Nordic athletes competed in their longest race of the week — a 15-kilometer classic mass start. Clarkson University’s men’s squad took home their second team national championship of the week, while St. Olaf College continued their sweep of the women’s team events, winning their third out of three team National Championships awarded for the week. Rounding out the women’s team podium was the University of Wisconsin at Madison in second and the University of Wyoming in third. Paul Smith’s College and Western Colorado University placed second and third, respectively, for the men.

“Our women had another great day winning the 15K classic race,” St. Olaf Head Coach Kevin Brochman said. “Lots of smiles, fun, sun and great memories from Lake Placid 2024.”

In the men’s slalom race at Whiteface Mountain, Vermont State University at Castleton earned its second national championship with a first place finish. The University of Northern Michigan came in second place to earn their first podium of the week, followed by Clarkson in third.

“As a team we knew we could lay it down and compete today in the slalom,” NMU team captain Reed Heathman said. “Even with my mishap and Connor’s stop and go, we were sitting good after the first run, but there was still work to do. Even with just three solid times on the board I told the boys to lay it on the line, we got nothing to lose and everything to gain, and they took it to heart as they laid it down. I am so proud of this team, boys and girls included, the coaches prepared us well. The high fives and hugs in the finish confirmed that our hard work has paid off.”

Paul Smith’s College’s Dolcie Tanguay leads a pack of Nordic skiers during Friday’s mass start race at Mount Van Hoevenberg. (Provided photo — John DiGiacomo)

Liberty University’s men’s and women’s snowboard teams took home team National Championships at the Bear Run terrain park. On the men’s side, the University of Maine at Farmington’s team took home second and Lees-McRae College placed third to round out the podium. In the women’s competition, Westminster University’s team came in second place followed by the Claremont Colleges in third.