Empire State Games

Future Olympic athletes reach for the gold in Lake Placid

Story and photos by Amanda DeLosh

Athletes from all over the world are fulfilling their Olympic dreams in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games. Gold, silver and bronze medals will be placed around the necks of Olympic champions, as cheers erupt from the crowd.

In Lake Placid, NY, young athletes from all across the state of New York will try to fulfill similar dreams: Making it one step closer to a potential Olympic journey by competing at the Empire State Games.               

The Empire State Winter Games have been held in Lake Placid, home of the 1980 winter Olympic Games, since their inception. “The Winter Games started in 1981 following after the 1980 Olympics,” says Frederick Smith, director of the Empire State Games.

“Especially when anything goes on like right now, the Olympics are going on and my town is nuts.”

This year, 24 former Empire State Winter Game athletes traveled to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.  “A lot of the athletes, especially from the North Country, are alums, and it does peak the interest due to the Olympics,” says Smith, in regards to the increased enthusiasm in the Empire State Games. Andrew Weibrecht, one of those alum, gained particular not by bringing home a medal from Vancouver.

“Andrew Weibrecht does alpine skiing and won the bronze, and Nick Alexander is in the qualifiers for a medal placing,” says Kindsley Dodson, a Lake Placid native, who grew up around the athletic town and knows these two Olympians in the 2010 Vancouver games.

With the Olympics going on, Dodson explains how the atmosphere changes with any type of event like the Empire State Games, or even the Olympics takes place.

“Oh my gosh, yes,” Dodson says. “Especially when anything goes on like right now, the Olympics are going on and my town is nuts.”

“You know how the 1980 Olympics were here?” She continues, “Well, at my dads hotel, Buzz Schneider, the guy who scored the first hockey goal, (for the “Miracle on Ice” team) was signing autographs, and people were going nuts. I mean it was how long ago? And it's still so cool how people are so into it, the community really comes together.”

“I think that Empires is special because it is all different sports competing rather than just one sport, and each person there represents their sport.”

The Olympics really do bond people together, and having them go on at the same time the Empire State Games are occurring really sets the mood for the coming competition days.

“Everyone is so involved—spectators, coaches, competitors.” Dodson says. “It’s really busy in my town for sure, but there’s always something going on.”

The Empire State Winter Games sports echo many of the Winter Olympic competition, such as skiing, biathlon, luge, figure skating (which now includes synchronized skating), bobsled, ski jumping, speed skating, ice hockey, snowboarding, and cross-country skiing. All of these sports bring an average of more than 1,000 athletes to compete for the gold medal.

The Empire State Games can be a great family outing with all of the outdoor activity going on day and night during the weekend, also called the “chill out.” “Saturday night we have a block party with music, food, and fireworks,” Smith says. “We try to make it a family weekend so families can enjoy it.”

The day of the opening ceremonies is similar to the drama of the opening of an actual Olympic Games. When dusk hits, the streets continue to stay alive with families and athletes mixed all together enjoying the sites of the wintery town of Lake Placid. Fireworks start the night off.

As the crowd makes its way inside to warm their faces, seats fill up as the Empire State Games begin. Once everyone takes their seats, the “parade of nations” takes place. Unlike the Olympics, though, this procession is a parade of athletes and their specific sport.

Lizzie Bastien used to be a member of the Ice Illusions synchronized skating team. They have competed in the Empire State Games many times, earning gold every year they compete. She remembers the opening ceremonies, saying, “The opening ceremonies were my favorite part because it really set the tone for the competition.” She continues, saying, “I think that Empires is special because it is all different sports competing rather than just one sport, and each person there represents their sport.”

“I think the Empire State games are important. They get the future athletes exposed to that sort of set up, and it prepares them a lot, which gives them and the viewers a wonderful experience.”

Each sport enters the arena, while the crowd erupts into applause, and the bright smiles are seen from a distance on the medal hopefuls. Once everyone is inside, the ceremony has officially begun. The Empire State Games torch is brought inside the arena, just like the Olympics, passing it to different athletes who run a distance to the pit where the Empire Games’ flame will shine so brightly. Every year people are honored with the appearance of great Olympic champions who give motivational speeches to the future of sports- the athletes. These opening ceremonies may not be as spectacular as those of Olympic proportion, but they will help jump-start the dreams of those who are continuing the path to gold.

As the games begin, the hearts of so many young athletes take the ice, ride the snow, and fly in the air to win big and take home the gold medal. Figure skating has always been a crowd favorite. The artistry and technical difficulties these young men and women endure is something that can only be appreciated with great awe. 

Ashley Ashwood, who attended the Empire State Games a couple years ago, says, “The experience was a lot of fun, I felt honored to be there.” She continues, “The future athletes made me very, very proud, especially since one of them was a close friend and another, my cousin.”

Another sport happens to be the ski jump. What is really neat about this is the skiers get to use the 1980 Olympic ski jumps that have been a part of history. This is something that is very special. All of these sports use the1980 Olympic equipment that those athletes used.

Many memories will be made over the course of the Games. Bastien recalls one of hers, saying, “My favorite memory was the last Empires we competed in because it was our very last competition as the Ice Illusions. We all were skating for each other, and even though we didn’t have the skate of our lives, we still were able to come through and win, and receiving the medals was like a dream because it was our swan song.”

Ashwood says, “I think the Empire State games are important. They get the future athletes exposed to that sort of set up, and it prepares them a lot, which gives them and the viewers a wonderful experience.”

“I think that Empires is like a state Olympics, if that makes sense. It takes all of the best from the state and then sets them apart,” Bastien says. “I think that Empires is a great competition for Olympic hopefuls because they are able to see the best and work towards being like them."

Have you ever been to the Empire State Games?