Race Team Results

Winterset was once again among the top clubs in the Monday Night Connecticut Ski Council race season, which starts in December and ends in February. Winterset finished in fourth place against 12 other clubs, many of them larger.

In addition to the team success, the following six racers earned individual CSC awards for their individual age class, calculated on the racer’s best six of the eight races: Angie Taylor (1st), Jeanette Cebrey (1st), Andy Lapati (2nd), Nicole Anastas (2nd), Paul Chabot (3rd), and Brian Burke (3rd).

Other racers who brought in a lot of points for Winterset were: Carole Ando, Marie Burke, Tamara Burke, Chas Perry, Anne Krane, Brenda Murray, Meghan O’Toole, Mike O’Toole, Ham Brosious and Steve Taylor.

On-Snow Carnival

Winterset shocked the entire Connecticut Ski Council by taking second place at Bromley Mountain’s On-Snow Carnival competitions held March 5-7.

The weather left a lot to be desired with two days of rain and a dense fog that made the slalom gates practically invisible. But in spite of the weather, the club outdistanced many of the stronger clubs, taking two first places, one second, one third and three fourths.

The club took first place in the Snowboard Race with seven entries. Matt Taylor and Ross Brier had a combined time of more than that of the entire second place club. The Ski Rally, a ski-all-over-the-mountain event, produced the second first place award (for the 2nd year in a row) while other big winners in this event were the O’Toole, Brier, Kane, Burke and Giarratano families.

Winterset came in second in the Club Race with a personal-best finish. Of the club’s 10 entries, the five “speed demons” were Mike Montesi, Mark Krasnickas, Mike O’Toole, Ross Brier and Brian Burke.  In the downhill race, Paul Chabot and Jeanette Cebry combined their efforts for the third place showing. The Fun Race, where the club came in fourth, is a zany event where Denise Kane, Rick O’Toole, Clay Brier and Jim and Andrew Cebry helped gain points for the overall total.

Kudos go to Garrett and Morgan Cebry for the two best times in the Junior A Race; To Vic Roy, Chas Perry, Peter Giarratano, Tamara Burke Devine and Jim Cebry for their efforts in the Tug-of-War; to Nickie O’Toole for the Volleyball game (done in ski-boots, of course) and for putting the whole weekend together; to Alexa and Gary Skalandunas for the best times in the Cross-Country Race; and to Matt Taylor who won the Junior Snowboard Division of the Boardercross/Skiercross Demo Race, which consists of skiers and snowboarders racing side-by-side through jumps and banked turns.

Weekend Trips

As usual, the club sponsored some special trips this year. The first was a weekend bus trips on January 9-11 to Sugarbush Valley, Vermont. Some 25 people boarded a bus on Friday afternoon heading for the Tucker Hill Lodge for the weekend. Mike Montesi ran the trip. The second weekend bus trip was to Loon Mountain Resort, Lincoln, New Hampshire January 30 through February 1, which included 44 participants.  Bob Attanasio ran the trip.

Both trips included welcome receptions, continental breakfasts and complimentary dinners. 

Lake Louise, Canada (February 14-21) – The club sponsored a weeklong trip to Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada, where the Canadian Rockies offer extraordinary scenery. Nearly 40 people took the trip. Tour leader Hamilton Brosious reports the group enjoyed excellent weather and great skiing at the famed Canadian resort located in the Banff National Park. 

Sugarloaf (March) – Twenty-four members went to Sugarloaf, Maine, for a weeklong trip. Run for the seventh year in a row by Andy Lapati, it offered ski-in, ski-out condos, daily lessons, health club access, hot tubs and 5½ days of great skiing at a great mountain.

Rocking Horse Ranch

Winterset’s first event next season “takes to the trails” November 5-7 at the Rocking Horse Ranch in Highland, New York. The weekend includes three days and two nights at the main lodge of Rocking Horse Ranch with MAP meals beginning with dinner on Friday through breakfast on Sunday. Anyone interested in more information on this annual trip can contact Susan Brier through Winterset’s website at www.wintersetskiclub.org.