skiing

The Batavia Ski Team competed in a double race (two runs of giant slalom and one run of slalom) on Saturday on Wheels Run at Swain.

It was a bitterly cold day with sweeping winds and snow later in the afternoon. Recent snowmaking on the headwall left the top of the course with 'golf ball'-like snowballs in parts of the race hill. This can make the terrain choppy.

The morning giant slalom landed Lily Wagner in 14th place and Abby Bestine in 20th. Freshman Nolan Radley was the top boys finisher at 20th, Ethan Bradley at 25th, and Gunnar Pietrzykowski at 35th. Ben Stone crashed in his first run but had a second run good enough for 16th.

The afternoon Slalom netted senior Ben Stone a monster 7th-place run. Ethan Bradley was 21st, Nolan Radley was 29th, and Gunnar Pietrzykowski was 35th. For the girls, Lily Wagner was 15th, and Abby Bestine was 18th.

The ski team will next be in action on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at Swain.

Information provided by Coach Matthew Holman, Batavia Ski Team

To view the race results, click here.

Press release:

On Friday, Feb. 7, at 10 a.m., veterans with disabilities will be treated to a fun day of skiing as part of VA Western New York Healthcare System’s Recreation Therapy activities.

Hosted by the Lounsbury Adaptive Ski Program at Holiday Valley Ski Resort, the ski program will kick off from the Tannenbaum Lodge at 6787 Holiday Valley Road, Ellicottville, which is in Western New York.

Disabled veterans enrolled in VA healthcare are welcome to participate and can register by calling 716-862-6814. 

Ski passes and equipment have been generously donated by the Lounsbury Adaptive Ski Program at Holiday Valley. Though VA transportation to the resort will not be provided, disabled veterans can participate in stand-up or adaptive sit-down skiing at no cost.

“This is a great partnership and winter activity for our veterans,” said Pamela Kaznowski, VA Western New York Healthcare System’s Recreation Therapy supervisor. “Recreation therapy activity like this improves the quality of life of our veterans.

"This could be a veteran’s first skiing experience and a day of camaraderie with fellow veterans, giving them the inspiration to take their rehabilitation to a higher level."

Results from Batavia Ski team’s first meet at Swain Ski Resort, Swain, from this past Saturday.

Slalom:

Boys Varsity Zach Wagner finished 16th overall -- time 44.22

Girls Varsity Aubrey Towner finished 15th overall 47.44, Lily Whiting finished 16th overall -- 47.65, Tessa Cerefin, DNF

Batavia Modified members Ethan Bradley (17) 1:08.34, Lily Wagner and Ben Stone both DSQ

Giant Slalom:

Batavia Girls finished fourth overall, team time 5:28.80

Lily Whiting (17) 1:45.90, Aubrey Towner 1:49.16 (18), Tessa Cerefin (19) 1:53.74

Batavia Boys individual finish Zach Wagner, 26th overall 1:42.83

Batavia Modified team – No team score

Individual results:

Lily Wagner 2:50.49, Ben Stone 3:07.22, Ethan Bradley first run 1:25.74, DSQ

If your interested to join Ski Team contact Coach Matt Holman at Batavia High School or email him at mholman@bataviacsd.org

To view or purchase photos, click here.

Earlier this week, both the boys and the girls Alpine Ski teams finished in ninth place at the sectional championships at Bristol Mountain in what Coach Matt Holman described as a deep Class A field.

For the boys, top finishers for were Brandon Bradley (33rd in Slalom, 38th in Giant Slalom), Zack Wagner (35th in SL, 43rd in GS) Alec Wagner (40th in GS), Matt Grover (41st in GS), Ryan Bowen (36th in SL, 47th in GS).

For the girls, top finishers were Aubrey Towner (30th in SL, 31st in GS) and Lily Whiting (38th in GS).

Holman said Batavia has had a ski team since 1991 and he's encouraging more students to participate.

"With the Olympics in full swing," he said, "if anyone who is a student in the Batavia Middle or High School is interested in learning more about ski racing can contact Coach Matt Holman by emailing him at mholman@bataviacsd.org."  

If you are not a Batavia City School District student and interested in ski racing, contact your school's athletic director. In the past Notre Dame High School and Elba Central Schools have been represented in the Southern Tier Race League and have trained with the Batavia Ski Team.

Batavia High School Varsity Ski Team posted four top 20 finishers in both boys and girls slalom from this past Thursday hosted by Livonia Central School at Swain. 

Seniors Brandon Bradley (pictured above) finished 13th, time 1:46:19 and Alec Wagner (pictured below) finished 14th time 1:48:07 for the slalom race.

Also finishing for the boys was freshman Ryan Bowen time 2:27:61 and Matt Grover and Zack Wagner.

In the girls race sophmore Aubrey Towner finished 15th, time 2:08:27, and freshman Lily Whiting finished 17th, time 2:10:83.

Next race is Tuesday at Swain Ski Resort for the Southern Tier Slalom ski teams.

For more photos go to: http://steveognibenephotography.zenfolio.com/p903126067

Girls Aubrey Towner pictured below and Lily Whiting in last photo.

Photo and info from Coach Matt Holman. Photo: Aubrey Towner.

Alpine Ski Results for Tuesday at Swain Resort:

There was snow falling all night for a two-run Giant Slalom Race at Swain Resort on Tuesday night. (The resort is also located in Swain, a hamlet in Livingston County.) The loose soft powder pushed together to form big ruts as the hard base was exposed just inside the race line.

The Boys Batavia Alpine Ski Team finished fifth out of eight teams in the Southern Tier Race League. Top finishers included Brandon Bradley (15th), Alec Wagner (24th), Zack Wagner (28th), Matt Grover (31st) and Ryan Bowen (36th).

The Girls team competed individually (no team time), the top finisher was Aubrey Towner (21st).

The next race will be a slalom race Thursday.