Last Updated: 05.Jun.2016

We are excited to announce collegiate skiers Gavin Hess, Gavin McEwen, Evan Weinman, and Johanna Talihärm as the first members of our inaugural U23 summer collegiate ski training program (SCST) for skiers and biathletes. The goal of the program is to provide an elite level summer training plan where Division 1 collegiate skiers can train alongside the Green Racing Project and then go on to achieve their collegiate racing goals the following season.

Gavin Hess just completed his junior year at University of New Hampshire, and is majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Gavin grew up in Pittsford, NY and got his start with the Rochester Nordic Racing program, where he tried out skiing as cross training for cycling during his sophomore year of high school. He placed 13th at the UVM Carnival/SuperTour 10k skate last season, and was also a member of the 2015 World Junior Team that represented the US in Almaty, Kazakhstan. As part of his school work at UNH he has been working on renewable energy systems and is excited to work towards making the Outdoor Center even more environmentally friendly and energy efficient.

Gavin McEwen is completing his freshman year at Dartmouth College, majoring in Chemistry. Gavin’s best collegiate result this past season came in the Williams Carnival Individual Start 10k skate, where he placed 9th. He grew up in Weston, Massachusetts racing for Cambridge Sports Union. Growing up, skiing was a family activity, and as a kid Gavin rode in a backpack while his parents skied, soon moving to skis himself. Gavin hopes to get involved with beekeeping at the Center.

Evan Weinman, from Steamboat Springs, CO, got his start on the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club team before making his way out east to attend Middlebury College. He’ll be a junior next year at Middlebury and is working toward a dual major in Architectural Studies and Environmental Studies. Evan’s best results this season came in the Bates Carnival Classic Sprint, where he placed 14th, and the Williams Carnival 5k Classic Pursuit, where he had the 15th best time on day. He also represented the US at World Juniors in 2015, along with Gavin. Evan prefers classic to skating, and also used to compete in biathlon before he took a stick to the eye that impaired his vision in his shooting eye. He says he starting skiing when he started walking, and is still trying to figure out the difference between the two. Evan is excited to help out with trail work, help coach juniors, and help the center learn how to continue to become more energy efficient as new technology comes out.

Johanna Talihärm will be a senior at Montana State University next year in Bozeman, MT majoring in Business Management. Last season she had strong results in the RMISA (Western) division, placing 6th in the Utah Invitational and 8th at RMISA Championships. However, her background in the sport lies more on the biathlon side. She competed for the Estonian National Biathlon Team before attending college and was a 2014 Olympian in biathlon. Johanna got her start in skiing at the age of 13 in Tallinn, Estonia with the Nomme Ski Club, working with the same coach who trained her mom. A year and a half later, her coach’s husband introduced her to shooting and the sport of biathlon. Johanna looks forward to helping with “green” projects at the Center and working with the junior skiers.

Please join us in welcoming these four skiers and biathletes to the Outdoor Center for the summer!