We have data on the Bolton test going back many years. It’s one of the tests I “inherited” when I started coaching at MNC, so in the record books you’ll see times from 2013, with names that have long since gone to college, and even started and retired from professional ski careers!
So yes, this September will mark the 10th year of this test if the archives are accurate.
Often, I’m making claims about how much faster athletes are getting, and indeed the top times have consistently plummeted in the past 3-4 years. The times are decreasing for a few reasons. In part, it’s from us only getting faster as a club. But there has also been a marked increase in skiers taking on this test. The sample size has gotten huge, and with more skiers come more chances to throw down fast times. Skiers from other clubs give it a go, as do collegiate skiers and adults in our sport.
But individual progress has always been a key marker, and having a tab on our archive that follows evert skier over the years is super valuable.
And on Saturday, a new record fell! No, not the speed up the mountain (although Keelan Durham and Hattie Barker were close to some record times). This was a record in the number of racers in a single Bolton test day with a total of 30 competitors.
Philosophical club question: is this record more important than the record for time and speed?
My answer would be yes, because this record signifies growth in participation, excitement, and willingness to compete. Our MNC University group brought many new racers to the table, and friends-of-the-club made appearances too. 14 results were added to the men’s recordbook, and 16 results were added to the women’s record. That’s some great parity as well.
The speed records are likely to be broken again, and the likelihood it happens sooner is higher when we’ve got more competitors. So it’s really a wholistic process: more athletes and a broader range of racers means more chances for the record to fall, and a wider range of times in each test (meaning no matter what speed you’re going, you likely have someone racing near you for good competition).
That’s a much stronger barometer of ski club testing results than simply relying on “super talent” skiers or runners to keep lowering the course record!
Although some had to jet for graduation or work, we still had a pretty big group shot at the top of the lift!
Comments are closed.