Despite the long nights and subzero temperatures, the Alpine team has experienced success throughout the season. Captain Cole Eckes ’26 says that “Our performance has been really strong as a team. Obviously we have had some rough days, as any team does, but I have been really proud of how the team has shown up when others have fallen so that we still have enough people counting.”
Improvement, both physical and mental, is a goal at every practice and race. Skier Lydia Geelan ’26 says “practicing almost every day in the winter” is key during the short season, especially since “a lot of skiing is muscle memory.” Eckes said “I have seen myself and my teammates honing the mental side of the sport, and also taking really good care of our gear.” Maintaining well-conditioned skis can make a big difference when it comes to racing on the slopes.
The immense time commitment of skiing is demanding for the athletes. Eckes says that “Most nights we ski until 7:00 and get home around 8:00, which can be tough on the body and mind.” He admits that past years of experience have helped him physically and mentally, however, he still struggles with the demanding conditions. To handle the challenges, Eckes and his teammates focus on the recovery process. Eckes states “there is a big commitment to staying rested and keeping the body well fueled throughout the tough weeks…it’s easy to get behind on sleep, fuel and hydration.” For Geelan, in addition to the normal difficulties, “The biggest challenge has been coming back from an ACL tear from last season, and trusting [herself] and [her] abilities in the demanding sport.”
A typical race day involves sharpening the skis and checking in on the gear during the school day. Then, after taking the bus to the hill, getting into gear and inspecting the course, the race begins. Something Eckes loves about race nights is that “they end earlier than practices and [he] get[s] home around 7:00 or 7:30.” Geelan says that in addition to racing, a big part of race days are “cheer[ing] on our teammates.”
Both the boys’ and girls’ teams won Conferences on Jan. 29, who now have won 24 of the last 26 IMAC titles. Eckes is confident in the team’s ability to succeed in the future, believing that “the boys’ team will qualify for State.” He also aims to qualify for State individually. Eckes loves the overall dynamic of the team, stating that “it is the perfect blend of fun and casual socializing, while also being competitive.” Geelan also loves the team dynamic, saying that “Although we are serious and competitive when it comes to our racing, we always have so much fun together.”
