This year, the lack of snow has made some winter sports a bit tricky. Sports like nordic and alpine skiing rely on the snow, so their seasons have looked different this year.

However, RAHS’s nordic and alpine teams are both fortunate enough to have artificial snow made for them. The nordic team practices and competes at Battle Creek Regional Park (pictured above), which has about three kilometers of snow. Since it is one of the only places in the Twin Cities with artificial snow, RAHS skiers have to share the trails with at least 12 other schools.

Sophomore nordic skiier Amrutha Konidena said that because they share the trails with so many other skiers, the team spent most of the season running instead of skiing.

The alpine team feels similarly about the lack of snow. Sophomore Natalie Weaver Olson is on the alpine team and commented that “The snow has made practice a lot harder this year for sure, not to mention the season started later because it wasn’t cold enough for a while. It’s not what we’re used to skiing on, but we accommodated the best we could!”

The alpine team practices at Afton Alps and competes at different courses including Afton Alps and Wild Mountian, according to Ryan Duce.

Although skiing on artificial snow is better than not skiing at all, members of both teams agree that artificial snow produces bad conditions. Duce reported that the slopes have been really shushy this year.

Weaver Olson added that “at [alpine] sections yesterday it was like skiing on moguls.”

Senior nordic skier Lillian Jackson agrees that the lack of snow is a challenge, but noted that there are a few benefits. She said, “It’s difficult. Because we don’t have as diverse options of places to ski, and it’s low quality (snow), but it helps us build our strength, and persevere through the crappy snow.”

Weaver Olson also commented that the alpine skiers times have been slower and motivation has decreased as a result of the bad conditions.

As both seasons come to an end, the teams are grateful for the snow that they had and hopeful for real snow next season.