Staples ski team first race commences under COVID-19 guidelines

Staples ski team first race commences under COVID-19 guidelines By Maddy Tansley '23

Wednesday, Feb. 10 the Staples girls’ and boys’ ski team set off on their first race after a delayed start to the winter sports season. There were many new regulations this year due to the pandemic such as needing to wear a mask under a normal ski mask, not being able to change in the lodge and no indoor food market. However, the team still managed to have fun despite all the setbacks.

In their first race of the season the Girls team came in second place with Ridgefield coming in first place.

The girls and boys teams needed to take separate busses this year due to social distancing policies, usually they would have been on the same bus.

Instead of getting dressed in the lodge this year because of COVID, racers were required to get ready in small tents with only a bench in the middle to sit on.

There were strict rules in place for the times that each school was allowed on the hill. Staples time started with inspecting the course at 4p.m., and the race began at 5p.m.

There were two times slots for this particular race, 4p.m. and 5p.m. Staples went at the same time as Ridgefield, while the other two teams went at 4p.m.

Once standing at the starting gate, racers were allowed to remove their masks so that they weren’t bothering them during the race. However, they are required at any other time when at the mountain.

As another COVID precaution, the racers needed to wear paper bibs this year as opposed to prior years where there would be reusable ones with more stretchy fabric.

The race finished up around 6p.m. at which the next wave of racers began to slip the course. These teams were not a part of the groups that Staples were racing against.

All photos taken by Maddy Tansley '23

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