When Lindsey Patterson went down with an MCL tear in her knee during a powder puff football game earlier in the school year, she thought her ski season was over before it even started. Doctors initially told her she wouldn’t be able to race this season, but the Cornwall High School senior was determined to get back on the slopes.
“My main goal, after I did it, was just to get back on the mountain, even if I wasn’t racing well,” Patterson said. “It’s my senior year. I didn’t want to let my girls down, my team down. I just wanted to compete and be there for everybody.”
Patterson worked hard and pushed herself, even through the pain. Within a week she was off crutches. She went for physical therapy three times a week and a day before the team’s first practice, she was cleared by her doctor to participate.
“A smile did not leave my face all the way home. I called everyone I could tell.”
Since joining the varsity in eighth grade, Patterson has improved each year, breaking into the top 10 among skiers in the team’s division, however, it took some time for her to return to form following the injury. There was some hesitation as Patterson faced the slopes early on in the season.
“For the first couple of races it [the injury] was in the back of my mind and I did hold back. I kept myself in a good position to win divisions and make sections, but I did hold back trying not to get hurt because I didn’t want to make it worse.”
Patterson found she was falling behind in races and thought she was letting her team down by not giving it her all.
“One race I just went all out and finished fourth instead of seventh or eighth. I was so happy I did that because it made me realize I can trust it [the knee]; I am strong enough.”
Patterson has been skiing since she was three-years-old when her father introduced her and her brothers to the sport. Although he didn’t start skiing until later in life, Patterson’s father taught her to stay focused, to keep pushing and never hold back. His teaching methods might be construed as a bit unorthodox.
“He brought me to the top of one of the hardest courses and he said ‘the only way you’re going to learn is if you go down this one.’ He told me to go so my brothers and I just went. I was a little kid so fear wasn’t a huge problem for me. My brothers were behind me telling me to go.”
Over the years, Patterson has self-taught herself techniques by watching videos.
Patterson began racing in eighth grade when she joined the varsity. She’s competed in the slalom and giant slalom ever since. Of the two, she prefers the latter.
“I like giant slalom because it’s fast-paced and you have to really work hard and be strong. It gets your blood going.”
For the first time in five years, the ski team has won its division and is headed to sections. Having previously beat the teams in both divisions, Patterson is hopeful she and her teammates will qualify for states.
“If we do clean runs, stick together as a team, keep each other up, and do our best, we have a good chance.”
Patterson knows, however, the competition will be greater at the state level and is not expecting victory.
“It would be awesome just to go to states. There are so many phenomenal skiers. Just being able to compete would be fantastic.”
Looking ahead to a career in nursing, Patterson plans to attend Orange County Community College for two years and then hopefully transfer to New Paltz. She won’t be skiing in college, but said there are bar leagues which race through Nastar. She does plan to try out for softball as a walk-on if the school has a team.
Patterson began playing softball in Little League and made the modified team in eighth grade. She played JV for two years before making the varsity team in 11th grade. She’s played outfield, short stop, and has sometimes served as a back-up catcher, but she prefers short stop because it’s fast paced and one has to be quick on their feet.
