This past Friday, many Seniors took one of their senior trips to Lake Placid. The Seniors– along with chaperones Mrs. Gerber, Mrs. Ostrander and Mrs. Derwin– left on a charter bus at 7:30 Friday morning, and were able to watch the Disney movie Miracle, which tells the story of the 1980 epic sports moment, the Miracle on Ice, where the 1980’s Men’s Olympic Hockey Team won their match against the Soviet Union, against all odds.

Around 10:00, the Seniors arrived at the ski jumps at Lake Placid. They were warmly greeted by the staff, who were very excited to share their knowledge and the history of the Adirondack landmark. The first activity the seniors participated in was a biathlon shooting. Seniors and chaperones took turns firing a paintball gun at a target, while the staff explained the shooting portion of a biathlon. Once they were finished with that, they boarded the bus once more and headed to the top of the hill to where the ski jumps were located. Leah, the tour guide, gave the group a sneak peak into the locker rooms for the skiers, and let them check out some of the equipment. One elevator ride later, the Seniors were atop the tallest ski jump located in Lake Placid.

Foreign exchange student Marek Borik commented, “I’ve never seen anything as cool as the ski jumps in my life. They were so big! And the view… Oh my God incredible! I could never have the courage to go down those ski jumps even though I ski!” Despite rainy weather and clouds circling around, they enjoyed spectacular views of the mountains surrounding the area.

Once the group had enough taking in the ski jump views, they boarded the bus and headed over to the Olympic Training Center just a few miles down the road. While there, Leah brought the group through a small museum chronicling some Olympic highlights, and on a tour through the training areas of the building. She explained that many athletes will live in that building year round, where they have access to many different training areas. The seniors got to peek in on a few different athletes who were training, as well as a rhythmic gymnastic competition; these same athletes could very well be competing at the next Olympic Games in Rio.

After the tour, it was back on the bus and onto the hockey rink where the Miracle on Ice took place. The Seniors enjoyed their Subway lunch in the seats of the Herb Brooks Arena. After lunch, the seniors were treated to some hockey exercises, including slap shot where their puck speed was tested, and an accuracy shot.

“I thought it was fun. The best part was the hockey clinic because everybody was having fun and laughing at themselves failing,” Livia Bascom explained.

Once the seniors had enough fun with hockey, they were treated to a special opportunity to sit in Locker Room 5, the one that the 1980’s US Hockey Team used, and where scenes from Miracle were filmed. Leah explained that not many people got to go in there, so the Seniors were very excited to have the opportunity. Once the tour of the rink was finished, the kids walked around the Olympic museum before heading out onto Main Street for shopping and eating.

Despite the cold and rainy weather, the Seniors thoroughly enjoyed the beauty and history of Lake Placid.