For those hoping 2010 will see a shakeup in NCAA ski racing’s pecking order,
don’t hold your breath: CU returns a team almost entirely intact, and while
Denver lost key men on the alpine side, it added defending national giant slalom champion Lindsay Cone, who transferred from St. Lawrence University
this past summer.
And — just in case the universities from Colorado needed more help — CU
hosts the NCAA championships events at higher-than-mile-high Steamboat
Springs in March.
“Having the championships at altitude is definitely a slight advantage for
us,” says CU nordic coach Bruce Cranmer. “But the real advantage is home
turf in general. Eastern skiers have it when the championships are on that
side of the country, and we’ll have it this year. I think that’s just the way the
pendulum swings.”
The greatest threats to CU and DU might be New Mexico and University
of Alaska Anchorage, finishing third and fourth at the 2009 championships,
respectively. The Lobos boast frightening talent — women and men, nordic
and alpine — and missed second place at last year’s NCAAs by a mere half
point. Alaska is a program on the rise.
“Our 2009 fourth-place finish was the school’s highest ever,” says Alaska’s
alpine coach, Sparky Anderson. “We have some great chemistry with this
team and we’ve set the bar pretty high. I’m excited to see how far we’ll go this
year.”
Alaska’s program director and nordic coach, Trond Flagstad, says the Seawolves’ awesome recruiting class of 2008 has returned to campus more fit
and more motivated than ever. “We’ve also added some depth to the team this
year, especially on the alpine side,” he says. “Our long term goal is beginning to
come together. Last year showed us that we really can compete for the NCAA
championship, and we’re looking to move up the rankings again this year.”
The University of Vermont placed fifth at last year’s Championships and is
EISA’s highest ranking team. “We led NCAAs through the first three days last
year,” says UVM nordic coach Paul Stone, “and we did it with only 10 athletes.
I think we’re much stronger this year, with greater depth on both the men’s
and women’s sides in both sports.”
UVM’s program director and alpine coach Bill Reichelt echoes Stone’s
comments, citing more depth across the spectrum of his team. Reichelt also
touches on the great paradox of succeeding in college ski racing: it’s not necessarily about who’s got the most depth or who had the best regular season. “In
terms of moral and momentum, it’s certainly important to win some carnivals
throughout the regular season — we want to do that, of course,” says Reichelt.
“But we all know when NCAA championships roll around, it’s only your top
12 skiers against everybody else’s top 12 skiers and anything can happen.”
No one knows what Reichelt describes better than Richard Rokos, CU’s program director and alpine coach. “Last year was the year I wish [the champi-
onship] was decided on the overall season performance,” says Rokos, whose
Buffs were the dominant RMISA force a year ago. “But that’s not how it
works. You’re competing with a minimal number of athletes for a maximum
number of points. All it takes is for a little bit of sickness or bad luck, and
your season can end badly.” Rokos adds that though he was disappointed not
to have garnered another NCAA championship last season, his “[team] still
finished second and [wasn’t] that far behind in terms of points.”
“This year we have a couple advantages, including the fact that we are hosting the championships,” says Rokos. “Of course, it may work like that for DU,
too, because [their coach] Andy LeRoy is from there!”
Coaches from last season’s best NCAA programs
introduce their 2010 teams
University of Denver 1st in 2009
Nickname: Pioneers
NCAA Championships: 20 (1954-57, 1961-67, 1969-71, 2000-02, 2005,
2008-09)
Coaches: Andy LeRoy, David Stewart, Aaron Haffey, Hennie Kashiwa
Alpine: “Leading the list of returning athletes on the alpine side is Leif Kris-tian Haugen,” says coach LeRoy. “Leif was a freshman sensation last year and
scored more points at NCAA Championships than any other male athlete
— finishing second in giant slalom and third in slalom. We’ve also added
reigning giant slalom champion Lindsay Cone to our team, who transferred
from St. Lawrence University this summer. Another notable recruit is Jennie
Van Wagner from the U.S. Ski Team. Captain Molly Ryan, a giant slalom All-American in 2008, also returns for her senior year.”
Nordic: “We graduated a couple of our top skiers, including NCAA first-team
All-American Annelise Bailey,” says coach Stewart. “But the big story for us, of
course, is the return of Antje Maempel, who was individual champion in both
events at NCAA Championships last year. We also welcome back a top NCAA
qualifier in Kate Dolan, as well as first-team All-American Harald Lovenski-old, who finished fourth in the men’s 20K free at NCAA Championships last
year.”
University of Colorado 2nd in 2009
Nickname: Buffaloes
NCAA Championships: 16 (1959-60, 1972-79,1982,1991,1995, 1998-99,
2006)
Coaches: Richard Rokos, Bruce Cranmer, Jana Weinberger
Alpine: “We graduated Lisa Perricone,” says coach Rokos, “but we’ve brought
in former Swedish national team member Sara Hjertman and American Erika Ghent, who we think will do a great job filling Lisa’s shoes. The remainder
of the team is completely intact, and we’re returning just about everyone who
Lex Treinen, UAA.
Stephanie Demetz, UNM.
