Plan for 2-2-2013

UPDATE [4:14PM 2/1]: Please come prepared to run Slalom both in training and in our Worldcup race.  Race time TBD on Saturday morning.

Crazy weather this week isn't it?  We are not sure what we will have for hill space this weekend but we are going to try our best to have a SL Worldcup race.  For the older athletes please bring protective gear.  Check below to see which team you are on.  We will ski in teams first thing in the morning.  If you are not listed on a team please contact Coach Reis at 1reisj@gmail.com.  Please check the blog again on Friday for any last minute changes.  Thanks and think snow!
Team 1
Annika Kahkonen
Polly Rae
Kali Flaherty
Chloe Noack
Leah Weinberg
Jack Harrington
Ella Novick
Abby Lane

Team 2
Colleen Stauder
Kailey Lane
Sean Flaherty
Sarah Novick
Carson McAvoy
Claire Williamson
Caroline Burns
Caroline Harrington

Team 3
Chris Burns
Erin Lane
Harrison Lane
Owen White
Keaton McAvoy
Jake Carroll
Jackson Bleakly
Will Manchester-Wells
Dane Mendelsohn

Team 4
Hayden Pearson
Aaron Rae
Amanda Hanning
Abby Condon
Cooper Knudsen
Bennett Carroll
Frankie Kennedy
Will Kline
Andrew Klein

Photos - 1-26-2013

Click Here: Pictures are up for last week's training!

Frigid Schedule for 1-26-2013

The word for this weekend is COLD.  Let's come prepared for the weather.  Lots of layers, neck warmers, mittens are better than gloves when it gets cold and handwarmers are a must.  We will be taking breaks inside as required but let's keep an eye on each other for signs of frostbite (white patches on exposed skin).  Check your buddy and your buddy will check you.

The Middle School and High School group will train GS turns this weekend with a set on Dudley more than likely in the afternoon when temps are at their highest.  The morning will consist of GS skiing skills and probably a few turn shape drills set with brushes.

Courtney will have a stubbie course to work on SL turns with the younger group.

See you Saturday - Stay Warm!

Wrap-up for 1-19-2012

Courtney's group did an excellent job in the picket fence drill this past Saturday.  We are often at different places at different times on the mountain but the groups came together at the end of the morning session and we were able to see everyone in one place.  Wow are the younger kids progressing!  Great job by the athletes and their awesome coach.  The afternoon fun race demonstrated everyone's continued progress and again the younger group excelled taking several top 15 positions.  Can't wait to have a World Cup Team race to bring out the very best in everyone.

It was nice to be able to do both SL and GS in the same day.  I know it's a hassle to bring extra gear but this plan worked out well for everyone.  Sorry that it ended up being only a one run GS race in the afternoon but a few technical glitches got in the way.

You may have noticed that we have an additional coach with us for the remainder of the season.  Please welcome coach Paul Stevens who will be helping with the older group.  Paul is a former ski racer who raced at Gould Academy.  He was an incredible speed skier (Downhill) during his time. He has some great stories about racing so grab him for a chairlift ride when you can.

More about this week's training on Thursday but let's all be prepared for VERY cold temperatures this weekend.  Neck warmers, an extra couple of layers and chemical hand warmers will be great things to have.  By the way you can purchase hand warmers at Walmart in their hunting and fishing section.  Much cheaper to buy them there than in a ski shop.

Stay warm this week,  Coach Reis

Pictures!

Pictures from this week are up! Click HERE to view.

Plans for Saturday, 1/19/2013

High temps this past Monday will alter our training plans a bit.  Plan on Slalom work this Saturday (1/19/13) morning. Please bring protective gear for morning training.

We will run a GS race out of the lower start in the afternoon (as conditions allow).  Our Oxford Hills athletes are scheduled to race at Kents Hill on Saturday.  If the Kents Hill race goes on as scheduled the GS will be a timed "fun" race.  If conditions at Kents Hill do not allow the High School race to be run and the Oxford Hills athletes are with us we will run our first "World Cup" team race that afternoon.

There we not enough athletes interested in traveling to Sunday River for their Carnival on Sunday so we will not be traveling to that race.  There will be another carnival race later in the season.

See you Saturday!  Coach Reis

Plan for Weekend & Week Four Wrap-up

Week four took the athletes into tall gate slalom.  The first course was set on Dudley and included stubbies, 25mm gates and 27mm gates, with and without helper brushes.  The second course was longer and was set on lower Dudley.  The younger athletes had their own stubby course to practice on.

We continue to look for better turn shape and direction change above the gate.  To reinforce this, in the afternoon session the groups worked on drills and free skiing.  The older group of athletes did railroad tracks over and over again until we had a good athletic stance for everyone.  We then proceeded to do one ski skiing to promote balance and carving on both sets to edges.

The Mt Abram Worldcup teams are now set and each team will need to come up with a team name.  The teams are listed with Team Captain listed first:

Team 1
Annika Kahkonen
Polly Rae
Kali Flaherty
Chloe Noack
Leah Weinberg
Jack Harrington
Ella Novick
Abby Lane

Team 2
Colleen Stauder
Kailey Lane
Sean Flaherty
Sarah Novick
Carson McAvoy
Claire Williamson
Caroline Burns
Caroline Harrington

Team 3
Chris Burns
Erin Lane
Harrison Lane
Owen White
Keaton McAvoy
Jake Carroll
Jackson Bleakly
Will Manchester-Wells
Dane

Team 4
Hayden Pearson
Aaron Rae
Amanda Hanning
Abby Condon
Cooper Knudsen
Bennett Carroll
Frankie Kennedy
Will Kline
Andrew Klein

Racers Needed

The Gould Carnival U10, U12, U14 race is scheduled for this coming Sunday 1/20/13.  This is an all day event and will require that you arrive at Sunday River ready to ski by 8:30 AM.

So far I have only heard from one athlete about going.  We will need at least 10 athletes to make up a team to do this race.  If we have a team Coach Reis will be with the athletes for the day.

If you have an interest please email Coach Reis at 1reisj@gmail.com by 9 PM on Wednesday 1/16/13.  If we have enough athletes interested details will be posted in the Thursday blog.  This event is open to all Mt Abram athletes that are 8-13 years old.

Plan for January 12th, 2013

Things are coming along nicely for balanced athletic stance, railroad tracks and pole plants.  The picket fence drill was awesome last week in promoting good pole planting skills.  The morning brush drill worked well for developing better turn shape.   The athletes skied well in the stubby gate courses that we set.  Use of helper brushes helped promote better turn shape and the ability to complete every turn in the course.  Remember, a direction change ABOVE the gate (where we have been setting the helper brush) will allow you to FINISH your turn AT the gate instead of starting it there and getting late for the next gate.

Expect J4 (thinner 25 mm) Slalom tall gates for this coming weekend along with brushes and stubbies.  Be sure to bring your protective gear.  The weather report has a 40% chance of rain so plan your clothing choices accordingly. 

We will select balanced teams and team captains for our intramural races this weekend.  Start thinking about what you would like to name your team!  Coach Reis

Notes from Parent Meeting

January 5th Parent Wrap-up

• Saturday 1/5/13 wrapped up with a parent meeting in the cramped quarters of the Westside basement.  If you missed the meeting the subjects covered included;
• Program times run 8:30-11:30 and again from Noon until 2:30.  If you are running late simply join your group when they cycle around on the main chair.  Be sure to send along a healthy snack for your young athlete to enjoy on a chair ride.  Staying well hydrated is also a good idea.
• Equipment – If your athlete has just one pair of skis make it a longer length Slalom ski.  Twin tips unfortunately don’t work well for ski racing.  Choose a softer flexing 3-5 buckle boot over a stiff one. Poles that are the correct size are a must.  To check turn pole upside down and grip under the basket.  Your arm should make a 90 degree angle at the elbow for a correct sizing.  Too long is better than too short.
• Slalom Safety equipment – Courtney’s younger crew will not need pole guards or basher bar protection on the athletes helmet.  Shin guards are helpful but not required.  All other age groups should have shin guards, pole guards and a basher bar for their helmet.  If your athlete has a soft ear helmet and you cannot affix a basher bar they should be wearing a bite guard.
• Clothing – Please make sure that your athlete has plenty of warm clothes to wear.  A cold athlete is not getting much out of the session.  Extra socks, gloves/mittens, neck warmer, extra layers of clothing are all good ideas.
• Training vs. Free Skiing – Whenever it snows we will free ski.  Free ski time is also available during warm-up runs, at lunch and at 2:30 after the program is over for the day.  The coaches have a plan for each week to help our athletes improve their skills.  Please encourage your athlete to actively participate in these learning opportunities.
• Race opportunities for U10, U12 and U14 – Gould Academy Competition Program “Carnival” race on Sunday 1/20 beginning at 8:30 at Sunday River.  If your young athlete would like to compete in this fun event please contact Coach Reis at 1reisj@gmail.com.  Also “Open” (don’t need to be a USSA member) race for U8 thru U16 at Lost Valley on Monday 1/21.  Again let Coach Reis know if you have an interest.
• USSA membership – opportunities for additional racing outside of our intramural program exist.  Join at http://my.ussa.org/ or see Coach Reis for more information.

Plan for Saturday, 1/5/2012

Weather and snow conditions look promising for this coming weekend 1/5/13.  The Mt Abram Race team will continue working on Athletic Stance, Railroad Tracks, Pole Touch/Plant and Turn Shape.  Slalom Skis will be the preferred ski for this week.  We will set a short SL course or two depending on the progress made with skills development, so athletes are encouraged to bring their protective gear including; shin guards, pole guards and face protection.

Want to see some top athletes working on the skills that we are doing?  Check out the USSA Eastern website at http://www.youthskillsonline.com/ and click on your age group tab for a listing of videos that you can watch!

Please plan to be out the door and on the hill at 8:30 AM and don’t forget to remind your parents about the meeting at Westside Lodge at 3:15 PM – Coach Reis