Gilroy’s Fiorio sisters compete as members of the Bear Valley
race team.
GILROY – They’re called flatlanders by the locals up north.
They are Gilroy’s Hannah and Zoe Fiorio – who are both competitive skiers for the Bear Valley ski team.
“We’re pretty good for flat-landers,” said Dina Fiorio, mother of 12-year-old Hannah and 10-year-old Zoe.
Every other weekend, the two sisters are driven up to the mountains by their father – Dan Fiorio – for either ski practice or competition.
“For second- and third- graders, they are incredible skiers,” said Dan Fiorio, an avid skier himself. “I love skiing so it’s a common interest.”
It all started when Hannah was two-and-a-half years old. The Fiorios were staying at Dina’s parents’ cabin in Bear Valley. That’s when Hannah got her first taste of skiing. At age five, she was taking private lessons. Then, her instructor said she should join the developmental ski team in Bear Valley.
“We’re from Gilroy,” Dina said.
“The idea was so remote,” added Dan.
But despite the distance from Gilroy to Bear Valley (about a four-hour trip), the dedicated parents decided to sign Hannah up. It was an every-other-weekend commitment – but Dan was willing to make the trip since Hannah really took a liking to it. The drive soon developed into a bonding experience between father and daughter.
The developmental ski team – commonly called devos – was used as a feeder program for the Bear Valley race team. And after two years of devos, Hannah was ready for racing.
“I thought she’d join the race team and use it as training. She’d train with them, but not go to the races,” Dan said.
At the same time, Zoe was getting old enough to join the developmental team.
“I was bored sitting in the lodge,” said Zoe of why she wanted to begin skiing. “It took a little while (to get the hang of it.)”
But after only one year of devos, Zoe was also ready for racing.
Although only 20 percent of devo students develop into racers, both Hannah and Zoe were strong enough skiers to make the leap. Skiers compete in three types of races – slalom (Zoe’s favorite), giant slalom, and Super G (Hannah’s favorite).
“At first, I liked going on the chair lift,” said Hannah, who began making more and more close friends with each ski competition. “It’s fun because we have other friends from different resorts. It’s fun getting awards, too.”
Both sisters have their fair share of racing trophies and medals in their bedrooms. Last weekend, Zoe took a second and a third at Dodge Ridge, while Hannah placed fourth and eighth. But what gets them out of bed early in the morning is the friends they know are waiting for them.
“They’ve got a very close-knit group of friends locally and they’ve got another social group of kids from all over,” Dan said. “There’s a camaraderie. That’s what we really like about it. It’s very unique. It’s a very tight-knit group of friends from all over.”
The Bear Valley team, headed by World Class Coach Jeff Rasmussen – races within the Far West Region of USAA – which also includes teams from Dodge Ridge, Yosemite, and Sierra Summit.
“I think I get more nervous as time goes on because they get faster,” Dina said. “I just want them to make it down without getting hurt. I have no expectations of placing.”
Skiing has become a Fiorio family tradition. While Hannah is in her fourth season and Zoe is in her third season of racing, younger sister Bailey, 8, started with the developmental team.
“I want to keep going as long as I can,” said Hannah, who hopes to fare well in the April 3-6 Championships at Sugar Bowl in Tahoe.
