New England Masters Season Wrap Up

By Pete Donaghy

www.nemasters.org

      Ah yes, skiing in the East.  Were Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), the erstwhile Chair of the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee, not a flatlander, and had he competed on the New England Masters Sise Cup circuit in December and January, he might well have been moved to reconsider his now (in)famous, “Global warming is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people” pronouncement.  With three of the first six races cancelled due to lack of snow, and a fourth changed from a GS to a slalom for the same reason, it was hard to remain sanguine about the season.  Then came February.  High winds, arctic temperatures, and the Valentine’s Day blizzard were enough to give even Al Gore second thoughts about just where the inconvenient truth might lie.  Again, races were cancelled because of the weather, although the culprit, this time too much snow rather than too little, left one with a quantitatively different mind set.  Disappointment over the loss of the Sise Cup Finals Super G, for example, was ameliorated when Sugarbush transformed race entry fees into lift tickets and a great day of powder skiing ensued.

      Despite the schizophrenic weather 18 New England Masters races (17 counting toward the Sise Cup) were contested. On the men’s side we saw 12 different winners while on the women’s side, at only three races did skiers not named Carolyn Beckedorff (7 victories) or Jessie McAleer (7 victories) stand on the top step of the podium. In the end two very popular champions emerged with Class 6’s smooth skiing and all-around nice guy Mark George becoming the oldest man ever to win the overall men’s Sise Cup and Carolyn Beckedorff claiming the women’s crown.  Carolyn, whose acceptance speech was delivered by husband Tony DiGangi because Carolyn was at home with a sick child, - What’s up with that anyway Tony?  She won the cup and has to nurse a sick child while you go play with your friends? - was particularly gracious, regretting that a season ending injury to Jessie McAleer diminished, somewhat, the competition.  Carolyn has won this trophy before, however, proving what those who have seen her ski know; she can win consistently against any field, no matter how deep or talented.  Jessie’s recovery from knee surgery is now half way there as her appearance in the gallery at Sunday River showed.  While not yet ready to ski, she is capable of drinking beer - yes, she’s good at that too - and will be back on snow in plenty of time for 2008.

      As has been noted in past articles, the rich tradition of skiing in the East has given rise to a number of trophies of both historical importance and contemporary interest.  Those trophies, with this year’s winners are: The Bunny Bertram Memorial Trophy, presented annually by the Woodstock Ski Runners to the fastest man and fastest woman at the Suicide Six slalom, was won by Alex Gadbois and Jessie McAleer. The Thomas Inneson Trophy, presented by the Bromley Outing Club to the fastest man and the fastest woman at the annual Bromley Mountain race, went to Mark George and Jessie McAleer.  The Gibson Cup, emblematic of victory in the two day Mount Cranmore Slalom/GS combined, was won by Matt Aeschliman (Four consecutive standing runs by Matt. How did that happen?) and, you guessed it, Jessie McAleer.  The Janeway Cup, a true Masters’ award, is presented to the fastest finisher over 40 years of age in the Stratton Mountain GS and was won by Scott Hardy and Nadine Price.  And, finally, perhaps the most prestigious of all these awards - I’m not just saying that because of the club affiliation of this year’s winners - the Hochgebirge Challenge Cup which Ski Club Hochgebirge awards to the over-all fastest team in the Hochgebirge Challenge Race.  This year’s winner was the Comets Renegades, a team from the Comey’s Comets Ski Club made up of Matt Aeschliman, Matt Bemis, Bryan Reimer and Terrence Fogarty.

     The Tobin Award, given each year for outstanding contributions to Eastern Masters ski racing, went this year to the Ski Club Hochgebirge.  Founded in 1930 the Ski Club Hochgebirge has always been a presence in ski racing in general, and Masters ski racing in particular, with club members having participated in the first downhill ski race ever held in America - a mass start downhill on Mt. Mooselauke in NH.  Continuing in this tradition, the Hochgebirge Challenge Cup is now the oldest continuously contested ski race in America.  With the Hochgebirge Challenge Cup, their annual post race gathering at the Hochie Hilton, and numerous talented and interesting members taking part in our sport at all levels, Ski Club Hochgebirge has been good to and good for Eastern Masters skiing.  Without them we would be much diminished.

     Team racing again added a layer of interest and competition to the season.  In theory, each team carries no less than four nor more than eight skiers.  Due to replacements for injured skiers, however, by the time the season came to a close some teams had more people listed on their rosters (or not, but that’s another story) than some NBA teams.  Five teams fought for the team title but, when the smoke had cleared, the sartorially splendid Hot Like Fire team, made up of Captain and Team Racing Commissioner Fred Dieffenbach, Brian Irwin, John Pierce, Rich Jefferson, Brandon Dyksterhouse, Jessie McAleer, Michele Woloshin, Kerry Brennan, and Bill McCollom, emerged victorious.  Hot Like Fire topped the standings with 860 points with perennial brides’ maids, The Comets, second with 820 points, and last year’s winner, Team Edgewise, third with 800 points.

     Numerous New England Masters skiers performed well at the Skier’s Edge USSA Alpine Masters National Championships in Big Sky, Montana and at the Skier’s Edge Eastern Regional Alpine Masters Championships at Sunday River, Maine.  These performances have been reported on, and are still posted, on the USSA website and on the New England Masters website (www.nemasters.org).  You are encouraged to check them out.  Documentation of results alone, however, cannot do justice to the work and expertise which make these events possible.  We would be remiss if we did not mention that it was the planning, organizing, and supervising of Bill McCollom, with help from Steve Foley, and the execution by Sunday River Resort Race Department, which made the Eastern Regionals such an extraordinarily well run and enjoyable event. (The weather didn’t hurt either.)  Thanking Bill and Steve serves to emphasize that Masters racing relies on many people to make it work.  Neither the space available nor my memory allow me to thank everyone who deserves credit but two who made noticeable contributions both on and off the race hill were Barb Brumbaugh and Brian Irwin.  In addition to always being ready and willing to help and contribute on race day, Barb and Brian, and especially Barb, constituted the press corps which covered our races.  Each enhanced the racing experience by writing articles, Brian’s appearing in the Stowe Reporter and on the New England Masters website, and Barb’s appearing in Ski Racing Online and on our website, covering our Sise Cup races, the Regionals, and, in Barb’s case, the Nationals.  Barb can ski and write.  Brian can ski and write but still needs some remedial work in the walking in ski boots department. Thanks guys.

     And finally, thanks to our season long sponsors, Artech Ski Racing & Tuning Products, Buchika’s Ski & Bike Shop, Denby Pottery, and Swix.  Thanks also to single event sponsor Harpoon Brewery for sponsoring the Okemo Super G and GS and to Shipyard Brewery for subsidizing the food, drink and awards at the Eastern Regionals.  And of course, thanks to Skiers’ Edge for being the major sponsor of the USSA Alpine Masters National Championships and of all the USSA Alpine Masters Regional Championships.  We couldn’t do it without you guys.