NYSEF March 2026 Newsletter

March 2026

What’s Inside:

3. From the Director’s Desk

4. What’s Next: Upcoming Races, Camps, Training Projects, & Events

6. Belleayre Kandahar Champs

10. Ski Jumping & Nordic Combined Junior National Championships

16. Gore Receives Grant From Youth Sports Commision

17. Junior Race Team Recap

18. Alpine Results

24. Youth Ski Jumping & NC Results

26. Freeski & Snowboard Results

28. Tour de Ski Results

30. NENSA BKL Festival

34. Tate Frantz at the Olympics

36. Winter Term Spotlight

38. Thank You to NYSEF’s Sponsors

Cover Image: A racer prepares to launch out of the start gate at Belleayre’s Kandahar Festival

courtesy of Belleayre/ORDA

From the Director’s Desk

Hello NYSEF Friends & Family,

March was busy - crazy busy! Biathlon kicked off the month with the IBU Cup at Mount Van Hoevenberg where top athletes from around the world competed. The USCSA College National Championships was another highlight with competitions in alpine, freeski, snowboard and nordic in and around Lake Placid At Gore, we hosted the US Ski and Snowboard Eastern Finals for U16s and U18+ athletes Belleayre hosted the NYSSRA Kandahar Championships, a fun festival to wrap up the season for New York’s U12 alpine athletes.

Last but not least, the FIS Cross Country World Cup came to Mount Van Hoevenberg for the first time since 1979 Hosted by ORDA, this magnificent event drew the fastest athletes and thousands of spectators from around the world Our athletes welcomed these visitors and stood front row as Jesse Diggins took her final laps as one of the best cross country athletes of all time.

Each spring season, NYSEF sends athletes and staff in a vast array of directions. As a result, we manage a mixed bag of feelings Sadness is often felt as the snow melts into the rivers Simultaneously, the end of the long season brings relief and spring activities can now begin Satisfaction comes with reflection of podium for the performances that could have been b

It’s important for each of us to embrace these contrary feelings, taking the goods with the bads as we set our sights on the upcoming seasons We celebrate and honor the strong achievements yet learn from and base future goals off of the moments that need improvement. Each of us as athletes, staff, or parents have this opportunity to evaluate and start the process of improvement for next season

As the season comes to an end, I encourage each of you to take a few moments to celebrate and reflect. The next season starts now!

Enjoy the change of season and all that it bri

John Norton, Executive Director

What’s Next: Upcoming Races, Training Projects, & Events

Pondskimming @ Whiteface

Saturday, April 11, 2026

Click here for more information

Pondskimming @ Gore

Saturday, April 11, 2026

Click here for more information

Apple Butter Open @ Whiteface

Sunday, April 12, 2026

Click here for more information

NYSEF Raffle Drawing

April 15, 2026

NYSSRA Children’s Committee Meeting

Friday, April 17, 2026

NYSSRA Board of Directors Meeting

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Y S E F

US SKi & Snowboard 2026 COngress

May 11- May 15, 2026

NYSEF Anual Golf Open

Sunday, June 14, 2026 @ Lake Placid Club

Click here for more information

Belleayre Kandahar Belleayre Kandahar

N Y S E F

Each year the Kandahar Championship and Festival offers young ski racers a chance to compete against other youth athletes across New York State Building on local club’s work to develop athletes and emphasize fun, the Kandahar Championship is always fun, exciting, and challenging to young athletes.

A staple of the NYSSRA calendar for youth athletes, the event has been hosted around the state since 1974 and always draws large numbers of children looking to end their season competing with others The Kandahar began at Greek Peak and after catching up with NYSEF Return to Snow and Assistant FIS Coach, Dave Wenn, who was involved in those early years, Dave recalled, “You know it started with about 50-80 athletes, it wasn’t a lot of kids, it’s grown incredibly”

In chatting with Dave, he was involved with the founding of the race as an opportunity for athlete’s to qualify for more races at the end of the year.

Working with Todd Glick’s father Dave started the Kandahar Dave shared further, “the race was named after a local ski shop in Cortland, Chip’s Kandahar, because Chip sponsored the prizes for those early races. It really stuck”

The Kandahar was hosted at Greek Peak until 1991 before it began to rotate around the state. All three of NYSEF’s alpine venue have hosted this race since it began moving around the state.

This year NYSEF Belleayre hosted the event on Dot Nebel, one of the best trails in the state for this age group. Possessing just the right balance of terrain, length, and consistency the hill provides a perfect challenge for young racers while also allowing them to showcase their end of season skills. Over 180 athletes participated in three days of racing with varied weather conditions, starting with a training day on Friday, Kombi on Saturday, and Giant Slalom on Sunday

NYSEF athletes from Belleayre, Gore, and Whiteface all competed in this year ’ s event. Each athlete was able to display progress from the start of the season to the end and put their skills to the test against other skiers from across New York State.

NYSEF’s Matty Saerigh was thrilled with the end of year event, he shared: “Belleayre did a great job hosting Kandahar Championships this season It was three fun days of training and racing While the weather presented its challenges, our athletes rose to the occasion with some great skiing.” Saerigh continued his reflection, noting: “the most common question all weekend was, ‘Do I have time to take another run before my start?’ It was a perfect reflection on how much this group loves to ski.” NYSEF’s head

U10/12 program coordinator Beatty Schlueter added: “Sun, snow, wind, and everything in between, we just raced through it, all with big smiles, loud cheers, and great team spirit It was a season to remember!”

Special thanks to JJ Pavese and his team at Belleayre for pulling off a great event with challenging conditions!

N Y S E F

N Y S E F

Ski Jumping & Nordic Combined Junior Nationals

After a strong competitive season on the East Coast, NYSEF’s Junior Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined athletes carried momentum into February’s Eastern Division Junior National Team selection which took place at Jumpfest in Salisbury, Connecticut. Several NYSEF athletes were named to the 2026 Eastern Division Junior National Team set to compete at the 2026 Ski Jumping & Nordic Combined Junior National Championships, held March 11–15 in Steamboat Springs.

Led by head coach Colin Delaney, a deep NYSEF roster representing the Eastern Division including Islay Sheil, Wesley Leonard, Max Fey, Boyd Schaefer, Will Coffin, Eli Larkin, Duncan Van Dorn, Henry Loher, Cadel Cox, Mitchell Penning, Seth Rothchild, and Jack Kroll delivered standout performances across both ski jumping and Nordic combined

The team competition on March 14 highlighted the strength and depth of the Eastern Division, as the men ’ s ski jumping squad claimed a silver medal behind the Rocky Mountain Division NYSEF athletes Seth Rothchild and Will Coffin played key roles on the podium, finishing team alongside Dylan Cote and Spencer Jones, marking one of the top finishes of the week. In Nordic combined, Coffin continued an impressive run by teaming up with Galen McCusker to secure bronze in the U16 relay, further underscoring NYSEF’s versatility across disciplines.

Individual results on March 13 showcased several podium-worthy performances, led by Islay Sheil’s silver medal in the women ’ s HS75 event. Coffin added to his medal tally with a silver in the U16 Nordic combined competition, while also just missing the podium with a fourth-place finish in the HS75 jumping event in a competitive field of 28 athletes Together, these results reflect not only the progression of NYSEF athletes within the national pipeline but also the program ’ s growing impact on the future of U.S. ski jumping and Nordic combined Athletes will take a few weeks off before getting back on the hill for summer training and jumping, in preparation for next season!

Warren County Awards Youth Sports Grant to NYSEF Gore

For our youngest athletes mileage, exposure, and fun are key recipes for building a strong foundation for growth. Each of our alpine venues creates environments in which our youngest skiers are exposed to race day. Whether it’s a Pre Race Prep event at Belleayre or a Mini World Cup at Gore and Whiteface, we all do it a little differently.

This past summer Jen Allen and Petra Davenport took the lead on a great grant opportunity presented to youth sports organizations in Washington and Warren Counties. In collaboration with Jamie Welsh a grant request was submitted and rewarded to NYSEF Gore for a new free lap timing system with 60 timing chips and for new youth race bibs To close the gap, Jen Allen, Head U10 Coach at Gore, reached out to local businesses to sponsor the bibs with great success Our kids were so excited for the new bibs and were proudly showcasing them on race day

N Y S E F

The community support for the Gore program is an important testament to the quality impact of NYSEF on the North Creek Community As we always look for ways to continually offer a great experience for our young athletes the support of the North Creek community and the Youth Sports Commission of Washington and Warren Counties helped significantly to enhance our ability to do so this season

U10 skiing is about creating passion, building skills, and having fun. Every athlete that pushes through the starting gate at a U10 World Cup is learning and building routines that consciously and subconsciously will stay with them throughout their skiing careers

Reflecting on the ultimate goal of U10 ski racing, Jen Allen shared: “As the Head U10 Coach at Gore, my entire focus is on making the program better for our youngest racers At this level, the goal is simple: help each athlete improve while making sure they finish the season with a real love for the sport” She continued to share: “At Gore Mountain, we host four Mini World Cup races each season for our U10 athletes Our coaches run these events, and we pride ourselves on putting on races that feel professional but are still really fun for the kids It’s important for both the racers and their parents to experience what ski racing is really like.”

With this in mind Allen and her team recognized the need to try something different for a timing system. When Coach Petra Davenport identified the Warren County Grant opportunity, everyone saw it as a great opportunity. The new system, a Free Lap Timer creates greater efficiency and has run into far fewer hiccups for the kids so the focus can be on what counts for them: having fun and learning about the race day experience

N Y S E F

Allen noted that the new bibs created an amazingly positive reaction from our kids, she shared: “The first day we had them out at registration, the kids’ faces lit up when they saw them. They fit better over their jackets, and they look fantastic out on the hill. Now when our athletes are wearing them around the mountain on race day, they’re not just representing NYSEF and ski racing, they’re also helping showcase the amazing local businesses and supporters who made it all possible ” Ultimately as Allen relayed to us: “Our U10 races were already something we were proud of, but these upgrades have truly taken them to the next level Coaches, parents, and athletes are all incredibly grateful for the support that made this possible We like to think this is the most important age group in ski racing - after all, these are our future Olympians And now they look the part too!”

Great work to the team at Gore and congrats on an awesome season We’re thrilled to keep providing our kids with amazing opportunities for growth We’re especially appreciative of those who sponsored this initiative and the Youth Sports Commission of Warren and Washington County for providing grant support for us to make this possible. We’re looking forward to the Freelap system and bibs being used for many seasons ahead.

Junior Race Team Recap

From Head Coach Paul Smith

For the NYSEF Nordic Junior Race Team the end of the season came and went in a hurry In March our group split off, participating in multiple championship events. Many athletes on the junior race team put their energy into the New York State Championships at the end of February where there were many top results. After that we had a solid two week block of training at home before NENSA Eastern High School Championships and Junior Nationals.

N Y S E F

Eastern High School Championships features a very competitive field of all U16-U20 ski racers in the Eastern Region minus the few who travel to Junior Nationals. This year New York State hosted EHSC at Gore Mountain the weekend of March 6-8th. NYSEF had some top results with Pepper Laxson finishing her best in the classic distance race with an impressive 9th place out of 115 competitors, and Cadence Keneddy finishing in 12th place in the skate sprint. Cadel Cox had a solid weekend as well finishing 46th in the skate sprint and 56th in the skate distance out of 115 male competitors. Pepper was 10th after the entire event which is a great result for a U16 athlete in such a competitive junior field with many U20 skiers.

Junior Nationals were in Cab course is the venue of the Am largest marathon ski race in skiers who attended this yea

Max Fey, Connor Mannion, R Erenstone. Between the wea challenging race conditions

Max Fey had some superb re there with the best U16 athle place in the 5km Skate Indiv the Classic Sprint.

The message at the end of t be one of education and insp this year to watch the best in ski racing descend on Lake P amazing athleticism and cult learn from our own season and the world cup athletes is that there is never a straight-forward path to success Taking a step forward in one ' s own development sometimes means staying on the same rung of the ladder or even going down one in order to keep improving

N Y S E F

Alpine Results Alpine Results

FIS Men

Berkshire East Slalom (3/1):

Hudson Marshall 1st U18

Berkshire East Slalom (3/2):

Hudson Marshall 1st U18

U18 Nationals Super G

Mittersill (3/5):

Hudson Marshall 3rd

Okemo Devo GS (3/11):

Hudson Marshall - 1st

U18/4th Overall

Attitash SL:

Hudson Marshall - 3rd

FIS Women

Gore Devo Super G #1 (3/9)

Marie Jeanne Cazes - 3rd

Elizabeth Gauvin Langevin - 5th

Gore Devo Super G #2 (3/9)

Elizabeth Gauvin Langevin - 2nd

U16 Results

U16 States

Ladies Super G

Nora P - 1st

Lexi A - 2nd

Georgie L - 3rd

Evelyn P - 5th

Georgia S - 10th

U16 States Boy’s

Super G

Luke W - 2nd

James V - 3rd

Jace B - 4th

Boyd S - 8th

Macsen M - HC

U16 States

Ladies GS

Georgie L- 1st

Nora P - 2nd

Lexi A - 3rd

Evelyn P - 4th

Ida S - 7th

Clancy D - 9th

Lilly F - HC

U16 States Boy’s

GS

Luke W- 1st

James V - 4 (tie) th

Boyd S - 4 (tie) th

Francesco P- 6th

U16 States

Boys Slalom

Luke W - 1st

Jace B - 4th

U16 Eastern ChampionshipTeam:

Nora P, Georgie L, LexiA, Evelyn P, Cecelia N, Ida S, LukeW,JamesV,Jace B, Boyd S, Francesco P

U16 Eastern FinalsTeam:

Georgia S,Amelia K, ClancyD, Olivia B, LucyO, Mattias N, Nathan G, Mihir M, Elon R

U16 Overall State Champions: Georgie L & Luke W

U16 Eastern Championships: Luke W - 2nd Overall (2 Super G/2 GS) nd nd

U16 Finals Super G: Lucy O - 9th

U14 Girls Super G

State Champs:

Addie M - 1st

Allie F - 2nd

Katerina B-4th

Ava R - 5th

Mia M - 8th

U14 Girls SL

State Champs:

Alegra A - 8th

Isabel E - 10th

U14 Results

U14 Boys Super G

State Champs:

Ollie M - 2nd

Mason C - 4th

Jack G - 7th

Arno A - 8th (HC)

Henri M - 10th

U14 Boys SL

State Champs:

Ollie M - 2nd

Mason C - 3rd

NYSEFBoys&Girls-OverallU14Team StateChampions

U14 Girls GS

State Champs:

Ava R - 1st

Katerina B - 2nd

Audrey C - 10th

U14 Boys GS State Champs:

Ollie M - 1st

Henri M - 5th

Arno A - 7th

OllieM-OverallBoysStateChampion

U14 Eastern Championship Team:

U14 Eastern Champs SL: Ollie M - 7th

CanAm Champs: Ollie M - 6 in SL th

Ava R, Katerina B, Ollie M, Mason C, Henri M, Arno A

Piche Team:

Mia M, Alegra A, Audrey C, Isabel E, Helen F, Ethan L, Jack G, Ryan B, Tucker L

N Y S E F

Alumni SG & GS @ WF

Ladies Super G #1:

1.Lola F

2 Anja R

5 Maika B

6.Vivian B

Ladies Super G #2: 1 Anja R

5 Vivian B

Ladies GS #1: 1.Riley W 4 Anja R

Ladies GS #2: 1.Elleanore P

3.Lola F

GS

Men Super G #2: 6.Boyd S.

HeadingCongrats Winter Term & Northwood School Seniors & PG’s!

Eli Fox

Body

Elleanore Pelletier

Alexanne Patry

Vivian Bishop

Seth Rothchild

Paul Fogarty

Lucas Smith

Elizabeth Gauvin Langevin

Angel Gi Wiang

Marie-Jeanne Cazes

Leanne Aubut-Laurin

Katey Anne Clark

Rafaelle Fondacaro

Anja Robertson

Lion’s Club Ski Jumping & Nordic Combined Results

Lion’s Club

HS10/U10 Girls:

1. Lilly Kelly

2. Lesa Larose

3 Nell Welsh

3. Harper Kyler

6. Ada Weibrecht

Lion’s Club HS10/U10 Boys:

2. Phoenix Cook

3. Thaddeus Ruppert

4 Bouton Przybyla

6.Harland Przybyla

Lion’s Club HS20/U12 Boys:

2. Will Scanio

4 Phoenix Cook

6 Harland Przybyla

8. Bouton Przybyla

9. Thaddeus Ruppert

Lion’s Club U10 Girls

Nordic Combined:

1. Ada Weibrecht

2 Harper Kyler

4 Lesa LaRose

5. Nell Welsh

Lion’s Club HS20/U12 Girls:

1. Ada Weibrecht

3. Willow Howe

4. Nadia Geil

6 Lesa LaRose

8.Lilly Kelly

Lion’s Club HS20/Open Girls:

1. Clara Levesque

Lion’s Club HS20/Open Boys:

3 Greg Bertasso

4. Nate Clark

Lion’s Club U10 Boys

Nordic Combined:

1. Phoenix Cook

3 Harland Przybyla

4 Bouton Przybyla

Lion’s Club U16

Boys Nordic Combined:

1. Nate Clark

Lion’s Club U12 Boys

Nordic Combined:

1. Will Scanio

Lion’s Club U12 Girls

Nordic Combined:

1 Nadia Geil

2. Willow Howe

Y S E F

IFSA Freeride @ Whiteface

IFSA 2* and 3* Competition returned to Whiteface on Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8 with competitions taking place on the Lookout Below trail off of Lookout Mountain. 2* competitions took place on Saturday and Sunday, with many of NYSEF’s U10 and U12 intro to competitive skiing athletes participating as well as NYSEF’s Big Mountain team, and U12+ freeski and snowboard athletres. The 3* competition was at the same venue on Sunday, with some of NYSEF’s older athletes and alumni taking part in the competition. th th

3/7 U12 Girls Ski: Nora H - 4 ,

Amelia H 5 , Aliyah S - 6th th th

3/7 U12 Boys Ski: Theo M - 1 , st

Elliot S - 5 , Beau S - 6 th th

3/7 U12 Boys SNB: Liam R - 2nd

3/7 U15 Men SNB: Max M - 1st

3/7 U19 Men Ski: Colden R - 5 , th

Aston F - 6th

3/8 U12 Girls: Ada W - 1 , st

Aliyah S - 2nd

3/8 U12 Boys Ski: Noah K - 3 , rd

Ben S - 6th

3/8 U12 Boys SNB: Liam R - 1st

3/8 U15 Men Ski: Colden R - 1 , st

Leland C - 2 , Sam M - 3 nd rd

3/8 Men’s 3*: Aston F - 9th

USASA Results

Slopestyle at Whiteface March 1

Snowboard

Jack S - WF - Breakers - 1

Max M - NWS/WF - Breakers - 2

Garrett W - WF - Youth - 1

Freeski

Oakley K - WF - Grommet - 1

Nilana H - WF - Grommet - 1

Emery K - WF - Menehune -1

Yvetta H - WF - Menehune - 2

Everly L - WF - Menehune - 3

Grace R - WF - Menehune -4

Noah B - WF - Breakers - 2

Claire A - WF - Breakers - 3

Roger M - GO - Youth - 4

Aston F - NWS/WF - Junior - 1

Snowboard and Ski Cross at GoreMarch 7 - 8

Snowboard

Jack S - WF - Breakers - 2 - 1

Brynn H - NWS/WF - Breakers - 3 - 1

Garrett W - WF - Youth - 1 - 1

Evan B - GO - Junior - 1 - 1

Freeski

Nilana H - WF - Grommet - 1 - x

Sathya B - GO - Menehune - 3 - 2

Finn K - BE - Menehune - 4 - x

Yvetta H - WF - Menehune - 2 - x

Wes S - GO/ALP - Breakers - 2 - 2

Tyler R - GO - Breakers - 3 - 3

Henry S - GO - Youth - 1 - 1

Roger M - GO - Youth - 2 - 3

Sean R - GO - Open - 1 - x

Tour de Ski Results

ADK TDS #5 Garnet Hill

Grade 3 & 4 Finishers: Lewis Hann

ADK TDS #6 PSC VIC

Grade 3 & 4 Finishers: Phoenix Cook, Thaddeus Ruppert, Isabelle Szczech, Lilly Kelly, Harper Kyler

ADK TDS #5 Garnet Hill

Grade 5 & 6 Finishers: Dax Dougherty, Leo Legard, Eloise Eaton, Julia Volyanik,

ADK TDS #6 PSC VIC

Grade 5 & 6 Finishers: Leo Legard, Pippa DeSantis, Will Scanio, Julia Volyanik, Eloise Eaton, Amelia Chin

ADK TDS #6 PSC VIC

25k Classic Men U20:

1 Andrew Scanio (Alum)

2.Henry Hann

3 Will Preece

ADK TDS #5 Garnet Hill

Grade 7 & 8 Finishers: Henry Hann, Leela Volyanik

ADK TDS #6 PSC VIC

Grade 7 & 8 Finishers: Leela Volyanik, June Labonte

ADK TDS #6 PSC VIC

12.5k Classic

Female U20 - Pepper Laxson 1st

Male U20 - Lewis Hann 1st

Lake Placid Ski Club Award Recipients

LPSC Top Male Skier: Charlie Fox (Alpine)

Dovre Ski Jumping Trophy (Most Points): Henry Loher

Rookie of the Year: Isabelle Szczech

Peanut Award: Lesa LaRose

Leif & Odd Trophy (Most Improved Jumper): Willow Howe & Nadia Geil

Sportsmanship Trophy: Henri Gaboriau

Nordic Combined AKA Trophy (Most Outstanding NC Skier): Will Coffin

Bud Colby Memorial Trophy #1 (Most Improved Nordic Combined Skier): Phoenix Cook

Bud Colby Memorial Trophy #2 (Most Cooperation in Program & School): Will Scanio

Tele-Tournee Trophy: Adalina Weibrecht

John Viscome Award (Outstanding Female Ski Jumper): Adalina Weibrecht

NENSA BKL Festival

Y S E F

From February 28th – March 1st, NYSEF DEVO athletes traveled to Jackson, New Hampshire to take part in the New England Nordic Ski Association’s Bill Koch Ski League (BKL) Festival joining more than 650 young skiers from across the Northeast for a joyful celebration of cross-country skiing.

Named for Bill Koch, the first American Olympic medalist in the sport at the 1976 Winter Olympics, the festival emphasizes skill development, teamwork, and a lifelong love of skiing values our athletes carried with them all weekend long.

NYSEF DEVO joined together with teammates from across New York including Rochester Nordic Racing, Higley Flow Ermines, Polar Bear Ski Club, and Osceola Ski Club forming one of the largest New York contingents to attend the festival in decades With more than 40 athletes representing the state, the NY presence was strong, spirited, and impossible to miss

Racing began Saturday with a high-energy classic relay, followed by paired and individual start freestyle races on Sunday Even as a smaller contingent compared to many New England teams, our athletes skied exceptionally well across all age groups earning top results in both individual and relay events, and proving that heart, grit, and teamwork go a long way.

A particularly meaningful moment came during Sunday’s 8th Grade Graduation. Graduating skiers took a celebratory lap together to mark their journey through the Bill Koch League, then gathered in the finish corral to welcome the youngest participants across the line handing out lollipops in a full-circle moment of mentorship, encouragement, and community. Each graduate was recognized by Bill Koch and presented with a certificate honoring their time in the League.

We were proud to celebrate the graduation of four incredible NYSEF athletes who now move onward to U16 junior-level racing: Leila Fey, Norah Jones, Tyler Erenstone, and Will Preece. Each capped off their DEVO careers with outstanding performances highlighted by the individual freestyle race where Leila skied to an impressive 2nd place, Norah finished 9th, Will earned 3rd, and Tyler delivered one of his strongest races to place 16th Alongside their individual success, they played key roles in strong relay performances, showcasing teamwork, determination, and the depth of this group.

N Y S E F

A few standout moments added to the weekend’s spirit including some tricky waxing conditions navigated by our dedicated “kick team,” with support from coaches Chris Rose and J, alongside weekend stand-in wax tech and parent Steve Hann Their behind-the-scenes magic, depth of waxing knowledge, and quick problem solving kept skis kicking and fast for Team NY.

Off the racecourse, the festival delivered plenty of laughter and adventure, with athletes jumping into NYSEF’s doubles skis, laser biathlon, terrain park features, and radar runs—reminding us all that sometimes the best moments come with a little wobble, a lot of speed, and big smiles

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible parent community, who made the weekend possible keeping everyone fueled with amazing food, sharing in the laughter, and logging plenty of their own kilometers trekking between the athlete village and the start line.

A special note of pride for our NYSEF DEVO coaching team Chris Rose, Scotty McClelland, and Kim Douglas whose leadership and energy were felt in every stride throughout the weekend. From early season fundamentals to race-day confidence, they’ve helped build not just fast skiers, but a team that shows up for one another. And when you combine that with a crew of dedicated parents and a group of athletes who bring effort and joy to the trails you get something pretty special. That kind of full-team magic is what makes moments like this possible.

Every skier was part of something bigger than their home club a shared team, a shared journey, and a weekend grounded in camaraderie and celebration. And yes this team absolutely showed up. We skied fast, raced tough, and truly kicked some butt out there The Festival goes beyond results; it’s about building confidence, growing through challenges, and finding joy in skiing together but this weekend was also a powerful reminder of what this group is capable of. The coaching staff couldn’t be more proud.

We are so grateful to be part of this community and are already looking forward to the NENSA BKL Festival next year…just after we enjoy some well deserved spring break!

Frantz Flies in Italy

N Y S E F

th

Saranac Lake & NYSEF’s own Tate Frantz took center stage this February, making his Olympic debut at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics as a member of the United States Olympic Team Competing in all three men ’ s ski jumping events (Normal Hill, Large Hill, and Team). Tate delivered a breakthrough performance, turning in some of the best jumps of his career and achieving the strongest Olympic results ever by a US male ski jumper Even more impressively, he advanced to the finals in every event he entered.

Competition kicked off on Monday, February 9 with the Men’s Normal Hill After a first round jump of 99.5 meters (122.5 points), Tate tied with teammate Jason Colby for 30th to just make the cut for round two. He then surged with the 13 best jump of the final round, flying 101.5 meters to climb all the way to 21st overall The event was won by Philipp Raimund of Germany.

The following day, Tate joined forces with Annika Belshaw, Paige Jones, and Jason Colby in the Mixed Team Normal Hill event, where Team USA secured a strong 7th-place finish. Tate contributed two consistent jumps of 95 and 95.5 meters as the team battled against the world’s best, with Slovenia taking the top spot

*Photos courtesy of Team USA/Tate Frantz

Tate’s standout moment came on February 14 in the Men’s Large Hill competition. With a massive 133-meter jump in round one, he put himself in 17th heading into the finals He followed it up with another impressive leap of 128.5 meters, ultimately finishing 19th overall, which marks the best-ever Olympic result for a U.S. male ski jumper. The event was won by Domen Prevc of Slovenia

Frantz closed out his Olympic campaign in the Men’s Large Hill Super Team event alongside teammate Kevin Bickner. The duo combined for an 8th-place finish, highlighted by Tate’s jumps of 131 5 and 129 5 meters Austria claimed the victory in the event.

Reflecting on his experience, Tate shared: “I was really happy to have my best performances so far this season at the Olympics I was fully satisfied with every jump.”

In the weeks that followed, Tate carried his Olympic momentum onto the World Cup circuit, notching career-best results with a top-20 finish in Lahti on March 7 and an impressive 10th-place finish in Oslo on March 15.

N Y S E F

Winter Term Spotlight

We checked in with our NYSEF Winter Term Students for a quick end-ofseason Q&A, and here’s what they had to say!

What was your proudest moment this season?

“My 1st NorAm experience!”

“Scoring a 73 at Attitash”

“Making Eastern Champs and winning the Belleayre SG!”

“Teaching a backflip!’

What’s one word you’d use to describe this season?

FUN

Positive Learning Growing

What’s something you learned this season that surprised you?

“Having bad races makes you a better athlete”

“I learned how to be champ at the frying pan toss”

“Being patient in GS is faster than being aggressive at the gate”

“I learned a little German”

“You can’t predict or plan the future A comeback season is different everyday”

What was your favorite memory from this season?

Racing the SkiMeister

Hanging out with friends and learning to do a backflip!!

Attistash with the boys

Quality time with everyone (movie, dinner, activities)

What advice would you give to next season’s team?

“Keep having fun no matter what”

“Say yes to every opportunity”

“Always stretch, don’t be too hard on yourself, and have fun”

“Don’t waste time!”

Uphill Hybrid Package

$595/night plus taxes/fees, 4 beds, 3 5 baths, sleeps 8, no pets For more information, Contact Merrill L. Thomas, Inc.

Thank You!

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.