Spring Lake Ski Team 2023

Spring Lake Ski Team 2023

Brooklyn Verplank, Reporter

This past Valentine’s Day, the Spring Lake Ski Team had their Regionals at
Cannonsburg Ski Area in Belmont. It was a beautiful day to spectate with brilliant sunshine and
unseasonably warm fifty-degree weather, however, those are not the ideal conditions for ski
racing. Despite the slushy and sticky snow, the team turned in some of their best runs yet this
season! The girl’s team placed fifth and the boys team placed eighth in the region. Mya Phares,
a senior at Spring Lake, qualified for the State Championship which will be held on February
27th at Boyne Mountain Resort in Northern Michigan. This will be her second time qualifying for
the State Championship and the team hopes that the generally good snow conditions will
remain as the season comes to an end.

Unlike past years where the team drove to Cannonsburg Ski Area three times a week for
practices and drills, this year the practices were moved to our local ski area at Mulligan’s Hollow
in Grand Haven. The quick tow ropes at Mulligan’s Hollow allow the team to get as many laps
on the snow as possible. The mild January temperatures and lack of snowfall kept the team off
the slopes longer than usual. The first three races were cancelled due to the lack of snow base.
In late January winter finally arrived and the team was able to set gates in the snow just in time
for their January 27 th race at Caberfae Peaks in Cadillac. The team is required to compete in
four races ahead of the Regionals to qualify. There was some initial concern the team would not
get the required starts, but late season favorable conditions allowed the team to compete in
seven races in time for the Regionals last week Tuesday. The team’s final race of the year and
Senior Night will be held on Tuesday the 21st at Cannonsburg Ski Area. Come show your
support as they look to finish the season strong!