Finn Sweet Talk Life as a GRP U23
Written by GRP U23 Finn Sweet
Around the beginning of August this past summer I made the difficult decision to defer my first semester from UVM. I decided to do this because of my mounting concerns that COVID would severely impact my academics and ability to continue with quality ski training. Luckily, I was given the incredible opportunity to be able to live and train with the Green Racing Project as a part of the U23 program here at the Outdoor Center. This opportunity allowed me to join the COVID-safe bubble where I can train and live with the other GRP athletes.
Building new trail on lakeside with Hazel the Dog
Trying to rebuild a rotten wall ride proved to be a real challenge. It turns out that angles can be very tricky, it ended up being replaced with a berm.
Moving in with the GRP at Elinor’s was certainly a change to my usual schedule. In the summers I have always trained at the center in the mornings and spent the afternoons and off days working on the farm at home as well as on a neighboring dairy farm. Once I moved in with the GRP I took on a couple fun and exciting work projects. My first project was making some new additions to the singletrack. I put many hours of work into the new trail going in on lakeside called “George and Hattie’s” as well as a connector from the core singletrack called “Little Goob.” The goal for these trails is to connect the core trails at the Outdoor Center with the trails at Hosmer Point. I think the expansion of singletrack at the Outdoor Center and the town of Craftsbury is a great thing that will continue to help folks get outside and get on their bikes. Connector trails like these are also great for keeping kids off the road and on the singletrack! Even when they are jumping to an entirely different trail system. Unfortunately some of trail was damaged when the lakeside land was logged late this fall, but it should be ready to rip by the time the mountain bike season starts next spring!
As well as working on new trails (which is often the most exciting), I spent a lot of time working on maintenance projects on the well established trails. A lot of time went into refreshing old worn out berms, drainage, and miscellaneous little jumps all around the trail system. A project I particularly enjoyed completing was replacing some stringers on the frame of the infamous wooden table top on Woodward’s Wheelie. New chicken wire and a rebuilt frame on one of the ramps went a long way in bringing the bridge back to its original glory.
Doing some rollerski loop cleanup. Cleaning up the signs and fencing around the loop made it feel like real skiing would come sooner, unfortunately it did not.
Bridges, however, were certainly not the biggest things to get a facelift this fall! Jake Barton and I spent a week or two off and on replacing the decking, stairs, and railing on the deck of the clubhouse with fresh cedar from Griffin and Alex Wright.
Last day of work on the deck. Really happy with how it turned out!
Working with Jake was super easy and relaxing. I think we both had the same idea for the outcome of the deck and I definitely learned a new trick or two, or three. Now with a fresh coat of paint on the trim and siding (thanks to Davis and some other GRP’s), plus a new deck, the clubhouse is looking just about as good as it ever has!
I am very happy to be able to feel like I have had a productive fall, being able to do so many of the things I love to do. Now that the snow is flying I am really excited to get down to business and focus on racing!
Fall foliage and Elinor’s