Our next state champion spotlight is Shelby Cowin of Greenville. She was the 2017 Class B Giant Slalom state champion. She also won the GS in 2016. We asked her about her state meet and her plans for next year.
1) What were your preparations leading up to the state meet?
To mentally prepare for the race I tend to stay pretty relaxed and keep my head in the game instead of away focusing on other things coming after the race. I always ski better when I stay calm and don't overthink the outcome. To physically prepare I train hard for the week before and take a day or two of rest before race day. Also, the night before every race I eat pasta.
2) How did you deal with the pressure and emotions that come along with competing in a state meet?
I am pretty relaxed most of the time but when I start to get nervous I just focus and warm up, or make small conversation with my coach and teammates. I ski much better if I stay calm and don't overthink the course, or have a mental plan of just attacking the course the whole way down.
3) What was going through your mind at the starting gate knowing that the conditions were soft and warm?
I knew I had to try to ski conservatively and focus on making it to the finish line. With the snow going from ice to slush it makes it much for difficult to prepare because the course is different for each racers with the ruts changing and snow getting softer and softer.
4) What are some of your best memories from ski racing this past season?
My best memories from this past ski season were definitely competing against my best friend Alisha Guimond and all the other Fort Kent girls because they’re some of the coolest people I have met during my ski racing career. I love coming down across the finish line and seeing my little 4 year old sister cheering me on, growing a love for the sport just as I did growing up.
5) What is your favorite part about skiing and ski racing?
My favorite part of ski racing is by far my friends from different parts of the state that I don't get to see very often.
6) What are your plans for next year?
After my injury in the shootout race this year my main plan and a goal is to have a healthy recovery from surgery and be able to compete at my full potential next year.
7) What were your goals for this season and did you achieve them? What led to all of your successes?
My goal was to compete at Easterns with the Maine Team. However this did not happen due to my injury. It was a lot shorter of a season than I was hoping for. I also made a goal to win every run that I crossed the finish, and I did achieve that goal. My support from family and friends is the biggest part of my success.