U.S. Nationals Waxroom: Stir-crazy at Sugarloaf

If kids don’t start racing tomorrow, the only thing left to do in this town is gather everyone for skits. Or better yet, it might just turn into “The Shining.” The likelihood of USSA staff going berserk trying to get off these races, well, it’s high. Poor guys. It’s a full-on blizzard here — and without the races — activities have been exhausted.

IF KIDS DON'T start racing tomorrow, the only thing left to do in this town is gather everyone for skits. Or better yet, it might just turn into “The Shining.” The likelihood of USSA staff going berserk trying to get off these races, well, it’s high. Poor guys. It’s a full-on blizzard here — and without the races — activities have been exhausted.
    The Carrabassett Valley is only a base lodge and condos. We’re a bit in the boondocks — a beautiful boondocks we might add. (This is why Sugarloaf is a getaway of the most wonderful kind, but when it’s race time, ohhh, that makes it tough.) Just to drive here from Portland, Maine, took major navigating. There was no signage, just some highway numbers and a dash of luck. The athletes in town have taken over the fitness center, the main hotel — Grand America — and The Bag, which offers Maine’s tastiest beer. Really, the only thing to do is play (and that means just about anything other than racing). It’s been three days of waiting for the weather to cooperate.
    Today, the ski area shut down because of the high winds. Buildings are shaking, people are blowing over, lights are flickering — it’s a blizzard!
    The U.S. Ski Team girls, however, found the fun. They played soccer, then Lighting — a version of basketball’s Knockout. The winners: Hailey Duke, Katie Hitchcock and Leanne Smith. TJ Lanning and the Nordica crew tried to go sledding up north, but found out their sleds got rented when they got there. The ski techs had nothing to do except watch “Blades of Glory,” and Errol Kerr and many others played walleyball for hours — hours. "It's been more of a walleyball camp than a ski camp," said J2 JOs overall winner Michael Ankeny.

Trying to get the races off was interesting to say the least. “At 6:30 this morning, they were trying to put up the [slalom] start and the tent blew away, and they lost it. It blew so far away, that they lost it,” U.S ski teamer Laurel Carter said. “It’s windy,” added Duke, sarcastically.

    Before this town turns into "The Shining," we hope, pray, the weather calms down and allows the kids to compete. If not, the opening ceremonies and closing ceremonies will be on the same day. But, props to Sugarloaf, USSA staff and athletes for making a hunkered-down time fun as can be.