SARATOGA SPRINGS — On February 25, The Saratoga Springs alpine skiing team secured another New York State Public High School Athletic Association championship title at Bristol Mountain.
Led by senior Kieran Mottau, junior Ian Hauser and junior Tom Possidente, the three-man team skied consistent and fast.
“Consistency” has been a key word for the team all winter—from the eight regular season meets, to sectionals, to states—especially for Mottau, said Saratoga Springs head coach Glyn Chilton.
“This year [Mottau]’s just been a lot more consistent,” Chilton said. “Earlier he would just be very fast and everyone would stop to watch him and he would burn out or just fly off the course. That’s one mistake usually in ski racing. He didn’t have a lot of consistent finishing, but this season he finished every race.”
That’s not to leave out the junior duo of Hauser and Possidente.
“They’re both really good skiers,” Chilton said. “Tom went through a rough patch at the end of the season when he wasn’t finishing races and he really pulled it together for the state meet. They do a lot outside of practice, so they come with the skills and abilities already in place. They talk a lot about tactics and I think that’s what they were sharing this year—you know, how they were going to approach each race. I know that they do look up to Kieran just because of his ability. I think something they gained from Kieran was his confidence and just way of approaching the races.”
Chilton noted that Mottau had just flown in the night before the state meet began after an eight-day ski vacation in Alberta and BC Canada, arriving at the hotel at 2 a.m.
“I assumed Mottau was a bit tired for the slalom event early Monday morning, but he skied very well and was in second place after the first run,” Chilton said.
Going for the gold, Mottau went for it on the second run. Being more than a second fastest at the split, he got back, caught an edge and almost fell.
“He actually came to a stop,” assistant coach Megan Beck said.
But Mottau stayed on his feet and finished four seconds behind the leader, ending up fifth overall. Hauser was sixth and Possidente was 26th.
On the first run of the Giant Slalom Tuesday, with very icy conditions, Mottau got a bit late, skidded in a couple of turns but still ended up second in the first run.
Trying to defend his overall title from 2013, Mottau won the second run, but his combined time wasn’t fast enough to gain the overall win and a repeat.
Mottau ended up in second place, Hauser sixth and Possidente 18th. But the combined strong results of the four runs and two races earned the Streaks their second championship in three seasons.
Although Mottau didn’t end up the overall champion this year, he said high school ski racing is a team sport and as a team the Blue Streaks are state champions.
The state title is Chilton’s first as head coach and second while with program. He was the assistant with head coach Scott Singer for four years.
“I think [the title] is pretty much the same,” Chilton said. “A little bit more in terms of outside skiing, but certainly the input as far as practice has been the same. I think the kids see me as the same person, who might talk a little more than he used to.”
Looking back on the season, aside from the team’s success, Chilton said he will remember multiple practices being cancelled due to inclement that caused school closings and how fast the season went by.
“Once you get into the season it’s so intense,” Chilton said. “It all happens so quickly and the season’s over within six weeks.”
Despite losing Mottau, Chilton is hopeful for other skiers to step up, including the kids who will be making the transition from middle school.
“The potential is definitely there for next year,” Chilton said. “High school racing is a little different from what they’re used to. A lot of these kids have experience racing on the mountain and racing for themselves. I think they really enjoy the team aspect. They get to represent the high school and get to see them each day. I think we have something that adds to the sport for our racers.”
