Spectating the Super G

Amy, Geordie and Laurel spectate the nationals super G. Looks like another terrible day in Colorado!

Victor in 12th at Park City

Again, the title sort of speaks for itself - Victor raced the GS in Park City yesterday and the trend seems to be top 15s out there and Victor did not disappoint. He laid down a 12th place race.

Despite warm weather and melting snow, the Williams skiers just can't get enough of the race course.

Let's keep it coming!

The Latest from Winter Park

And just in, from Winter Park, Co -

Williams kids roughing it in the big mountains, living the strenuous lives of ski racers in the spring time.  Looking good, with the Nationals credentials around your necks!

Laurel makes first page at US Nationals!

I guess the title makes this post pretty self-explanatory - but yeah, Laurel made it on the first page of the results at US Nationals!  With US Ski Team members scattered among the field, Laurel - a US Ski Team alumn herself wanted to make a statement.  She was 18th after the first run and moved up enough to grab 15th place overall.  Great work, Laurel!

Laurel and Geordie race again on Saturday for the GS.  One day of training and one day of free skiing ahead of them.

Ephs across America

The purple cow skiers still have not thrown in the towel!  Carson grabbed another bronze at Lutsen and Dylan was close on his heels with 4th on their last two days!  Nice work gentleman.

Great recognition for some amazing skiing this season by Laurel and Geordie and Shannon in the alumni review!  Check out their views of the pressure and exhilaration of race day.  Speaking of which, Laurel and Geordie will be racing in US Nationals tomorrow at Winter Park, Co.  We wish them the best of luck.  Show those world cup racers whats up, ladies!  Eph pride!

And on an alumni note, check out Ski Racing's spread for our very own Charles Christianson!  Pretty well-spoken, that Eph.  You can catch up with Charles on his own blog: http://www.charleschristianson.com/

Ephs in Lutsen

A few select Ephs made their way to the land of Dylan Thomas: Minnesota (Lutsen to be exact).  I would keep this all in iambic pentameter in his honor but I don't have his skills.  Prose it will have to be. 

The past two days have been slalom.  Carson has been a big shot, claiming fourth yesterday and second today.  However, there were claims that Carson was "kind of second" because first place was a three way tie.  Dylan was close on his heels, claiming fifth place... or "kind of third" with our previous logic.

The girls were in the hunt too, Amy claiming 8th place and Marissa in 14th for today's slalom.

Not to be left out, Victor Major claimed a top 10 in his homeland of Telluride, CO.  Good work on your 9th place, Vic!

NCAA Wrap Up

The slalom was dramatic.  Pressure was on.  Laurel was skiing great and made a small error which ended up in a straddle/hiking situation.  Tough break for such an amazing season.  We are still very proud of her and what she managed to do with her team this winter!

Geordie put in a smoking first run, which placed her in fourth right ahead of Kate of UVM and Annie of Dartmouth.  The three girls were behind three Utah athletes and planned to lay it on the line to make sure to have an eastern podium.  Kate managed a great race and wound up first.  Geordie got held in the start for a long time but put her game face on and went after the second run.  Things didn't quite add up and she moved back a bit but it was a great effort and a great fight.  We are also very proud of Geordie and all she has managed to accomplish this season.  It has been pretty phenomenal.  Great work!

Here are some pictures of the nordic day and into the slalom!

Aubrey testing the wax.  They nailed it! 

Coaches working on skis 

Bud at Work 

One pair down, ready to test the next! 

The slalom boards, juiced and ready to go 

After the women's race, we watched the men! 

Sister Time! 

Williams Alumni - and current affiliates' sisters, Bekah and Ashley cheer on the team! 

Ed relaxes before the barbeque 

Sister Pic - Ed has had the Carters and Levines around for some time now!  Both big sisters are Williams Ski Team alumni. 

The Crew at the end of the day

Great Day at the Nordic Races!

We had an awesome day watching the nordic races today.  Dimitri and Will worked together and both threw races into the top 20.  Freshman, Will had amazing race with and 11th place finish, 5th for the east.  There were super intense hills out there and the field was amazingly dense.  The weather was unbeatable.  It was bluebird sky with temperatures into the 50s.  The mass start is great to watch because its just head to head competition.  It was a fun day.  Congrats Will and Dimitri!

 Also as promised, I have a bunch of pictures to upload from the GS.

Setting the Scene

The start coaches had to hike up a steep pitch to get to the start corral.  Many of us carried multiple pairs of skis up there and everyone admitted/loudly vocalized how surprisingly challenging it was.  It must have been the altitude!  But everyone worked hard to get the start area just right for when the athletes arrived.

UNH coach Victor digs out a prime spot for their start bench

Laurel finishes boot packing her platform 

Victor thinks he did a great job 

Danny finishes the ascent with his Colby flag in hand

St. Lawrence coach, Graham sculpts some snow 

Then the athletes arrive and get ready to rip.

Geordie prepares:

Laurel gets ready to go:

After the race, alumnae Alex congratulates Geordie and Laurel 

Geordie and Kate make up 2 and 3 of the podium 

I got to hang out with Alex which was pretty fun

And he danced for us

Geordie congratulates race winner, Rebecca at the bottom

Teammates hanging out at the bottom 

NCAA Ladies GS top 8 podium.  Nice work in third, Geordie! 

 She shows off her new hardware

And on the way home we realize why we feel so at home here in Montana

Geordie Got 3d!!!!

A total eastern podium!  Geordie was fifth after first run and stepped it up for 3rd overall!  Today was a fun day.  Sunshine and flowers for our third place champ, a harvard win for Rebecca!  Alumns, Alex Dyroff and Alice Nelson came to cheer.  We got a whole bunch of Carters around!  There was eastern pride everywhere!  There is not much to say, it was just an awesome amazing day!

I have a million pictures but the internet is being held hostage by all the students in this hotel procrastinating doing their homework so the uploading is not really going anywhere.  I'll narrow down the shots (a bit - still a lot) and post 'em tomorrow so stay tuned.

Also, lets go nordies!  They are going to crush tomorrow in classic!

3 Days In to NCAAs

We have had awesome training, tons of sunshine, a little snow and great great food!  The Eastern Nordics did great today!  Way to represent and the girls have their skis all waxed up, they are ready for this hill and they have gotten a great feel for the snow!  Tomorrow is going to be awesome.

Lets Go GS!

The Williams NCAA team at the banquette last night 

Eph team with coaches 

Don't want to spill on the business-casual! 

The women's eastern team (we know the nordic names are up in the background but these are alpine ladies) 

It is pretty rough living!

 Here is a picture of Laurel and I from the airport that Aubry gave me today

We picked a great place to hang out

NCAA Video

Also, be sure to check out the live coverage of the races: http://www.ncaa.com/liveschedule/2012/03/08

The nordic races are Wednesday, Friday and the alpine races are Thursday, Saturday.

I know on the NCAA video schedule it says that everything starts at 11:30 but we will definitely be starting things off earlier than that so be sure to check in!

NCAA Bozeman Day 1

We went up to Bridger Bowl this morning and were welcomed by beautiful sunshine and mild temperatures in the 40s-50s.  Not ideal for the snow but great for the goggle/sunglass tan.  The eastern teams trained in the morning and we managed to get in a session of both GS and slalom.  The hill is not so steep and very soft so pretty unlike Jiminy but the girls skied great out there and even made it the Bridger Video of the day.  Check it out for yourself - http://www.bridgerbowl.com/

We went to The Garage for dinner, a great little place with license plates for menus.  And last night we had bison burgers at Ted Turner's restaurant.  Great town here!  Its been a great day!

Bates Assistant, Lauren at the beginning of the day

Bates and Saint Michaels coaches, Rogan and Gus take a ride together

Getting ready to set the courses

Coaches Knoll 

Geordie straps up her GS skis and gets ready for some slalom 

Geordie and Laurel

 Ed, representing Lobstar