Denver Pioneers ski team
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2011) |
| Denver Pioneers ski team | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | University of Denver |
| Head coach | Andy LeRoy, Alpine; Dave Stewart, Nordic |
| Conference | RMISA |
| Location | Denver, Colorado |
| Home mountain | Winter Park Resort, Devil's Thumb Ranch |
| Colors | Crimson and gold[1] |
| NCAA championships | |
| 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014 | |
The University of Denver Ski Team is a collegiate team that has won a record 24 NCAA Championships the first dating back to 1954.[2] Under the direction of coach Willy Schaeffler, a member of the National Ski Hall of Fame, the Pioneers skied their way to 13 championships.[3] Under Schaeffler's leadership, the University of Denver Ski Team "completely dominated intercollegiate skiing" in the United States for two decades. [4] Schaeffler's "passion for preparedness" and tough training regimen yielded "remarkable" success in competition.[5]
The program was absent from 1984–1992, but surged back onto the national scene winning eight of the first 12 NCAA Championships this century. The Alpine team currently practices less than 70 miles away from campus at Winter Park Resort. The Nordic team calls Devil's Thumb Ranch Resort home, only 78 miles from the university.[6]
National championships
The Pioneers won their 24th team championship in 2018, the most by any ski team in NCAA history.[8] Colorado is second with 20 titles, and Utah is third with 11.[9] The 24 ski titles are the third most NCAA Division I titles among any team in any single sport.[10] Oklahoma State wrestling holds the most national titles with 34,[11] followed by Southern Cal men’s outdoor track and field (26)[12] and Iowa wrestling (23).[11]
| Year | Location | Head Coach |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Reno, Nev. | Willy Schaeffler |
| 1955 | Northfield, VT | Willy Schaeffler |
| 1956 | Winter Park, Colo. | Willy Schaeffler |
| 1957 | Snow Basin, Utah | Willy Schaeffler |
| 1961 | Middlebury, Vt. | Willy Schaeffler |
| 1962 | Squaw Valley, Calif. | Willy Schaeffler |
| 1963 | Solitude, Utah | Willy Schaeffler |
| 1964 | Franconia Notch, N.H. | Willy Schaeffler |
| 1965 | Crystal Mountain, Wash. | Willy Schaeffler |
| 1966 | Crested Butte, Colo. | Willy Schaeffler |
| 1967 | Kingfield, Maine | Willy Schaeffler |
| 1969 | Steamboat Springs, Colo. | Willy Schaeffler |
| 1970 | Franconia Notch, N.H. | Willy Schaeffler |
| 1971 | Terry Peak, S.D. | Peder Pytte |
| 2000 | Park City, Utah | Kurt Smitz |
| 2001 | Middlebury, Vt. | Kurt Smitz |
| 2002 | Anchorage, Alaska | Kurt Smitz |
| 2005 | Stowe, Vt. | Kurt Smitz |
| 2008 | Bozeman, Mont. | Andy LeRoy/David Stewart |
| 2009 | Bethel-Rumford, Maine | Andy LeRoy/David Stewart |
| 2010 | Steamboat Springs, Colo. | Andy LeRoy/David Stewart |
| 2014 | Park City/Soldier Hollow, Utah | Andy LeRoy/David Stewart |
| 2016 | Steamboat Springs, Colo. | Andy LeRoy/David Stewart |
Individual National Champions
The Pioneers have produced 80 NCAA individual champions,[13] including three in 2011.[14][15]
| Year | Gender | Athlete | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | M | Geir Skari | Classical |
| 2000 | M | Pietro Broggini | Classical |
| 2001 | M | Wolf Wallendorf | Classical |
| 2002 | M | Ola Berger | Classical |
| 2005 | M | Rene Reisshauer | Classical |
| 2006 | M | John Stene | Classical |
| 2000 | M | Pietro Broggini | Freestyle |
| 2001 | M | Pietro Broggini | Freestyle |
| 2002 | M | Ola Berger | Freestyle |
| 2005 | M | Rene Reisshauer | Freestyle |
| 2007 | M | Rene Reisshauer | Freestyle |
| 1994 | M | Erik Roland | Giant Slalom |
| 2007 | M | Adam Cole | Giant Slalom |
| 2008 | M | John Buchar | Giant Slalom |
| 2010 | M | Leif Kristian Haugen | Giant Slalom |
| 2011 | M | Seppi Stiegler | Giant Slalom |
| 1954 | M | John L'Orange | Slalom |
| 1965 | M | Rick Chaffee | Slalom |
| 1967 | M | Rick Chaffee | Slalom |
| 1968 | M | Dennis McCoy | Slalom |
| 1969 | M | Paul Rachetto | Slalom |
| 1971 | M | Otto Tschudi | Slalom |
| 1973 | M | Peik Christensen | Slalom |
| 1975 | M | Peik Christensen | Slalom |
| 1998 | M | Christian Hutter | Slalom |
| 1999 | M | Jayme Smithers | Slalom |
| 2007 | M | Adam Cole | Slalom |
| 2008 | M | John Buchar | Slalom |
| 1965 | M | Rick Chaffee | Alpine (Discontinued) |
| 1967 | M | Jon Terje Øverland | Alpine (Discontinued) |
| 1968 | M | Dennis McCoy | Alpine (Discontinued) |
| 1969 | M | Paul Rachetto | Alpine (Discontinued) |
| 1971 | M | Otto Tschudi | Alpine (Discontinued) |
| 1973 | M | Peik Christensen | Alpine (Discontinued) |
| 1974 | M | Peik Christensen | Alpine (Discontinued) |
| 1962 | M | Mike Barr | Downhill (Discontinued) |
| 1966 | M | Jon Terje Øverland | Downhill (Discontinued) |
| 1967 | M | Dennis McCoy | Downhill (Discontinued) |
| 1970 | M | Otto Tschudi | Downhill (Discontinued) |
| 1971 | M | Otto Tschudi | Downhill (Discontinued) |
| 1972 | M | Otto Tschudi | Downhill (Discontinued) |
| 1954 | M | Marvin Crawford | Individual Cross-Country (Discontinued) |
| 1958 | M | Clarence L. Servold | Individual Cross-Country (Discontinued) |
| 1959 | M | Clarence L. Servold | Individual Cross-Country (Discontinued) |
| 1970 | M | Ole Ivar F. Hansen | Individual Cross-Country (Discontinued) |
| 1971 | M | Ole Ivar F. Hansen | Individual Cross-Country (Discontinued) |
| 1954 | M | Willis S. Olson | Jumping (Discontinued) |
| 1955 | M | Willis S. Olson | Jumping (Discontinued) |
| 1956 | M | Willis S. Olson | Jumping (Discontinued) |
| 1957 | M | Alfred L. Vincelette | Jumping (Discontinued) |
| 1958 | M | Oddvar Rønnestad | Jumping (Discontinued) |
| 1961 | M | Christoffer Selbeck | Jumping (Discontinued) |
| 1962 | M | Oyvind Floystad | Jumping (Discontinued) |
| 1964 | M | Erik Jansen | Jumping (Discontinued) |
| 1965 | M | Erik Jansen | Jumping (Discontinued) |
| 1969 | M | Odd Hammernes | Jumping (Discontinued) |
| 1972 | M | Odd Hammernes | Jumping (Discontinued) |
| 1957 | M | Harald Riiber | Nordic (Discontinued) |
| 1958 | M | Clarence Servold | Nordic (Discontinued) |
| 1959 | M | Theodore A. Farwell | Nordic (Discontinued) |
| 1963 | M | Aarne Valkama | Nordic (Discontinued) |
| 1964 | M | Erik Jansen | Nordic (Discontinued) |
| 1969 | M | Georg R. Krog | Nordic (Discontinued) |
| 1954 | M | Marvin Crawford | Skimeister (Discontinued) |
| 1956 | M | John R. Cress | Skimeister (Discontinued) |
| 1995 | F | Narcisa Sehovic | Slalom |
| 1996 | F | Roberta Pergher | Slalom |
| 1997 | F | Roberat Pergher | Slalom |
| 2000 | F | Cecilie Hagen Larsen | Slalom |
| 2004 | F | Pia Rivelsrud | Slalom |
| 2011 | F | Sterling Grant | Slalom |
| 1996 | F | Lisbeth Johnsen | Classical |
| 1999 | F | Britta Wienand | Classical |
| 2009 | F | Antje Maempel | Classical |
| 2010 | F | Antje Maempel | Classical |
| 1996 | F | Lisbeth Johnsen | Freestyle |
| 2009 | F | Antje Maempel | Freestyle |
| 2010 | F | Antje Maempel | Freestyle |
| 2011 | F | Ida Dillingoen | Giant Slalom |
| 2012 | M | Espen Lysdahl | Slalom |
Olympic athletes
The University of Denver have sent skiers to the Winter Olympics. The first games that DU was represented in were the 1948 games in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Recently the Pioneers have sent athletes to the Nagano Games[16] and the Vancouver Games.[17] Overall DU has sent over 50 athletes and coaches to represent their countries in the Olympics.[18]
See also
References
- ^ Colors | University of Denver. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
- ^ "Skiing: Championship History". NCAA.
- ^ "Willy Schaeffler, Skiing Coach, 72". The New York Times. April 12, 1988.
- ^ "Close Up: Olympic Ski Coach Willy Schlaeffler "I've never taught a boy how to lose"". LIFE. March 12, 1971. pp. 46–49. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
- ^ "Tough Way to be a Skier". LIFE. January 14, 1957. pp. 46–49. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
- ^ "DU Skiing" (PDF). University of Denver Athletics. Retrieved September 8, 2011.
- ^ Draper, Eric. "Denver Skiing with President Bush". White House.
- ^ Meyer, John (March 14, 2010). "DU Pioneers top CU Buffs to claim 21st NCAA skiing championship". The Denver Post.
- ^ "Championship History". NCAA.
- ^ "Championship History". NCAA.
- ^ a b "Championship History".
- ^ "Championship History".
- ^ "Individual Champions". University of Denver.
- ^ Snyder, Curtis. "Colorado Wins 18th Championship". Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association.
- ^ Hubner, Bryce. "Colorado wins 17th Skiing crown". NCAA.
- ^ Longmore, Andrew (January 25, 1998). "Skiing: Sophie's passport to confusion". The Independent. London.
- ^ Coulter, Steven. "Haugen reflects on Olympic skiing experience". The Clarion.
- ^ "Skiing: Denver Olympians". University of Denver.