Vermonters making history at the 2022 Winter Olympics

A winter scene from Starksboro, Vt. (Gareth Henderson File Photo)

Not everyone gets to witness a home-spun connection when it comes to the Olympics, but Vermont is making it an historic year at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.

This week, Vermonter Ryan Cochran-Siegle won the silver medal in the super-G, becoming the first Vermonter to medal in Alpine skiing since his mother, Barbara Ann Cochran, took home the gold in 1972.

On that same day, Tuesday, Jessie Diggins, who lives in Stratton, became the first American woman to win an individual cross-country skiing medal, taking the bronze in the 1.5km sprint.

A day later, the winning ways continued, when Lindsey Jacobellis from Stratton won the USA's first gold medal of the 2022 Winter Olympics, competing in the snowboard cross.

Some members of the Vermont Army National Guard are also competing in Beijing, and one of them, Jericho resident Deedra Irwin, finished seventh in the 15k individual Biathlon. That's the best Olympic result ever by an American biathlete.

Irwin's history-making moment on Monday came just a couple days after Team USA's best-ever Olympic finish in the Biathlon mixed relay. Surging into seventh place were Vermonter Susan Dunklee and teammates Sean Doherty, Clare Egan and Paul Schommer.

Olympic glory indeed has its brightest and most memorable expression on the snow and ice. But the impact moves far beyond that, into the hearts of athletes and the many fans around the world. The greatest Olympic feat is the unity of purpose that expels any sense of division when athletes gather for these amazing, unforgettable events. And that resonates with people.

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott captured this spirit well, in his recent video remarks congratulating the Vermonters competing in the 2022 Winter Games.

"Every four years, athletes from around the globe show the value of preparation, perseverance and patriotism," Scott said. "No matter what's been happening politically, the Olympics have always been a beacon of hope, pride and unity. During these times of uncertainty, it's more important than ever to show the world all the good we have to offer."

— Gareth Henderson

Games to begin for all Vt. indoor sports

The Village Green and the Middle Bridge in Woodstock, Vermont, after Tuesday’s storm. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

After weeks of only practices and limited scrimmages, games will be allowed for all indoor winter sports in Vermont as of Feb. 12.

The announcement came on Friday, with state officials saying this step was merited after expanded practices went smoothly over the past couple of weeks. The state has been under pressure to fully restart games and competitions for indoor sports, but it has taken a cautious approach in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.

The gradual process of resuming competition began last month, when the state gave the green light for snow sports competitions and virtual meets for low- or no-contact sports. Friday's announcement opened up indoor sports competition for all school-based and recreational youth teams, but with restrictions.

At Friday's press conference, officials said there will be no fans allowed at games and competitions — only key personnel and credentialed media. Sports involving close proximity or moderate contact will be allowed no more than two games in any seven-day period, and must allow at least three days between competitions. The mask mandate for players and staff is now extended to all referees and officials.

Julie Moore, the state's secretary of natural resources, asked for continued compliance to all health guidance, to allow this process to proceed. This includes having an "arrive, play, leave mentality."

"In order for Vermont's return to play to continue to be successful, it is important that the collective commitment of players, coaches and parents to essential health and safety measures — masking, physical distancing and forgoing team-based social activities — remains steadfast," Moore said.

Noting the absence of fans will be a disappointment for some, Moore said teams are encouraged to explore virtual options to bring games to the public, such as live streaming. The updated sports guidance will be available on the state's website by the end of Monday.

At a Friday press conference, Gov. Phil Scott urged families to adhere to the state's ban on multi-household gatherings during Super Bowl Weekend, to prevent any sharp rise in cases as resulted from Halloween gatherings last year. Complying with public health rules helps avoid the need to reinstate stronger restrictions, Scott said.

"If you want to keep moving forward ... please follow the guidance, because the last thing we want to do is move backwards, but as I've shown, I'm willing to do whatever is necessary to keep people safe," Scott said.

In other news, as of Thursday, over 10% of eligible Vermonters have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, the governor reported. The recently announced increase in Vermont's vaccine allocation over the next three weeks will accelerate its current effort to vaccinate those age 75 and older — which is the first part of Phase 2 in the state's vaccination plan. The increased allocation will allow Vermont to move to the next age group in Phase 2 — 70 and older — in the next few weeks.

As of Friday, Vermont's COVID-19 positivity rate remains at 1.9%, one of the lowest in the country.

— Gareth Henderson

Start to finish

The finish during the 5K race on Sunday at Prospect Mountain in Woodford, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

When we hit the mountain, it was 4 degrees. That's the coldest race day I could ever imagine, but if it's your first race of the season, you go for it.

That was the case for my daughter on Sunday at Prospect Mountain, a scenic area tucked into the southwest corner of the state in the small town of Woodford. It’s a nostalgic, old ski area that ran as a rope tow and a J-bar in its early days — and it’s still going, now as a cross-country skiing venue. This past weekend, it hosted part of the NENSA Vermont Cup series, including 5K and 10K courses — my daughter took part in the 5K.

COVID-19 protocols were strictly followed, as dozens of cross-country skiers from all over Vermont competed. Usually, my daughter would have skied in at least five races by now — but indeed, the pandemic has impacted all sports. On Sunday, the sun was gleaming in no small way, and the brilliant, snowy landscape gave us the gift of beautiful surroundings as everyone prepared to race. All of nature’s elements had something of light to them.

That day also gave me the gift of a parenting experience I hadn’t had very often. I had been to my daughter’s races before, but this one was different for me, and not just because of the arctic cold. It was the first time I got to see the process leading up to the starting line, beginning with seeing her wax her skis in the living room the night before, along with all the packing and preparations that go into a two-hour family drive. I saw her perseverance and dedication to her sport, from start to finish. It's a complete experience I didn't have when I was leading a newsroom in my former job, when family time was always short. I’d been to these races before, but I hadn’t fully appreciated how much work went into preparing for them. It was good to be present, even with the challenge of rising before 6 a.m. I was ready.

Part of being ready was turning the RAV4 into a ski lodge of sorts, because with the pandemic, there was no lodge available. We arrived at about 9 a.m., and my daughter went straight from the car into her course preview run, the sunlight beckoning, the cool, windy trail waiting. My wife and I went over to the start, to check out the angles for taking pictures and generally take a look around. A gentle slope would take the racers up into the 5K course, where some windy spots in the woods awaited them. Another slope on the opposite side would bring them down to the finish.

Cheering for our daughter as she double-poled her way out of the start, I felt proud to be there, witnessing the result of her months of work — after her first summer/fall stretch of nonstop training. Her passion for the sport showed then, and it glowed now, even amid such a challenging onslaught of cold. Her plan for pacing herself at different points of the course, was being put into practice, and years of learning put into action with each stride.

As the race ended, my daughter powered through the finish, making it a strong day of racing that was very much worth the wait. Make no mistake, she was very ready to throw on some layers not chilled by the air. One of them was her toasty, insulated reindeer onesie; it's a standby for races. As she headed off to "warm down", I put her cold jacket into one of our bags, as I had dozens of times. But this time, it was with a bit more focus, a bit more attention. I had gone through the whole process of a race day, during one of my daughter’s most challenging competitions. Start-to-finish is a concept in and of itself, and one that’s exemplified in a race. It’s a matter of starting strong, using your power wisely, and persevering through the elements, until the very end.

The power of perseverance enabled my daughter and her fellow racers to finish their course in single-digit temps, with wind. Such an accomplishment is its own reward, a harmonious blend of hard work and dedication yielding progress, something I was proud to witness. It showed me that the true power of any experience is seeing progress right before your eyes, and sharing the good it brings. Sunday was that kind of day, and I'm looking forward to more days like it — even if I have to bring my heaviest jacket along.

— Gareth Henderson

Vermont issues updates on vaccination rollout, sports activities

The sun shines through the woods by Cloudland Road in Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

About a month after Vermont got its first vaccine doses, the state is about to launch Phase 2 of its COVID-19 vaccination plan.

The second phase includes Vermonters age 65 and older, and the state will organize the process in "age bands." The state is looking to vaccinate Vermonters in that group by the end of winter, as elderly individuals have shown the highest health risk to the virus. The first phase included the vaccination of residents and staff at long-term care facilities and health care workers — which is nearly complete.

On Jan. 25, appointments open for the first age band of Phase 2, which is all Vermonters age 75 and older, a group of about 50,000 people. Phone and online registration details will be announced closer to Jan. 25. The state projects this first group will take six weeks to be vaccinated. Vermont is currently getting a "very limited" supply, which is about 8,800 doses per week, said Mike Smith, Vermont's human services secretary.

At a Friday press briefing, Smith said Vermont is aiming for an orderly process to head off logistical issues seen elsewhere. That includes nearby New York, where hospitals and other facilities have had to cancel appointments due to low supply.

"Of course, what we really need is greater quantities of vaccine in the weeks ahead so that we can speed up our efforts, but we want to set appropriate expectations and communicate clearly where we are and what we expect, to avoid the frustration and disappointment we've seen in other states," Smith said.

To date, Vermont — with a population of over 620,000 — has administered COVID-19 vaccine doses to nearly 30,000 people. Once sign-ups begin for the 75+ age group, Smith is hoping many family members can step up to help their parents or grandparents register online.

“We are going to need children, grandchildren or other relatives help their older loved ones use the online tool as much as possible, to keep our call centers from being overwhelmed,” he said.

Once an appointment is locked in, Smith said, people need to make sure to keep it, so that scheduled doses are used and not spoiled. Another appointment will be made on-site for the second dose.

Throughout Friday's remarks, state officials appealed for patience, acknowledging many inquiries from Vermonters anxious to get their vaccine shot. The incoming Biden administration has made national vaccination distribution one of its highest priorities, and Smith said that if more doses become available, the state is ready to scale up the process quickly.

"We will have vulnerable Vermonters vaccinated by the end of the winter, and if the supply increases, we'll get to them faster," Smith said.

Currently, the state is making the complex preparations needed to launch this significant Phase 2. Officials urged the public to not call the state until the registration details are released later this month.

"By waiting until we have more details to share, you'll be helping our staff focus on the difficult and complex work to prepare for this next phase," said Dr. Mark Levine, the state's health commissioner.

Officials also said appointments will only be made through the state, not through your local health care providers. If an individual can't travel to a vaccine clinic, the state will be working with local EMS and home health agencies to provide the vaccine in those cases.

Smith said Vermont can be proud to have come this far in the vaccination process, but there's much left to be done. After the 75+ age group, the state will then focus on Vermonters in the 70+ range, and then 65+.

"Teams are working day and night to get (Phase 2) in place, with the goal of creating a rapid, efficient, workable process that will help save more lives," he said.

Levine was confident Vermonters could get through this together.

"I know that, with the same patience and understanding Vermonters have had throughout this pandemic, this vaccine will ultimately get us all closer to life as it once was with our family, friends and communities," he said.

In other news from Friday, Gov. Phil Scott announced that school and recreational sports are entering their own Phase 2. As of Monday, teams will be allowed to expand practices to include drills with limited contact and scrimmages, per the second phase of statewide sports guidance. Outdoor sports, such as downhill and cross-country skiing, will be able to practice in small groups.

The first phase allowed the return of youth sports several weeks ago, which allowed only skills training and drills.

“Since then, we've seen no spread of the virus tied to these activities, and spread within the schools remains low,” Scott said, noting the reason for the change. Games and scrimmages with other teams are still not allowed, and masks will still be required at all times.

Scott said he appreciated the place of sports in children’s lives.

"We know how important these activities are for our kids' well-being, both for their physical and mental health," he said. “It's my hope we'll soon be able to allow for competitions, but, as with every decision we make, it will be based on the data and the advice of our experts.”

— Gareth Henderson

Vermont postpones start of winter sports

A view of the Ottauquechee River from River Road in Woodstock, Vermont (Gareth Henderson Photo)

The state of Vermont is putting all school sports on hold until further notice, as the state continues to address a recent surge in COVID-19 cases. 

Gov. Phil Scott announced the measure on Tuesday, just a week before winter sports were set to start for the season. Earlier this month, the state suspended all youth and adult recreational sports that weren’t publicly sanctioned. The governor said the state would review the new school sports restriction each week. 

A statewide ban on multi-household gatherings remains in effect, but Scott noted schools have expressed concerns about families which may not follow that rule over the holidays. In response, the state is directing schools to ask students or parents if they were part of multi-family gatherings, as part of the required daily health check before entering school buildings. If the answer is “yes”, the individual will have to quarantine for 14 days, or for seven days with a negative COVID-19 test. Officials have also recommended that businesses enact the same practice, in case some employees don’t follow the guidance over the Thanksgiving holiday. 

“The more we adhere to this (gathering) policy, the faster we’ll be in lowering the number of cases and the sooner we’ll be able to ease up on these restrictions,” Scott said at the Tuesday press briefing. “Again, this is an example of why it’s so important to be vigilant and avoid small gatherings. And it’s my hope that adults will realize the need to sacrifice in order to give our kids this important time in their life, and most importantly, help keep them in school as much as possible.” 

The governor also made a point to recognize the “many, many more” Vermonters who are adhering to the restrictions. 

“While we’ve seen record growth in recent weeks, we still lead the nation in the lowest number of cases and deaths, and that’s because of all your efforts,” Scott said. 

State officials said data from recent days shows Vermont’s case growth beginning to slow, but, this being a holiday week, they urged people to keep following public health guidance, including the gathering restriction, mask-wearing, social distancing and avoiding non-essential travel.

“The fact is, the sacrifice we make today and over the next few weeks will make sure we get to the end (of the pandemic) faster, stronger and in a better position than any other state,” Scott said. 

Last week, the state clarified its restriction on gatherings, to note that outdoor fitness activities, such as walking, hiking or biking, involving no more than two people from different households are allowed.

— Gareth Henderson