NYSEF
NEWSLETTER
DECEMBER 2025
COPPER PREP PROJECT
NORDIC OFF TO A SNOWY START ing n r o M Good ica Amer ! Visits
Athletes Excel in the Offseason
December 2025 What’s Inside:
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3 From the Director’s Desk 4 What’s Next: Upcoming Races, Camps, Training Projects, & Events 6 Bretton Woods Recap 8 Colorado FIS Prep Recap 12 Meet NYSEF’s New Chairman of the Board 16 XC Season Kicks off 18 Good Morning America Takes on Ski Jumping 20 News from Northwood School 22 Offseason Accomplishments 25 MLT Featured Listing 26 Belleayre Lodging Partnership 27. Thank You to NYSEF’s Sponsors
Cover Image: One of the NYSEF/NWS FIS Women awaits the start of her training run in the starting gate at Copper Mountain in Colorado
Hello NYSEF Friends & Family, What a start to the 2025-2026 season. It’s no secret that it’s been a great start with favorable weather for all our venues. For the first time in several years we were able to host our holiday race at Whiteface. Athletes from every venue have traveled to camps. Weekend programs are up and fully running. To start December we saw some amazing results from two prominent Canadian Alumni of our program, Kevin Drury ‘06 and Sarah Bennett ‘19 both found themselves on the top spots of podiums to start their seasons. Bennett won a Noram SL at Copper on the heels of two podium results in Super G also at Copper. Drury won on the second day of the Ski Cross World Cup at Val Thorens, his first win in five years. While we love to celebrate success at the highest levels and we are super proud of NYSEF alumni and current athlete’s accomplishments, we are more proud that we encourage the development of skills that are foundational to success everyday. We’re looking forward to another great season of athletic growth, events, and fun. As we close 2025 and look to 2026, thank you to everyone that has supported us this year through donations or volunteer work. Your support makes everything we do possible and we’re grateful to carry on the NYSEF legacy. As always, please come visit us at any of our venues. We’re looking forward to seeing you! See you soon,
John Norton, Executive Director 3
December 2025
From the Director’s Desk
What’s Next: Upcoming Races, Training Projects, & Events FIS Eastern Cup Women’s GS & SL December 19-22, 2025 @ Whiteface Mountain
USSS GS & SL December 20-21, 2025 @ Gore Mountain
USASA Rail Jam & Slopestyle December 20-21, 2025 @ Whiteface Mountain
Lake Placid IBU Cup Biathlon December 26-31, 2025 @ Mount Van Hoevenberg Click here for more information
ADK Tour de Ski #2 Saturday December 27, 2025 @ Scott’s Cobble Nordic Center Click Here for more Info
New Years Open GS January 2, 2026 @ Whiteface Mountain
Norwegian Open Ski Jumping & Nordic Combined Comp January 4, 2026 @ LP Olympic Jumping Complex
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US Cross Country National Championships January 4-9, 2026 @ Mount Van Hoevenberg Click here for more information
ADK Tour de Ski #3 Saturday January 10 2026 @ Dewey Mountain Recreation Center Click Here for more Info
The 63rd Annual Hovey Memorial GS January 11, 2026 @ Whiteface Mountain 4
Moonlight XC Skiing*, Music from the Bonedoctor and Owen Reilly, Food, Drinks, and more! The Whiteface Club & Resort Nordic Center provides 15 kilometers of gentle sloping, professionally groomed, and track-set trails with skating lanes and lantern light. Rentals are available for $17/person 5
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Celebrate the Holiday Season with NYSEF! Click on the image below to RSVP!
Kicking Off the Season at Bretton Woods
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NYSEF athletes jump-started their 2025–26 season over the Thanksgiving break with a productive confidence-building East Coast Fundamentals project in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. Designed to help athletes construct and refine fundamental movement patterns through freeskiing, the conditions created an ideal early-season environment close to home. Skiers got an authentic introduction to the rhythms of a full training project—from daily preparation to time management and teamwork. Running from November 21–26, athletes spent 4½ days on snow, emphasizing stance and movement proficiency, practical equipment understanding, and video analysis to accelerate learning. Athletes balanced their on-snow sessions with structured evening study halls, held Saturday through Tuesday, supporting both athletic and academic discipline. Under the guidance of coaches John Morgan, Kate McKenna, and Lilly Gaechter, athletes focused on freeskiing skills, early-season drills, and technical foundations that will carry them into the competitive months ahead. The group stayed at the Franconia Inn in Franconia, NH, creating a supportive team atmosphere for the 23 athletes and five staff members. 6
“We had a great trip to Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, spending the preThanksgiving holiday traveling from Queensbury to Franconia, NH. Our team had a lovely stay at the Franconia Inn with the 23 athletes and 5 coaches. We were able to spend 4.5 days on snow working on regaining our confidence on skis, feeling comfortable in our equipment, and working through early season fundamentals. We saw tremendous growth in all of the athletes—from our youngest U12s to our oldest U16s. It was a great way to break back into the ski season and really get a grasp on our fundamentals before program officially started! We had the opportunity to do early-season video, drills, freeskiing, and teambuilding. It was a great way to start the season and a great new mountain to experience!” By the end of our time, athletes returned home with renewed confidence, strengthened skills, and a clear foundation for the season ahead. NYSEF is excited to build on the momentum from Bretton Woods as winter programming gets underway.
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Coach Kate McKenna reflected positively on the week:
NYSEF/NWS Prep Project
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From November 6–19, 2025, a dedicated group of FIS athletes, coaches, and academic staff descended on Copper Mountain for our annual preseason prep period. Under the guidance of coaches Seppi Stiegler, Jeremy Transue, Colden Mrak, and Mike Gilbert — with academic support by Northwood School’s Carrie Wardlaw — the athletes lived, trained, and studied together in the East Village condos at Copper Mountain, enjoying the ease of access to the training facility as well as lots of shopping and dining. Over the two weeks, the athletes completed a full schedule of 12 on-snow training days, evenly split between giant slalom (GS) and slalom (SL). The focus was on high-volume gate work, maximizing gate reps and reinforcing technical precision. Between sessions, daily video-analysis meetings helped break down body positioning and line choice, while group dryland workouts kept strength and agility sharp off the snow. By the time the session wrapped up, the sense was universal: every athlete had improved, and all left with momentum heading into the competition season.
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As coach Colden Mrak reflected, “This year’s training period at Copper Mountain was one to remember! Our athletes met World Cup skiers, caught stunning aurora displays, and trained under clear blue skies on perfect snow day after day. With conditions like these, it’s no surprise we always find ourselves saying, ‘This is why we come to Copper!’”
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Despite warm weather early on, conditions normalized — allowing for regular snow accumulation, consistent grooming, and reliable race-training terrain. Sunshine and crisp mountain air prevailed much of the camp, delivering smooth, grippy snow surfaces that allowed athletes to push through gate cycles with confidence and rhythm.
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Days didn’t end when the lifts closed. Evenings were structured around video review, study halls, and rest — made easier thanks to the comforts of our condos. Team dinners, trips to grab new race gear at SYNC, and moments of downtime allowed the group to bond beyond gates and timing. Academic support was a priority: under Carrie Wardlaw’s oversight, the student-athletes stayed on top of their schoolwork. “Overall the students had a very busy, productive 13 days athletically and academically and worked hard on and off the hill. Everyone went home caught up with work and ready for a relaxing Thanksgiving break!” said Wardlaw.
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Over the two weeks, study-hall blocks were built around on-snow training to create the best balance between athletic and academic commitments. Athletes completed assigned readings, written assessments, and even full Calculus tests. For the musically inclined, Carrie even brought a mini portable keyboard so they could keep practicing — “the performances for our Holiday concert are going to be great”
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December 2025 A highlight for the athletes was the chance to train alongside — and cross paths with — some of the top alpine skiers in the world, including Marco Odermatt and Aleksander Kilde, among others. That exposure, along with the high gate volume, technical coaching, and structured training environment, gave everyone a sense of scale, ambition, and what’s possible. With this training period behind us, the athletes departed Copper Mountain sharper, more unified, and ready to dive into the competitive season with fresh energy, improved technique, and renewed purpose. 11
A Chance to Chat with NYSEF’s New Board Chair NYSEF is welcoming a new leader to the helm of our board following Greg Harden’s successful tenure. No stranger to NYSEF programming, Andrew Weibrecht was announced as our new chair during the August Board Meeting. We had a chance to connect with Andrew in early December to catch up and talk about skiing, snowsports, and the future of NYSEF.
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Q: Tell us about your tenure on the NYSEF Board and some of the important things the board has accomplished since you joined. AW: Coming out of COVID, after all the pivoting and reworking of our standard practices to keep us growing has been a really important part of what we’ve accomplished over the last couple of years. The other exciting stuff is the growth of our nordic programming. While alpine is always a healthy part of our program, the growth we’ve seen and the success we’ve seen in the nordic disciplines has been awesome. Beyond that success, seeing more kids involved in jumping and the addition of biathlon to our program are great. Q: When did NYSEF start for you and what are your earliest memories of NYSEF? AW: NYSEF started for me when Horst let me in. Early on the weekend program was a highlight for me. It’s what I looked forward to all week. It was really simple, focused on just skiing around with kids. That was the highlight of my weeks. In those years skiing around with Jimbo Johnston really cemented my love of the sport. 12
Q: You had a lengthy career on the U.S. Ski Team, starting when you were 16, what’s your best memory of racing? AW: Two really stand out. The 2014 Olympics and my podium at Kitzbuhel are the two that jump out. I think as a kid that grows up ski racing success at Kitzbuhel is the pinnacle of the sport. It’s the biggest stage, the rowdiest atmosphere and the most important race of the year. My race in Sochi at the 2014 Olympics also stands out because it happened coming off an injury cycle and it was questionable if I was even going to participate. For everything to come together, equipment, my skiing, and my health, was really special. It was the culmination of learning to be resilient, coming out with that result was awesome. Q: Over the years you’ve done some coaching and given back to the sport in a variety of ways, what are some things you enjoy about that and what are some things that have stayed the same and some that have changed since you’ve been involved with the sport? AW: I really enjoy coaching and skiing with kids. I strive to help cement the joy in the sport for them. Once the joy in the sport is established, the rest comes. From my experience when it becomes more work having that passion is essential. In terms of things staying the same, the dynamics of skiing haven’t changed. The general technique and the inputs required to be good hasn’t changed a lot. The biggest thing that has changed in the sport is the accessibility for families. I’ve worked hard on the national level and the local level as to how we’re going to get more kids in the sport and keeping them in the sport long enough to identify talent. We need to keep focused on developing alternative pathways. On the NYSEF level we have to continue to develop great programming and opportunities that allow an affordable access point in the variety of snowsports that we represent. 13
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We ripped around Whiteface, from skiing comes ski racing. I really believe that if you develop joy around skiing the racing part develops later.
Q: You’ve had a lot of coaches and influential people in your career, is there anyone that stands out that was super influential in how you see the sport and moved into through the sport? AW: Everything started for me at NYSEF so it has to start with Jimbo Johnston for me. He instilled a love of skiing for me as a young kid. After Jimbo, David Smith really taught me how to race and then on the national level my Europa Cup coach, Tim LaMarche, and then Pete Anderson really helped me find that final gear and the confidence to compete and race at a high level. Q: What’s your biggest goal for your tenure as Chair of the NYSEF Board?
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AW: The biggest goal and challenge is something we touched on a little bit earlier, affordability and access. For us as an organization we need to keep the sports affordable and create pathways for athletes to remain in the sport as long as they want to and not be pushed out because of cost. Q: Let’s shift gears and share a little bit about you that people might not know. What are some things you’re passionate about off the hill? AW: I love to be outside all year. My favorite thing about living in the Adirondacks is there is something to do outside every season. I think that my family really instilled this love of the outdoors for me. I was a 46'er by the time I was 11. I love nordic skiing and backcountry skiing in the winter. In the fall I love getting out and hunting. Through the spring and summer finding time to fish and mountain bike. Basically, doing anything that connects me to the natural world. 14
AW: I am the Director of Operations and Vice President of the Mirror Lake Inn, so along with our team I oversee the operations of the Inn. Q: What’s the best advice you have for athletes? AW: As corny as this sounds, have a lot of fun doing it, work hard, and the rest takes care of itself. Q: What’s on the radio on your way to the mountain? AW: Daily Podcast Q: What’s your favorite time to go skiing? AW: March, without a doubt. Andrew thanks for sitting down with us and letting the NYSEF community get to know you a little more, we’re excited for you to lead the organization and looking forward to seeing you on the slopes this winter!
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Q: For those that don’t know, what’s your “day job”?
A Great Start to XC Season! NYSEF
NYSEF Nordic athletes kicked off the season in remarkable fashion this year, thanks to early natural snow and consistently cold temperatures that supported robust snowmaking. Many athletes were on skis close to home as early as the first week of November. On November 11, members of our DEVO XC and Skimeister teams took on the Whiteface Mountain Toll Road, setting an inspiring tone for the season ahead. Just a few days later, Mount Van Hoevenberg opened on November 15, offering exceptional early-season conditions. Since opening day, snow quality has remained outstanding, with additional terrain for both skate and classic skiing coming online almost daily.
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Our Junior Race Team has been making the most of the strong start, balancing productive on-snow sessions with dedicated strength and conditioning work in the weight room. With momentum building and athletes already in midseason form, NYSEF Nordic is poised for an exciting winter.
Good Morning America Takes on Ski Jumping
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The Lake Placid Olympic Jumping Complex was in the spotlight on Tuesday, December 9, as Good Morning America anchors Lara Spencer and James Longman braved sub-zero temperatures to learn the fundamentals of ski jumping with NYSEF. The visit was part of the show’s lead-up to the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano Cortina, with the anchors spending several days in the Adirondacks trying out a variety of Olympic sports. After tackling luge, skeleton, and figure skating on Monday, Spencer and Longman were welcomed at the ski jumps by NYSEF Head Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Coach Colin Delaney, who gave them a short intro to ski jumping. Delaney walked the anchors through the basics of ski jumping technique, competition formats, and the pathway young athletes follow as they advance from their first small hills all the way to the Olympic stage. He also demonstrated proper inrun and takeoff positions before introducing the visitors to NYSEF’s Youth Jump Team, made up of athletes ages 6–12. 18
With the support of their young coaches, Spencer and Longman made their way to the 10-meter hill, clicked into alpine skis, and practiced sliding down the landing hill in the inrun position—an essential first step for every new ski jumper. The Youth Jump Team gave them one last “Have One!” before sending them on their way. After the anchors took their runs, the spotlight shifted to the young athletes themselves. The Youth Jumpers showcased their skills on both the 10 and 20 meter hills, demonstrating excellent technique and giving the GMA crew—and their cameras—a true look at the excitement and athleticism of the sport. Also joining the morning’s activities was NYSEF’s new Chairman of the Board, Olympic medalist Andrew Weibrecht, who provided background on NYSEF’s mission and shared his perspective as both an Olympian and a ski-jumping parent. Weibrecht also helped outfit the anchors in their alpine gear, adding another layer of authenticity and Adirondack hospitality to the experience. The segment is scheduled to air this February on ABC’s Good Morning America as part of the network’s Winter Olympic coverage. We look forward to seeing NYSEF’s young athletes—and the Lake Placid Olympic Jumping Complex—shine on national television.
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The youth athletes took immediate ownership of their coaching roles, confidently showing the anchors their inrun stances and offering simple but essential advice: “You have to commit” and “Don’t crash.” They helped Spencer and Longman gear up with alpine boots and helmets, then taught them the team’s signature pre-jump cheer—an enthusiastic “Have One!” shouted before each attempt.
News from Northwood School November was a month filled with community engagement, hands-on learning, and seasonal traditions at Northwood. The Multicultural Student Club (MSC) continued its important work celebrating the many cultures represented on our campus while advocating for student needs. Led by Mr. José Coss and a dedicated student board, the MSC empowers students through education, dialogue, and cultural exploration. With members from around the world, the club remains an active and vibrant part of student life. Families are encouraged to visit their website and follow their Instagram to stay connected with their work.
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In Ms. Fagan’s Adirondack Science class, students partnered with the Mirror Lake Watershed Association to support responsible winter maintenance. By clearing snow early and helping reduce the need for salt on campus walkways, the class contributed to protecting local water quality, wildlife, and the long-term health of Mirror Lake. Their stewardship efforts were featured in the Lake Placid News, shining a spotlight on the meaningful impact students can have on their environment. Northwood’s Adventure Sports students also embraced the season with a hike up the Whiteface toll road for early ice climbing. The group then had the opportunity to meet Northwood alumnus and Adirondack climbing legend Don Mellor, who shared stories about the region’s climbing history and his experiences as an author and adventurer. The College Counseling Office, led by Mr. David McCauley, reported strong progress from the senior class. Over half of the Class of 2026 has already submitted college applications, totaling nearly 300 submissions. Several 20
Before heading off for break, the community gathered for the annual Thanksgiving Formal Dinner, enjoying a traditional meal and reflecting on gratitude. Students wrote messages of thanks on colorful paper strips that will be linked together into a gratitude garland—soon to wrap around the Christmas tree in the living room. Families and alumni kicked off the holiday season with a wonderful Northwood gathering in New York City on December 1, and we look forward to continuing the celebration in the Boston area on December 4. These festive events offer a special opportunity to reconnect and celebrate with the Husky community.
Northwood School is a coeducational, independent boarding school in Lake Placid, New York offering a trimester-based college preparatory curriculum for students in grades 9 through 12, plus a post-graduate year. Through Northwood School and NYSEF’s long-standing partnership, we share experienced coaching staff and work together on dryland programs and on-snow training camps. NYSEF also provides the Northwood Ski Team with lodge facilities and training opportunities at the venues in partnership with the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA). Learn more at northwoodschool.org and on Instagram @northwoodnysef 21
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students have begun receiving their first acceptances, and the office will continue supporting the senior class into the busy December and January deadlines. A big thank-you goes to the college counseling team and faculty who are working tirelessly to guide students through this important stage.
Offseason Accomplishments Juliet Wright (U12 Alpine/Whiteface) NYSEF’s Juliet Wright was selected to represent Mountain Music Studios and show off her vocal muscles as the singer of the National Anthem at the 2025 Skate America Lake Placid Event. Juliet performed in front of a crowd of hundreds before the Finals on Saturday Night. Way to go Juliet!
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Leila Fey (Nordic), Norah Francis (Alpine alum), & Holly Erenstone (Nordic) The 2025 Lake Placid High School XC season ended with Leila Fey taking an impressive 48th place at Federations against the top 300 girls in NY. Other highlights of the season include Leila and Norah Francis finishing and receiving medals for a strong 8th and 15th place at the Class D State Championships, and they both earned All-Stars honors. The girls team of Leila, Norah, Holly Erenstone, Ruth Mahaney and Rose Wenzler won Sectionals (Leila was individual champion with Norah 2nd) and took 3rd at the Burnt Hills Invitational (where Leila was also the individual champion).
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Lily Looby (U18 Alpine/Gore) Lily Looby began taking College classes in 9th grade and she has completed 54 credits at Hudson Valley Community College and has maintained a 4.0 GPA. She has 6 credits remaining to complete her A.S. which she will complete this spring 2026 and she will be graduating with her A.S. this May 2026 (likely 4.0 but definitely Phi Theta Kappa), 1 month prior to her High School graduation. She will be attending Siena University this coming fall 2026. She also just received her Jiu Jitsu blue belt on her 1st try - typically they do not give advanced belts to juniors so they stay white belts until they are 17! Super impressive! Way to go Lily!!!
Oliver Murray (U14 Alpine/Whiteface) Ollie had a personal best this year in the 40 mile gravel grinder, Black Fly Challenge, from Indian Lake to Inlet NY ,with a time of 3:08:59. He rode his hardtail mountain bike. This was Oliver's 3rd year riding. He placed 8th in the Men's 18 and under category.
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Evelyn Palma (U16 Alpine/Whiteface) Evelyn Palma ran varsity cross country for Seton Catholic, Section 7. She placed 3rd in the class D division at State Qualifiers and qualified for State Championships.
Aston Ferrillo (Freeski/Whiteface) This fall, just over a year after his first solo flight at age 16, Aston passed his checkride in a Cirrus SR20, becoming a licensed pilot. The Cirrus is a modern training aircraft with advanced avionics. Aston dreams of serving as a pilot in the US Air Force while also hoping to one day fly as a bush pilot, exploring remote and beautiful places. Cecelia Norfolk (U16 Alpine/Whiteface) Cece played varsity soccer for Lake Placid High School as a 9th grader, ending the season with an 11-5-2 overall team record. She also played on multiple elite lacrosse teams, earning 5 championships in a row between two teams Tru north and Legacy.
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Andrew Frey (U16 Alpine/Belleayre) Andrew was a member of the Men’s U17 Varsity boat representing Chaminade High School at the Historic Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston this fall. The team won the race for the first time since 2006 against some of the best teams in the world.
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December 2025
Click to View: Merrill L. Thomas Vista Views
$595/night plus taxes/fees, 4 beds, 3.5 baths, sleeps 8, no pets For more information, Contact Merrill L. Thomas, Inc.
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Belleayre Mountain Lodging Partnership for NYSEF Families NYSEF and the Catskill Seasons Inn are partnering to bring to families fun and reasonably priced accommodations within 10 minutes of Belleayre Mountain. NYSEF families will receive 10% off our published rates with extra amenities, and flexible check-in and check-out times. The Catskill Seasons Inn features a pub with a family-friendly menu, a game room for skiers and their families to relax after a successful day on the slopes, and space for tuning skis. Rooms have been recently updated and many of them have kitchenettes, NYSEF families can check in as early as noon and check out as late as 7 p.m. Rooms are on a first-come, first-served basis so if you want to secure yours for the season now, visit: www.catskillseasonsinn.com/NYSEF/
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Use the code “NYSEF2026” at checkout to receive your discount.
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Thank you to our sponsors: Merrill L. Thomas, Long Run Wealth, Lake Placid Family Dental, Black Rock Foundation, Sports Insurance and the Donald C. McGraw Foundation.
Thank you to Nancie Battaglia for her AMAZING photos! 27
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Thank You!
Do you have news or photos to share with us? Contact us at media@nysef.org @nysefsnowsports @nysefnordic @nysefbelleayre @nysefwhiteface @nysefgore @nysef_fis