For the first time in four years, the girls’ and boys’ ski teams both received a spot at the state championships. While other winter sports might often get more recognition than the ski team, their scores prove to us that they are not something to ignore. 

Ski team coach Wendy Love shared her experience at state and how she got her team there. 

“We prepare for state by all the training we do every Friday night, and we prepare by making sure that each race that we do during the season counts and is meaningful,” Love said. “The true strategy going into state racing is to have fun and to learn from the entire experience.” 

Love said the season has not been without its challenges.

“There’s always growing pains at the beginning of the season for kids who have never raced before, so getting everyone to understand the ski team and how to race or work together can be a challenge,” she said. “But in the end, it always works out.” 

Love also communicates with others to ensure her program will continue to attract new talent each year.

“The best thing to do is to reach out to the coaches or previous racers,” she said. “We really require little to no knowledge of ski racing. It’s more about skiing in general and having fun overall. If interested, don’t hesitate to email [email protected].” 

Whether you enjoy competitive ski racing or casual bluebird days, Tualatin’s ski team could be a good option for you. 

Anders Lien, a sophomore at TuHS, said his experience on the team has been a positive one. 

“I’m having a lot of fun out here with my friends. We’re getting a lot of good carves in on our free runs, and it’s gonna be great,” he said. “When it comes to state competitions, I know we’re going to do good. We’re going to go out there and try our best, and we’re going to win the competition – maybe, maybe not – but who cares because we’re here to have fun.” 

Although Tualatin didn’t come in first place for state championships, they didn’t come in last. The girls’ and boys’ teams showed their Tualatin spirit and tried their hardest, always excited for their next runs.