Ski Team Returns To Slopes
Amy Yee
Issue date: 2/7/08 Section: Sports
Following a very successful 2007 season where the Pioneers finished sixth in the U.S. Collegiate Ski Association National Championships and had three members named to the All-Eastern Conference team, the 2008 Smith ski team finds itself facing a number of challenges and changes.
The team lost several members from last year's record-setting season and currently competes with only seven skiers. Additionally, at the beginning of preseason training the team was without a coach. They trained under the guidance of field hockey coach Jamie Ginsberg before finally meeting new skiing coach Jim Hawkins.
The team's training routine began back in the fall with cardio, weightlifting and speed/agility exercises in the gym. After returning from winter break in January, the team hit the slopes for on-snow training, driving 45 minutes from campus for several hours of skiing each day. Currently, the team trains twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
While it involves hard work and can be time-consuming, ski team members agree that being on the team is worthwhile and rewarding.
"My favorite aspect of the sport changes from day to day," says Ellen Baker '10. "I love it because there is no feeling like going as fast as you can down a racecourse with everyone watching you. It feels so good to know you skied your best. I also love how close the team bonding is because we spend so much time together. I love getting away from Smith on the weekends to go do my favorite thing. It's so unique because you get to compete against and make friends with so many other talented people from other schools. I just feel so satisfied when I get back from a day of practice and I've spent all day outside on the mountain going fast."
The Pioneers' next competition will be Feb. 9 through 10 at the Boston College Carnival at Ascutney Mountain in Vermont.
The team lost several members from last year's record-setting season and currently competes with only seven skiers. Additionally, at the beginning of preseason training the team was without a coach. They trained under the guidance of field hockey coach Jamie Ginsberg before finally meeting new skiing coach Jim Hawkins.
The team's training routine began back in the fall with cardio, weightlifting and speed/agility exercises in the gym. After returning from winter break in January, the team hit the slopes for on-snow training, driving 45 minutes from campus for several hours of skiing each day. Currently, the team trains twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
While it involves hard work and can be time-consuming, ski team members agree that being on the team is worthwhile and rewarding.
"My favorite aspect of the sport changes from day to day," says Ellen Baker '10. "I love it because there is no feeling like going as fast as you can down a racecourse with everyone watching you. It feels so good to know you skied your best. I also love how close the team bonding is because we spend so much time together. I love getting away from Smith on the weekends to go do my favorite thing. It's so unique because you get to compete against and make friends with so many other talented people from other schools. I just feel so satisfied when I get back from a day of practice and I've spent all day outside on the mountain going fast."
The Pioneers' next competition will be Feb. 9 through 10 at the Boston College Carnival at Ascutney Mountain in Vermont.
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