Jack Auty 2nd U18 Stoneham, QU

Griffin Brown 1st, Jack 2nd, Ryan Mooney 3rd, Charles Roposo 4th, Aaron Taylor 5th at Stoneham, QU. Canadian FIS Spring Series.

TGFS

We brought a strong contingent of kids and coaches over to Cochran's Ski Area yesterday for the most fun event in ski racing, the annual Thank God For Snowmaking slalom. Jimmy Cochran, Robby Kelley and Tim Kelley were representing the Cochran family as racers, and Ryan Cochran-Siegel was there fresh off knee surgery to cheer his cousins. Barbara Anne, Lindy (Kelley), Marilyn (Brown) and Bobby Cochran were all on hand lending their considerable expertise to the gatekeeping crew, and at awards, we all got to help sing RCS Happy Birthday in honor of his 21st (cake, and adorable childhood picture of RCS pictured.)

Mammoth SG

Below is a pic of the SG track that a handful of Burkies skied today. It was a great day and a supper course.

One of the last days

We're almost to the end of the season but you wouldn't know it on the training hill. So much snow, and many smiles!

 McKenna, Parker, Lucy

SISTERS! Lizzy and Char

TGFS at Cochran's

A large number of Burkies are taking part in the the Thank God for Snowmaking race at Cochran's today.  The lodge was packed so we found hay bales to use as benches.

A Quick Visit to the Lake

On our way from Reno to Mammoth for the Mammoth Spring Series Audrey, Eliza and I took a quick detour over to Lake Tahoe to take in some of the beautiful views.
The whole group has made it safely to Mammoth and everyone is ready to throw down for one of the last race series of the year!

Squaw to Mammoth

The guys and girls that were at US Nationals made their way down to the Mammoth area for spring series. Along the way we stopped at Mono Lake and learned about the Tufas that rise up out of the lake. The kids are pictured below standing on one of the Tufas.

Ski ACADEMY

Sugarloaf base lodge, U16 boys.

Life at the 'Loaf

U16 Am-Can races this week. Although I only have pictures of girls, the boys are here too! We're all enjoying some Maine highlights...

Auty 2nd U21 at US Nationals

Under gorgeous sunshine Jack Auty threw down a blazing run to 8th overall and was the 2nd U21 for the day. A huge congrats to all the competitors from the eastern region.

Fun at Sugarbush

A handful of FIS Women raced GS at Sugarbush the last two days in tough conditions. Norwegian and UVM star, Kristina Riis-Johansson, was in attendance and bringing some heat. The girls (Eliza, Soph, Char and Mo) fought hard, had some great sections and in the end, both Moriah and Eliza came away with U18 victories and overall podium finishes, 3rd and 2nd respectively.

Now, we take the crew over to Waterville Valley for a little SL, but not before the girls bang some plastic after the GS race.

Is there a better way to finish up a day?

Winter Term Science Projects

This week students presented their final projects in the Winter Term Science class.  The individuals highlighted below chose to design an experiment in an attempt address an environmental issue on campus, and to raise awareness in the Burke Mountain Academy Community.

Peter Moe-Lang's research question was how much money and energy could be saved if the school switched from fluorescent to LED bulbs to light their buildings.  Some of his findings included a savings of hundreds of pounds of carbon dioxide, 13 more years of longevity, and around $200 per year (enough to buy more gates for the ski hill).  Rob, the Head of Maintenance, has already changed the bulbs in his office saving time, money and energy for larger campus projects!

Peter

Parker Biele researched how much space the Burke Mountain Academy community saves in the landfill by composting our waste instead of throwing all of our food waste in the dumpster.  For over a month she weighed the compost bin after each meal.  Parker found that annually we compost enough cubic feet of food waste to save at least an equivalent of at least 3 dumpster fulls of landfill space.  In addition, because the dumpster does not need to be emptied as frequently (the compost pick-up fee is minimal) we are saving the school hundreds of dollars.  Overall each individual averages about 5 gallons of food waste per month.  The take-home message was eat what you take, only take what you can eat.

Parker

The Winter Term math class played the stock market for three months.  No one lost money, but Forest van Dine earned over $2,000.  He is eager to begin investing his own money soon.  Pictured below, Shamus McKim, is presenting his stock market poster project to the class.  In addition to summarizing how he calculated his daily and final earnings, in his poster, Shamus highlighted the history of the stock market, how to read a stock page in a financial journal, how he chose his particular portfolio, and how he computed his overall percent increase of 10%.  Way to go Shamus!

Shamus

Withy Dorm Clean

Just because Eric is away doesn't mean dorm clean will be neglected!

Despite his day student status, Yale helps out...

 ...but refuses to be acknowledged for his good deed...

...and flees the scene.

 Hunter demonstrates proper sweeping technique...

 ...as does Brayton on the vacuum...

...while Timmy and Peter make sure to clean the hard to reach places.

Wednesday's Withy classes

In English class, Brayton makes her point on the question of Victor's insanity in Frankenstein while Hunter and Trevor listen.

Students explain the Renaissance to Dave in 9th grade History.

All smiles on a powder day

Burke got about 15" in the big storm. We are psyched!! Powder day!

Here are a few photos from the mountain.

 As you'd hope, the lodge is empty on a powder day

 Seen one of these before?!?!?

 Liam, Libby, Shamus, Silas, Matt H

 New trail, sweet powder

Forest, Lizzy, Avery, Sven, Andrew H

Welcome spring! Baby lambs have arrived!

Loralee's sheep gave birth to two lambs over the weekend and yesterday a few girls visited the farm to welcome these CUTE little guys.

Bug and Baby Lamb

Nina and a spunky little lamb.

How cute is this little guy with Anna?

Madison with Momma

 

U14 Eastern Champs

Over the weekend some U14s participated in three days of competition at Sunday River: a Skills Assessment day, and SL and GS races. The Skills Assessment is a relatively new assessment in the Eastern Region for ages U12 and U14. The skills include the Apex Drill, One ski skiing, and Pole plant. 

 Shamus won the Skills Assessment

 Lizzy and Isabel went 3, 4 in Slalom

 Between runs. Coach Corey showing off his new sunglasses.

In GS Isabel took 2nd and McKenna 6th. 

Eastern Region NorAm

Here's a pic of the Eastern Region NorAm team relaxing before the GS. Lets hope for some great results today, the girls are up for the challenge.

Nor Am Boys atop Nakiska

Back in Alberta Ronnie, Mike, Jack and Chris prep for our free-ski SG day at Nakiska. It was sweet!

U14 Vermont State Championships

Over this past beauteous weekend, the U14s raced in the VT State Championships at Sugarbush. On the whole, the athletes stepped up their game and raced the best they have all year. Not only did we take away a win (McKenna Wilson in GS), but many popped into the top ten, and some starting from the 50s and 70s raced to top 20 results. I was extremely proud of how they skied. Here are a few shots from awards. 

McKenna takes the GS win, with Lizzy 5th and Isabel 7th 

 In Slalom for boys Shamus took 7th and Andrew was 9th.

Here the Girls' State Team poses. Take note of alum Nolan Kasper in the red hat who was there watching his little brother but helped give out awards too!