Waterville Valley Academy graduate, placed 3rd in the Juniors division. Fucigna started as a Mitey Mite in the BBTS Ski Club and then transitioned into Waterville Valley Academy, the BBTS full time academic and snowsports training program. “ My GS has come a long way since last year,” said Fucigna, “I felt good, aggressive and clean after the first run...during the second run I hit a cross rut which slowed me down a bit, but that’s ski racing!” Even with that bobble, Fucigna’s total time for runs one and two was fast enough to give her 19th overall. “ There’s a lot more pressure to be able to put two solid, clean runs together. Because if you don’t, just like today, you get bumped back due to the stacked field of competition.”

The women return to the hill on Thursday with the men for Slalom, the final event of the 2010 Nor Am Cup Finals. For final results from the women’s GS and all the results from this week’s competition, please go HERE .

Abigail Fucigna grew up skiing at WV and BBTS

Abigail Fucigna placed 19th overall and 3rd in the junior division

The women's overall GS podium

Nor Am Cup Finals Underway at Waterville Valley

The sun shined and skies were blue for the start of the Nor Am Cup finals on Tuesday morning, a far cry from Monday’s rain, snow and ice mix. The precipitation created sloppy snow conditions on the mountain, making a very grueling preparation for the event, which dragged on to the late hours of Monday night. Waterville Valley Academy coaches hosed down the runs in hopes to harden the snow for optimum racing. Their hard work paid off as day one of the series went as scheduled and

WVBBTS CEO and Executive Director, Peter Stokloza deemed it a success “the snow was good, the sun was out and the skiing was extraordinary- it can’t get any better than this.”

After narrowly missing his spot to the Olympics, local racer Warner Nickerson of Gilford, NH finished 2nd in the final Nor Am GS of the season. Nickerson grew up skiing at Gunstock Mountain and has spent the last month training all over New England. “I had a great first run…today was the first day I skied in my new Carbon Fiber Dodge Boots and they helped me get a better feel for the snow and my turns.” After the first run, Nickerson found himself in the lead. The course workers were able to salt the snow for the second run, leaving a firm race course for the top 60 skiers. “ The snow was much better [the second run]…I was 6 tenths ahead after first run and I toned it down a bit during my second run, which cost me my lead, but I am very happy with my result,” added Nickerson.

For complete results from Tuesday's Men's GS, please go here -HERE

Chris Frank, USA

Jon Olsson, Sweden

Mid-way down the GS course

The NOR AM men's GS overall.

1st - Tommy Ford (center)

2nd - Warner Nickerson (left)

3rd - Jan Hudec (right)

The NOR AM Cup men's GS overall

Junior Olympics @ WV

This week Waterville welcomes the best freestyle athletes from across the country as they compete in the US Freestyle Junior Olympics. Be sure to head up and catch all the action, 'cause these kids rip!! Wednesday is superpipe ( Exhibition ), Thursday is slopestyle (Exhibition ), Friday is moguls ( True Grit ), Saturday is aerials ( Lower Sel's ) and Sunday is dual moguls ( True Grit ). Although I am an old, washed up, has been park rat, who really enjoys his slopestyle competitions, I am really looking forward to watching the dual moguls. There's nothing quite like watching two moguls skiers race each other down the bump course on Grit, huckin' backies with big x-ups. It will be entertaining, so don't miss out!

Good Day Sunshine!

Weekends like this - you just wish would never end! There was the blazing sunshine, the blue blue sky, and the soft but not slushy snow. Yet my daughters would have spent all day on the trolley. I mention the trolley because we unloaded, found a parking spot, and as soon as I hit the lock button, the trolley was literally right there to bring us back to the base. Basically riding in the back of a truck without a seatbelt is like "girls gone wild" for my daughters. But, for mom, I was psyched! All geared up and as our routine dictates, the girls headed to the Meadows chair. We swung over to Quadzilla to watch the Burton AM Series while being drenched by mother sunshine. We saw some great riders from afar and some homegrown locals like Danny Gerrity. We skied the trees and the soft bumps all over the mountain. And of course, we hit the Schwendi Hutte for some sweet treats of M & M brownies and cinnamon rolls before heading home. The snow was fantastic all day from top to bottom. Guess what was waiting for us at the bottom to drop us off at the car ? - this mother's friend of the day, the trolley!!

Sun and Snow

I can make this post very short. Today was awesome, great snow from the past few storms and a sunny blue sky. The mountain offered every thing you could want today. The north side of the mountain offered great snow that resembled mid season skiing because it was cooler and had more of a powdery feel to it. The sunny side was just that. It was sunny and warm with warmer, spring like, snow. It was great if you like to ski bumps because most trails had great lines by the end of the day. The sunny side was also great for those of you that want to work on a goggle tan.
If you were not able to get out today I would suggest getting to the mountain tomorrow because it looks like it may be a repeat of today.

See you on the mountain.

Bluebird

Today was a picture perfect day here at Waterville Valley! Full on Bluebird with amazing spring skiing conditions! Everyone is out with Spring Fever enjoying the great skiing and riding along with The Burton Demo tour that has just arrived with lots of cool things to check out.
Tomorrow's forecast is calling for an even warmer day, so get out and enjoy the sun and great skiing! Don't forget the sunblock, my cheeks are nice and red tonight!

Soft & Sunny

Thanks to the 46 inches of snow we've gotten on the mountain this past week, I had some of the best skiing this season Tuesday morning! Everyone kept saying how half way up the mountain road the snow accumulations were so much higher than down on the valley floor. I believed it to an extent, knowing that the higher elevations typically get more snow anyway. Then, Tuesday morning I finally got to see it for myself...they weren't kidding or exaggerating at all! Love it!!
The sun was shining all morning which made for so many soft, smooth turns on both the groomers and un-groomed terrain. Every turn was a good turn. I didn't find myself staying towards the edges as the morning went on because no matter where my skis took me I would have a soft cruiser run on this sunny Tuesday with all the new snow!
Looks like we should have some great spring skiing ahead of us! Get out and enjoy it!