Most skiers are happy cruising groomers with friends from mid-morning on a nice bluebird day. Meanwhile, ski racers willingly wake up before dawn — rain or shine — to hurl themselves down steep hills, past gates, on icy race courses, at speeds where a crash can end in serious injury. Ski racing and recreational skiing are two very different things, yet I firmly believe everyone should consider trying ski racing.
For starters, the ski racing community is unlike any other. Ski racing may be focused on individual performance, but overall, many rankings are focused on the team as a whole. Sure, within teams, there is always a level of healthy competition, but that competition pushes everyone to become better skiers. Personally, I got the most out of the season when I had the strongest competition within my team, and was even voted the most improved skier on my hill. In addition, at races we all work together and share tips on how to shred the course up. Have you ever watched World Cup ski racers in the finish area? They will all radio up their tips to their teammates on how to best attack the course, where to let it glide, and which sections to look out for. It may seem like it is all about the individual, but it is just as much about the camaraderie on the team.
What helps further foster the bond among ski racers is that as a team you travel far and for days at a time to race. U.S. ski racer Bryce Bennett guessed that he probably spends 250 days a year away from home. Over this period, deep bonds are formed with your teammates as you travel to different peaks together and explore new places. It is an experience only those with you can comprehend. Invariably, your teammates become your surrogate family.
One of the greatest things to learn through ski racing is simply better skiing technique. Coming from someone who has skied their whole life, the second you seek out coaching on how to position your body, shape your turns, and bomb down a run, you will notice significant improvements in your skiing. Whether coaches have you running drills or repeating the same course until it’s rutted up, your skiing will be getting better by the minute. After a season of correcting old habits and applying feedback, your technical improvements carry over everywhere on the mountain, not just on the race course.
Another aspect that a ski racing team offers is dryland training. This simple yet effective measure keeps skiers engaged throughout the year, making the transition easier into the ski racing season. Dryland training also keeps athletes in better shape overall. Dryland introduces exercises most skiers would never normally do — from rollerblading to running up a ski hill. In fact, dryland training can be just as exciting as ski season.
Ski racing brings so many great advantages to skiers, but none is quite like the ability to travel and ski on different mountains. Ski racing takes athletes to mountains and places they otherwise may never visit. Not only that, but ski racers are presented with opportunities like no other. They get to ski before the crowds get to the mountain, or on mountains that are closed to the public. It is an incredible privilege.
What goes hand-in-hand with this exclusive access are the early starts. While you might think that this is a negative, I can assure you that there is no better experience for a mountain lover than a sunrise coming up over a quiet, empty race course. Whenever I train in Copper, my team and I are often on the hill by 6 am, before the hill opens to the public. I am not necessarily a morning person, but this early morning racing lane is an experience that can’t be missed. The empty hill is a great way to train and stay focused, and the sunrise from the top of the mountain makes up for the early alarm.
Whether it be for skiing or just the experience of it all, ski racing is something everyone should try out. Even if racing never becomes a lifelong pursuit, the lessons, friendships, and skills gained from it stay with you long after the finish line.
