MSF at Ski Swap at Okemo

MSF will be at the upcoming OMS Ski Swap at Okemo Mountain-Nov. 16-18, at the Base Lodge. Once again, Instant Wine Bar Raffle tickets will be on sale. Be sure to check out Vermont Snow Seeds. Everyday is a Snow Day when all you need is a few seeds and water. Makes a great stocking stuffer.

Applications Due for Weekend Athletes

Applications are due by Oct. 31, 2012 for those athletes who plan to attend target terms or weekend programs. Please use the application on the sidebar.

Quilt Raffle to Benefit MSF

Another fabulous Joan Noyes Quilt is up for raffle. Tickets are just $5 or 3 for $10. In the Ludlow area, you can purchase them by contacting Tara Liechensteiger  802-228-7280 or lance@tds.net

The drawing is Nov. 10. 

Take Care of Your Brain-It's the only one you've got

Brain injuries, be they a mild concussion or severe, can cause long term damage to a young athelete. In addition to wearing helmet, it's important to take care of your brain. Learn more about how to do this at http://healingwhole.blogspot.com/2012/06/take-care-of-your-brain.html

Sarah Jean Helterlin Snowboarding Scholarship

Sarah Jean Helterline was born in Westerly, Rhode Island but graduated from Black River High School in Ludlow. Graduating class of 2003, Sarah was a member of the snowboarding team. She participated in the National Outdoor Leadership School program, attended Penland School of Crafts, and won awards for her mixed-media artwork.

While she most recently lived in Block Island, RI, Sarah loved the mountains of Vermont and had visited here as recently as this past fall.

Sarah’s family and friends started the snowboarding scholarship in her memory May 2012.

Donations can be made to the Sarah Helterline Snowboarding Scholarship by sending a check payable to LTC-MSF and mailed to LTC-MSF, PO Box 243 Ludlow, VT 05149. Be sure to specify that the money is for the Helterline scholarship.

Hannah Teter sustains concussion

STRATTON MOUNTAIN, Vt. (AP) - Olympic gold medalist Hannah Teter sustained a concussion after a hard fall in the half pipe at the U.S. Open.

Amen Teter told The Associated Press that his sister was momentarily knocked unconscious Saturday but was talking to medical staff while being taken to the hospital near Stratton Mountain, Vt.

Amen Teter said she crashed onto her back after trying "a pretty large 9" - a 900-degree spin off the top of the half pipe. Amen Teter says it was "probably the hardest fall she's ever taken."

Hannah Teter won gold at the 2006 Turin Olympics and silver at the 2010 Vancouver Games.

The 25-year-old snowboarder has been involved in a number of charity projects, selling everything from underwear to maple syrup to benefit the poor in Africa and elsewhere.

Lasting effects from concussion

Some children may have memory and attention problems up to a year after a concussion, issues that can be tied to a lower quality of life and an increased risk of needing extra help in school, according to a U.S. study. http://news.yahoo.com/lasting-symptoms-possible-kids-concussions-study-012806926.html

When in Doubt, Take'em Out

When in doubt, take 'em out. That's the message from doctors trying to knock-out the growing occurrence of concussions in young athletes.

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center invited families into the hospital this weekend to perform head trauma tests. The computer test establishes a baseline for young athletes, allowing for comparison scores before and after a concussion.

Doctors say that if an athlete takes a significant blow to the head while competing, they should be removed from the game immediately.

"When in doubt, take them out. There is just no risk in taking them out and letting them be evaluated by someone who is more trained at it because many of our coaches aren't trained. No return the same day -- ever. It's very simple and easy. Any suspicion of a concussion, they don't go back," said Dr. Keith Loud with DHMC.

Young athletes will have another chance to take part in the program at the hospital this Tuesday. There is a 15-dollar fee for the service.

From WCAX

Snowboarders are Doing Great

MSF snowboarders are doing a great job. Austin Rebetz has taken first place in the recent USASA competition for both slope style and half pipe. Taylor Spaulding took 3rd place for slopestyle and 5th for halfpipe, while Charlie Berry finished 9th in both. Ginger Brown, our loan female rider and Than Durgin Scholarship recipient, finished 5th in slopestyle.

Go big this coming week! Lots of competitions.

And the winners are

Thanks to all of those people who sold and purchased raffle tickets for the Instant Wine Bar. A special note of thanks to Meditrina in Chester; The Wine and Cheese Depot in Ludlow; and Brewfest Beverage in Ludlow. Leslie Stuart was an incredible help in oh so many ways.

We ended up with so much stuff, we had a first and second prize. First prize went to Tim Limbert and second to Leslie Boyle. We were thrilled to have MSF recipient and number one in the state for alpine J1/J2 racing, Rainie Hill do the drawing.

Rainie HIll in Top Form at States

Way to go Rainie Hill!

MSF scholarship recipient (Pete Noyes Skiing Scholarship), Rainie is in top form at the J1/J2 states being held at Okemo Mountain. On Saturday she won the Slalom and today she took 3rd place in the Giant Slalom overall and 2nd in her age division. She races tomorrow in the Super G.

You go girl!

Bleiler on Sarah Burke

Snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler wrote the following about Sarah Burke, the freesyle skier who died earlier this week. Sarah is a stud and there's a reason she's been at the top of her sport for 10 years: She knows how to walk the line and she does it damn well. So why is she in the hospital after a fall that looked like it shouldn't have even caused a concussion? There are no answers. There are no guarantees. And that is the risk we all take with us every day in life. But that is why we must live and live well because nothing is guaranteed. I think Sarah would tell all of us to keep going, keep waking up early to land those tricks you've been dreaming of, but only if it's done with 100 percent passion, pure fire, discipline and commitment. Read the article at ESPN Womens.

National Ski Safety Awareness Week

Vermont's 18 ski areas are teaming up to send a message to skiers and riders this week: Wear a helmet. This is National Ski Safety Awareness Week. Several ski areas are offering incentives to those who choose to purchase a helmet this week. At Killington and Pico, skiers and riders will get a free lift ticket. Other resorts are offering discounted passes.
While all Vermont resorts encourage skiers to wear helmets, they are not required at any of the state's ski areas.

Taylor Spaulding setting records

Taylor Spaulding: Snowboarder, and MSF recipient, has set a record with 4 rail jams in one week and had some great results:
• USASA Sugarbush Rail Jam: 3rd place
• What I Learned Rail Jam: 3rd place
• Cold Wars Stratton: 2nd place

Way to go Taylor!

Kevin Pierce Snowboarding at Okemo

Watch Kevin Pierce return to snowboarding at Okemo. Truly inspiring. Did you know that Kevin went to Okemo Mountain School at one time? Welcome home Kevin.