Tatum Coutu in the finish area during her final collegiate race. Photo Credit Chauncey Morgan
With the ongoing discussion regarding collegiate skiing, I want to share my experience and take a minute to reflect on my recent retirement from ski racing. For a brief introduction and background, my name is Tatum Coutu. I grew up ski racing in multiple programs on the East Coast and took a gap year between high school and college at Ski and Snowboard Club Vail (SSCV) in Colorado. I ended up skiing on the EISA circuit for 4.5 years at Middlebury College, and I can’t emphasize enough how valuable college skiing was to me.
Developing into a College Athlete
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Growing up on a small animal farm in the middle of Rhode Island, my chances of becoming an NCAA ski racer were slim to none. My parents weren’t heavily involved in ski racing but enjoyed skiing recreationally. As a result, throughout my childhood, my family would spend a few weekends a winter at Cranmore Mountain in North Conway, New Hampshire.
At the same time, my sister and I played nearly every sport imaginable, and our natural athleticism translated well into skiing. Eventually, we joined a race program in the winter-term program at Waterville Valley Academy. From 6th to 8th grade, I went to school in the fall and spring at my public school in Rhode Island and spent the winter in Waterville Valley. It was a small group of racers where, more often than not, I was the only girl, so I had to keep up with the boys.
At the end of 8th grade, it was time for another change, which led me to Burke Mountain Academy (BMA) for high school. As my ski racing career progressed, so did my goal of becoming a World Cup racer. During my sophomore year at BMA, I got invited to National Training Group (NTG) camps, which urged me to take the sport more seriously.
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The Transition to College Racing
The goal to race on the World Cup Circuit continued to be at the forefront, and collegiate skiing felt like I wouldn’t reach my full athletic potential.
However, the college recruitment process was fast approaching. But, with the mindset I had, I held off on the recruiting process, starting my search the last week of my junior year. By exploring colleges, I felt I was giving up on my World Cup dreams.
I had just finished my first year of FIS, accomplishing a top-5 ranking for my age group in the United States in GS and super-G and a top-10 ranking in SL. Things were looking promising.
Nevertheless, my college counselor encouraged me to consider colleges I would like to attend. I made a list of academically centered schools with a competitive ski team (who am I kidding, it was the other way around).
My first visit was to Middlebury College. I instantly fell in love when I stepped on campus and met the team. I applied and was accepted for the following fall. However, I still thought college would be my backup option if my plans for the World Cup did not work out.
Unfortunately, my senior year was challenging. I experienced various minor injuries and bad luck, which discouraged me.
I decided to take a gap year in Vail, CO, at Ski and Snowboard Club Vail SSCV for both a change of pace and a real shot at making the US Ski Team.
That year, while I didn’t have the success I was hoping for, I found something else entirely. Growing up on the East Coast, ski racing was not as glamorous. I loved it because I was good at it. But out West, I found I was surrounded by people who loved the sport for what it was, not the awards.
I was shocked that my teammates would go free skiing after training when I couldn’t rip my boots off fast enough. While there, I found my love for skiing again and realized that if I wanted to continue, I had to reevaluate my priorities. I concluded that I didn’t want to sacrifice my mental health for the sport, so I enrolled in Middlebury the following fall.
Finding the Love for the Sport
If you had asked me at the end of high school, ‘Would you still be ski racing if you weren’t winning?’ The answer would have been, ‘Not a chance.’ However, in college, I found what I love about the sport and the people who do it. The camaraderie, support, and friendships I built with my teammates and competitors were invaluable. Additionally, learning to balance rigorous academics and athletics taught me resilience, time management, and perseverance like no other.
Ski racing in college gave me a sense of purpose and identity and served as a safety net. The community encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone, offering support even in times of failure.
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COVID-19 Pandemic
Now, my college skiing experience was unique due to the COVID pandemic. My freshman season was cut short, and the following season was canceled. My love for skiing was starting to waver again. I began questioning, ‘Is this worth it? Maybe I should just be done?’ But like many others, I decided to take a semester off from school and moved back to Vail, where I trained with fellow college girls under Kirk Dwyer. During our 20+ runs a day on the expansion at Vail, we were rediscovering our love for the sport. As the pressure of racing each weekend disappeared, the joy returned.
Returning to Middlebury the following year after COVID restrictions were lifted, I experienced my first full year on campus. But as life returned to normal, so did the pressure of racing each weekend. I struggled to be back on the East Coast and was failing to bring my new perspective and joy with me. However, it was different this time. I began to see the bigger picture and realized that in college, my life didn’t have to revolve around skiing anymore; it could simply just be an addition.
Going up to the Middlebury Snowbowl to train was where I could forget about all the other stressors in my life and be present with the task at hand. It finally became a relief rather than a chore.
Unique Aspects of Collegiate Racing
Skiing in college meant the world to me. It wasn’t just about the competition and the thrill of racing; it was about being part of a close-knit community sharing the same deep passion for the sport. A majority of collegiate skiers are at the peak of their careers. They are no longer trying to make their national team; instead, they are simply competing for the fun of it. It was continuously amazing to me the number of people who would show up, brace the cold, endure the mental exhaustion, the fear, the risk of injury, school work in the van, miss out on nights with their friends, and much more; all for the chance of having an average race day at most. Somehow, everyone keeps coming back for more. Ski racing is so unbelievably unique in that way.
Despite skiing being an individual sport, the team aspect in college adds a unique dimension. You might straddle the first gate and have a rough day, but your teammates rip two good runs, and your school still sits in striking distance of a Carnival win. The bad days don’t become so catastrophic anymore. In addition, having friends at school who knew nothing about skiing was refreshing. They didn’t care if I won or didn’t make the second run; we would still do homework in the library as if nothing had happened. This helped me see the bigger picture. Skiing became an escape from the stress of school rather than my entire life.
Photo Credit: Cam Ciccone
Retirement from the Sport
One of the best days of my life was my retirement from ski racing. While it was hard when it ended, I couldn’t have asked for a better conclusion. My final race was the infamous Middlebury Carnival, my home hill, surrounded by friends, family, and the support of the entire Middlebury student body. The atmosphere was electric, and finishing my last race to the cheers of loved ones was the pinnacle of my ski career.
At that moment, I was completely content with everything skiing had given me. Most importantly, I was ready to move to the next chapter of my life because skiing was just a part of me, not the whole.
About the Author: Tatum Coutu
