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  • In Steamboat, a Denver Kind of Day as DU Wins NCAA Championships

    In Steamboat, a Denver Kind of Day as DU Wins NCAA Championships

    The University of Denver celebrates its victory during NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Skiing Championships at Howelsen Hill in Steamboat Springs, Colo. (Photo: Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA via DenverPioneers.com)
    The University of Denver celebrates its victory during NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Skiing Championships at Howelsen Hill in Steamboat Springs, Colo. (Photo: Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA via DenverPioneers.com)

    After the University of Denver (DU) alpine team pulled the Pioneers into the lead on Friday, surpassing Montana State University (MSU) by 15.5 points with one day remaining in the NCAA Skiing Championships, the DU nordic team took that lead and ran with it on Saturday for Denver’s 23rd national skiing title.

    DU won the four-day 2016 championships with 567.5 points, 76 more than the University of Colorado-Boulder in second and 82.5 ahead of University of Utah in third. Colorado (CU) hosted the championships at Howelsen Hill in Steamboat Springs, Colo., with two days of alpine racing interspersed with two days of nordic.

    “Alpine set us up with a lead that we were able to build on, so this was a balanced team win with both alpine and nordic adding almost the same points to the team total,” Denver Head Nordic Coach Dave Stewart said, according to a DU press release. “Alpine has had a dominant season and it was very special to put it all together this week at NCAA’s.”

    The men’s 20-kilometer and women’s 15 k classic mass starts ended the championships on Saturday, with CU sophomore Mads Strøm winning his second NCAA title in as many races at this year’s championships (and third overall in the last three years).

    Denver sophomore Linn Eriksen skied away from the 39-woman pack to win in 54:37.6 minutes, 19.9 seconds ahead of Kati Roivas of the University of New Mexico (UNM). Ane Johnsen (CU) placed third (+21.2) to round out the podium, while Denver had three in the top 12 with Aja Starkey in sixth (+42.9) and Taeler McCrerey in 12th (+1:10.0).

    In the men’s race, Strøm edged Denver’s Moritz Madlener by 1.7 seconds at the finish, winning the 20 k in 49:41.9 and thus becoming the third CU athlete in history (and sixth skier) to win at least three individual NCAA titles, according to a CU press release. Another 17 seconds back, Niklas Persson (Utah) placed third (+18.7). For Madlener, it was his second podium in as many races after placing third in Thursday’s 10 k freestyle.

    “I really had to focus – I’m happy that I had that rest yesterday,” Strøm said of Friday’s off day for nordic. “A lot of things happen when you win a race. A lot of people want to talk to you. I just had to recover a little bit and try to find some good skis again and just have a smart tactic. I just like to stay behind people, let them do the work and finish strong.”

    The 24-year-old Norwegian explained he switched up his strategy when his teammate Petter Reistad chose to double pole.

    “He didn’t use any kicks, so he had to go hard from the start and just try to ski away from people,” Strøm said. “That really helped me out because other teams had to chase him and I could slip in behind and just ski with them until they eventually caught him. I could just stay in a pack and just save as much energy as possible. My skis were really good and on the last lap I saw there were pretty much only three guys left. I knew all of us were pretty good sprinters so I just tried to tire them out a bit all the way to the top.”

    Mads Strøm racing to the first of his two consecutive wins at 2016 NCAA Skiing Championships: Thursday's 10 k freestyle in Steamboat Springs, Colo. Strøm won the men's 20 k classic mass start on Saturday by 1.7 seconds. (Photo: CUBuffs.com)
    Mads Strøm racing to the first of his two consecutive wins at 2016 NCAA Skiing Championships: Thursday’s 10 k freestyle in Steamboat Springs, Colo. Strøm won the men’s 20 k classic mass start on Saturday by 1.7 seconds. (Photo: CUBuffs.com)

    Coming into the final descent, Strøm told himself that second wouldn’t cut it.

    “I said, ‘OK, I’m going to sacrifice everything. Either I go down or I’m just going to gap,’ and I gapped.  I looked back, and I said, ‘OK, just sprint from here. Just go for it,’ ” he said.

    Reistad placed ninth (+1:35.4) as a freshman and the second CU Buff in the top 10. In the women’s race, Colorado had two skiers in the top five, with Johnsen in third and Jesse Knori in fifth (+36.2).

    Contributing to the team win, Denver had three men in the top 13 with Dag Frode Trolleboe in 10th (+1:42.3) and Lars Hannah in 13th (+2:21.3).

    Aside from winning the overall, Denver also had 15 All-Americans, the most of any team this year, according to an NCAA press release. On Saturday, Eriksen and Madlener were named to the women’s and men’s classical first teams, respectively, while Starkey and Trolleboe earned second-team honors.

    “I am so incredibly proud of the young men and women on our team,” Stewart said. “They came into this championship knowing that it would take nothing less than their best to win a title for DU, and they did just that. The conditions were challenging today with rising temperatures through the morning, but everyone brought such composure and focus to the race that I believe the tough conditions worked in our favor.

    “Moritz and Linn have led the team all year and they did it again today,” he added. “Moritz just missed his first individual national title in a close sprint finish, but his two podium performances this week were huge for the team. Linn skied a masterful race, leading from start to finish, breaking away on the last lap to ski to a solo win. Aja had the race of her life in sixth and Dag Frode had his two best races of the season when the team needed him.”

    Stewart added that the championships came during exam week, requiring every member of the team to take their final exams in advance.

    “These guys are truly model student-athletes and it is my pleasure to be able to coach them,” he said. “We are thrilled to be bringing our 23rd national title back to DU! To end the championship with two exceptional nordic performances, with both men and women winning the team score, was the best ending to the five championships wins I have been a part of over the last 10 years. This one tops them all!  To have all six of our nordic athletes earn All-American honors is just incredible. I’m speechless.”

    Results: Men’s 20 k | Women’s 15 k

    Top 10 men (20 k classic mass start)

    1. Mads Strøm (CU) 49:41.9
    2. Moritz Madlener (DU) +1.7
    3. Niklas Persson (UU) +18.7
    4. Ian Torchia (NMU) +40.2
    5. Adam Martin (NMU) +57.8
    6. Eli Hoenig (Williams) +1:01.3
    7. Kevin Bolger (UU) +1:05.5
    8. Jack Hegman (UVM) +1:07.6
    9. Petter Reistad (CU) +1:35.4
    10. Dag Frode Trolleboe (DU) +1:42.3

    Top 10 women (15 k classic mass start)

    1. Linn Eriksen (DU) 54:37.6
    2. Kati Roivas (UNM) +19.9
    3. Ane Johnsen (CU) +21.2
    4. Veronika Mayerhofer (UU) +28.4
    5. Jesse Knori (CU) +36.2
    6. Aja Starkey (DU) +42.9
    7. Nichole Bathe (UAF) +44.5
    8. Emilie Cedervaern (UNM) +44.9
    9. Olivia Amber (Colby) +53.1
    10. Eva Severrus (UNM) +1:02.2

    Thursday, March 10 

    Men’s Freestyle First Team

    1. Mads Stroem, CU

    2. Ian Torchia, NMU

    3. Moritz Madlener, DU

    4. Adam Martin, NMU

    5. Sawyer Kesselheim, MSU

    Second Team

    6. Petter Reistad, CU

    7  Nick Hendrickson, UU

    8. Lars Hannah, DU

    9. Jake Brown, NMU

    10. Jack Hegman, UVM

    Women’s Freestyle First Team

    1. Anika Miller, MSU

    2. Petra Hyncicova, CU

    3. Sloan Storey, UU

    4. Cambria McDermott, MSU

    5. Emilie Cedervaern, UNM

    Second Team

    6. Natalia Müller, UU

    7. Taeler McCrerey, DU

    8. Linn Eriksen, DU

    9. Ane Johnsen, CU

    10. Mary Kate Cirelli, UVM

     

    Saturday, March 12

    Men’s Classical First Team

    1. Mads Strøm, CU

    2. Moritz Madlener, DU

    3. Niklas Persson, UU

    4. Ian Torchia, NMU

    5. Adam Martin, NMU

    Second Team

    6. Eli Hoenig, WIL

    7. Kevin Bolger, UU

    8. Jack Hegman, UVM

    9. Petter Reistad, CU

    10. Dag Frode Trolleboe, DU

    Women’s Classical First Team

    1. Linn Eriksen, DU

    2. Kati Roivas, UNM

    3. Ane Johnsen, CU

    4. Veronika Mayerhofer, UU

    5. Jesse Knori, CU

    Second Team

    6. Aja Starkey, DU

    7. Nichole Bathe, UAF

    8. Emilie Cedervaern, UNM

    9. Olivia Amber, COL

    10. Eva Severrus, UNM

  • Patience Pays Off: Blackhorse-von Jess Wins SuperTour Classic Sprint

    Patience Pays Off: Blackhorse-von Jess Wins SuperTour Classic Sprint

    (Left to right): Sixth place finisher Petter Reistad (University of Colorado-Boulder) fifth place Niklas Persson (University of Utah), third place Tyler Korfield (APU), first place Dakota Blackhorse-von Jess, second place Reese Hanneman (APU), and fourth place Eric Packer (APU) after the men's SuperTour classic sprint on Saturday in Sun Valley, Idaho.
    The men’s SuperTour classic sprint podium on Saturday in Sun Valley, Idaho: (from left to right) sixth-place finisher Petter Reistad (University of Colorado-Boulder), Niklas Persson (University of Utah) in fifth, Tyler Korfield (APU) in third, winner Dakota Blackhorse-von Jess (Bend Endurance Academy), Reese Hanneman (APU) in second, and Eric Packer (APU) in fourth.

    SUN VALLEY, Idaho — Patience and sprinting go hand-in-hand, or so says the men’s SuperTour 1.3-kilometer classic sprint winner, Dakota Blackhorse-von Jess.

    “Being patient can often serve you really well,” said Blackhorse-von Jess (Bend Endurance Academy) during a post-race interview on Saturday on the Lake Creek trails.

    “I learned a lot about how I was feeling, how the course was feeling, and how my skis were feeling in that first quarterfinal. Patience was really the name of the game and I kept it all day,” he explained.

    After placing third in last weekend’s SuperTour skate sprint in West Yellowstone, Mont., both Blackhorse-von Jess and his coach, Ben Husaby believed that the proper composure would put Blackhorse-von Jess back at the top in Sun Valley.

    “The game plan [going into Saturday’s race] was to improve upon last week’s results,” Husaby said.

    “Historically he’s gone out pretty hard in all the rounds, so it was nice to see him work his way through each of his heats from fourth or third place up to the front,” he added. “I think he was confident and he skied really smart all the way through today.”

    Dakota Blackhorse-von Jess (Bend Endurance) (r) moves to the outside to get around David Norris (APU), Tad Elliot (SSCV) and Kevin Bolger (University of Utah) during the men's SuperTour 1.3 k classic sprint on Saturday in Sun Valley, Idaho.
    Dakota Blackhorse-von Jess (Bend Endurance Academy) (r) moves to the outside to get around David Norris (APU), Tad Elliott (SSCV) and Kevin Bolger (University of Utah) during the men’s SuperTour 1.3 k classic sprint quarterfinal on Saturday in Sun Valley, Idaho.

    With confidence and patience, Saturday’s SuperTour classic sprint winner skied through the rounds in the middle of the pack — rather than charging the front.

    Even up until the final 100 meters of his quarterfinal, Blackhorse-von Jess trailed David Norris of Alaska Pacific University (APU) and Kevin Bolger (University of Utah).

    With the pressure on in the finishing straight, Blackhorse-von Jess made his move, stepping out of his lane to ski around Bolger and Norris on the outside.

    The three then lunged for the line, with Blackhorse-von Jess ultimately winning the quarterfinal in 3:05.98, just 0.18 seconds ahead of Bolger and 0.75 seconds ahead of Norris.

    The semifinal played out similarly, as Blackhorse-von Jess sat back while Miles Havlick of the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) and Eric Packer (APU) lead the heat until the final downhill.

    What Blackhorse-von Jess called “phenomenally” fast skis helped him catch Havlick and Packer by the last turn into the finish, where he passed the two — again on the outside — for the semifinal win in 3:04.37, edging Packer by 0.62 seconds and Havlick by 0.78 seconds.

    In another close and stacked semifinal, APU teammates Reese Hanneman and Tyler Kornfield (who would go on to place second and third in the final) lunged for first and second, respectively, with 0.28 seconds separating them. Hanneman won the heat in 3:04.23.

    Taking the opposite tactic of Blackhorse-von Jess, Hanneman led his semifinal from the first climb until he crossed the finish line.

    “I tried to ski at the front and control [the semifinal],” Hanneman explained. “I wanted to pace myself a little bit for the final, because I knew I was going to see Dakota there and I wanted to have a good chance to throw down against him.”

    Reese Hanneman (APU) (l) and Mads Strøm out of the start during their quarter final in the men's SuperTour 1.3 k classic sprint on Saturday in Sun Valley, Idaho.
    Reese Hanneman (APU) (l) and Mads Strøm (University of Colorado-Boulder) out of the start during their quarterfinal in the men’s SuperTour 1.3 k classic sprint on Saturday in Sun Valley, Idaho.

    Though Hanneman’s front-runner tactic differed from Blackhorse-von Jess’s, his belief in the power of patience did not.

    “I classic ski really well if I can keep it relaxed,” Hanneman, 25, said. “So I focused on stretching it out and using the terrain to stride big.”

    Kornfield also found staying calm during Saturday’s rounds helped him to the podium.

    “I like to take it off from the back and see how the field is skiing,” Kornfield, 24, said. “I start a little slower and pick my way up as the course goes on.”

    Also advancing to the final from Hanneman and Kornfield’s fast semifinal were two lucky losers, Petter Reistad (University of Colorado-Boulder), who was 0.37 seconds back in third and Niklas Persson (University of Utah), 0.52 seconds back in fourth.

    Despite the stacked sprint finalists toeing the line, Blackhorse-von Jess, 29, managed to maintain his winning composure through Saturday’s final.

    After the gun, he positioned himself in third behind Packer and Hanneman  until the top of the last hill. Blackhorse-von Jess then maneuvered into a tuck behind Hanneman for the final downhill, and once more took the outside corner for the overall win in 3:00.45.

    Hanneman finished 1.13 seconds later in second and Kornfield was 4.11 seconds behind Blackhorse-von Jess in third. 

    Rounding out the final was Packer in fourth (+6.02), Persson in fifth (+9.06), and Reistad in sixth (+35.21).

    With his first SuperTour win of the season under his belt, Blackhorse-von Jess said he would continue tapping away at other season race goals.

    “What I’d really like to do is get back in the rounds at the World Cup and have some success,” he said. “If I could bring this racing there, that’s the dream of being a ski racer.”

    Results

  • 2015 NCAA Preview: Collegiate Championships Return to Lake Placid After 33 Years

    2015 NCAA Preview: Collegiate Championships Return to Lake Placid After 33 Years

    The men's podium in the 20 k freestyle mass start at the 2014 NCAA Championships in Soldier Hollow. (Photo: http://bertboyer.zenfolio.com) All proceeds from photo sales will be directly donated to NNF.
    The men’s podium in the 20 k freestyle mass start at the 2014 NCAA Championships in Soldier Hollow. (Photo: http://bertboyer.zenfolio.com) All proceeds from photo sales will be directly donated to NNF.

    LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — Come Wednesday, the 148 best collegiate skiers in the U.S. will descend upon Lake Placid for the 2015 NCAA Skiing Championships. Hosted by St. Lawrence University, NCAA’s will serve as the premier collegiate races of the season as skiers aim for both individual and team success. The last time Lake Placid hosted the Championships was 33 years ago in 1982, when the national races were only for men.

    The nordic portion of NCAA’s will take place on the trails of the Mt. Van Hoevenberg, the site of the cross-country events in the 1980 Olympic games. The first day of competition on Wednesday will comprise of the 5- and 10-kilometer women’s and men’s freestyle interval starts, while Friday will feature the 15/20 k classic mass starts. Conditions should be pristine in the Adirondacks as recent weather has provided ample snow and below average temperatures.

    The 2015 NCAA Championships will have similar team favorites in 2014. At last year’s championships in Park City, Utah, the University of Denver dominated the nordic races to win the overall team title. With several departures from the Pioneers’ squad, however, other schools from the west and east will look to capture the trophy.

    The University of Colorado enters the NCAA’s as the top-ranked team from the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association (RMISA). The Buffs earned the most combined points throughout the season and were recently crowned the RMISA regional champions. If that wasn’t enough to boost their pre-championships confidence, their history in the east certainly will. Colorado has won the last two national collegiate titles in the east in 2011 and 2013.

    Utah and Denver followed close behind in the 2015 RIMSA points rankings and will likely be Colorado’s top competition in New York, while the University of Vermont will look to extend its Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association (EISA) dominance to the national stage. The last time Vermont won the NCAA team title was in 2012 in Bozeman, Mont.

    University of New Hampshire's Annika Taylor races in the 2013 NCAA Championships.
    University of New Hampshire’s Annika Taylor races in the 2013 NCAA Championships.

    The East:

    If there are two skiers from the EISA to know before the start of NCAA’s, they are Middlebury College’s Heather Mooney and University of New Hampshire’s Annika Taylor.

    With five wins apiece in the 2014/2015 season, Mooney and Taylor have shut out the rest of the eastern competition from the top of the podium. While their fight for eastern dominance will continue in Lake Placid, it remains to be seen how they will match up with the western and central women.

    The Middlebury College women’s nordic team has qualified a full team for the first time in many years, including Mooney, Kelsey Phinney and Stella Holt. The trio has won many women’s nordic competitions throughout the season and will look to do the same in Lake Placid. If the recent EISA Regional Championships results are any indication — where Mooney and Phinney finished second and third, respectively, in the 15 k classic mass start — the Panthers are well on their way to their goal.

    Patrick Caldwell finishes the men's 15 k freestyle in fourth place at the 2015 Cross Country Championships in Houghton, Michigan.
    Paddy Caldwell (Dartmouth College) finishes the men’s 15 k freestyle in fourth place at the 2015 Cross Country Championships in Houghton, Michigan.

    If the eastern women have been defined by two individuals, the region’s men are characterized by dueling schools — Vermont and Dartmouth. The Vermont trio of Rogan Brown, Jørgen Grav and Jack Hegman ended the eastern season ranked second, third and sixth, while Paddy Caldwell, Fabian Stocek and Silas Talbot took the first, fourth, and fifth spots.

    Caldwell, who spent a large chunk of the season in Europe at the U23 World Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan, enters as one of the favorites at NCAA’s. Last year, his best finish was fifth in the 20 k freestyle mass start. Talbot’s best finish at 2014 NCAA’s was 11th in the 20 k freestyle.

    Brown’s best finish at the same championships was 13th in the 20 k freestyle, while Grav’s was 20th in the 10 k classic.

    The West:

    Rune Malo Ødegård of CU races to first in the 10 k individual classic at the 2014 NCAA Championships in Soldier Hollow. (Photo: http://bertboyer.zenfolio.com) All proceeds from photo sales will be directly donated to NNF.
    Rune Malo Ødegård of CU races to first in the 10 k individual classic at the 2014 NCAA Championships in Soldier Hollow. (Photo: http://bertboyer.zenfolio.com) All proceeds from photo sales will be directly donated to NNF.

    If Caldwell wants to step atop the NCAA podium, he’ll have to overcome the RMISA frontrunners from the University of Colorado, Rune Malo Ødegård and Mads Ek Strøm. With the exception of one race, the two have alternated on the top rungs of the 2014/2015 RIMSA podium in every single competition. By the end of the regular season, Ødegård won five of 10 races while Strøm won four.

    Ødegård is no stranger to NCAA’s as the Norwegian won two national titles in 2013 and 2014. His wins made NCAA history, as he is the first collegiate skier to repeat as an individual national championship in the classic discipline. Strøm earned his national title in the 20 k freestyle mass start in 2014.

    While the two Buffs are the RMISA favorites, there are several other standouts to watch in this week’s races. German Moritz Madlener of DU and enters Lake Placid as the third-ranked westerner after earning bronze in four western qualifiers. The University of Utah’s Niklas Persson is another potential top finisher. The Ute finished third at 2014 NCAA’s in the 10 k classic. Mats Rudin Resaland of the University of New Mexico is also another top contender, and will look to improve on his bronze from last year’s 20 k freestyle.

    The University of New Mexico’s Emilie Cedervarn is the top-ranked western woman after winning the last four RMISA races of the season. The Utes’ Veronika Mayerhofer is close behind for total wins in the west with three. Denver’s Sylvia Nordskar will look to repeat her podium performances from 2014 NCAA’s where she placed second and third. The Norwegian only raced the first four RMISA races this season. She won both the races in the Utah qualifiers and placed first and second at the Colorado invite before taking a six-race hiatus.

    Other skiers to watch from the West are the Buffs’ Petra Hyncincova and the Utes’ Sloan Storey.

    Central:

    Kyle Bratrud of Northern Michigan University racing to 52nd in the men's 15 k freestyle at 2015 World Championships in Falun, Sweden.
    Kyle Bratrud of Northern Michigan University racing to 52nd in the men’s 15 k freestyle at 2015 World Championships in Falun, Sweden.

    Kyle Bratrud of the University of Northern Michigan is the favorite from the central region after a successful season that saw him win the 15 k freestyle at the 2015 U.S. nationals and compete at the U23 World Championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan, followed by senior World Championships in Falun, Sweden.

    Bratrud will look to overcome the fatigue of weeks of international racing and travel to fight for a spot on the NCAA podium. In 2014, he was the top American in the 10 k classic in sixth overall.

    Joining Bratrud in the quest for collegiate success will be teammates Fredrik Schwenke and Erik Soderman. If the UNM trio can repeat their impressive performances from U.S. nationals, they have the possibility of leading the men’s nordic at NCAA’s. Last year, the men finished third overall in the 10 k classic and helped their coach, Sten Fjeldheim, earn 2014 national coach of the year.

    Logan Hanneman of the University of Alaska – Fairbanks is another strong skier to watch from central.

    Despite the graduation of Rosie Frankowski, the central women have a chance at top performances from NMU’s Jordyn Ross and Michigan Tech’s Deedra Irwin, among others. They will look to build on the region’s successful 2014 Championships to gain more starting spots in future national events.

    Live timing will be available at BartTiming.com. FasterSkier will be on site for both days of nordic racing, so stay tuned for recaps from Wednesday and Friday.

    Schedule (all times Eastern Standard Time)

    Wednesday, March 11:

    Nordic:

    10 a.m.: Men’s 10 k freestyle (start list)

    Noon: Women’s 5 k at noon (start list)

    Thursday, March 12:

    Alpine: Women’s giant slalom (start list); men’s giant slalom (start list) at Whiteface

    Friday, March 13: 

    10 a.m.: Women’s 15 k classic mass start (start list)

    Noon: Men’s 20 k classic mass start (start list)

    Saturday, March 14:

    Alpine: Women’s slalom (start list); men’s slalom (start list) at Whiteface

    Note: This article was corrected to state that the last time Lake Placid hosted NCAAs was in 1982, not 1983

  • Photos: 2014 NCAA Championships

    Photos: 2014 NCAA Championships

    The University of Denver won the 2014 NCAA Championships for the 22nd time this past weekend in Park City, Utah. Check out some amazing photos of the event taken by superstar photographer Bert Boyer. All proceeds from photo sales will be directly donated to NNF. Buy them here: http://bertboyer.zenfolio.com

    2014 NCAA Championships: women’s 5 k classic report | men’s 10 k classic report | 15 k and 20 k freestyle mass start report

  • Ødegård Defends Title; Denver Dominates at Second Day of NCAAs

    Ødegård Defends Title; Denver Dominates at Second Day of NCAAs

    Rune Ødegård (Colorado) stands atop the podium for his win in the 10 k classic at the 2014 NCAA Championships. Pierre Guedon (Denver) and Niklas Persson (Utah) followed in second and third for a European sweep.(Photo: http://bertboyer.zenfolio.com) All proceeds from photo sales will be directly donated to NNF.
    Rune Ødegård (Colorado) stands atop the podium for his win in the 10 k classic at the 2014 NCAA Championships. Pierre Guedon (Denver) and Niklas Persson (Utah) followed in second and third for a European sweep.(Photo: http://bertboyer.zenfolio.com) All proceeds from photo sales will be directly donated to NNF.

    FasterSkier’s coverage is made possible through the generous support of Madshus.

    “It’s almost cheating, having that good of skis,” Rune Ødegård of the University of Colorado joked after wining the men’s 10 k individual classic at the NCAA Championships Thursday. The junior from Molde, Norway defended his 2013 10 k classic title in spectacular form, with a time of 24:34.5.

    “It’s been a goal all season, winning NCAA again. It’s a good feeling right now,” said the 24-year-old of his win.

    Rune Ødegård en route to his repeat win in the men's 20 k classic at the 2014 NCAA Championships in Midway, Utah.(Photo: http://bertboyer.zenfolio.com) All proceeds from photo sales will be directly donated to NNF.
    Rune Ødegård en route to his repeat win in the men’s 20 k classic at the 2014 NCAA Championships in Midway, Utah.(Photo: http://bertboyer.zenfolio.com) All proceeds from photo sales will be directly donated to NNF.

    Thursday’s NCAA races were held at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah, the venue of the 2014 U.S. Cross Country Championships, but the scene could not have looked more different than it did in January.

    Instead of a blanket of snow and bluebird skies often associated with the venue, the clouds were abundant and grey, there was hardly any snow to be seen, and temperatures were in the 50s. The ground would have been completely brown and barren had it not been for the white trail of manmade snow that snaked around the site of the 2002 Olympics.

    Such conditions are often terrible for waxing, especially for western teams who are used to pristine extra-blue days. Today, however, they got it right.

    Ødegård started 15 seconds behind the University of Vermont’s Scott Patterson, a favorite in Thursday’s race who ended his day in 24th.  Originally planning to catch Patterson and work together, the norwegian changed his mind.

    “I soon realized that I had so fast skis that it was better for me to go at it alone after catching up with him,” he said. “Obviously it worked out really well.”

    After passing Patterson, Ødegård picked off the competitors in front of him one-by-one, a difficult feat when racing in the top seed.

    “I saw people ahead of me all the time, and it gives me kick to catch up to people.”

    While racing the twists and turns of the Soldier Hollow 5 k, Ødegård knew the race would be won on the transitions of the course rather than the large climbs.

    “It’s all about being smart and using energy where you can and not killing yourself up Hermod’s. (the largest climb of the course). Everyone skis that hill pretty much the same pace, it’s all about using the rest of the course,” he said.

    Pierre Guedon of the University of Denver finished second in Thursday's 10 k classic at the 2014 NCAA Championships. He was part of an effort that rocketed the pioneers into first place after two races.
    Pierre Guedon of the University of Denver finished second in Thursday’s 10 k classic at the 2014 NCAA Championships. He was part of an effort that rocketed the pioneers into first place after two races. (Photo: http://bertboyer.zenfolio.com) All proceeds from photo sales will be directly donated to NNF.

    For Ødegård, the win represents not only a personal legacy in the NCAA Championships, but also a family tradition. Two of his siblings were both part of the Colorado ski team with his sister, Unni, who was a member of the NCAA Championship teams in 1998 and 1999 and his brother, Gier, who was part of the second place team in 2002.

    Hoping to continue the legacy, Ødegård thinks that both he and his team have what it takes to claim a national title again.

    “It’s a new day,” he said of Saturday’s race. “I know me and Mads [Strøm] are strong skiers so we try to go for the two top spots. That’s going to be the goal.  I know it will be tough. It’s NCAAs. its why we’re here; it’s what we were training for all season.”

    Colorado currently sits in third behind Denver and Utah.

    Second place finisher Pierre Guedon, a sophomore at the University of Denver, stared his first year at the school with a bang. After transferring from five years of school in his native France, the 25-year-old has had a breakout season with the pioneers.

    Initially discouraged with his second place starting position in Thursday’s race, Pierre rocketed out from the gate to catch the first starter and eventual third place finisher Niklas Persson of the University of Utah. The pair skied together for the majority of the race, using each other as motivation throughout the course.

    “I don’t like to have an early bib, because we don’t have good splits,” he said. “But the coaches were all around the track. I knew I was doing a good race.”

    For Guedon, the result was more about his team than his individual result.

    “It was an amazing team performance for the girls and guys. We knew that we had a good team. We crushed it all season long,” he said.

    It was  indeed a good day for Denver. Not only did Guedon finish second, but teammates Moritz Madlener and Trygve Marskat placed fifth and eighth, earning them 89 points.

    Niklas Persson of the University of Utah placed third at the 2014 NCAA Championships 10 k classic. The Utes who are hosting NCAAs are hoping to win the national title after finishing second three years in a row.(Photo: http://bertboyer.zenfolio.com) All proceeds from photo sales will be directly donated to NNF.
    Niklas Persson of the University of Utah placed third at the 2014 NCAA Championships 10 k classic. The Utes who are hosting NCAAs are hoping to win the national title after finishing second three years in a row.(Photo: http://bertboyer.zenfolio.com) All proceeds from photo sales will be directly donated to NNF.

    The men’s success in tandem with the women’s 80 point performance rocketed Denver into first in the rankings, 55 points ahead of the University of Utah.

    Dave Stewart, head coach of the Denver nordic team, was ecstatic with this team’s results.

    “It was one of our strongest days ever at NCAAs. We looked to improve over the season and have some of our best races of the season, so it’s really great to see that,” he said. Stewart sited waxing and the athlete’s patience as a key to today’s success.

    As the team shifts their focus to Saturday’s mass start, there is once main goal.

    “Our goal is always to win this thing,” said Stewart.

    But Denver isn’t going to be able to claim the NCAA title without a fight.

    Coming in third place, Persson, a sophomore of the University of Utah, made his team’s intentions very clear. “We want to win. This is our home course and we are here to win. That’s definitely the goal. So it’s important for the team that we do well,” he said.

    NCAA racing continues Friday with the slalom races held at Park City Mountain Result. Saturday will mark the conclusion of NCAA racing with the much-anticipated 15 k and 20 k freestyle mass starts. It will be then that the 2014 title is decided and the goals that each team has been working towards this year will either be realized or re-shelved for next season.

    Team Standings (after two of four events):

    Denver           299

    Utah                248

    Colorado         240

    New Mexico   232

    Vermont          186

    Men’s 10 k classic results

  • West Yellowstone SuperTour Men’s 15 k (Photo Gallery)

    West Yellowstone SuperTour Men’s 15 k (Photo Gallery)

    WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont. — A look at the top 10 and some others in the men’s 15-kilometer freestyle individual start on Saturday — the second and last race of the West Yellowstone SuperTour. Read more.

  • Havlick Repeats as NCAA Champion, Leads Utah to Silver: ‘It’s Just Perfect’

    University of Utah senior Miles Havlick celebrates his second NCAA title in the 20 k mass start, 0.6 seconds ahead of Colorado's Rune Ødegård (l) in second and Utah teammate Einar Ulsund (r) in third on Saturday at the Rikert Nordic Center in Ripton, Vt. (Photo: Steve Fuller/flyingpointroad.com. All photo sales benefit NNF)
    University of Utah senior Miles Havlick celebrates his second NCAA title in the 20 k mass start, 0.6 seconds ahead of Colorado’s Rune Ødegård (l) in second and Utah teammate Einar Ulsund (r) in third on Saturday at the Rikert Nordic Center in Ripton, Vt. (Photo: Flyingpointroad.com/All photo sales benefit NNF)

    RIPTON, Vt. – Standing with a microphone in hand shortly after winning Saturday’s 20-kilometer freestyle mass start at the 2013 NCAA Skiing Championships, Miles Havlick smiled as he fielded playful questions from the announcer.

    Friends, fans and impressed spectators surrounded him at the Rikert Nordic Center, and as soon as he was done thanking the crowd and his University of Utah teammates, Havlick was bombarded with hugs.

    Miles Havlick (r), the 2013 NCAA 20 k freestyle mass start champion, during a post-race interview with the NCAA announcer on Saturday at Rikert Nordic Center in Ripton, Vt.
    Miles Havlick (r), the 2013 NCAA 20 k freestyle mass start champion, during a post-race interview with the NCAA announcer on Saturday at Rikert Nordic Center in Ripton, Vt.

    With watery eyes, the two-time NCAA Champion was either emotional or simply tanked after four laps around Rikert’s deceivingly hard 5 k course – probably a little of both.

    The senior had just defended his 2012 national title in the 20-kilometer mass start, this time in a skate race. Skiing up into the stadium with six others less than half a kilometer before the finish, Havlick rose from a possible podium contender to a repeat champion, passing Dartmouth College’s Sam Tarling and catching Rune Ødegård of the University of Colorado, who won Thursday’s 10 k classic individual start.

    In edging Ødegård by six-tenths of a second in 50:13.4, Havlick led a trio of Utes in the top five. With Norwegian teammate Einar Ulsund in third (+1.0) and Swede Niklas Persson in fifth (+3.1), Utah captured second in the final team standings (43 points behind NCAA champion the University of Colorado) and bumped the University of Vermont (UVM) to third.

    “It’s hard to do it again,” Havlick said of his second-straight NCAA mass-start title. “Just an awesome team this fall, all new guys. I was the only one returning and you never know what to expect, but it was an unbelievable senior year.”

    At breakfast Saturday morning, he said they talked about goals – three in the top five – which they knew would be hard, but wanted to strive for nonetheless. Havlick set the tone early, leading Viktor Brännmark of the University of Alaska-Anchorage (UAA) and Tarling through the first downhill. Tarling took the lead up the toughest climb on the loop, while Brännmark, Dartmouth teammate Silas Talbot, Ulsund and Havlick stuck near the front of the large pack.

    Ødegård pushed the pace on the second lap while Ulsund, Brännmark, Tarling and Middlebury’s Ben Lustgarten chased, along with some 20 others. The group remained some 25 strong through the third lap, in which David Norris (Montana State University) made a move to the front. Halfway through the last time around, it dwindled to seven (with Ulsund, Soderman, Tarling, Ødegård, Talbot, Persson, and Lustgarten).

    Utah senior Miles Havlick on his way to winning Saturday's 20 k freestyle mass start for his second-straight NCAA Championships title. Havlick topped Colorado University sophomore Rune Odegard by 0.6 seconds for the victory at Rikert Nordic Center in Ripton, Vt. (Photo: Steve Fuller/flyingpointroad.com. All photo sales benefit NNF)
    Utah senior Miles Havlick on his way to winning Saturday’s 20 k freestyle mass start for his second-straight NCAA Championships title. Havlick topped University of Colorado sophomore Rune Ødegård by 0.6 seconds for the victory at Rikert Nordic Center in Ripton, Vt. (Photo: Flyingpointroad.com)

    Havlick had lost contact, but regained it on the final climbs. Following Tarling up the last ascent into the field before the finish, Havlick watched as Ødegård charged to the front. He responded, outsprinting the Norwegian in the final straightaway.

    “It was deafening skiing up that hill,” Havlick said of the crowd near the finish. “Ears just ringing really takes the pain away.

    “It’s unbelievable today,” he added. “You never know what’s gonna happen in a mass start. It’s just perfect.”

    Sharing the podium with his teammates after with their second-place showing, Utah’s skiing director Kevin Sweeney handed Havlick the large trophy to hoist over his head for photos.

    “This championship is one of the most, I would say, competitive that I’ve experienced and I’ve been collegiate coaching for a long time,” Sweeney said. “So for this to finish up the way it did, it’s a true highlight of my career and such a great group of guys. Everybody skied where they needed to. I’m ecstatic.”

    Even though CU and UVM were the favorites battling it out for first, Sweeney knew his skiers could get into the mix. He just wasn’t sure where they’d stack up against strong teams, including Dartmouth, he said.

    “You know they’re gonna be in it, just exactly where,” Sweeney said. “I was very happy to see the race unfold and see our three guys basically in the top 10. I felt good about that.”

    Last year’s 10 k freestyle individual start champion, Soderman placed fourth (+2.6). Mats Resaland of the University of New Mexico was fifth (+2.8), Tarling seventh (+5.2) and Lustgarten notched his second top 10 of the week in eighth (he was fourth on Thursday). Talbot placed ninth and Kyle Bratrud of Northern Michigan University was 10th.

    “It was a hard race because we were like 20 people pretty much the whole race,” Persson said. “You didn’t really know if you were skiing fast enough, if you were gonna end up top five or top 20, you never know.”

    According to Ulsund, the Utes were out for redemption after Thursday’s race, in which Havlick led the team in sixth, Ulsund was 13th and Persson was 15th.

    “We just decided that this should be our day,” Ulsund said.

    Anticipating an attack from UVM’s Scott Patterson, undefeated in eastern carnival freestyle races this season, Ulsund said it never came (Patterson ended up 26th). Meanwhile, the pace stayed mostly consistent in soft conditions on a 40-degree afternoon.

    “Usually we try to switch the lead, but today our tactic was mostly to stay in the pack and do something on the last lap,” Ulsund explained. “I’m a pretty slow sprinter so I was really worried, like, what’s going to happen now? Thankfully, the others were tired and the first three got the gap and that’s what set my podium spot today.”

    Just about as thrilled with his personal and team performance, CU sophomore Ødegård said the Buffs went into the 20 k thinking they were down to UVM. In reality, they were up by 16 points after Joanne Reid and Eliska Hajkova took first and second, respectively, in the preceding women’s 15 k.

    “We went into today chasing and that’s where we want to be,” he said. “When I saw during the race there were no Vermont skiers up in the lead, I knew we had the team victory. It was just awesome to ski around and do whatever I could to finish.”

    As for doing achieving the highest collegiate honors with his American team, Ødegård said, “We have an amazing group. Everyone’s enjoying being together. This week staying at the peaceful hotel, really team bonding all week, everyone had a good time I think and that’s most important.”

    2013 NCAA men's 20 k freestyle mass start podium (Photo: Steve Fuller/flyingpointroad.com)
    2013 NCAA men’s 20 k freestyle mass start podium. From left to right: Sam Tarling (Dartmouth/7th), Mats Resaland (UNM/6th), Erik Soderman (NMU/4th), Einar Ulsund (Utah/3rd), Miles Havlick (Utah/1st), Rune Odegaard (CU/2nd), Niklas Persson (Utah/5th), Ben Lustgarten (Middlebury/8th). (Photo: Flyingpointroad.com)

    Men’s results | Team results | Photos

    See also: Reid, Hajkova Land Top Two to Lift CU to NCAA Title

    For more photos from the 2013 NCAA Skiing Championships, visit Flying Point Road Photography. All proceeds go to the National Nordic Foundation (NNF).