Hop into Winter Fun: 2028 Athletes Try Their Skills on the Bunny Hill!

Featured in the 2025 Winter Carnival Edition.

For first-year students, especially those from warmer places, New England winters can feel overwhelming. But if you’re willing to embrace the chill, Hanover’s winter offers exciting opportunities to explore new activities like skiing and ice skating.

Joy Utech, a freshman, is diving into winter sports with beginner ski lessons at the Dartmouth Skiway. After learning to ski as a child, she decided to give it another shot this winter. The stunning landscape of New Hampshire was a major draw for her.

“Dartmouth is lucky to be in such a beautiful spot,” Joy explained. “I want to make the most of living in this rural area while I can.”

For some students, these winter activities serve a practical purpose. Participating in skiing or snowboarding classes can help them earn credits for physical education requirements. Hannah Hawkes, another freshman in ski lessons, shared that earning PE credit and having a friend join her were key motivators for her to hit the slopes.

“Using ski lessons for credit was part of it,” Hannah said. “But it was great to have a friend signing up too.” She also sees skiing as a fun way to socialize.

Leila Uwaydah, who chose ice skating for her winter activity, echoed this sentiment. She wanted to meet new people while learning a skill. “Having friends in the class makes learning more enjoyable,” Leila said. “Now I have something to look forward to on Tuesdays and Thursdays.”

As with any sport, starting something new can be tough. Beginners face physical and mental challenges, and it takes time to get used to the cold and the gear. For Hannah, just getting used to wearing skis was tricky. “I had to learn how to balance with those skis on,” she explained.

Joy added, “When I first started, I struggled with turning left and kept falling.” Even with these challenges, she believes that practice will lead to improvement.

Leila has already seen her ice skating skills improve noticeably in just a few weeks. “The basics feel easier now,” she shared. “I can go from point A to point B without falling as much.”

While some freshmen are just starting out, others have enough experience to teach. Kate Leigh-Manuell, a ski instructor for a beginner class, wants to share her love for skiing with her peers. She sees skiing as an escape from everyday stress.

“Skiing lets you forget your worries and just be in the moment,” Kate said. “I hope to create that same feeling for my students.”