Latest News – February 5

Panthers Nordic Team Waxes, Wanes With Conditions

Last Saturday, Jan. 31, the Lake County High School and Middle School Nordic ski teams traveled to the Cordillera Nordic Center for a classic race. During the entire day, the temperature hovered just above freezing and wet snow was falling. These conditions are the most difficult conditions for finding the correct kick wax – so coaches and skiers spent much of the day making the best of a challenging situation. 

Hannah Holm had her best finish ever: 15th place! Photo: Sarah Hudelson.

“It was the toughest waxing conditions I’ve seen in nine years as a coach,” remarked Coach Karl Remsen. “What worked one race was terrible the next. Every team was struggling to find something that worked.”  

The middle school boys trio of Sam Frykholm, Conner Lenhard, and Matt Koch skied much of the race together. They finished 27th, 28th, and 30th respectively out of 41 racers, securing a 4th place finish for the team. 

Panther Conner Lenhard taking the turn at the Eagle race. Photo: Sarah Hudelson

“That race was crazy!” remarked Frykholm afterwards. “The tracks were gone so we had to run most of the hills”. 

The middle school girls notched a 3rd place finish with strong skiing in their race. They were led by Hannah Holm with her best finish ever in 15th place. Abby Holm was close behind in 17th place, and Neva Sunday was 28th. 

After the two middle school races, the tracks began to substantially glaze on sections of the course.

“I think we tested a dozen different waxes today; it was a matter of trying to find enough kick without having the skis ice up. What worked for the middle school did not work during the high school races,” Coach Jessie Coffin commented afterwards. 

Ethan Greiner (left) skied in the top five for almost the entire race. Photo: Sarah Hudelson

The high school boys were next on the course, and they did not let the difficult conditions slow them down. Ethan Greiner skied in the top five for almost the entire race until his ski popped off a kilometer from the finish. He grabbed his ski and put it on quickly enough to finish 8th. Taylor Stack continued to show improvement in his classic skiing by placing 13th. Russell Orris suffered a difficult fall on a downhill when his skis iced up, but he still finished 27th despite a dozen skiers passing him. Joe Koch had a solid race to place 52nd, and Zach Coffin had his highest place finish of the year in 66th. The boys were 4th as a team, their best placing so far this year. 

Before the high school girls race, the temperature dropped just slightly, so the wax that had worked for most teams in the high school boys race suddenly became too sticky. Many girls had to deal with skis that iced up, causing numerous face plants, forcing girls to stop and kick the snow off. 

Caroline Benney digging deep with a winning smile! Photo: Vicki Koch.

Harper Powell, in just her 2nd classic race ever, jumped out with the lead pack and never looked back. She finished 7th, the best finish by a skier so far this year. Lara Lufkin fought through the difficult conditions to place 18th. Caroline Benney rounded out the team scoring with a 47th place finish to help the Panthers to a 5th place finish. Alissa Kuster and Courtney Crenshaw placed 66th and 67th respectively. 

“Harper’s race was inspiring,” remarked Lara Lufkin afterwards. “She was so strong in such tough conditions.” 

The final, regular season race for the Panthers will be Saturday in Frisco.  Good Luck, Panthers!

Find Money for College at College Goal Sunday 

Colorado Mountain College (CMC) is hosting College Goal Sunday, on Feb. 8 from 1 – 3 p.m. The event is open to any prospective college students and their parents to ask questions and get free help with financial aid paperwork. Nontraditional and independent students are encouraged to attend as well, and assistance is for applying to any college or university – not just Colorado Mountain College.

For more information, contact Pam Flippin at Colorado Mountain College in Leadville, 719-486-2015. or pflippin@coloradomtn.edu, or go to collegegoalcolorado.org or collegegoalsundayusa.org.

Elementary School Playground Design Requests Input

The West Park Elementary School playground project is seeking public input and comment for the redesign and revitalization of the facility.

The proposed new playground features improved drainage, nature-based play equipment, a walking path linking the different areas of the playground, lots of trees and boulders to shape and define the area, and a potential expansion to include a playing field. VIEW PLAYGROUND DESIGN: HERE.

West Park Elementary School was one of six schools across the state to receive GOCO-funded professional playground design services. The designs are available for public comment until this Saturday, Feb. 6. Comments can be made by emailing Christina Reiff at christinareiff@gmail.com.

Community input will be used to create a final design for the West Park playground, which will then be resubmitted to GOCO for potential funding of up to $114,000 (or 75% of the project’s total cost). The remaining funds will be raised through fundraisers, community contributions, and additional grants. The project hopes to begin construction in the summer of 2016.

Kiddos Take to Leadville’s Ski Mountain: Ski Cooper

The kids from The Center, staff, parents, and Ski Cooper employees hit the slopes one last time for this season’s Learn To Ski Program. Photo: The Center.

The Center’s “Learn-To-Ski” program provides an opportunity for 20 kinder-ready kiddos to participate in 6 free ski lessons at Ski Cooper.  The Center’s last ski day for the season was on Tuesday, Feb 3. The kids had a great time as they rode the Chicago Ride Snow Cat to the top of the hill and then slowly made their way down the hill, under the careful guide of instructors and parent volunteers.

“Yeah, I made it down!” says Makenna Hernandez.

What a fun day and great opportunity to make sure that every Leadville kid has a chance to hit the slopes, at least once!

“Huge thanks go out to the parents who host fundraisers and the wonderful Ski Cooper staff who show love and patience during these lessons,” said Mary Cannell, Family and Community Partnerships Manager at The Center Early Childhood Program

“Our little guys and gals learn mad skiing skills in just a few lessons and make their families proud!”

Leonandro Lopez, Austyn Medina, and Tilly Kirr, from The Center make their way down down the slope under the guidance of a Ski Cooper Instructor:.