The space between the winter at Quarry Road usually hums by. A wash of runners, hikers, and Colby Mules enjoying the picturesque ridge rising over the Kennebec Valley. This summer though, change was underway. The parking lot got paved, and the grooming shed got a fresh mural. It seemed to invite the winter in. And so, as temperatures dipped, Quarry Road Program Director Jeff Tucker had an inclination. “I think we should schedule another day for the Quarry Road Opener.”
The winter seemed to jump at the opportunity. Making it so that the 12th annual Quarry Road Opener would revive, renew, and add something new to the staple of the NENSA race season.
Saturday Skate Race
The traditional freestyle Opener race also marked an opening shot on the unique window which exists in December for racing. With the EISA Carnival circuit a month away, the high school season still coming up, and good snow across New England for BKLers and Masters, the ski community all comes together early, before headed off into their different circuits.
This Quarry Road Opener saw Mules, BOBcats, WILDcats Polar Bears, and…Crimsons?…take to Maine with a strong EISA contigent leading the 7.5k Skate effort. They were joined by a sampling of the up-and-coming Maine high school skiers, and Masters looking to get the Zak Cup season underway!
Winners in a fast-running freestyle race were Natalie Nicholas (UNH) in the Open Women, and Ben Lewis (Colby) in the Men’s race. They both edged out close challenges from fellow college skiers. The full Women’s Podium: 1st) Natalie Nicholas (UNH), 2nd) Emma Crum (Bowdoin), and 3rd) Breagh Bridge (Harvard). The full Men’s podium: 1st) Ben Lewis (Colby), 2nd) Galen Grohusky (UNH), and 3rd) Matous Matousek (Colby).
In the U16/HS 5k, Holderness’ Elena Laroche and EMXC’s Egor Ivanov took wins. The Girls podium: 1st) Elena Laroche (Holderness), 2nd) Harper Olmstead (Maranacook), and 3rd) Evelyn Lacasse (Nonstop Nordic). The Boys podium: 1st) Egor Ivanov (EMXC), 2nd) Owen Beale Tate (Quarry Road), and 3rd) Damian Wynn (Farmington)
Top Masters Results in the Womens field went to Cipperly Good (Northwest Vermont), while Bowdoin Coach Nathan Alsobrook hopped in to score top honors for in the Mens field.
Sunday Classic Race
Sunday’s Classic race saw a sunny, snowy scene as skiers took to the first ever USSS sanctioned race at the Quarry Road Opener.
In a course with a whole lot of laps, it was a dual win for the Colby Mules, as Ben Lewis repeated while leading to a Mule sweep of the Mens race, with Andy Defor in 2nd place and Ellis Slover in 3rd, while Lola Villafranco pulled into first in the Womens race. Hanna Wilsey (Harvard), in 2nd place, and Emma Crum (Bowdoin) in 3rd, completed the Women’s podium.
Sights and Scenes
A dozen years in, the Quarry Road Opener continues to know how to set the scene for the race season to come, with the Quarry Road Ski Club bringing their downhome mix of professionalism and love of the sport, and sending everyone on their way with smiles that will last long into the winter. “Fast racing, lots of laps,” wrote longtime Quarry Road Chief of Comp. Pat Cote. In typical Mainer fashion, that just about sums it up.
One of the annual highlights of the Quarry Road Opener is Steve Fuller, @flyingpoint, returning to the nordic scene to capture the community spirit, determination, and passion at the heart of the Maine nordic community. Enjoy this gallery from Sunday’s race!
Results and Rankings
NENSA Results | Results also on Webscorer
NENSA Zak and Club Cup Rankings
Preliminary NENSA Rankings for the weekend are updated by 12pm Tuesday on the NENSA Rankings Page. A 48 hour protest period is open until 12pm Thursday. There will be no retroactive scoring of races after this period and rankings are considered final.
