At Ski Ward in Shrewsbury on most Thursdays around 2 p.m., it’s a calm and relaxing scene. Open spaces abound in the parking lot and a smattering of skiers and snowboarders dot the trails while a few more sit and rest in the base lodge.
But just an hour later, the place is transformed by a welcome invasion at 3 p.m., as a swirling storm of over 200 teenagers gear up with their helmets, scarves, poles, gloves, colorful jackets and bibs. Boots click into bindings as rock music from Queen and Journey is pumped into the cold air. Everyone is focused to the far right — Ski Ward’s “White Out” trail.
It’s time to race.
There to kick off the season last week in the Central Mass. Ski League were 124 boys and 98 girls from 12 area schools, most arriving in their own cars or driven by parents or friends. For some, finding an open spot in the 400-space parking lot meant a longer walk to the lodge. Still, no one missed that first ride on the chair lift to the starting gate.
St. John’s won the first boys’ race of the season, compiling 639 points, only two more than runner-up Westboro. Hopkinton (594) and Wachusett (562) placed third and fourth.
In grabbing the team gold, St. John’s, coached by Tim Williams, placed six skiers among the top 20, led by sophomore Collin Hicks (seventh) and freshman Ray Dennehy (eighth).
Pioneer co-captains, Brad Quitadamo and Dan Smith, both juniors, finished 11th and 19th respectively.
Last year the Pioneers captured the Central Mass. League boys’ title, edging Westboro by only three points at the end of the winter season.
Quitadamo, who advanced to the state championship last year as an individual, began skiing at Ski Ward as a 4-year-old and joined the Ski Ward Race Team at 6.
“I’ve been skiing here my whole life and I know in a race that the start is the most important part. That’s really where the race is won,” Quitadamo said describing his technique called hiking. “That’s when you really push hard with your poles and skis. And, usually at the third gate, I get in a tucked position.”
When not racing for St. John’s, Quitadamo is a junior coach for the age-12 and under Ski Ward Junior Race Team. “I’m here (Ski Ward) four or five days a week,” he said.
Westboro sophomore Max Scerbin had the lowest combined times in the two giant slalom races, fearlessly charging down and carving smooth turns on the 2,600 meter trail divided by 13 red and blue gates, placed 20 meters apart. Scerbin finished his first race in 24.95 seconds and his second race in 24.16 seconds.
A racer’s team points are determined by combining the times of both runs. Teams designate eight varsity racers per race and the top five racers’ points combined are used to calculate the team points.
“Max was great, right out of the gate,” said Westboro coach Greg Rota.
Senior Dylan Connors and Ries Scerbin added to the Rangers’ point total by placing fifth and 15th. Other boy racers among the top 10 were Shrewsbury’s Zack Jablonski (third), Wachusett Regional’s Andrew Hicks (fourth), Nipmuc’s Triston O’Hagan (sixth) and Jared Joyce (ninth).
In the girls’ race, Algonquin, led by Kaleigh Reynolds who was the top finisher, placed first with 535 points. Reynolds was clocked at 24.96 and 24.68 seconds in her races. Shrewsbury was second with 514, followed by Wachusett (461) and Westboro (448).
“Kaleigh is our senior captain and she’s been very strong,” said Algonquin coach Wayne Hey, who also praised freshman M Clark, who finished third overall, sophomore Rudy Utzschneider (fifth) and freshman Kaitlyn Desio (sixth).
Westboro senior Jessica Freed, who finished ninth overall, said it was upsetting that the first week of competition, scheduled for Jan. 4, was postponed because of the snowstorm that cancelled schools throughout the area. But Freed added, “It did give us more time to prepare though.”
Freed, who has raced for the Ski Ward Race Team since fifth grade, explained her techniques for racing the giant slalom saying, “You have to be really aggressive and not afraid of getting close to the gates, but you also have to make sure that you don’t turn really early and lose all your speed.”
Shrewsbury, in their runner-up finish, was led by Bridget Mooney, who placed eighth and Alix Barry (11th).
Barry, who began skiing when she was 6 and racing at 8, said that preparation for races is important. “You have to look at the conditions before racing and make a very thorough course inspection.” As a freshman last season, Barry placed 13th overall in the Central Mass. League individual rankings.
Other girls finishing in the top 10 were King Phillip’s Addison Molloy (fourth), Nipmuc’s Katherine Pollen (seventh) and King Phillip’s Meghan Powers (10th).
Coaches Rota and Hey praised the work of Ski Ward owner John LaCroix, and his staff for their dedicated snowmaking and trail-grooming efforts.
“John puts his heart and soul into this place,” said Hey.
LaCroix, who has owned Ski Ward for 27 years, was stationed in the parking lot, directing traffic. He talked about the challenges of running his business especially with the variables of Central Mass. weather.
“Last year was tough with all the warm weather, but so far we’ve made snow around the clock for two and a half weeks and the conditions have been perfect," LaCroix said. "We have the best machines that money can buy. You can’t have ice, because we’re primarily a learn-to-ski and learn-to-snowboard area."
After the Central Mass. League races ended, LaCroix was expecting another storm of high school racers.
“Our second race league starts at 6:30," he said. "We have 13 buses coming in with skiers from places like Scituate, Marblehead and Duxbury. We commit to racing and they commit to us.”
—Contact Jay Gearan at sports@telegram.com.