We continue our state champion spotlight series with Cooper Dodge of York. He was the 2025 Class B slalom state champion. We
asked him about his plans for next year and what moment he will remember the most from this season:
1. What were your preparations leading up to the state meet?
2. How did you deal with the pressure and emotions that come along with competing in a state meet?
I had no expectations going into the race; I think that was my biggest advantage, though I didn’t finish either GS run it was definitely a wake up call going into slalom. I trusted my slalom skiing a little bit more, and being familiar with the hill, I just had to focus on myself and throw down 2 fast/clean runs
3. What was going through your mind in the start?
After the GS race, I just needed to come into this race confident in my slalom skiing, and trust my training that led up to this.
4. What do you contribute your success to?
Being surrounded by a lot of good competition
5. What are your goals/plans for next year?
It's my senior season; so the biggest thing is to focus on just having fun and enjoy the opportunity to be back on snow racing under York. I definitely want to focus on being successful though, but with that comes alot of different things, and if I can find the balance between having fun and throwing down fast times its gonna be a good season
6. What surprised you the most about this season?
My ability to bounce back; after having a rough opening race to the season and then having crashes on second runs after being in comfortable spots after the first run, my ability to fight the mental toughness with myself and focus on the next run/race.
7. What moment/event will you remember the most from the season?
Crossing the finish line at states; the crowd was silent and I stood there in the coral waiting to hear my time. I was the last of the top kids down the hill in the 2nd run so I had no idea what the top times were. After the announcer read my time, the crowd just went crazy. That was a highlight of the season
8. What do you like most about Alpine Skiing?
Its unpredictable; anything can happen
9. Anything else you would like to add?
Lets go TEAM MAINE!
