Editors’ Note: This article was written before February 15. Tory Adams ’23 placed first in the Slalom discipline at the NEPSAC Championship.
Over the years, the Alpine Ski Team has been one of the most successful athletic programs at Concord Academy, with this year proving to be no exception. The team competes in two disciplines in the Central Massachusetts Ski League (CMSL): Giant Slalom (GS) and Slalom (SL). The team trains and races at Wachusett Mountain on Wednesday and Friday evenings respectively.
On Wednesday practices at the race hill, the group trains gates and receives feedback from the coaches. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the group does dryland training consisting of runs to different locations around Concord, stretching, core and strength training, and video analysis. The team has Mondays off.
In the 2021–22 season, the girls placed second in the CMSL while the boy's team placed third. Tory Adams ’23 won the individual overall title, and the girls had two other skiers in the top ten. The boys had three skiers in the top ten.
This year, both teams are off to a strong start. Each team’s top three skiers of every race contribute towards the team’s total score. After four Giant Slalom races and two Slalom races, the girls are leading the league, and the boys are in second place.
The group is tight-knit and has a strong sense of camaraderie. Coaches John McGarry P’22 P’23 and Peter Jennings P’19 P’21 P’25 and Co-Captains Everett Dalton ’23, Tory Adams, Annie McGarry ’23, and Phoebe Fritz ’23 have created a supportive environment for practices and racing.
The snow and cold weather can sometimes deter new racers, but the ski team’s collective team spirit makes all the difference. Everett said, “If you are suffering on a chairlift with great company and complaining in line with your best friend, [the toughness] just becomes a backdrop to a great moment.” He added, “Despite the individuality of ski team, it would be unbearable without a person next to you, I hope to be that person to the members of my team.”
Tory and Everett’s goals as Co-Captains on ski team are similarly aligned. Tory noted, “As captain, I want to establish a fun and focused atmosphere so we can all ski our own personal best and support each other as teammates.”
One of the special rituals the team does before every race to build community is to get in a huddle, embrace arm-in-arm, and listen to a pre-drafted speech for encouragement. There is lots of positive cheering and yelling at the race course, and the atmosphere, though it may physically be freezing, is very warm in spirit.
On Wednesday, February 15, the team will head to the race hill at Proctor Academy to compete in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Championship. The top five skiers of each discipline from the boy’s team and the girl’s team are selected to race at the event. Last season, the girls placed fourth and the boys placed eleventh after a successful team effort. Tory’s outstanding individual performance earned her first place in giant slalom and third place in slalom for the girls’ overall championship.
Tory currently leads the CMSL after winning the first five of six races. Annie is close behind in fifth place, and Mandy Adams ’24 is in tenth position. Other standout performances for the girl's team include Phoebe in 17th place and Gabby O’Leary ’25, Cadence Mitchell ’26, Katie Byers ’25, and Irene Zheng ’24 in 19th, 20th, 21st, and 22nd respectively. For the boys, William Kim ’24 is placed sixth, Gabriel Wexler ’25 is placed seventh, Everett is placed eleventh, and Issac Chan ’25 is not far behind in 22nd position overall.
CA wishes good luck to the Alpine Ski Team as they continue their strong run in the CMSL and as they race in the NEPSAC Championship later this season!