Ted Chivers
Vermont Academy, Saxtons River, VT
Land line: 802-886-8248
Cell: 802-376-4843
tchivers@allseasonsconst.com
REBIRTH! VERMONT ACADEMY HAS BIG PLANS
The intent of this “story” is to get the word out to all who share a common interest in Vermont Academy’s road to recovering their ski jumping program and much more.
Sparked by the enthusiasm of Jennifer Zaccara, Head of School, a task force was formed to come up with a plan for utilizing the existing jumping, cross country and snowmaking facilities, and significantly expanding them. Included are former 4-event skiers Marty Hall, VA ‘56 and wife Kathy (irreplaceable scribe), CB Vaughn, VA ’59, Harry Brown, VA ’63, Rick Moulton, Crandy Grant and Ted Chivers, all VA ’67. Also Mike Choukas, VA ’73 and Board member, Jennifer Zaccara and Brian Gilloran, A.D and Assistant Head of School.
We are aggressively putting plans together to build exciting new ski jumping, cross country and Nordic combined programs that will begin in the ’24-’25 season using the existing ski jumps and X-C trails which are located in the most conspicuous area of the campus that is seen as one is driving up the hill approaching their destination. The aerial photo of the center of the campus is dark but the trestle of the K35 is visible in the upper center of the picture. The next photo shows the jumps more clearly.
In addition to the jumps there is an extensive Nordic trail network of more than 10 km’s, mostly through the woods, though relatively narrow as they were built long before the skating technique came along. Widening some of them is part of the plan.
PROPOSED TENTATIVE PLAN FOR REBUILDING THE PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES
The original goal of using the existing infrastructure has grown into a proposal to build a world-class Nordic facility, meeting FIS standards, but just short of going through the homologation process. Significant items included in the plan are:
- Relatively minor changes to the ski jump profiles and installation of plastic on the K22 & K35 hills. Existing snowmaking system will be upgraded for the jumping and freestyle facilities.
- A 2 ½ to 3 km “arena” loop trail is currently being designed by John Morton of Morton Trails. Some portions to be new and others utilizing and widening existing trails when in the woods with the majority located in or close to the center of the campus, complete with lighting. The intent is to be more spectator friendly as is the custom today. Multiple loops can be skied according to the distance desired, mostly right in the center of campus.
- A new snowmaking system will be installed to provide coverage for new trails.
CURRENT & FUTURE ACTIVITY
- This season of ’23-’24 will be a relatively informal program mostly geared to generating interest and working out startup kinks while the work is being done to make it a bona fide sport for the following year.
- A key collaboration with the Harris Hill Junior program and Todd Einig has been established. They will be using the hills one or more times a week to offer a larger hill and a new variety of jumps for the athletes. We will work closely together to help each other’s program.
- Snowmaking, when possible with limited water capacity, will be provided by VA along with grooming the landing hills and outruns with their machine and helping to prepare all aspects of the hills.
- Harris Hill and VA will be lobbying for a slot on next year’s Eastern junior schedule to have a competition on at least two of the hills if not all three.
- Generate interest among the VA student athletes along with perhaps local non-VA athletes, to give ski jumping a try. The Harris Hill group will hopefully be able put on an “exhibition” evening toward this goal.
SKI JUMPING NEEDS NOW AND FOR THE FUTURE
- Equipment for 14–18-year-olds: We believe that we are in pretty good shape with skis but will be looking for a few pairs of boots sizes US9-12 and a few (4-6) helmets of various sizes.
- Earthwork: Regrading profiles as needed and grading and compacting of RAP sub-base for plastic mats. Chip Henry has graciously offered to come down and shoot the existing grades and overlay the ideal profile on them with his CAD program.
- Plastic Mats: We believe that we have a source for at least one and hopefully two of the hills within the next two years.
- Inrun rails (preferably metal with ceramic buttons) will be needed from other sources.
- Under-mat rubber conveyor belts for a substrate for attaching the mats.
- Snow blocking nets to overlay mats for winter snow retention.
- Installation of plastic and rails
- Snowmaking: Augment water source capacity either by storage or faster recovery and two new/used guns (fan type).
Most Importantly:
- Coaches: Ski jumping and Nordic coaches. One or the other would be considered the Head Coach overseeing both, but a coach for each discipline will be required.
- Beginning and ongoing coaches’ education
We appreciate the positive support that we are hearing from many of you. We will also be thankful for any information regarding resources for equipment donations, funding and potential coaches- both jumping and Nordic.
And thank you all for your interest in this effort! We hope we are able to add some new blood to the ski jumping and Nordic combined community and another stop on the Eastern “tour”. Please feel free to reach out to me with any thoughts or questions.
To borrow a sign off from our late friend, Don West- “Keep Your Tips Up!
My contact information is above.
