As my first collegiate ski season comes to a close, I find myself looking back with a lot of gratitude for what I learned and excitement for the seasons ahead.
It wasn’t the season I originally hoped for. But the challenges and setbacks pushed me to grow more than I expected.
Early in the season, an unfortunate accident left one of my teammates with a season-ending injury, which suddenly put my name on every carnival start list. Six weekends of nonstop racing were more exhausting than I imagined. Every minute of every day had to be planned carefully. Between classes, training, tuning skis, and trying to get at least seven hours of sleep, the schedule filled up quickly.
The Moments That Matter
Looking back, some of my favorite moments had nothing to do with results.
At every carnival, the girls and I had our own little traditions. We’d put temporary Wildcat tattoos and glitter on our faces before races and braid ribbons into our hair. Those small rituals reminded me that skiing is never just an individual sport. Everyone on the team is working toward the same goal, and that sense of camaraderie made even the toughest weekends feel special.
Another highlight was our team trip to Nakiska, Canada back in November. Getting to explore a new place with my teammates was unforgettable. The snow-covered mountains surrounded the town and every view felt like something out of a postcard.
A Breakthrough at Whiteface
One of my proudest moments of the season actually came before the collegiate races began.
Right before Christmas, a few of my teammates and I traveled to Whiteface, New York to compete in an Eastern Cup series, hoping to lower our FIS points and improve our start positions heading into the college season.
The first day didn’t go as planned. I crashed on my first run and didn’t get a second run.
But the second day turned into the best race I’ve ever had.
Starting with bib 20, I came down in 10th after the first run. On the second run, I tied for first with a Dartmouth skier, which placed me fourth overall. I scored a 39-point result. In ski racing, lower scores are better, and it was my first ever sub-40 score.
I had always dreamed of scoring in the 30s, and finally doing it gave me a huge boost of confidence heading into the season.
Setbacks Along the Way
Of course, the year also brought its share of setbacks.
In January I developed a chest cold during winter break ski camp that made training feel much harder than it should have. That sickness carried into my first carnival at Sugarloaf, hosted by Colby College.
Then in mid-February, I caught the flu. I spent two days sleeping almost nonstop and slept through most of the van ride to the Williams College carnival at Jiminy Peak.
My final setback came at Middlebury. On my last slalom run I straddled a gate and landed on my head, resulting in a minor concussion and a forced week off from skiing.
It wasn’t how I wanted to end the season, but it definitely left a spark in me to come back stronger next year.
Gear That Held Up
One thing that never let me down this season was my gear.
I train and race four to six days a week, which means my Burgeon base layers get a lot of use. With such a busy schedule, laundry only happens when it absolutely has to. What I appreciate most about these layers is how warm they are while still staying breathable, even after multiple training days.
My Franconia mid-layer also became a go-to piece this season. When it’s too cold to train in just my GS suit, I throw it on for extra warmth. It’s flexible, warm, and durable enough to handle the reality of ski training, where hitting hard plastic gates every other turn is part of the routine.
The Biggest Lesson
The biggest lesson I learned this season was about the pressure I put on myself.
Without realizing it, I was carrying a lot of expectations. I wanted to prove that I belonged on this team, and sometimes that pressure made results feel heavier than they needed to be.
Over time I’ve learned to push placement aside and remember why I love skiing in the first place.
The sun on your face.
The arc of a clean turn.
Teammates cheering at the finish.
Friends and family standing in the cold to support you.
Those are the moments that really matter.
Looking Ahead
Even though most of the collegiate season is finished, I’ll still be training and racing in some spring series events. Now that I understand what a full year of college racing and academics looks like, I feel much more prepared for what’s ahead.
Next season I hope to ski my best and perform well, but also to enjoy every moment along the way.
Thank you to everyone who followed along this season, and thank you to Burgeon for giving me the opportunity to represent the brand as one of your athletes.
I’m excited to see what next season brings.
— Abishai
