Core memories were formed the weekend of February 23-25, 2024 for the JFBB U12 state representatives. The weekend started off with a raging hotel pool party, followed by a team dinner at Thea. Thea, a short drive from the mountain, is a delicious Greek restaurant that accommodated the entire group with a private patio seating. The coveted JFBB state sweatshirt was given out to each racer. Special thanks to Alison Mafodda for meticulously stitching patches on each sweatshirt the night before!
State championships are run slightly different than a regular season race. The racers competed 3 runs of Slalom on Saturday, and 3 runs of GS on Sunday. Each run is its own race that is worth points based on their place. Points are then tallied for SL (podiums 1-10) , GS (podium 1-10), and overall combined ( Para state team 1-11) . The top 42 girls and top 46 boys from Pennsylvania and Maryland raced to earn a spot on the PARA state team.
Saturday was a warm day and had very slushy conditions.
SL results
Run 1
- Gabby B – 9th
- Riley -16th
- Mackenzie 17th
- Josetta -18th
- Reaghan -19th
- Erin – 22nd
- Cassidy -28th
- –
- Jack -6th
- Noah -23rd
- Kellan -dnf
Run 2
- Mackenzie 6th
- Gabby B -13th
- Erin -16th
- Josetta -21st
- Cassidy -22nd
- Riley -24th
- Reaghan- dnf
- –
- Jack -3rd
- Noah – 21st
- Kellan- 35th
Run 3
- Gabby B – 8th
- Riley -12th
- Reaghan 17th
- Josetta-22nd
- Erin-24th
- Cassidy -26th
- Mackenzie -dnf
- –
- Jack -2nd
- Noah – 27th
- Kellan-31st
Overall SL
- Gabby 8th
- Mackenzie 14th
- Riley 17th
- Josetta -22nd
- Erin -23rd
- Reaghan 25th
- Cassidy -29th
- –
- Jack – 2nd
- Noah – 26th
- Kellan – 44th
Congratulations to Jack and Gabby for making the SL podium!
Temperatures dropped overnight and snow was made. Conditions were dramatically different as the groomers worked hard to make a fast hill for the GS race. The course maintenance crew was fantastic all day and should be applauded! Unfortunately, Riley fell ill overnight and was unable to race on Sunday. She was incredibly missed by the entire team.
Results from GS:
Run 1
- Mackenzie -4th
- Gabby -10th
- Reaghan -16th
- Josetta-23rd
- Erin-31st
- Cassidy -34th
- –
- Jack -2nd
- Noah -17th
- Kellan -27th
Run 2
- Mackenzie -8th
- Gabby -18th
- Reaghan -21st
- Josetta -23rd
- Cassidy -33rd
- Erin-34th
- –
- Jack -2nd
- Kellan -21st
- Noah-29th
Run 3
- Mackenzie – 8th
- Gabby – 11th
- Josetta -20th
- Reaghan 21st
- Cassidy -32nd
- Erin -33rd
- –
- Kellan- 23rd
- Noah -26th
- Jack -31st
Overall GS
- Mackenzie-5th
- Gabby -14th
- Reaghan-20th
- Josetta -22nd
- Erin -34th
- Cassidy -35th
- Jack- 4th
- Kellan-24th
- Noah -25th
Congratulations to Jack and Mackenzie for making the GS podium.
The top 11 overall combined are named to the PARA state team and continue on to the Francis Piches Invitational at Gunstock Mountain in New Hampshire, March 15-17. Those top 11 receive another coveted sweatshirt!
Congratulations to Jack who placed 2nd overall and Mackenzie who placed 9th. Combined results:
- Gabby -12th
- Reaghan -21st
- Josetta – 23rd ( first year u12 – and was the youngest competitor in the event! )
- Riley 29th (also a first year u12)
- Erin -30th
- Cassidy -32nd (first year u12)
- –
- Noah – 26th
- Kellan- 34th (first year u12)
As you can see, the talent is overwhelming, and the future is bright for JFBB! The coaches, Adam, Trevor, Andrew, and Bill did an excellent job preparing the racers. Their hard work and dedication to our team is exceptional. Our racers are very lucky to have their expertise, their passion for the sport, and their compassion for our children.
The u12’s lived up to their chant- they skied fast, and they took chances…but what was even better was the fact that they made friendships with other teams and continued the close bond that they have with each other. This is a very special group of kids that represented JFBB proudly and as always, they had the loudest cheering section on the mountain, including some of our u10’s Kenzie, Gabby and Marilla and development racers Holden And Caleb!
Thanks to Jerry J’s mom for writing this article.
