The UAA ski team didn’t produce any All-America performances but they landed three skiers in the top 20 in giant slalom racing Thursday at the NCAA Championships in Stowe, Vermont.
Sky Kelsey of Anchorage was 16th in the men’s race, which was won by Dartmouth’s Tanguy Nef, a Swiss skier who had a top-20 World Cup result earlier this season. UAA’s other man in the race, Liam Wallace, didn’t finish his first run.
In the women’s race, UAA’s Georgia Burgess was 17th and Li Djurestaal 18th in a race won by Vermont’s Laurence St. Germain, who posted a handful of top 20 World Cup results earlier this season.
Suffice it to say the Seawolves were competing against some of the world’s best skiers.
“We went up against a world-class field and were competitive with athletes who are top-30 in the world,” UAA coach Sparky Anderson said in a release from the school. “It’s extremely difficult to get to this level and it’s an honor to be here.
“Liam was a bit unlucky with having a ski rattle off on a tough, kitchen-tile icy surface, and I know that Sky, Georgia and Li had bigger expectations, but Alaska and UAA can be proud of how these guys held their own at a true championship event. I know I am. We’ll keep hammering and give it all we got in Saturday’s slalom.”
Cross-country skiers return to action Friday in Vermont. The championships wrap up Saturday with a slalom race for alpine skiers.