Festival a Big Success

Over Seventy Youth From All Over N Y State Participated in this Year's Festival. Forty-five of them are captured here.

On the following Wednesday (St Patrick’s Day) I skied at Lapland Lake.  Although there was plenty of snow in the woods, there were BIG grassy areas in mid trail in several locations where we had skied on Sunday.  It is amazing what two days of sun and warm temperatures can do to an otherwize perfect ski trail.  Many thanks are in order to the parents and grandparents who took the time on Sunday morning to do some shoveling.

Additional photos,  complete results, and a neat article on paint ball biathlon are posted elsewhere.

The 2010 Mid Atlantic Bill Koch Festival was a big success because of the fantastic team of volunteers and facilities that worked together perfectly.  Shenendehowa Nordic Club President Tim Huneck was chief of courses. Vice President Jim Flaherty was head of a team that flawlessly timed the championship races.  When he was not on the finish line Charlie Huff was squirreled away in computation central.  Mary Duclos was treasurer and husband Steve and son Matt played a major role with lunch preparation.  Coach Mike George set up a great ski orienteering challenge and helped on the starting line.  Darwin Roosa arranged for and conducted a safe and memorable paint ball biathlon.  Vicky and Dan Munson, of Mayfield provided invaluable assistance on the timing crew.  Kristin Halligan from the Saratoga Biathlon BKYSL arranged for a the hamburger cookout on Saturday and the hot dog roast on Sunday with baked goods.  Laura Duclos and Emma Huneck from the Shenendehowa High School Nordic ski team kept our youth moving with soccer, obstacle course  and other on ski games so they didn’t get cold despite persistent rain.  Head to head elimination sprints orchestrated by Russ Houck from the Sunnycrest, Syracuse are always a favorite. Jim Underwood of the Glens Falls BKYSL program provided a fun and exciting Wooly Mammoth Hunt.  Bernadette O’Brien organized a huge 19 team hodgepodge relay with assistance from Mary Duclos and timed by Steve Tomb of the Johnsburg Jags BKYSL.  Jill Koziol’s help with logistics was invaluable.  We even had the special touch of home backed cookies and energy foods from Maryanne Wilkinson, and others.

Right down to the parents shoveling snow on the trails Sunday morning, I think we all approached this event with that Mike George summarized when I asked him to help.  “Nordic ski sport means so much to me that I feel this is how I can give back to the community.”  The passion that we all collectively share for Nordic ski sport came out this weekend.   Sincerely, I thank you all!

We all pass along our gratitude to our sponsors including the Vischer Ferry Volunteer Fire Company, the Golub Foundation and Price Chopper, Stewart’s Shops, Target, Inside Edge and Reliable Racing, and Hannaford Supermarket.   Thanks also to our venues who opened their doors and welcomed us with their hospitality including the Holiday Inn, Johnstown.  And we could not have done it without the patience, help and support, immaculately groomed trails and facilities of Ann and Olavi Hirvonen and their crews at the Lapland Lake Resort.

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