Adirondack Sports May 2024

News Briefs
Bethlehem Triathlon
Club, Junior Program
The Bethlehem Triathlon Club is proud to announce
its newest program, a Junior Membership Program
for young people ages 10 through 18. The program
was created out of a lack of opportunities in the
Capital Region for young people to learn about and
participate in the sport of triathlon. Members of the
BTC Junior Program will be provided with a fun, safe
environment for exploring the three disciplines of
triathlon – swimming, biking and running. Junior members will swim at Lawsons
Lake County Park in New Scotland, in open water club swims on a marked course
with excellent lifeguard coverage and adult supervision (scheduled to start in late
May). The Bethlehem Triathlon Club has been fortunate to have a special use permit
for swimming in Lawsons Lake for the past two years, which offers a fantastic setting
for novices and experienced athletes.
To become more comfortable with cycling, junior members will have the opportunity
to participate in BTC’s organized, group bike rides and receive the support of
experienced, adult members. For the first time this year, BTC is excited to offer organized,
small group runs on the Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail in Delmar, Slingerlands
and Voorheesville. The Bethlehem Triathlon Club, established in 2012, prides itself on
being an inclusive, welcoming club for athletes of all experience levels from throughout
the greater Capital Region. BTC programs, including the Junior Membership
Program, operate under the requirements of SafeSport certification. Learn more
about becoming a BTC member (youth or adult): bethlehemtriclub.com.
ARC’s Five All-Girls
Crews Aim for
Youth Nationals
The Albany Rowing Club is thrilled to announce
the qualification of five all-girls crews for the prestigious
USRowing Youth Nationals, scheduled from
June 6-9 in Florida. The fierce NYS High School
Championships, held May 11-12 on Fish Creek in
Saratoga, saw a total of 80 teams and 550 boats competing.
The following ARC crew members qualified
for the Nationals: Girls Varsity 4x Ella Cuoco, Isabella
Lue, Sophia Ritchie, Shannon Breimer; Girls U17 4x
Leysha Belulkar, Catie Murphy, Allison Meier, Lucy
Quoma; Girls Varsity 1x Shannon Breimer; Girls
U17 1x Allison Meier; and Girls U17 2x Lucy Quoma,
Allison Meier.
2023 SKYHIGH KIDS
TRI AT GRAFTON.
SHANNON BREIMER
VARSITY 1X CHAMP.
Facing challenges such as limited resources and modest facilities, Albany Rowing
Center, a not-for-profit organization, leaned on the unwavering spirit of its athletes
and coaches. Despite the odds, they persevered, driven by sheer determination and
passion. The journey of the ARC athletes epitomizes the belief that with unwavering
dedication, any obstacle can be overcome. As ARC teams gear up for national competition,
they extend an invitation to try the sport of rowing. Albany Rowing Center
is set to host Learn to Row summer camps tailored for youth aged 12 to 18. They are
also reaching out to businesses and organizations to explore potential sponsorship
for our club and teams. Support can make a significant difference in empowering
ABC athletes to reach their fullest potential. Learn more: albanyrowingcenter.org.
Fundraiser Cornhole
Tournament
Lilly Hanna in 2nd Place at
2023 US Cross Nationals
Capital Bicycle Racing Club member, Lilly Hanna of Clifton
Park, finished in 2nd place, with teammate Hannah DiNolfo
of Poestenkill who won at 11-12-year-old 2023 US Cyclocross
Nationals. Lilly has been racing cyclocross for three seasons,
and is in her first year of competitive mountain biking with the
NICA NY Mountain Goats. She loves working hard, racing with
her cycling friends, and perfecting her game face.
MAY 2024 7
On Sunday, July 7, the Schenectady Rotary Cornhole
Tourney will benefit a local school. “Cornhole for a
Cause,” a Schenectady Rotary fundraising event will
benefit the W.C. Keane Elementary School as part of
the Schenectady Community Schools initiative. The tournament begins at 9am at
River’s Casino in Schenectady. It’s open to all levels of play and there will be cash
prizes and trophies. The community event is seeking sponsors, auction items, players
and spectators. Info: schenectadyrotary.org.
“If you can feed
yourself, you can
free yourself”
That’s the ethos for many homesteaders these days.
Since the pandemic, the desire to be self-sufficient
has increased exponentially. Perpetually empty
shelves made society reflect as a whole on the current
systems in place, and what we need to do as
individuals in order to live more autonomously.
For “historical foragers” like Melanie Sawyer, the
answer is simple – look to the past. When she was
dropped off in the remote Arctic of Saskatchewan,
Canada for History Channel’s survival series
ALONE, Melanie’s strategy was to “live as close as
possible to someone who was coming into this area
HISTORICAL FORAGER
MELANIE SAWYER.
in the 1700s.” By focusing on the foraged foods that fed people during the 18th century,
she was able to survive for 43 days in the unforgiving Canadian wilderness.
Though foraging was a great contributor to her survival, viewers cannot deny
that Melanie’s ingenuity and can-do attitude played an imperative role as well. At
one point in the season, she crafts a sewing needle from the underwire in her bra in
order to sew up a hole in her sleeping bag after a mouse helped itself to the stuffing
inside. She laughs as she makes this discovery – the irony of a small rodent using
her very own survival supplies to endure not lost on her.
But for Melanie, who lives in Moriah, historical foraging is not entirely about
survival. It’s about the innate human desire to connect with nature. It’s about slowing
down and getting back to the simplicity of life. It’s about recentering to learn
our roots, and then sharing that knowledge with others. Melanie is a former model,
wilderness skills instructor, wrangler, historical reenactor and entrepreneur: melanie-sawyer.com.
Since returning from filming the show, Melanie has been happy to share her
experiences on ALONE and how they correlate to her historical foraging experience
in the Adirondacks. On Thursday, June 27 at 6:30pm, Melanie will be at the
Adirondack Folk School in Lake Luzerne to talk about her time on the show and offer
firsthand accounts of the trials she faced and the triumphs she earned. To secure your
ticket, visit: adirondackfolkschool.org.
REALLY RAD
FESTIVAL OF CX.