October 2025
What’s Inside:
3. From the Director’s Desk
4. What’s Next: Upcoming Races, Camps, Training Projects, & Events
6. Les Deux Alpes Recap
9. Alpine Dryland Recap
10. Bluebird Days for Kevin
11. NYSEF Ski Sale
12. Biathlon Summer Recap
16. News from Northwood School
18. Climb to the Castle
22. Ski Jumpers Take on Europe
24. Summer Benefit Fiesta
26. Mt. Hood Camp Recap
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28. Summer with the Junior Race Team
32. NYSEF Golf Open Results
34. Grasshopper Summer Jumping
40. NYSEF Alumni Catch Up
42. The 20 Annual Kelly Brush Ride th
43. Thank You to NYSEF’s Sponsors
Cover Image: Members of NYSEF’s DEVO Summer Program jump for joy atop Jay Mountain
photo by Julianne Stemp
From the Director’s Desk
Hello NYSEF Friends & Family,
What a summer it’s been! I can’t remember a more beautiful stretch of weather than we ' ve had over the last several weeks To say that our community has taken advantage of it would be a true understatement.
From on-snow training opportunities in France, Mount Hood and Chile to more local programs like the Grasshopper Ski Jumping weekends, our teams in all sports take every opportunity to enjoy what the outdoors has to offer
In September, we hosted the incredible Climb to the Castle rollerski race at Whiteface featuring Olympians and current Cross Country World Cup stars Jessie Diggins, Ben Ogden and Julia Kern alongside current NYSEF athletes It was such a treat to see them interact with young athletes from around the Eastern Region
This past weekend, our friends at Whiteface and Mount Van Hoevenberg hosted successful events for the UCI Mountain Bike World Series. I had the privilege of volunteering and seeing so many NYSEF members and alumni - many I hadn’t seen in several years - enjoying this special outdoor event It was truly exciting and took the effort and commitment of so many to pull off.
At NYSEF, the outdoors is our sanctuary. Whether it’s a beautiful sunrise on an early morning race day or sideways sleet that we have to power through to get to the finish line, the outdoor environment teaches us how to survive adversity and appreciate nature simultaneously. Adapting to an ever-changing environment is a skill that we use in all aspects of life - the outdoors tests us on a daily basis.
As we round into the fall towards colder temperatures, we’ll continue to offer opportunities for growth and development to our athletes while enjoying the beautiful views the outdoors has to offer.
See you as the snow flies,
John Norton, Executive Director
What’s Next: Upcoming Races, Training Projects, & Events
Flaming Leaves Festival and US Nordic Combined National Championships
October 11-12, 2025 @ Lake Placid Olympic Jumping Complex
More Information: https://olympicjumpingcomplex com/event/flamingleaves-festival/
Belleayre Fall Festival
October 11 - 12, 2025
Be sure to visit the FemShred Booth - they will be donating 20% of their profits to NYSEF!!!
More info: https://www belleayre com/todo/fall-festival/
Gore Mountain Harvest Fest
October 11 - 12, 2025
Be sure to visit the FemShred Booth - they will be donating 20% of their profits to NYSEF!!!
More info: https://goremountain.com/harvest-fest/
NYSEF/Northwood School Fall Training Project (FIS/U18)
November 5 - November 20, 2025
By invitation only. Contact jeremyt@nysef.org or seppi@nysef.org
NYSEF Annual Ski Sale
Saturday, November 8, 2025 - 9am-11:30am
Join us for our annual ski & gear sale at the Lake Placid Elementary School. Drop Offs are Friday night from 6pm-8pm. The sale is Saturday morning.
NYSEF Winter Term/Northwood School U14-U16
November Prep Project.
November 28 - December 12, 2025
11-12 days on snow drills, fundamental skiing and GS training environments with Jimbo Johnston. Ages U14-U16
Registration: https://go teamsnap com/forms/428051
2025 NYSEF Fall FUNdamentals Project
November 27 - December 7, 2025
8 days on snow Goal, stance & movement proficiency, equipment function as it relates to practical understanding of the sport, video to enhance understanding. While in Colorado we will continue to maintain our athletic physical base by coupling the time on snow with dryland training There will also be a daily study hall to maintain your academic success. YOB 2014 and older. With Coach John Morgan.
Registration: https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/428051
NYSEF’s DEVO Summer group hiking Rooster Comb Mountain for a sunset picnic
NYSEF athletes from all three alpine venues hit the French Alps
NYSEF’s June/July on-snow program this year brought us to the beautiful French resort destination of Les Deux Alpes. We stayed at the incredible Hotel Aalborg resort, just steps from the main gondola.
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Our athletes were brought into an international ski immersion, seeing teams from all over the globe at all different levels, giving our team a chance to practice some of their foreign language skills, before we even got on the beautiful Jandri Express Gondola We had beautiful weather - meaning lots of sunscreen - and even a few nights of cold weather! Skiing at 3600m every day presented beautifully prepared lanes with awesome conditions.
Our training block kicked off with some fundamental turn shape drills, slalom progressions, and the onto some giant slalom. After getting on some very early gondolas, our athletes averaged about 25 runs a day, with a healthy mix of directed free skiing and time in training environments
With the dedication to getting out early, our athletes were able to maximize their time with the best snow conditions offered Our coaching staff saw noticeable progress daily as the athletes returned to the mountain with drive, determination, and the excitement to ski more runs!
In our off snow time, we played team games, volleyball, did some alpine hikes, swam in the glacial pond, explored the local village and even went white water rafting in venosc! The athletes had an opportunity to tune their skis and do video review daily with the coaches, while enjoying the beautiful high alpine climate. We were fed daily with the delicious Italian and French cuisine, courtesy of the Hotel Aalborg (and many of the local village pastry shops).
The athletes returned excited to give souvenirs, talk about how much fun they had, and get back on snow in November!
“Our trip to Les Deux Alpes was a dream come true! This was my first time skiing in Europe and an experience I will never forget! There were so many cool things to do, but my favorite part was connecting with athletes who I have never worked with before. I know their hard work and growth this project will be huge for the upcoming season and their futures. I hope to be lucky enough to go back again!” - Coach Colden Mrak
“The commitment, desire, and focus that the athletes brought to the glacier to improve their skiing each day was outstanding.”
- Coach John Morgan
“One of the best training projects I’ve been on! Such a great group of coaches and athletes, committed to getting better and having fun!”
- Coach Kate McKenna
“Les2Alpes was a great experience with quality training on and off the glacier. We look forward to returning there for many years to come. ”
- Coach Jimbo Johnston
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August Dryland August Dryland
NYSEF Alpine athletes converged upon the NYSEF Inn at Whiteface for a week of strength and conditioning training and team bonding in August, lead by FIS Coaches Jeremy Transue and Colden Mrak
During the week, athletes participated in physical testing, lifted in the gym, hiked up Whiteface, paddled to a concert on Mirror Lake, mountain biked on some amazing local trails, swam and cliff jumped into the Ausable River, cooked out, and more!
Chasing Bluebird Chasing Bluebird Days for Kevin 5k
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During the 24/25 ski season, our NYSEF family and the greater Gore community lost an incredible skier, father, friend, and so much more in Kevin Colwell. On Saturday September 20th, the Colwell Law Group hosted the First Annual “Chasing Bluebird Days for Kevin 5k run/walk” in the Saratoga Spa State Park to honor Kevin’s memory, and raise funds for Outward Bound. Pictored above are just some of the many NYSEF community members in attendance.
From the Colwell Group: “Kevin Colwell lived his life with purpose, passion and joy. He was a devoted husband to Mary and father to Liam, Luke and George. As the co-founder and CEO of The Colwell Law Group, he led by inspiring with his vision and belief that nothing was impossible It was in the mountains, on the trails, and alongside his family though that his spirit soared most freely. Kevin loved skiing, hiking, running, tennis, paddleball, golf and travel. He approached life like an open trail on a crisp morning - eager, energetic and filled with appreciation for the beauty around him His favorite days were “Bluebird days” - those brilliant clear-sky days after a snowfall that seem to shine just a little brighter than the rest. Kevin’s life was tragically cut short, and he had many more adventures planned. Now through all of us, those adventures continue, and his spirit and legacy live on Let’s all live the way Kevin did and chase those bluebird days!”
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Summer Focus: Summer Focus:
On the Range with NYSEF Biathlon
From Head Coach Maddie Phaneuf
This summer has been a whirlwind and our biathlon teams have been busy! We welcomed a new program to our roster this spring, with the addition of the NYSEF Pro Biathlon Team. Our team consists of Tim Cunningham, Hannah Chipman, Dolcie Tanguay, and Abigail Van Dorn (PG athlete). These athletes have been training full-time throughout the summer in order to prepare for international competitions this season.
In addition to the Pro Team, we ’ ve also been continuing work with our Junior Race Team throughout the summer as well as getting our laser biathlon rifles out into the community with several “try-it” events thanks to the North Elba LEAF Grant! So far we ’ ve reached just under 100 kids in the local area through four different events. We look forward to continuing this effort into the fall and winter seasons If you are interested in having your club, organization, classroom, or group learn more about the sport of biathlon - please reach out to us!
A highlight of our summer was the US Biathlon Summer Nationals in Jericho, VT in early August NYSEF was represented well across age groups, with six athletes racing over the weekend We saw a few podium finishes, which is always nice, but we were mainly focusing on the process of racing and getting back into hard-efforts before the fall and winter seasons.
US BIATHLON SUMMER NATIONALS RESULTS, DAY ONE
SeniorWomen’sSprint
12thDolcieTanguay
13thHannahChipman
SeniorMen’sSprint
8thTimothyCunningham
JuniorWomen’sSprint
1stAbigailVanDorn
YouthMen’sSprint
7thDuncanVanDorn
U17Men’sSprint
2ndRiverGray
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US BIATHLON SUMMER NATIONALS RESULTS, DAYTWO
SeniorWomen’sMassStart
11thDolcieTanguay
SeniorMen’sMassStart
11thTimothyCunningham
JuniorWomen’sPursuit
2ndAbigailVanDorn
YouthMen’sPursuit
7thDuncanVanDorn
U17Men’sPursuit
5thRiverGray
The remainder of our summer has been spent training out of our homebase here in Lake Placid Rollerskiing and shooting at both the Mount Van Hoevenberg and at the Jumps, as well as running and shooting out at the Paul Smith’s College range. We were grateful that the summer months seemed less rainy and smokey than years past.
Our team is currently in Soldier Hollow, Utah prepping for the US Biathlon Fall Festival & International Team Trials. This event is primarily for senior-level athletes who are trying to make international teams to race either on the World Cup circuit or IBU Cup circuits for the early winter We traveled out early in order to acclimate since Utah is slightly higher in elevation than Lake Placid and familiarize ourselves with the venue. Races will take place on September 30th, October 3rd, and October 4th
Following these races, US Biathlon will then name eight women and eight men to head over to Finland for an on-snow training program where athletes will train together as a team and race a set of time trials in order to determine the final team rosters! We wish our athletes luck!
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News from Northwood School
Northwood Welcomes New Director of Snowsports – Julien Cousineau
Northwood School is proud to announce the appointment of Julien Cousineau as its new Director of Snowsports A seasoned athlete and coach, Julien brings a wealth of experience and passion to the role, having enjoyed a distinguished World Cup racing career with Team Canada and, most recently, serving as Head Coach at Club de Ski Bromont
Julien represented Team Canada from 1998 to 2014, competing in 109 World Cup events, including the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and three World Championships His notable achievements include a 5th place finish at the 2011 World Championships and a career-best world ranking of 13th in slalom during the 2009-2010 season.
Following his retirement from competition, Julien transitioned into coaching, dedicating himself to the development of young student-athletes and helping them reach their full potential both on and off the slopes.
“I’m thrilled about this opportunity to join Northwood and lead the Snowsports program, ”said Cousineau. “During my visit, I was truly impressed by the sense of community, the commitment to excellence, and the support provided to student-athletes I’m excited to contribute to this environment and help every athlete push toward their highest potential.”
“In our search for a new Director of Snowsports, Julien quickly stood out as the ideal candidate,” said incoming Head of School Gino Riffle
His passion for working with students, his depth of experience, and his commitment to team culture align perfectly with Northwood’s mission Julien is not only a world-class coach but also someone eager to become an active part of our school community.”
Northwood School is excited to welcome Julien, his wife Catherine Ledoux, and their two sons, Benjamin and Thomas, to Lake Placid. We look forward to the energy, expertise, and leadership he will bring to our Snowsports program.
Northwood School is a coeducational, independent boarding school in Lake Placid, New York offering a trimester-based college preparatory curriculum for students in grades 9 through 12, plus a post-graduate year. Through Northwood School and NYSEF’s long-standing partnership, we share experienced coaching staff and work together on dryland programs and on-snow training camps. NYSEF also provides the Northwood Ski Team with lodge facilities and training opportunities at the venues in partnership with the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA). Learn more at northwoodschool.org and on Instagram @northwoodnysef
Climb to the Castle Climb to the Castle Climb Climb
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NYSEF’s Annual Climb to the Castle Uphill Rollerski Race took place on Sunday September 21 at the Whiteface Mountain Veteran’s Memorial Highway and was once again paired with ORDA’s Keys to the Castle Rollerski Race the previous day at Mount Van Hoevenberg. The event-packed weekend was the second stop on the New England Nordic Skier’s Association’s (NENSA) fall rollerski series.
This year ’ s field contained 76 athletes and was highlighted by Olympians Jessie Diggins, Julia Kern, and Ben Ogden Another highlight included a large turnout of youth athletes to race the short course event. “Three years ago we started a short course race with three local athletes and this year we had 16 racers from NYSEF, the Mansfield Nordic Club, and Mad River BKL which is awesome to see such a committed group of young athletes coming up and challenging themselves.” said race organizer and NYSEF Devo XC Coach Julianne Stemp.
“The opportunity for young athletes to race alongside athletes at the top of the sport in an Olympic Year is a testament to the great community that exists in nordic sports across the country and particularly in New England”
After taking both the men ’ s and women ’ s victory, Ben Ogden, Jessie Diggins and teammates remained at the finish to cheer on the remainder of the field, sign autographs, and take photos The weather couldn’t have been better - with clear skies and a temperature inversion, temperatures rose as athletes climbed. Diggins shared:
“Climb to the castle is such an awesome event and I really honored to have been able to race it so many times! From the organizers to the friendly volunteers to the community surrounding the race, it’s not only a super cool chance to push yourself but a great way to be part of the skiing community”
The Climb to the Castle is known as one of the hardest rollerskiing races in the world, covering just over 5 miles with an average gradient of 9% The short course begins about halfway up, stretching just over three miles, and racers can choose skate or classic technique. Both races finish at the iconic castle at the Whiteface Mountain Summit, with incredible views over the Adirondacks.
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Climb to the Castle Results
Open Men’s Skate
1. Ben Ogden 37:38
2. Ricardo Izquierdo-Bernier 38:22
3 Colin Freed 38:55
Junior Men’s Skate
1 Silvester Williams 43:41
2. Sisu Lange 46:46
3. Henry Sterner 48:52
Men’s Short Course
1. Isaiah Bowen 30:41
2 Jorgen Pirrung 34:13
3. Gabriel Perchemlides 34:42
Open Women’s Skate
1. Jessie Diggins 43:48
2. Julia Kern 46:41
3 Shilo Rousseau 47:09
Junior Women’s Skate
1 Elsa Futch 52:28
2. Astrid Longstreth 53:38
3. Greta Dickman 55:45
Women’s Short Course
1. Mia Gorman 33:23
2 Leela Volyanik 69:01
Congratulations to all of NYSEF’s Finishers!!!
Long Course: Max Fey, Jeff Erenstone, Matt Cook, Holly Erenstone
Short Course: Will Coffin, Will Preece, Henry Hann, Galen McCusker, Elet McCusker, Lewis Hann, Will Scanio, Leo Legard, Leela Volyanik
Ski Jumpers Take On Europe
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A Recap from Athlete Jack Kroll
A small group of NYSEF ski jumpers took their jumping to the next level in September. Jack Kroll PG, Eli Larkin ‘27, Henry Loher ‘26, and Seth Rothchild PG were among five US athletes selected to represent the country at four fall FIS Cup competitions The team was based in Kranj, Slovenia for training and traveled to Villach, Austria and Oberstdorf, Germany to also train. Competitions were hosted in Einsiedeln, Switzerland, and Frenštát pod Radhoštěm. The team was led by NYSEF and Eastern Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Head Coach Colin Delaney.
The Northwood student-athletes attended one day of class before they headed across the pond They flew into Vienna, Austria, and then drove up over the Karawanks mountains into Slovenia to obtain custom-made, competition-legal ski jumping suits, as well as train on Kranj, which is known as one of the best training hills in the world From there, the team drove back over the mountains into Austria to train in Villach, Austria Eli Larkin noted, “the hill is very similar to the one in Einsiedeln.”
Einsiedeln was where the team would have their first FIS Cup of the trip. The FIS Cup is the first of the three levels of international cup series competitions in ski jumping In order to progress to the next level, you must score points at the prior level, which is the equivalent of a top 30 finish in the competition. “A big goal of the trip was to get international experience for the team, points are not a guarantee for anyone ” Kroll said No one from the team scored points, but Loher ’26 got close, only missing points by 5 spots. Loher said he was “disappointed since I know I could have done it.” The second day of competition was canceled due to wind conditions
Next, the team drove to Oberstdorf, Germany, where they spent three days training. Oberstdorf has a hill size 137, which is quite large. This allowed Larkin and Loher to set new personal bests for distance, achieving 135 meters and 140 meters, respectively
Following these jumps the team got back in their van and drove seven hours to Prague, Czech Republic, where they spent the night and had dinner in the city Then, in the morning, they drove another 3 hours to Frenštát pod Radhoštěm, where they competed in back-to-back FIS Cup events. The team as a whole had good jumps and gained valuable competition experience from it “It was humbling,” Kroll said “The level is so much more competitive than I expected There were people with World Cup points at our competitions. It was Eli’s and my first international competitions, and now we know what we are competing against.”
In total, the team drove approximately 1,652 miles through six countries over the course of 14 days in Europe. The team would like to thank their coach Colin “for driving us around and also USA Ski Jumping for giving us this amazing opportunity and experience,” Kroll added
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Thank you to all of our amazing alumni, family, community members, and staff who came out to the Olympic Jumping Complex on Saturday, August 16 for our Fiesta themed Summer Benefit. We had a great night honoring coaches, recognizing the contributions of consistent leadership, and celebrating our recognition as the 2024-2025 USSS Club of the Year The event, along with our silent auction, raised over $59,000 which will directly benefit our NYSEF athletes striving to reach their goals. th
Special recognition to Tiffany Van Etten for her tireless work organizing the event and our exceptional volunteers that make it what it is, particularly, Barb Wagner, Tim Dulka, Tony Nickinello, and Chico Braun for the delicious food!
Thank you to our sponsors: Casella Waste Management, Central Garage, Champlain National Bank, NBT Bank, Walder Brothers, Inc., Long Run Wealth, Merrill L. Thomas, Art Lussi, Peter Leibowitz, Steve Kroll, Lake Placid Spirits, Lake Placid Pub/Big Slide Brewery, The Wine & Spirit Shoppe, Peter and Heidi Roland
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Mount Hood Mount Hood 2025 2025
In June, athletes from NYSEF’s FIS Women’s team travelled to Mt Hood in Oregon with coaches Jeremy Transue and Seppi Stiegler for 8 days on snow. focused on freeskiing fundamentals and a GS and SL progression.
“Mount Hood has been a cornerstone of North American ski racing for decades.” said Head Women’s Coach Jeremy Transue. “This gave us a tremendous amount of confidence while planning and executing our trip. The environment at Mt Hood provides a variety of terrain in order to maximize your time on snow Off snow activities like hiking, swimming, kayaking and paddle boarding make sure there isn't a dull moment throughout the day."
Summer with the Junior Race Team Summer with the Junior Race Team
A Recap from Head Coach Paul Smith
A Recap from Head Coach Paul Smith
For cross country ski racers, the summer months are just as important as the winter for development in our sport. Athletes with the NYSEF Junior Race Team spent the summer either being introduced to dryland training. Or, for those who were ready, tackling it head on by consistently putting in the work almost every single day
We are lucky in that the dryland season in our sport is meant to have lots of variability with different training modes. A mix of strength training, rollerskiing, ski imitation on foot, running, hiking, and cycling. Because of this our athletes, in a smart way with guidance from the coach, can put in high volumes of work and stay mentally and physically healthy, become more fit, and most important keep it fun
Every Tuesday evening we had a really awesome crew of athletes participating in the Junior Race Team 'Prep Program' Skiers from around the region including some on our Devo Team met at different locations each week to learn a different facet of dryland training fundamentals including becoming comfortable and safe on rollerskis, certainly not an easy task but the team crushed it with minimal road rash to bear!
For the full time crew the summer was filled with a steady dose of training with interventions of short camps and longer weekend sessions in the mountains. The beginning of the summer featured a new fun annual tradition of the "Fort to Fort" historical rollerski Skiing on the bike path between Fort Edward in Glens Falls to Fort McHenry in Lake George
In July the team traveled to Rochester for a collaborative training program with our other ski club in New York State Highlights include taking the Amtrak from Albany as our mode of team transport, rope swings, long rollerskis through the finger lakes region, demolition derby, and the county fair. Big thanks to Rochester Nordic Racing for being great hosts
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In August we hosted a group of athletes from NY for our own home project nicknamed "SummerSkiSchool" Highlights from that week include many post workout dips in the hot weather, the famed uphill run test with new course records, making lots of pizzas, and running Blueberry and Porter Mtn Finally, the summer culminated in one hard last weekend in August where summer athletes did their second uphill double pole test of the summer with more course records broken and on the final day completed a five hour rollerski run combo workout finishing on the summit of cobble mtn above Keene
Several NYSEF JRT athletes also were invited to national team projects participating in those on top of our own training. Overall this was one of the best summers of training to be a part of as the coach; The group was consistent, worked well together, and took some big quantifiable performance leaps that will definitely show when the snow flies!
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The Annual NYSEF Open
The Annual NYSEF Open Golf Tournament took place this summer on Sunday, June 8 at the Lake Placid Club Golf Course under beautiful sunny skies This year ’ s tournament raised over $20,000. Thank you to everyone who came out and played, as well as our sponsors for the event!
Congratulations to the Tournament Winners!
�� Chadd Cassidy, Devin Kelly, Mike Pratt, Jay Harvey (-12)
�� Gino Riffle, Justin Felhaber, Steve Mallaro, Leigh Riffle (-10)
��Alex Nenno, Paddy Power, Robbie Kane, Dave Clark (-9)
Longest Drive:
�� Jamie Welsh
�� Rob Kane
⚪ Mike Mezzetti
�� Royce Van Evera
Closest to Pin:
�� Patrick Mylod
⚪ Chadd Cassidy
Skins: Gino Riffle
Event Sponsors: Albany & Saratoga Centers for Pain Management, Biesemeyer ADK Building, Black Rock/McGraw Foundation, Bluff Point Golf Resort, Briggs Law Firm, Burnham Benefit Advisors, Cascade Builders, Craigwood Golf Course, Fem Shred, Greg & Lori Harden, Lake Placid Animal Hospital, Lake Placid Ski Club, Long Run Wealth, Loreman’s Embroidery, Malone Golf Club, Merrill L Thomas, Inc , Old Forge Hardware & Furniture Co , Pasquale’s Restaurant, Reliable Racing, Rock Bottom Golf, Sacandaga Towing & Recovery, Inc, Saranac Inn Golf Course, Saranac Lake Golf Course, Ski NY, Steve Kroll Innovations, LLC , St Lawrence University, The Barracks Golf Course, The Cottage at Mirror Lake Inn, The Physician d f di i i h ll S t Whit f Cl b
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Grasshopper Summer
This summer over 30 athletes from across the country participated in NYSEF’s Grasshopper Summer Ski Jumping Program. Athletes travelled from as far away as Alaska to spend time jumping on the HS10, HS20 and K48 hills at the Olympic Jumping Complex, one of the only locations in the United States that offers summer jump training.
The Grasshopper Program is for athletes in the earliest stages of ski jumping, ranging from absolute beginners to athletes developing their skills on the K48, This summer participants ranged in age from 6 to 16, with a mix of locals, fellow Eastern Region Jumpers, and some travelling from Chicago and Alaska! Athletes were coached by NYSEF’s Jay Rand, Larry Stone, Kaileigh Moore, and Matt Cook
Throughout the summer there were three “Grasshopper Weekends” where athletes trained all day on Friday and Saturday, with a competition on Sunday At the conclusion of the season, Grasshopper Overall Champions were crowned based on scores from all three competitions.
Many of NYSEF’s youth athletes made huge improvements in their jumping this summer achieving personal bests, improving their form, and for many, graduating to a bigger jump.
“By the end of the Summer, Jay and I were feeling lonely on the HS 10 and 20 all our athletes are so good that they’re training with Larry on the 48 now!” said Skimeisters Head Coach Kaileigh Moore “It’s been a blast to watch them fly this summer, and I couldn’t be more proud of their achievements!”
The Grasshopper competitions kicked off on the weekend of July 4 , with the Star Spangled Ski Jumps, where athletes competed on the HS10, HS20, and K48 Hills after a few days of training (and swimming and team bonding!). The second competition and Grasshopper weekend took place from July 25 -27 , and the last round of competitive jumping and training was August 22 -24 While the middle weekend saw some heavy downpours which made for a lot of laughs and fun, the first and last competitions of the season were th th th nd th marked with sunny skies and warm temps.
Congratulations to all of the athletes who participated this summer, and thank you to the parents who volunteered their time helping with lunches, dinners, carrying skis, and bringing snacks to keep the athletes fueled!
To learn more about joining NYSEF’s Grasshopper program or learning to ski jump, email learntofly@nysef.org, or click HERE to join our learn to fly mailing list!
Grasshopper Weekend #1/Star Spangled Ski Jumps
Girls U10/HS10
Boys U10/HS10
1. Adalina Weibrecht (NYSEF)
2. Nadia Geil (NYSEF)
3 Willow Howe (NYSEF)
4. Isabelle Szczech (NYSEF)
5. Harper Kyler (NYSEF)
6. Arya Ahmed (Blackhawk)
7 Aerin Sheil (SWSA)
8. Atalaya Annett (AOC)
Girls HS20
1. Catherine Chor (Ford Sayre)
2 Adalina Weibrecht (NYSEF)
3. Ayla Ahmed (Blackhawk)
4. Nadia Geil (NYSEF)
5. Willow Howe (NYSEF)
6 Isabelle Szczech (NYSEF)
1. Wyeth Taylor (SWSA)
2. Frank Politi (NYSEF)
3 Henry Sheil (SWSA)
4. Phoenix Cook (NYSEF)
Boys HS20
1. Elet McCusker (Lebanon)
2. Wyeth Taylor (SWSA)
3 Tim Tourville (AOC)
4 Will Scanio (NYSEF)
5. Gus Tripler (SWSA)
6. Lucas Montag (NYSEF)
7 Kaelan Leathem (NYSEF)
8. Greg Bertasso (NYSEF)
9. Frank Politi (NYSEF)
9 Henri Gaboriau (NYSEF)
11 Henry Sheil (SWSA)
12. Camden Hubbard (SWSA)
U10 Girls Nordic Combined
1 Isabelle Szczech (NYSEF)
2. Nadia Geil (NYSEF)
3. Adalina Weibrecht (NYSEF)
4. Willow Howe (NYSEF)
5 Aerin Sheil (SWSA)
6. Harper Kyler (NYSEF)
7. Aarya Ahmed (Blackhawk)
8 Atalaya Annett (AOC)
U10 Boys Nordic Combined
1. Frank Politi (NYSEF)
2 Wyeth Taylor (SWSA)
3. Henry Sheil (SWSA)
4. Phoenix Cook (NYSEF)
U12 Boys Nordic Combined
1. Will Scanio (NYSEF)
2. Gus Tripler (SWSA)
3 Henri Gaboriau (NYSEF)
Grasshopper Weekend #2
Girls HS10
1. Adalina Weibrecht (NYSEF)
2 Nadia Geil (NYSEF)
3. Isabelle Szczech (NYSEF)
3. Kennedy Leonard (Ford Sayre)
5 Willow Howe (NYSEF)
6 Harper Kyler (NYSEF)
7. Adrienne Szczech (NYSEF)
Girls HS20
1. Adalina Weibrecht (NYSEF)
2. Nadia Geil (NYSEF)
3 Isabelle Szczech (NYSEF)
4 Kennedy Leonard (Ford Sayre)
5. Willow Howe (NYSEF)
Boys HS 10
1. Blaise Ott (NYSEF)
2 Wyeth Taylor (SWSA)
3. Frank Politi (NYSEF)
4. Phoenix Cook (NYSEF)
5 MIles Rice (Team AK)
K48 Target Jump
1 Kaelan Leathem
2. Ross Bergstein
3. Caleb Bodwell
4. Adalina Weibrecht
5 Greg Bertasso
6. Elet McCusker
Boys HS20
1. Kaelan Leathem (NYSEF)
2. Ross Bergstein (Norge)
3 Wyeth Taylor (SWSA)
4 Greg Bertasso (NYSEF)
4. Caleb Bodwell (SWSA)
6. Frank Politi (NYSEF)
7 Blaise Ott (NYSEF)
8. Simon Rice (Team AK)
9. Camden Hubbard (SWSA)
10. Phoenix Cook (NYSEF)
Grasshopper Weekend #3
Girls HS10
1. Nadia Geil (NYSEF)
2 Adalina Weibrecht (NYSEF)
3. Willow Howe (NYSEF)
4. Isabelle Szczech (NYSEF)
4. Harper Kyler (NYSEF)
6 Aerin Sheil (SWSA)
Girls HS20
Boys HS10
1. Wyeth Taylor (SWSA)
2 Phoenix Cook (NYSEF)
2. Blaise Ott (NYSEF)
4. Alex Gavula (NYSEF)
5. Bodhi Thomas (SWSA)
6 Henry Sheil (SWSA)
1. Catherine Chor (SWSA)
2. Adalina Weibrecht (NYSEF)
3 Charlotte Milner (SWSA)
4 Nadia Geil (NYSEF)
5. Isabelle Szczech (NYSEF)
5. Kennedy Leonard (SWSA)
7 Anna Gavula (NYSEF)
8. Willow Howe (NYSEF)
Boys HS20
1. Anders Holland (Ford Sayre)
2 Elet McCusker (Lebanon)
3. David Whiting (Blackhawk)
4. Wyeth Taylor (SWSA)
5. Caleb Bodwell (SWSA)
6 Alex Gavula (NYSEF)
7. Blaise Ott (NYSEF)
8. Phoenix Cook (NYSEF)
9 Bodhi Thomas (NYSEF)
Open Boys HS20
1 Kaelan Leathem (NYSEF)
2. Greg Bertasso (NYSEF)
Grasshopper Overall Results
Al mni Catchup
Y S E F
Luca Catalano
NYSEF Winter Term Alpine alum & Belleayre Coach Luca Catalano won both the Cat 1 Men’s 19-29 US Pro Downhill Series (winning 4 of 6 events) and the SRAM Downhill Southeast series this year, finishing off his season with a second place finish at US Nationals at Killington He’s looking forward to racing on the professional circuit next season!
Tara Geraghty-Moats
NYSEF alum Tara Geraghty-Moats stormed her way back into the nordic combined world this summer. The former Women’s World Champion returned to competition, participating in two Summer Grand Prix events, placing fourth at each Tara will be back in Lake Placid to hips, before returning to Team. Tara also had on Summer Nationals
Cecily Decker
NYSEF Whiteface Alpine alum Cecily Decker is making a name for herself on the professional gravel racing scene. She is currently sitting in second place overall in the Lifetime Grand Prix, just two points off the lead, with two races left to go in the season. With a second place finish at the Leadville 100, and a fourth at gravel worlds, she’s on the cusp of a huge win this season! Tune into the next Grand Prix event, the Little Sugar MTB on October 12th
Magnus Sheffield
NYSEF Winter Term alum Magnus Sheffield has been a member of the Ineos Grenadiers Professional Cycling Team for several years now, and competed in the 2024 Summer Olympics in road cycling. This summer, Magnus rode in La Vuelta a España, one of the most prestigious cycling events in the world, assisting the Grenadiers to two stage wins.
Morgan Shute
NYSEF Gore alum Morgan Shute is heading into her first Olympic season with high hopes of qualifying for the games this coming February in Italy in Women’s Skiercross. Morgan capped off last season with a bronze medal at junior worlds, after making her World Cup debut earlier in the season at the 2024 Youth Olympic Games, she secured a silver medal in both the individual and the team skiercross event.
Tate Frantz
NYSEF’s Tate Frantz is heading into the Olympic Year ranked as one of the top Men’s Ski Jumpers in the United States, with his eyes on making his first ever Olympic Team Tate recently participated in the Olympic Test event on the Olympic Hill in Turin, Italy, where he placed 15 overall. Last year, he made history with Team USA, winning a silver and bronze medal at Junior World Championships in the individual and team events, respectively. th
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The 20 Annual th Kelly Brush Ride The 20 Annual th Kelly Brush Ride
Y S E F
NYSEF had a team of staff, athletes, and family who participated in this year ’ s 20 Annual Kelly Brush Ride on Saturday, September 6 in Middlebury Vermont Spirits were high and smiles were big despite a bit of rain. NYSEF’s Team members completed the 52 mile route and the 20 mile gravel route, and raised over $1,500! th th
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!
Thank you to the Kelly Brush Foundation and to all of the incredible volunteers that make the event so amazing - from the food, to the riding routes, to the rest stops, it was a magical day! We hope to have an even larger team at next year ’ s event!
Thank You!
Thank you to our sponsors: Merrill L Thomas, Long Run Wealth, Black Rock Foundation, Sports Insurance and the Donald C. McGraw Foundation.
