With the end of the 2019 Nordic season in view, the BSM nordic team takes a trip to up to Maplelag in Becker Country to ski the trails and continue to build team friendships.

Maplelag has been a ski tradition that has been happening for the past eight years. The location hasn’t always been Maplelag, but for the past few years, it has. “The team used to go to a different location but lately, Maplelag has been the go-to,” senior captain Joe Munkeby said.

The team heads up around MLK weekend and stay for a few nights. While there, the team participates in many activities including skiing, hot-tubbing, drinking hot chocolate, ping-pong, card games. Throughout the trip, the team gets closer with each other and it gives them an opportunity to relax just before conference and section meet. “It’s nice to get away from everything and relax for a while,” Munkeby said.

This year, the team got to participate in an activity that hasn’t been open for the past four years; the team got to do a polar plunge. After jumping in the water, there was a sauna right by the ice the team to warm up in. “This year we even went in the sauna and jumped in the hole in the ice, so it was fun to go and do with the rest of the team,” Munkeby said.

The annual trip up to Maplelag is a time for the team to ski for fun before they prepare for the end of their season. This tradition is memorable for many and a tradition that many hope will continue. “I think it’s important to have something like this for a team; our team retreat up to Maplelag has been my favorite part of the Nordic season every year I’ve been a part of the team, and I hope that they keep the tradition,” Munkeby said.