- Holland Patent Central School District
- Heroes of HP
Nick Hinge
Heroes of Holland Patent Golden Knights Sports #3 True story- One of my students came in late to class on Monday. When I asked him why he was late, he said, "I had to watch my neighbors duck." I asked him "Who was shooting at them?" He then said that his neighbors were away and they had asked him to look after their pet. …. I love my job; it never fails to make me laugh. Our two previous heroes are in the Hall of Fame at the Colleges that they attended. I'm pleased to announce that a project is in the works to start a Holland Patent Golden Knights Hall of Fame. I must admit that this fantastic idea was not mine. Liz Curtis, teacher at Gen'l Wm. Floyd Elementary School, came up with the idea. She has engaged the advice of friends who run a successful program at her alma mater. Since I've been monopolizing the issue for a few years, I am recusing myself from any decision making. I will be a conduit for questions, or better yet, for any alumni that would like to volunteer to help. Email me at jfruscella@hpschools.org . This week's subject is Nick Hinge, the first Golden Knight state champion. After I talked with Nick's parents, Bill and Suzanne, I decided on a different theme. In the past I've focused on family. Bill and Suzanne humbly pointed towards all the others that helped Nick along the way. In Nick's case he had some help from a source in addition to his enormously supportive family. He had the IH Ski Association. The IH Ski Association was a collection of adults who devoted time, money and love to the youth of the Barneveld area. And, in part, they were responsible for Nick's success. Nick was the New York State Alpine Combined State Champion in Skiing in 1987, his junior year. The story of Indian Hill is a story kids having fun, being physically active and their parents, being physically supportive. The parents had camaraderie amongst themselves at the bottom of the hill that may have rivaled the fun the young skiers were having on the hill. The story is told in a book by Bronny Davis called the Tales of Indian Hill. If you want a copy, you can get one at Adirondack Art. The back of her book says it best. "This is a story about community. It's about kids, a hill in a farm field, adults, snow, skis, sportsmanship, ceremony, and hot soup. It's about a beautiful period that only happens once-when the right people, conditions and sentiments all converge. This is a story that adult children and their friends, some now in their fifties, count among their fondest childhood memories. It's a tale of love, heart, and an irrepressible can-do spirit." When I say that the IH Ski Association was responsible for Nick's success, I am by no means discounting Bill and Suzanne, because they were part of the group. Bill donated the use of his hardware store on Thursday nights in the winter. The skiers, both downhill and cross country prepared and waxed their skis there. Nick's aunt and uncle, Betty and Glen Haskell, donated the use of land for the ski hill. Racks of skis could be seen on the Haskell's porch, a hot soup on the stove and a ready smile awaited anyone dropping by. Tales of Indian Hill was dedicated to Betty and Glen and also, Dick Villiere. He coached the competitive skiers. Dick had a shot at making the US Olympic team, when he was younger. This was derailed by an inopportune broken leg. In the book Nick says,"Ultimately it was Dick Villiere. He was the one who really taught me and countless others how to ski and how to race." In the last edition, Diane Hobin mentioned the importance of the Hoffman brothers and now Nick tells of the importance of his childhood coach. All of you AYSO, Little League and Pop Warner coaches, take note of the positive impact you can have on your charges. That is if you do it right!! In high school, Nick was a fine athlete who also played on the football team. His skiing accolades included winning the Sectional Giant Slalom in 1987 and 1988. He won the Sectional Ski Meister award both years as well. To win this award you had to cross country ski as well. His team won the Sectional Championships both years. Some team mates his senior year were Chris Caputo, Adam Helmer and brothers Dale and Dan MacLean. To win his state championships he had to race two Slalom runs and two Giant Slalom runs. The times are added together, and consistency is paramount. The state championships were held in conjunction with the Empire State Games. Coincidentally middle school teacher Mike Stripp's brother Dan won the Open Men's Slalom Gold Medal at those Games. Nick made the New York State Downhill Team in 1989. After high school, Nick went to Middlebury College where he graduated in 1992. Since then he has lived in Jackson Hole, San Francisco, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski (Eastern Russia), Boston and Burlington, Vt. He has made a living teaching English, managing a Salmon Fishery, working as an Adventure guide, working in his Dad's hardware store and finally since 2000, as a consultant for a computer networking company. And everywhere the love for skiing that was kindled on that "little bump" in Barneveld, has been an important part of his life. He has dropped out of a Helicopter on top of 11,000 ft. volcanic mountains in Russia, continued to race in Vermont (clocked at 86 mph), and lately skied the Canadian Rockies with Adam Helmer, Jim McCarthy and Chris Caputo. The Canadians from the mountain towns were impressed by the skills of this group. When they asked the group, where they learned to "turn skis so well", the men said, "…out behind Glen and Betty Haskell's house". The asset that helped Nick develop into a champion skier, Indian Hill, was closed in 1991 due to State compliance and insurance liability issues. This 29 year asset to the area ended because in our present society, personal responsibility is being replaced by sue-happy litigants. How sad! I wonder when the first furniture company gets sued for a skiing injury. Scene 1-a youth (unable to ski on an actual local hill) riding their Wii Balance Board in front of a virtual ski run on the television. Oops, he loses his balance and hits his head on the coffee table. Scene 2- Parents in court suing a furniture company. Scene 3- New York State passing a law requiring helmet use in living rooms by children playing video games. Arghhhhhh! The next episode is about two siblings, one of which was the only other state champ. See all these stories on the athletic page of www.hpschools.org . |