Sydney Kuder ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.
Following a successful weekend in Sugarbush Mountain, Vermont, winning (and getting a personal best) in one giant slalom race and 2nd U18 overall at the second, Sydney Kuder ’25 is in Aspen for the U18 National Alpine Championships. This is an event where only a certain number of athletes from each region qualify based on a point qualification system, so this achievement is a massive one in the competitive world of alpine skiing. I caught up with Sydney before she left for a brief interview.
Natalie Gaeckle ‘25: What are you most excited/worried about?
Sydney Kuder ‘25: I’m most excited to ski in Colorado again, in really nice, sunny weather, and for the snow conditions. I’m also excited to train before racing and then, of course, for the racing itself because I know it’s going to be really competitive and fun. I’m a little worried because I don’t know that many people out here, but I’m hoping I can make new friends, which is a little scary but new.
Is it your first time in Aspen? And do you think it’s going to be different from Copper?
It is my first time in Aspen. I don’t think it’s going to be that different from Copper, but I definitely think it’s going to be different in the sense that I’m here to race and not just to train. So, I’m going to be kind of in a different mindset the whole time. It’s also different because it’s almost March, and Copper is always like a preseason type of trip.
What is your goal for these races?
Honestly, I don’t really have much of a goal. I kind of just want to experience it. It’s my first time competing at the national level, and I’m just hoping to have a good time. And I don’t really have a set goal. I’m just going to try my best and see what I can do.
What is your pre-race routine or ritual?
I feel like I’ve really gotten good at my skiing routine, and that’s gotten different as seasons have gone on. It’s not too intense, but it’s structured. After I wake up, I like to have a good breakfast, and I always have a cup of coffee to wake myself up. Then I’ll do my warmup in the lodge, and after I’ll go out to inspect and then take one to two free runs. My number of runs depends on how long the chairlift is, how much time I have between the race runs, and how long the trail is in general. And then, once I’m done with that, I go back inside, and I eat a lot of candy because it helps me get quick sugar and energy, and it helps me feel better overall before my race. Then, when I go for my run, I like to have my air pods in to hone myself in and get locked in at the top. I’ll also visualize the course a lot after inspection and before I run. And then at the top, I do my like activation, like my previous warm up/stretches, have some good, positive self-talk, and finally I send it.
Was this a goal of yours this season?
This was definitely a goal of my season. I’m happy that I accomplished it and that I’m able to be in Aspen this year.
