Somers racers adjust to tough conditions at Thunder Ridge

SOMERS, N.Y. - On Wednesday, Jan. 27, Somers took to the slopes at Thunder Ridge Ski Area — and like everyone else, the skiers felt the bite of the frigid temperatures.

“It was absolutely freezing — especially at the top of the race and on the chairlift,” said Kathryn Moesta. “We try to keep our jackets on as long as possible before lining up for our run, and we stretch and jump up and down to stay warm.”

Once on the course, however, the cold fades into the background.

“When you’re actually skiing, you don’t think about the cold. You think about the next few gates, and the adrenaline rush helps warm you up,” said Moesta, who finished 13th.

The recent winter storm also played a role. Fresh snowfall over the weekend created a softer base.

“The new snow built up a softer surface,” said the Tusker. “The course definitely felt slower and had some ruts by the second run.”

Moesta adjusted accordingly. During inspection, she identified a potential trouble spot midway down the course.

“I noticed the through gate about halfway down might be tricky, and it would be important to approach the gate above it a little higher,” she said.

After qualifying for sectionals last season, Moesta hopes to build on that success.

“If I make sectionals, my goal is to place at least 10 spots above my bib order,” she said.

She knows consistency will be key.

“I can get a good weight shift and get on my edges while free-skiing, but I struggle to apply those skills consistently in races. My focus now is bridging that gap so I can ski more confidently and aggressively in competition.”

For the boys, Jared Castillo turned in a strong 10th-place finish, though he sees room for improvement.

“I need to work on keeping my upper body straight and moving my feet below me,” Castillo said.

The snowy surface added another layer of difficulty.

“It was pretty choppy and powdery, which made it difficult,” he said. “As a racer, you want as hard a surface as possible so you can really dig in your edges.”

Still, his goals remain high.

“Hopefully, I make states,” Castillo said.

Alex Lewandowski, who finished 40th, also had to adapt to the conditions.

“I adjusted to the new snow by being more careful with my movements and choosing control over speed,” he said.

The cold presented its own challenge.

“It made it harder to stay warm and relaxed during my runs,” Lewandowski said. “I had to push through the discomfort and stay focused despite feeling tense and cold.”

He carried that focus into his second run and is aiming high as the postseason approaches.

“My goal is to qualify for sectionals and make it as far as I possibly can,” he said.

Despite representing different schools, the combined Somers, North Salem and John Jay squad continues to support one another.

“This team is super supportive,” Moesta said. “Even though some of us are from different schools and compete separately, we’re always there for each other.”