From our CEO-Peter Stokloza
 

· I hope everyone had a safe and festive Holiday season.  Although we had some challenging weather over the break, our programs and events were held successfully. I would like to personally thank Sharon Charron and her group of volunteers for being so organized and allowing us to have such competitive races! I also want to thank Sharon Schmidt and her group for holding an excellent Christmas week party.

· Our coaching staff has been working hard instructing our athletes and preparing them for the competition phase of their season. We had some excellent individual performances at Waterville Valley and at away competitions. It is impressive to see the BBTS skiers and riders who are working hard to excel “to the next level” of performance.

· BBTS held its first Christmas break snowboard camp that included riders from all over the country.  The coaches and parents who helped with this camp introduced riders to the BBTS snowboard program.  A special thanks to Lore Chapman who helped make this all happen.

· The ski area management provided us with great training space over a crowded vacation week. All programs had appropriate training and soon the freestyle jump and the half pipe venue will be ready.  When you see Waterville Valley Ski Area management stop and thank them-without their help we do not have a program!

· We have the Preston Cup and Women FIS races this weekend.  This will be a great time to watch and support our athletes at home.  We still need volunteers for these events.  Please let Sharon Charron know if you can help with either of these events.

· Good Luck to everyone competing next week.  

Happy New Year!

From the Desk of Director of Development and Communications-Sharon Schmidt

· Happy New Year to you and your family!  It was great to see so many of you in the Clubhouse and at the WVBBTS Holiday Party last week!

· We have several fun events coming up in January

-WVA Parents Weekend-January 20-22 See details below under Upcoming Events-RSVP and payment required by January 12 for caterer planning purposes.

-WVBBTS Dance with DJ Chuck Noel-Saturday, January 28-6:30 pm–8:00 pm-Waterville Valley Recreation Center-for “kids” of all ages-THINK TROPICAL! A WVBBTS Tradition-don’t miss it!  Details to follow.

· Don’t miss the excitement of the home competitions this weekend-Freestyle’s Preston Cup, Alpine’s FIS BankNorth/Corcoran Cup and Mitey Mites’ NASTAR Race.  Please come out and cheer on our athletes!

· WVBTTS Phone Directory-I will be handing out the WVBBTS Phone Directories in the Clubhouse this Saturday and Sunday at lunch.

From the Desk of the Headmaster-Gary Benedix

· It was great returning to classes this week with the addition of 22 new students for the last enrollment period of our school year (January – March).  We had 15 students who ended their program over the Holiday break.  We wish them well as they return to their home schools and hope to see many of them during weekend training and at the upcoming competitions. 

· It is my pleasure to announce the addition of and extend a welcome to our four ‘‘new” teachers.  With their addition on January 2^nd our faculty is now at 50!  Erin Craven (our Residence Hall Manager) and Ed Manzi, who are both teaching in the humanities, are by no means new to the program.  Between them both they have several years of experience teaching with us and our students are fortunate to have them back on the Faculty.  New to us this year are Harry Joiner (Mathematics) and Kerry Biller (Middle School) who both bring a wealth of experience also.  I enjoy working with such a fantastic staff and look forward to a great year. 

· As I mentioned in the last newsletter, parents should keep their calendar open for Parents Weekend (January 20 – 22).  Sharon Schmidt has arranged a wonderful weekend of events for us, starting with the parent teacher night on Friday the 20th.  You should already have received your invitation.  Please RSVP to Sharon before January 12^th, using the form provided so that she can be prepared.   I look forward to seeing you there.

· Happy New Year!

Gary Benedix

Alpine Head Coaching Staff-Tom Barbeau

· Recently, the Montreal newspaper had an interesting article on knee injuries and their prevention. Anywhere from 30 to 40 percent of skiing injuries are to the knee – most of which involve damage to the ligaments.

· Prevention is twofold and it starts in the dryland training and continues on the slopes. Firstly, the article stated that strengthening the muscles surrounding the knee joint lessens the odds of getting injured. However, we must make sure that this strengthening is through the full range of all motions of the knee joint. If we do not move through a great range of motion the knee may be surprised and definitely ill prepared when it reaches a new range in a turn or a fall. Therefore, the range and a variety of movements both on the land and in the water create the strong and elastic-like muscles we need. (For anyone interested we have an excellent series of exercises for the knee).

· Secondly, there are a few proven actions on the snow which can save the knees. The MCL (the ligament on the inside of the knee) is the most commonly injured ligament. This is hurt in a snowplowing action or when the legs split apart. Therefore, when we lose control or we are about to fall, pull the legs together (do not let them fan out too far). Also, it was suggested to go down without a fight. This is obviously difficult when one is trying to finish a race course. Here experience and instinct come into play.

· The second most injured ligament is the famous ACL. It can be injured in the 1) “phantom boot syndrome” which occurs when a racer tries to recover from an off-balance position or 2) the “boot induced ACL” injury which occurs off a jump when a racer lands with the hips low and the weight over the tails of the skis. The research team here instructed its skiers to perform the following actions when they felt themselves starting to lose balance. 1) Throw the arms forward, 2) pull the feet together, 3) keep the knees flexed when falling and/or landing and 4) when down stay down (unless, of course, if you are going to hit something or someone). This was very educational. Knowledge of what to do, preparation in the gym and lots of skiing mileage will keep us healthy and fast.

RESULTS:

· It has been a great week for the WVBBTS.

· Dan Cardillo GS at Waterville Valley

· J3’s – 1^st Abby Fucigna, 5^th Amanda Engelhardt, 10^th Chelsea Stevens, Brennan Smith 3^rd Devon Wright 8^th and Gordon Ellinwood 10^th.

· J4’s – 1^st Kerry Daigle, 4^th Eliza Cowie , 6^th Annie D’Elia  1^st Garrett Quimby, 2^nd Sam Macomber, 3^rd Brian McLaughlin, 6^th Drew Stefanic, 9^th Mike Bancroft, 10^th Peter French

· J5’s – 1^st Macaela Wright, 2^nd Grace Glennon, 3^rd Chole Ewanouski, 5^th Elena Tomlinson, 7^th Jeanee Crane-Mauzy 8^th Teagan Mosenthal, 1^st Alexander Katz, 2^nd Henry Tomlinson, 3^rd Dan Lannon, 10^th Jay Kraunelis

· Loon Stubby Slalom

· J3’s – 1^st Jamie Crane-Mauzy, 3^rd Chelsea Stevens, 10^th Erin Daigle, 3^rd John Kalinski (first medal congratulations), 5^th Devon Wright, 6^th Carter White, 7^th Kenny Bourdeau

· J4’s – 2^nd Lindsay Todaro, 5^th Kate Kraunelis, 2^nd Drew Stefanic, 4^th Peter French

· J5’s – 2^nd Alexander Katz, 4^th Dan Lannon, 6^th Owen White, 10^th John Moore

· Stan and Dan’s GS Jan 1^st – Brian McLaughlin 1^st and Garrett Quimby 2^nd

· J1/2’s

· Cannon Mac Cup Qual SL

5^th Ashley Hawes, 7^th Erin Fucigna, 1^st Sean McNamara, 9^th Neil Hansen, 10^th Julian Jacobson

· Pfosi Memorial GS at Waterville Valley

1^st Emily Sampson, 3^rd Maddy Packard, 4^th Erin Fucigna, 5^th Catherine Warchal,, 6^th Lindsay Mann, 10^th Ashley Hawes, Julian Jacobson 5^th and 62 point result

· Gunstock Mac Cup Qual SL

Big win for Erin Fucigna, 2^nd Ali Ewanouski, 3^rd Kia Mosenthal, 5^th Maddy Packard, 6^th Katy Belanger (5 of the top 6), 2^nd Craig Leaman, 3^rd Sean McNamara

· Wildact Mac Cup Qual GS

First win for Maddy Packard, congratulations and 3^rd for Julian Jacobson and another 62 result.

From our Freestyle Director-Nick Preston

· Hannah Wins Gold Cup-She’s Torino Bound!

· Suzi and I have just returned from Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where 5 BBTS and WVA alumni, specifically our US Ski Team mogul skiers and aerialists, put it all on the line in the US Gold Cup on December 30th. The Gold Cup is held before each Olympics to offer up 1 Olympic spot per sex per discipline.

· The day started with the mogul event on a superb course down the Voo Doo run. Our clubs skiers included Hannah Kearney, Tim Preston, Kayla Snyderman and Dave Babic.

· In a mind-blowing display of world class mogul skiing, including huge back flips, back fulls, 7 tails, and, yes, a D-spin 1080, the final results left Hannah at the top of the women’s field with a 26.66, and earned her the 1^st awarded Olympic spot.

· Although the purpose of the event is all about the Olympics, Tim Preston, who skied to 5^th place out of the 12 US Team skiers in the men’s field, proved his capabilities as the best of the C Team, earning himself World Cup starts at Deer Valley and Lake Placid.

· Kayla Snyderman, the US Team’s newest member, upped her score from 1^st to 2^nd run, in a cool headed performance finishing 9^th amidst the pressure and intimidation of this most exclusive event. At 17 years of age, Kayla gave the crowd estimated at 3000 a glimpse of the US Team’s bright future.

· Dave Babic, while finishing a disappointing 12^th, laid it all on the line by going after (and landing) his “1^st ever performed in mogul competition” d-spin 1080. 

· In Aerials, Kate Reed was edged out by a whisker, finishing second to a most deserving Emily Cook, who, you may remember, lost her 2002 Olympic spot to injury. A CVA grad and former Freestyle America camper, Emily is America’s finest.

· So congratulations to all the Gold Cup winners, Jeremy Bloom, Hannah Kearney, Emily Cook, and Ryan St. Onge. But wait, there are 2 or 3 more spots per discipline still to be named based on the upcoming World Cups. And every one of our crew will be part of the mix. So go git ‘em Tim, Dave, Kayla, and Kate!!

· Some other news:

· Preston Cup, the opening EQS combined event of the 2006 USSA season will feature Moguls on Tyler and Big Air on Lower Sels. Come on out and cheer our team, and witness the fun of an EQS freestyle competition!

· In another inspiring event this past week in Steamboat Springs, Suzi and I attended and participated in an evening to honor and remember our lost friend and skier, Landon Sawyer. I offer you these words spoken on Landon’s behalf.

“This day, remember you are in your rightful place. With a positive attitude, be humble, grateful, and ask often for forgiveness. This day, live your life out loud. It’s your very own journey. Respect and commit to it, wherever it leads. You own it. And take a song with you, and by so doing, say a prayer for me.”

Landon Sawyer

Nick Preston

From our Snowboard Director-Bill Enos

· What a great week of training, and competition. Although the weather was a little iffy there were a lot of young riders progressing.  Special thanks to the Park Crew and the Mountain Manager Rob Batchelder for putting together a super fun park for X-mas break.

· On Tuesday night our first WVBBTS Night Rail Jam went down, and Thursday we had a dual GS race. Thanks to the Chapmans for organizing the two events and camp we had last week.  Thanks and great job to all the families that helped at the events. It’s fun to have our young riders compete and ride with World Cup athletes and pro riders in such a relaxed atmosphere with so much parent support. 

· In the Rail Jam, Ian Hart rode solid for a win in his age group, while Jamie B won his and Cam Egan pulled a second in the open class just missing the cash.

· As the race heated up in knock off rounds it ended up with the Trapp bros duking it out for the title, Mike Junior World Team member beat his brother Chris in a tight battle. GS standout Kevin Stein just missed the money.

· In the Little Slammer Contest, I feel everyone won – there is definitely an unstoppable progression happenin’ here.  I would not want to pick a winner – check the Waterville Valley web page for results.

· For all the results please check the wvbbts.org web page-they should be posted soon.

· Also keep your eyes open for new updated photos at wvbbts.org at the very bottom under photos. These photos and videos are for your entertainment and work well for training.

· We’ll see you in a couple of weeks.  We are off to the second Grand Prix/ Olympic Qualifier.

· Keep working hard!

Bill

Student Corner

· Nate Bryant is a junior who attended WVA in 2003-2004 but took last year off.  He attends Oyster River High School in Durham, NH.  He is a J-II alpine racer.  Nate lives with his head coach Tom Barbeau, Director of Athletics, and his French teacher Anne Barbeau, who is also Dean of Students.

· Nate, you probably can’t get into any mischief at WVA, living with your coach and teacher, so what do you do for fun in your spare time in Waterville Valley?

· Well, yesterday (Monday, January 2^nd) afternoon, I attended the WVA Writers’ Workshop with my English teacher Randy Brooker. 

· Waterville Valley Black and Blue Trail Smashers Ski Educational Foundation received a $10,000 grant from the Hans and Margret Rey Fund for Waterville Valley Academy to establish a Writer in Residence at the Academy.  WVA has named Dan Newton, Head of the English Department, as its Writer in Residence for the term of this grant.  This grant also enables Dan to conduct a weekly WVA Writer’s Workshop this winter on Monday afternoons.

· The workshop was a very good learning experience.  Attending were four English teachers and some local residents, including you, P$.  Three people read pieces of micro-fiction or poetry they had brought for revision and constructive criticism.

· Randy read a short free-verse poem, “Cacophony,” which he was working on for a graduate school class.  We helped him clarify the metaphors he used of the sea and music for the creative process.

· Dick Hanaway presented a micro-fiction piece of 125 words, “Hitting Bottom,” that told a complete story with provocative images which left the reader with a choice of several interpretations.   We decided that the piece could benefit from an author’s note that it was a fragment of a conversation that Dick had with an acquaintance.

· Dan Newton brought a piece of micro-fiction, “The Perfect Place,” that he had read at a previous workshop.   Attendees who had helped Dan criticize this piece the week before, complimented him on his revision.  We talked about the deeper meaning of the story and helped clear up any confusion about the character’s intent concerning the old dog that he had brought camping for the last time. 

· In the future, I plan to attend another session of the Writer’s Workshop and present a piece of my work.  I hate sharing my work with a group, but I think it will help me improve my writing.

Upcoming Events

· Preston Cup-Freestyle

   · Saturday, January 7 and Sunday, January 8-This opening EQS combined event of the 2006 USSA season will feature Moguls on Tyler and Big Air on Lower Sels. Come on out and cheer our team on!

· Mitey Mites NASTAR Race-Sunday, January 8-Come cheer on our Mitey Mites in their first race of the season at the NASTAR course next to the T-Bar-will start by 10:30 am!

· FIS BankNorth/Corcoran Cup-Alpine Slalom & Giant Slalom Competition

   · Sunday, January 8–Women’s Slalom

   · Monday, January 9–Women’s Giant Slalom

   · Tuesday, January 10–Women’s Giant Slalom JI/JII, SR

· WVA Writers Workshop-Monday, January 9-1:30 pm-3:30 pm and each Monday during the Ski Season-Led by WVA Writer in Residence and English Department Head Dan Newton in the WVA Town Square classroom space two doors down from the Coffee Emporium.