With only one invitational remaining before the NCAA West Regional competition begins, Denver’s men’s and women’s ski teams are looking to finish their invitational season on a high note.
In the recent New Mexico Invitational, which took place Jan. 30 and 31, Pioneer freshmen Monica Hübner (Munich, Germany) and Espen Lysdahl (Asker, Norway) each earned podium positions and Skier of the Week titles, awarded by the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association (RMISA).
Hübner, the RMISA Alpine Skier of the Week, won both of the women’s slalom races in New Mexico. Lysdahl followed her lead, earning the men’s Skier of the Week title and a first and second place victory in men’s slalom.
Senior Trevor Philp (Alberta, Canada), sophomore Sebastian Brigovi? (Rijeka, Croatia) and sophomore Sylvia Nordskar (Baerum, Norway) have also earned Skier of the Week titles for the Pioneers this winter season.
Denver took home fourth in the New Mexico Invitational with a team total of 502 points. Although this ending wasn’t the best of their season (third at University of Utah Invitational and third in the University of Colorado-Boulder Invitational), Denver is still hopeful to make a run at their 23rd NCAA National Championship title.
Next, Denver will ski in the University of Alaska Anchorage Invitational from Feb. 23 through 26, where the team can hopefully continue their podium streak.
“The depth of our team is a little unheard of. Expectations are high. We are returning all six athletes who skied in the Championships last year. We also have a few new additions who have already won races this season, including returning All-Americans,” head coach Andy Leroy said regarding the chase for another NCCA victory.
Denver has yet to defeat in-state rival, CU Boulder, this season.
“CU has typically been our fiercest competitor over the years. They are always well prepared and we can expect them to be in contention year after year,” Leroy said.
Even then, Pioneers have earned individual titles over Boulder this season, which adds to the intensity of each invitational. In the women’s Nordic freestyle 5K at the Colorado Invitational, Denver’s Nordskar dominated the competition, placing 33.5 seconds, which is an eternity in the sport, ahead of the second place CU Boulder finisher.
The Pioneers train between Loveland Ski Resort and Winter Park Resort three to four times a week. DU and its close proximity to world-class skiing is one of the many reasons why so many top-tier athletes are attracted to the university.
“We have a lot of advantages. The private education at DU is a huge attractor. We also have our close proximity to incredible training. The quarter system also helps with the class schedules for our athletes, which is something they like. The six-week winter break helps with training, as well. Teachers are always happy to help our athletes and from training staff, coaches and teachers, our university is very appealing,” Leroy said.
Some team members, like Brigovic, even though young in age, have already competed in the Winter Olympic Games and within the World Cup circuit.
Four Pioneers are also participating in the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Vail and Beaver Creek, which started on Feb. 2 and end on Feb. 15. These athletes are among the highest level of competition in the world of skiing.
Alpine skier Lysdahl is skiing for his home country of Norway, with sophomore Philp and freshman Erik Read representing Canada and Brigovi? for his native Croatia.
The NCAA National Championships begins on March 11 in Lake Placid, New York. Denver can only take three male alpine skiers to the championship and these top spots will be difficult to determine in the coming weeks.
“Having won four titles with Denver in my first eight years, I can say with experience that each title is special in its own right. The way in which those teams came together brought inspiration to my heart… I can’t wait to watch another team follow that path,” Leroy said.
