As the alpine season comes to a close, racers reflect on the 2023-2024 season. The last race of the season, sections, was held February 7th at Wild Mountain, where the top six girls and boys competed for a place in the state competition.
This season the ski team has battled harsh weather conditions but their determination has shone through. Natalie Weaver Olson (10) expressed the difficulties they faced, stating “The weather conditions have been pretty bad and sometimes there is grass showing through the snow, making it harder to ski.”
Maya black (9) also reflected on the challenges of the tough snow conditions. She said “The snow was pretty hard to race on and there was no snow late in the season”
Despite these obstacles, Anthony Black (11) described this season as the “worst that I’ve ever experienced,” but highlighted that “we were able to make it work even though it was challenging.”
Carter Oyen, the boys captain (12) also highlighted the positive aspects of the snow conditions. He said “This season came with lots of challenges and some frustrating practices… I feel like it made me and the team better skiers by challenging us to different conditions.”
The team found joy, even through the harsh conditions. Olson’s favorite event was the Afton Invite because they had donuts on the bus and enjoyed a fun atmosphere.
Maya Black and Anthony Black both cited the Powder Ridge Invitational as a standout event. Maya appreciated it as a great race to warm up for the season, while Anthony noted its significance as a way to start the season without their times affecting conference races.
Olson highlighted the positive strides the team has made, stating, “We have a bigger team this year, and as far as how the team is growing, it’s still improving.”
Ryan McNamee expressed his favorite moments as simply “hanging out with the team,” while Olson found joy in witnessing her teammates excel, “I’ve seen people have pretty good runs be really happy about them. It always makes me happy to see people improve.”
In addition to their athletic pursuits, the team remains committed to supporting local businesses and communities. Joe’s, a local ski equipment shop, has been a beneficiary of their support. Anthony Black noted that racers purchase equipment from Joe’s, which in turn helps fund the team, creating a cycle. As a gesture of appreciation, the team also participates in community clean-up efforts, picking up trash for Joe’s.
Furthermore, the team extends its support to the broader community. Anthony, a team member, shared their involvement with the Little Canada Recreation Association. “Racers help out with their skating party and they also help fund us.”
The team is looking forward to next year’s season and hoping for “better snow, improvement, and seeing new people join the team.”
