Alex Taylor skiing the relay at Middlebury

Despite Fiona's best attempts to trip up the competition, Williams came in 5th in the Middlebury relay race. Simi Hamilton raced hi Midd team to first, winning a remote control truck. Here's Alex being cheered on by the wild fans...



note: this video was taken on my phone. lessons learned: technology is amazing but the quality sucks

Mr. Williams

No, not skiing, but why not share this with you all...

Ephs Take 5th at Williams Carnival!

The team stepped up big time for our home carnival to snag fifth and defeat Bates for the first time all season. Lurking a scant sixteen points behind fourth place New Hampshire, the team looks poised to strike at our final carnival of the season this Friday and Saturday.

The top finishers in Friday's 10K freestyle race for the purple cows were Christina Perron '07, skiing in her last home carnival, placing 19th with her third top-20 result of the season and Mark Johnson '10 in 25th, leading a pack of three Ephs into the top thirty.

The classic sprints on Saturday were dominated by the Nelson siblings who led both teams with the top placing of the day--Jack '07 snagged 12th place, while Alice '10 finished 13th, leading the men and women to 6th and 4th place team scores, respectively.

Next weekend: Middlebury Carnival at Breadloaf.

Friday: 10:00 Mens 10k Skate
11:15 Womens 5k Skate
6:00 Carnival Banquet

Saturday: 10:00 Womens 15k classic
11:30 Mens 20k classic


Pictured above in Thursday's course inspection for the Williams Carnival: Katie Craig '08, Emily Olsen '09, Liz Kantack '09, Alice Nelson '10, Christina Perron '07 and Fiona Worcester '09.

Carnival Blizzard

Wednesday, February 14:
High winds and heavy snow was the V-Day gift given to the nordic skiers this Valentines Day by Old Man Winter. It was a gift that the skiers were not going to turn down! While the rest of the town and campus holed up in their houses and dorms for the day, the ski team donned their rock skis and snow gear and headed out into the storm. With barely a soul or vehicle in sight, the campus and roads were theirs to ski! Nothing was safe - stairs, rails, statues, roads, banks, fields, piles . . . . the ice-blasting winds could not wipe the smiles off their faces nor keep them from breaking into song and shouts of glee as they toured the campus, skiing everything in sight!

Clockwise: Morgan practices on the rails, Sam sports his new euro style, Crosby atop "the eyes", Katie can't contain her smile

The Bet was Made, the Stakes were High . . .

"If we get a snow storm I will sport a Mohawk" So said Coach Fisher, bummed about the lack of snow this season.
And Snow it Did . . . . . . .

Before: (Feb 12)


After: (Feb 14)

Updated Weather Report, Tuesday 2/13 6:00pm

Just in time for the carnival....


HEAVY SNOW WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EST THURSDAY

Tonight...A slight chance of snow this evening...Then snow after midnight. Snow heavy at Times after midnight. Snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches. Cold with the low around 3 above. East wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow near 100 percent.

Wednesday...Snow with a chance of sleet. Snow May be heavy at Times. Additional snow accumulation of 10 to 20 inches. Windy and cold with the high around 16. East wind 15 to 25 mph... Increasing to 25 to 30 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent. Wind chill values as low as 17 below in the morning.

Wednesday Night...Snow in the evening...Then a chance of snow showers after midnight. Total accumulation of 15 to 30 inches. Very windy and cold with the low around 3 above. Northeast wind 20 to 30 mph...Becoming northwest 30 to 35 mph after midnight. Chance of snow 80 percent. Wind chill values as low as 22 below.

Two Carnivals to Go!

Two more weeks left of carnival season!
Williams Carnival February 16--17
Middlebury Carnival February 23--24

After finally getting enough snow to train at Prospect, we're so psyched to host our home carnival this coming weekend. Races begin at 10am on Friday with the women's 10K freestyle race, followed by the men at 11:30am. That evening we'll christen our brand new student center--the Paresky Center, opening on Friday--with the annual winter carnival ceremonies and ski team skits on Friday evening at 6:30pm. Hope to see lots of friends, parents and alums there!


Pictured: Greg Rahmlow '07 (top left), Jack Nelson '07 (top right), Tucker Sawin '07 (bottom left)

WILLIAMS WINTER CARNIVAL '07!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Schedule of Events:

Friday, Feb 16: 10am Women's 10k Skate
11:30am Men's 10km Skate
7:30pm Carnival Ceremonies, Paresky Student Center
Saturday, Feb 17: 9:30am Men's Classic Sprint Prelims
10am Women's Classic Sprint Prelims
10:30am Sprint Heats
1:00pm Sprint Finals
7:00-9:00pm Parents/Alumni Reception at the Faculty Club

Carnie Crushes: Dartmouth Carnival at Stowe

(Below) Christina Perron starts the uphill climb on the second leg of the skate relay

Friday's long, mass-start classic race was Brutal with a capital B: windy and cold, the purple cows put their noses toward the snow and charged ahead, putting 4 in the top 30. Alice Nelson and Fiona Worcester were 13th and 16th, respectively, while Sam Kapala and Mark Johnson were 24th and 25th, respectively.

Saturday arose with little wind and warmer temps to give the course at Stowe fast and firm tracks. Even with two of the starters home with sickness, the relays did well and brought home a women's 4th and a men's 7th place.

And then the fun REALLY began: serenading, cards, kisses (candy and real), and cookies were the basis of the carnie crush madness that ensued. Perhaps Most Worth Mentioning was an acoustic guitar serenade - "Be my Carnie Crush, Girl, On Classic Skis" - that was belted out over the loud speaker to our very own Katie Craig.

The Women from Maine show their love for our men's team(right) Katie Craig gets serenaded

ALUM INVASION!

(Above pic: Alums Gillian Sowden, Elissa Rehm, Joel Bradley, Amelia Bishop, and current skier Katie Craig reunite)

'Twas the UNH Carnival and all through the team,
the focus on that first day was only on skiing,

The skis were all base-prepped and ready to wax,
In hopes of racing on the perfect tracks

The skiers were nestled in parkas and wool socks
While visions of victory pranced on their thoughts

Bud rubbed in fluoros and I tested skis,
We were on schedule and of that were pleased

When from ‘cross the stadum arose such a clatter
We stopped in our tracks to see what was the matter

The sun on the lot that was wind-swept and bare
Made us squint to see what it was that was there

When what to our wondering eyes should appear?
Six ski team Alums, ready to cheer!

With voices so lively and faces a-glowing
They ran up with hugs and whistles a-blowing

Go Williams! Go Ephs! And Go Purple Cows!
They shouted lively and they shouted LOUD!

They spread ‘cross the course, extra poles in their hands
Cheering louder than a death-rock-punk-heavy-metal band

They helped with the feeding for both men and women,
Never quieting, their energy seemed unlimited!

The racers responded with vigor and speed
They put in that extra for their Alum team

And when all was over, was said and was done
There were more hugs and expressions of love

I heard the Alums exclaim, as they drove out of sight
"Good Job to All Who Skiied with Greatness and Might!"


Thanks so much to the ’06 Alums that came and cheered for the team at the Stowe races:
Tim Stickney, Sarah Torkelson, Elissa Rehm, Amelia Bishop, Joel Bradley, Gillian Sowden

NEXT WEEKEND: February 15-17th is our hometown Williams Carnival!! For those who can make it, please come and help cheer on your Alma Mater and join in the FUN!!