Senior Classics Major Allie Stocco is co-captain of Gustavus’ Alpine Ski team and is excited to be a key part in bringing a sport she has loved since she was little to Gustavus. Here she shares her insights on this season of the Alpine Ski team.

 

GW: How long has Gustavus had an alpine ski team?

AS: This is the first year we’ve had an alpine ski [club] team at Gustavus.

 

GW: How did this team get started? 

AS: Mary Patterson is the co-captain with me, she was the one who started it and I met her at the involvement fair last year. I was excited about the team because I was planning on starting one too, but I saw that she already had one going. Her co-founder dropped out so I stepped up and helped her, and we have been doing a lot of work for it ever since.

 

GW: How long have you been skiing? How did you get started? 

AS: My dad taught me how to ski when I was 6 years old and I fell in love with the sport.

 

GW: Do you have any previous experience skiing on a team or competing in alpine skiing?

AS: I skied on my high school team seventh grade through twelfth grade. Our ski team competed in slalom ski racing.

 

GW: What’s your favorite part of alpine skiing?

AS: My favorite part is pushing myself a little harder and the rush I get when I have a good race. I also love the memories I make with the people on the team; some of my best friends are skiers.

 

GW: What are your goals for the team this season?

AS: It’s just the beginning season, so we’re not really looking to place in the league. It’s more [about] getting people to start out this first season, to start racing, maybe even for the first time. I know a lot of girls have never raced before so it’ll be interesting [and] exciting for them to start out and do their first alpine courses. We’re just looking to [get] out there in the league and for the other students to get to know about the team.

 

GW: What are you excited for this season?

AS: Personally, I think it’s just exciting to see a sport that I’ve always loved come to this campus.

 

GW: Where do you practice?

AS: Competitions will start in January; we’ll have our first couple of races then. But we practice mostly on Mount Kato or at Buck Hill, depending on transportation and how many people have cars, but we practice on the ski hills that are nearby. And we also do conditioning outside of the ski hills.

 

GW: Do you compete against other club teams or do other schools have alpine skiing as a varsity sport?

AS: It really depends on the colleges. I know UMD has a forty member ski-team and they’ve been going forever, so it just depends on who’s had the team already set up, because it’s easier for them to have more members. I think [for competitions] it’s a mix between being a club or a varsity sport [at each school].

 

GW: Anything else you would like readers to know about the team?

AS: If anyone is even a little interested they should come check it out—skiing is lifetime sport and is a lot more exciting than you might think!