3.15 - [RELEASE] USCSA 43rd Annual Collegiate National Championships Event Recap

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jay Moyer

jmoyer@uscsa.org 

UNITED STATES COLLEGIATE SKI AND SNOWBOARD ASSOCIATION HOSTS 43rd ANNUAL U.S. COLLEGIATE SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS^TM

LAKE PLACID, New York. – MARCH 15th, 2022.  The U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA) concluded the week of competition for its Collegiate National Championships Saturday with the men’s and women’s Dual Alpine Slalom, men’s and women’s Snowboard Alpine GIant Slalom, and the Nordic Freestyle Team Relay. Racers competed during a bomb cyclone which brought wind and snow throughout the day.

552 Collegiate athletes representing 57 colleges and universities competed at the 2022 USCSA Collegiate National Championships^TM. This included alpine, snowboard, freeski, and nordic teams which qualified through their regional championships. Events included Alpine Giant Slalom, Alpine Slalom, Dual Slalom, Nordic Sprints, Nordic Relays, Nordic Distance, Slopestyle, Skier Cross, Snowboard Cross, Rail Jam, Snowboard Slalom, and Snowboard Giant Slalom. For a complete schedule of events, news, and results please go to the official USCSA website at www.uscsa.org. To view our video broadcast archives from our 2019 Championships, visit www.uscsa.com/broadcast.html. Photos of all events are available online at uscsa.com/general-info 

Nordic skiers finished their week of competition at Mount Van Hoevenberg with the Classic Team Relay. On the men’s side, Paul Smith College’s team composed of Gus Whitcomb, Logan Jensen, and Aidan Ripp took home the championship. The women’s championship was won by St. Olaf’s team of Lily Hubanks, Julia Everest, and Erica Meyers. For the women’s overall combined team awards, encompassing all Nordic events that took place during the Championship week, St Olaf College took home first place followed by Paul Smith’s College in second and the University of Wyoming in third. On the men’s side, Paul Smith’s College took home the team combined Championship, followed by the University of Wyoming in second and Clarkson University in third. Aiden Ripp from Paul Smith’s College won the combined individual Championship for men and Erica Meyers won the Championship for the women.

Alpine skiers competed in their first Dual Slalom since 2019 in exciting racing down Drapers Drop. Both the men’s and women’s Alpine Ski teams from Sierra Nevada University took home first place, complinting their full sweep of Alpine Ski team Championships at this year’s National Championships. The men and women from Rocky Mountain College both won second, while both men’s and women’s teams from Castleton University also won third. “The dual slalom races are always fun to watch and participate in,” said Castleton University Head Alpine Coach Chris Eder. “The head-to-head format is so exciting to watch, as anything can happen. It is the ultimate team ski racing event. We win and lose as a team. When one of our student-athletes came up short in their heat, other teammates came through to help us advance. I was so proud to see how well our women’s team and men’s team worked together  and supported each other to each earn those third place podium spots. Once again, hats off to all the volunteers, Whiteface, NYSEF, and of course, the crew from USCSA for hosting a great event; not just on Saturday, but the entire week. It takes months and countless hours to plan and pull off a week of national championship ski racing. During a pandemic, USCSA made it look easy and I’m sure it wasn’t!”

For the week, Sierra Nevada University won combined National Championships for both the men and women, while Rocky Mountain College took home second for both men and women with Babson College also taking home third for men and women. After winning their combined Championships, Sierra Nevada University Head Alpine Coach said, “I couldn't be more proud of this group of skiers! All week they continued to show their best skiing. I am proud to be their coach, I am also thrilled for them to earn the victory of all titles at our last USCSA National Champs. Eagles have an outstanding history, and I'm happy that we departed in such a meaningful way for us!” Andreas Unhjem Smith and Misel Marovt, both from Sierra Nevada University, won the individual overall combined championships for men and women, respectively. 

Snowboard Alpine racers finished off their week of competition with a Snowboard Giant Slalom. Taking home both the men’s and women’s team championships in the event was Lees-McRae College. “Ever since my first visit to Lake Placid for the 2016 USCSA Nationals I dreamed of having Boss Hawg announce Lees-McRae College as National Champions,” said Lees-McRae College Head Coach Aaron Maas. “This week, I had the pleasure of hearing him say that several times. These student-athletes work hard all season to prepare for their chance to compete at the highest level. Thanks to the USCSA, NYSEF and White Face Mountain Resort for giving them the venue to do just that. You may never know what the weather is going to provide, but you can count on a great event organized by great people.”

For the week, Sierra Nevada University’s men’s and women’s teams won the combined Alpine and Freestyle Snowboard National Championships. For Freeski, the University of Colorado at Boulder won the team combined Championship for the men and Rocky Mountain College won the team Championship for the women.

Teams began their quest to qualify for the U.S. Collegiate Skiing and Snowboarding National Championships^TM in their local conference competitions, held across 11 conferences spanning the nation, this January. Top teams from each conference attend one of 6 regional championships, which decide who ultimately qualifies to participate in events at the Collegiate National Championship. 

The USCSA is the sports federation for collegiate team ski racing and snowboarding in America. The USCSA believes that student-athletes of all levels and abilities should have access to quality and exciting venues of competition. USCSA athletes agree that our team orientation fosters a collaborative approach across their collegiate athletic and academic careers, and often this mentality proves indispensable in their adult lives and careers. The organization includes 184 colleges from coast to coast, fielding 5,146 male and female, alpine, freestyle, cross-country, snowboarding and nordic ski jumping athletes in over 300 events annually.

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact jmoyer@uscsa.org

Additional Quotes:

Misel Marovt, Sierra Nevada University, Alpine Female Overall Champion. “I'm absolutely thrilled to end my last nationals back on top where I was four years ago. I couldn't have done it without my new teammates along the way."

Sixtine Piccard, Sierra Nevada University, Alpine Female 3rd Place. "I am proud of my teammates and I am happy that we were able to race one last time as Eagles. Bravo à tous et au revoir"

Jeger Halbjorhus, Sierra Nevada University, Alpine Male Overall 2nd Place. "This was a fascinating experience. I am grateful to have represented the Eagles in all events, and to perform near my best in doing so.”

Attached Pictures: 

Ulrik Rykhus Danielsen, Sierra Nevada University, Men’s Dual Slalom. Photo Credit: John DiGiacomo

Aj Beery, University of Wisconsin Madison, Men’s Snowboard Giant Slalom. Credit: John DiGiacomo

Women’s Nordic Relay. Photo Credit: Brett Miller