Jit's Journal: Spotlight on the development team

Jit’s Journal: Spotlight on the development teamHello again everyone! I am currently getting snowed on in Colorado with my fellow Europa Cup teammates. We arrived to near spring conditions and people giving us odd looks in the airport with all our skis saying things like ‘can you even ski right now’ and replying ‘no, I’m practicing for the winter when I actually have to carry all this crap around.’ Within a few days however, we found ourselves buried in snow, which is better than none at all. The season is definitely getting close, so we are really stepping up our individual training as some of us are training more tech while others are choosing to do speed. This is happening because as this year begins the Europa Cup group will be splitting up. Some of us will go to Europe after Beaver Creek to pursue some tech starts while others will be going to Canada to race in the Nor-Ams.

I have decided that I will use this period of time to shine a little light on the men’s Development Team, which is integrated into the Europa Cup squad. These guyss don’t often get much attention, and being a former D Teamer, I say that time is up. Coached by Andrew ‘Drew’ Cesati with the help of Tim ‘Swampy’ LeMarche as the overseer of the group, these guys are in good hands. Members of the team include: Stefan Hughes, Mitt Coats, Todd Thibodeau, and Tim Kelley. I had a chance to sit down with Coach Drew and ask a few questions about how they are doing and what they have planned for the year.

Drew you are in charge of these guys, what is your level of excitement going into a season just a few weeks out?
‘I’m dying to see the boys race, especially after all the training and pre-season build up. We have had a long progression and the guys have come along really well.’

What is your game plan for these guys in coming races and world junior championships?
‘Ultimately just good skiing, if they stay focused they will be able to execute. Between U.S. Nationals, and world juniors it is important for these guys to perform and progress further up the ranks on the U.S. team, and in the world. There is a really strong energy within the group, so I have lot of confidence in the boys.’

How do you feel about the current progress with these guys?
They have all made a big gain in their skiing. Hughes’s GS skiing has really come along while his SL was strong to begin with is only getting better. Todd has dealt with injuries, but is fresh and fired up to go. He is fearless and has incredible gliding skills in the speed events; he will be a threat this year. Tim Kelley has the genes for racing, as he is the brother of Jess Kelly and cousin to Jimmy Cochran and Roger Brown, all members of the national team. Tim has the speed there to big things in the tech events. Mitt has been away at college but should be returning soon, he was skiing really well when he was last with us in Chile and is a returning vet from last year.

When asked about what the biggest goal for the coming year was for these guys the general consensus was to bring home a medal from world junior championships, and progress onto the C Team. With returning veterans like Chris Beckmann and Andrew Weibrecht, the outlook for the U.S. junior group is very strong. Coach Cesati also wanted to reiterate that ‘just because these guys are part of the Europa Cup training group, it doesn’t guarantee them a spot on the world-juniors squad’. He went on to say ‘junior skiers out there need to know that there are spots open and should really step up their skiing to qualify.’ Drew looks forward to continue coaching the devo squad for some time and excited about what the Development Team can do for fast junior skiers on their way up.

Until next time, train hard, ski fast and have fun.

-Jit

jitskiracing@yahoo.com

Tim Jitloff was the 2005 Sprint / Ski Racing Junior of the Year. He will keep his online journal here all season. You can e-mail him your comments or questions at jitskiracing@yahoo.com. To read more athlete journals, or to hear industry insiders in their own words, click here.