While pretty much all of the U.S. is aware of the climate crisis currently occurring in our world and the drastic effects it has had, many are likely not aware of the impact this climate change has had on our very own St. Lawrence University Nordic skiing team, have faced increasing limits and difficulties.

For much of the Fall preseason, athletes have been training on rollerskis. Though this relatively new technology has its benefits and can make training more flexible, rollerskiing can be fairly dangerous, as skiers have to share the roads with large vehicles. Furthermore, rollerskis often have no brakes or other methods of slowing the skier down, leading to horrendous crashes and ample road rash.  

Due in part to COVID and other circumstances, the team spent Thanksgiving camp on a small, man-made loop at Mount van Hoevenberg for the past two years. People have begun to question why we should bother doing laps essentially around a hamster wheel. Shouldn’t skiing be more enjoyable? Exploring the fields and forests on a bright winter’s day is a thing of the past in many locations. We now train on white ribbons surrounded by mud and brown grass.

It seems like getting adequate snowfall for Nordic skiing is also rapidly becoming a thing of the past. On several occasions throughout the regular season, venues have had to change their historic courses due to limited snow coverage. It’s almost painful to hear from older coaches and racers about the idyllic conditions decades ago when klister stayed in the box until February rolled around. The joy of cross-country skiing is becoming more and more absent.  

Therefore, in an effort to enjoy “skiing” to a much greater extent, St. Lawrence has opted to drop the traditional snow sports for next year. Instead, they will be replaced with water-skiing. The widespread lakes and rivers of the Northeast offer plenty of gorgeous locations to train and compete.

Additionally, with the increased flooding that climate change has brought about, the number of locations to have water skiing races will only increase. Instead of struggling to find small patches of snow to ski on, the St. Lawrence University waterskiing team will be able to use the vast bodies of water all over to train and race. Athletes will save money, as they will only need to buy one ski and some rope. Waxing will become a thing of the past, being replaced with boat mechanics.

The university intends on contributing generously to the new waterskiing team, purchasing a new top of the line fleet of Nautiques, keeping a handful at Canaras and another handful in Waddington. Sophomore, Leif Harvey was asked his opinion on the matter, “It sounds like a lot of fun and it will be nice not having to go up so many hills.”