Long Valley Skier's Big Season Leads to Championship Run

Morgan DeLong set a goal at the start of competitive skiing season. Unfortunately for her competitors, DeLong doesn’t take her challenges lightly.

The Long Valley Middle School sixth grader found herself among the top finishers during four of the season’s biggest races, catapulting her into this weekend’s Pennsylvania Alpine Racing Association State Championship.

DeLong came in 10th out of 45 racers at Blue Mountain on Jan. 18; 3rd out of 49 racers at Jack Frost on Jan. 25; 6th place out of 48 racers on Elk Mountain Feb. 8; and 13th out of 49 racers on Feb. 22 at Camelback Mountain.

DeLong will represent Jack Frost Race Team at Tussey Mountain, seeded fourth, in the U12 Pennsylvania Alpine Racing Association State Championships from Feb. 27 to March 1.

All In The Family

Morgan DeLong set her goal this year after watching big sister Carly achieve similar results in 2014, when she came in 11th overall in the Pennsylvania competition, putting her in the regional Francis Piche Invitational in New Hampshire.

The competitive racing doesn’t end with the sisters, either. Younger brother Jamie, a fourth grader at Old Farmers Road School, also had an excellent season.

While there is no championship round for Jamie DeLong’s age group, there’s no dougt he would have qualified and likely dominated, just as he did throughout the season.

Jamie DeLong finished first out of eight U10 racers in giant slalom on Jan. 18 at Blue Mountain; second place out of 18 U10 racers at Jack Frost on Jan. 25; second place at Elk Mountain on Feb. 8; and third out of 16 racers at Camelback Mountain on Feb. 22.

A high finish for Morgan DeLong this weekend will also put her in the regional New Hampshire race set for March.

Pictured: Morgan DeLong in action. Photo Courtesy Peggy DeLong.

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