Intuition, Freeskier Feature SBA Artistry

 

The photographic and skiing artistry of SBA student-athletes Skyler Mullings ('16) and Drew Hartley ('13) were featured recently in Freeskier magazine.

Mullings photographed Hartley airborne near Rainbow Bridge, and Hartley's sponsor Intuition liked the photo so much it ended up on a full-page advertisement for the boot liners in Freeskier. 

Thanks to Skyler Mullings for the following comments about his passion for his artistic pursuits...

"Videography and photography are both great ways to capture a great moment. It's easy to go out there, purchase a camera, and start snapping photos, but the way that you capture that moment and display it to your viewers is the creative aspect of it. My goal is that everything I release has a creative aspect to it and can't be duplicated by someone else out there. I'd like my work to be different, unique. In this case, though, the athlete is the one with the creativity. A big thanks to Drew Hartley's sponsor, Intuition, and to Drew himself for arranging this photo to be used as an ad!" - Skyler Mullings ('16)

Team Nordic Flexes Muscles Before Nationals

SBA Team Nordic has ambitions beyond Saturday's state championships, to be sure. Fulfilling the pre-season team goal of qualifying every SBA racer for Junior Nationals, the entire team will be departing Friday for Fairbanks, Alaska, to race against the very best in the country.

Saturday, though, was a chance to make a team statement versus its peers in the state, and - after a season of some health adversity for a number of SBA Nordic racers - it still turned out to be a blue-and-white day yesterday at Auburn Ski Club. Please enjoy the photo below, then scroll down for the full story of marmot muscle flexing.

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Statement: delivered!
Katrin Larusson took top-of-the-podium honors with impressive first-place finishes in both the classic and skate races, and the girls' team again garnered enough season points to repeat as Nordic League Varsity Women champions. The results sheet appeared to be printed in Sugar Bowl blue and white, with SBA's Danielle Nivinski third, Camille Hartley fifth, Bria Riggs sixth, Elise Hardy eleventh and Savannah Blide twelfth.

Sam Zabell had the strongest showing for the boys' team, racing to a third-place overall finish with a particularly strong skate race. Peter Carroll placed sixth, Casey Jobe eleventh, and Skyler Mullings thirteenth. The boys finished second on the season among Nordic League Varsity Men.

The Fighting Marmot congratulates both the boys and girls Nordic ski racers and wishes them - along with the entire Far West team - the very best against the very best in Alaska. 

Nordic Marmots Strong on "Home Snow"

For a full photo essay of our home race, please click HERE

Sugar Bowl played host to a high school Nordic ski race Friday, with some impressive results for SBA racers both at our well-attended and spirited "home snow" race as well as on Sunday at Tahoe City Cross Country's Junior Nationals Qualifier. 

Head Nordic Coach Jeff Schloss was kind enough to offer the following summary of season highlights thus far. Thank you, Jeff, and congratulations to team Nordic on a very strong start to the season! 

"The 2012/2013 Nordic race season is still in the early stages, with races running all the way until the middle of April, but things are off to a great start for the Fighting Marmots' Nordic squad. In the CNISSF school league, SBA captured first place for women and second place for men in the opening race, the Kirkwood relay. The SBA team of Danielle Nivinski, Elise Hardy, and Katrin Larusson dominated the race with a win by over a minute, and the young J2 boys with Peter Carroll, Skyler Mullings, and Sam Zabell skied to a strong second place. In the SBA home CNISSF race on January 11th, all SBA athletes who raced placed in the varsity top ten, including Katrin Larusson in first, Camille Hartley in ninth, Savannah Blide in tenth, Sam Zabell in fourth, Peter Carroll in sixth, Skyler Mullings in ninth, and Casey Jobe in tenth. In Far West racing, SBA athletes have been very strong in the Junior National qualifying races, with age-group wins from Katrin, Sam, and Danielle, as well as strong qualifying races from almost the entire team. On the National front, the older girls of Katrin, Danielle, Elise, and Bria have been racing at the U.S. Super Tour races in West Yellowstone, Montana, the Bozeman Super Tour (Katrin) and U.S. Nationals in Soldier Hollow, Utah (Katrin, Danielle, and Elise). The biggest highlights of these races have come with Katrin winning the J1 girls classic race in Bozeman and coming in fourth for J1 girls in the skate sprint at U.S. Nationals. Some goals for the team this year include trying to qualify the entire team for the Junior National Championships in Fairbanks, Alaska, putting an SBA athlete on the podium at Junior Nationals, winning the CNISSF league for women, and coming in top two for men. Finally, we would like to see every SBA athlete feel that they have improved significantly from last year. The season is young, but we feel we are on the way to achieving our ambitious goals!"

The Skinny on SBA's Alpine Ski Racers

What happens when SBA's alpine ski racers clip in to skinny Nordic skis? See for yourself!

Scene on Campus Pic of the Day

What a difference a year makes. We are already sculpting snow stairwells in order to access our academic facilities this year. Here, Luke Rodarte and Cody Winters stand before their respective snow stairs. You be the judge! 

Photo by Skyler Mullings

December's Marmot Mom and Dad of the Month

Fighting Marmot parents are often found selflessly pitching in at races, comps, formal dinners, and other school functions. That spirit of volunteerism and teamwork strengthens our community in so many ways, and - as we ring in the New Year - The Fighting Marmot would like to recognize December's Marmot Dad and Mom of the Month, Nute Mullings and Sonja Harris, father and mother of SBA student-athlete Skyler Mullings ('16). Nute and Sonja are fixtures at Auburn Ski Club Nordic races, assuring that the race course is properly marked pre race and, often, that everything is properly and neatly stored post race. For all their efforts, The Fighting Marmot names Nute Mullings  and Sonja Harris Marmot Dad and Mom of the Month. 

If you have any nominees for super parents, please use the "Contact Us" tab at left, and Happy New Year to the entire Fighting Marmot family!  

SBA Can!

Skyler Mullings (left) and Casey Jobe (right) move
canned goods collected by our community,
readying them for transport to the Truckee Community
Christmas collection facility on Monday.

Single mothers, the elderly or housebound, and over 300 needy families in the Truckee area are among those who will not go hungry this holiday season thanks to the efforts of Truckee Community Christmas. 

Sugar Bowl Academy students and faculty made a difference, too, partnering with Truckee Community Christmas in its canned food drive. 

For over two weeks students and faculty brought canned goods to campus in a challenge to see which advisory group could collect the most food. Skyler Mullings even brought in a large load of organic Annie's bunny rabbit pasta. 

The winning advisory ended up being the group that sponsored the canned-food drive this year, the ninth-and-tenth-grade "Off Piste" advisory. Coming in a close second was the older boy's advisory, with a strong late push by Marc Talbott. 

Photos follow of parts of the collection facility (only two rooms of many other rooms full of food are pictured here), which has seen canned-food donations hit a historic high this year, according to local realtor and Truckee Community Christmas leader Lynn Richardson. 

Yes We CAN...Again!

Sinead Danagher reads a book in front of canned goods collected
by the eighth-grade advisory

Michael Cooper, Annika Berg, and Skyler Mullings of the 9th/10th-grade "Off Piste" advisory made a plea at All School Meeting today to help families who are struggling to put food on the tables this holiday season. As previously posted HERE on The Fighting Marmot, SBA is working with Truckee Community Christmas to collect canned goods for those in the Truckee area who might otherwise go hungry. 

Student-athletes who will not be in advisory Thursday due to travel schedules: please think ahead! 

SBA Musicians Perform at Pioneer Center

Finding time to practice a musical instrument when faced with a rigorous conditioning regimen and equally rigorous college-prep academics can be a challenge, to say the least. 

That doesn't stop four SBA student-athletes, who travel to Reno weekly to practice with their respective orchestras. 

Two SBA student-athletes - ninth-graders Skyler Mullings and Casey Jobe - recently performed with the Reno Youth Concert Orchestra and two more - Camille Hartley and Sam Zabell - with the Reno Youth Symphony Orchestra. 

Mullings plays the trombone and Jobe is a first violin for the Reno Youth Concert Orchestra, which is considered the intermediate-level orchestra. Zabell (Principal) and Hartley play violin for the more advanced Youth Symphony Orchestra. The Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts plays host every year to the Reno Philharmonic Youth Orchestra Fall Concert. 

Hartley, Jobe, Zabell, and Mullings

Team Nordic

Here's another Skyler Mullings' photo essay, the subject this time being Team Nordic's conditioning trip to Marin Headlands. Click on the photo below to visit the Picasa slide show...

Team Nordic at Marin Headlands

Team Freeride Returns from Mammoth

Team Freeride was spotted on the slopes at Sugar Bowl today, but here's a look back at the team's training trip to Mammoth (photos by Skyler Mullings). Click on the image to visit the Picasa slide show.

Team FreeRide in Mammoth 2012

Learning Hands-On in Blackwood Canyon

A focal point of SBA teaching and learning is, increasingly, engaging all the senses through hands-on experience.

With the addition this year of our trips program (click HERE if you missed my previous post on the subject) and field experiences such as the recent Tahoe Basin Watershed Education Summit, experiential learning is emerging as a hallmark of the SBA academic experience.

Seven SBA student-athletes camped three nights at Blackwood Canyon from Oct. 3rd-6th, conducting an extensive watershed assessment in support of the US Forest Service's efforts to restore this sensitive and important ecosystem.

Thank you to SBA tenth-grader Sam Zabell for the following report of his experience in Blackwood Canyon!

Sam Zabell in his TBWES tee-shirt

"The Tahoe Basin Watershed Education Summit was a great experience. It provided us with the opportunity to talk with experts in the fields of hydrology, geology, ornithology, as well as scientists from the Tahoe-Baikal Institute. We were able to use high-tech, professional instruments to take measurements of real data through streambed cross sections and do engaging fieldwork. By participating in this summit, I was exposed to a wide array of sciences and jobs in the field... It has left me with a greater understanding of water sciences and how watersheds function."

Biology teacher Andy Giordano offered the following retrospective of the experience: "Our students had an awesome time, learned a bunch and impressed the other adults that were there. I think we made some very positive connections to the Basin educational and environmental communities and showed some folks just how incredible our students can be."

Click HERE to learn more about the TBWES and HERE to view Andy Giordano's slide show from the field.

Powered by Pancakes

Student Council's annual pancake fund raiser at Sugar Bowl Resort's Village Hall Sunday netted over $400 toward campus activities this year.

"Thanks to all the student-athletes who volunteered to help out and to the Ski Team families for their support," said Student Council Advisor Aly Kendall. "It was a lot of fun for everybody!"

Marmots Go Retro at South Lake

The following report of Fighting Marmots running wild comes from Head Nordic/XC Coach Jeff Schloss: 

We had a super fun day at the South Tahoe Retro Relays. Our Varsity girls' team of Savannah, Lauren, Elise, and Danielle medaled in fifth place out of a strong field, and our young boys' team of Sam, Sklyer, Casey, and Peter were fifth in the JV boys' race. Overall there were about 80 teams, and many were decked out in costumes. SBA looked sharp and even fielded a coaches' team with Ambrose, Martin, Jeff, and Cassidy’s Dad, Doug, joining us. We weren't the fastest coaches' team but we looked the best!

"Froshmores" Go Off Piste

Each advisory group at SBA structures its activities around a theme (there will be more surfacing on that subject in the fall newsletter, so stay tuned). One of two ninth/tenth-grade advisory groups is organizing around the theme of "Off Piste." Here, advisors Jeff Schloss, Lesley LeMasurier, and Peyton Jobe take advisees off piste to experience the Donner Summit train tunnel (no longer in operation!) as well as the petroglyphs just off of Old 40 near the summit.

Springing in to the new school year...

Springing in to the new school year, here is a look at physical testing, along with some insight into how our student/athletes spend their summers. Enjoy!

SBA Goes Big, Then Home at Pole Peddle Paddle

Congratulations, again, to Nordic Coaches Schloss and Tuscano for their fantastic finish at the Pole Peddle Paddle last weekend in Bend, Oregon! 

Coach Schloss submitted the following highlights. You will notice that each of the SBA student-athlete teams that participated in the event finished first in its division!

 

"Bend, Oregon’s Pole Pedal Paddle is a six-leg relay race that includes alpine skiing/snowboarding, xc skiing, biking, running, canoe/kayaking, and a sprint to the finish for a total distance of about 34 miles. This year, 2,922 racers competed in the 882 individual/team entries. Olympian and US Nordic Ski Team member Kris Freeman won the men’s elite division and XC Oregon’s Stephanie Howe won her third straight title in the women’s elite race. Six SBA teams represented Far West Nordic. All SBA teams came in first in their division with the exception of coaches Ambrose Tuscano and Jeff Schloss who were second in their age group but seventeenth overall. Ambrose alpine skied, biked, and paddled while Jeff nordic skied, ran and sprinted.

• Team SBA: Skyler Mullings and Casey Jobe - WINNERS of pairs age 17 and under.

• Team Gangstar Ninjas: Cassidy Cichowicz and Scott Cooper - WINNERS of coed pairs age 18-24.

• Team PB: Bria Riggs and Peter Carroll - WINNERS of coed pairs under 17.

• Team Victorious Secret (males): Joe Piercy and Austin Meng - WINNERS of male pairs 18-24.

• Team Victorious Secret (females): Savannah Blide and Erika Klenk - WINNERS of female pairs under 17."

Left to Right: Casey Jobe, Jeff Schloss, Skyler Mullings, Peter Carroll,
Austin Meng, Scott Cooper

Keeping Our Campus Clean!

Sugar Bowl Academy faculty and student-athletes worked together during advisory today to collect garbage from the campus grounds and around the West Bay parking area of Sugar Bowl Resort. You will notice an SBA Suburban packed for the Pole, Peddle, Paddle in Bend, OR. Go Fighting, Garbage-Collecting, Poling, Peddling, Paddling Marmots! 

Coach Jefe's Tahoe Rim Tour Raises $2,000 for FWNSEA

A strong field showed up at North Tahoe High School yesterday for the fifth running of the Tahoe Rim Tour, a fund raiser for the Far West Nordic Ski Education Association’s Junior Ski Programs started by SBA's own Head Nordic Coach Jeff "El Jefe" Schloss.

This year's event raised some $2,000 and featured prizes donated by Sierra Nordic of Truckee, among others.

Schloss himself finished first in his age group and eighth overall in the Classic division. Congratulations, Jefe! Assistant Coach Ambrose Tuscano took eleventh overall in the Classic wave, with Peter Carroll close on his heels in fifteenth. Mother and daughter duo Laurel and Nancy Fiddler crossed the finish line together sporting matching head bands and uniforms in first place for each of their respective age divisions. Also in the Classic division, Kelly Habibi took third and Joe Piercy sixth for their age divisions.

In the Junior Skate division, SBA's Skyler Mullings and faculty child Casey Jobe finished first and second, respectively.

Said Jefe: "huge THANK  YOUS go to SBA volunteers Camille Hartley, Joelle Romo, Katrin larusson, Bria Riggs, Roxanne Romo, MaryBeth Larusson, Sonja Harris, Paige Derdowski, and Kelley Carroll.”

Enjoy the movie!

Scenes from SBA's Got Talent 2012

Skyler Mullings of Action Video Editing Class made the following movie. Thank you, Skyler!