STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — Collegiate ski racing used to be the last refuge of racers who weren’t quite good enough to make their national team — or who made the team, struggled at the international level and gave up.
That appears to be changing, with potential benefits for the colleges and the U.S. Ski Team.
Breckenridge’s Katie Hartman dreamed of racing in the Olympics since she was a little girl. She still does at age 19, but this winter she took a timeout from the national development meat-grinder and enrolled at the University of Colorado.
She has yet to attend her first class — school resumes this coming Monday — but finished fifth in each of her first two races for CU this past weekend in the CU Invitational. In both races she was the second-best Buff behind Lucie Zikova, a Czech import who won the 2006 NCAA slalom title.
“I am still gunning for the U.S. Ski Team, and I’m still gunning to race World Cups, to go to the Olympics,” Hartman said. “I still have all my goals. I just am taking a back door to it.”
Since graduating from Summit High School in 2006, Hartman primarily raced NorAms and domestic FIS races — and the 2007 world juniors championships — in hopes of qualifying for the next step in U.S. Ski Team development. Even now at CU, she hopes to qualify for the U.S. “C” team for next season — which would mean leaving CU.
That would be just fine with CU coach Richard Rokos.
“It’s short-term hurt, long-term gain,” Rokos said. “Katie can (show) the opportunity is there, and there will be more and more kids. We can circulate more kids through the program and get them back to the national team.”
The colleges can benefit by getting more talented racers who are highly motivated to improve and achieve international success. The U.S. Ski Team would benefit by gaining another development source — without having to pay for it. The racers gain experience — without having to pay for it — and get to pursue their education.
“Katie was a big fish in a small pond when she was in Breckenridge,” Rokos said. “She was by far the best skier in that program. Now on a daily basis she can ski with girls who are equal or better. She’s suddenly competing with girls who are four, five years older, more experienced, and accelerating her experience.
“I think it’s a very smart move. It’s kind of a trend now, and I think it has lots of benefits for those kids.”
Midway through the nine-team CU Invitational (because of a scheduling conflict, the nordic events will be held Jan. 19-20), CU leads DU by a slim margin. Their order might have been reversed if two top DU skiers — Jenny Lathrop and Adam Cole — weren’t off racing Nor-Ams back east with the blessing of DU coach Andy LeRoy.
Cole, the reigning NCAA champion in slalom and giant slalom, won Sunday’s NorAm slalom at Sunday River, Maine. That should improve his chances of making the national team next season.
“It’s my goal to help change the way the U.S. functions with regard to skiing,” said LeRoy, a former U.S. Ski Team racer who also raced for CU. “Basketball, you go to college, you go to the pros. Football, the same. There’s no reason we’re not doing it in skiing.”
The collegiate option can be especially beneficial for men because they mature later than women. Resi Stiegler has been on the U.S. Ski Team since she was 16. Her 19-year-old brother, Seppi, wants to join her but is a freshman racer for DU this season.
“Ladies at a young age can make the U.S. Ski Team and be successful World Cup skiers,” LeRoy said. “On the men’s side, the talent and ability have to be there, but it’s (also) about strength and power. A 25-year- old guy is going to beat the 18-year-old guy almost every time.”
LeRoy hopes DU can help vault Stiegler onto the U.S. Ski Team. Rokos knows the better Hartman does this season, the more likely it is he will lose her to the national team.
“She will get every opportunity to make it,” Rokos said. “We’ll do our best to help her.”
In the meantime, Hartman is happy to be at CU.
“I’m going to take it year by year,” Hartman said. “I’m hoping to make the U.S. Ski Team, but if not, I’m racing here and I’m excited.”
