Vail, CO, March 17, 2015 – Last week, eleven Ski & Snowboard Club Vail (SSCV) Nordic skiers, ten representing the Rocky Mountain region and one representing the Mid-Atlantic region,   competed in the United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) Nordic Junior National Championships at the Auburn Ski Club Training Center just outside of Truckee, California.  The championships drew over 400 of the top Nordic athletes, ranging in age from 14 to 19, from across the United States to compete in the highest level of competition for this age group in the country.

Notwithstanding a shortage of snow and warm temperatures in California this season the organizers did a fantastic job of farming snow from a local ski area and creating a great 2.5 kilometer track for the competitors.  Although there were plenty of laps to be made on this short course to accommodate all of the races, the warm temperatures and altitude at 7000 feet were truly a treat for the SSCV team.

“This event is an opportunity for SSCV athletes to measure themselves against the best in the country.  They all showed up ready to ski strong and many achieved or exceeded personal goals,” said Dan Weiland, SSCV Nordic Program Director.  “The athletes go through a tough qualification process to earn their spot.  This is truly a National Championship in every sense of the word, and our athletes performed exceptionally well.”

Notable SSCV Results

As a team SSCV finished in 4th in the Overall Club Award standings and 3rd in the Overall Club Award for Women standings, record team performances for SSCV, demonstrating the depth and competitiveness of the team as a whole.

Individual results were also stellar.  Nolan Herzog is the reigning National Champion for the U16 Men in the Mass Start Classic, SSCV’s first National Champion at the Junior National level.  Nolan also achieved an impressive 3rd place finish for the U16 Men in the Individual Start Skate.  SSCV alumnus Parker McDonald, who still trains with the SSCV team in the summer, was on the podium in 3rd for the U20 Men in the Individual Start Skate.

Hannah Hardenbergh found herself on the podium three times for the U20 Women this past week, taking 2nd in both the Skate Sprint and the Individual Start Skate and 3rd in the Mass Start Classic.  Maddie Donovan stood among the top three twice this week, taking 2nd for the U16 Women in the Individual Start Skate and 3rd in the Skate Sprint.   In her first Jr. Nationals competition Gracie Shanley landed in the Top 10, taking 9th in the Individual Start Skate for the U16 Women.

All SSCV Athlete Results from Jr. Nationals

SSCV Results Skate Sprint:

U16F:

3 – Maddie Donovan

23 – Gracie Shanley

38 – Emma Blakslee

44 – Lyle Shipp

U16M:

26 – Nolan Herzog

48 – Christian Wilson

U18F:

43 – Annie Blakslee

57 – Madi Schriefer

U18M:

52 – Cameron Moore

U20F:

2 – Hannah Hardenbergh

U20M:

13 – Parker McDonald

24 – Cameron Bobb

SSCV Results Individual Start Skate:

U16F:

2 – Maddie Donovan

9 – Gracie Shanley

14 – Lyle Shipp

22 – Emma Blakslee

U16M:

3 – Nolan Herzog

29 – Christian Wilson

U18F:

43 – Annie Blakslee

51 – Madi Schriefer

U18M:

14 – Cameron Moore

U20F:

2 – Hannah Hardenbergh

20M:

3 – Parker McDonald

12 – Cameron Bobb

SSCV Results Mass Start Classic:

U16F:

14 – Maddie Donovan

34 – Emma Blakslee

39 – Lyle Shipp

45 – Gracie Shanley

U16M:

1 – Nolan Herzog

56 – Christian Wilson

U18F:

70 – Madi Schriefer

71 – Annie Blakslee

U18M:

52 – Cameron Moore

U20F:

3 – Hannah Hardenbergh

U20M:

22 – Cameron Bobb

25 – Parker McDonald

Nordic Program Head Coach Eric Pepper stated, “From a competitive perspective, this past week’s results are the best results the SSCV Nordic athletes have ever posted at Junior Nationals.  These athletes worked hard all season long, starting with a rigorous summer and fall dryland program followed by challenging on-snow training sessions and competitions.  Each and every one of them really stepped it up this past week in what was for most, their season-culminating event.  I am really excited for what the future holds for them as they are still in the development stages in their sport.”

A full list of results can be found at http://xcjuniornationals2015.net/results/

Ski & Snowboard Club Vail is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  Founded in 1962 to provide training and competition programs for aspiring young ski racers, SSCV is the Vail Valley’s oldest non-profit.  Today, the organization remains true to its roots by instilling values of character, courage and commitment in more than 600 youngsters who participate in its on-snow winter sports programs each year.  Programs are available in Alpine, Freeskiing, Freestyle, Nordic, Ski Cross and Snowboarding.

For more information about SSCV, visit www. skiclubvail.org, call 970-790-5161 or email sschmidt@skiclubvail.org.