Ski racer Tory Adams ’23 savors the view from the top
Tory Adams ’23 topped the podium at the NEPSAC championship in February.
Skiing has been a lifelong passion for Tory Adams ’23, who first hit the slopes at 5 years old and began ski racing at 13. At Concord Academy, she reached peak performance as part of the varsity Alpine ski team, which has dominated the Central Massachusetts Ski League (CMSL).
This year, in addition to the team’s CMSL championship, Tory took home the CMSL overall girls individual championship for the third time. The girls Alpine ski team also placed in the top five at the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) championship, with Tory earning her third individual NEPSAC championship (two in slalom and one in giant slalom).
Persistence and consistency were Tory’s guiding principles. “I loved practicing in the early morning. Nothing beats going up to the top of the mountain, watching the sunrise, and feeling the wind in your hair,” she says. “I’d go up with one or two goals I wanted to work on. Sometimes changes take a while to show up in your final race time. Slowly and surely, you get better.”
Her coaches John McGarry P’22 ’23 and Peter Jennings P’20 ’21 ’25 mentored her every step of the way—from Wachusett Mountain ski runs to strength training and video analysis on campus. On race days, Tory remained centered.
“I did my best to do what I did in practice,” she says. “A competition can last for hours, but you only ski for a minute and a half. You have to maintain focus while also letting yourself relax and have fun with teammates.”
Tory developed her leadership skills as a co-captain of the varsity Alpine ski and varsity soccer teams. “Tory has always been very generous with sharing her vast ski racing knowledge, experience, and expertise with her teammates,” McGarry says. “She has an easygoing way of peer coaching, and her daily work ethic in the gates sets an impressive example.”
The team’s strong bond has been the key to its success. “The girls team was loaded with enthusiasm and support for each other,” McGarry says. “Our results spanned the entire league, from Tory taking the top spot down to some of our 9th graders learning how to race for the first time this season.” He explains that high school ski racing allows students to score points both for themselves and their teams: “Everyone contributed to the group victory this season.”
For Tory, one sport will never be enough. Next year, she plans to attend Bates College and join its Division III golf team while continuing to ski and play soccer recreationally.
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