Photo credit: Meagan Bronson
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. (March 22, 2026) — The U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA) concluded its six-day 2026 Collegiate National Championships on Saturday, March 14, bringing together more than 650 athletes from 68 colleges and universities for one of the most competitive and dynamic events in collegiate snowsports.
Held across Lake Placid’s iconic venues — including Whiteface Mountain and Mt. Van Hoevenberg — the championships featured competition in alpine skiing, snowboard alpine, freeskiing, freestyle snowboarding, and nordic skiing.
Despite a week of highly variable weather — from warm sunshine and rain to freezing temperatures and fresh snow — organizers successfully completed all scheduled events.
“From start to finish, this was the best U.S. Collegiate National Championship we’ve ever had,” said USCSA Co-Director of National Championships Andy Rangen. “The weather kept things interesting, but our athletes performed incredibly well and the experience for student-athletes was outstanding.”
Alpine Skiing Highlights
Alpine competition kicked off at Whiteface Mountain with Giant Slalom races before transitioning into Slalom and Parallel Slalom events later in the week.
- Rocky Mountain College emerged as the dominant program, capturing both men’s and women’s overall team titles
- Clarkson University claimed the men’s Giant Slalom team title
- University of Connecticut earned its first-ever women’s Slalom team championship
Individual Standouts
- Julia Wiacek (Babson College) — Women’s Giant Slalom Champion
- Marin Vigneras (UMass) — Men’s Giant Slalom Champion
- Aspen McAuley (Hobart William Smith) — Women’s Slalom Champion
- Will Patton (Hobart William Smith) — Men’s Slalom Champion
“The conditions were variable all week, but our depth made the difference,” said Rocky Mountain College Head Coach Jerry Wolf.
Nordic Skiing Highlights
Nordic competition at Mt. Van Hoevenberg showcased endurance and strategy across classic, freestyle, sprint, and distance events.
- St. Olaf College dominated the women’s competition, winning the overall national title
- Paul Smith’s College captured the men’s overall national championship
Individual Highlights
- Greta Bochenek (Colorado Mesa University) — Women’s Classic Champion
- Phil Matthews (Paul Smith’s College) — Men’s Classic Champion
- Sisu Lange — Sprint Champion
“Lake Placid is one of my favorite places to ski,” said Bochenek. “It’s an incredible venue for competition.”
Snowboard & Freeski Highlights
Freestyle and snowboard events brought high energy across slopestyle, rail jam, and cross competitions.
Team Champions
- Westminster University dominated freestyle, sweeping:
- Men’s & Women’s Freeski Overall
- Men’s & Women’s Snowboard Freestyle Overall
- Lees-McRae College went 4-for-4 in Snowboard Alpine, winning:
- Men’s & Women’s Slalom
- Men’s & Women’s Giant Slalom
Cross & Rail Jam
- Rocky Mountain College — Men’s & Women’s Skier Cross
- Liberty University — Men’s Snowboard Cross
- UCLA — Women’s Snowboard Cross
- Westminster University — Clean sweep of Rail Jam events
“The level of competition was incredibly high despite tough conditions,” said Westminster athlete Casper van den Brink-Lemley.
A National Stage for Collegiate Snowsports
The USCSA National Championships represent the culmination of a season that begins with conference competitions across 11 regions, followed by six regional championships.
Only the top teams earn a spot at Nationals, making this event the premier stage for collegiate snowsports in the United States.
About USCSA
The U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA) is the governing body for collegiate team ski racing and snowboarding in the United States. The organization includes:
- 140 member colleges
- 4,700+ student-athletes
- 300+ events annually
USCSA is committed to providing inclusive, team-oriented competition opportunities for athletes of all levels.
More Information
Photos & Media: www.uscsa.org/photo–video.html
Results & Event Info: www.uscsa.org
Broadcast Archives: https://www.uscsa.org/broadcast.html
About the Author: Press Release
