By Jooahn Sohn
(Photographed source: RPS District)
By the time most Ridgewood students are settling in at home, finishing dinner, or starting their homework, the RHS Ski Team is still on the mountain.
Under the glow of night lights and against the bite of freezing air, they click into their skis, go back up the course, and run it again. And again. Then they still have an hour long bus ride home.
For the Skiing Maroons, success doesn’t come from luck: it comes from late nights, long drives, and relentless dedication.
After last year’s historic season, when the Ridgewood Varsity Girls were crowned New Jersey State Champions, the team entered this winter with high expectations and something to prove. So far, they’ve done exactly that: turning those expectations into podium finishes, medals, and another season of dominance on the slopes.
But behind every first place trophy is a whole lot of work most people never see.
A Commitment Like No Other
Unlike many RHS sports that practice right after school on campus, ski team athletes travel far from home to train. Practices take place at Mount Peter in New York or at Mountain Creek in Vernon, New Jersey, both over an hour away.
That means athletes pile onto a bus after school and don’t return until 8 p.m. or later, sometimes even later after races. And they do it multiple times a week.
With two to four practices plus at least one race each week, skiers balance heavy training schedules with homework, tests, and everything else that comes with being a student.
Add freezing temperatures, icy conditions, and physically demanding courses, and it quickly becomes clear: skiing isn’t just another winter activity. It’s a serious commitment.
Still, ask anyone on the team, and they wouldn’t trade it.
The bus rides turn into bonding time. Music plays. Homework gets done together. Teammates talk through race strategies and celebrate each other’s runs. What starts as a long commute becomes part of what makes the team feel like family. That tight knit community is one of the program’s greatest strengths.
Starting Strong at Mount Peter
From the very first race, RHS made it clear they came to win. At the January 14 season opener at Mount Peter, both Varsity teams dominated the competition as they both placed first overall. Yet, the success didn’t stop there. JV Girls also captured 1st place, while JV Boys secured 2nd, completing a near sweep across all levels.
It was exactly the kind of statement performance you want to open a season, and proof that the team’s offseason training had paid off.
Keeping the Momentum
Just a week later, Ridgewood returned to Mount Peter for their second race, and delivered once again. As Women’s Varsity and JV placed 1st overall and Men’s Varsity places third overall while Men’s JV placed 2nd. The competition stiffened at the Slalom League Cup at Mountain Creek on January 27–28, where the best varsity teams faced off over two days. Even with tough conditions and two DNFs (Did Not Finish), the Varsity Girls still fought their way onto the podium as they placed 3rd in all of NJ. These results showed resilience. Even when things didn’t go perfectly, Ridgewood pushed through and competed with some of the strongest teams in the league.
More Than Medals
While trophies and podium finishes are exciting, ask most athletes what they’ll remember most, and it’s not just the results.
It’s the laughter on the bus.
The cheers at the finish line.
The shared nerves at the start gate.
The way everyone sticks around to watch every single teammate finish their run.
Skiing can be an individual sport, but at Ridgewood, it feels anything but. The program has built a culture where effort matters just as much as placement and where teammates celebrate personal bests just as loudly as first place finishes. That sense of community is what keeps athletes coming back year after year.
Looking Ahead
With Slalom season wrapping up and Giant Slalom races approaching, the Skiing Maroons aren’t slowing down.
If the first half of the season is any indication, more podiums (and maybe even another championship) could be on the horizon.
But no matter what the final standings say, one thing is certain: While the rest of Ridgewood heads home after school, the ski team will still be out there: carving turns, braving the cold, and putting in the work. Because that’s what champions do. Way to ski, RHS!