(L to R) Ann Rightmire, Nyla Scott, Sadie Bell, & Kai Donnelly mix it up at the 2022-23 Silver Fox Trot – Fred Bailey photo

This year’s Silver Fox Trot freestyle race hosted by Ford Sayre at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center was a huge success! Despite the event falling unusually early in the season, nearly 300 racers showed up to partake of this long-time running Popular competition. The Craftsbury Outdoor Center did a fabulous job ensuring there was ample snow to ski on, with an undulating 2km race loop, room to warmup and areas for kids to play on skis. The enthusiastic crew from Ford Sayre showed up in force and ran a very smooth event.

Bill Koch Youth Ski League skiers ripping it up out of the start – Fred Bailey photo

On the racing side, the participants ranged from Bill Koch Youth Ski League competitors to a healthy contingent of masters athletes, with many collegiate and junior skiers mixed in. Due to the short loop, this year’s event was run as interval start minimizing course congestion. A new twist taken for NENSA’s summer rollerski series saw the fastest open athletes being seeded by best U.S. Ski & Snowboard points, regardless of gender – it was very cool to see the men and women mixing it up side-by-side. Another twist on past events was the masters recognition, where all the age group winners of each gender were brought together to celebrate their accomplishments on the day. It was quite amazing to see so many pillars of our New England ski community join that ceremony!

(L to R) Sara Graves, Rosemary Shea-Cobb, Rosalie Wilson & Jessie Donavan – Master’s Women Ceremony – Fred Bailey photo

M2 – Allison Crocker – Ford Sayre

M3 – Sara Graves – Stowe Nordic

M4 – Jessie Donovan – GMVS

M5 – Amy Caldwell – Caldwell Sport

M6 – Rosemary Shea-Cobb – Mansfield Nordic

M7 – Ellie Bouffard – Mansfield Nordic

M8 – JoAnn Janowski – Craftsbury Ski Club/Rossignol

(L to R) Richard Costanza, Tyler Magnan, Scott Lacy, Hugh Pritchard & Jim Fredericks – Master’s Men Ceremony – Fred Bailey photo

M1 – Scott Lacy – Crosscut

M2 – Tyler Magnan – NWVE

M3 – Jeremy Huckins – Stowe Nordic

M4 – Eli Enman – NWVE/Rossignol

M5 – Hugh Pritchard – Onion River Nordic

M6 – Phil Lawson – Craftsbury Ski Club

M7 – Richard Costanza – Craftsbury Ski Club

M8 – Rob Bradlee – Freedom Trail Nordic

M9 – Jim Fredericks – Craftsbury Ski Club

In the Open field, the UVM men and women led the way, sweeping both podiums. A strong contingent of junior racers was close behind trying to make inroads into the pace set by the collegiate skiers. The Silver Fox Trot also featured the largest masters field to date this season with more than 50 jumping in the event! The day was finished off with Bill Koch races. Each two-year class group began as a mass start, rocking around the Lemon’s Haunt before climbing back to the upper stadium for the finish. All totaled nearly 100 BKL skiers competed on the day.

(L to R) Aidan Burt, Tabor Greenberg & Ellis Slover – U18/U20 Boys podium – Fred Bailey photo

(L to R) Ruth Krebs, Amelia Circosta & Annie Hanna – U16 Girls podium – Fred Bailey photo

(L to R) Molly Moening, Haley Brewster & Emma Page – U18/U20 Girls podium – Fred Bailey photo

(L to R) Niko Cuneo, Lucas Barstow & David Northcott (missing) – U16 Boys podium – Fred Bailey photo

(L to R) Waverly Gebhardt, Haley Brewster & Annie McColgan – Open Women’s podium – Fred Bailey photo

(L to R) Jacob Nystedt, Finn Sweet & Bjorn Westervelt – Open Men’s podium – Fred Bailey photo

Results

Scoring

NENSA photos

Thank you Ford Sayre and the Craftsbury Outdoor Center for a wonderful event! Up next racing action moves from Mt Van Hoevenberg, Lake Placid, NY for the Rikert Grand Prix Eastern Cup Opener, hosted by the Frost Mountain Nordic Ski Club on Saturday & Sunday December 17-18th.