PawsThe Monthly

A Carrabassett Valley Academy Student Publication

November, 2013

Photo: Sam Punderson

In this issue of “The Paws,” with winter close at hand, we will take our final look back on the fall season. With many of our student-athletes having just returned from their fall training camps, they had a lot of memorable experiences to write about. Enjoy!

The writing in this publication has been peer edited and reflects student work. Feedback for our magazine is welcome at paws@gocva.com

StaffAlex Conrad | Joris Grintalis | Adam Hohmeyer | Bridget Jordan | Maria Leech

PawsThe Monthly

November, 2013 | Issue 2

ContributorsAlex Conrad | Joris Grintalis | Adam Hohmeyer | Bridget Jordan | Maria Leech | Sam Punderson | Waylon Wolfe

In This IssueAustriaBy Alex Conrad

ALPS Fall Backpacking Trip: Baxter State ParkBy Maria Leech

10 X 10: 10 Minutes. 10 Questions. with Will RiveraBy Adam Hohmeyer

Woodward Snowboard CampBy Joris Grintalis

iPadsBy Bridget Jordan

Back Cover: “Declan O’Brien: Switch Cork 5”Photo by Waylon Wolfe

Program begins: November 30, 2013

Program ends: March 30, 2014

Program meeting times: Saturdays & Sundays, & during Christmas and February vacation weeks

Program fee:

For more information regarding our weekend program, visit goCVA.com or contact us anytime.

Snowboard, Skier X and Freestyle: $1,450Alpine U10 - U14: $1,450Alpine U16 - U21: $1,500

Carrabassett Valley Academy (CVA) offers a Weekend Program for athletes ages 8-19 to hone their alpine racing, freestyle skiing, Skier X or snowboarding skills. The program is mirrored after CVA’s mission to provide opportunities for excellence in competitive skiing and snowboarding. The Weekend Program will introduce competition in a fun, positive environment.

In addition to the athletic training, the Weekend Program coaches teach life-long lessons, such as sportsmanship, camaraderie, respect for oneself and others, trust, confidence, goal setting, respect of our environment, and community betterment.

AUSTRIA

While in Austria, the Alpine Program had a blast skiing at Stubai Gletcher as well as experiencing the Austrian culture and cuisine. Each day there was more than enough to keep students busy. It is tough to find a few spare minutes in a day with all of the homework, skiing, recovery workouts, tuning, and sleeping. On days off, they headed down into Innsbruck for lunch and to walk around the gorgeous city. This year, the group had a special treat; going to the World Cup opening race at Sölden. Seeing thousands of other people that love ski racing just as much as we do, along with incredible racers, was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Alumni Bode Miller was there representing the US Ski Team despite coming back from a recent knee injury. Overall, the Austria trip was one that the athletes will remember for the rest of their lives, not only because of the great skiing, but for the small town they stay in (Patsch) where the smell of cow dung is common and the people are friendly.

By Alex Conrad

Where have you been a snowboard coach in the past?“Mount Snow Academy (MSA) and Ski Snowboard Club Vail (SSCV)”

How long have you been snowboarding?“15+ years”

What’s your favorite ski resort?“Soon to be Sugarloaf”

What’s your home mountain?“Mountain Creek (NJ)”

Would you rather kill Godzilla leaving half the city destroyed, but everyone knows who you are? Or kill the Kraken and save the city from future catastrophe without anyone knowing?“Kraken because being a pirate in the high seas would be sick, don’t need the recognition just the satisfaction of taking out the Kraken.”

What is your greatest fear?“Getting old, but I guess I can’t really stop that.”

What’s your favorite snowboard event?“Taking pow laps with the homies (aka friends and athletes), since at most events I’m usually coaching- doing more standing than riding.”

What are your secret talents?“Dancing skills, I can figure out how to dance to any sort of music playing.”

What’s your best joke?“Being me...”

If you were a type of animal, what would you be and why?“I’d love to be some sort of bird, it would be cool to just be able to fly wherever you want, whenever you want.”

Will Riv

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Who: Juan, Alex, Jerry, Maddi, Cailean, Jeb, Chase, Eric, and coaches Will and Bouf.

When: October 20-25

Where: Woodward Camp facility in Pennsylvania

What: Air awareness camp in Woodward Pennsylvania

The average day consisted of waking up at 8:00, eating breakfast and getting to the trampoline facility by 9:00. We would bounce until noon, then have lunch and study hall until 2:00. After, we would ride the skate park until 3:30, and then have study hall again until dinner which was usually around 6:00.

Why: The objectives of the camp were to get tricks from stationary (jumping up and down, using a trampoline) to using the roller boards in a forward motion, jumping into the foam pit, to get the feeling of doing the trick on snow. We utilized tumble tracks, trampolines, foam pits, roller park boards, and skate features to accomplish this goal. Everyone on the team attempted some sort of double flip! That was an incredible goal for the group to complete at the camp. The days consisted of tramp games like stick-it and add-on, to individualized coaching from trampoline to foam pit. One day we went to Penn State College for lunch, to a place called Are You Hungry. The menu was crazy. It included sandwiches consisting of a sub roll with French fries, mozzarella sticks, and melted cheese. Everyone had so much fun, and we had a great time getting to know each other, and the new coaches, Will and Bouf. The reason we could make this trip happen was because of the connection coach Will had with Woodward. He previously had been a counselor and the head snowboard coach there the previous summer. Big shout out to Will!

SNOWBOARDAERIALPROGRESSIONCAMPBY Joris Grintalis & Adam Hohmeyer

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iPadsBy Bridget Jordan

Favorite games downloaded onto the students iPads...

S t u d e n t s ’ F a v o r i t e A p p s

iPadsBy Bridget Jordan

eBackpack is an app downloaded on all of the students’ iPads. This app allows students and teachers to have a paperless assignment work flow. The majority of students find eBackpack helpful and easy to use, especially when traveling!

Four years ago we joined a 1:1 laptop program with the Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MTLI). We enjoyed the laptop program that provided digital solutions to our travel curriculum.

As the laptop initiative was coming to a close, CVA researched the variety of options that were available. These options ranged from a BYOD (bring your own device program) to another laptop program, or a tablet program. Due to the lower cost and great support, we waited to see what the options would be with MTLI following up the Macbook laptop program.

MLTI came out with 3 choice plan. An HP laptop, a Mac laptop, or the iPad program. We knew that we wanted to stay on the same platform (Apple).

Reasons why we went with the iPad:

• Portability - the iPad is easier to travel with, move around• Multiple inputs - typing, handwriting with stylus,

voice input, still and video camera all in one device• There are many Interactive textbooks to chose from• Flexibility to find and use Apps to support learning on the fly

-Eric Chamberlin, CVA’s Director of Academics

Declan O’BrienSwitch Cork 5