What a memorable last day of camp. The BIG race and Ted Ligety was there to offer tips. Actually he did more posing for photos and signing clothing than coaching, but it was still one of the highlights of camp and a great way to end the session.

The sushi/cheesecake banquet and awards brought more fun & games aswell as prizes from our sponsors; Uvex and Volkl.

Everyone was a winner this session, we had an outstanding group of young people and are really proud of all of them. Here are some of the achievements from this great group!

Mountain Run
Nico broke the previous record of 14.51 with 14.38
Stephen and Gregorio were second and third respectively.
Izzy won for the girls with 20.58, Gabby and Anna were almost tied for second place.

Fitness Testing
Greg tied the record of 62 push-ups
Izzy was top scorer in 40 yard dash and left-leg 5 jumps
Carla was top scorer for girls in push ups (27), pull ups and right-leg 5 jump missing the record by 1 inch!
Charlie & Greg tied for boys in pull ups (12)
Devin tied the record for the 40 yard dash in 5.1 seconds

Slalom Race
Won by Jeremy, second place Devin, third Nico
Girl's winner was Izzy, second Carla, third Eilish

Most Improved Award
Gabby for women, Charlie for men

Outstanding Camper
Devin

Best Dressed
Gregorio, of course!

Room Inspection Winners
Killian, Chris, Devin and Lucas for the boy's house
Gabby, Anna and Allie for the girl's house

Everyone goes home with a DVD of photos (put in any computer to view) and the personalized DVD's of skiing will be mailed to all campers in August (when Edry has done them).

Enjoy the rest of the summer & hope to see you in Copper!

xxx Lisa

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Another great day of slalom preparing for the race tomorrow.

This afternoon's activity was the famous Mirror Lake run - for which there was a long diary-entry commentary but then it was lost. Modern technology. I'll have the times & highlights up tomorrow, but for now enjoy the photos!

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Rest day began with a long sleep-in, a leisurely breakfast and room cleaning. Two groups were hardcore enough to ride the extreme mountain biking trails in Hood River followed by some well deserved R&R time watching kite boarders and wind surfers at the beach.

Room inspection was won by Killian, Lucas, Chris and Devin's room (although the other two boys' rooms were disqualified for bribery and corruption). The girls have put a good effort into cleaning their rooms for the most part (carpet is now visible in Leah, Kristin and Izzy's room) but the final inspection will come when they least expect it...

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U.S. Elite Session 2 had their final day of GS today.  A great morning of training was finished off with a GS race on the celebrity lane named the ‘Red Vine Cup’ (named after the camp's favorite food…..Red Vines).  Each coach’s team competed for a ‘team’ award, and individual winners were also awarded. Winning teams shared a huge jar of the candy.

The Team Red Vine Cup was calculated by combining all the team members times, and their coach’s time.  It was an amazing race, and the overall Team Championship ended up with a tie (calculated to the 100th of a second) between Team Edry and Team Topher.  The third place team (Team Topher) ended up just .78 seconds behind the winners.

Winners received a pair of Uvex goggles and a Volkl baseball cap. The individual Red Vine Cup Winner for the women was Carla Nyquist of Gunstock Ski Club (NH).  2nd place went to Allie Ziegler from Bromley Ski Club (VT), with Izzy Lynch from Stratton Mountain School (VT) close behind in 3rd place.  The boys winner was Devon McLoughlin from Catamount Ski Team.  In 2nd place overall was Niccolo from Rome, Italy, just ahead of Jeremy Epstein from Loon Ski Club (NH).  The coaches race was won by former U.S. Ski Team Member Hilary McCloy from Oakland, CA.  She dominated the staff event beating Edry and Topher who tied for 2nd overall. 

Everyone had a great day of racing in the 70 degree temps, and were all looking tired and ready for Sunday’s rest day.  A trip to Hood River with the crew for some Mt Biking, al fresco yoga, beach time and swimming should be lots of fun!

A little taste of Team Italy:

Oggi e successa una cosa terribile per lo sci Itaiano (non cosi terribile come puo sembrare ma ha pregiudicato la prestazione sciistica di uno dei 2 italiani). Dopo uno scontro sugli sci tra I due italiani(senza alcuna conseguenza fisica per nessuno) uno dei 2 sci fati a mano:Blossom di Greg ha riportato dei danni!!! Nulla di irreparabile ma Greg non e stato affatto contento perche cio ha pregiudicato le sue prestazioni nella gara! Che in vece e andata a favore dell’ltro italiano:Nico che si e piazzato addirittura secondo!!!!!!!! Molto buono ma sarebbe potuto arrivare primo se la pista fosse stata un po piu tecnica.
Cambiando discorso, dobbiamo veramente ammettere che l’allenatrica Hilary e un mago sugli sci!!! Ha due piedi che Alberto Tomba seli sogna!!! Veramente veramente brava!!!! (non a caso e stata tra le prime 100 al mondo!!!!).
Domain ci aspetta una bella giornata di riposo che ci voleva proprio dopo questi 3 giorni di gigante che ci ha un bel po spompato. Siamo abbastanza stanchi! In piu sara una bellissima giornata perche andremmo pure a fare bella mountain bike!!! Da paura!!!! (speriamo di non cadere trope volte..al meno io perche non l’ho mai fato…)
Un saluto grande dai 2 Italiani!!!!!! Il Titano e il Nico!!!!!!!!!!

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Today was a warmer day on the hill but the snow was still great. Big race day tomorrow so evening meeting was geared towards summarizing training so far.

Afternoon activity was a hike to Tamawanas waterfall; something most of the athletes hadn't done before as the bridges had been washed out last summer by floods so we were unable to hike there. Afterwards there were exclamations of, "this was the best hike we've ever done" which is good to hear!

The voluntary dunking of heads in the icy cold river rounded off the high speed and adventurous 4 mile hike - there wasn't even a promise of Red Vines.

Dinner was a choice of gourmet sandwiches, salad & pasta cooked by none other than our fabulous Italians, Gregorio and Nico.

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Camp diary today is written by a collection of campers and 'I'm not going to lie*' (*to quote them), the drama and subsequent writer's strike witnessed during their collaboration was quite something. Wait!* Enjoy!

DIARY

            And now we know… that Nico is the 9 time defending Tap champion, which is pretty impressive for our camp. 

This morning, Lisa surprised us with her legendary crepes.  With the Nutella and strawberry toppings (and turkey bacon), our stomachs were soon full.  We made our way to the mountain, which was pretty windy, and got a good day of training in for all of the groups.  After a full training session, we headed to Government Camp commonly known as Govy, where we picked up our demos.  We all agree that the yoga and the field games (Ultimate Frisbee) were so much fun and a few people in fact fell asleep during yoga (followed by swimming for some).  After a delicious dinner at El Burro Loco, a Mexican restaurant, we had a great round of hard core Tap.
A presto e un saluto dai due italiani presenti: Il Titano e il Nico!!!   

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Another perfect morning on the hill training gates. Dropped off demo skis but didn't pick up any new ones as tomorrow is rest day & whitewater rafting!
An enjoyable afternoon as the group chose either rock climbing or soccer & Ultimate Frisbee for activities. Lisa even had a chance to strutt her stuff up Frenchies Rock and the Italian's (who charitably decided that it was unfair to play the Americans at soccer again) were exceptionally entertaining while climbing. We all learned some new words.

Phone ban ends tonight and we're all looking forward to a sleep in tomorrow!

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Another great morning on the hill with warm sun and perfect snow. After lunch we visited demo shops in Gov'y and then changed for dryland.

Mirrror Lake trails are usually a favorite hike of ours but this year there has been too much snow to trek it. Today we ventured there and, although there were snow banks in the woods, we only had to step over a couple of banks on the trails and the ice had finally left the lake. A couple of brave souls jumped in but for the most part we worked on our stone skipping skills after the brisk 1 1/2 mile hike of switchbacks.

Tonight was pizza nite followed by camp meeting, some relaxing yoga and shooting hoops.

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First day on the hill, everyone was getting used to the skis again and taking advantage of the best snow so far this summer.

Afternoon fitness testing, full camp meeting and finishing unpacking was the order of the afternoon.

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Last day and everyone was sad to be packing up & saying goodbye.  After skiing there was time to wander about the historic Timberline Lodge (building made famous in The Shining) and buy gifts for parents. 
We returned demo skis and bid farewell to the unique mayhem that is Gov’y and spent the afternoon packing and getting ready for the banquet dinner & awards ceremony.
Camp Director Lisa, Head Coach Edry, Nurse Greg, Counselor Amanda and coaches, Ken and Topher all agreed that this group were all winners and we look forward to seeing many of their smiling faces next year!

Award winners
Rockin’ Rock Climber Award - Michael
In his third year at camp MC overcame his fears and made it to the summit of Frenchies Dome. 
Best Dressed Award - Brendan
Who can forget those duct tape shoes created for white river rafting and then never removed and the hair-do that earned him the nickname Little Ted after Ted Ligety? 
Best Dressed Award – Charlotte
Like her counterpart, Eliza, Bear went by many aliases but always maintained her own individual style.  By the way, Charlotte, did I ever get my shoes back?
Team Player Award for Sporting Excellence – Eliza aka Twig
A talented whirlwind on the soccer field this young lady goes down in camp history for her reply of “No, I’m OK” when dribbling with the ball and asked by a teammate to pass it on.  An all-round athlete and super-personality too!
Most Improved – Tom & Katherine
for effort and improvement on the hill
Outstanding Camper – Signee & Garrett
for overall achievement, helpfulness, congeniality, teamwork and fabulousness as a U.S. Elite camper

All win cool stuff from our stash of loot such as Uvex sunglasses, goggles & teeshirts, Timberline paraphernalia, Cath Kidston beach ball, U.S. Elite stylin’ trucker hats, teeshirts and beanies. 

The photos from gallery five are not on your CD so if there is a picture you would like via email please let us know.

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It's really still Tuesday 1st but we're ahead of the game... finally!

This afternoon we had the choice of rock climbing or soccer. The rock climbing team did an incredible job at Frenchies Dome with almost everyone reaching the summit. Dinner was at a Mexican restaurant and everyone was congratulated for their impeccible behavior as we left. We are so proud!

GS National Champion 2006 and 8-year veteran of the U.S. Ski Team, Caitlin Ciccone, joined us for dinner and then gave a great talk to our athletes about her career with tips for their training. She answered all their questions and even signed arms...(?)

Last day on-hill for most of the athletes tomorrow followed by a banquet dinner and awards ceremony.

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Sunday was HOT so after skiing we cooled off with pool games or basketball before a fabulous sushi dinner from the Pearl District’s finest sushi restaurant.  A couple of girls were resting up today so there was an alternative elective activity of shopping and Ben & Jerry’s in Portland. After dinner we had our usual camp meeting led by Head Coach Edry and then gentle yoga/guided meditation to help soothe everyone before an early bedtime.

Room inspection was won by Nick and Brendan in the boy's house and Signe and Lyzee in the girl's house. All win Uvex prizes.

Monday was the last day of GS training followed by an epic whitewater rafting adventure.  Just check out the photos for a taste of the excitement.  Due to all the snow this year the rapids were higher than usual and in the desert heat the icy water was very inviting!  A BBQ dinner on the river ended another exhausting but memorable day at camp.

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A scenic drive to the top of the mountain led us to the trail head for McCall Reserve famous for it’s wildflower meadows and friendly deer.  Campers were impressed by the incredibly winding roads and speeding Harley Davisons on the way up.  Enroute we saw a coyote and kept our eyes peeled for bald eagles which we’ve spotted in the area before.
After the hike we drove across the river to Washington state and then came back for lunch on the beach at Hood River.  The wind was quiet so there weren’t any kite boarders to watch which was unusual but it was the perfect  day for throwing the football around in the water.
Once we’d all cooled off in the river it was time for elective activities; field games or yoga.  Rest hour back at home was followed by a Chinese dinner and a camp meeting with some ideas for mental preparation for racing.
    
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Happy birthday Twig!

In yoga we say that planning is perfect but plans are useless. This has really been the case so far this camp!
David and I arrived in Mount Hood last week delighted to see the biggest summer snow banks ever –  and not a rock in sight on the hill.  All that snow (over 800 inches), however, took a battering on our lodge and after realizing the extent of damage to the road and building we deemed it unsafe for our campers.  A last minute scramble led us to discover two even better places just down the mountain in Zig Zag.  The boys lodge, Whispering Pines, is ‘dank’ (apparently a good thing) and the girls are in River Lodge right next to our outdoor pool and tennis courts.  We are also closer to our playing fields and rock climbing so all in all, it was a good move.
The last minute move caused us some initial glitches as we were unable to secure wireless for a couple of days (sorry for those who were waiting for these photos!) and the loss of our industrial kitchen means that we now eat dinner out in local restaurants every night – so far a very successful experiment! (our campers  have actually been quieter and better behaved than some of the other restaurant patrons).
Anyway, enough about us, what have the campers been doing?
Arrival day was a blur of moving in and unpacking.  For those who arrived earlier in the day we had some outdoor stretching and partner yoga on the deck overlooking the river.  Weather has been great; sunny and a constant 70 degrees.  Nurse Greg checked in with everyone and gave his serious health talk about sunscreen and hydration.  We’re still left with images of pee in cups for some reason and are careful to apply sunscreen liberally in every nook and cranny of our faces!
Wednesday was the first day on the hill and went very smoothly with everyone waking up happily at 5am, remembering all their equipment, food and water. No homesickness and no first day bumps on the steep slopes to report.
Afternoon activity was field games with the shoe game and deadball soccer.  Edry quickly discovered the group’s weakness for Red Vines (licorice candy similar to Twizzlers for those back east) which were team prizes and now we are certain that there is pretty much they wouldn’t do for a Red Vine!
Thursday brought another fun-filled morning of training, equipment testing and quality snacks.  The afternoon activity was a four mile round trip hike to the waterfall culminating in a mountain goat-like single file climb into a cave behind the falls.  We were all soaking wet but were beaming widely as everyone decided that this was possibly the coolest thing they had ever done.  What a great group!
Hopefully by the time you read this we’ll be into Friday afternoon and the lifting of the telephone ban so you can catch up with your little one yourself!
Check out photos from camp so far in our gallery – a CD of all these photos will come home with every athlete.
Happy viewing!
Lisa

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