FIRST
TRACKS
QUEENS OF CROSS COUNTRY
New Year’s Day, 2008 was a good day to be a Vermonter,
at least if you were cross-country ski racing. On that day,
27-year-old Caitlin Compton, who grew up in the Mad
River Valley, won the five-kilometer freestyle race in the U.S.
national championships. The only racer who came close to
Compton was Liz Stephen, who grew up in East Montpelier.
Both Compton and Stephen are in a good position to qualify for the
2010 Olympic team. In fact Compton, who competed last winter in
the World Biathlon Championships, might represent the U.S. in the
shoot-and-ski event rather than cross-country racing. But if Compton
and Stephen do make it to the Olympics, they will be continuing a
long tradition of Vermonters competing in the Winter Games.
Vermonters like John and Tim Caldwell, Mike Gallagher, Bill
Koch, Marc Gilbertson, and Andy Newell, who will likely be on
the 2010 team, have paved the way to the Olympics for skiers
like Compton and Stephen. Which begs the question: What is it
about Vermont that breeds such strong cross-country skiers?
At least 30 cross-country ski areas and lots of natural snow
obviously have something to do with it. But interestingly,
Compton’s first answer focuses on summer rather than winter.
“The great thing about Vermont is how many training options
there are,” she says. Trail running, cycling, great terrain, and a ton
of active individuals. I find myself longing to get back there.”
She also points to the strength of competition at even small, local
races. “I’ll never forget going (for the first time) to a Wednesday time
trial in Stowe, and one of the competitors was Marc Gilbertson (a
1998 Olympian). I thought that was so cool.” Early on, Compton had
a chance to measure herself against an Olympic standard.
Like Compton, the 21-year-old Stephen was an Alpine skier first who
came to cross-country racing relatively late, in her early teens. But by
attending Burke Mountain Academy, one of several ski academies in
Vermont, she found herself in a great, nurturing environment to ride
the fast track to the elite level of the sport. “We all have our reasons
for falling in love with this sport,” says Stephen. “For me, a lot of it is
the people. I have been a part of teams from day one that have been
supportive, friendly, focused, and excited to get better.”
After her silver at nationals on New Year’s Day, Stephen went on
to earn a bronze medal at the Under- 23 World Championships,
then finished her season by winning two golds at the U.S.
Distance Nationals in Alaska. The next team she is likely to be
part of – along with Compton – is the 2010 Olympic team.
— Peter oliver
SKI VERMONT
POSTER 2009
The latest and greatest in the Ski
Vermont poster tradition is just
waiting to adorn your walls. Get
yours today in the Schwag Zone
on SKIVERMONT.COM.
14 skivermont.com
