It was already expected to be a close race, but fog, rain and wind may pull the competing schools in the NCAA Ski Championships all the more closer.
Foul weather conditions caused the opening event, the giant slalom, to be postponed Wednesday. Early Thursday, skiers fought an icy course and cold weather to race in the GS.The cross country event, which was scheduled for Thursday, however, was delayed. Flooding at the Jackson Ski Touring Center sent organizers scrambling to find a new track. Officials said they hoped to be able to run the classic cross country event under the lights late Thursday. If the race goes off as planned, it would be the first time an NCAA ski event has been held at night.
Perennial powers Vermont and Utah came into this event with a slight disadvantage. Neither school was able to field a complete team of 16 skiers. Injuries cut into Vermont's team and Utah only qualified three of a possible four women in the alpine events.
The University of Colorado, the winner of five of five regional races this season, is the only school to field a complete team. It also came into the event as a slight favorite over Utah.
Utah coach Pat Miller feels Utah's chances rest with good showings in the alpine events - GS and slalom.
He says his men's cross country team - Tory Kraftson, Havard Solbakken, Asle Slettmoen and Thomas Weman - is one of the strongest ever at Utah. Also, his women's team - Heidi Selnes, Ulrika Svensted, Ingvil Snofugl and Hilde Halland - has been skiing well.
"We've been able to hold our own against Colorado in the nordic events," says Miller. "If we can stay competitive in the alpine, we'll do well."
Utah's alpine team includes Andy Hare, Per Johansen and brothers Mike and Mark Elvidge for the men, and Christl Hager, Benedicte Johansen and Alex Gericke for the women.
The schedule calls for the slalom to be run Friday and the freestyle cross country Saturday.