The Blackwater Ski Area was shut down a week before the Junior 2 US National Nordic Combined Championship team sprint event was scheduled for Storrs Pond in Hanover, but the lack of snow at that site--and some creative thinking--caused a change of plans. Jed Hinkley '99, coach of the Intermountain team with his father, Bert, designed a one kilometer course using the great snow on Proctor's jump and the lower part of the alpine trails. Switched to Andover, the event was a great success, and our Blackwater Ski Area received positive exposure, as families from Park City, Steamboat Springs, Wisconsin and Michigan joined Eastern Division athletes, including local Andover skiers.
Each team, comprised of two athletes aged 12-15 skied a three-leg relay.
These boys and girls had jumped earlier in the day at Lebanon, and started according to their jump scores.
Dani Hinkley reports, "It was an exciting event and extremely spectator-friendly." It certainly demonstrates the value of our snow-making efforts earlier in the ski season!
Dani adds, "Coaches and parents from other divisions were very impressed with the Proctor facilities." Here's Yarrow's Lodge back in Fenruary:
________________________________________
