DENVER - The University of Denver, one year removed from a National Championship, will look to reclaim the title when the 2016 collegiate skiing season comes to close with the NCAA Championships taking place next March in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

But there will be plenty of events for all teams to navigate through before reaching the NCAA championships.

It all begins in Park City, Utah, the site of the Pioneers last NCAA title. The alpine squad will participate in the University of Utah Invitational beginning January 4^th. The Nordic unit will begin six days later on January 10^th and 11^th at Soldier Hollow, Utah.

"The 2016 RMISA schedule looks like a dream come true," said Denver alpine head coach Andy LeRoy.  "With traditional sites of Park City, Big Sky, and Red River to start I think our team will be seeded well and in great position to charge for the post-season.  Our plan for the Regional Championships is to host on the World Championship trail of Raptor at Beaver Creek.  This promises to provide the highest level of challenge for our circuit, and maybe a preview of who will bring the strongest team to Steamboat Springs."

Denver Nordic head coach David Stewart was also pleased with the new schedule.

"The 2016 RMISA schedule will suit us well," Stewart explained.  "We are particularly looking forward to hosting the RMISA Regional Championships in Vail at the end of February.  Steamboat Springs has always been an excellent host city for the NCAA Championships, with both alpine and Nordic events held just off the main street at Howelsen Hill.  It is special to have the championship so close to home here in Colorado, making it possible for many of our supporters to come out to watch the races." 

While it is a long way off, there will be plenty of storylines for the 2016 NCAA Championships. One will be Denver trying to knock off defending champion Colorado. The Pioneers have a record number of NCAA skiing championships with 22 while the Buffaloes are breathing down DU's collective necks with 20. Of course the other schools are quite capable and will try to upset that apple cart. Also adding spice to the great DU-CU skiing rivalry is the fact that Andy LeRoy is a Colorado graduate who won a National Championship with the Buffs in 2000 also capturing first team All-American honors by winning the slalom that year.  And if the Pioneers can win it all again, in Steamboat Springs, the town where LeRoy was born and raised, it would only be that much sweeter for the veteran DU head coach.

 

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