Katie McKenna
Hi
I'm Katie, a J4 Racer on the Belleayre Mountain Race Team. My Mom asked me to write about what races are like for us kids, so here I am. I like being able to go to all the different races. Except for waking up at 6 AM to go, I like everything else. Most kids race in speed/G suits, so on a below freezing day you can be pretty cold. It's always cool to watch the other kids and hear their times so you can see what time you need to beat to get on the podium. I like it a lot and hope that more kids will come out for our race team next year. Love,
Katie
P.S. GIRLS can do ANYTHING that BOYS can !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Joanna Kulesza
Belleayre Racing has no better way to describe it besides saying: fun. It is always fun. We train for racing but the other racers and I never get bored. The instrustors are so nice and I've have never seen better racers race then the way my coaches have raced. Last but definetly not least, the excellent race training we get is great. All of the great commitment from the coaches is so terrific. They even close single trails for our training. That is why I love Belleayre Racing.


Sylvia Semper
Ski racing has been a great influence in my life. It has made me a motivated, determined, and ambitious person. Competing in sports makes me strong, and helps me learn about myself. I learned that to fail is human and to succeed is sweet, but just the act of participating is the most important part. I have made lasting friendships and created unforgettable memories. I have been skiing two years now on the Belleayre Racing Team, and the experience has been wonderful. I became friends with a great group of girls (Amy, Colleen, and Laura on the JI and JII team) that had the same thing in common with me; they wanted to become better competitors. Together, we practiced hard on the slopes, disciplining ourselves with gate training and drills to improve technique. Through equipment preparation, I have become very responsible, and I have applied my stay-focus attitude to other aspects of my life. Also, I have demonstrated self-discipline through healthy eating and proper amounts of sleep to keep myself energized. As a team, the girls and I skied together, laughed, sang, and kept each other entertained throughout the day. Then, at races we inspected the courses together, gave each other tips, and wished each other the best. It was never a competition between us, but instead, a team effort to accomplish our goals. We cheered at the starting gate, and we comforted each other at the bottom. We brought hope to one another and assured that there will always be a next time for improvement. This is what ski racing is about; the fun, excitement, adventure, and happiness make it worth it all.

A Personal Interview With BMRA's Haley Heins
Haley is a ten year old racer with a bright smile an winning attitude about ski racing. Haley is a JV racer coached by Ralph Combe and Mike Ford. She took a few minutes from her race training on this past Sunday (1-29-06) to share her experience at the JIV/JV Race held this past month at Hunter Mountain.
" During my first run I missed a gate...no one must of noticed, no one said anything to me. I did good on my second run. When the awards were announced, the man called me up for third place. I was scared to talk to the announcer, but I knew I had to do the right thing. I let him know that I missed a gate. I told my Mom to tell him that I didn't want the award and to give it to the racer in fourth place. My Mom said that it's important to always show good sportsmanship. The announcer had everyone clap for me!
" So, what is Haley's definition of a ski racer sportsmanship?
"* Don't Get Upset When Things Don't Go Your Way
* Don't Take What You Do Not Deserve
* Don't Laugh And Say "I Beat You"
* Inspire Other Racers To Do Their Best
* Enjoy Being A Good Sportsperson...Don't be afraid to tell people how you feel."
Kudos Haley, you are already a champion!
Haley is appreciative of fellow BMRA racers that have displayed a similar winning spirit this season. She spoke of team member, Kenzi Dignes..." We race against each other, but she is nice about everything. She cheers the rest of the team on. She's very supportive."