The Spartan ski teams returned from the 2025 USCSA National Ski Championship last week with impressive finishes across multiple events. The event was held at Mount Bachelor in Bend, Oregon, where the teams faced the top universities from across the country.

“It feels good to be back,” said Christopher Eder, head alpine ski coach at Castleton. “We put a lot of time and effort into making it to nationals. It was a long trip, so it’s always nice to come back with some hardware and some really good individual results as well.”

Despite facing their share of challenges before and during the races, both teams stayed focused. After suffering late-season injuries and difficult snow conditions, the women’s team was able to secure a spot on the podium as one of the top teams in the country.

“The women’s team finished second overall—second in giant slalom and third in slalom,” said Eder. “The only team that beat them out was Rocky Mountain College, an NAIA school that offers athletic scholarships, which we can’t as an NCAA Division III school. So, they can say they’re the top non-athletic scholarship team in the country, which is cool.”

The women’s team reflected on their experience racing out west, highlighting their moments together as a team.

“My skiing wasn’t as strong as I had hoped,” said Emilie Stene. “But at the same time, I’m happy that I finished and that we skied good as a team and were rewarded for it.”

The men’s team also faced a share of obstacles, though still held on and came close to the slalom podium.

“With the men, we had a bit of bad luck on the first day in the giant slalom—only two finishers that day, which meant our third spot was a penalty time,” said Eder. “I was thinking out of 27 teams, maybe we’re going to be 20th at that point, but the two guys who did finish did quite well—enough to put us in ninth place.”

“In the slalom, we were 1.02 seconds off a podium spot. That’s how tight it was,” he said.

The championship gave Castleton’s athletes a chance to celebrate their achievements while also considering areas for improvement.

“Personally, I think I could’ve skied better,” said Aksel Stroem-Hansen. “The first slalom run was good, but I struggled with the soft snow. Skiing is a sport where there are many things that can go wrong and the faster you go, the more things can go wrong. It wasn’t the best skiing I’ve ever done, but it was good overall.”

The weather played a big part in the racers’ results, after cancellations due to storms and unfamiliar snow conditions, though the teams kept a proper mindset and pushed through.

“The conditions were rough,” said Eder. “In the giant slalom, we had two guys lose their skis early in the course.”

The incoming snow had a big impact on the racers, leaving the course in difficult conditions.

“You couldn’t see three gates in front of you,” said Stene. “I was bib 42 and by bib five the course was already beaten up.”

Not only did the conditions affect the team’s ability to race—it also altered the coaching plan.

“Normally, I’m on the hill during races, but due to scheduling, they wanted me to set the (other) course while the women were racing,” he said.

Although this changed the team’s plan, they were quick to adapt and work together to ensure their success. Two teammates stepped in as substitutes while Eder was setting for the next races.

“I had to turn my radio over to Jack Conneely, one of our freshmen who wasn’t racing,” said Eder. “He did a fantastic job videoing and giving course reports up to the start. A lot of credit goes to Jack for what he did there.”

“Lisa Davis, who is our grad assistant, was at the start with both the men and the women and Kevin McDonough helped out tremendously as well,” he said.

Looking ahead, these men and women are determined to finish this season out and return to nationals next year with their eyes set on the top of the podium.

“We still have a few races coming up—we’re racing next week and then the following week, so we’re really trying to maximize the last six races before the season is actually over,” said Nathaniel Hazen, ski racer for Castleton.

“I’m going into my senior season, the only thing I want is for our team to get a win at nationals,” said Stene.

The Spartans’ mindsets going into the championship gave them the resilience to adapt to challenges, connect as a team, and also set their sights on next season’s races.

“This is one of the best teams I’ve ever had as far as camaraderie and work ethic. No egos, no attitudes—just a group that supports each other,” said Eder. “At the end of the day, if I knew nothing about these guys, I couldn’t tell who won the race and who didn’t—they’ve all got smiles on their faces.”

The teams clearly support this mindset, practicing it on and off the slopes.

“After Karleigh’s slalom run, she came skiing down and we were waiting to hear what her time was. We were all standing, hugging, smiling, and laughing together even without knowing the time,” said Stene.

“It’s been so important having each other through every moment,” said Andrea Rodriguez. “It really helps take the pressure off.”

The entire team has shown their support for one another as well as the coaching staff.

“I’m super grateful to have been part of this team and for the hard work of our coach Christopher Eder,” said Stroem-Hansen. “He works around the clock—I’ve never met anyone that spends that much time on their coaching job. It’s been an honor.”