2008 Woodie Awards
Panther skiers rock the Rockies at nationals
Geoff Homer & Brooke Farquhar
Issue date: 3/16/06 Section: Sports
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Last week the Middlebury alpine ski team headed out to Ski Town USA - Steamboat, Colo. - to compete against the nation's top Division I collegiate ski programs.
After an impressive season on the eastern circuit which saw multiple top 10 finishes and some podium placements here and there, the team was determined to end the season on a high note.
The Panthers finished seventh overall, with the alpine team placing fourth out of 24 teams, behind champion and host University of Colorado, which won with 654 points despite only having 11 of the maximum 12 competitors. Finishing second was the University of New Mexico with 556 points. Dartmouth College placed third with 537.5 points, while the University of Denver and UVM rounded out the top five.
The Nordic ski team completed their season over the weekend with a seventh place finish at the NCAA Championships at the University of Colorado. In the Classic Nordic races on Thursday, Cassidy Edwards '09 finished 15th in her first NCAA Championship.
In the same race Evelyn Dong '07 placed 23rd, and Jenny Hamilton '07 finished 37th. In the men's 10K Classic, which was also held on Thursday, seniors Garrot Kuzzy and Jake Whitcomb finished 30th and 39th, respectively. Tim Reynolds '09 placed 36th in his first Classic race at the NCAA Championships.
The men's and women's Nordic teams also competed well in the free technique races on Saturday. Dong had an impressive third place finish in the women's 15K, while Edwards '09 placed 19th and Hamilton 36th. In the men's 20K, Kuzzy finished 15th, Whitcomb came in 36th and Reynolds followed right behind in 37th.
The championships began on a snowy day, which resulted in poor visibility and a rough course for the racers. The previous night's snowstorm had deposited more than half a foot of snow on the racecourse, providing less than optimal racing conditions, especially for the eastern skiers who used to skiing on bulletproof ice. Adapting to the altitude also presented a challenge to the Panthers and other eastern teams, as the elevation made it difficult for the racers to keep their stamina throughout the run, since they were expending much more than their usual energy to finish their races.
After an impressive season on the eastern circuit which saw multiple top 10 finishes and some podium placements here and there, the team was determined to end the season on a high note.
The Panthers finished seventh overall, with the alpine team placing fourth out of 24 teams, behind champion and host University of Colorado, which won with 654 points despite only having 11 of the maximum 12 competitors. Finishing second was the University of New Mexico with 556 points. Dartmouth College placed third with 537.5 points, while the University of Denver and UVM rounded out the top five.
The Nordic ski team completed their season over the weekend with a seventh place finish at the NCAA Championships at the University of Colorado. In the Classic Nordic races on Thursday, Cassidy Edwards '09 finished 15th in her first NCAA Championship.
In the same race Evelyn Dong '07 placed 23rd, and Jenny Hamilton '07 finished 37th. In the men's 10K Classic, which was also held on Thursday, seniors Garrot Kuzzy and Jake Whitcomb finished 30th and 39th, respectively. Tim Reynolds '09 placed 36th in his first Classic race at the NCAA Championships.
The men's and women's Nordic teams also competed well in the free technique races on Saturday. Dong had an impressive third place finish in the women's 15K, while Edwards '09 placed 19th and Hamilton 36th. In the men's 20K, Kuzzy finished 15th, Whitcomb came in 36th and Reynolds followed right behind in 37th.
The championships began on a snowy day, which resulted in poor visibility and a rough course for the racers. The previous night's snowstorm had deposited more than half a foot of snow on the racecourse, providing less than optimal racing conditions, especially for the eastern skiers who used to skiing on bulletproof ice. Adapting to the altitude also presented a challenge to the Panthers and other eastern teams, as the elevation made it difficult for the racers to keep their stamina throughout the run, since they were expending much more than their usual energy to finish their races.