News & Stories

Anwatin skis and skis and skis…

The Anwatin Ski Team, an after school cross country skiing and mountain bike team run by the Loppet Foundation, also took advantage of the snowy Friday. The team, which had spent the previous evening immersed in preparing for the mountain bike season, asked their coach if they could add an additional ski practice at the end of the week. Coach Rykken resurrected several sets of fish scales and had the school make an announcement, “Ski practice after school for all who can come!” Rykken explained her spontaneous reasoning, “it was so darn beautiful outside… there was no way I was going to deny these kids the chance to go skiing.”

Several six graders, including new skier Deshawn Harrison, embarked on the trails. They began with a balancing act across the short wooden bridge that leads to Eloise. “Snow stuck to the sides of the trees, which made everything seem bigger. Nothing was tracked – it was a dramatic experience,” said Rykken who hopes these spontaneous skis will continue to nourish the kids’ sense of adventure on the trails. Harrison, a timid skier, began the afternoon by removing his skis at the top of each hill before walking down, but not for long. Harrison did not let this snowy opportunity pass in vain; by the end Harrison was skiing down all the hills asking for cheers from his coaches and teammates as he zoomed by.

Spring will come eventually, but until then skiers will have a hard time wishing the snow away.   One can’t help thinking that unskied snow will surely curse next years’ forecast – probably for the drier.  With that thought in mind – keep the snow coming!  As long as the snow falls, there will be someone willing to ski.

If you are interested in learning more about the Antwain Ski team or the Loppet Foundation youth programs, please contact Coach Allie at rykken@loppet.com.