I would like to congratulate all of the Eastern Athletes with their personal achievements this past season. We had great results and representation in the post season events. I also want to express my gratitude to coaches and facility staff for their tireless efforts in assisting us to administer the many USSA Eastern camps and projects. This was the first year I had adequate staff for the projects and without their cooperative and determined efforts our initiatives could not have been successfully achieved. THANK YOU.

The projects that did go as scheduled were productive and extremely successful. Eastern program coaches were great about helping with these. With the J4 Fundamentals camp, several J3 and J4 one-day speed projects and the J3 Elite speed we reached over 360 Eastern athletes. Also given the poor weather conditions and shortened season we were able to get all post season events off with only a few small changes here and there. In a total of 5 post season events (J3 Finals, J3 Championships, J4 Championships, AmCan and CanAm) there were no reported injuries and in most cases there were athletes from the last seed that skied their way in to the top 5 or top 10 which says the tracks were in incredible shape. These to me are the important things and a lot of hard work went in to all of these events and all involved should be proud of jobs well done. We also introduced new events this year with the J3 AmCan at Tremblant and an international skills assessment at the J4 CanAm. Support from the Region on both of these events helped make them successful and our Canadian partners are very happy with both events.

Across the board this was one of the most frustrating seasons I think many of us have experienced. The lack of snow throughout the entire season forced camp cancellations, program visits rescheduled and then cancelled and just entire schedules and plans flipped upside down and turned around. Cooperation with some state chairs was at an all time low and threatened further camp cancellations. It was difficult enough to have to postpone and cancel projects due to a lack of snow but then to have to cancel them because of lack of participants was extremely frustrating. The J3 Fundamentals camps, one-day J3 speed, and three of the J4 one-day speed camps were all cancelled. Several of them were moved and rescheduled and still had to be cancelled. There just was not enough snow.

 Although my schedule was rearranged several times I was able to get in 14 program visits which I continue to believe are extremely important and an integral part of this job. It is so important that the Eastern office get out to their members and share and collaborate knowledge and latest information. These visits are a way of educating parents, coaches, program directors and working with the athletes in most cases, in just one day.

Looking towards next season the objective is to continue to provide the highest level of athlete development programs while fostering the educational awareness and development for our athletes, coaches and parents. Again, my sincere thanks to everyone’s commitment of time and effort in helping us achieve our common goals.

Respectfully submitted, Alexandra Krebs

MARA  C/O  Laurel Lasher

3012 Brackett brook rd

Bigelow #19

Carrabassett Valley ME

04947

llashar@sugarloaf.com

laurel@skimara.org

207 807-3147

Now to plan for next year!

Sugarloaf Spring Series and Final MARA Cup

Saturday , March 24        J6,5,4,3   Slalom  1 race

Sunday, March 25        SR, J1, J2, J3 (2nd year)   Slalom   2 races

.