University skiers take new aim at NCAAs
by Stig Overaas, Outpost Staff
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"We have excellent chances to finish top 10 in this year's NCAA Championships," Head Coach Tom Arnstein said. "Under the right circumstances, I think this year's team can even finish top eight."
The ski team finished 11 in the two previous championships, and a top 10 finish means that the team can earn the reputation of being one of the "elite" teams in the most competitive college skiing league in the nation.
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Arnstein said part of the receipe for success in the NCAAs lies in the number of athletes qualifying. Each team can have a maximum of 12 racers in the championships: three women and three men in each of the two disciplines. The number of representatives each team can bring depends on an athlete's individual accomplishments during the qualifying races.
"To achieve our goals we must have 12 qualifiers," Arnstein said.
The ski team qualified four nordic racers and five alpine racers in last year's championships. To learn more about the qualifying process in NCAA skiing, click here.
Despite the never ending process of strengthening the team, both Arnstein, who is coaching the alpine team, and nordic coach Jeff Schloss feel confident with their athletes this season. On the alpine side, returning All Americans from last year, Matt Walker, 22, and Tejs Broberg, 23, are ready to set a standard for the rest of the team.
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Jen Collins, a graduate from Dartmouth College, is a new member of the alpine taking her MBA at the University of Nevada. She is a former member of the U.S. Ski Team and also skied for the Dartmouth ski team. She has one year of eligibility left for college ski racing. Arnstein has confidence in his new acquisition.
"Jen will be a good asset for the women's team," Arnstein said. "I'm hoping her skills and experience will lift the alpine women's team to a new level.
Arnstein said that Collins has already proven her leadership skills during this fall's conditioning preparations.
Last year the nordic team surprised the NCAA skiing circuit by having three freshmen among its four qualifiers in the championships, all three from the United States. Scandinavian racers who come over to the United States to get their college degrees have in recent years dominated nordic skiing in NCAA, so it is remarkable that these promising athletes made the championships.
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"The team is looking strong this year," Schloss said. "We had time trials on snow last Sunday, and I'm really happy with the athletes' performance."
He said the upcoming period with training on snow is crucial for maximizing the individual athlete's performance throughout a whole season.
"With the national championships taking place at the beginning of March, we are facing a long season, and it's important that the athletes peak during those races," Schloss said.
He explained that there are many peaces . The athletes have individual methods of reaching their peak on time at the same time they are trying to perform well during the qualifying races.
Returning sophomore Ian Skinner, whose merits as a freshman last year included a second place at the University of New Mexico Invitational and numerous top 10 finishes, has also this year showed promising tendencies.
"He just hates to loose and pushes the rest of the team to its maximal capacity during all workouts " Schloss said.
Posted Dec. 17, 1999
Copyright 1999 Nevada Outpost
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