Hello AA’ers!
Winter Park turned out to be a great event. Snow was scarce on the drive up from Denver, but once we passed Berthoud Pass, things started looking up. Snow has been light in the West this year, and even though the very top and some of the super-steep terrain weren’t open yet, the area had the race trails in great shape. We had a fantastic turnout and great times were had by all!
I’ve been on and off the teAAm since 1993, but I think Winter Park has the best race department of any place I’ve been. Our A GS felt like a World Cup run in distance, and there were plenty of tired racers by the finish line!
Since Telluride wasn’t yet cancelled at Palisades, NAASF had a contingency plan. We ran the A and B GS runs for “Telluride” at Palisades, and then the A and B Slalom and SB races at Winter Park as a third run on Thursday.
Unfortunately, Delta squeaked by us again, but it was closer than last year. 1738 to 1673 in the NAASF Cup (A, B, and SB combined), 821-694 in the Bob Powers Cup (A men and women), and 318-300-281 (DAL-UAL-AAL) in the Shredder Cup. We did win the overall Telluride Cup, but it wasn’t enough to beat Delta overall for the season. Our very own KJ Johnson won the Chuck Wagner Cup as the top overall A skier and is once again King of the Hill! Congrats KJ. He paid a price, though, as he had an awkward entanglement with the netting after the finish line on his 3rd slalom run Thursday, and broke a couple of ribs! It ain’t over ‘til it’s over! Feel better, KJ-- hope the “Crystal Globe” is some consolation… That smiling face in the next segment is smiling because our very own VP Eric Jensen finished 4th overall! Great result, congrats Eric!
Kasha and I aren’t able to make it to Kitzbuhel, so we send our love and support to all of the TeAAm heading to Austria next month (so jealous!!). Have a fantastic time, as I know you will, and see you in December at race camp!
Scott McKee
President
Thank you all for making our Winter Park event a success!
I know I had a great time. I hope you did, too.
Even though this season was cut short, we enjoyed great turnout, a record number of newcomers and great weather!
Thank you to the many volunteers and fans who helped on the course, at the finish line, and at the social events.
I look forward to seeing everyone next season!
Sorry, I've been delayed in posting race photos for Winter Park.
Please check my SmugMug galleries for FREE downloads!
/https://ericjensen.smugmug.com/
Eric Jensen
Vice President
PS I'd like to pass this along. Steve Pozsonyi would like very much to invite the entire Ski Team to his retirement party in June!
"Steve Pozsonyi Is retiring from AA after 32 years!
Steve will be hosting a retirement party at his home on Long Island. The party will start around 2pm on Saturday June 13th. There will be plenty of food and an open bar.
Party address: 68 Haven Lane, Levittown, NY 11756.
Please RSVP to Steve. Cell 516-857-1014"
A-Team Captain's Update – Kent Johnson
This is KJ filling in for John. Congrats to a successful 2026 AA, A Team season.
We skied a combined GS on Wednesday, a combined SL on Thursday, and then a one-run make-up SL race for the cancelled Telluride. Both GS & SL races were the real deal. Each GS run averaged 1 minute 25 seconds & each SL run averaged 55 seconds. That was some intense racing at an altitude of 9500 feet. Great job by all. A big shout-out to our Winter Park team. Racing for the Ladies was Patty Jordon, Ellen Wardrop & our newest A teamer, Sheryl Guth. For the men, we had Rick Schreiner, Chicken man Jim Tullos, Mike Williams, Scott McKee, Eric Jensen, KJ, Jim Hershey & Greg Gilger. Our Men’s team was 1st overall for the season, but Delta just edged us out for the Bob Powers Cup (A men’s and women’s combined), and we ended up in second. I want to thank John Eidman and all our A racers for the time and effort they put in for the AA Ski & Snowboard team this year. Still bummed Telluride was cancelled, but still had a great time skiing in Palisades and Winter Park. All those going to Kitzbuhel, have a great time.
On a side note, I crashed in the finish area on the 3rd SL run at Winter Park and broke 2 ribs. Not fun. Want to thank all of you for thinking of me and let everyone know that I am healing & starting to feel better.
B-Team Captain's Update – Ellen Garvey
Hey Super Beeees!
Well, the end of our NAASF season came early this year, but not before spotting exciting new talent and keeping our solid base of Super Beeeees!
Cher Dawson did so well that she was bumped up to A’s! We’ll miss her, but I’m certain she will represent us well as an A racer! Emme White and Kristin Carmichael looked great out there and are becoming solid racers for us. Two newbies, Samantha Cowen and Elana Basner, combined to gain 43 team points for us. We’re hoping to see both of them in Kitzbuhel.
The men did a great job as well. New talent who we hope will keep showing up is Stephen Brooks, our number 1 B racer! Keep up the good work and hope to see most, if not all of you, in Kitzbühel!
Stay in touch on social media with other club members. Steamboat seems so far away, but it will be here before we know it! Please be sure to visit the American Airlines Ski & Snowboard Club on Facebook and talk it up to your crews!
Ellen
Snowboard Team Captain's Update – Holli Lazzereschi
What a great time in Winter Park!!
We made the best of the conditions and with a little snow here and there it ended up pretty decent. With the top of the mountain opening up to some wonderful views and powder in some trees, a light snow winter thus far ended up being quite fun!!
Ladies killed it again this year! With our up-and-coming new star Patrice taking first and second place for the last two events, giving her an overall 1st position for the year.
I can officially say the torch has been passed. I ended up with 4th place overall, still happy to have a podium finish. We also had the loveliest of ladies, Toma and Miss Paula, coming out and getting us much needed team points.
Thank you ladies!!!
For the men, we had newcomer Patrick taking the top spot for our team. With solid finishes by Roc, Brandon, Dennis, and Jim!!! Giving us all possible points that could be made for the year for the snowboard team!!
New boarder Robert G. Stole the show at the theme party, way to OUT IT ON!
We could not have asked for more from the snowboard team!!
Way to send it and commit!
With one last event left in Kitzbuhel, Austria, our international event will be a real thrill seeker! Come out and watch our Patrice go for the gold. It will be a head-to-head event that never disappoints!!
I am so excited to watch all the ranks of the team compete this year on the one and only Hahnenkamm run!!
Ride safe my friends and we will see you soon!!
Love you,
SB Capt. Hollie
WINTER PARK – SOCIAL WRAP UP
As everyone should know by now, the last NAASF Race Week of the season was” scheduled to be at Telluride. Unfortunately, due to a predicted low turnout (because of the WASC in Kitzbuhel) and a financial obligation dispute with the Telluride Conference Center, Telluride, the Telluride NAASF Race Week has been canceled. We normally do the NAASF and AA Year-End Awards at the last race week. With the cancelation we have decided to present all these YEAR-END Awards at the first race week next season (Big Sky).
With that said, there were LOTS of awards, parties, and social opportunities in WINTER PARK.
The Monday Welcome Party, the Wednesday theme Party, the Après’ Ski Awards event, and the Tuck “Bitch” Tailgate Party were all super fun and very well attended. The TeAAm Dinner, organized by Dennis Mellon, was also very good.
Thanks to Gary Aberle and Dennis Mellon for setting up and cooking at the Tuck “Bitch” Tailgate Party.
NEXT UP is SUMMER Activities…. many of our ski friends/TeAAm mates will be water skiing, scuba diving, sailing, and bicycling throughout the summer. Please watch Facebook and your emails for info so YOU can stay connected this “off season.”
Be Safe!!! Have Fun!!!
Jim
817-946-5736
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