23 Feb 2019 – Daily Trail Report

Nearly 300 youth are gathering February 23rd and 24th for a wild weekend of Nordic adventures. Nordic skiers from the youngest up through age 15 will be racing, not to mention jumping and doing a whole lot of other fun stuff in this event. All the information and race results can be found on the website.

Athlete Spotlight: Neve Pruzan

This edition we are featuring one of our Devo skiers, Neve Pruzan, who is also a second generation JHSC and Trail Creek skier. Neve comes from a family of outdoor enthusiasts, so it is no wonder she’s a natural on skis. In the recent Moose Chase she was the youngest person to complete the 15K. It will be fun to watch her grow. The following is our interview with Neve:

Do you remember when you started skiing?

I first started skiing when I was 2, mostly around the yard with my strap-on skis.

At what age did you start skiing with the Jackson Hole Ski Club program?

My earliest memory of skiing at Trail Creek was falling a lot (and getting back up). I was 5 when I first started skiing at JHSC, starting with the Lollipops!

What grade are you in now and where do you go to school?

I go to TSS Journeys School and am in the 4th grade.

Which of the groups (Lollipoppers, Teewinots, Devos, or Juniors) do you ski in?

I am in the Devo’s, with Coaches Rob, Rainer, Taylor and Robin. I’m a first year U12.

Do other people in your family Nordic ski?

I ski with my mom, dad, (brother) Noah, and sometimes (brother) Nate. When I don’t have training, I like to go skijoring with my dog, Angel, at Stilson.

https://jhskiclub.org/sites/jhskiclub.org/files/jhmedia/neve_and_dog.jpg?592

Are you getting close to being faster than others in your family?

Sometimes I can keep up with Noah. My mom says I will ski faster than her sooner than later!

Do you do other skiing like Alpine or backcountry?

I ski with a fun group at the Mountain on Saturdays. It’s all girls and my instructor, Cassie Elliot, is the best!

What other sports do you do throughout the year?

When I am not skiing I ride my horses and go to long distance races with them; I paddle board with my family, do swim team, and go running all over with my dog.

What is your favorite memory of skiing for JHSC or at Trail Creek?

I’ve had 2 amazing days that I can remember. Two weeks ago, we had a big powder day and did laps on Face Plant with my teammates and coaches; the other day was getting towed on the snow machine with Coach Johnny.

What has been the biggest challenge of your Nordic skiing experiences so far?

The hardest Nordic race I ever did was the Moose Chase last week. My mom and I did the 15 km race and I was tired after.

Thank you, Neve. Best wishes for your future success!

Featured Coach: Bria Riggs

Where did you grow up and where did you ski growing up?

I grew up in Truckee, California ripping around the trails at Auburn Ski Club and Royal Gorge (North America’s largest network of Nordic trails!)

At what age did you start skiing?

I started skiing at age 11 when I joined my middle school Nordic team.

What is your history of Nordic skiing up to this point in your life?

After starting the sport in middle school, I went on the ski for Sugar Bowl Academy throughout high school and raced for Far West at 5 Junior Nationals. I was lucky enough to attend the U16 national camp for 2 years and western REG camp for 2 years. After enjoying much of Western junior skiing, I ventured east for college where I skied for Bates College on the EISA Carnival circuit for 3 of my 4 years. Now I am experiencing the pleasure of participating in the Nordic world through a coach’s lens while coaching the JHSC junior team this winter!

Does your family ski?

My family does dabble in Nordic skiing; however they are more involved in the world of Alpine and backcountry skiing.

What are your most memorable races if you raced in younger days?

The Soldier Hollow Super JNQ weekend was a highlight of my season throughout middle school and high school. I always remember that race series as providing an incredibly talented and deep field of athletes and it was also a great weekend to see my friends from other clubs and divisions! Also, the Supertour opener in West Yellowstone was an amazing opportunity to ski in the early season (over Thanksgiving break) and really break back into the feel of racing for each season!

Where do you like to ski when you aren’t at Trail Creek?

If I am skiing and I am not at Trail Creek, I am most likely not in Jackson, which means I am home in Truckee enjoying a beautiful blue bird ski at Royal Gorge. You can ski for 6 hours straight and never ski on the same trail twice!

Have you ever coached before working for JHSC?

I served as the student assistant coach for 2 of my years at Bates College in which I did a lot of wax testing, race weekend logistics, and cheering for my team! I also was fortunate enough to function as a dual coach for the Sugar Bowl Ski Team, where I worked as both a Nordic and Freeride coach.

What is your educational background?

After attending Sugar Bowl Academy for high school, I went on to study Environmental Economics, Ecology, and Spanish at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine.

What are your plans for the off season?

In the off season, I work as a trip leader for an active travel company called Backroads (you might have seen our vans and trailers driving around Jackson in the summer!) in various locations around the country.

How often do you ski now?

I ski almost every day! I think I’ve skied almost 85 days this season between Alpine, backcountry, and Nordic!

What age group are you coaching now?

I am coaching the Juniors (middle school) this season (big shout out of everyone on the Junior Team—you guys are awesome!) and have been helping out as a coach for all ages at the Junior National Qualifiers.

What or who turned you onto skiing in your youth?

An amazing man named Mark Nadell sparked my life-long love of Nordic skiing. He ran our middle school program and really inspired me to pursue the sport beyond his years as my coach.

What is your favorite memory of skiing for JHSC or at Trail Creek?

I have been amazed at how good the skiing has been all year! I have had so many awesome classic distance skis this season, I can’t choose just one!

What is the biggest challenge of being a coach?

Finding a balance between keeping it fun and taking training seriously can be difficult at times. I think especially with middle schoolers, it’s vital that the sport stays fun and exciting, but it’s also so important to start introducing the kids to a more regimented training schedule. It has definitely pushed me to be creative in how I approach practice every single day!

Thank you, Bria! It is great to have you as part of the JHSC family (and that was a great fish!).

Trail Creek Update

While we’ve had a bit of a respite in the past few days, February has turned out to be a major snow month. Preparations for the Moose Chase were ongoing; all-the-while visions of skaters slogging through feet of snow were dancing in our heads. Thankfully, just before the big event, things quieted down a bit. Here is a fascinating link that shows how our closest snow reporting station has been doing this winter. As of report date the image in the link shows that we are currently sitting in fourth place (see image below) out of the last eleven winters, but the general consensus is that the Valley has been getting relatively more snow than higher elevations like where thePhillips Bench station is. There is no question that we’ve had a lot of snow so far.

One of the really fun things of the past week is that a significant crust has developed under a few inches of lovely powder. The teams have been freed from the trails and are making tracks everywhere at Trail Creek. It is magical to see trails of adventures that appear each afternoon.

Grand Teton National Park Grooming Report
Last Updated: 2/22

It’s Friday and it’s ☀️ in Grand Teton National Park. Get out and enjoy the tracks from Taggart Lake Trailhead to Signal Mountain, after that Bar B Bar, then Spring Creek Ranch.