Skiing is one of the fastest-growing pastimes in America. In fact, in 2021, there were over one million first timers in the US, which is just under 10% of all American skiers. Skiing is a unique sport in that it does not require much skill or experience to enjoy recreationally. However, competitive skiing is a completely different ball game. Skiing is often lost in thought among the broad spectrum of Greeley Varsity teams, yet not only is one of the most successful, it is also one of the most popular. Almost 60 students tried out for the ski team this year, a pool significantly larger than most other teams. These tryouts, like any other, featured athletes of many different abilities. In such a singular sport, what happens to those without the proper experience?
Skiing is widely perceived as casual and subordinate to other sports. However, ski racing is incredibly competitive. The Greeley Varsity Ski team is a high level program which has achieved much recent success. Last season, the girls not only swept the section, but made a run to the state finals where they placed second. The boys accompanied the girls up to Canandaigua for the state finals where they lost by a marginal tenth of a second, placing the same as the girls.
Many people who have never skied before trying out for the Greeley Ski Team interested in experiencing a new sport. However, the competitiveness of Greeley Ski does not always allow for this initial learning experience. Head Coach James May usually suggests these new skiers join a learn-to-ski program at Thunder Ridge, and then potentially come back to try out the following season.
Turning interested athletes completely away from a sport is an unusual action for a coach. Most coaches have the luxury of sending lesser skilled athletes to a JV team or offseason program in which they can still participate in the best environment for them. However, Coach May and his team do not enjoy this luxury, which places the unfortunate task upon not only Coach May, but the leaders on the team as well.
This restriction might be presumed to create a difficult environment among not only the members of the team, but those interested in skiing as well. To combat this potential, Coach May and his captains are committed to sustaining a positive attitude within their team. When asked about this, Coach May raved about the instrumental role of the seniors to the team on race days, saying, “On race day, the seniors lead the younger students through the course and advise them on how they can be successful as a team.” He also spoke about the larger role filled by those seniors: “They are incredibly encouraging and maintain a positive vibe not just on the hill but in the gym too…they show how to have fun while training seriously.” Coach May explained that skiing with these talented older skiers paves the way for the underclassmen to be able to take over when their mentors graduate.
The Greeley Varsity Ski team is one of the most well rounded teams at Greeley. They balance success at matches and intense training with fun, positivity, and a sense of community. These factors clearly contribute not only to their success in previous years, but to their success this season.