Ski Report by Eric Hanson

CRAFTSBURY – Over 200 skiers came to the Craftsbury Outdoor Center (COC) to race on the only available snow in Vermont. After three rainstorms in eight days, not much natural snow remained in the region, thus many thankful skiers were happy to cruise around the 2 km loop of artificial snow. The Ford Sayre ski club sponsored the Silver Fox Trot, a race that has been held annually for several decades.

Craftsbury Academy graduate and UVM skier, Finn Sweet, took first place in the four-lap men’s race (15:47) followed by several UVM teammates, including Bjorn Westervelt (Stowe) in third. Former Craftsbury Ski Club (CSC) member, Jack Young (Jay), placed fourth. The CSC had many participants ranging from high school to master skiers. In ski racing, anyone over 30 is a “master” skier. Leo Circosta placed 16th (third Under-18 skier), Charlie Krebs 44th, Phil Lawson 46th, Rick Constanza 75th, Luke Murphy 86th, Jim Fredericks 90th, and Davis Barnett 98th. In the women’s race, UVM’s Haley Brewster placed first (18:02) with local skiers Hallie Grossman eighth, Amelia Circosta 11th (first U16-skier), Ruth Krebs 15th, Anika Leahy 16th, Meg Voison 26th, Claire Serrano 32nd, Sara McGill 33rd, Olivia Serrano 47th, Clare Pritchard 52nd, JoAnn Hanowski 54th, Emily Linton 55th, and Jessica Bolduc 56th.

After the morning open races, the kids races took center stage with four age categories from first and second graders to seventh and eighth graders skiing from 1 to 4 km. For many of these skiers it was their first time on snow this season. CSC skiers included Kaisa Weaver, Silas Stratman, Finn Nunnery, Emerson McCarthy, Eve Gordon, Sylas Weaver, Aemilia Terrone, Hollis Allen, Tillie Lange, Ava Stratman, and Eider Newlin.

Next Up: The COC is hosting U.S. Biathlon trials Thursday (12/15), Friday, and Sunday starting at 10 a.m. each day. If you want to see top-level biathlon in person, come check it out. The number of racers are small but they are coming from all across the country, including many Canadians looking for some high caliber racing experience. The top finishers will earn starts in Europe on the IBU circuit (one level down from the World Cup).

Professional Skier Update:

SUN VALLEY – Craftsbury Green Racing Project (GRP) skier, Alex Lawson, won her first SuperTour 10 km skate race this past Sunday in Sun Valley, Idaho. Marge Freed skied to fourth, and Anika Landis had her best result of the year placing eighth. Alex has an outside shot to earn World Cup starts for the U.S. Ski team depending on the number of skiers chosen.

FINLAND — The GRP has THREE skiers on the U.S. Biathlon team. Jake Brown, Kelsey Dickinson, and Tara Geraghty-Moats skied in the first World Cup of the year in Kontiolahti, Finland. Kelsey came out firing for her World Cup premier, hitting 18/20 targets and finishing 61st. Tara placed 66th in the sprint a few days later for her top finish. Jake anchored the men’s relay team placing 11th. Kelsey also skied the anchor leg, securing another 11th place for the women. Jake placed 41st in the following sprint earning him a berth to the pursuit in which he shot 18/20 and moved up to 20th place.