April-June 2026
What’s Inside:
3. From the Director’s Desk
4. What’s Next: Upcoming Races, Training Projects, & Events
5. US Ski & Snowboard Paul Bacon Award
6. XC World Cup Finals
8. Bourg St. Maurice Exchange
14 Meet Our Staff: Linc Marsac
18. NYSEF Open Update
20 Spring Skiing with NYSEF
24. NYSEF’s 2026 Kelly Brush Ride
26 The Black Fly Challenge
27. Bonjour from Les 2 Alpes
28 USASA Nationals
29. Thank You to NYSEF’s Sponsors
Y S E F
Cover Image: NYSEF’s Garret Wormuth flies over the pond en route to winning “Best Combo” at the 2026 Whiteface Pond Skim. Photo by Pat Bly
From the Director’s Desk
While the snow melts away in April, May, and June our staff begins to prepare for next season Spring meetings of our governing bodies are held in New York, the Eastern Region and in Park City, Utah. Program leaders from around the country in snowsports gather to share insight and make plans for the upcoming season. NYSEF and ORDA were proud to be recognized nationally with the 2026 US Ski and Snowboard Paul Bacon Award
Once June hits, it’s back to working with many of our athletes. Summer training at the Olympic Jumping Complex has begun in Lake Placid with our ski jumpers taking flight and landing on plastic The 2026 edition of our Les 2 Alpes on-snow training project will take place later this month. Snow conditions in France look amazing!
Summer gives us the time to work on the less urgent but extremely important tasks that are difficult to tackle in the busy winter season. We’ve begun a strategic planning process to develop our next five-year plan. Candid feedback from our community is essential to the success of this process so we’ll be actively reaching out to our stakeholders Please be on the lookout for communication from our team - we need your input!
Finally, I’d like to recognize Tiffany Van Etten of the last few years and became a valued m chosen to take a new position outside of sno hard work with NYSEF - we wish you all the b
Great to see you at the Golf Tournament on June 14 ! We hope to see you at our Annual Summer Benefit August 15 . th th
Until next time,
John Norton, Executive Director
What’s Next: Upcoming Races, Training Projects, & Events
Lake Placid IronKids
July 17, 2026 @ 2pm - Mirror Lake Beach
NYSEF Summer Benefit
Saturday, August 15, 2026
Heaven Hill Farm - More Information Soon!
The Annual Kelly Brush Ride
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Middlebury, VT - CLICK HERE TO JOIN OR DONATE TO NYSEF’S TEAM!
Y S E F
NYSEF & ORDA Awarded US Ski & Snowboard’s Paul Bacon Award
NYSEF and our partners at ORDA were recognized at this year ’ s US Ski & Snowboard Annual Congress for our contributions to snow sports by hosting world class events, as the 2026 recipients of the Paul Bacon Award This award is given to an individual or group for the greatest contribution to U. S. Ski & Snowboard in the field of race organization during the on snow season.
NYSEF and ORDA were recognized for our part in hosting the FIS Cross Country World Cup Finals at Mount Van Hoevenberg in the spring, as well as the historic NorAm Downhill event in February at Whiteface, and the annual Hole Shot Tour at Gore Mountain
Thank you to USSS for recognizing NYSEF and ORDA’s commitment to excellence and hard work to make it happen from the U10 level to the World Cup! We’re proud of our team and our venues!
N Y S E F
Cross Country World Cup Finals Come to Lake Placid
Olympic Year’s always bring added publicity to snow sports Marking a historic return to the United States, this year ’ s Cross Country World Cup Finals event was hosted by our partner ORDA at Mount Van Hoevenberg. Olympic record setter Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and Jesse Diggin’s final series highlighted an amazing event. The entire American Nordic Skiing Community showed in full force, descending on Lake Placid for the historic event. When, one young aspiring nordic athlete was asked about the coolest signature they got, it wasn’t Klaebo, Diggins, Ogden, or Schumacher, but that of the legendary Bill Koch, America’s first nordic medalist and name sake of the Bill Koch League.
NYSEF athletes were joined by 14,000 fans at their home venue to cheer on the sports greats and pay witness to a truly spectacular and historic event Prone to every type of weather imaginable hosting events in March can be an organizers nightmare, with snow falling Thursday into Friday, the course was painted white and the magic was set Not even heavy rain over the weekend could dampen the atmosphere European athletes were continually amazed by the American Fans who turned out in great numbers and offered their support to every competitor Many shared that this was the best event of the year and how appreciative they were of the environment and support NYSEF families, friends, athletes, and staff got to see amazing action and were all looking forward to the next chance to host the world’s best.
*Photos by Nancie Battaglia
NYSEF Gore Pioneers
A new international exchange program is opening both cultural and competitive doors for athletes at the NYSEF Gore Alpine program Spearheaded by a dedicated group of coaches and parents, the initiative connects NYSEF athletes with peers in Bourg Saint-Maurice, France, offering a rare blend of high-level alpine training and full cultural immersion
N Y S E F
The inaugural trip brought coaches Petra and Ben Davenport overseas alongside athletes Chloe and Lucas Duval, Frances and Adelaide Davenport, and Reese Morley, with support from parents Claudina and Jerome Duval, whose vision and coordination helped bring the program to life Over two weeks, the group balanced on-snow training in Les Arcs and the greater Paradiski region with classroom time, homestays, and everyday life alongside French students.
What makes this exchange stand out is its dual purpose: pushing athletic development while immersing participants in a completely different way o life Athletes trained for hours each day, often on terrai and snow conditions far different from those in New York, then transitioned into afternoons at school and evenings with host families. The result was an experience that challenged them not just as skiers, bu as young people navigating independence, language barriers, and new cultural norms
The program ’ s long-term vision is ambitious, with hopes to expand beyond Gore Mountain to other NYSEF venues and continue building lasting international relationships But even in its first year, the impact is clear measured not just in turns on snow, but in friendships formed, perspectives broadened, an confidence gained.
N Y S E F
Whatwerethemainobjectivesofthisexchangeprogram?
BenDavenport:Wehadtwomainobjectivesforourexchangeprogram. Number1 wastoimmerseourselvesasmuchaswecouldintoFrenchculture Wewanted thekidstospeakthelanguage(asmuchastheycould),eatthefood,livewith families,andgoabouttheirlivesasiftheywerelivinginFrance Ourother objectivewasskiing. Wewantedtofindahealthybalancebetweengatetraining andexploringwhilewefreeskied. Internationalexperienceiscrucialfor developingathletesbecauseitexposesthemtoadifferentdiversetrainingstyles, whichcanhelpcreatebreakthroughswiththeirtechnical,tactical,andpersonal skills Ourkidswereconstantlyinunfamiliarenvironments,whichfostered resilience,adaptability,andculturalintelligence. Ourhopeisthatthekidshave newFrenchfriendsthattheywillbeabletoskiwith10to20yearsfromnow.
What makes this exchange unique compared to other training camps?
Jerome Duval: The location is quite unique in that the “funiculaire” connects Bourg Saint-Maurice to Les Arcs 1600 in only 7 minutes. Athletes can thus leave school in the morning and within 30-45 minutes, ski at one of the largest resorts in the world (Paradiski with maximum altitude of 3,250 meters guaranteeing snow coverage even late in the season). This allows us to offer a packed agenda to participants with training AND school. The objective of this trip was dual - Get extended training late in the season (at least 3 hours per day for 2 weeks) with a balance of racing and free ski, and gain exposure to a different culture and language with “full immersion” i.e. 3 hours of school each afternoon, boarding at school for 3 evenings and with host family for the remainder of the week.
On Wednesdays, we organized day trips to other resorts (La Rosiere in week 1 and Val d’Isere/Tignes in week 2) during which our athletes skied with their correspondents, further “bonding” as a group
Were there any benefits beyond skiing?
JD: This is as much a ski-trip as it is an international experience: for some participants, it was their first time traveling abroad and even for athletes fluent in French, it was the first time with this level of immersion and independence We believe NYSEF athletes came back from this trip better -more experienced- skiers and also global citizens (the travel arrangements entailed of transiting through 4 countries in one day, i.e. France/ Switzerland/ Canada/ USA). Our athletes certainly got to experience the local food and the ubiquitous French cheese in most meals!
What differences did you notice in training styles or coaching approaches?
Chloe: The training approach was that we would spend some time training GS and slalom but also a lot of time free-skiing and getting comfortable with the french ski terrain.
Lucas: We never slipped the course! Never had to hike up the slalom course either and we got plenty of runs in
Ben: A lot of the French athletes skied an equal amount on their slalom and GS skis. Our kids weren’t used to free skiing on their GS skis. It was good to see them being forced to make a wide variety of turns on a wide variety of terrain on the bigger skis
Did you pick up any new techniques or habits from the French athletes?
Adele: Godille turns and dynamic turns to control speed
Chloe: One technique I picked up was a term called Godille Turns, which are turns that are similar to slalom but they are slightly shorter and your turns are shorter.
Lucas: Our French coach Thibaud taught us a way of skiing steep terrain and sometimes would incorporate rhythmic turns in a straight line
Ben: Avec Plaisir - With Pleasure. Our mantra when we were skiing was “Ski Avec Plaisir” - Ski with Pleasure.
Howdidtheskiingconditionscomparetowhatyou’reusedtoinNewYork?
Adele:Thesnowwaslightandfluffy. Whentheysaiditwasicy,itwasn’t. They haveadifferentdefinitionofice. Whichisn’tice.
Chloe:TheskiconditionsareslightlybetterthanNewYorkbecausetheweather isalotwarmerandthereisalotmorenaturalsnowmakingiteasiertocarve.
Lucas:Therewasalotofsnowandsometimesevenpowder!Butthroughoutthe trip,itwasalwayswarm(ish)
Whatchallengedyouthemostduringthetrip?
Chloe:WhatchallengedmemostwastheskiracethatwedidwithourFrench correspondentsbecauseitwasmyfirstcombiracewithgsgatesandstubbies.
Lucas:Themostchallengingpartwasthatmycorrespondentandothers' correspondentsdidnotstayatthedorms SomanynightsIwouldhavetomake friendswithboardingstudents.Alsomanytimesmeandotherathleteswould stayatourcorrespondent'shouse.Leavinganotherathleteatthedormby themselveswithouttheircorrespondentsorteammates
JD:TherunfromAiguilleRouge(topofParadiskiat3,250meters)downto Villaroger.Aquadburnerthatrunsfor5milesand2,000metersofvertical.The ESFcoachtestedthechildrenonthisrunandledthegroupwithsteadyspeed, onlystoppingonce CertainlyoneofthehardestrunsIhaveskied,whichrequired goodphysicalconditioning.Thechildrendidverywellonthisrun.
Y S E F
Howdoyouplantobuildonthispartnershipinthefuture?
Ben:Weplantokeepworkingwiththe“CiteScolaireSaint-Exupery”.Theirsupport wentaboveandbeyondallofexpectations.Ontopofthat,wehopetogetthe wordouttoourNYSEFfamiliesabouttheexperiencesourkidshadandexpand theprogramtoincludemoreathletes,aswellasanexchangeofFrenchathletes travellingstatesidetotrainatourNYSEFvenues.
Canyoudescribeonemomentfromthetripthatperfectlycapturesthe experience?
JD:Somehow,ourNYSEFparticipantswerefocusedonsolvingtheirRubik’scube Chaperonesappreciatedthatathletesusedtheiroff-timetobondanddiscuss strategiestosolvetheircubeandspentlittletimeontheirphone.Towardstheend ofthetrip,Iwasstunnedtoseethatall5participantswereabletosolvetheir Rubik’scubeinlessthan5minutes.Irealizedthechildrenhadstartedthisrather healthyhobbyontheirown,cooperatedandtaughteachotherwithoutany interventionfromthechaperones Wehadagreatgroupofchildrenwho embracedeverychallengeduringthistrip.
N Y S E F
Always with a smile: A conversation with Linc Marsac
Across our venues we are buoyed by many people that work quietly behind the scenes to make sure every detail of a ski race or event comes together. At Gore, for the last 18 years, the man who has been integral to making it happen, is Linc Marsac Linc is the head of Gore’s Race Crew and Founder and Owner of Square Eddy Expeditions. We had the chance to catch up with Linc and put together a piece here to share his story and say thanks while we recognize all he brings to us at NYSEF As always, a conversation with Linc brings you to a better place than when you started! Check out Linc’s story below.
Q: Tell us a little of the backstory of how you ended up at Gore?
LM: Growing up outside of Boston in a skiing but not ski racing family, I guess it was an unlikely path to where I am now! After graduating, I ended up in Venice Beach and ultimately working for Anderson Windows and Doors. When Linc made the jump to Anderson, he was hoping to get back east and applied to a job in Portland, Maine, but in a twist ended up in Portland, Oregon.
Right before the financial crisis of 2008, the move back east came with a position with Anderson in Saratoga. Because of the financial Crisis the building goods industry contracted and this is when I found my way to Gore
Q. Over the years are there any memories that stand out?
LM: Overall, there definitely are Early on there were some trips up to Whiteface to work some races and sleeping in the basement of the Arts Center was an experience for sure. But overall, I think more than any specific memory it’s all the people and the overall scope of being able to have worked with a lot of great people and characters over the years. In general, the diversity of the events is really something, that’s where the memories come from.
Q What was it like being part of moving from Twister to Echo at Gore?
LM: Thinking about this really has given me a chance to reflect and I think the move is really the best memory of my experience Being part of the transition from Twister to Echo and really learning a lot on Twister and seeing that get put in the decision making for laying out a new venue was really cool. Looking back, watching the venue come together and knowing all the details needed to get it ready to race on is really cool for the organization
Q: What are some of the behind the scenes things that help make everything happen on race day?
LM: Nets, dye, closures, making sure the venue is covered with checkpoints and crew to fix gates or fences, making sure panels and the gates are all in good shape, timing, so many little details
Q. What keeps you in North Creek and tell us a great way to spend a day in North Creek.
LM: The Central Adirondacks are such an amazing place with so much to explore. We’ve had such a cool opportunity to build something and to be a year round seasonal worker, it has its challenges, but it lets you merge so many different things together I think this time of year, as we get ready to transition to rafting season, I think the coolest way to spend a day is rafting in the morning and ending up on a sunny day at Gore making a few turns in the afternoon, with some time on the deck afterward It’s hard to beat
Q: Tell us about Square Eddy?
LM: Square Eddy started up in 2013. It’s a small rafting company that brings an amazing overlap between two worlds for me. We guide predominantly on the Hudson, but I do some trips on the Moose early season with a different company as well Over the years, it’s super cool, we ’ ve had a lot of Gore families raft with us and that’s awesome to see kids enjoying the outdoors in the winter and summer.
When Jen and NYSEF put the bibs together for the U10/U12 groups and had the banner made up to celebrate community support that was a really cool thing for me and a way to merge both worlds. It really brought those two worlds together and it was such a no brainer to sponsor those bibs One of the girls on the podium had rafted with us last summer and having NYSEF families and NYSEF’s support in the summer, it means a lot to give back.
Y S E F
Q: The last few years you ’ ve worked in a little different capacity in the summers with Leitnar Poma, tell us some more about that work?
LM: In 2020 Square Eddy, like a lot of things, took a pause because of uncertainty That Summer Gore was putting in a new lift and I was really lucky to get into that project with Leitnar Poma and have been doing it ever since in the summers. I have been part of five installations here at Gore and a project at Berkshire East. I’ve done some other work for a project a Killington as well Definitely different but really cool work
So if you have a chance next winter say hello and thanks to Linc for all he does to make things roll at NYSEF and our venue at Gore If you ’ re in the North Creek region in the summer check out Square Eddy as well! We’re lucky to have a great team at NYSEF that supports snowsports and recognizes the value of what we do for young people! Thanks Linc for everything and we greatly enjoyed the chance to catch up, looking forward to doing it again soon!
NYSEF Golf Open
th
N Y S E F
Thank you to everyone who attended and volunteered at NYSEF’s Annual Golf Open at the Lake Placid Club Mountain Course on Sunday June 14 Thanks to your effort, NYSEF was able to raise just under $20,000 to support our programming and athletes! We had beautiful weather for most of the day, and high spirits for the whole event! Congratulations to our winning team - Gary Ottavinia, Mark Zander, Jack Irvin, & Josh Tremblay (-13, 57.)
Longest Drive:
Men: Grady Draper
Women: Leigh Riffle
Closest to the Pin:
Men: Alex Shearer
Women: Leigh Riffle
Click Here for Team Photos
THANK YOU to our Generous Golf Sponsors:
Mercer Advisors (formerly Long Run Wealth)
Lake Placid Animal Hospital
Norfolk Baier
Northwoods Engineering
Black Rock McGraw Foundation
Steve Kroll Innovations
I Ski NY
Reliable Racing
Merrill L Thomas
Fem Shred
Briggs Law Firm
Central Garage
Mr and Mrs Greg and Lorie Harden
Solitude Catering and West Shore BBQ
Biesemeyer's Adirondack Building and Construction
Loremans'
Saranac Lake Golf Club
Malone Golf Club
Whiteface Club and Resort
Albany and Saratoga Centers for Pain Management, Dr. Martin Ferrillo and Dr Radka Dooley
Craig Wood Golf Course
St. Lawrence University
Old Forge Hardware
The Wine and Spirit Shoppe
Twitchell Sportswear, Paul and Ingrid Van Slyke
Rock Bottom Golf
Lake Placid Sports Med
The Cottage
Cascade Builders
Y S E F
NYSEF’s Athletes Make the Best of Spring Skiing
NYSEF athletes at Belleayre, Gore, and Whiteface Mountains made the most out of the remainder of our season on snow, finding turns and harvesting corn right up until the last chairs stopped spinning.
At Belleayre, NYSEF hosted the NYSSRA Top Gun GS Project, where over thirty athletes from across New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New Jersey, and Connecticut showed up with intensity and intention, coming together for this U12/U14 project with a shared commitment to get to the elite levels of our sport Tactics were dialed, speed revved up, body positioning got stronger and the progress? next level. From pushing limits to finding another gear, this crew didn’t just train… they elevated. Huge shoutout to the Belleayre Operations team for keeping the hill dialed (with an INSANE amount of snow depth and width), lifts spinning, and amazing surfaces, and to our NYSEF staff feeding the birds, working like a well oiled jet engine, and bringing the good vibes.
At Gore Mountain, NYSEF Athletes emphasized mileage and worked to take advantage of a few more days on snow to hone their skills and build toward next season With good snow and great conditions every athlete had fun and was excited for getting the chance to ski more!
At Whiteface, U10 and U12 athletes participated in a mini slalom skills camp, building on their progression from this season and preparing to move up in age groups next year. Athletes from all disciplines also participated in the annual Apple Butter Open moguls competition, NYSEF’s Annual Skimeister end of season fun race, and the Whiteface pond skimming event
What a great wrap on an even greater season!
Y S E F
Kelly Brush Ride Team Kelly Brush Ride Team
The 21 Annual Kelly Brush Ride st
Saturday September 12, 2026
Middlebury, VT
NYSEF will once again participate as a team in this year ’ s Kelly Brush Ride and we are asking for your support through donations or by joining our team and riding alongside us!
The Kelly Brush Foundation makes active lifestyles possible for people living with spinal cord injuries, and also provides grants to organizations like NYSEF to purchase safety netting, which is critical in the prevention of serious injuries in ski racing! NYSEF ❤ B-NET and the KBF!!!
This is a GREAT event with a variety of amazing and scenic course options ranging from 10 to 100 miles The ride includes course support, rest area snacks, and a post-ride BBQ, party, and concert. You won’t want to miss out!
Spring Racing: Trading Skis for Wheels
Y S E F
Congrats to Winter Term’s Oliver M on placing second in his age group for the mountain bike category at the 2026 Black Fly Challenge Bike Race with a time of 2:45:39 over the 40 mile gravel course. Not to be beaten by her own athlete, coach Pavla Berry crossed the line just over 2 minutes ahead of Oliver, placing second overall in the CAT2 Women’s mountain bike category.
Bonjour from Les 2 Alpes!
Thirty one NYSEF alpine athletes and six staff are currently abroad in the French Alpes getting in some summer training on “the glacier”. Despite France currently experiencing the hottest weather in history, our athletes are cooling down on the snow! With another week of adventure ahead, athletes alre looking forward to more skiing, hiking, and opportunities to go whitewater rafting and mountain biking. Tune into the @nysefbelleayre instagram account for daily photos and videos!
Y S E F
USASA Nationals
The 2026 USASA National Championships were back at Copper Mountain, CO again March 27 - April 8 with Coach Sean (Gore) leading the team of mostly Ski Cross athletes. Although we didn't hit the podium, NYSEF athletes overall had 5 top ten finishes in Cross and 3 top tens in Slopestyle and Railjam. Congratulations to everyone who competed!
Ivy F (WF)
Grayson L (BE)
Finn K (BE)
Henry S (GO)
Wes S (GO)
Tyler R (GO)
Nilana H (WF)
Yvetta H (WF)
Gwen G (Ind)
Henry M (Ind-WF)
Click to View: Merrill L Thomas Vista Views
$595/night plus taxes/fees, 4 beds, 3 5 baths, sleeps 8, no pets For more information, Contact Merrill L. Thomas, Inc.
Thank You!
Thank you to our sponsors: Merrill L Thomas, Long Run Wealth, Lake Placid Family Dental, Black Rock Foundation, Sports Insurance and the Donald C. McGraw Foundation.
