How much does weather affect Eden Prairie Nordic? Skiers practice and race enough to know about good and bad skiing conditions. These athletes spend many hours

on the snow, and it plays a big part in this sport.
The perfect condition to ski in is when the snow is super packed down; not too icy, but also not too soft.

It’s possible to work with almost anything but it can be difficult.

The weather can affect this sport in many different aspects. Senior Kareena Bovitz said, “For example, the temperature determines the type of wax that’s needed for skis. Also, if temperatures are warmer, the snow conditions tend to be much slower and harder to ski on.”

Weather affects what they do that day because it depends on what the weather is like, if there’s no snow they can’t ski.

During the summer, Nordic holds a summer program called Stryke, which consists of hill training, strength, agility, and rollerskating. It’s dry-land train- ing that will help them improve their team. This helps them during the winter and they come in stronger each year from their summer training.

Practice almost never gets cancelled unless there is a cold advisory. “We’re not allowed to ski if temperatures get too low such as -40 windchill, but -20 degrees without windchill. Otherwise on the warmer side of things, we try and make the best out of the places that make snow,” said Bovitz. If that isn’t possible, they go back to dry-land training and lifting like in the summer.

Photos submitted

How do these athletes keep warm during these cold temperatures? Bovitz said, “There are certain things we have to do if the weather gets below 15 degrees. We have to wear hats rather than headbands.” They always need to make sure everyone is dressed appropriately for the weather. If the athletes are cold, then they need to just keep skiing on.

Senior Lisel Paulsen, is also a part of Nordic team, said, “We practice as a whole team for about two hours every day after school and Saturdays, so about 12 hours a week.” They obviously spend many hours outside, but no matter the weather conditions, these athletes will always and a way to work hard and make up for bumps in the road.

Kareena Bovitz, Rachel Boelke, Allie Gross, Liesl Paulsen