Joining a new activity is hard. Joining a new activity in a whole different town, however, is even harder, but two determined Powell teens didn’t let that stop them.

Two Powell High School students, junior Melissa Merritt and senior Kenna Jacobsen, took on the challenge and joined the Cody Nordic ski team. 

This past December, Merritt and Jacobsen joined the team for a change of pace from their regular indoor track season. 

“Kenna and I had talked about it for a while,” Merritt said. “I had friends who wanted me to do it… I just decided it would be a good experience and something I’d rather learn now than have to try to learn as an adult.”

This is a new experience for both Powell and Cody schools, as students from Powell ski for Cody. 

“This is our first year [having people from Powell on the team],” Nordic Ski Coach Meggin Becker said. “We have had athletes join our team in the past from Sheridan. That was for 2 years and prior to them establishing their own team.”

When Jacobsen was asked why she joined the team, she expressed similar reasons to Merritt for the switch-up. 

“I didn’t really love the bus rides to Gillette because it was like 10-hour days on a bus,” Jacobsen said. “I really enjoyed my indoor team, but I wanted to try something new and I knew I would be able to learn a new hobby this way.”

One of the first challenges Merritt and Jacobsen faced was having to make the drive from Powell to Cody for practice.

“Obviously, it’s a time commitment to go to Cody for practice… we made it work,” Merritt said. “But honestly, anytime I go to Cody for practice, it’s worth it, and it’s super fun.”

Having never done Nordic skiing before brought about the second challenge of learning a new sport. Our PHS athletes not only learned how to Nordic ski but have been placing. 

“[They have improved by] leaps and bounds,” Becker said. “Melissa has had few recent results in the top 5 in JV. Kenna has been in the top 12 in JV. Melissa has moved up to Varsity. Kenna is keeping up communication in regard to working through an injury.”

Jacobsen, who has been dealing with a lingering injury from track season, had to make the decision to put her body first. 

“I haven’t been able to ski and even when I did compete, I hadn’t been able to practice so I’ve just been competing without practicing,” Jacobsen said. “So I feel like I’m a little behind everyone else.”

Despite Nordic skiing being a common winter sport, the structure of it is not entirely well known. 

“[Nordic] is a discipline of skiing consisting of skate skiing and classic skiing,” Merritt said. “Which are just different kinds [of skiing] and you use different skis.” 

Nordic skiing meets tend to be similar to other racing sports, from a JV and varsity team to having multiple different events. 

“Typically if it’s a two-day meet that’s further away, we go the day before, stay the night, and then the next day we wake up, and go to the ski place,” Jacobsen said. “Usually, the first day is a skate race and they are 5k races. There’s JV and varsity divisions. It’s pretty much like cross country, but for skiing… The next day is a classic race.”

With busy days of skiing and traveling, Merritt and Jacobsen have found a love for Nordic skiing.

“I think being outside [is my favorite part],” Jacobsen said. “It’s helped me learn how to tolerate the cold and appreciate the snow a lot more.”

Merritt holds a similar sentiment.

“It’s mega fun and it’s been an epic experience,” Merritt said. 

Overall the experience has been one to remember for both our PHS skiers and the team.

“I have truly enjoyed having Kenna and Melissa on the team,” Becker said. “They are hard working, bring a positive attitude to the team, a willingness to learn and try new things. [They] definitely fit in great with the team dynamics.”