It is winter. It is cold and dark. It is before 7 a.m., and the athletes of the Nederland High School Nordic Ski Team are getting on the snow at the Eldora Nordic Center for practice.

All season the Nordic team had this routine, practicing before school – and then there were meets on the weekends, some of them far away from Nederland – six meets before going to the State Championships. Every athlete on Nederland’s team both skate and classic ski. Each race is 5K in distance.

Head coach Dan Vardamis says of the team, “They are gritty. Training at Eldora is tough. It is cold, windy, there is a lot of climbing at the start, and we still have great attendance. They have a passion for the sport.”

Practice started in November – before the snow started to fall – with hiking and endurance and strength training. Throughout the season Vardamis worked with every member of the team on balance and body position as well as upper body strength and core work. He wants the skiers to learn to be as efficient on their skis as possible. Vardamis added that basic skills and techniques always need to be worked on.

Vardamis is impressed with the positive energy and commitment from the student-athletes and their parents. This is his second year as head coach, although he has been involved with the program for some years now, as his wife, Elaine Vardamis, coached the team previously.

One of Vardamis’ goals is to encourage these young athletes to have a lifelong relationship with Nordic skiing. He wants them to love the sport, to get outdoors – get up in the morning and challenge themselves.

Nederland High School junior Eric Thurston said, “Dan constantly is encouraging us. He helps us get in the right mindset.”

Thurston enjoys the camaraderie of the Nederland team as well as the rest of the Nordic high school teams in the state. He says, “Nordic, all the teams, are like a great community. Everyone cheers each other on. Even when the last skiers come in we are there to cheer for each other.”

This year’s team consisted of seniors Loic Masters and Meghan McCracken, juniors Maeve Dufton and Eric Thurston, sophomores Kai Murphy, Ben Weber, and Abby Hess, and freshmen Finn Fitzer, Amika Begin, and Madeline Perry.

Masters placed third in the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) Skimeister Competition. This competition recognizes athletes who compete in both Nordic and alpine ski racing. Masters successfully qualified for the CHSAA Skiing State Championships across all four ski disciplines: slalom, giant slalom, classic, and skate.

Six of Nederland’s Nordic skiers qualified for the State competition at Snow Mountain Ranch on February 22 and 23. This close-knit team had some personal bests at State and finished the season exceptionally well.

Through the early morning practices, and the meets where they competed in all kinds of weather, the Nordic team stuck together, learned together, and encouraged each other. This young team will be exciting to watch as they grow in skills and become more efficient on their skis.

Nordic State Championship results for Nederland

Women’s Skate 5K

Maeve Dufton (34th place) 21:58

Abby Hess (36th place) 22:53

Amika Begin (41st place) 23:28

Men’s Skate 5K

Ben Weber (46th place) 19:03

Loic Masters (57th place) 21:10

Eric Thurston (59th place) 21:45

Women’s Classic 5K

Maeve Dufton (34th place) 27:06

Abby Hess (37th place) 27:42

Amika Begin (42nd place) 28:46

Men’s Classic 5K

Loic Masters (49th place) 21:49

Ben Weber (52nd place) 22:29

Eric Thurston (56th place) 25:23