The Seward High School ski team experienced a season unlike any other this year. They faced the challenge of training and competing with absolutely no snow on the ground. The unseasonably warm winter left the team without their usual snowy trails, forcing them to adapt and find alternative ways to stay in shape and prepare for their two competitions without skis.
Without the familiar white powdered snow under their skis, the team turned to indoor training methods to maintain their fitness levels. This included running and strength training. Indigo Leslie shares that the experience was, “Lots of running, I love running.” While these activities kept the athletes in good physical condition, they couldn’t fully replicate the experience of skiing on snow. As a result, the team had to work harder to stay competitive against other schools with better training conditions.
The lack of snow also meant that the Seward High School ski team had fewer opportunities to practice their technique and fine-tune their skills. Team captain Katie Van Buskirk stated, “Since we didn’t have snow to ski on, we spent a lot of time in the weight room and running. Anytime we could, we would ski, but that was pretty rare. Despite the lack of snow, we were able to work on technique a lot, which was good. We stayed pretty flexible and just did whatever the weather let us!” Working on technique and strength was a crucial skill for when the ski team eventually did get to compete.
Despite these obstacles, the team managed to participate in a total of 5 meets throughout the season because of cancellations, between Homer and SoHi meets, including state and regions. The whole team was also able to participate in the annual Hatcher Pass trip. It was a memorable moment for a lot of the team, Axel Larock says,“[they] got to ski a bunch, eat good food, sauna, stay in super cute cabins, and [they] also played psychiatrist.” While their results were not as strong as in previous years, the athletes demonstrated remarkable perseverance and a positive attitude.
Seniors Oliver Trobaugh and Katie Van Buskirk, along with Sophomore Indigo Leslie, had the opportunity to strive over the weather conditions and compete at the state meet in Fairbanks, Alaska. Indigo got 4th classic and 8th in skate because of an unfortunate tussle with a tree, Katie got 10th in freestyle and 11th in classic, and Oliver got 15th in freestyle and 16th in classic. Katie says, “Regions in Homer, and state in Fairbanks, were probably the best races we had, I think everyone finally felt really good about their technique and were able to get good times. State was especially nice because we were able to spend some time on new trails and work on our technique.” The athletes who were given the chance to compete found the positive components of the barriers.
Looking ahead, the Seward High School ski team remains hopeful for better conditions next winter. They are already planning off-season training programs to build on the progress they’ve made this year. The team is determined to come back stronger and more prepared, ready to tackle whatever challenges the next season may bring. In the end, the 2024-2025 ski season will be remembered not for the medals and victories, but for the grit and determination shown by the Seward High School ski team and for the unusual snowless year in Seward, Alaska. Great Season Seahawks!
