J4 Festival: Everyone Wins
STRATTON, VT. -- A celebration instead of fierce competition: that's how organizers and competitors described the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association's Chevy Truck Alpine Eastern Region Festival for J4 (age 11-12) skiers. The event, hosted over March 23-25 by Vermont's Stratton Mountain, was a fitting end to the 2001 Chevy Truck Junior Olympic series, which has made its way to 14 different ski areas this spring and hosted nearly 4,000 young skiers and snowboarders in groups ranging from J4 to the oldest J1 (age 17-19). The Alpine Festival allowed 170 youngsters to experience a day of organized Giant Slalom racing preceded by two days of one-on-one coaching and mountain fun, including a skills-based scavenger hunt.
"For the Eastern Region, we only run the Giant Slalom for J4s," said Stratton Mountain School's Todd Ormiston, who served as event director. "We counted each of two runs in Men's and Women's divisions as their own races."
The desired effect--more winners, more fun--was undoubtedly achieved. Only one skier made the podium twice: Shelley Bowen of Gilford, N.H., who competed in women's division to earn a bronze medal for her performance in race one and a gold for race two.
Other gold medallists were Nick Gouwens of Lake Placid, N.Y., Brianna Carroll of Burlington, Conn., and Kamden Burke of Naples, Maine. Derrick Webb of Medon, Vt., Allison Martini of Fair Haven, N.J., Ethan Weibrecht of Lake Placid, N.Y., and Lauren Germano of Glastonberry, Conn., won silver medals, while Ace Tarberry of North Conway, N.H., Will Hadden of S. Londonderry, Vt., and Valerie Kechian of Tuxedo Park, N.Y., also won bronze medals.
"At a festival like this, everyone has fun, everyone's a winner," said Ormiston.
--Best in the World--
J4 GIANT SLALOM MEN #1
J4 GIANT SLALOM WOMEN #1
J4 GIANT SLALOM MEN #2
J4 GIANT SLALOM WOMEN #2