The Quarry Road Opener 2025
- Damian Bolduc
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
The Quarry Road Opener
12/6/2025
NWVE put points on the board as the 2025-26 season kicked off at the Quarry Road Opener! The annual event has evolved from its beginnings twelve years ago, drawing a larger field. In recent years, it has served as a low-key distraction for the regional collegiate athletes to take their minds off looming end-of-term assignments and exams. Yet, a unique community sense of pride remains and enriches the day. I remember supporting the event in the inaugural year. The club's Founding Five made the journey over to support the new race (reminisce in the archive). There was not much, but there was a strong sense of community and a vision that continues to flourish in Waterville!
One has plenty of time to contemplate what they are doing when driving the four hours to such an event. Seeing all the competitive college teams primed for the season registered, along with a handful of master skiers, calls for reflection on what is about to happen. My decision was settled by needing to do this after what I can only describe as a series of massive weeks. Not any one thing has contributed to this feeling, but a culmination of things and a sense that something is missing has created a weight. I also want to be a part of what happens early this season.
On the commute, a thin cover of snow blanketed the ground the entire way. I was under the impression that there would be more as I traveled east, but it seemed fairly even across the region. The roads were clear, and the driving was easy – the critical factor in starting the car.
While I have too much to do and not enough time to do it, I was able to accomplish a work task by listening to a potential option for a book I wish to replace next semester. They never quite capture the crossroads that people who work in my field are devoted to, but this one came close with stories and wisdom, so it is in the running. One person was described as “someone who prefers their own company,” which caused me to laugh and think that the author is a person who would inform me that they are Type A, to which I would describe myself as “Type 1, which is better than Type A.” Which always confuses and equally irritates the other person, who inevitably replies, “There is no Type 1, and one Type is not better than another,” to which I reply, “You are the one who felt compelled to bring this up.” I wonder if they ever figure out that we Type 1’s can get along just fine, truly not caring about what Type anyone else is? The book also made me reflect on other things, like whether the time has come for me to emulate the values of my first competitive mentor, and whether I might become the most important person in the race, last place - the person that makes everyone else feel a little better about themselves. I noted that this is not my usual optimistic race-day fantasy.
I got to Augusta and was behind schedule. I drove by Bond Brook and remembered where NWVE had sealed the points series on the course, Tim Cowan commented, was “convenient to the cemetery!” A quip I recycled later in the day to UNH’s Hattie Barker, noting the course was “convenient to the hospital.” I talked with a parent of an athlete I have helped over the years. My book’s intertwining thread was patterns, and here was an example of how this particular athlete had started a journey as a U14, joined a prominent club, built a foundation of results, eventually making JOs, and is now happily enrolled and a member of a team that is an excellent fit. The plan came to fruition as described some years ago. The leap to the next level is the most difficult, but they have four years to figure that out, and are in excellent hands to nurture the athlete should that become a goal.
Since I was late, these conversations were fleeting. I had shown up to registration ready to race and put my number on, and I was good to go. The course was open, and I got a few laps in. The snow was slow, and the air crisp and cold. Both to my liking. I increasingly enjoy the biting feeling of cold air filling my lungs. There was no wind.
The course was not what I was expecting at all. We started in the stadium near the timing shed and went straight out on Half Hitch Trail to the rope tow. This is a trail I have never skied on before, about one skate lane wide. It was an out-and-back, so narrowed further with the V-board dividing it down the middle. Once back in the stadium, we climbed along the tree line to the base of Tracey’s Hill. The race course then went down the usual start hill, looping around the stadium counterclockwise back to the timing shed for the lap/finish area. Skiers completed seven laps.
I talked with Jeff Palleiko (GNS) about the course. We agreed it would be better if they did the interval waves like the last time we were here. Where 20 athletes would start individually in an interval, then a ten-minute break, then the next 20 in an interval. But today it was straight through the start order. The Half Hitch trail was a different challenge from what I have seen in racing at the level of the majority of the field. It ended up not being as much of an issue as anticipated. Thankfully, athletes were respectful, and hopefully, fun was had by all. I observed that skiing straight into the berm then turning wide was an effective approach to the tight 180, and passed the knowledge along to Cipperly Good (NWVE), who appreciated it. The race line was getting swept out and way off camber, but this strategy provided a solid push to make the rest of the hairpin.
Racing got underway, and all the thoughts cleared my mind. The course was relatively flat, leaving no place for recovery. Skiers were putting in fast lap times, and before I knew it, I was on course too. There was a lot of traffic, but there was a level of cordiality, yet people were in the zone, myself included. I noted my skis were moving well, I was able to get around the course comfortably, and maintain an awareness of those around me. Surprisingly, I was even able to pass someone! Lap one was a breeze, lap two no problem, lap three reality set in and remained the rest of the race. Even though there was not really much of a hill on the course, each lap felt longer and steeper. I was pleasantly surprised to find this reflected in my Strava download, so I was not imagining it. I marked the athletes I was around, and before I knew it, I was done - hacking and happy! Jeff finished shortly after and was ecstatic with how fun the race was. Ivanov Evgeny (EMXC), whom I was chasing, was waiting and provided appreciative accolades to the Masters, and also praised the event. It was also good to carry over the competition with Gabriel Perkins (Unattached) from last season, who seemed happy that a new season is underway with familiar faces.
I did not see Cipperly until right before the start of the women’s race. I relayed what I could about the course, and soon she was off to start. The women were quickly all on course, and my perspective changed from the narrow window of a participant to the wide view of a spectator. Things that feel instantaneous and in the moment during the race look more protracted from this viewpoint. There were many familiar faces to cheer on throughout the field, and it was fun to see their progress. The new undergrads were welcomed to their teams, and the bonds from high school carried over with supportive cheers as the group is immersed in a new world where every race feels like a championship. There were not as many master women in the event this year, but Cipperly had company on the course. Cipperly connected with Ida and Hazel Waterman (Nonstop Nordic) as their laps converged with the interval start. Cipperly’s consistent effort motivated the fatiguing junior skiers. As the early starters began to exit the course, Cipperly’s pace picked up! This allowed her to open a gap on her masters rival, Meghan Flanagan (Unattached). Cipperly was likely the only skier who ticked off negative splits out there today and finished happy to have another race on her alma mater course complete. She was thankful for the course insight and was quickly ready to cool down.
Racing continued with BKL events as the Open participants cleared the venue. There were a lot of smiles on everyone's faces. I cooled down with Cipperly and caught her up on what's been going on, as well as what's ahead for the season. I cleared my lungs and contemplated that the something that had been missing was the narrow focus of being in the moment during competition. While it is intense processing all that is around you, it is purely a mind-and-body experience. Fortunately, the body held up! The Quarry Road Opener was the perfect recipe for getting the season underway. Honest competition, a skiable course with an unexpected twist to overcome, great company, and a representation of all the layers of the community that keep the sport healthy!
Damian
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