The ski team, a combination of athletes from both Shorewood and Nicolet, is off to the races this season with long artic-freezes improving conditions on their home hill, Sunburst Ski Area. Throughout the winter, students have been prepping their skis, riding the ski lift, and training their minds in anticipation of upcoming competition. 

“[The team is] a good group of kids,” said Jack Bourdo, ski team coach and former participant in the Junior Olympics. “They’re very coachable too. They’re always excited to come out to the hills so [it is] fun to work with them.”

Facing a few setbacks in the last season, the team has worked to reframe their mindset and establish new goals. In addition, the team has seen progress this season in regards to both team chemistry and skill. Despite their previous performances, expectations remain high for the team.

“Last season didn’t go as well as we wanted,” Bourdo said. “The team has high hopes for their upcoming time on the slopes.” 

Senior and skier, Ryan Optekar, began skiing when he was just four years old and has been committed to the team since his freshman year. 

“The season has been going well,” Optekar said. “I’ve been happy with the effort that the team is putting in.”

In addition to practices two to three times a week, the sport gives skiers the opportunity to get to know people that the students wouldn’t usually interact with outside of the district due to the Shorewood and Nicolet co-op.

“I’m pretty close with a lot of the guys on the Shorewood side [and] I race club with a couple of them,” Optekar said. “For the guys on the Nicolet side, I like just being able to get closer with them collectively as a group as we push to make it state.”

The weather conditions create a unique challenge for the ski team. Depending on the temperature, practice often has to be rescheduled or cancelled, forcing the athletes to be prepared to adapt. 

“Yeah, definitely weather is a big thing,” Optekar said. “You know, nobody likes to sit outside for two to three hours on a schoolnight in the cold.”

Braving the cold, freshman Ellie Kendall has just begun her first year on the team. Although she has been skiing since she was young, joining the team has helped her to improve her skills. 

“I used to go only a couple times every season, but now I’m going like two or three times a week,” Kendall said. 

Spending more time on the hills helps the skiers get more experience, but the community also plays a major role in this growth.

“Everybody is really nice and super supportive,” Kendall said. “It’s a really great team to be on.”

Getting constructive feedback from others is a significant part of building relationships on the team, as well as a leading factor in helping the athletes improve, especially with the team’s updated goals.

“We have two races left of our six race season, so I’m really hoping our team can make it to state,” Optekar said.

The team’s coaching style gives athletes the opportunity to focus on self improvement rather than on winning races, making skiing not just a valuable activity in regards to high school sports, but also for keeping the team healthy for years to come. 

“It’s a lifetime sport,” Bourdo said. “I’ll be teaching my niece and nephew here soon and it’s just something to do in the winter that can take you all over and help you meet a lot of great people.”

Though skiing is a time consuming extracurricular, due to long drives and school night practices, the sport’s positive atmosphere is leading to a successful season so far. However, the team continues to look for more athletes to join their community.

“I hope there will still be a strong ski culture at Shorewood and Nicolet,” Optekar said. “Hopefully we can encourage more people to race next year.”