With the fickle nature of Maine’s winters, it’s never easy to predict when the second of three high school sports seasons will truly begin in earnest for those who ply their trade outdoors.

Skiers are a hardy bunch, and will train in just about any kind of weather, as long as it’s safe.

And as long as there’s snow on the ground.

But the best of the best never really stop training. Or start. They just kind of roll from one segment of training to another.

Mt. Abram sophomore Sadie James has already figured that out. A three-season athlete with a definite lean to skiing as a favorite sport, James began training for her winter season nearly a year ago.

“I had a really specific training plan this summer that I focused on, but it was kind of hard once soccer started,” James said. “I did as much as I could of it.”

Soccer alone was good exercise for James. But she pushed through her training program in the fall, as well, even if it was tempered a bit.

“I didn’t get my plan until a little bit later in the fall, and I play soccer, so it was kind of hard. I really didn’t want to go to soccer practice, come home and do an hour and a half roller-ski, so I kind of laid off the training plan for a few months.”

Once Mt. Abram was done playing soccer, though, James was right back on the skis. She set some modest goals for herself as the snow began to fly, and held true to them through the middle part of the season.

“I was hoping to make it to J2s and Eastern’s, but I was really, really wanted to get a top 10 at J2s,” James said.

To do that, James had to navigate Class B states at Black Mountain in Rumford. With powerhouse skiers Sarah Abramson of Falmouth and Abby Mace of Maranacook in the field, James wasn’t trying to win her nordic events, but “stay close” to the two favorites.

“I knew Sarah and Abby were going to be there,” James said. “They’re both very, very good skiers, so I really wanted to be close to them.”

“Close” turned into next in line. James skied into third place in both the freestyle and classical events. After the latter, sporting the bejeweled headband for which she became known this season, she collapsed into the snow, huffing and puffing.

“I like classic better, but last year I placed better in the skate,” James said after that race. “I’m not sure, I think I’m even this year. I was pretty excited.”

Her finish qualified her to compete at the TD Bank J2 Championships at Gunstock, New Hampshire.

There, she not only replicated her strong finish at Class B states, she exceeded her own expectations — in all four events. James placed second in the 1k sprint, third in the 5k freestyle, fifth in the 5k classical and was part of a team that placed third in the mixed (boys and girls) relay.

“I definitely wasn’t expecting a second, a third, a fifth and a third,” James said. “That was a really big surprise. I was really happy, I was not expecting that.”

For all of her accomplishments on the snow this winter, James is the 2010-11 Sun Journal Girls’ Nordic Skier of the Year.

And there may be more in store for James. With track and field beginning, James is planning on using that sport to help her train for next winter. And then there is the new training program. And the summer ski camps.

“I’m really looking forward to summer training this summer,” James said. “I’m going to go to a bunch of ski camps, and I think that will help me a lot.”

 

First team

Hannah Allen Mt. Blue

Audrey Bennett Edward Little

Sadie James Mt. Abram

Molly Lindsey Winthrop

Emily Ramsey Mt. Blue

Emily Ranucci Edward Little

Sarah Wade Mt. Blue

Second team

Marie Claire Blanchard Winthrop

Marie Dufresne-Dixon Edward Little

Audrey Garcia Gray-NG

Anna Houston Mt. Abram

Emma Houston Mt. Abram

Rachel Ingram Winthrop

Maddie Williamson Edward Little