As the girls alpine ski team season nears its end, it is important to recall the major successes of the season. With the freezing temps this year, onlookers may think the skiers have been struggling to keep warm and thrive. In contrast, the team is heading to sectionals, they have done a lot of team bonding activities and have had an influx of new skiers joining the team.
Last year, the girls had the opportunity to go to state after winning at conference and sectionals. Now the pressure is on as they head to sectionals once again. Winning at conference was big for them, as the team was very competitive against Forest Lake. But with all of that behind them, going to state is the next big goal.
“When the girls made it to state as a team was really big, because we’ve been fighting for that for so many years,” Paige Stabenow, a junior varsity skier and a star on the team, said. She noted how getting fourth place at state was one of the team’s “greatest accomplishments” during her skiing career.
To add to the excitement of the team’s season, this year was also the first time junior Madison Komarek was chosen as a captain of the varsity team. Even with her new title and different level of responsibility, she did not treat her teammates any differently than she did before.
“I feel that this has had a positive impact on my mental health because as a captain, I am able to learn and grow to improve myself as a person and a leader,” Komarek said. She also touched on the importance of having a positive attitude and that being flexible was important, especially with the treacherous weather.
In the last few weeks, the weather in the area has fallen well below freezing many times. However, the girls on the team are hearty, and dangerous temperatures were hardly an issue for them.
“We eat, drink, breathe and live this sport, regardless of weather. Bring it on, Mother Nature,” head coach Jesse Iverson said. “The cold doesn’t affect our ability to perform.”
Even with the cold weather, there have been a lot of new skiers joining the team. Throughout the last few years, the number of students who have joined has been dropping, so the many new skiers have made the alpine veterans excited.
“One of the teammates that I am most proud of this year is my ski sister, Tulley Benson. I have been amazed at her dedication and friendship in addition to her immense improvement as a ski racer,” Komarek said. Benson is an eighth grader, and this was her first year on the ski team.
Especially with so many new skiers this year, races could be stressful, yet certain things at each race keep it entertaining. It could be the amazing parent volunteers, food and a campfire or even a funny treat.
Stabenow explained how one of her favorite skiing must-haves are fruit snacks. She described how, when it is too cold and she is feeling down, she will just pull a bag of fruit snacks out of her coat pocket.
While constantly achieving things as great skiers, the girls alpine team also manages to be a group of great people. This year, they have welcomed new skiers, made an effort to always help clean up after races and also thrived in the cold weather. They have had a wonderful season this year, and they are always looking for more people to join in on the fun.
