Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: Kelly Gorham, Montana State University
Buffs Set Sights On A 21st National Championship
March 07, 2017 | Skiing
2017 CU NCAA Skiing Championship NotesLive Video from NCAA ChampionshipsLive Timing from NCAA ChampionshipsNCAA Championship Central
Colorado has won three consecutive titles when the NCAA Championships have been hosted back east
BRETTON WOODS, N.H. – The University of Colorado ski program is set to compete in the 64th NCAA Ski Championships, which open Wednesday, March 8 in Franconia, N.H. at Cannon Mountain with the running of the giant slalom events.
The Buffaloes arrived in New Hampshire on Saturday and will have three days of training on site before the racing begins Wednesday.
For the Buffaloes, there is only one goal, and that is to bring home a 21st national championship.
"Winner takes it all, and that's why we are going there," head coach Richard Rokos said. "Our goal never changes, regardless of the makeup of the team, experienced or not at NCAA's. The only way to justify the effort, sacrifices and injuries is to have the ultimate goal on your mind all the time. And that goal without question is to win the NCAA title."
The Buffs are an experienced unit this year, as nine of the 12 members competing this week have skied in the NCAA Championships before.
CU has been led this season by the men's alpine and women's Nordic teams, which both scored the most points of any squads in the west region. Colorado also has the top individual seed on the men's alpine side with freshman David Ketterer and for women's Nordic with junior Petra Hyncicova.
Senior Mads Stroem will no doubt anchor the Buffs, as this will be his fourth NCAA Championship. The six-time All-American has won three Nordic NCAA individual titles and can tie the program record for the most in a career with one more victory this week.
The Buffaloes are looking to win a fourth consecutive title back east. CU won the national championship in 2011, 2013 and 2015 when NCAA's were hosted back east. Overall in program history, of CU's 20 ski titles, 10 have been won in the west (last in 2006 at Steamboat Springs) and 10 in the east.
"I never thought about it too much, but it looks to me that we have a better showing out east than we have at home," Rokos said. "It is interesting and I don't have any idea where this all comes from, but it happens. I think it just demonstrates how NCAA's are unpredictable and you can prepare for the place; how much time we spent in Steamboat last year, training there and knowing the hill, but we didn't capitalize fully."
A second place finish at home in Steamboat Springs last season has left this year's squad hungry to get back on top.
"Most definitely, I think this is kind of a good sign," Rokos said of his team being driven by last season's result. "Everybody is very focused, even in training, nobody is taking any shortcuts and everybody is very focused on the upcoming competition, so that is a good sign."
Weather could be a factor at the start of the championships. The forecast for Wednesday calls for warm temperatures (49 degrees) with a 60 percent chance of rain. That could affect the skiing conditions and potentially alter the schedule before competition begins.
"We'll have to be ready for anything with the predicted weather on Wednesday," Rokos said Monday night, mentioning that the conditions were good upon arrival but that temperatures have since risen and the chance of rain is likely. "We were talking already of perhaps moving the GS to Thursday. We'll go and make the decision in the morning, which is a little tougher for the mental stage because you are prepared for the day and then suddenly the call comes and you have to shift everything for another day for your mental preparation and focus.
"So it is difficult, but that is the way alpine skiing is, and not just alpine, Nordic has the same thing. Chances are that they might postpone the races as well. Nordic side was very difficult for training because the course was icy and very dangerous. You pick up lots of speed and on downhills you have no chance to even break because everything around is icy and no edges. It is something where you really have to prove your courage and technique and that is tough."
Follow the Buffs Live In New Hampshire
Live Video: http://www.ncaa.com/liveschedule
Live Timing: http://barttiming.com/eisa/Results17/ncaa17.htm
Twitter & Instagram: @cubuffsskiing
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cubuffsskiing
Web: CUBuffs.com
NCAA Championship Central: http://unhwildcats.com/sports/2017/2/27/ncaa-skiing-championship-central.aspx
2017 NCAA Championships – Schedule of Events (all times Mountain)
Wednesday, March 8
9 a.m. - Women's GS (First Run)
9:45 a.m. - Men's GS (First Run)
11:30 a.m. - Women's GS (Second Run)
12:15 p.m. - Men's GS (Second Run)
Thursday, March 9
8 a.m. - Women's 5k Classical: Individual start. (Jackson Ski Touring Center)
9:30 a.m. -Men's 10k Classical: Individual start. (Jackson Ski Touring Center)
Friday, March 10
7 a.m. - Women's Slalom: First Run. (Cannon Mountain)
8 a.m. - Men's Slalom: First Run. (Cannon Mountain)
10:30 a.m. - Women's Slalom: Second Run. (Cannon Mountain)
11:15 a.m. - Men's Slalom: Second Run. (Cannon Mountain)
Saturday, March 11
8 a.m. - Men's 20k Freestyle: Mass Start. (Jackson Ski Touring Center)
10 a.m. - Women's 15k Freestyle: Mass Start. (Jackson Ski Touring Center)
MORE FROM ROKOS
On The Season In General
"It was a good season with the exception of the Alaska races, I think we were very solid during the season. Alaska came kind of on top of it and we didn't have all things together right there, but even with injuries and sicknesses, the rest of it was very good. Actually, peaking right around championships and regionals is a good sign for us."
On The Nordic Teams
"A few kids are coming off injury, sickness or actually surgery in Mads case, but now it looks like everybody is healthy and everybody is ready."
On The Alpine Teams
"David (Ketterer) is obviously in his own league and skiing well because he is succeeding in the NorAm circuit that is very difficult. Consistency is the name of the game here so for them, typically they cannot ski 100 percent because they have to make sure that they can finish and not to take much risk. It looks to me that they are kind of blinded to it and we'll see how it shapes up at the races."
The Buffaloes arrived in New Hampshire on Saturday and will have three days of training on site before the racing begins Wednesday.
For the Buffaloes, there is only one goal, and that is to bring home a 21st national championship.
"Winner takes it all, and that's why we are going there," head coach Richard Rokos said. "Our goal never changes, regardless of the makeup of the team, experienced or not at NCAA's. The only way to justify the effort, sacrifices and injuries is to have the ultimate goal on your mind all the time. And that goal without question is to win the NCAA title."
The Buffs are an experienced unit this year, as nine of the 12 members competing this week have skied in the NCAA Championships before.
CU has been led this season by the men's alpine and women's Nordic teams, which both scored the most points of any squads in the west region. Colorado also has the top individual seed on the men's alpine side with freshman David Ketterer and for women's Nordic with junior Petra Hyncicova.
Senior Mads Stroem will no doubt anchor the Buffs, as this will be his fourth NCAA Championship. The six-time All-American has won three Nordic NCAA individual titles and can tie the program record for the most in a career with one more victory this week.
The Buffaloes are looking to win a fourth consecutive title back east. CU won the national championship in 2011, 2013 and 2015 when NCAA's were hosted back east. Overall in program history, of CU's 20 ski titles, 10 have been won in the west (last in 2006 at Steamboat Springs) and 10 in the east.
"I never thought about it too much, but it looks to me that we have a better showing out east than we have at home," Rokos said. "It is interesting and I don't have any idea where this all comes from, but it happens. I think it just demonstrates how NCAA's are unpredictable and you can prepare for the place; how much time we spent in Steamboat last year, training there and knowing the hill, but we didn't capitalize fully."
A second place finish at home in Steamboat Springs last season has left this year's squad hungry to get back on top.
"Most definitely, I think this is kind of a good sign," Rokos said of his team being driven by last season's result. "Everybody is very focused, even in training, nobody is taking any shortcuts and everybody is very focused on the upcoming competition, so that is a good sign."
Weather could be a factor at the start of the championships. The forecast for Wednesday calls for warm temperatures (49 degrees) with a 60 percent chance of rain. That could affect the skiing conditions and potentially alter the schedule before competition begins.
"We'll have to be ready for anything with the predicted weather on Wednesday," Rokos said Monday night, mentioning that the conditions were good upon arrival but that temperatures have since risen and the chance of rain is likely. "We were talking already of perhaps moving the GS to Thursday. We'll go and make the decision in the morning, which is a little tougher for the mental stage because you are prepared for the day and then suddenly the call comes and you have to shift everything for another day for your mental preparation and focus.
"So it is difficult, but that is the way alpine skiing is, and not just alpine, Nordic has the same thing. Chances are that they might postpone the races as well. Nordic side was very difficult for training because the course was icy and very dangerous. You pick up lots of speed and on downhills you have no chance to even break because everything around is icy and no edges. It is something where you really have to prove your courage and technique and that is tough."
Follow the Buffs Live In New Hampshire
Live Video: http://www.ncaa.com/liveschedule
Live Timing: http://barttiming.com/eisa/Results17/ncaa17.htm
Twitter & Instagram: @cubuffsskiing
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cubuffsskiing
Web: CUBuffs.com
NCAA Championship Central: http://unhwildcats.com/sports/2017/2/27/ncaa-skiing-championship-central.aspx
2017 NCAA Championships – Schedule of Events (all times Mountain)
Wednesday, March 8
9 a.m. - Women's GS (First Run)
9:45 a.m. - Men's GS (First Run)
11:30 a.m. - Women's GS (Second Run)
12:15 p.m. - Men's GS (Second Run)
Thursday, March 9
8 a.m. - Women's 5k Classical: Individual start. (Jackson Ski Touring Center)
9:30 a.m. -Men's 10k Classical: Individual start. (Jackson Ski Touring Center)
Friday, March 10
7 a.m. - Women's Slalom: First Run. (Cannon Mountain)
8 a.m. - Men's Slalom: First Run. (Cannon Mountain)
10:30 a.m. - Women's Slalom: Second Run. (Cannon Mountain)
11:15 a.m. - Men's Slalom: Second Run. (Cannon Mountain)
Saturday, March 11
8 a.m. - Men's 20k Freestyle: Mass Start. (Jackson Ski Touring Center)
10 a.m. - Women's 15k Freestyle: Mass Start. (Jackson Ski Touring Center)
MORE FROM ROKOS
On The Season In General
"It was a good season with the exception of the Alaska races, I think we were very solid during the season. Alaska came kind of on top of it and we didn't have all things together right there, but even with injuries and sicknesses, the rest of it was very good. Actually, peaking right around championships and regionals is a good sign for us."
On The Nordic Teams
"A few kids are coming off injury, sickness or actually surgery in Mads case, but now it looks like everybody is healthy and everybody is ready."
On The Alpine Teams
"David (Ketterer) is obviously in his own league and skiing well because he is succeeding in the NorAm circuit that is very difficult. Consistency is the name of the game here so for them, typically they cannot ski 100 percent because they have to make sure that they can finish and not to take much risk. It looks to me that they are kind of blinded to it and we'll see how it shapes up at the races."
Players Mentioned
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Friday, June 27
Colorado Ski: 2025 Facility Tour
Tuesday, June 10
Colorado Ski: 2024-25 Banquet
Tuesday, April 22
2024 Ski Team Season Recap
Tuesday, April 30