2011 Footy Fest

What is Footy Fest? It's a winter-sports amateur film contest to benefit USASA ADK Nationals athletes. Anyone can enter with either an under 5 minute or under 30 minute film with footage from this season. Entries are $20 for each <5 minute and $40 for each <30 minute. The top three films will be shown at Footy Fest March 18th at The Hollywood Theatre in AuSable Forks. The top three also win prizes and the first place winners will win cash and a GoPro Helmet Hero HD camera.
Tickets are available at the door for $5 the night of the event. All entries must be submitted to NYSEF, P.O. Box 300, Wilmington, NY 12997 Attention: Mike Kirchner/Footy Fest. For more details contact mikek@nysef.org.

Empire State Games SX/BX Feb 25th and 26th at Whiteface

Congratulations to those who have qualified for the Empire State Games Ski and Snowboard Cross this week! The course will remain open to the public on Thursday the 24th while we work on some fine-tuning and re-install our start gate. Friday's training sessions for qualified athletes are from 9-11am and 12-2pm. The course will be closed to the public during these times so we can have some quality training.
All athletes must check-in and have a bib for training and competition.

Saturday's schedule is as follows: 8:30am Inspection & Practice - 9:30am One-Run Time Trial - 1pm - Heats/Finals. Awards will immediately follow in the NYSEF Training Center.

President's Week Freeride Training Schedule

Another Holiday Week is upon us so for those of you not going away on vacation here is the training schedule:
All are full days.

Sat 2/19
Sun 2/20
Tues 2/22
Wed 2/23
Thurs 2/24
Sat 2/26
Sun 2/27

Unless specifically directed by your coach this is the official Freeride schedule. Don't forget to come out and watch the Empire State Games Skier Cross and Boarder Cross on Wolf. The course will be closed for training Friday the 25th and Sat the 26th for Time Trials and Finals.

Slopestyle at Whiteface

Hereis the link to results from this weekend's USASA ADK Slopestyle in the Brookside Terrain Park. Special thank to Jake Sporn Photography!

Derek DiCastro Wins Hole Shot SBX at Steamboat

In his second season on tour and his fifth race of the year Derek Dicastro(Rome,NY) made his mark with his first Nor-Am Snowboard Cross podium and it was a big one. Racing against many of the top riders in North America from both the junior and pro ranks Derek took the lead early in his final heat of The Hole Shot Tour in Steamboat Springs, CO and never gave it up.
In his previous four races he's managed to finish within the top 20 each time and had a 10th place just the day before his win. His time trials have consistently ranked among the top ten even while competing against top names such as Shaun Palmer(USA) and Robert Fagan(Can). Taking up the 2nd and 3rd places were brothers Bobby & Jarod Minghini(USA) fresh off their top five finishes the previous day.
Derek spent his time training and working last season at NYSEF/Whiteface, competing regionally in the USASA ADK Series, and travelling around the country on the USSA Revolution Tour, the top US junior snowboarding tour. After qualifying for the US Junior World SBX Team in his first year on tour, he placed tenth at the World Championships in New Zealand last August.
"It's been exciting watching Derek's rise through the ranks over the past couple of seasons. He's learning with every race and result and the other riders on tour are taking notice. This is still just the beginning for him." commented NYSEF Freeride Director Mike Kirchner.
His busy race schedule takes him next to Alpine Meadows, CA for two Hole Shot Nor-Am races next week, followed by a single Revolution Tour race at Boreal, CA the following Monday and then it's on to The Canyons, UT for the US Grand Prix National Snowboard Cross Championships.

USASA Cross Results from MLK Day

The first Ski and Boardercross races of the USASA ADK season took place on MLK Day at the North Creek Ski Bowl. Over 60 racers showed up to compete in both ski and snowboard categories with many NYSEF athletes turning in strong performances. In Skier Boys 9 & under, Camden Reilly placed 1st in his first SX race and brother Kaylen took 4th while Duncan Segger took 5th. Lindsey Rath took first in the girls 9 & under and older sister Melissa took first in the snowboard Breaker Girls(12-13yrs). In Skier Boys 10-12 Brian Gardiner took 1st just ahead of 2nd place finisher Gavin Fritz. In snowboard Breaker boys (12-13yrs) Michael Fahey took 1st followed by Alex Neron 2nd. In Skier Men (13-15yrs) Erik Sparkowski took 1st, Jake Wenn 2nd, Peter Palumbo 3rd, David Knapik 4th, Nate Foster 6th and Brad Jubitz 7th. Skier Men (16-18) NSA's Matt Brady took 1st, Josh Nixon 2nd, and Sam Johnston 3rd.
The next ADK comp is the January 30th Slopestyle at Whiteface followed by the 2nd SX/BX at the Ski Bowl. Come on out and give it a try.

Mt Hood Rev Tour Re-Cap

Well, the Freeride team arrived home safe & sound and a little weary early Sunday morning after a very succesful showing at the second stop of the Rev Tour in Mt Hood Meadows, OR. The weather was difficult with wind and rain assaulting the competitors in the latter stages of the week making Ski Slopestyle and Halfpipe tricky as well as both Ski and Snowboard Cross. Regardless of the conditions, the NYSEF Freeride team had its best results yet with everyone contributing in at least one event.
John Wilkins(NSA) followed up his 17th place in Slopestyle with a 35th in his first Jr National level Snowboard Cross(SBX). K.C. Brousseau was forced to pull out of both Halfpipe(HP) and Slopestyle(SS) due to a toe injury but managed to pull it together for an impressive 2nd in Friday's Ski Cross(SX) event. Steph Lawee(NSA) took 4th place in both SS and HP and made the podium in SX with a 2nd place finish. Matt Brady(NSA-SX) and Jessica Powers(SBX) both brought home 10th place finishes and Derek DiCastro took the fastest time trial in SBX but had a crash in his first heat placing him 13th.
All in all this was the most succesful Rev Tour showing yet for NYSEF athletes and much credit goes to Head Freeride Coach Justin Perry. Part coach, part tour guide and all heart, JP kept our athletes focused on their goals through trying conditions and we all look forward to their next showing at the tour stop in Boreal, CA in early February.
Way to go guys. Keep up the good work!