After skipping 2021, ESTO Ski rekindled it’s nearly 60-year tradition of bringing USA and Canadian Estos together for a 3-day weekend of winter sports which included; skiing, snowboarding, cross-country, wave-riding and of course apres-ski socializing.
The weekend kicked off Thursday evening as Estos gathered for their usual 1st-night reunion at one of Jay Peak’s busy pubs. By Friday, approximately 110 Estos had arrived at Jay Peak with the mix of participants being approx. 65% USA and 35% Canadians.
Esto group activities for Friday included a cross-country ski race with 12 participants, followed by an apres-ski function hosted by Eesti Spordiliit USA (Estonian American Amateur Athletes). The private Foeger Room at Hotel Jay was buzzing with Estos who had 3 hours to mingle and make new friends. When apres-ski ended,15 intrepid Estos headed off to the Jay Peak Water Park to test their surfing skills on the Flowrider, which is an indoor surfing machine that generates endless waves and spectacular wipe outs!
The traditional downhill ski race which took place on Saturday morning was sponsored by the Estonian Students Fund. There were 44 racers in total, the 2022 medal and trophy winners are noted below. The Saturday evening dinner and awards gathering was lively and well attended. Once the medals and trophies were distributed, things kicked off with the usual Perekonnavalss (led by Helle Hantho) and then launched into a dance party with music by Stefan Skonberg. The evening ended with a sõprusring and singing of “Eestlane olen ja eestlaseks jään”.
Along with my co-organizers Aini Maripuu, Mikk Jõgi, Erik Must, Lia Triantafylidis and Katrina Künnapas, we would like to thank everyone who showed up to revitalize the ESTO Ski event. We’re looking forward to an even larger group next year and will be circulating a survey to help determine where the 2023 ski trip planning takes us.
In the meantime, we hope to see you this summer at Eesti Spordiliit’s LI Spordipäev-Jaanipäev – 18th of June as well as Lakewoodi Eesti Mängud – July 29th to 30th.
Andrus Ers
Eesti Spordiliit USA
Best Overall – Trophy Winners | MEDAL WINNERS | |||
Best Male Skier – Mark Hantho Best Female Skier – Sarah Männik Best Overall Youth Skier – Teija Jõgi Best Young Man Skier – Kalev Neges Best Young Women Skier – Lilly Aasmaa Best Male Boarder – Ben Waite Best Female Boarder – Ingrid Nagy Best XC Skier – Liisi Lascarro | Female Skiers Girls Age 7 Gold – Chloe Lõbu – 37.09 Silver – Paige Lõbu – 37.47 Young Ladies Age 13 Gold – Charlotte Jones – 42.09 Young Ladies 17 to 18 Gold – Sarah Männik – 27.55 Silver – Vivienne Jones – 40.19 Women 20s Gold – Teija Jõgi – 27.64 Silver – Lilly Aasmaa – 28.66 Bronze – Jackie Muru – 29.13 Women 30s Gold – Kara Must – 31.72 Women 40s Gold – Maria Becker – 30.81 Silver – Liisi Lascarro – 31.23 Bronze – Alison Lõbu – 34.10 Senior Women Gold – Karin Jõgi – 32.05 Silver – Linda Nagy – 44.17 Bronze – Tiina Vaska – 67.52 Male Skiers Young Men 16-17 Gold – Kalev Neges – 28.64 Silver – Christopher Becker – 29.22 Men 20s Gold – Andrus Maandi – 28.78 Silver – Mikk Aasmaa – 28.81 Bronze – Max Maltby – 29.27 Men 30s Gold – Markus Must – 31.86 Silver – Dan Sheridan – 36.42 Men 40s Gold – Siim Vanaselja – 28.52 Silver – Jaan Sarapuu – 30.62 Men 50s Gold – Mikk Jõgi – 30.34 Silver – David Becker – 31.54 Bronze – Leho Põldmäe – 32.36 Men 60s Gold – Mark Hantho – 25.68 Silver – Robi Muru – 27.05 Bronze – Tooni Männik – 29.27 Seniors Gold – Peeter Teedla – 30.90 | Snow Boarders Women Boarders Gold – Ingrid Nagy – 37.00 Young Men Gold – Ben Waite – 30.34 Silver – Erik Must – 34.19 Senior Boarders Gold – Peter Bodtke – 36.33 Silver – Marcus Vaska – 37.66 | Cross-Country Women Gold – Liisi Lascarro – 10:14 Silver – Helle Hantho – 11.21 Bronze – Ave Kaegi – 11.50 Men Gold – Mark Hantho – 10:14 Silver – Marcus Vaska – 12.29 Bronze – Siim Vanaselja – 13.87 | Wave Rider (Waterpark Surfing Competition) Women 13-17 1st Place – Vivienne Jones – 43.47 sec 2nd Place – Charlotte Jones – 24.83 sec Women 25 & up 1st Place – Lia Triantafylidis – 3:01 2nd Place – Jenn Hodge – 1:58 3rd Place – Teija Jõgi – 1:54 Men 25 & up 1st Place – Mike Gray – 1:10 2nd Place – Andrus Maandi – 24 sec |