Gus Pitou Memorial Slalom Race held at Gunstock

On Sunday, Jan. 29, the Gunstock Ski Club (GSC) hosted the annual Gus Pitou Memorial Giant Slalom Race on the Cannonball Trail at Gunstock. This race was a N.H. Alpine Racing Association sanctioned “open” event for J5 (8-10 years); J4 (11-12 years) and J3 (13-14 years) boys and girls from across New Hampshire. The event is held annually in memory of Gus Pitou, Gilford resident Penny Pitou’s father, who died at the age of 53 in the sixties after Penny’s Olympic triumphs. Gus Pitou contributed greatly to the growth of junior skiing in the 1950’s and 1960’s in the Lakes Region. Although he loved to ski himself, his passion was teaching young children the sport.

This Sunday, Feb. 12, the Gunstock Ski Club hosts the Toni Buttinger Memorial slalom on the Cannonball race trail, with over 250 young New Hampshire racers participating.

The 2006 Gus Pitou Memorial event attracted a very strong field of more than 250 athletes from Loon, Ford Sayre, Franconia, Gunstock, McIntyre, Pat’s Peak, Cranmore, Tenney, Wildcat, and Waterville Valley, among others. The giant slalom event was held on the Cannonball racecourse with a large crowd of spectators from all over New Hampshire. Gus Pitou’s great-grandson, Zane Zimmermann, age 5, was one of the forerunners.

The top GSC racers, based on the fastest combined total time of the two race runs, were: J5 (8-10 years) Girls: Madeleine Kelly (10th), Grace McLaughlin (13th), Leah Harris (15th), Angela Tidd (25th), Rachael Lefebvre (26th), and Maggie Randall (37th). Macaela Wright of Waterville Valley took top honors. J5 Boys from GSC: Stephen McLeod (7th), James Bannister (8th), Jesse Osuchowski (10th), Patrick Meynard (12th), Gunnar Stecher (16th), Perry Craver (30th), Cole Lieberman (34th), Christopher Yopp (35th), Mason Peverly (36th), Michael Xiao (39th), Andrew Caulfield (43rd), Fionnbharr Reynolds (45th), Dougie Deluca (48th) and Keaton Quigley (55th). The winner of the J5 boys division was Jeremy Epstein from the Loon Race Team. J4 (11-12 years) Girls from GSC: Carla Nyquist (6th), Leah Peters (9th), Danielle Tidd (12th), Nicola Keene (16th), Brooke Kelleher (19th), Eilish Reynolds (20th), Carson Quigley (28th), and Chantelle Cross (32nd). Liza Tetley from Loon was first in this division. GSC J4 Boys: Garrett Workman (8th), Tanner Howe (9th), Connor Nolan (10th), Emile Hatem (11th), Cali Hatem (13th), Andy Upton (17th), Tyler Caulfield (22nd), Jacob Morey (23rd), Colin Beaumont (35th), Ryan Garner (37th), Jason Harris (42nd), Vanya Noodengraaf (43rd), Matt Deninger (45th), and Alex Deluca (47th). Brian McLaughlin from Waterville Valley placed first. J3 (13-14 years) Girls from Gunstock: Leah McGinley (2nd), Lauren Brule (7th), Julie Ostrand (8th), Danielle Ladd (9th), Sarah Xiao (10th), and Noreen McDonnell (15th). Chelsea Stevens from Waterville Valley took first. J3 Boys: Justin Sperry from Gunstock Ski Club was the top J3 boy. Other top Gunstock finishers were: Taylor Lannamann (8th), Doran Logsdon (9th), Colin Proctor (11th), Taylor Sperry (14th), Daniel McLaughlin (18th), Daniel Cronin (19th), Patrick Donohue (21st), Ben Craver (23rd), Ty Lefebvre (25th), and Korbin Shuffleton (27th).

Gunstock Ski Club racing is organized within the guidelines of the N.H. Alpine Racing Association (NHARA) and the US Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA). J6 (6-7 years) athletes focus on basic skills with the purpose to accumulate skiing mileage in a safe and fun environment. J4 (11-12 years) & J5 (8-10 years) athletes focus on progressive development and refinement of basic skiing fundamentals with a particular attention to developing confidence. The most important focus at this age is to have fun, work hard developing skills and to enjoy the sport of skiing. J3 (13-14 years) athletes’ success is based on the acquisition of the basic technical and tactical skills with speed being introduced in a “fear free” environment. J1 and J2 (15-18 years) athletes continue to hone basic skills with increased gate training and competition.

Gunstock Ski Club is a parent-managed, non-profit program designed to offer young skiers (6-18 years) instruction and training to develop not only good racers, but also safe skiers with values and a life long passion for the sport. GSC was established in 1918, and is the oldest organized ski club in the state. New racers and families are always welcome.

Upcoming events at Gunstock include the Toni Buttinger Memorial Slalom on February 12th and a Buddy Werner League Central Division Qualifier on February 26th. GSC will host the Buddy Werner League State Finals at Gunstock on March 11th and 12th, with over 200 J4 and J5 racers attending from all over New Hampshire. For more information about the Gunstock Ski Club, check out their website at "www.gunstockskiclub.com".