Feb. 7, 2006
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The University of New Mexico ski team continues the 2006 Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association season this week with the Western State College Invitational in Gunnison, Colo. Both the Nordic and Alpine teams will be competing on Feb. 10-11. The Nordic squads will race 5/10K freestyle events on Friday, Feb. 10, while the Alpine teams will ski giant slalom races. Saturday, Feb. 11, will feature Alpine slalom races and the Nordic classic events.
The Lobos made a huge jump in the overall RMISA standings last week, moving from fifth to third in total points. New Mexico’s strong move up the leaderboard was thanks to a second-place showing at Colorado, their best team result of the season. UNM currently has 1,473 points, trailing RMISA-leading Colorado (1,702) and second-place Denver (1,654.5). Alaska-Anchorage (1,437.5) and Utah (1,427.5) round out the top-5 teams in the RMISA.
New Mexico was picked to finish third in the NCAA according to the Ski Racing Magazine preseason top-10 coaches poll. UNM has two more races, including the WSC meet this weekend, before the 2006 NCAA Championships in Steamboat Springs, Colo., on March 8-11.
ALPINE TEAM NOTES
Overall, the Alpine team is in third place in the RMISA, and the men’s squad has dominated, winning four of the six races this season. The women’s squad is starting to pick things up, finishing tied for second in the last slalom meet at Colorado.
Juniors Peter Roering and Alex Mach and freshman Tor Fodnesbergene have all won an event in 2005.
The top-3 Lobo men’s skiers are all ranked in the top-5 in the men’s slalom and top-10 in the men’s giant slalom. Junior Alex Mach and freshman Tor Fodnesbergene are 1-2 in the men’s slalom standings.
INDIVIDUAL ALPINE NOTES
Junior Peter Roering is one of the top-ranked giant slalom skiers in the RMISA, but was lost for the season after suffering a broken leg while training in late January.
Mach is in the lead in the RMISA slalom race and is ranked in the top-10 in both the slalom and giant slalom.
Junior Lars Loeseth is ranked in the top-5 in both the slalom and giant slalom.
Freshman Karin Ohlin is the highest ranked Lobo woman, sitting at No. 5 in the slalom.
Sophomore Lene Kaasa raced for the first time at Colorado after recovering from a broken thumb.
NORDIC TEAM NOTES
After three collegiate meets the Nordic team is in fifth place, but looks to move up at Western State. Sophomore Tiffany Callahan has not skied this season due to illness and senior All-American Geir-Endre Rogn returned for his first action at Colorado after training in Norway for the fall semester.
The Nordic women had a surprise second places finish in the classic and freestyle events at Colorado.
Five Lobo women are ranked in the top-18 in the RMISA women’s classic standings.
INDIVIDUAL NORDIC NOTES
Junior Dirk Grimm won the last two freestyle races and is No. 1 in the RMISA freestyle rankings.
Sophomore Marit Rognmo is the highest ranking member of the Lobo women’s Nordic team. She is No. 7 in the freestyle and classic standings.
Sophomore Laura Van Alst has been a pleasant surprise this season, ranking No. 8 in the RMISA freestyle.
Freshman Crystin Jacques has back-to-back top-10s in the women’s classic and is ranked 10th in the RMISA.
Junior Jedd Young posted a season-high 13th place showing in the freestyle at Colorado.