The NMU Alpine Ski & Snowboard Team has qualified for the U.S. Collegiate Ski & Snowboard Association (USCSA) National Championships March 6-12 in Lake Placid, N.Y. NMU is one of 12 teams that will compete in the showcase event after scoring top finishes at six regional qualifiers. 

NMU team members competed against alpine skiers from 23 colleges and universities, including Big 10 and Big 12 institutions, at the USCSA Midwest qualifier hosted recently by Marquette Mountain. At the National Championships, NMU will face teams such as Cornell, Harvard, Syracuse, Yale and the University of Minnesota.

“The NMU Alpine Ski & Snowboard Team’s accomplishment is the result of the hard work, dedication and fearlessness this university instills and celebrates in the NMU student community,” said Chris Kirk, associate professor in Health and Human Performance and club team adviser. “Members of the team support the community in many ways as well. They serve as assistant coaches for Marquette Senior High School’s Alpine ski team and for the Great Lakes Ski Academy for racers ages 8-18. Many of the members also have volunteered to help run U.S. Ski Association events and Michigan High School Athletic Association ski events hosted at Marquette Mountain.”

The USCSA is composed of nearly 180 colleges fielding 4,700 men and women alpine, cross country and snowboarding athletes who compete in more than 200 race events annually.