The Glen Lake cooperative ski team is back for another year, ready to race down the hill and compete throughout 2024.
Due to challenging weather conditions, the Lakers have been engaged in dryland training at the school, utilizing the strength and conditioning program to start the season.
This year, the team comprises 11 racers, including six boys and five girls. All the boys are from Glen Lake, featuring senior Colin Kasben and a group of four freshmen with prior experience.
Glen Lake ski coach John Kasben highlighted the strength of the team, saying, “They all have really good experience, and our two returning seniors are really good. We have a full team of boys, which is nice. If one of them makes an error or something, we have somebody to fill in their spot.”
On the girls’ side, there will be five athletes: Elena Grant (St. Mary), Jacqueline Hearne (St. Mary), Willa Murray (Leland), and two others yet to be named.
Coach Kasben mentioned the unexpected addition of two more girls earlier in the fall, saying, “We were wondering if we could even get enough for a team, and then we had two more hop in.”
Despite challenging weather conditions, the Lakers managed to hit the hill at Boyne Mountain last week for a day of skiing on slushy snow.
Coach Kasben expressed his satisfaction, stating, “Some of the kids I’ve never even met before this season. So seeing them the first time on snow is always interesting but pleasantly surprised, and we’re all really good skiers.”
Glen Lake is hosting its firstever John Peppler Memorial Camp this week to honor Peppler, a former Glen Lake ski coach who passed away last August. Coach Kasben shared his thoughts on Peppler’s legacy, emphasizing his support for the ski team and his contributions to the athletes’ development.
Both teams have high hopes for the season, aiming to win the Lake Michigan Ski Conference again and then see what happens at regionals.
For the first time in several years, Glen Lake will host the regional competition at Crystal Mountain, their home track, providing a familiarity advantage.
Coach Kasben is coaching his son Colin for the last season, acknowledging the bittersweet moment. Colin, a senior leader for the Lakers, has been working on his foot speed to enter the season on the right ski.
The team is focused on goals, with Colin expressing, “We’re hopeful to win the conference for the boys’ team and then maybe even make it to states... just keep working hard, make sure everyone shows up and everyone skis well and finish the course.”
Elena Grant, a Lake Leelanau St. Mary senior, reflected on her skiing experience, appreciating the unique dynamic of the team. She described the rush of skiing down the hill, “I would describe it a lot like a rush... You are looking down at the bottom of the hill, and you’re looking through the course. I don’t even realize I’m going through the course until I get to the end, and then I realize that I did it and can’t wait to get back to that feeling and feel it again. It’s so much fun.”
