Skiers from Alaska-Fairbanks, Utah capture Ski Racing's college awards

Skiers from Alaska-Fairbanks, Utah capture Ski Racing’s college awards{mosimage}This year’s Ski Racing college awards could have gone to the entire New Mexico team, which won its school’s first NCAA championship — in any sport. But two cross-country skiers were just a little too good to ignore, sweeping their races at the NCAA championships.

College Skiers of the Year
SIGRID AAS
Age: 23
Hometown: Alta, Norway
School: University of Alaska-Fairbanks
Skis/Boots/Bindings/Poles: Madshus/Alpina/Rottefella/Swix
This award often goes to a European ringer who dominates the collegiate circuit as soon as her skis hit snow. So it is truly inspiring that this year’s recipient is a Norwegian who had humble beginnings on the collegiate circuit. As a freshman at 2001 NCAAs, Aas’s best finish was 15th. Could anyone have predicted that this freckle-faced blonde would be an NCAA double gold medalist her senior year? Perhaps only her coach Bill McDonnell who, Aas says, always believed in her. Over the next three years, her motivation improved and so did her results. Last year, she scored silver in classic and a bronze in freestyle at NCAAs. Aas kicked off the 2004 season with three second-place finishes at U.S. Nationals, then skied so well at Norwegian Nationals that she earned World Cup starts. Back in the States, she carried her momentum from regionals — first in freestyle, second in classical — all the way to Tahoe. “After a good early season I knew that I was a contender to win NCAAs, and I decided that was my goal,” says Aas. “By the time NCAAs came around, I drew confidence from U.S. Nationals, races in Norway and the World Cup to go for the win.” Make that wins.

HENNING DYBENDAL
Age: 25
Hometown: Skotselv, Norway
School: University of Utah
Skis/Boots/Bindings/poles: Fischer/Alpina/Rottefella/Swix
Before the season began, Utah head coach Kevin Sweeney said that Henning Dybendal had the potential to win. The 6’3″ Norwegian lived up to his coach’s prediction. In addition to his double golds at NCAAs, he won four races — three classical and one freestyle — and never finished lower than third. Even when he didn’t win, he was always less than a minute behind the leader. Although the powerful skier made it look easy, he claims that it wasn’t. “I had to ski my best every race, so it wasn’t easy at all,” says Dybendal when asked if he felt challenged on the collegiate circuit. “Erlend Hoff [Denver] and Tor Erik Schjellerud [Colorado] skied great this year.” On a team plagued by illness and injury all year, Dybendal’s consistent skiing was a highlight, and the shy computer science major credited both good health and his team: “It was a great season. I stayed healthy and skied good all season through. I think it has a lot to do with confidence, too. It has been really fun to race this year. Trainers, teammates and everyone who has been a part of the team have done a very good job.” He’s a one-year wonder for the Utes though. Having completed only his junior year at Utah, Dybendal returns to Norway to focus on his skiing.