Winter sports are one of the most exciting times of the year for the Benilde-St. Margaret’s student body. With winter tournaments, games, and fun events before and after team events, the winter season is an enjoyable season for everyone, no matter if you are in winter sports and activities or not. The alpine ski team is one that doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Unlike most other sports, the alpine ski team is almost fully reliant on snow and the weather for the winter season.
This winter is at an all-time high in terms of temperature and a lack of snowfall has negatively affected those in outdoor sports and activities, specifically the alpine ski team this year. “We have to be at ski races a lot earlier so we can freeze the snow before our races, and overall it’s just bad conditions,” freshman Grier Jul said.
We have to be at ski races a lot earlier so we can freeze the snow before our races, and overall it’s just bad conditions.”
— Grier Jul
Many amateur and recreation skiers may think real snow and fake snow are very similar and may not have the biggest opinion on the type of snow they ski on, however, those experienced skiers practicing on the slopes every day can tell the difference between the texture and quality of real snow versus fake snow. “Fake snow is a lot more slushy and icy and real snow is more fluffy,”
sophomore Gigi McMahon said.
Multiple skiers have had bad experiences with the fake snow this year at both competitions and races. “Last Thursday during my race I got a piece of salt in my mouth, and it was gross,” sophomore Amelia Salmon said.
Another negative effect skiers have to deal with is letting the ice sit before races. This can be a very lengthy process considering that even if skiers have waited a long time the snow won’t be up to par for the majority of skiers. “Fake snow is chunky and it is pretty much straight-up ice. It’s not as fluffy as real snow because it is ice crystals that come out of machines that get pulled from the nearby lakes…and even though salt melts the snow, they wait an hour until it freezes up again but it still isn’t good snow to ski on,” Salmon said.
Skiers have different opinions on the ideal snow quality for racing, some may like the snow icer, but some may like it fluffier. “Some people like to have more icier conditions, but I like to have slushy conditions,” McMahon said.