DENVER – Six University of Denver student-athletes are set to represent their respective countries at the 2023 FISU World University Games from Friday, Jan. 13 to Sunday, Jan. 22 in Lake Placid, New York.
DU ski team freshman
Mia Hunt (United States), junior
Nora Brand (Germany) and freshman
Sara Rask will compete in alpine skiing while sophomore
Andreas Kirkeng (Norway), freshman
Selma Andersen (Norway) and junior
Hanna Ray (Finland) will take part in the cross country events.
The opening ceremonies are tonight, Jan. 12, at the Olympic Center's Herb Brooks Arena, and the skiing competitions get underway on Friday with the women's alpine super G at Whiteface Mountain Resort and cross country classic mixed relay at Mount Van Hoevenberg at the Olympic Sports complex.
The next 10 days of competition will also serve as a preview of sorts for the Denver skiers ahead of the 2023 NCAA Championships, as the national championships will also take part in Lake Placid on March 8-11 and will be held at many of the same courses as the athletes will be competing on at the World University Games.
Hunt is expected to compete in women's super G and alpine combined on Friday and Saturday before Brand and Rask join her in the technical events (slalom and giant slalom) from Jan. 17-20.
The Nordic skiing Pioneers will race in both individual and team events over the next week and half, including the 5/10-kilometer classic on Monday, Jan. 17 and the 15/30K freestyle to wrap up the winter games on Sunday, Jan. 22.
This is the 30th World University Games and is administered by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). It is considered the second multi-sport winter event in the world after the Winter Olympics and features athletes ages 17-25. This is the third time that the games have been held in the U.S. and the second time that Lake Placid has served as a host (1972; Buffalo, summer 1993).
World University Games Skiing Schedule
Friday, Jan. 13
Alpine Women's Super G
Cross Country Classic Mixed Relay
Saturday, Jan. 14
Women's Alpine Combined (Super G/Slalom)
Sunday, Jan. 15
Cross Country 1.2K Freestyle Sprints
Tuesday, Jan. 17
Alpine Women's Giant Slalom
Cross Country Women's 5K Classic (Interval Start)
Cross Country Men's 10K Classic (Interval Start)
Wednesday, Jan. 18
Cross Country Women's 5K Pursuit Freestyle
Cross Country Men's 10K Pursuit Freestyle
Thursday, Jan. 19
Alpine Parallel Slalom
Friday, Jan. 20
Alpine Women's Slalom
Cross Country Women's 5K Relay Classic/Freestyle
Cross Country Men's 7.5K Relay Classic/Freestyle
Sunday, Jan. 22
Cross Country Men's 30K Freestyle (Mass Start)
Cross Country Women's 15K Freestyle (Mass Start)
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