HIGH SCHOOL ALPINE SKIING: CORNING'S WALSH QUALIFIES FOR STATES FOR 2ND STRAIGHT YEAR (2023-02-22)

By Brian Fees
Southern Tier Sports Report
For the second straight year Teagan Walsh is headed to the state championships for alpine skiing as the Corning eighth grader placed third in the Giant Slalom and fourth in the Slalom Race at sectionals.

“This year I know what I can expect at states,” Walsh said. “It’s definitely been easier knowing what to expect and knowing the people I’ll be racing with.”

It’s been a special season already for Walsh, who also competed in the Empire State Games in Lake Placid at the beginning of February.

Now, it’s back to states on Feb. 27-28.

“I want to go back and do even better,” Walsh said.

The way the eighth grader did at sectionals was good, but she knows there is always room to improve.

“I am good with it, I can always do better,” Walsh said.

The State Championships are at Bristol. For Walsh it’s a course she knows well.

“I am definitely a lot more excited, because I’ve had multiple races at Bristol and raced there multiple times since I was young, so I know the mountain and the trail,” Walsh said.

Walsh feels like she hasn’t skied her best in the big races, so she’s hoping that changes at states.

“I have been struggling with doing my best at performing at the high level Raes, so I’m hoping I can improve upon that before states comes around,” Walsh said.

The winter can be busy for skiers as there is the high school season, and the club season, and for Walsh this year she’s up an age group, competing in 16u.

“My club season has been fine,” she said. “It’s a lot more races than last year, 14, because I’m on 16u now, so having more races is an experience and that’s always helpful.”

Being up an age group also means that Walsh gets more chances to compete against the older skiers that she competes with in high school meets.

“With club, the races are not just u16, u19s are there too and just grouped into one big group,” Walsh said. “It makes it a lot easier to know how to race against those older kids.”

As busy as club can be, this year has actually been a little less busy for the Corning skier as weather has impacted the schedule for the year.

“Surprisingly not as busy because of the weather,” Walsh said. “There are less practices and the conditions are warmer so the snow feels slower.”

The weather also means adjustments when the skiers hit the course.

“There are different ways you have to wax the skies when you tune them for the races (based on temperatures),” Walsh said.

A little more free time can be nice, but Walsh is used to skiing all winter.

“It’s fine, I just have no clue what to do with my free time sometimes,” Walsh said.

Walsh is back competing with the Bath team at Section V meets, which is easier this year after having gotten to know many of the kids a year ago.

“It was a lot easier now that I don’t have to go up and talk to people I don’t know, because I already know them.”

Walsh would love to one day build more of a team in Corning.

There are definitely some kids that are interested in joining the team,” she said.

One thing that Walsh, and her parents, have been trying to do is go through Corning and Corning’s AD to talk to other schools about getting a league in the Western half of Section 4. They know that with skiing not being as well known of a sport it can be difficult for AD’s to get behind it, but they also know Section 5 provides a blue print of how it can work. The key is building awareness for the opportunities out there in the sport.

“We are trying to get a league in the western half of Section 4,” Walsh said. “We are trying to get schools like Ithaca, Horseheads and Elmira interested so we can have our own thing and not have to drive three hours for a race.”

That’s the one challenge for Walsh right now, long trips to every meet, and even practice, competing out of Section V.

“You definitely get sick of being in the car, trying to do my school work in the car,” Walsh said.
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