FOUR LOCAL ATHLETES COMPETE IN CHAMPIONSHIP SKI EVENT
Young Skiers Compete in Annual Francis Piché Invitational at Gunstock Mountain against Athletes from Nine States
Longmeadow, MA – For almost 50 years, the Francis Piché Invitational Event has been the de facto championship event of eastern junior ski racing held at the Gunstock Mountain Resort in Laconia, NH. This year, four young skiers from the Western Massachusetts area participated in the elite event held over the weekend at the Gunstock ski area.
Racers from nine eastern states including Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and the Southern Alpine Racing Association (SARA) consisting of Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina, competed for individual and team awards in two runs of giant slalom (GS) and individual awards for slalom (SL).
Lauren A. Abdow, 10, and her twin brother, Alex G. Abdow, joined Madelyn (Maddie) Corsetti, 10, all from Longmeadow, MA, and Grace C. Crochiere, 9, of Wilbraham, MA. The four represented the Southern Vermont Council (SVC) in their age group (J5s) along with 15 others from their home mountain through the Stratton Training Center (STC) in Stratton Mountain, VT, where they train. All athletes were assessed and awarded slots in the event by individual run results from races this season.
Lauren, who has had a remarkable year in her first year ski racing, placed in the top ten in every race and had several Top 3 podium finishes. Brother Alex in his second year has several wins under his belt and all Top 4 or better podium finishes.
Grace has had multiple Top 10 finishes and a third place win at Willard Mountain in NY, with her coach and father, Tom Crochiere, who has been one of the assistant coaches at Stratton Training Center for years.
Maddie has had a fantastic year, winning first place at a challenging race hosted by Bromley Mountain and multiple top 10 finishes.
All invited racers qualified in their home (training) state for this United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) -sanctioned event by placing in the top of their age groups in their state racing associations’ events.
The race is essentially an Eastern Championships for racers in age groups from nine to 14. Teams of racers will compete individually and by state for medals and for a state team title.
The annual race commemorates the life of local Winnipesaukee figure Francis Piché, who was an accomplished skier, racer and youth coach at the Belknap Recreation Area (now Gunstock Mountain Resort) in the late 1930s.
