We will next spotlight Tucker Barnaby of Fryeburg Academy. He was the 2026 Class A slalom state champion. We asked him about what
surprised him this season and what he likes the most about Alpine skiing.
What were your preparations leading up to the state meet?
I trained hard with courses that were much more technical than the courses that I have seen so
that when I got to the state meet the course felt easier.
2) How did you deal with the pressure and emotions that come along with competing in a state meet?
I just thought of it as just another race and tried to not think of it as something super big. I also knew I had a whole team on my side and we would win and lose as a whole team not just me.
3) What was going through your mind at the start?
In the start I was thinking about how I would attack the course and what I needed to to do to get down to the finish. After kicking out of the start I couldn’t tell you what goes through my mind I’m just zoned in on making the next gate.
4) What do you contribute your success to?
The thing that made me the skier I am today was good coaching, supportive parents, and so much skiing it’ll make your legs hurt just thinking about it
5) What are your goals/plans for next year?
Next year I will be going off to college where I might continue to ski race but nothing is for sure.
6) What surprised you the most about this season?
How much different it was from the races that I’m use to. I’m use to every person In the race being older then me and being focused on themselves rather then on the teams best interest. Overall it has been way more fun then I could have ever imagined the winning and the losing.
7) What moment/event will you remember the most from the season?
The event that I will always remember is my senior race where all of the seniors dressed up in tank tops and did the race in said shirt. Even though it was cold being with all the other seniors and knowing that we were all cold made it the best part of the year.
8) What do you like most about Alpine Skiing?
The rush of fear mixed with adrenaline as I throw myself down the hill around the gates. I also love that skiing is all about recovering and finding ways to fix the mistakes you may have made because nobody has ever had the perfect race even the person that won made many mistakes they just knew how to fix them the best.
