Kathy Critelli, VIP host

So far this winter, ORDA’s Mount Van Hoevenberg staff and volunteers have hosted an array of back-to-back and — at times — simultaneous events, often under very trying conditions. Taking days off is, at times, catch-as-one-can, as when working with weather-dependent events, as conditions can change severely in a short period of time.

As an example, MVH-Jumping complex staff hosted the Jr. World Ski Jumping & Nordic Combined Qualifier, FIL Continental Cup at Hoevenberg, on Jan. 13-19, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) Aerials World Cup on Jan. 18-19, the IBSF North American Cup Bobsled and Skeleton Jan. 23-27, the Empire State Games Jan. 30-Feb. 2, the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup that included both men and women, Feb. 7-9, the FISU Nordic Junior World Ski Championships on Feb. 12-16, the Lake Placid Loppet Feb. 23, and is the middle of hosting the Bob & Skeleton World Championships March 6-16. Coming up, the MVH staff will be hosting the U.S. Ski and Snowboard and National Nordic Foundation Super Tour March 26-30, held in conjunction with the NENSA Eastern Cup.

“It takes a family, it takes a team of dedicated people, staff, and volunteers, all striving towards the same goal to host such an array of back-to-back events and provide world-class venues for our guests,” said Rick Preston, general manager of the Jumping and Mount Van Hoevenberg sports facilities. “It’s possible because we have a very dedicated team that strives for excellence in all aspects of their work, from preparing the track to cleaning the buildings to executing the events.”

In all cases, the hills, trails and sliding tracks must be prepped and maintained throughout the event and maintained and made available for training in a wide array of disciplines and activities for the general public. At the same time, the staff has been getting ready to potentially host the sliding sports for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

While the ski jumping complex and MVH each have a core staff, many are pulled from one venue to assist the other as needed when major events are held. The same is true for the volunteers, many of whom might be marking where jumpers land one week, sweeping ice and snow out of the grooves of the start at the sliding venue the next, or checking credentials another time.

Gordon Kelly, making the building ready.

On Wednesday, March 5, the siding track crew faced a daunting challenge that only worsened as the day and evening hours progressed; rain and a strong, gusty, warm wind were undoing weeks of work. By 10 p.m., it was clear that in places, the rain and wind were getting in, causing significant damage that could take days to repair. Yet, on Thursday morning, the start of the skeleton event was delayed only 30 minutes. Fortunately, a drop in the wind and rain in the middle of the night enabled the highly skilled ice meisters to repair the track and ready it for racing.

“After it stopped raining, it frosted up,” Russell Wagner said. “We first had to remove about a half inch of frost with power brooms. We then shoveled and blew that out and patched the track where needed. When it gets warm, you get big drips and puddles at the bottom; then, you go through with a roller chisel to knock them off. Luckily, it’s cold today. On the big curves, like ten and fourteen, you have to get up on a stand; it’s a lot of work, especially when you are on a world stage like this week. Then you must get it done quickly; you can’t waste any time.”

Those that keep the roads and paths open and sanded are no less important.

“It’s not easy keeping a head of the snow,” said Noel Jennings, shoveling the path with Manny Rodriguez. “You have to stay at it, take short breaks, start at the top and work down, and then from the bottom up. We try to keep the paths safe for the athletes and spectators.”

“You certainly get a lot of fresh air doing this job,” laughed Manny. “It keeps my skin tight.”

Peggy Mousaw, weighing sleds, with Chris Mason of the Milano Cortina sliding tech team

Another challenge is keeping the venues clean so that when people arrive in the morning, the place is sparkling, and then keeping it as clean as possible and litter-free throughout the day.

“We take care of the Hoevenberg and Jump facilities,” said Gordon Kelly, who works for Building Readiness. “Our job is to get the buildings cleaned and set up for the athletes, staff, visitors and volunteers. When you think of all the people that come through here, especially on race days, and it looks like nothing happened the day before because it looks so clean, that’s our job.”

“Thanks. The work you and your colleagues do is impressive; it means a lot,” I said.

“Thanks, it’s good to know that our work is appreciated,” Gordon said.

An area of pride at MVH is the compliments their food service often receives. During the World Cup, this includes feeding the press and volunteers three meals a day in several locales on the venue, the athletes, their trainers, administrative staff, the various sports authority reps, and providing a wide array of offerings for the general public.

Ryan Preston of Sodexo

“Providing food throughout the venue is a lot of work,” said Ryan Preston of Sodexo, ORDA’s food service provider. “First, we bring in a thousand pieces of product. We spend many hours prepping it all up in anticipation that everybody will arrive and eat it; the amount of food served depends greatly on ticket sales. We start around 4 to 5 a.m. and go until 6 to 8 p.m. It can be a six to seven-day week.”

On the volunteer level, some are first-timers, and others, like Peggy Mousaw and Kathy Critelli, have been volunteering for decades.

“I’ve been volunteering since 1984, seventeen for US Luge, the past three for bobsledding-skeleton, but I also do biathlon, speedskating, ski jumping, hockey and wherever else they need somebody,” Mousaw said. “Usually, it’s in a technical position; today, I am weighing sleds and athletes. ORDA is very good to the volunteers. I’ve always been treated very well, but I volunteer to promote the sports; I do it for the athletes. For some of these athletes, I’ve been here from when they entered the sport to becoming Olympians. The events can’t happen without volunteers.”

“My best experience volunteering is talking with international athletes, coaches, and officials,” Critelli said. “You get to know them over the years, and we make friendships. We hug when they come back and when they leave.”

“My wife and I retired here, and over the past couple of years, we’ve volunteered at bobsled, luge, skating, skeleton, and ski jump events, all kinds of stuff,” Terrance Vellone said. “Right now, I am checking credentials; yesterday, I was sweeping the track; before that, I was helping with guest services; I love it. What better way can you spend your retirement than by volunteering and helping”?

Provided Photos — Naj Wikoff Terrance Vellone helps with checking credentials.

(Naj Wikoff lives in Keene Valley and has been writing his column for the Lake Placid News since 2005.)

Pictured are ice meisters Russell Wagner (in back with yellow hat) and Ricky Fredrick.