The wind whistled by me as I installed a new message on the Lonesome Pine Trails sign on Fort Kent’s Main Street last Saturday afternoon. The message said: “GOOD WORK FK BOYS AND GIRLS SKI TEAMS, STATE CHAMPIONS.” My fingers were getting colder by the minute, but my heart was getting warmer with pride thinking about how remarkable a feat it was for both of Fort Kent’s Ski Teams to have won for the second time in three years and for the boys to “three-peat.”
As a former coach of these teams, I know how difficult this is to do. It is a tribute to these young men and women that they succeeded in spite of injuries, illnesses and tough courses they had to compete on located at Sunday River and Black Mountain.
I also applaud veteran coach Greg Voisine for his continued leadership and involvement with the Alpine teams as well as newcomer coach Kelly Martin in taking over the Nordic part of the competition. Kelly is a former state Skimeister competing for Greg. They also had very capable assistants in the Dan Vaillancourt and Sharon Chasse, not to forget the many parents and relatives that supported them throughout the season, our very own “Green Beaners.”
A few hours later the town came out en masse to welcome the teams back home and formed a parade that led them around town in a celebration that ended at the LPT Lodge. The place was decorated with congratulatory posters and festive balloons and there was a large victory cake for the state champs.
Principal Tim Doak led the skiers and their supporters into the lodge where the teams were feted and fed. Mr. Doak thanked the skiers, coaches and parents for their hard work in achieving the team’s goals. He mentioned how other officials were impressed with the “Orange Brigade” that lined the entire course to cheer the Nordic teams on. This, of course, was in reference to a tradition Fort Kent started at the 2007 State Meet where Alpine skiers dressed in hunter orange to be more effective in cheering on their Nordic teammates.
Mr. Michaud, Fort Kent’s AD, also mentioned this tradition as he praised the students for their success. He then invited the coaches to comment on the meet. Kelly [Martin] expressed her amazement at how hard Fort Kent skiers pushed throughout the course, but especially that they still had energy left to tackle the final High School Hill on the 5K course.
One young skier, she said, had thrown up several times the morning of the race, sick from the flu, but found enough muster to get his best time ever. His score made the difference in Fort Kent achieving the win. Martin was complemented by other coaches at her entire team’s level of preparedness. Greg [Voisine] mentioned that in spite of injuries and having to practice on cold Monday nights, his teams proved how tough and dedicated they were.
In the GS race, one of the most difficult he had ever seen, he told his two last skiers that they had to stand through the course if they wanted Fort Kent to win. They both did. Teamwork pays of again.
In my many years of involvement in sports, I have found that building the concept of teamwork in young athletes is the most important lesson they can take with them when they go out in the real world. What we refer to as school spirit matures into workforce cooperation in order to get the job done and achieve business success. In talking with my former athletes, they remember how their team spirit changed their attitude toward the sport, and has helped them in their careers. Having team spirit makes the hard work at practices seem like fun since you are doing your part in helping the team win.
Finally I want to thank the teams for the honor and recognition they have brought to the entire greater Fort Kent area. We are often referred to as “The Little Town That Could” and your success on the trails certainly has a “Yes, We Can” side to it that should help you in your futures.
Ben Paradis
President,
Lonesome Pine Trails