1. What are your expectations this season?
We expect our athletes to treat everyone around them with respect,
to work hard, attend practice, get plenty of rest and achieve
to the best of their abilities. We know that if every athlete
does this then both the men’s and the women’s teams
have a chance to win a National title.
2. What are your goals for this season?
We see goals more as hopes so we always hope that everyone will
get out of the season what they put in. We hope that every skier
will have a positive experience, will meet people that they count
as friends and feel that they had a successful season. That may
mean winning Nationals or just finishing a race without falling.
We hope that every season at least one athlete will come away
from the year feeling that skiing has made a positive difference
in their life.
3. What reasons would you suggest that someone join the team?
To meet great people, to learn to train and understand their
bodies, to have fun with skiing, to learn to ski, to learn to
race, learn that skiing can be a lifelong sport, to race, to ski
better/faster and mainly to have fun!
4. What type of people do you try to target with the team?
Anyone who wants to learn or become better at skiing and wants
to dedicate time and effort towards that goal.
5. What do you personally gain from the coach standpoint?
We love to ski. The more people that we can introduce this wonderful
sport the better. It puts together 2 of the best things there
are skiing and working with young people.
6. How could the public influence of affect your goals/ expectations
for the season?
They don’t. If they get excited and interested, great,
if not it doesn’t matter. We do not coach this team for anyone
else but the athletes.
7. What kinds of support are required for the continuation of
this team?
Financial support. We need to raise $8-10,000 every year to
make this team what it is. We need help from the University, the
community, the athletes, alumni, etc.
8. Does you team give anything back to the laramie community?
The UW Nordic Team works closely with the Medicine Bow Nordic
Association to promote skiing in Laramie. This team helps run
MBNA races as well as providing additional racing opportunities
to the nordic community in Laramie. In addition, we work closely
with the Laramie High School team, both by providing support for
their races and by allowing their inclusion in many of our training
and camp opportunities. In addition, at least 20% of our members
are not students but faculty & staff that are members of the
community.
9. Do you have any plans for expansion in the future?
We are planning to host a High School ski camp this summer.
We are always working to increase membership in the Rocky Mountain
Conference. We hope to start soliciting sponsorships to help with
equipment for the athletes as well as defray the cost of wax.
We are always expanding, our roster this season is twice the size
of last season and we’ve doubled the # of races.
