We will next spotlight Reed Michaud of Fort Kent. He was the 2026 Class B giant slalom state champion and helped his team win the Class B
Alpine state title. We asked him about his thoughts at the start line and his most memorable moment from the season.
1) What were your preparations leading up to the state meet?
My preparations were to continue my training routine and prep my skis. Because the shoutouts for the Maine team were really close to states, I had to do a lot of preparation on the road, which made it difficult.
2) How did you deal with the pressure and emotions that come along with competing in a state meet?
One way that I deal with pressure and emotions on race day is by listening to music and having a good course inspection. Music makes me calm and relaxed so that I can focus on the course and the challenges that come along with it.
3) What was going through your mind at the start?
At the start, I was excited to be there, and I was telling myself to just finish the race so that our team could get a good score, but I also wanted to go fast and get a good time.
4) What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to learning how to ski at a young age and practicing all the time. Staying determined and focused during training is difficult when there are tough conditions.
5) What are your goals/plans for next year?
Next year, my goals are to continue training and racing, and to be able to do that at some bigger mountains to get more experience on different courses and different terrain.
6) What surprised you the most about this season?
I was excited that my team was able to win the state meet as well as get the sportsmanship award. I was also surprised and excited about my performance at the Eastern High School competition.
7) What moment/event will you remember the most from the season?
I will always remember being a part of the Maine team and making new friends. We had a lot of fun on and off the hill, and it was a great experience to be able to be part of that team.
8) What do you like most about Alpine Skiing?
I enjoy the speed and how technical the sport is. There are a lot of factors that go into being successful.
