Mens Team Captures 3rd in both races at UVM Carnival!

Sam Kapala and Alex Taylor relax and smile after both completing their second successful race of the weekend at Trapps.


This weekend the team traveled to Stowe, VT for the UVM Carnival. The college races were combined with Super Tour races, and the large numbers and additional high-end racers made for an exciting field.

Saturday's races were 5/10km freestyle and Sunday's events were 10/15 classic.
The mens team dominated on both days: On Saturday Atay led the mens team by taking 6th, Keith had his best skate race ever at 13th, and Sam Kapala had a 20th place to round out the scoring. Then, on Sunday, the men put all 6 racers in the top 30! Dimitri Luthi had a blazing fast race, challenging some of the top Nor-Am racers in the country and finishing 3rd for the college racers. Sam Kapala had his best-ever college points race, finishing 12th, and Keith Kantack rounded out the team score with a 17th. Next in the top-30 finish was Evan Dethier in 22nd, Alex Taylor in 23rd, and Caleb Lucy at 30th.

The women had a tougher weekend, battling sickness and horrendous racing conditions for the classic race on Sunday. Alice Nelson, just recovering from sickness, led the ladies in the skate race with a top-15 finish. Sunday morning was a mix of hail, sleet, rain, snow, and 20-30mph wind gusts which made for tricky waxing and low visibility. But, tough as the womens team is, there was no complaining. They put their heads down and raced hard against the howling wind, blowing snow, and in race tracks ranging from snowed-in to iced-in. It wasn't until after the women finished that the conditions stabilized and the sun came out. Fiona Worcester led the Williams women by double poling most of the course, placing 20th.


Alex Taylor, on his way to a 6th place finish in the skate race.

Dimitri Luthi captures a podium finish in the classic race.

Coach Fisher, waxing the women's skis inside the van in order to keep the skis dry as the wind and driving wet rain made for difficult waxing as well as racing!

Liz skis off the first uphill onto the course, as the wind drives visibility to near-zero.

Caleb Lucy rounds out the team's classic feat of placing all 6 racers in the top 30.

Robby Cuthbert, double poling out of the start as the storm clouds loom behind.

Evan proves he is a nice person despite being a formidable adversary on the race course: he shares a cookie with Hannah, as Nick looks on.