The Brandeis Ski and Snowboard team is one of Brandeis’ many club sports. The team’s season spans the first five weekends of the spring semester every year, translating into five races. However, with this year’s lack of snow, the ski team faces turning their already short season into an even smaller one. The team competes in the Eastern Conference of the USCSA called the McBrine Division. The team competed in their first competition of the season this past weekend in the West Mountain Slalom and Giant Slalom races in Queensbury, NY.
Brandeis was represented in the men and women’s alpine skiing races and the men and women’s snowboarding. In the alpine’s men’s slalom ski races, captain Jordan Miller ’17 placed 16th with a total time of 2:27.40, while Zach Phil Schwartz ’18, editor at The Brandeis Hoot, placed 22nd with a total time of 2:54.20. In the men’s giant slalom ski races, only Schwartz qualified with a total time of 2:24.60 for 25th place.
The Brandeis snowboarders really shined for the Judges, with all those who qualified placing in the top 10. In the men’s snowboarding slalom, Ari Jaffe ’19 placed fifth with a total time of 3:40.00. Two men’s snowboarders for Brandeis qualified in the Giant Slalom. Miller finished fourth with a total time of 3:08.30, while Riely Allen ’18 finished eighth with a time of 5:04.90.
The women’s snowboarders dominated on the hill, lead by Sophie Grutzner ’18. Women’s snowboarding slalom saw four of the Brandeis snowboarders qualify. Grutzner was first for the women’s snowboarding slalom and third overall with a time of 2:55.10. Captain Allison Schwab ’16 finished fourth with a time of 3:11.70, while Rachel Zhu ’18 finished fifth with a time of 3:24.60. Senior Tamar Lyssy ’16 finished seventh with a total time of 4:01.00. Grutzner triumphed in the snowboarding Giant Slalom as well, finishing second with a time of 3:06.60. Teammate Schwab finished third with a time of 3:34.70 and Zhu finished fourth with a total time of 3:35.90. Lyssy finished seventh for the Judges in the Giant Slalom with a time of 4:46.50.
However, for the competitors, the main concern is enjoying themselves and enjoying a sport they love with their team. Miller commented, “Everyone there, regardless of your skill or team, supports each other at the race. It’s as competitive as you want it to be. I want everyone to keep doing what we are doing—doing our best, supporting each other on the hill and embracing the culture that is the McBrine division.”
The Brandeis ski and snowboarding team will compete in its second competition this weekend in Londonderry, VT, in the Magic Mountain Slalom and Giant Slalom races.
