Crash, Comebacks, and Surprises—Inside St. Olaf’s Wild Ride at the U.S. Alpine Championships!”

Three St. Olaf Skiers Compete at U.S. Alpine National Championships

– Three members of the St. Olaf College alpine skiing teams wrapped up their seasons by competing in the Toyota U.S. Alpine National Championships earlier this week at Vail Mountain, facing off against some of the best skiers from across the country.

Representing the men’s team, senior Graham Barwick and junior Kerem Haymana participated in both the giant slalom and slalom races, while first-year Maia Andrews competed in the women’s giant slalom and slalom events. The championship course at Vail is widely regarded as one of the most demanding in the nation, testing the skill and endurance of all competitors.

Men’s Giant Slalom – Monday, March 31 
In the men’s giant slalom, Barwick finished in 53rd place with a combined time of 2:44.60, while Haymana followed closely behind in 56th place, completing his runs in 2:53.01.

Men’s Slalom – Tuesday, April 1
Haymana had a stronger performance in the men’s slalom, securing 49th place  with a total time of 1:52.23. Barwick, unfortunately, was unable to complete his second run and did not finish (DNF).

Women’s Events 
Competing in her first U.S. Alpine National Championships, Maia Andrews was unable to finish her **first runs in both the giant slalom and slalom disciplines, bringing an early end to her debut at the event.

Despite the tough competition and challenging conditions, the St. Olaf skiers gained valuable experience racing alongside the nation’s top alpine athletes. The event marked the conclusion of their competitive seasons, capping off another year of growth and high-level competition for the program.