Thank You

It’s been a very odd season to say the least. The temperature has spent more time jumping up and down than the FLITE Team this year but through it all, HoliMont has persevered.  In fact, all things considered, this season couldn’t have gone any better.  The slopes were in great condition all season long, the Terrain Parks looked better than ever and had some awesome new features to play on, and from a social standpoint the Club never missed a beat.  The social season started off with the New Year’s Family Party, followed by The Board of Directors Party, then the Margaritaville Party, Men’s Day, Ladies Day, Winter Break Week, Canadian Spring Break, St. Patrick’s Day Party...and many, many Après Parties and other fantastic Club events in between.  

Once again Kid’s Escaping Drugs was here for its annual SkiScape event at the beginning of the year and the United Way took over HoliMont near the end of the season for its annual fundraising event.  Both events went off without a hitch and helped bring awareness to some excellent organizations. 

The Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce hosted its Chamber Day at HoliMont where Chamber members and their guests were able to come enjoy a day on the slopes and then kick back to the tunes of The Party Squad in the afternoon.  Despite some inclement weather, this yearly event was still a blast for everyone involved.

Even with a serious lack of cooperation from Mother Nature the 2011-12 season was still a success.  HoliMont Members brought their friends to the Club and introduced them to the HoliMont experience.  Weekday Pass Holders were treated to some incredible days of bluebird skiing and riding.  The HoliMont Phoenix Adaptive Program continued to break down barriers and prove that snow sports truly are an issue of mind over matter.  The FLITE Team coaches helped their athletes reach new heights while the Racing Program coaches experienced all kinds of success with their up-and-coming athletes.  As always, the HoliMont Ski School did an amazing job of introducing new people to the snow sports lifestyle while also helping those who already have the skiing/snowboarding bug improve on their skill set. 

We would like to thank all of you who came to HoliMont this year.  Members, Guests, Weekday Passholders and everyone else who was able to come out and enjoy themselves here on the slopes…we thank you!  We hope you had as much fun this season as we did.  We’re looking forward to doing it all over again next season…this time with a little more help from Mother Nature.  Have an excellent summer everyone.

HoliMont Snowsports News

Thanks to HoliMont Members and their guests for helping to make this year a great one.  In spite of the lack of natural snow, our snow makers and groomers managed to ensure that we had good skiing every weekend.  

HoliMont Snowsports Teaching Exam Exam Results

Congratulations to the following trainees for passing the HoliMont Snowsports Instructor Exam: Alpine - Leah Balkin, Libby Cannon, Sophie Cochran, Brenna Cole, Kelsey Emmerson, Kathryn Gossel, Jeff Holland, Jenna Huibers, Jamal Klute, Maddie McDowell, Ryan O'Hara, Corey Pietrocarlo, Alexa Pietrowski, Robbie Twells, and Katarina Ulsrud

Snowboard - Andrew Anderson, Katie Ennis, Zoee Fox, Kiersten Maclay, and Brandon Myers

Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) Level I Exam

The following passed their Level I Ski Exam at Holiday Valley on March 18: Alex Cove, Zachary Cove, Katherine Hilliman, Rachel Kelly, James Lamar and Jennifer White. Colleen Wilde passed her Level I Adaptive at Windham.

PSIA - Level II - Chris Rider and Brian Smith both passed their Level II exam at Bristol Mountain on March 6th.

We are very proud of all the hard work that goes into taking these exams. Candidates must attend the required number of clinics, study the written materials, and prepare for the skiing and teaching demonstrations.  We applaud their efforts and welcome them all as new instructors on the HoliMont Snowsports School Team.

HoliMont Athlete, Patricia Mangan, Continues her 2012 Ski Racing Season Success in Sugarloaf, Maine!

‘Tricia’ has dominated the NYS J3 Circuit this 2012 Season!  There is no one reason that has led her to such success, but rather the well rounded, driven, considerate focus that she displays each and every day.  Tricia is always one of the first athletes to the hill and among the last to leave.  She is always there to help the coaches and athletes set and pull courses, assist fellow competitors, look after her younger siblings, and all the while she sports a glowing smile.  It is this glowing smile, positive attitude, and unselfish approach coupled with a mental focus and drive second to none that has allowed Tricia to Ski her way on to the podium of nearly every event she has entered this season. 

These results include a 3^rd Place in the USSA ERS SL and NYS J3 Giant Slalom Champion, and now Tricia has added to her long list of successes this season by rocking the field in the SG at J3 Eastern Regional Championships held at Sugarloaf, ME.  Tricia led the field to win the SG by nearly a half a second, a huge margin in the ski racing world!  This result has qualified Tricia to attend the USSA Talent ID Project this April held in Park City, UT and/or the AM-CAN Race Series in Mt. Tremblant, Quebec March 23-25, 2012.

Tricia has accomplished all this while transitioning to traditional school for the first time since 3^rd Grade, where she has secured spots on the Nardin Academy Soccer and Crew Teams.  Tricia does not only excel in sports, she is also involved in the Campus Ministry, Student Council, HoliMont Phoenix Adaptive Program, and received the Presidential Scholarship to Nardin Academy.  This is the highest Academic Achievement at Nardin, which is given to the student who receives the highest mark on the entrance exam.

Congratulations to Tricia and Good Luck in the Events to Come!  

By Travis Widger

Canadian Spring Break

March is always an interesting month at HoliMont and now that we are half way through it, this March has been no exception.  By the time this publication hits the newsstand HoliMont will have had approximately 85 days of skiing and snowboarding.  There have been good days, some bad days (although a bad day on the slopes still trumps a good day at the office), bluebird days, rainy days and everything in between.  One consistency that March always brings however is Canadian Spring Break, where many HoliMont members flock to Ellicottville with their family and friends for a week long celebration of fun on the slopes, in the Chalet and, of course, downtown in Ellicottville.

Spring Break at HoliMont is always an exciting week.  This year featured a kickoff party on Sunday the 11^th headlined by Mirage playing its unique blend of Mediterranean infused contemporary jazz outside on the deck.  As the sun shone down over the Chalet, Members and guests kicked back, took in some rays and discussed the week ahead.

Every day the Spring Break activity list was jam packed with events for both the young and the young at heart.  There was a daily 8:00am snowshoe hike, which not only got people “on snow” earlier than normal but also provided them with a nice morning workout to get them ready for the rest of the day.  The always-popular “Bombardier” ball drop was also a daily staple that had kids excited to test their accuracy (for this contest people purchase numbered tennis balls and try to throw them into a large bucket on the slope as they pass over it from the chairlift).  Every afternoon, down in the Chalet, the cafeteria transformed into a bingo hall for kids.  Calls of B-9 and N-44 echoed throughout the Chalet and were constantly followed by screams of delight or dissatisfaction. 

Some other highlights from the week included:

·      Monday

o   Non-Alcoholic Cocktail bar with Strawberry Daiquiris and Pina Coladas

o   A Family Volleyball tournament out on the snow

·      Tuesday

o   Maple Syrup Taffy on the hill at Carpenters Corners (definitely worth the price of admission)

o   The start of the “Open” Volleyball tournament

o   TWISTER Competition

o   Euchre Tournament

o   A Karaoke Après Ski Party – HoliBreak Idol

·      Wednesday

o   A Hot Dog and Sausage lunch

o   Bump Contest on the Downspout moguls

o   Day 2 of the Euchre Tournament

o   Après Ski Party featuring The Party Squad

·      Thursday

o   Tattoo Booth – rub on of course

o   Family and Race Camp race where teams of at least 3 family members compete to determine the fastest family

o   The final leg of the “Open” Volleyball tournament

o   Family Dinner/Dance featuring the music of Only Humen

·      Friday

o   Scavenger Hunt

o   Candy Hunt

o   Non-Alcoholic Cocktail bar with Strawberry Daiquiris and Pina Coladas

The entire week offered a vast array of fun-filled activities for everyone at HoliMont.  And fun is what Canadian Spring Break is all about.  It’s one last week where a lot of people can come down and get a taste for what the HoliMont experience is all about.  Between the skiing and riding, the laid-back festive atmosphere, and the various family events that take place every year; HoliMont is a great way to wind down the season and create memories that will make you look forward to the next season.

Get Some Hero Snow At HoliMont

This season the term Hero Snow has been thrown around with reckless abandon.  The reason for this is that we have had, in case you haven’t noticed, an unseasonably warm winter, which has resulted in a fair amount of warm days filled with bluebird skies.  Between the warmth and the sun we have experienced an above average number of Hero Snow days.  

For those of you not familiar with the term, “Hero Snow”, according to urbandictionary.com, is “a condition of soft slushy snowpack most common in spring skiing. The snow provides an excellent base for turning making anyone (even nubes) feel like "heroes" while banging out turns. Also causes wet clothes after falls which can lead to wet wallets, ruined phones and cold skin.”

Normally Ellicottville doesn’t see a lot of Hero Snow until the end of the season but this year it’s made a fair number of appearances already.  And now that we are officially into spring skiing weather it’s your last chance to take advantage of this fun and forgiving snow. 

So put on your sunblock, find your favorite t-shirt to ski in, go to your favorite downtown shop and ask them for their best warm weather wax, and then hit the slopes as often as possible because before you know it the Hero Snow will be gone…leaving you with thoughts of turns you had yet to make and tricks you still wanted to try. 

HoliMont Hosts Its Second Annual Nor-Am Cup

February 26^th – 28^th was an exciting time for the HoliMont Racing Program.  For the second year in a row HoliMont played host to a FIS Nor-Am Cup Snowboard Race.  Last season was the first time that such an event has ever been held in Western New York and the competition that took place was incredibly intense.   

  

Alpine racers from all over the United States and Canada traveled to Ellicottville to take part in the event and when it was all said and done, Ellicottville did not disappoint.  Mother Nature did her part by providing two solid days of racing weather.  The HoliMont groomers did a great job of making sure that Fall Line was groomed above and beyond FIS standards.  On top of spending a lot of time making sure that the timing system was dialed down to the smallest hundredth-of-a second the HoliMont Racing Program did its due diligence to ensure that the course was both fast and challenging.  The Racing Program also organized a great group of passionate volunteers to help out with all of the behind-the-scenes work; and rest assured when FIS points are on the line there is plenty of work to be done. 

“The riding caliber of these athletes was amazing,” said Travis Widger, HoliMont’s Racing Director.  “Coaches showed up with an all-hands-on-deck approach.  Athletes, parents, coaches and officials alike were all very appreciative and impressed with our quaint little club nestled in the foothills of Western New York.  I had numerous participants compliment HoliMont on its venue, facilities, staff, and amenities.  What a great race, which can be attributed to the hard work and dedication from all who make this possible.  Thanks to all!”

Competitors arrived on Sunday the 26^th and took the day to check out the terrain they would be racing on.  The race itself took place on Monday and Tuesday.  It featured a Parallel Giant Slalom Race on Monday and a Parallel Slalom Race on Tuesday.  In the finals the top men and women competed in a head-to-head elimination format to determine the winner.

Just like last season, this event brought out some heavy hitters in the world of snowboard racing.  Canadian National Team racer Matt Carter made the trip down to HoliMont, where last year he was able to secure a podium spot. 

However, once again it was the presence of Canadian racers Darren Gardner and Megan Farrell that HoliMont was most excited about.  Not only do Darren and Megan both race for Team Canada but they are also both children of HoliMont members and thus have spent a lot of their youth on the slopes of HoliMont honing their skills and developing their love of snowsports. 

In the Women’s Division Canadian Marianne Leeson took 1^st place on Monday.  Meghan Graham of the USA and Ariane Levigne of Canada took 2^nd and 3^rd respectively.  Megan Farrell just missed the podium by finishing in 4^th place. 

In the Men’s Division, Monday saw Canadian Matt Morrison finish in 1^st place.  Steve Barlow of Canada and Darren Gardner took 2^nd and 3^rd place respectively.

On Tuesday, Marianne Leeson of Canada took the top podium spot.  Meghan Graham of the USA and Megan Farrell finished 2^nd and 3^rd respectively.

Matt Carter showcased his competitive drive and walked away with a 1^st place finish on Tuesday.  Darren Gardner brought some excellent consistency and once again captured the 2^nd place spot on the podium.  And the USA’s Converse Fields rounded out the podium in 3^rd place. 

HoliMont is extremely proud of Darren and Megan and wishes them the best of luck in their racing careers.  The Nor-Am event was an amazing experience for everyone involved and HoliMont is looking forward to having the opportunity to host more Nor-Am events in the future.    

Ellicottville Ski Racing Programs Lead the Niagara Frontier Ski Council to the 2012 Council Cup!

Niagara Frontier Ski Council, NFSC, is the western most Ski Racing Council for athletes Under 13.  New York State is comprised of six councils and this region, made up of the HoliMont, Holiday Valley, Kissing Bridge, Buffalo Ski Club, and Peak and Peak Race programs, traditionally produces some of the top ski racers in the State and Eastern US.  Despite the difference in terrain and vertical drop that these programs have to work with, they continue to prove that you don’t need a big mountain to produce great skiers and ski racers. 

This season was no different as the NFSC J4 State Team won the 2012 Council Cup at the 2012 J4 State Championships held at Whiteface and Mt. Pisgah.  This award is given to the Council who accrues the highest number of points based on its athletes rankings at State Championships.  The team was led by the Ellicottville Ski Racing program of HoliMont and Holiday Valley.  HoliMont Athletes, Danielle Mason, Chloe Richards, Jacob & David Flaherty, Andrew Mangan, and Holiday Valley Athletes, Mack Hurley, Tommy Shantler, Nathan Briselden led the way and were supported by solid finishes from their team. 

Congratulations to all States Qualifiers listed below.  It cannot go without mention that Mack Hurley was the NYS J4 Giant Slalom Champion.  Tommy Shantler finished 3^rd in both the GS and SL, Jacob Flaherty and Danielle Mason had two solid top 10 finishes, Chloe Richards had two blistering top 10 runs one in GS and one in SL, Nathan Briselden raced to a 5^th place finish in the SL, and Andrew Mangan was in 6^th place after the first run of the GS and after a little trouble in his second run he put it behind him to finish a solid 15^th in the SL.  These athletes will move on to represent their home mountains and NFSC at the Marriot J4 Eastern Regional Finals at Sunday River, ME on March 25-27, 2012.

Travis Widger

HoliMont Racing Director

NFSC J4 State Championship Team                         NFSC J4 Eastern Regional Finals Team

Men                                      Women                              Men                               Women

Tommy Shantler, HV                      Danielle Mason, HO                   Mack Hurley, HV                 Danielle Mason, HO

Jacob Flaherty, HO                         Anya Elizondo, HV                     Tommy Shantler, HV           Chloe Richards, HO

David Flaherty, HO                        Margaret Munschauer, BU          Nathan Briselden, HV   

Max Carbaugh, KB                        Chloe Richards, HO                     Jacob Flaherty, HO

Nathan Briselden, HV                    Hannah Halli, HV                        Andrew Mangan, HO

Mack Hurley, HV                           Lauren Meyer, BU

Andrew Mangan, HO                     Andee Berberich, HO

Griffin Nuessle, BU                        Anna Vergon, HO

Spencer Smyth, HO                        Bailey Creager, HV

Alexander Baase, KB                     Brogan Cairns, HO

Dylan Thomas, HV                        Rachel Blaszynski, KB

James Rauch, BU                           Caelan Kavcic, BU

Gordon Minier, KB                        Angelica Priest, HO

PJ Walsh, HV                                 Sarah Johnston, HO

Carson Foxcroft, HO

Willem Brokx, KB