MMA Spring Newsletter

MT. MANSFIELD ACADEMY NEWSLETTER

SPRING2024

Fall2023

Graduationwillbeheldat SprucePeakonJune7at6:00 p.m.Receptionistofollowat theMMAClubhouse.

MMAU16RileyChristopher placedsecondalongside EasternRegionteammatesin theTeamParallelEventatU16 Nationals.

FromExecutiveDirector,IgorVanovac

Theskiracingjourneyislikearollercoasterwithtwists,turns,ups,anddowns.Variableweather, changingschedules,gooddays,andchallengingdaysallmakethisracingexpeditionboth aggravatingandexhilarating.Alongthewayaswenavigatethesechallenges,webuild resilienceandlearnlifeskillsthatwillserveusallwellonandoffthemountainintothefuture Overthepastfewweekstherehasbeentremendousprogress,highachievement,andfun throughoutouragegroupsthatculminatedintheannualSugarSlalom.TheSugarSlalomisa celebrationoftheseason’seffortsandalwaysbringsmegreatjoybecauseourcommunity comestogethertocelebratetheseasonasone.

Thisyearwiththesupportofsomewonderfulparentvolunteers,westeppedupoursocial events.ThePromCommitteecraftedoneofourbestpromsever!Whoknewourskiclubcould looksofestiveandoursenioracademyathleteswouldlooksosharpwithouttheirhelmetsand racesuits!TheJuniorProgramcontinueditstimehonoredtraditionsofhostingthe“Slalom Bonanza,”ascavengerhuntandanEasteregghunt.OurWinterGalawasaspectacularevent againandisnowfirmlyinourcalendar.Thesemomentsbuildcommunityandconnections thatareessentialaswenavigateourrollercoasterlikesport.Thankstoallinvolvedforcreating thesegreateventsthatwewilllooktobuilduponnextseason.(Cont’donpage2)

Best,

FromtheExecutiveDirector,cont’d

WinterTermhaswrappedupontheacademiccampus.ToourWinterTermstudents,thanksfor yourhardworkanddedication,wewishyouasafereturntoyoursendingschool.Tooursenior students,congratulations!Ithasbeenourprivilegetowatchyougrowoverthepastyearsas athletesbutmostimportantlyintoyoungadults.Theuniversitiesthatyouwillbeattendingaretruly impressive!

Onsnow,recentresultshavebeeninspiringthisseason.TherehavebeendoubledigitFISpoint declines,andtremendousresultsatallagelevels.Theresilienceanddedicationofourathleteshas reallypaidoff.MMAshowedverywellonregional,national,andinternationalstagesthisyear.On this90-yearanniversaryofskiracingatStowe,youaddedtoourtremendouslegacy

Asanacademythisyearwefacedchallengesjustlikeourathletes.Sometimes,mothernatureand operationalcircumstanceswerebeyondourcontrolandcreatedopportunitiesforourcoachesto becreativeinpreparingfortheraceseasonandourresultsareatestamenttoourdedicatedstaff atMMA.WearealreadyplanningfornextyearandIhopetobeabletosharewithyouverysoon detailsthatwillalleviatethesechallengesandprovideourathleteswithexcitingopportunities.

Wearealwayslookingtoimprove.Keepaneyeoutforourupcomingcommunitysurveywherewe hopetohearfromyouhowMMAcancontinuetoimprove. Wehaveabusyoffseasoncomingup withcamps,drylandtraining,staffdevelopment,andourfull-timeacademicstudent-athletes roundouttheiryearoncampus.

Thankstoyou,ourcommunityofparents,athletes,coaches,volunteers,teachers,supportstaff, friends,andfamily.90yearsofracingatStoweisjustthebeginningbecauseofyoursupport! MMATURNS90!

We’relookingforwardtoan amazingsummercelebration event.Staytunedformoredetails...

EventhoughtheStoweDerbydidn’tmakeit intotownthisyear,over200racersenjoyed aruggedcoursethatchallengedtheir nordicskills.

AcademicUpdate, LoriFurrer

OurWinterTermstudentshavejustdeparted,ironicallymissing thebiggestsnowstormofthewinter!Somethingsarejustnotfair. TheycertainlymadethemostofwhatMotherNaturedelivered(or didn’t,shouldIsay)risingtologisticalchallengesandchanging schedules.Itdidreducethefrustrationsthatcomewithplowing theparkinglot–silverlinings,right?Teachersrolledwiththedaily (sometimeshourly)adjustmentsinassignments,grading deadlines,andthemyriadofcreativeexcusesthatcomealong withracetravel

Twolongstandingtraditionscappedoffthewinter:avery upscaledpromandthewinterandseniorfarewellevening.An enthusiasticgroupofparentsspearheadedtheorganizationofthe prom!Anewlocation,fancydecorations,arealDJ,andatasty menumadetheeveningasuccess.Thanksgoouttoparentsand staffwhohelpedpullthisoffforthestudents.TheFarewell EveningfeaturedthegraduationofsixWinterTermseniors accompaniedbysixoftheirFullYearcompatriots.Theinfamous seniorspeechesdidnotdisappointastheysharedthemessageof theirjourneyhereatMMA Academicandathleticawardsand scholarshipsrecognizedtheaccomplishmentsofmanyofour student-athletes.Itwaswonderfultohavesomanyjoinusforthis specialevening.

We’dliketoextendathankyoutoallour familieswithtravelingathletesthisseason We knowtherecanbealottokeepupwith,both logisticallyandfinancially,andourfamilies weregreataboutremainingup-to-datewith travelcharges. Save

Trainingcampswillsoon behere,including Copper,Mt.Hood,El ColoradoinChile,and Zermatt!

StudentPerspective,CharlotteHansen

SeniorCollege Acceptances:

Babson

Bates

Bentley

Bryant

Clarkson

Colgate

ColbySawyer

Dean

U.ofDenver

Elon

Hartford

HolyCross

MIddlebury

Northeastern

RPI

Rutgers

St.Lawrence

St.Michael’s

UCBoulder

U.ofNew

Hampshire

U.ofUtah

UVM

*Asof4/22/24

The2023-2024seasonatMMAhascometoanendforWinterTermstudents andIcanconfidentlysayitwasanextremelysuccessfuloneinmanyways WinterTermhasalwaysbeensuchagreatopportunitytobeabletoleave schoolathomewhereyoumayparticipateinothersports,clubs,etc.and spendfivemonthsfocusingonthesportyoulovemostwithextremely supportiveteachersandcoaches.EveryyearthatIhaveattendedthe academy,Ihaveexperiencedasmoothtransitioninandoutofmyhome schoolinNovemberandAprilduetothecommunicativeandprepared teachersattheacademy.Eachspring,Ifeellikemyknowledgeofnotonlythe sportofskiracingandmyacademiccourses,butalsosomanyotherlife lessons,hasgrownexponentially Andeveryyear,I’msosadtoleavethe wonderfulcommunitythatisMMA,thisyearwasnoexception.

WestartedofftheWinterTermwithourusualpre-seasontrainingcampat CopperMountain.Copperprovidesanawesomeopportunitytomeetnew people,getbackintotrainingagain,andstartschoolworkwiththeacademy teachers.Whetherit’syourfirstyearwithMMAoryourtenth,allthewinter termstudentsaregenerallyatthesameboatinthebeginningofthecampso it’sgreattostartofftheseasonthatway.Afterabouttwoandahalfweeksof training,dryland,teambonding,andmore,weheadhomeforaquick Thanksgivingbreak.

Wheneveryonereturnsafterthebreak,there’ssomuchexcitementintheair fortheupcomingseasonandeveryoneisfeelingreadytogo.Weusuallystart offourfirstweekortwobackonsnowwithdrillsandfreeskiingonthe Mansfieldside ThisissohelpfulforwhenwestarttraininggatesatStowe, youcantellthatwelearnfromthedrillsandittranslatesinthecourse.Once westartourfirstfulltrainingblock,ittrulyfeelslikethewintergoesbyinthe blinkofaneye.

January,February,andMarchwerefilledwithsomuchbeneficialtraining (despitesomeunluckyweather),raceswheremanyMMAteammateshad greataccomplishments,and,ofcourse,efficienttimeintheclassroom betweenabusyraceschedule.OnFriday,March22nd,wehadouryearly WinterTermgraduationwhereallwintertermseniorsgavespeechesabout ourtimeatMMAandawardsweregiventomanydeservingstudent-athletes fromU14-FIS.Nextinourendofyearcelebrations,prom!Thankstothehelp ofgenerousparentsandacademystaff,wehadagreatnightofdancing, pictures,andsinging!Finally,wecappedofftheseasonwiththeannualSugar Slalom racewherewesawsomanyfuncostumesonallracers!Thiswasthe perfectwaytoendanawesomeseason!

FromtheHill,MikeDay

I cannot believe the end of our competition season is here. It always amazes me how stretches of time can grind so slowly and in the end the season just flies by. Our early season struggles with Mother Nature seemed like a distant memory with so much snow on our slopes. Our student-athletes and coaches have worked so hard and been super resilient throughout this crazy season. There were definitely some bumps in the road, but our MMA athletes really hit their stride with the spring races. We have seen some exceptional results and continue to see great improvements for all. We talked in the fall about our athletes gaining a better understanding of their own skiing and I really feel they have achieved that The kids are charged into their final races

Sugar Slalom was an huge success, so much fun seeing great skiing and big smiles. Our 2024/25 preparation period is going well We are hyper-focused on fundamental skills, drills and also trying to have some fun. Keep an eye out for more preparation plan camp

TrainingUpdate,BenBlakely

InVermont'susualfashion,itthreweverythingatusintermsofweather.Thislateseason broughtgreatthingsspecificallyforourstudent-athletesincludingsomesub-30point scores,manynationalchampionshipseriesqualifiers,andcareerbestfinishes

**FunFact

ThroughouttheseasonMMA'erswereatopthepodiumwithteammatescheeringthemon astheywaitedtotrainandraceanotherday.Persistenceandpassionforthesport,while learninglifelessons,arethetwomostbeautifulcharacteristicsofthissport,nottomention thebeautifulplacesittakesyou.

WiththeadditionofWinterTerm student-athletestotheDorm,we haveatotalof26dormstudents-4 Full-Timeand22Winter-Term With somanynewstudents,andboarding studentsofallages, ourhouseis verylivelyandfun!!

Iamtrulyimpressedwiththeworkethicthisteamholdsatitscore Thesuccessofevery teamiscreatedintheindividualmembersoftheteamaddinguptoasumgreaterthan thatofitsparts.FromtheFISgroupslivinglifeontheroadracingnearandfarweekafter week,totheJuniorProgramtrainingdayafterdayastheydreamofbiggerthings,the teacherskeepingoureducationontrack,andtothemembersoftheteaminthe clubhouseorganizingandhostingevents.Thereisnotasingleteammemberthatcould beforgottennorcouldtheyeverbeappreciatedenoughfortheirtirelesswork Itisthe dailysacrificeseachstudent,coach,teacher,andstaffmembermakethatmanifestsa successfulseason.SoIofferaheartfeltTHANKYOUtoeveryoneforthisgreatseason!

Wearelookingforwardtoworking togetherandspendamemorable wintertogether!

JuniorProgramUpdate

2024-2025applicants increaseby20%compared tolastyear. Applicationsfrom12states. Applicationsfrom3 countries.

WhatasweeeeeetendtotheJuniorProgramSeasonhereatMMA!Wehadsomany specialdaysinthesunandsnowinthislaststretch!WehadourinfamousStoweDuals 2024hereatSprucePeak!Thekidsdidanamazingjobnavigatingandsendingitoverthe jump!Alwaysatruehighlightoftheseason!OurClubChamps,EasterExtravaganza,and SugarSlalomcouldnothavebeenmorespecial!Wehadgreatweatherandthekids showedalltheirgrowthandgritcompetingontheirhomehillsandsupportingeach other!

WiththeadditionofWinterTerm student-athletestotheDorm,we haveatotalof26dormstudents-4 Full-Timeand22Winter-Term With somanynewstudents,andboarding studentsofallages, ourhouseis verylivelyandfun!!

Ittrulyisanincrediblesighttowatchthemallintheseendofseasoneventsandthink backtoalltheprogresstheyhavemadesinceCruiseIntotheNewYear.Icouldnotbe moreproudofeachandeveryoneofthem!ThankYoutotheincrediblecoacheswho sharedtheirlove,passion,time,energyandexpertise.It'steamworkthatmakesthe dreamwork!Ihopeyouallhaveawonderfuloff-seasonandIlookforwardtoseeing manyofyououtonthebiketrails!

Wearelookingforwardtoworking togetherandspendamemorable wintertogether!

Questions?EmailAndrewatakohn@mmsca.org