Yosef Spear

Many Winter Opportunities for Students in Lake Placid

February 4, 2025 by Yosef Spear

Lake Placid has lots to offer on winter weekends. Some popular choices are skiing, snowboarding, skating, and sledding.

Whiteface Mountain is a 15-minute drive from Northwood, and buses are offered most weekends for anyone who would like to go. The skiing and snowboarding are great there, and there is terrain for beginners and experts. The mountain hours are 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Sledding on the golf course. Photo provided.

Skiing at Whiteface Mountain. Photo provided.

Skating on the oval. Photo provided.

Cross-country skiing. Photo provided.

There is an Olympic Speedskating oval in the middle of town that offers rental skates for people without skates. The oval runs at night and daytime, so kids usually like to go after dinner on the weekends. The venue is the historic site of Eric Heiden’s five Olympic gold medals in 1980.

Sledding is a great and free activity that does not require much skill. There is a good hill for sledding on campus next to the Bergamini dorm and another one on the golf course, about a 10-minute walk from the school.

Mt Van Hoevenberg is another 15-minute drive away from school and offers cross-country skiing, which is a different type of skiing than alpine. Cross-country skiers are a bit more in control during cross-country skiing, and it is less intimidating.

The town has very pretty views during the winter, with white mountains and snowfall all around. In the middle of town is a small lake that freezes over, and kids like to play hockey or walk on the frozen lake.

If you are outdoorsy, there are many mountains to hike. Some kids here like to go touring. Touring is when you put a grippy sheet (skins) on the bottom of your skis and walk up the mountain with your skis. Once you want to ski down the mountain, you take the skins off and put them in your bag so you can ski down.

Filed Under: Northwood Life

Mindset Key to Magnus’s Recovery from Injury

February 3, 2025 by Yosef Spear

Jackson Magnus ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Jackson Magnus ’26 started off the season rough with a bad tib-fib injury during the start of summer. He was able to start doing the return to snow in mid-December. Around a month later, he got a CT scan and found out the reason skiing still hurt so much was because he still had a minor fracture in his shin. After finding out about his leg, he was set back another step and had to take three weeks off to give his leg time to recover.

“I’d rather take time off now than at the end of the season when it really counts,” Jackson reflected.

During this time off, Jackson will need to focus on heavy lifting and plyometrics in the gym so that he can stress the bone, sparking faster growth and a healthier recovery. Jackson’s family and coaches have been immensely helpful in this process, and he is on special lifting programs designed just for him and, specifically, for a speedy recovery.

This injury has given Jackson new insight into how much of a role your mentality can play in sports. He says that all athletes should try to spend a little more time utilizing visualization and other mental tactics that could benefit them eventually. He says that in his time off he has spent more time watching skiing and thinking about the sport’s fundamentals than he previously has, and this has helped him realize its importance.

After these two weeks are up, Jackson will get more scans of his leg, and hopefully, fingers crossed, if everything goes according to plan, he will go back to racing in no time.

Filed Under: People, Sports

Students React to Winter Schedule

November 12, 2024 by Yosef Spear

Northwood switched to the winter schedule on Monday, November 4. Classes now start at 12:40 p.m. and end at 5:05 p.m. This is so the sports teams can train in the morning before classes. The ski team benefits from this because the local mountain, Whiteface, operates from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The soccer team gets to spend their mornings in the gym or on the indoor turf, and the hockey team spends their time on the ice or in the gym. NAS (Northwood Adventure Sports) does many different things every day in the mornings. Most of NAS does recreational skiing in the winter, but some join the robotics team full-time or dance. The NAS crew likes to ice climb in the winter as well, and they offer everyone an opportunity to join them if people want to.

The Winter Schedule view for 11th and 12th graders and PGs.

Clay Fuller ‘25 likes that there’s less downtime because it helps him stay busy. Unlike the fall and spring schedule, we have classes from 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., with study hall starting at 8:00 p.m. “The days feel a lot longer,” Clay says. Once ski season starts, the winter schedule is great, in his opinion, because he gets to start his day doing what he loves most: Freestyle Skiing. There is a downside to the early morning ski time for Freestyle skiers. In the morning, the snow is hard and icy, and sometimes Freestylers fall hard. If the skiing was later in the day when the snow is softer, the crashes would be more “tolerable.” The sun also warms up the snow, making it a little slushy, which is valuable for Freestyle skiing.

Machai Davis ‘25, likes the winter schedule because he gets to play soccer in the morning when he has the most energy. The training sessions are also longer. He likes to not have to rush after school to go to practice. This also helps his academics because there are more flex periods. “It is pretty cool to look out the window during my last class and it’s dark outside. That is an experience you do not get at most other high schools,” Davis said.

Harry Vant, ‘26, likes the winter schedule because he gets on the ice in the morning and has his training over before school. He also likes the ramped-up flex periods because they give him time to go to different class flexes. Harry has more energy in the morning, which is great for his training, but he feels tired in the last class and after school because it is already dark when classes end at 5:05 p.m.

Filed Under: Northwood Life

Freestyle Team Gets Early Season Snow Indoors

November 5, 2024 by Yosef Spear

Big Snow American Dream in New Jersey. Photo: PeakRankings.

The Northwood School Freestyle team traveled to Big Snow in New Jersey. Big Snow is in the American Dream Mall, the second-largest mall in North America. Big Snow describes itself as “North America’s first and only indoor, real-snow, year-round ski and snow resort.”

This is a full-day commitment: a 5-hour drive there, two hours on snow and a 5-hour drive back. The skiers only ski for 2 hours, so they must make the most of every run. The team made this trip two weekends in a row, and they were satisfied with the skiing, as it was “better than nothing.”

The Freestyle team does not go on any international preseason trips like the race teams, and they do not go to Copper, Colorado preseason either. Big Snow is their best preseason trip. The reason they do not go on these trips with the ski racers is because those places where the race team travels don’t have terrain parks that are worth the trip that early in the season.

Killington, which is in Vermont, is a mountain that is known for opening exceedingly early in comparison to other mountains in the East. Killington has the Woodward Park crew at their mountain, one of the best in the world. Killington tries to open the first weekend of November each year, and the Freestyle Team is hoping to train there soon after it opens.

Overall, Big Snow is the best alternative for a little preseason park riding.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Sports

Humans of Northwood: Zach Wargo ‘25

October 30, 2024 by Yosef Spear

“I am a senior and this is my fourth year here. I live here in Lake Placid, four minutes from the school. Growing up, I always wanted to go to Northwood for ski racing, so I am glad I made the switch from public school to Northwood. I have made many friends and met so many great people.

“Some of my favorite things to do here during the school year are going into town with my friends, watching hockey games, skiing, and doing other various activities that the school provides.

“My favorite things about Northwood are the opportunities it provides; not only can I get into a great college, but I can pursue skiing to its highest level. Northwood provides the perfect balance between school and sports. I can get an amazing education while still skiing at the highest level possible at my age. During the summer I mountain bike and go golf with my boys.

“My favorite thing about the Northwood community is its inclusivity; everyone can find a place at Northwood, no matter who you are or what your background is, there is a group for you. Northwood is the best school, in my opinion, as it provides a perfect balance of everything. I am unbelievably grateful for this opportunity and cannot wait to see what my future holds.

“After high school, I want to get onto a good Division 3 ski team while majoring in business management or marketing.”

As told to Yosef Spear ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Flu Vaccine Clinic Helps Keep Community Healthy

October 30, 2024 by Yosef Spear

Ms. Lisa Wint got her flu shot at Northwood this fall. Photo: Ms. Tara Wright.

Northwood School hosted a flu clinic to ensure all kids can get a flu vaccine. A date was scheduled with local pharmacy Kinney Drugs in the spring. Parents signed their students up in the summer by completing the online form in Magnus Health. Appointments were scheduled by sports team/co-curricular activity during flex to not miss class time. Four staff members and Nurse Marge helped the pharmacist at the vaccine clinic.

Ms. Wint, Ms. Wright, Ms. Mandigo, and Ms. Hathaway were volunteers for the clinic.

“I love to volunteer my time to good causes and help others, so of course, I said yes to helping our very busy Nurse Marge when she asked. Having a clinic on campus at Northwood makes it easy for students and faculty to get vaccinated for the flu, which will hopefully keep our community healthier this fall and winter,” Ms. Lisa Wint said. “Avoiding the flu will reduce the number of missed class days and keep us all healthy so that we can enjoy the many extracurricular things we love to do, too. I told Marge that I was happy to do any job they needed to be done at the clinic. It turned out that my key role was to distract kids who were nervous or scared of having a shot, and I was also a “runner” who went to find the students who were missing from their appointed time slots,” Wint added.

“I volunteer for the flu clinic each year because, as part of the health team, I like to help whenever I can with health initiatives at Northwood,” Ms. Tara Wright explained. “It is important to offer students and faculty the option of a flu vaccine at school because it is usually not available before school starts. Students might get other vaccines before coming to Northwood, but they cannot get the flu vaccine at that time. I helped determine which arms students would use for the vaccine, recorded that on their vaccine forms, and helped Nurse Marge confirm the information on the computer. I also tried to help reassure students who were nervous about getting a shot,” added Wright.

Gus Garvey ’25 got his flu shot at Northwood because his parents signed him up for it. They have done this every year, and he is not opposed to it because it makes his life easier. He has gotten his flu shot many times before this. Gus was not scared, but he said it is “unpleasant like any needle going into your arm is.” He had things that he thought were the flu. “I’m sure I have had the flu, but I’ve never gotten tested to prove that I had it. To get through it I just look ahead and get it over with, not a big deal,” Garvey said.

Clay Fuller ’25 also got his flu shot at Northwood because he needed the vaccine. There is no real reason he did not get it at home. He has gotten his flu shot before. “There aren’t any downsides that stand out other than my arm being sore for the day.” He was not scared to get the flu shot. “I have never been scared of needles,” Fuller said. He had the flu as a kid, and it was horrible. “I was throwing up and was sick. I would never want to experience the feeling again,” said Clay. Another reason for getting his flu shot is that he does not have to go through that again. “I have an insane pain tolerance,” Clay said, so he does not need to do anything to help him through getting the shot.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Real World

First Snowfall Brings Energy to Campus

October 15, 2024 by Yosef Spear

The taste of winter arrived early this year as snow fell on October 14^th, which is early here in Lake Placid. The students were extremely excited. For some, it was just another Lake Placid thing; for others, it was their first time seeing snow. There was laughing and smiles everywhere.

Flurries were coming down all day, and the fields were covered in white. A snowman was made on the field, and people joyfully made snow angels. Some people were not incredibly happy with the early snowfall, but lots of winter sports people were excited, and it got skiers hyped for ski season.

This week, the weather has been unseasonably warm, and the snow is long gone, but there has been snow on the tops of the mountains all week. Mother Nature showed signs of being ready to give us a great winter.

Filed Under: Northwood Life

Humans of Northwood: Luke Salibello ‘25

October 15, 2024 by Yosef Spear

“I ski race here at Northwood. In my free time, I like to go to hockey games, run around the lake, and go into town with my friends. I live in the suburbs of New York City, so going to school in a small town is nice because I have so many things that are close and accessible.

“I like being at a boarding school. It’s not a new experience for me because I did winter term three years in a row with NYSEF before coming here. While at home during breaks, I love to hang out with family and friends. I have a dog named Maggie, and I love her.

“I would like to go to college to study biomedical engineering. I also want to ski Division 3 in college.

“My favorite part of Northwood is hanging out with my friends here. It’s fun having all the boys in my room, having a good time, and hanging out.

As told to Yosef Spear ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Wissler, Fey Compete in Adirondack Half Marathon.

October 3, 2024 by Yosef Spear

Maya Wissler ’25 and Max Fey ’28 completed the Adirondack Half Marathon in Schroon Lake on Sunday, September 22. Completing the hilly 13.1-mile course is quite an accomplishment.

Fey started off pretty strong, running at about a 7:45 mile pace. About 7 miles in he kicked it up into a 7:20 mile pace. By the end, the hills were gnarly, and it was quite hot. He completed the event in an hour and forty-three minutes, finishing 41^st overall and 20^th in his division. At the end, he fought some mental battles to really push through those brutal hills after already doing 11 miles.

Wissler completed the race in three hours and one minute, placing 315^th overall and 53^rd in her division.

Maya Wissler ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Max Fey ’28. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Humans of Northwood: Clay Fuller ‘25

September 24, 2024 by Yosef Spear

“I came to Northwood halfway through freshman year, originally on the ski racing team. I premediated a plan starting in seventh grade to go to a ski academy that did not have a freestyle team but had racing because I was good at that. I wanted to secure a position at a set place, then branch off into a freestyle skier.

“During my first year here, Raychel West pushed me to create a freestyle team. It was difficult in the beginning trying to make a name for ourselves because of how many other big ski academies there are in the East for freestyle. Nevertheless, I made sure to advocate for Northwood freestyle at all the competitions I went to and always tagged the team in my ski posts on social media. In the end it all worked out as I am now a senior and started the team with just me, but it has grown to 8 Northwood freestyle athletes.

“I love to go home and go cruising in my car, ski with my friends, work out, mountain bike, travel, and hang out with my parents and dogs. When here in Lake Placid, I like to hike Cobble, practice flips out on the field and go to the jumping complex. I have an alter ego named Crash out Clay or “CC” for short. I am interested in psychology and like to express myself through my words. I am interested in sales and hope to work in that profession later in life. A fun fact about me is that I deadlift 500 pounds.

“In my perfect world, I would head over to the University of Madison-Wisconsin and get my bachelor’s in business administration. At that point I would have to make the decision to get my master’s or not. Hopefully, I will end up in Chicago as a broker, and for the first ten or twenty years I would love to climb up the corporate ladder and one day start a business of my own. I hope to live just outside of the suburbs of Chicago around the lakes, which I adore.”

As told to Yosef Spear ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.