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West Dover, VT (February 3, 2012) - The Mount Snow Training Center had three of its top athletes compete successfully in the selective United States Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) J3 Eastern Regional Series (ERS) event at Whiteface Mountain in Lake Placid, NY, January 21 & 22. This prestigious event only invites the top 110 J3 alpine racers (55 male/55 female, ages 13 and 14) from the Eastern United States to compete in the disciplines of slalom and giant slalom with many athletes in the field expected to qualify for national events like the Junior Championships, Can-Ams and the National ID Project.
The three athletes; Sanderson Kemp, Jessie Kuzmicki and Sam Cusick, all finished in the top 20 at some point during the weekend, highlighted by Jessie Kuzmicki's 7th place overall giant slalom finish on Saturday. Kuzmicki followed that up with a 23rd overall finish in Sunday's slalom, Kemp finished 25th in the giant slalom on Saturday and 12th place overall in slalom; Cusick did not finish his first run on Sunday but finished strong in Saturday's giant slalom placing 18th in an incredibly competitive field.
Athlete Profiles:
Sanderson Kemp, age 14, leads the Mount Snow J3 women's team this year so far posting strong top 5 finishes in both slalom and giant slalom. A native of East Dover, VT; Sanderson is attending Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester, VT and is a freshman standout on their varsity alpine team in the Vermont Principals Association (VPA). She qualified for the Vermont State Championships in 2010 and 2011. This past weekend's ERS was Sanderson's debut into USSA Regional Level Events.
Jessie Kuzmicki, age 14 from Pownal, VT is a freshman at Mt. Anthony Union High School in nearby Bennington. She has been a member of the Mount Snow Training Center Alpine Race Team since 2008 and also is racing as an independent in the VPA High School league this year. In 2010 as a J4 (ages 11-12), Kuzmicki was Southern Vermont's Super Combined Champion, qualified for the USSA J4 Jr. Olympics and ultimately went on to the USSA J4 Cam-Ams where she finished in the top 30 combined slalom and giant slalom. In 2011 she was selected and attended the USSA J3 Elite Fundamentals Training Camp.
Sam Cusick, age 14, is the only male team member from Mount Snow to qualify for ERS. He lives in Fairfield, CT and attends Tomlinson Public Middle School as an 8th grader. Sam has qualified for the Vermont State Championships the last 3 straight years and finished in the top 25 last year in the J3 States. Like his teammate Sanderson, this was Sam's first appearance in a USSA Regional venue.
To learn more about the Mount Snow Training Center as well as events, deals and conditions at Mount Snow, visit mountsnow.com .
The three athletes; Sanderson Kemp, Jessie Kuzmicki and Sam Cusick, all finished in the top 20 at some point during the weekend, highlighted by Jessie Kuzmicki's 7th place overall giant slalom finish on Saturday. Kuzmicki followed that up with a 23rd overall finish in Sunday's slalom, Kemp finished 25th in the giant slalom on Saturday and 12th place overall in slalom; Cusick did not finish his first run on Sunday but finished strong in Saturday's giant slalom placing 18th in an incredibly competitive field.
Athlete Profiles:
Sanderson Kemp, age 14, leads the Mount Snow J3 women's team this year so far posting strong top 5 finishes in both slalom and giant slalom. A native of East Dover, VT; Sanderson is attending Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester, VT and is a freshman standout on their varsity alpine team in the Vermont Principals Association (VPA). She qualified for the Vermont State Championships in 2010 and 2011. This past weekend's ERS was Sanderson's debut into USSA Regional Level Events.
Jessie Kuzmicki, age 14 from Pownal, VT is a freshman at Mt. Anthony Union High School in nearby Bennington. She has been a member of the Mount Snow Training Center Alpine Race Team since 2008 and also is racing as an independent in the VPA High School league this year. In 2010 as a J4 (ages 11-12), Kuzmicki was Southern Vermont's Super Combined Champion, qualified for the USSA J4 Jr. Olympics and ultimately went on to the USSA J4 Cam-Ams where she finished in the top 30 combined slalom and giant slalom. In 2011 she was selected and attended the USSA J3 Elite Fundamentals Training Camp.
Sam Cusick, age 14, is the only male team member from Mount Snow to qualify for ERS. He lives in Fairfield, CT and attends Tomlinson Public Middle School as an 8th grader. Sam has qualified for the Vermont State Championships the last 3 straight years and finished in the top 25 last year in the J3 States. Like his teammate Sanderson, this was Sam's first appearance in a USSA Regional venue.
To learn more about the Mount Snow Training Center as well as events, deals and conditions at Mount Snow, visit mountsnow.com .
