As news spread of the pending end of Alaska's two NCAA ski programs, prominent alumni and local skiers begin to weigh in. Brian Gregg, Sadie Bjornsen, Holly Brooks, and others share their reactions.
The 2016/2017 school year will be the final season of NCAA-sanctioned college skiing in the state of Alaska, University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen announced at a Thursday afternoon press conference.
The University of Alaska president has recommended two options that could preserve the future of intercollegiate skiing at one or both of Alaska’s NCAA member schools – but both options may be without precedent in modern NCAA history. The final decision will be made by the Board of Regents in mid-November.
Facing drastic cuts to Alaska's state budget, a review team has proposed several options, some of which would end Division I college skiing at one or both of Alaska’s two NCAA schools in Anchorage and Fairbanks. “It’s scary not just for us, but it can start to be scary for the rest of the college ski teams around the country,” UAA Nordic Head Coach Andrew Kastning said.
There will be a fully funded cross-country ski team at the University of Alaska Anchorage this school year, but all bets are off when it comes to evaluating priorities across the athletic department for next year. That’s the word from University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) officials as the Alaska Legislature drags through its latest special session with no final budget yet approved.
As the 2016 special session of the Alaska Legislature comes down to the wire, it's clear that state funding for Alaska's two NCAA cross-country ski programs is going to be substantially reduced as part of widespread cuts to the state university system. But by exactly how much and with what effects are all still up in the air.
Recent University of Alaska-Anchorage graduate Lukas Ebner discusses his beginnings in skiing, his plans to make the German National Team, and what makes Alaska so special.
Twice each fall, the University of Alaska Anchorage's nordic and alpine teams converge on their favorite sandbox for a sufferfest of sand-dune sprinting. "The family that plays together stays together and the ski team that suffers together can win together," Kastning explains of their larger NCAA goals.
When Nicole De Yong stepped down from the UAA coaching staff, head coach Andrew Kastning wanted to hire another woman - but female coaches aren't easy to come by. Luckily, 2010 and 2014 Olympian Sara Studebaker had just moved to town. "I’m really excited to be here," she told FasterSkier.
One-hundred and forty-eight. That's the number of skiers who have descended upon the ski town of Park City, Utah to participate in the 2014 NCAA Championships. The four day event, which consists of two alpine and two nordic races, begins Wednesday and continues through Saturday. Check out our preview, so you know who to watch and what to look for as the event gets underway tomorrow.
A mini tour is more than just three days of racing. The strategic and tactical elements require racers to pace for the whole tour starting with the first event. Every stride, every pole plant counts. That’s an important lesson, as the tour format gains hold on the FIS schedules.