Written by S. Quinn DeJoy and J. Murrer

Mar. 4, 2015: At the New York State Skiing Championships held last week, Bronxville/New Rochelle ski team member Jonathan Yudell clinched first place in the giant slalom. It was a great race for Yudell, who edged out Queensbury's Alex Hohman by just 0.07 seconds. Section 1 skiers, who have little weekday access to challenging terrain and never race giant slalom during the regular high school season, rarely win states.

The state championships, which were held at Whiteface Mountain on February 23 and 24, feature the top skiers from seven different sections across the state. Winning states is an impressive feat for a Section 1 skier, who has limited access to weekday skiing. Yudell travels every weekend to West Mountain in Queensbury to train for both slalom and giant slalom races. He also competes in United States Ski & Snowboard Association (USSA) races.

"It's not only high school skiing, it is also USSA skiing that helps me get time on snow," said Yudell. "I skied Saturday and Sunday at Hunter Mountain for many years, then moved to West Mountain, where it is a smaller group and I get more individual coaching."

At states, racers compete in both slalom and giant slalom events over the course of two days. In the slalom event held on the first day, Yudell fell on his first run but was able to get up and complete the course. For many racers, this would be unnerving, but Yudell was even more determined to attack the course on his next run.

"I just wanted to show everyone what I could do on my next run," said Yudell. "Out of the many years of skiing USSA races, you basically don't have nerves anymore. You really have nothing to lose. You just show the crowd what you can do, put your all into it."

Yudell definitely put his all into it. He finished third in his second slalom run, and on the next day, he finished first overall in the giant slalom.

Yudell, a senior at New Rochelle High School, joined the merged Bronxville/New Rochelle team four years ago. His strong performance as a freshman made it clear he was headed to become a top racer in the state. Yudell's Section 1 credentials are impressive; he was undefeated during the regular season, and at the sectional championship, Yudell clinched the skimeister title for the second year in a row. The boys' skimeister title is given to the boy who has the best combined time for two slalom runs and two giant slalom runs.

Yudell was not the only member of the ski team to have a first-time state championship last week. Coach Jim Agnello had his first skier in his coaching career win a state title. "Every coach always has in the back of their mind a desire to have an athlete accomplish what Jonathan has, [to become] a state champion," said Agnello. "I have been coaching ski teams for 21 years and have coached some excellent athletes, but this is my first--what an honor as a coach. Jonathan has been an outstanding athlete and team member and a great inspiration to younger athletes to strive for the best the old-fashioned way--hard work and dedication."

Pictured here (L to R): Coach Jim Agnello and Jonathan Yudell at the New York State Skiing Championships.

Photo by S. Yudell