The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Nordic ski program meeting November 1
The season is shaping up to be a good one for the Crested Butte Junior Nordic team program, as well as Nordic skiing in general.
This past summer volunteers and the Nordic Center staff worked diligently to make way for a new Nordic ski trail on the bench. Last week, the Nordic Center set track on Kebler Pass and last Saturday, volunteers hit the trails to get some bridges in place. All of this work is in preparation for the general public as well as what could be a banner season for the Junior Nordic ski program.
Coach Austin Ross returns for his second year at the helm and will be joined by Molly Sufla as an assistant coach as well as Fred Sproat, who returns for his second year heading up the recreational ski program.
Sufla is new to the crew and was hired last month to replace Drew Holbrook. Sufla comes from a competitive Nordic racing program on the East Coast and raced for Colby College. In addition, she’s got a strong history as a biathlete and brings new energy to the program.
“She has good experience as a biathlete and will be able to add to that program,” says Ross. “I think her biggest asset is that she’s energetic and enthusiastic and is a confident role model and could help get more girls involved.”
But before the kids hit the snow, Ross and some of his athletes were out this past summer laying down the foundation for success in the winter.
Forrest Smith and Kai Sherman put in the most time with Ross over the summer, going through five workouts a week including two sessions of strength training.
“I definitely think Kai and Forrest benefited,” says Ross. “I’m hoping their fall sports success will carry over into winter.”
Once the athletes complete their fall sports seasons, they’ll have about a week off and then Ross and Sufla will take them into Nordic preseason training the first week of November.
“We’ll be getting down to business,” says Ross.
The competition team will open with six practices a week, mixing in dry land training, some work on snow and some time in the weight room. The developmental team will work out four times a week. The team will get its first race experience following three weeks of preseason when they head to West Yellowstone for the annual Thanksgiving Camp.
Last season Ross had 11 athletes involved in the rigors of racing and training and looks to have the same numbers this year, led by Smith, Sherman and Aiden Truettner. All three racers will be returning for their second year in the respective age classes and should benefit from the extra year of experience.
“I think the outlook is really good for Forrest, Kai and Aiden,” says Ross. “They’re definitely in better shape than last year.”
Sherman and Smith both made Junior Nationals last year and look to step it up a notch this year as Sherman is set on finishing top 10 at Nationals this year and Smith wants to make a push for the National team.
“It’s a really high bar to set but Forrest is determined,” says Ross. “Aiden’s outlook for making it to Junior Nationals is very promising.”
The true racing season for the Crested Butte team will open at home on December 21-22 as Crested Butte will play host to a Junior National Qualifier race on the new course on the bench. In addition, the race will be a FIS-sanctioned race so Ross expects to see some collegiate skiers in for the event.
“We’re pretty excited about being the first big date in the calendar,” says Ross.
Equally exciting is the new changes to the overall Junior Nordic program. Sproat will head up a program for 13 to 18-year-olds, called the Explorers. The idea is to expand the biathlon program to older kids and add in some more outdoor and adventure programs beyond Nordic skiing.
Sproat will also continue his work in the recreational program for kids ages 5 to 13. The development program will grow as well, with more elements of the biathlon.
Essentially, with the addition of Sufla and the return of Ross and Sproat, the Junior Nordic ski program will have something for everyone this year.
There will be a meeting with information about all of the programs and an introduction to the coaching staff on Friday, November 1 at the Nordic Center. The recreational program meeting will be at 6 p.m., with the competitive ski program meeting following at 7 p.m.
“I want to encourage everyone who is interested in Nordic skiing to come to the meetings,” says Ross.
