The task is simple — travel nearly 3,000 miles and compete against some of the best skiers in the world.
The University of Idaho club ski team, which consists of about seven women and 15 men, is relishing in one of its most successful seasons in recent history.
Coach Jerry McMurty said Idaho, which competes in the Northwest Conference of the United States Collegiate Ski Association, qualified for the Western Regional competition in Steamboat Springs, Colo. The men’s team and Lindsey Anderson qualified for the National Championship March 5-10 at Sunday River in Bethol, Maine.
He said it is the first time the men have qualified for nationals by placing in the top three of 16 teams at the Western Regional, behind the University of British Columbia and Rocky Mountain College.
“We’re super stoked,” McMurty said. “For a little school like Idaho that doesn’t have a ski area really close, it’s pretty remarkable to be one of the top three in the Western U.S.”
McMurty said teams race up to five skiers in regional and national competitions and the top three times count toward standings. The five men from Idaho making the cross-country trip are Erik Anderson, Drew Anderson, Travis Soderquist, Jeff Jacka and Nick Howell.
While McMurty believes the men can fair well against the competition, he said it will be the best the team has seen all year.
“(The race is) bringing in people with international rankings at this event,” McMurty said. “It will be super tough, but the men can do it. They’re smart, they’re focused, they’re great athletes. They really can place very, very high.”
Ideally, McMurty said, each of Idaho’s fastest times place as high as possible to accumulate the lowest amount of points in search of the team title.
Anderson, sister of Erik and Drew and twin of teammate Ashley Anderson, the lone qualifier from the women’s side, is well placed to make a run at the national title in the giant slalom, McMurty said.
“She is a very, very strong racer and especially in giant slalom,” McMurty said. “She could win the national giant slalom, she’s of that caliber.”