Slinger, WI – This race series, the Western Nationals in Wyoming, was the perfect way to end this season, a perfect mix between fun and seriousness.
The first day of racing was Giant Slalom, which was a really nice way to start the series, because for me, GS is a less stressful event. My first run I skied tentatively because I hadn’t had a great training day and just wanted to have fun and finish.
I placed 58th in the first run, with a time of 50.14. My second run I felt much more confident in my skiing and placed 37th, with a time of 47.39. In the end, I placed 42nd with a combined time of 1:37.59 seconds.
After a day off, I had the Slalom race. I was incredibly nervous, but slalom is my favorite event, and I knew I could trust all my previous hours and practices on the hill. My first run went pretty well, and I finished with a time of 51.01 seconds, putting me tied with a Team Wisconsin teammate, in the 32nd position.
My second run did not go as well as the first, and I fell near the end of the course. However, I did not need to hike and could continue skiing once I got up. I finished run two in 59th. This put me at 48th overall with a time of 1:47.33 seconds.
There were a total 92 of the top girls from across many states competing in both events. As a team, the Wisconsin girls took 2nd out of 9 states, and as a combined girls’ and boys’ team we took 3rd.
It may not have been my best skiing, but this experience was overall so amazing. I was able to meet so many new people that I can now call friends, and it showed me just how much love I have for this sport. I went out to Nationals wanting to do well but also have fun and I definitely did.
Now, my ski season is over, and I won’t ski again until November when pre-season camps start, and it gets cold again.
Slinger, WI – Grace is on the adventure of a lifetime and filed an update below about the past two days, pre-nationals competition.
The long awaited departure day for Nationals finally arrived Tuesday, with a brutal 4:45 a.m. wake up call. The first flight took my mom and me to Salt Lake City, where we then connected to Jackson Hole and spent the day shopping and getting some good food.
It’s been a busy few days sharpening, waxing and preparing my skis, packing bags, and double and triple checking packing lists.
Today was a training day, where all athletes spent time training both GS and Slalom. After training I explored around Grand Targhee, getting some final laps in before racing GS tomorrow, and Slalom on Saturday.
You can find the live stream at this link.
Slinger, WI – Slinger High School junior Grace Kondrakiewicz is preparing for the competition of a lifetime as she heads to Grand Targhee Resort in Wyoming for the Western Nationals, March 11 – 15. She is the first female Slinger racer to make it to this level since 2017.
Kondrakiewicz, 17, is part of the Slinger-Hartford Alpine Race Team. It’s a club team which participated this month in the Wisconsin interscholastic Alpine Racing Association (WIARA) State Championships. Kondrakiewicz placed 4th and qualified for the Western Nationals Competition in Wyoming.
Her performance not only secured a spot at nationals but also underscored her determination, skill, and relentless work ethic.
The Slinger-Hartford Alpine Race Team, which consists of five talented female racers from Slinger, has had a remarkable season. Competing in slalom, giant slalom (GS), and Super G, they secured a third-place finish in their conference, which paved their way to the state championships.
Kondrakiewicz, who has been skiing since she was four years old and racing since fifth grade, clocked a personal best time of 41 seconds—an outstanding feat in a field of 135 competitors.
Mental preparation and optimal course conditions played a crucial role in her success. Kondrakiewicz emphasized the importance of a hard, well-groomed surface free of ruts, allowing racers to push their limits. “A lot of skiing is mental,” she said. “I kept telling myself and my teammates, ‘You’re strong, you’re determined, and you’re capable.’”
For Kondrakiewicz and her family, the journey to nationals has been a labor of love. Her mother, Amy, recalled a moment from Grace’s freshman year when she was featured on Fox 6 as a “High School Hot Shot.”
During that interview, Grace revealed her ultimate goal: to make it to nationals. “We were sitting on the couch watching, and my husband and I looked at each other and said, ‘She’s never told us that before! But she did it. All the training, the travel, the dedication—it all paid off.”
Kondrakiewicz’s training regimen has been rigorous, including ski camps in Colorado and Montana, strength training, and even ski simulation sessions at Urban Slopes in Pewaukee.
Kondrakiewicz knows preparation is key, from ensuring her skis are waxed for the perfect temperature conditions to maintaining peak physical fitness. “It all has to come together—your equipment, your mind, and your body,” she said.
With nationals on the horizon, Kondrakiewicz is gearing up for the biggest race of her career. While she has never skied at Grand Targhee before, she is ready for the challenge. “I just know it’s going to be big,” she said.
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While racing is top of mind, Kondrakiewicz is also a solid student in the classroom. She carries a 3.8 GPA and was inducted into the National Honor Society in January. “I really like English and art and I’m taking a lot of agriculture science classes,” she said. “I want to go into veterinary dentistry once I’m out of high school.”
With her talent, determination, and the unwavering support of her family and team, Kondrakiewicz is ready to make her mark on the national stage. No matter the outcome, she has already proven herself as one of the top high school alpine racers in the state, and her journey is only just beginning.
