There are many snowsports competition options to consider when selecting a college or university.

​Let USCSA be one of them.
Each pathway to snowsports competition after high school offers a unique opportunity for athletes. The collective goal of all organizations is to see the athlete continue with snowsports and find the option that fits them best.

Understanding Collegiate Competition Options

Snowsports Pathways Overview Deck
An overview of pathways available for alpine skiing and snowboarding, Nordic skiing, freestyle and snowboarding, including information on US National Ski and Snowboard Teams, USASA, NCAA Varsity and USCSA Club & Varsity.
U.S. Ski & Snowboard Collegiate Webinar
In the fall of 2023, US Ski & Snowboard hosted a webinar alongside the USCSA to further discuss pathway options after high school. Click on the links below to listen to the recording's from the "Pathways After High School" webinar.

Main Session
Alpine Break-Out Session
Nordic Break-Out Session
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*The Snowboard & Freeski break-out session experienced technical difficulties and did not record their break-out session.

Snowsports Pathways After High School

There are numerous post high school competition options, which can create several questions about specific institutions, teams and competitive regions or conferences-- both for NCAA and USCSA. The following guides and links throughout this page were built through a collaboration among USCSA, US Ski & Snowboard and interested parents to understand options for post-secondary school skiing and snowboarding.

If you are an athlete, or the parent of an athlete, who is unsure of which pathway fits best for you, we encourage you to review the information on our site here, talk to your current coach, talk to your prospective college team, reach out directly to the institution, reach out to USCSA Conference Coordinators, and/or reach out to the USCSA National office. All of these contacts can help guide you in finding the best pathway for your next step in snowsports competition. ​​
Our friends at Sugar Bowl Academy developed this educational video about options for high school students looking to compete at the collegiate level.

Detailed Information Broken Down by Discipline 

Alpine Skiing Collegiate Pathways

​Includes specific information for Alpine Skiing with U.S. Ski & Snowboard, NCAA and USCSA broken down by scope, expectation, typical points, cost/fees/aid, Training/Racing/ Race Season, Race Venues, average athlete age and more.
Nordic Skiing Collegiate Pathways

Includes specific information for Nordic Skiing with U.S. Ski & Snowboard, NCAA and USCSA broken down by scope, expectation, typical points, cost/fees/aid, Training/Racing/ Race Season, Race Venues, average athlete age and more.
2024 USCSA Nordic Teams Guide

Through a collaborative effort among the USCSA's Nordic teams across the Eastern, Midwest and Western Regions, the first-ever USCSA Nordic Teams Guide is now available. 

This guide is a comprehensive description of college-level opportunities to participate in Nordic skiing through the USCSA. Included are descriptions of each participating team, collected from student-athletes and coaches across the country.

Review this guide to help you make a college application decision this year! Whether you’re seeking a varsity-level program or a community-oriented club, we have a USCSA Nordic ski team that’s right for you.

USCSA Offers Both a High Level of Competition and Club Style Teams
If, after reviewing the information above, USCSA seems like a good fit for you, the next step is to determine how to select your USCSA team or institution. There are many ways to search for a USCSA team including competitive level, location and school.

​See the infographic below on how best to find a team that best fits. ​

Helpful USCSA Links

USCSA Team Results from Previous Years
USCSA Conferences and Regions
USCSA Member Institutions
USCSA Disciplines 
Start a Team

If you still have questions about our organization or the support we offer, fill out a contact form-- we'd love to hear from you!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the pathways to compete in snowsports while attending college?
  • Depending on the sport, there are several different options: 
    • The NCAA sponsors a National Championship in Alpine and Nordic. Teams that compete for this Championship are referred to as "NCAA level" teams, and include NCAA Division I, II, and III institutions which compete in either the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association, the Central Collegiate Ski Association, or the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association. These teams are very competitive and selective: athletes joining these teams generally will have about 25 – 100 FIS points for Alpine or 75-150 FIS points for Nordic. There are about 30 institutions across the country that are NCAA level teams. All NCAA level teams are varsity and include school funding support with some schools also offering athletic scholarships.
    • USCSA sponsors collegiate competitions in Alpine, Nordic, Freeski, and Snowboard, and awards National Championships in each discipline. There are many options for participating in USCSA with 170+ member institution teams, 5,000+ athletes, 11 conferences and 6 regions. USCSA offers both varsity teams with school funding and paid coaching staff along with club style teams with volunteer staff. Some USCSA schools also offer athletic scholarships. Athletes range from highly competitive individuals with National Team experience to some who have never competed before college. A big difference between USCSA and other snowsport competitions is the team aspect; USCSA athletes compete as a team against other college teams and typically field five or more athletes with the top three performances used for the team's score. 
    • Options also exist to compete outside of college by competing in US Ski and Snowboard and the US Snowboard & Freeski Association. Competitions in these leagues are done at an individual level and individuals do not represent their college at them. Some NCAA and USCSA athletes will also choose to individual compete in these races while attending college.
  • For more information about each pathway, please see the Alpine Collegiate Pathways or Nordic Collegiate Pathways documents (A Snowboard/Freeski document is being created)
I PARTICIPATED IN SNOWSPORTS COMPETITION IN HIGH SCHOOL; IS the USCSA A GOOD OPTION FOR ME?
Local teams, mountain race series, regional high school events, former U.S. Ski & Snowboard competitors – whatever your path was previously, USCSA has options for continuing snowsports competition in college. With over 140 institutions with teams in 11 conferences and 6 regions, USCSA offers varsity and club style teams that can be as competitive or as fun as you'd like!
I NEVER PARTICIPATED IN SNOWSPORTS COMPETITION IN HIGH SCHOOL; IS the USCSA A GOOD OPTION FOR ME? ​
Even if you never competed previously in snowsports, USCSA offers options for every level from varsity to club style teams. It is a fun way to connect with others interested in skiing and snowboarding and meet new people at your institution and in your region. Because USCSA is a team event, which is very different from other snowsports competitions, it creates connections that go beyond traditional snowsports teams.
I HAVE NEVER SKIED OR SNOWBOARDED BEFORE. CAN I JOIN THE USCSA?
Yes! ​USCSA accepts every level of skier and rider. If you have never skied or snowboarded before but are interested in participating in snowsports during college, joining USCSA is a great option.
What is different about the USCSA compared to other organizations (NCAA, USASA, US Ski & Snowboard)?
The USCSA provides a unique experience, in that the entire focus is on the TEAM aspect of competition. Teams compete, score, and qualify truly as a team, and this provides a very unique experience in sports that are more traditionally focused on individual accomplishments. We also are inclusive of all ability levels in all Conferences, with more competitive teams and institutions moving on to Regional and National Championships.
I am a high school student and regularly compete in US Ski & Snowboard / USASA Events. How do I make the USCSA part of my college search?
Each USCSA member institution is different. Reviewing the information on this page is a good place to start! Take a look at the “How to Find Your USCSA Team” graphic for a guide on next steps to selecting a school that fits you best.
What are FIS Points?
The FIS (Fédération Internationale de Ski) point system is a rating system used in alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, cross-country skiing, and ski jumping to evaluate the performance of individual athletes in various skiing events. The system is designed to provide an objective measurement of an athlete's performance and to allow for measured competition between skiers of different abilities.

​In the FIS point system, each athlete earns points based on their performance in specific races. The lower the FIS points, the better the athlete's performance. To establish a reference point, top-level athletes are assigned zero FIS points and other athletes' points are then calculated relative to the reference athlete's performance. FIS points are calculated separately for different disciplines (e.g., slalom, giant slalom, downhill) and gender (men and women) and athletes have FIS point profiles, which represent their point totals in different disciplines. These profiles are used to determine an athlete's eligibility for certain races, such as World Cup events and international championships.
I am starting my college search and want to learn more about which schools in the U.S. have USCSA teams, which schools receive funding and which schools have coaches. Where can I find this information? ​
We post information on our website about all teams and institutions that register with us each year. You’ll find data from the most recent membership year on our Member Institutions page, along with various data points to help you with your college search.
How can I find out where specific events, like rail jam or slopestyle, are held across the country?
Please review our Schedules & Results page to see which events take place in each conference across the country each year. You can also reach out to specific Conference Coordinators to learn more about events in their conference.