OUT OF THE GATE
Fast Food
Renowned ski technician Eric Larson has opened a new ski shop-bistro
called The Race Room at Sport Thoma in Franconia, N.H. The new branch,
in Bode Miller’s hometown, is Larson’s second location, complementing his
operation down the road in Lincoln.
“With the new branch we’re back to our roots up in Franconia,” says Lar-
son, who has tuned for such racers as Miller, Luc Alphand, Tommy Moe, Chris
Klug, Megan Gerety, and Naga Kusumi. “The rumor is with the new restau-
rant-shop we have, people are psyched to come see it, too.”
With regular customers from Burke Mountain Academy, Holderness, Fran-
conia Ski Club, New Hampton School and Waterville Valley Academy, Larson
says the new location is booming. “It’s beyond expectations with the economy
the way it is, the race business has not slowed down for me a bit,” he says of the
shop that specializes in Holmenkol wax and race accessories. “We’re probably
even busier than last year.”
The bistro, run by Larson’s brother-in-law, offers “French-American fancy
cuisine and tapas plates. It’s a typical bistro with nice wine and beer,” says Lar-
son. “Bring your skis in and go in the other room and get a beer and a burger
or something; it’s a cool idea.”
“In the past, mom and dad would drop the skis of and have to go shop or go
find something to do and then this place fell in our laps last fall,” says Larson
who was lucky enough to steal the location at a foreclosure auction. “It was
big enough to do both operations out of so it was like ‘what the hell’ we’ll just
try it.”
The shop will also invite race fans to enjoy live World Cup race coverage from
UniversalSports.com and the Vancouver Games on a big screen TV.
Maier Honored at Hometown Party
Recently retired Austrian ski racing great Hermann Maier was honored
with an evening of festivities in his hometown on December 7. Thousands
attended the event in Flachau, Austria, on Maier’s 37th birthday. The event
was also aired live on Austrian television. For more on a Maier-less World
Cup, including insight from his former competitors, see pages 26 and 27.
Are these Loon Mountain
skiers making lunch plans
for the Race Room?
Far West Ski Association Awards Grants
The Far West Ski Association (FWSA) has awarded grants of $500
to $1,000 to be used to cover training and competition fees during the
2009-2010 ski racing season. Thirteen athletes with an average GPA of
3.93 (10 have a 4.0) were chosen this year, according to FWSA, which
awarded the grants based on hard work and dedication.
The racers are Julia Bjorkman, Dylan Brooks, Ali Gunesch, Haley Han-
seler, Allene Kennedy, Lila Lapanja, Nicolo Monforte, Morganne Murphy,
Dylan Murtha, Jake Perkins, Jetta Rackleff, Jordan Schweitzer (right)
and Kenneth Wilson.
The FWSA scholarship program was established in 2004 as a means
of aiding deserving young alpine ski competitors. It is sponsored by Can-
ada Mountain Holidays, Whitefish Mountain Resort, Grouse Mountain
Lodge at Whitefish, the Far West Racing Association, and Shure Sports,
the maker of Karbon brand ski and snowboard apparel.
GEPA (MAIER); LOON MOUN TAIN; TIM MURPHY
