Hey team! Thank you so much for this nomination, it really means a lot! This team means the world to me and I really appreciate the opportunity I have been given to lead the team this fall and would love to continue that this winter. Alright, alright enough with the mushy stuff. I’m going to keep it short and simple. As winter captain I will make it my goal, to make sure all of you accomplish your goals this season. If your goal is to make it to nationals I will do everything I can to put you in a position to accomplish that goal. If your goal is to meet new, like minded people then I will help you do just that. No matter what your goal for this season is, I will be there all season doing whatever I can to help you make it a reality. If you give me the chance to be your captain this winter and and I will do everything I can to help you and this team have a great season!

Thank you,

Alex Orcutt

UW Racers! Thank you for nominating me to be your women’s winter captain. I am really excited for this upcoming season and can’t wait to get on the snow with this years team! Also, rumor has it some of you new racers are pretty fast!! For those of you who don’t know me (Emily Duncanson), I am a senior and this will be my fourth season on the team. I have been the women’s winter captain for the last two years and would really enjoy finishing up my college ski-racing career as captain of the team. I have been raised in a skiing family and have 10 years of racing experience. I grew up racing NASTAR recreationally and became more competitive in high school and USSA racing. I have been quite involved with Wisconsin Alpine Racing and have seen it grow together each year. I am also the Hoofers Ski and Snowboard Club representative for all of Hoofers which is a great liaison to our team. Through the years I have dedicated a lot of time to training, practicing, and racing, so I feel like I have a lot to offer to this team. For me, the ski team has been the highlight of my college career. I pretty much consider it my family and would like the opportunity to help create this experience for you too! A major aspect of a being a captain is dealing with issues both related and unrelated to ski racing. I strive to be available, approachable and am willing to listen. I have the leadership skills to lead the team on and off the snow. On the snow some of the captain’s responsibilities are to ensure the team benefits from inspection on race days, help make practices run smoother and make sure they are beneficial for everyone. Since this is my 4th year on the team I know the ins and outs of the team and what organization and planning needs to happen in order for the team to be successful. We have many new members this year so I believe my experience can be especially beneficial. As an upperclassman I believe it is my responsibility to ensure the continuation of our strengths including high performance on and off the slopes and, of course, the pink race suit! We all have different reasons for joining the team and different goals, hopes and aspirations for the season. At the heart of these desires should be the goal of having fun while skiing your best, because if you aren’t having fun then there isn’t much reason to be doing it. Beyond having fun, I think the size and diversity of our team mandates multiple definitions of a successful season and the setting of a variety of goals. There need to be team goals as well as individual goals. For the top skiers I think the focus should be on ski racing, going fast, winning, and hopefully achieving the team goal of Nationals. I would love nothing more than to have the opportunity to help lead this team to Nationals for a second time. Two years ago the women’s team went Nationals in Sunday River, Maine. My freshman year I individually qualified and went to Nationals in Winter Park, Colorado. These experiences have shown me what it takes to qualify for Nationals. Granted, Nationals is a BIG goal and I know everyone isn’t focused on it right now, but everything we do now should build up to it. I realize that not everyone has the goal of Nationals. For others, the goal should include improving your skiing, becoming a better racer, and doing your best. I want to help you achieve your goals no matter what they are. In the past I have had the most fun watching and helping those who are new to ski racing. I can guarantee you that this season I will personally help every racer the best to my ability. It is up to each person to decide what they ultimately want to obtain from the upcoming season but a universal goal should be having fun while enjoying skiing and being as good as we can possibly be. A huge factor in making a team of our size run effectively is communication. The captains, directors, board members, and coaches all need to communicate between each other and then extend this communication on to the team. The team should also provide its leadership with feedback. With improved communication the team will run more smoothly, which will ultimately lead to everyone having a more successful and enjoyable experience. Thank you for taking the time to read my captains statement. I would appreciate your vote! As Bode Miller says, “Go Fast, Be Good, Have Fun!” Get ready for formal!! ~Emily Duncanson

Captain Statement November 7, 11 Dear Team, First of all, I’d like to thank you for nominating me for the honor of winter captain for this upcoming ski/snowboard season. This year’s fall dry land season has been an absolute blast and I have extremely enjoyed getting to know new members as well as catching up with team veterans. Nothing would make me happier or prouder than to continue to represent and lead a group of such intelligent, talented, and fun badgers into the winter season. One of my main goals for this year’s season is to channel the positive, unique energy that stems from our team’s close-knit relationship into the perusal of improvement individually as well as within the team unit. Nationals anyone? I say; hell yes! As captain for this winter season, I will uphold my standard of attendance just as I have done in the past, not as a requirement, but purely for the fact that I love ski racing and spending time with the team. I have been skiing since the age of 2 years old and racing since 7 and have loved every second of my time on the snow. I enjoy sharing my skill set and knowledge with my fellow team members and I feel I have a wealth of experience to offer. In fact, I thrive off of the opportunity to support and offer up my expertise to my team not only as a racer but as a fellow student and human being as well. Whether it’s that stubborn outside ski that keeps slipping from your control, the best exercises and foods to improve your sexy skier physique, or the best way to make hot cocoa and dry your ski socks after a nippy practice, I am always more than happy to share my expertise. Combined with my high school days, I have served my teams as captain for a total of 5 seasons. I take pride in this feat and attribute it to my strength as a leader, profound love of the sport, and the passion with which I pursue individual and team improvement, while building our special team bond. Thank you again for nominating me for the honor of winter captain. I am so very grateful to be a part of this team and cannot wait to get on skis! I have a great feeling about the success of our fast-approaching season! Have a great day! On Wisconsin!

Sincerely, Becca