Mount Washington Valley News Brought To You By Horsefeathers

By Lloyd Jones
Editor - Conway Daily Sun

CONWAY NH — Welcome to Title Town.
Those words could be added to the Town of Conway signs after this past weekend. In the span of 18 hours. Kennett High won two state championships, both in dramatic fashion, making it the greatest weekend in the Eagles’ storied sports history.
The Kennett girls’ basketball team won the Class I State Championship on Friday night beating top-seeded and previously undefeated Lebanon 52-45 at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester. The sixth-seeded Eagles became just the second Kennett High girls’ team to lift the basketball crow, equaling the feat of the 1989 Kennett squad, which beat Monadnock 53-52 at the University of New Hampshire in another thriller.
Saturday afternoon, in the Verizon Wireless Arena, also in Manchester, the Kennett hockey team won its second straight Division III state championship by topping second-ranked Bedford 2-1 in a barnburner that went right down to the final seconds.
Both teams returned to Conway and celebrate with parades Friday and Saturday nights. On Saturday, the hockey team invited the basketball team to share in its celebration and the girls willingly accepted another victory lap.
“This could be easy to get used to,” Kennett High principal Neal Moylan said as he greeted both teams at the Ham Ice Arena in Conway. “What a weekend. I think we are the new Title Town. Move over Green Bay.”
“I would have to think this is the greatest sports weekend in Kennett history,” Michael Lane, Eagles’ head hockey coach, who successfully guided his team to back-to-back state titles, said following the parade. “I really don’t know that another weekend can compare to this. The girls had a great weekend and we’re so proud of their championship. I really think it motivated our team a little bit more after seeing their success. I’m so proud of both teams and thrilled for Coach (Peter) Ames (of the girls’ basketball team).” Read the rest of this entry »

By Tom Eastman
NORTH CONWAY NH — It may look like an early springtime in your back yard, but in Mt Washington Valley, old man winter just delivered another month of great skiing!  While snow totals varied from the late February storm, resorts in the notches saw as much as 50 inches of new snow during the last snowfall.  We’re thinking that since March came in like a lamb it will go out like a lion, so plan on skiing right into April.  For you die hard skiers, remember, when the resorts close, the Tuckerman season begins.  Plan to throw the clubs in the car and ski, putt and pound a few cold ones all in one day.  We call that a Gentleman’s (and gentlewoman’s too!) Triathlon, and it’s only available in Mt Washington Valley, N.H.

Upcoming highlights:
• Family Fun Days in the 100-Acre Wood: March 13, 20, 27. 100 Acre Wood, 41 Observatory Way, Intervale, NH (directly across from Town Hall Road, 10:30 a.m. Family Outdoor Activities on the “Trails in the Wood”; 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Indoor Entertainment in the “Theater in the Wood.” Outdoor activities will include guided tours along the river and through the Wood, animal tracking, geo-caching, and family-friendly race series. Indoor activities will include movies, puppet shows, music, dance and more! FMI: 356-9980 or www.believeinbooks.org.

• March 14: N.H. Ski Area Mascot Jam:  C’more, Cranmore’s Penguin mascot hosts the state’s first ever ski area mascot jam. Starting at 11 a.m., mascots will compete in a variety of events for top honors, including a tubing hill race, obstacle course run and dance off. FMI: 800-sun-n-ski or www.cranmore.com

• March 14: Granite State Snowshoe Championship presented by Redhook:  The nine individual snowshoe races are collectively organized as a series at Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center in Pinkham Notch.  Each race has its own race director and event management. FMI:  Race Director Chris J. Dunn at chrisjamesdunn@hotmail.com or 466-2333

• March 14: Crash Dummy Launch Contest: The Dummy Launch will be a day of crashes and laughs as teams design, build and decorate the best dummies to be launches off the huge snow mass on the East Slope at King Pine in Madison. Dummies are due at the ski area by 11 a.m. for judging. Dummies will be on display until 12:30 p.m. and will then be brought to the launch area. The explosive show will begin at 1 p.m. Registration form needed. FMI: 800-373-3754 or www.kingpine.

Read the rest of this entry »

PINKHAM NOTCH — Great Glen Trails announces free skiing on Sundays during Marvelous March.
With more than three feet of new snow at the end of February, March is going to be marvelous at Great Glen Trails. And to celebrate Marvelous March, Great Glen Trails is offering free cross country skiing, snowshoeing and snow tubing on every Sunday in March to anyone who presents their trail pass from the previous day. Ski at Great Glen Trails on Saturday and ski free on Sunday. Additionally, anyone who presents a season pass or trail pass from the previous day from another cross country ski area will receive a half price trail pass on Sundays. Great Glen Trails is open daily for cross country skiing, snow tubing and snowshoeing. Complete snow conditions information is available at www.GreatGlenTrails.com or by calling 603.466.2333.

ASPEN, Colo. — Leanne Smith, of Conway, was crowned the U.S. champion in downhill in Aspen Saturday. Smith edged out teammates Stacey Cook (Mammoth, Calif.) and Laurenne Ross (Klamath Falls, Ore.) for the win.

“The weather was great today. We were all really psyched on how it turned out,” said Smith. “It was a good race and the snow was great.”

Smith laid down a time of 1:38.24 to top the solid field made up of past U.S. champions, Olympians, and U.S. Ski Team memebers only three tenths ahead of Cook with Ross a mere two tenths shy of Cook for the final podium spot.

“My run was good,” explained Smith. “I had mistakes here and there, but I’m skiing more consistent.”

The top juniors were Anna Marno (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) and Lauren Samuels (Golden Valley, Min.). Marno posted a top-10 result overall in ninth, followed by Lauren Samuels (Golden Valley, Min.) in 14th.

Smith will take her win with her, as she heads into the latter portion of the 2010 World Cup season for motivation and confidence. “Today was a confidence booster, said Smith. “I’m happy to be the U.S. champion, I have’t done that yet. It’s exciting!”

This success comes on the heels of Smith’s first Olympic Games.

Smith, 22, the daughter of Paula and Joe Smith of Conway, finished 21st overall and was the third American finisher, beating Lindsey Vonn, in the Feb. 18 super- combined. The event combines downhill and slalom. Her final event was the Super G, and again she was solid, finishing 18th and was the third American finisher behind Julia Mancusco and Vonn, who won a bronze medal.

Smith was slated to leave the country on Monday, heading to a Women’s Alpine World Cup in Crans Montana, Switzerland. There are two downhill training runs planned for Wednesday and Thursday; the super-combined race is Friday; the downhill is Saturday; and a super G is planned for Sunday. After that, Smith will head to Garmisch, Germany for another series of World Cup races.

By Tom Eastman

CONWAY NH — It was a chili and chocolate weekend in Mount Washington Valley, and a snowy one, too.
Buoyed by the weekend’s snowfall, the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce presented the seventh annual Chilly Chili Cook-Off Saturday, Feb. 27, at Flatbread Company in the Eastern Slope Inn Resort in North Conway from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Taking top honors out of the 34 chili entries was the Appalachian Mountain Club Highland Center. The Appalachian Mountain Club’s Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, meanwhile, won top honors in the day’s cornbread contest.
John Vescera of Worcester, Mass., won the individual award, and the Mount Washington Valley Harley Owners Group (HOG) won the People’s Choice award.
The “best presentation” was awarded to Tuckerman’s at the New England Inn.

New to this year’s cook-off were the cornbread and crazy hat competitions, where the Appalachian Mountain Club Highland Center at Crawford Notch again rocked the competition taking home the award for best cornbread. Sarah Goldstein, family member of owners Linda and John Rafferty of Rafferty’s Restaurant and Pub, took home the prize for craziest hat.
A highlight were workers from the AMC Highland Center who hail from Brazil. They wore traditional costumes to add some color to the well-attended proceedings.
“This was the best attended to date. We think we had over 600 attendees,” said Sirri Grubb of the Mount Washington Valley Chamber. Her comments were shared by events manager Mary Seavey of the chamber.
Event sponsors were Eastern Slope Inn Resort, Flatbread Company, Lakes Region Coca-Cola, Sizzlin Sauces LLC, Waste Management and Zeb’s General Store. Other participants were Coldstone Creamery, The Met Coffeehouse and White Mountain Cupcakery, who provided sweet treats.

Frank Hastings of SOUND-FX provided the karaoke entertainment. Judges were Carey-Ann King, Tom Eastman, Trudy Kasianchuk, Richard Mattei, Tim Remillard, Lisa Somerville, Audley Williams, Corinne Whitaker, Carol Craig and Maureen Seavey. Read the rest of this entry »

by Tom Eastman

JACKSON — Snowmakers have been doing their part at Mount Washington Valley ski areas, and now, just for good measure, so is  a local .

Black Mountain marketing director Lori Pecor said Monday at the sunny start of  Presidents Birthday Week that Sullivan, a local Symmetree Yoga instructor, once again was called upon to give one of her bikini-clad Telemark skiing snow dances Monday afternoon at Black. She did it back at the start of Black’s 75th season in December, and it worked very well. With the recent natural snow drought, however, Pecor and Sullivan figured it was time to do the dance again — so, keep your Telemark ski tips crossed!

“We’re doing our part to get snow in the future for our guests,” laughed Pecor, saying that business has been strong so far this week, with customers appreciating the work of snow groomers and snowmakers.
“This afternoon we had the snow goddess return for an emergency snow dance and we all felt pretty good energy, so we’ll see what happens. “The biggest hit of the week at Black other than the fourth annual chairlift speed dating the day before Valentine’s? Snowcat rides,” said Pecor.

Meanwhile, Jerry Jacobson, general manager of the Eagle Mountain House (383-9000) in Jackson next to the Jackson Ski Touring’s Jackson International Stadium, said he, too, will continue his snow dancing: “I continue to perform a snow dance in the privacy of my home and the details of this will remain a secret,” quipped the ever-quotable Jacobson, adding, “Nevertheless, I am delighted to report seeing a teasing of snowflakes on Sunday and my persuasive energy seems to finally be drawing some much needed snow to our area.”

In all seriousness, local snowmaking and grooming crews have been ruling the day at local areas leading up to this past weekend, when temperatures warmed up, laying down good cover for the vacation week. For further information about ski conditions at local alpine and touring areas, call the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce at (603) 356-5701 or visit www.mtwashingtonvalley.org.