It’s hard to believe with the back-to- back snowstorms in the past few days, that the ski team had to wait several weeks to get back to a consistent training schedule at their home course, Pleasant Mountain (formally Shawnee Peak). Most of the 18 Ski areas in Maine opened in late fall. Sunday River and Sugarloaf opened on November 20 due to the cold snap. This was an encouraging sign for the Alpine ski team; the early season for these skiers being notably nostalgic, the first tracks carved and the athletes eager to get back on the slopes.

But then, following the initial opening, the conditions deteriorated quickly with unseasonably warm temperatures throughout the month of December. This bumped the Gorham Ski Team from practicing on the mountain to many “extra” days of dryland workouts in the month of December. Coach Munkacsi kept his team motivated by encouraging his athletes to stay patient and focused and to continue pushing themselves. The options included weight training, and getting to a mountain with open trails on the weekends.

The Gorham Girls and Boys competed in their first race on Jan. 20 at Pleasant Mountain, two weeks out from the original schedule. Individually, four athletes on the boys side placed in the top 15 out of 44 athletes from Falmouth Windham, Cheverus and Marshwood.

Seniors who placed in the top 15 include; Owen Ballard (4th) Trent Stevens (6th), Sam Munkacsi (7th), and Ryker Spear (14th). These athletes have been consistent top 10 individual SMAA finishers throughout their high school careers. On the girls side, Sophomore Brooke Stevens placed in the top 20 out of 44 athletes. Gorham placed second in team results.

With mother nature cooperating, these ski athletes couldn’t be happier. Jan. 24 the team will head back to Pleasant Mountain for SL training. Jan. 25 they will compete in their second SLALOM Race of the season and again on Jan. 27.

Coach added, “The training focus will continue to focus on getting new edges to engage at the top of the turn, as in start the new turn at the exact same instant as finishing your last turn.”

It means a lot to these athletes to be able to do what they train and love to do.