O.K., let me begin with an apology. I have not done a good job keeping LetsGoDU readers up to date on the DU ski team this season. Work (and procrastination) has put me behind the eight ball and we are already into day one of the NCAA Championships in Steamboat – the scene of Denver’s last NCAA ski championship (#24). I nervously followed the team today in their first event from Denver (ugh). The Giant Slalom was completed today and three days remain. I am headed up to Steamboat to provide live coverage on Friday.

In today’s Giant Slalom, the DU women had an outstanding day with freshman star Liv Moritz in 5th, Nora Brand in 7th and Sarah Rask in 9th to place all three DU skiers in the top ten – outstanding! Christian Oliveira finished third for the DU men in Giant Slalom. I was surprised that Trey Seymour finished a bit back in 20th and DU’s Ralph Lessard finished in 21st. Surprisingly, one of our main rivals, CU, had a DNF and no points from one of their three men’s skiers Rider Sarchett. That hurts and, despite it being the Buffs, you don’t want to see that. After day one, Denver sits in third place behind Utah and Colorado. If not for a tie for second and third in the women’s race, DU would be in second place in the team scoring. While too early to call, it looks like a three-horse race.

Let me catch you up on where we are. As many readers know, to win the national championship a university team, comprised of male and female participants, almost always must qualify 3 skiers for each of the disciplines for a total of 12 for a full team. DU did that along with their key western competitors Colorado and Utah, the favorites in my view. The NCAA Alpine events are giant slalom and slalom, which took place today and slalom Friday night, respectively. Nordic events are 7.5k freestyle and 20K classic on Thursday and Saturday respectively.

Many of DU’s skiers also compete on their countries’ national teams, Olympic, junior Olympic and World Cup squads in non-NCAA events during the season so it is rare to have the entire team together until Rocky Mountain Championships and NCAA Nationals. Nonetheless, Denver finished within one point of first-place CU in the regular season standings in the Rocky Mountain Region, ahead of defending national champion Utah.

Keep an eye on the Five Pioneers who were selected to the First Team All-RMISA Team (Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association), with junior Andreas Kirkeng and graduate student Florain Knopf representing men’s Nordic along with today’s Top-10 Giant Slalom scorers senior Nora Brand, freshman Liv Moritz and sophomore Sara Rask of women’s alpine. DU men’s Alpine picked up the other four All-RMISA spots including junior Cooper Cornelius, sophomore Thomas Hoffman and senior Trey Seymourwho were on the Second Team and freshman Christian Soevik (who finished on the Giant Slalom podium today) was named an Honorable Mention. The women’s Nordic disciplines once again pose the biggest question mark for Denver heading into this year’s NCAA Championships. They must secure points or other teams must struggle in the other events for Denver to earn their 25th NCAA team title in skiing.

I’ll be watching tomorrow (and I hope you can follow along, too) with the 10 a.m. men’s 7.5K Freestyle; Interval start (Howelsen Hill Ski Area) and at noon for the Women’s 7.5K Freestyle; Interval start (Howelsen Hill Ski Area). We will have a much better feel for Denver’s chances following the noon race.
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As always, keep your tips up and Go DU!

Photo: Courtesy of Denver Athletic Director Josh Berlo