NCAA Championships: Freestyle Race Reports

A few short race reports from some of the top Midwest skiers in the freestyle races at NCAA Championships on Wednesday...

Kyle Bratrud, NMU, 7th -- 4th American

Today was the 10k Skate race at NCAAs. After winning the 15k Skate race in Houghton back at US Nationals, I had high goals for myself in this race. I have been blessed with opportunities to race in both Kazakhstan and Sweden for the US at the U23 and World Championships this year. All that considered, my legs are pretty blown from the travel and racing and after my run last night, I knew I didn't have much power left for today. I tried to attack the race early and see if my body responded and for a while it did, I led the race for a little bit around 3k, but from there I slowly faded, going through the stadium to lap in fifth and ultimately finishing in seventh. This was my third All American, but it definitely didn't feel like I accomplished anything. Reflecting on it now, after such a successful and eventful season, I can't be too dissapointed with the race as I gave everything I have left. I am looking forward to one more race on Friday. I think my classic legs have a little more left in the tank and I look forward to racing in my NMU uniform one last time. I owe a huge thank you to my teammate Fredrick Schwencke, who let me use his fastest pair of skis after we tested and discovered his were clearly better than mine. He also destroyed himself the final few kilometers when I caught him to pull me into the finish (I was dying myself). It has been amazing being a part of such a fast and professional team and I am really going to miss my NMU teammates next year. Looking forward to one more crack at the podium!

Skinnyski: How was the course -- we've heard it was basically uphill the first half, downhill the way back?

The course was really fun. Basically you climbed a significant amount in the first 3k then rolled down and up a few hills before bombing down a very fast and fun twisty downhill back into the stadium. I thought the course suited me well so I have no complaints there. Just a little bummed I didn't have more in the legs to give but Paddy Caldwell is a good friend of mine and it was awesome to see him win and see a big American presence at the front. I think a lot of people underestimate how competitive NCAAs is, but the two Rune and Mads were killing the supertour before Christmas so it's great to compete with all the foreigners as well as the best in the U.S.

Jordyn Ross, NMU, 12th -- 4th American

Here at NCAAs in Lake Placid we have just completed the first race which was a 5k and 10k skate for women and men, respectively. The course is a tough one with constantly climbing hills from the start to around 3.5k then it shoots you down a long downhill to the finishing flat. It is definitely a relentless course with very little, if any, breaks. It was warm today but the groomers had done a great job to keep the course staying pretty in tacked. Our coaches and wax techs gave us great skis and I felt really good out there today. I finished 12th with just 4 seconds out of the top 10. It was a close race today and tomorrow is another day and Friday brings another race which I am looking forward too!

Skinnyski: You redshirted last season, but back in 2013 you posted some nice results -- were you happy with the result today, or hoping for even higher?

Thanks. You know I was hoping for top 10 but I skied my absolute hardest today and I was really happy with it and considering how good the field was today, I was really excited I was that close!