November 6, 2017 at 1:02 p.m.
Alpine skiers get head start on winter practice
Alpine skiers get head start on winter practice
The team held its first dryland practice of the season last Thursday, before any other winter sport at RHS.
Unlike most other winter sports, the Alpine skiers are not bound to a starting date because the sport is not affiliated with the WIAA.
Coach Rod Olson said it was important to get an early jump on the season.
"We wanted to start earlier so we could get everyone together earlier and try to get rid of the inefficiency the first week," he explained. "We wanted to get stuff rolling, anywhere from conditioning to preparing for on snow, getting everything else lined up we have to do."
Olson's hoping that the recent cold snap will continue and that the team can get on the snow soon. Ski Brule, the Hodags training and racing venue in Iron River, Mich., states on its website it plans to open for the season on Friday.
Olson said Mother Nature's cooperation is key. He said the team is still behind from the on-snow time it lost last year during the height of the pertussis outbreak that halted all RHS activities for 2 1/2 weeks in late December and early January - right in the middle of the team's peak training time.
"We need to make up for everything we lost or didn't do last year," he said. "I am hoping for cold weather and hoping it gets cold all over the state. We haven't gotten a lot out of our December training because so many teams have come in and invaded (our hill)."
After a bit of a lull last year, the team's numbers appear to be on the uptick. Twenty-one athletes were at Thursday's opening practice inside the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium. Olson said he hopes to have numbers in the mid-20s when everything is said and done.
"I had my best teams when we had high numbers, boys or girls," he said. "We're implementing strategies in increasing numbers and were integrating competencies to get us there. We're trying to foster a more competitive group.
"We've got a lot of interest from the younger kids, junior high. There's more and more people calling. It's coming back around. It ebbs and flows and we're trying to stay on top of it."
Thursday's practice focused on a number of stretches and agility work. Olson said he wants the athletes to be as fit as possible to be ready for the forces exerted on their bodies during a ski and snowboard race.
"Right now, we're going to focus on strength to achieve balance," he said. "I don't think they're too bad aerobically. A lot of them were in (a fall sport). We're creating some force (when we race) and we're trying to combat that with upper and lower body (strength)."
RHS, Pines on cusp of skiing co-op
The Hodags appear to be on the verge of taking the fledgling Northland Pines ski team under their wing.
Olson stated the two teams are on the verge of forming a co-op for the upcoming 2018 season, needing only the final OK from both schools' administrations. Olson said the activities directors from both schools are on board with the idea and the Northern Conference signed off the merger during last week's preseason meeting.
"We need their numbers. They need the ability to start a program," Olson said.
The teams already had a working relationship as both train at Ski Brule.
Incoming freshman Ty Springer, who won the final two middle school meets last year for Northland Pines, skied under the Rhinelander banner as a sixth-grader before Pines had officially established a ski team. Olson said Pines plans to add four skiers to the program.
"They have an excellent athletic school. They have great coaches and programs and staff and kids up there," he said. "They've had interest in this for a few years, but they don't have the know-how yet. What we will bring to them will be great to get their athletes into the sport. Likewise, we're going to supplement our team and be stronger."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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