It is not often that you will find someone who excels in both golf and skiing. One is slow, thoughtful and mentally demanding while the other is fast and physically demanding.
However, sophomore Lindsay Cone has managed to become a Division I athlete for both sports, competing on both the golf team and the ski team for DU.
Despite the overall difference in the two sports, Cone attributes much of her success as a skier to the things that she has learned from golf especially on the mental side.
“Golf has helped me a lot when it comes to my skiing,” Cone said. “Much of my mental toughness has come from the game of golf due to how it is often times very frustrating.”
Being a two-sport athlete is time demanding.
“Having to play golf for four hours and the focus that goes with that has made Lindsay extremely mentally strong,” said head coach Andy LeRoy. “She brings a strength that I am hoping will be shared by everybody on the team.”
Coming in this year as a transfer from St. Lawrence University in New York, Cone prefers DU.
“The location of the school is awesome with the mountains being right there, Cone said. “And the people who make up the school as well as the ski program are great.”
She arrived at DU after winning an individual NCAA championship in giant slalom in 2009, on the St. Lawrence team.
“In addition to great talent Lindsay brings both great work ethic and experience to our team,” LeRoy said.
At Denver, Cone feels she has an opportunity for a team national title, something she hasn’t achieved. She is not willing to settle for just that; she wants to continue winning more NCAA championships in the individual fields.
“There is always room for improvement, no matter what level you get to,” Cone said.
A very difficult part of being a member of the ski team are the demanding hours and the long traveling distances for practices and competitions, according to Cone. The time it takes to commute to practice requires the team to leave school at 7 a.m. nearly every morning. The team usually practices at Winter Park ski area
Cone has grown use to the long distance traveling since she arrived in Denver from her hometown of Killington, Vt.
Although she has only participated in only one golf event since her arrival, Cone is still juggling two Division I sports programs and academics.
“It is a really hard schedule, but all the teachers are really supportive and being able to ski at the top level makes it all worth it,” Cone said.
Despite her previous success, LeRoy says the best for Cone lies ahead and that she has the potential to reach a whole new level in the next two seasons.
“If she continues this hard work mixed with her natural talent and love for both sports, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that she will be one of the best our school has ever seen,” LeRoy said.
