Alpine ski team competes at nationals in Idaho

Last month, eight WPI students were able to compete in the United States Collegiate Ski Association (USCSA) national championships held in Boise, Idaho. This season marks the first time that WPI qualified for the event, which is limited to the top 20 teams in the entire country.

Adam Hathaway, one of the members who competed in Boise, was able to briefly describe the different races. Alpine skiing has two events, the giant slalom and the slalom race. In slalom, skiers navigate through gates to reach the finish line. If you miss a gate, you have to hike back up the slope to that gate and go through it, otherwise you are disqualified. Giant slalom is similar, except the course is much longer and the gates are spaced farther apart.

Nordic skiing also has two events, classic and skating. Classic is the form often thought of with cross-country skiing. It looks like an exaggerated walk, using poles to push forward. Skating is similar in style to ice-skating, where you push off the edges of your ski to go forward. Skating style is the faster method.

Hathaway, a sophomore, was one of three members of the Nordic team. The other two were freshman Amanda Roberts and junior captain Eric Millbrandt. The alpine team consisted of junior captain John Becker, senior Kevin Beverage, senior Ryan Neally, freshman Charlie Goodman, and sophomore Jim Pietrovito.

Earlier this month, Millbrandt and Beckos were named to the USCSA Board of Directors as Student Athlete Representatives. Their position was open to the 5700 current and recently graduated USCSA members, and was selected by reading personal statements and recommendations.

While nobody returned home with a new world record, plenty of memories were recorded. Congratulations to the entire team for a job well done, and good luck next season!