Featured Image: Montana State University hosts the RMISA Slalom Skiing Championships on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024 in Big Sky, Mont. MSU photo by Colter Peterson

The Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association (RMISA) has concluded its exciting regular season of races, leaving only the NCAA Championships ahead. The athletes battled it out in some of their final collegiate races of their career. The event came with a wave of bittersweet emotions for the seniors as they concluded their journeys as student-athletes. 

As they wrap things up on the college circuit, they celebrate their achievements, reflect on the time with their team, and remember the best parts of being a university athlete. The consensus was that ‘they were not there for a long time, but they were there for a good time.’ 

As Dawson Yates (senior at Montana State University) explained, “Four years fly by, so try and soak it all in.” 

During interviews, RMISA seniors reflected on their college experiences, their advice for alpine ski racers joining or already competing on a college team, the importance of a team, and memorable race stories.

Letting Go of Individuality and Being Apart of a Team

Alpine ski racing is an individual sport, solo on the course, racing against the other competitors for the fastest time.  As a racer develops, what they do on and off the hill will only affect them as an individual.

In general, club, academy, or private teams, racers are educated about the impact their actions and work ethic can have on the rest of the team. But this lesson may not fully sink in during the younger years of racing.

However, when an athlete decides to race for a college, that mentality shifts, and the team concept becomes critical to success. 

Nora Brand (senior at the University of Denver) stated, “What is definitely new when you enter a college team is the team feeling. You are racing for more than just yourself up on the hill,” she continued. “What matters is that I bring as many points to the team as possible. I think that is the most important part to learn and experience when coming into college racing.” 

Moro Bamber (senior at the University of Alaska Anchorage) stated, “The most important thing for me was the camaraderie we had,” He continued, “There were many races where things did not go my way, but that same day someone else on the team found success, so there was something to be happy about. When I had a good race, people were genuinely happy for me, not just on the team, but competitors from other teams.”

It was clear to the seniors that the team dynamic was critical to success, a learning experience, and a highlight of being a part of a college program. 

Trey Seymour (senior at the University of Denver) explained, “The group of us together have done a really good job of keeping each other motivated,” He continued, “As a team, it has been a great group, and we have done a good job of pushing each other.” 

“It’s all about the team in college, which makes it so much bigger than yourself. It also makes it way more fun because if you have a bad day, you have teammates to lean on!” Kristiane Bekkestad (senior at Montana State University) stated.

Concepts Learned Through College

As a student-athlete, the ultimate feat is juggling a full-time class workload, plus being a full-time athlete, plus the other million things college students want to do and experience during their time there. 

Through skiing, multi-tasking, and embracing time management, the student-athletes learn valuable aspects both in and out of the classroom. 

Andreas Unhjem Smith (senior at the University of Nevada) put it simply, “I would advise younger athletes to stay on top of their schoolwork.” 

Bekkestad (MSU) stated, “You get less training than you’re used to because of school and other stuff, so you have to train your mind to perform well and have confidence without a lot of training.” 

“The major thing I learned in college is how fun skiing can be and how much you can enjoy it,” Seymour (DU) explained.

Advice for Alpine Ski Racers Joining the Collegiate Circuit

The word “enjoy” came up numerous times when senior athletes were giving advice about competing in a college program. 

“I emphasize the importance of enjoying the journey and remind them to cherish their time with the team as time flies by quickly,” Michelle Kervén (senior at the University of Utah) stated. 

Leon Nikic (senior at the University of Alaska Anchorage) stated, “Enjoy your time here; the people are great. Expect it to be cold, and do your best to become a better ski racer.”

Brynne Hitchcock (senior at Montana State University) stated, “My advice is to cherish and enjoy every day. Skiing is tough and can be frustrating, but competing in college is such a special experience. I urge new athletes to appreciate these years as some of the best and to focus on the positives, even on tough days.”

Bamber (UAA) stated, “School will become time intensive, but a fulfilling experience. My hope is that they enjoy being a part of such a great program while growing as a person through experiences on the hill, in school, and in the most beautiful place in the world.” 

Besides enjoying the experience, several gave advice about leaving room to open new doors and carve new paths while being a student-athlete. 

Gustav Vøllo (senior at the University of Utah) stated, “You will grow so much from your experiences here, so be a yes-person and get outside of your comfort zone as much as possible.”

Hitchcock (MSU) added, “My second piece of advice is to pursue other interests. We are so lucky to get the opportunity to pursue an education while competing in a sport we love. This opportunity presents much more than just skiing, so I recommend that incoming athletes  explore these other interests.” 

The advice was given about why alpine ski racers should decide to join a college program when presented with the opportunity. 

Nikic (UAA) stated, “If you want to become a professional ski racer and you want to go to college, this might be your best solution because it is tough to make it on your own and out of your own pocket. This is definitely a great opportunity!” 

Fondest Memories, Favorite Race or a Highlight

You know the saying, “Time flies when you’re having fun.” It seems these seniors all felt that throughout their time at university. The stories, highlights, and favorite races were endless! 

Here are a few to celebrate the experiences they had: 

“I have loved the University of Utah! It has been really fun. Also, I am a homebody and my parents are in Park City, so I can float in and out. I can go home when I want and hang out with my friends when I want, so that has been really lovely. The team is great, the coaches are great, and the facilities are unmatched. It has been really fun.” 

-Madison Hoffman (University of Utah) 

“In Utah this year, I was kicked out of the top 30 after the first slalom race. The second one I was bib 48. The conditions were terrible that day, some of the toughest I’ve skied, but the flip was doable. My teammate radioed up and said you just have to work out of the rut. I executed it to the best of my ability, fought extremely hard, and found myself 30th after the first run…halfway down. I knew it was time to go for it and make up as much time as I could on the leaders, which was possible since the conditions were sure to get worse. I managed one of the best runs of my career and moved up to 12th. I am very proud of this race. For many, a 12th isn’t much to write home about, but for me, and the circumstances surrounding it — given the day before I went out on the 6th gate and shattered my confidence — it meant a lot to overcome the feelings I had the day prior and have a successful race. 

-Moro Bamber (University of Alaska Anchorage)

“My favorite NCAA race so far was the recent night race at Howelsen Hill in Steamboat, Colorado.”

-Andreas Unhjem Smith (University of Nevada) 

“My favorite race every year is regionals, particularly the final day, which is a ‘senior send.’ These are my favorite races because you can see how happy everyone is for each other. It is a very emotional day seeing the seniors potentially take their last race run ever. I find it so heartwarming to see their teammates, coaches, and friends there to support one another and truly celebrate the seniors. It is a momentous day.”

-Brynne Hitchcock (Montana State University) 

“One of my favorite races from my NCAA career has to be my first college race in Aspen (in 2021). Despite the challenges of COVID-19, the team had an incredible vibe, and everything seemed to align perfectly. However, my personal performance didn’t go as planned, and I realized college skiing wasn’t as easy as I thought. Despite my struggles, witnessing my teammates excel was inspiring. It was a moment that taught me the power of camaraderie and resilience. Despite a tough day, being surrounded by a supportive team turned it into one of the best days ever. It was during this race that I forged bonds with my teammates, finding lifelong friends with whom I shared endless laughter. From that point on, skiing became even more enjoyable as I discovered the true happiness and fulfillment it brought me, all thanks to the incredible team spirit I experienced that day in Aspen.”

-Michelle Kervén (University of Utah)

“I think the final race of our RMISA circuit is always pretty special. In the last slalom, where all the seniors put on their senior bibs, everyone gets to sign the bibs and leave a little message behind, and they also get a massive cheer from everyone, including other teams.  The atmosphere on senior day is always super cool. I can’t really pick a specific year that was my favorite. It’s been my favorite race every year, bittersweet and all.”

-Dawson Yates (Montana State University) 

“My favorite race was at Steamboat two years ago. Kris, our coach, promised we could shave and dye his beard if we won. We did, and he had a blue and gold bobcat beard for weeks!”

-Kristiane Bekkestad (Montana State University)