The Nordic team raced in the open UVM carnival last weekend in inclement weather conditions. The men finished ninth and the women finished 10th in a field of 11 teams. The carnival hosted a collegiate race, a Supertour, and an Eastern Cup Junior Olympic Qualifier, so a large number of nationally ranked skiers were present.
"We raced a race within a race. There were basically two races in one, and we competed against the collegiate teams," coach Nathan Alsobrook said.
Last Saturday the women competed in a 5K freestyle race, where Erin Hatton '12 finished in 44th.
"This was a personal best for Erin," Alsobrook said. "She looked pretty lively up the hills and smooth."
Courtney Martin '09 followed and Olivia Orr '12 was the third Bowdoin finisher. The men competed in a 10K freestyle race. Colman Hatton '10 skied his best race, finishing in 32nd. Finishing in 35th, Scott Longwell '12 brought another solid performance. Sunday proved to be a challenge. It was windy, warm, raining, sleeting, and thundering.
"It was an epic day for us to be trying to figure out a wax that worked," Alsobrook said.
In the 10K women's classic event, Martin placed 32nd, which was another personal best.
"It seems that the worse the conditions are the better she gets," Alsobrook said.
Hatton finished again in 44th and was followed by Orr in 49th.
The men raced in a 15K classic event where Spencer Eusden '12 made a leap forward finishing in 34th. Longwell finished in 35th, followed by Hatton. Longwell continues to be calm, consistent, patient, and solid even in adverse conditions, Alsobrook said.
"His snappy technique combined with his large base of endurance, from running cross-country, are what allow him to do so well," Eusden said.
Alsobrook said the team has never had a first year skiing at this level. Alsobrook said it was probably the toughest course the team has raced on this season.
"It put a premium on endurance and fitness," he said.
The team will ski at Dartmouth next weekend.