The CU Buffaloes Ski Team convenes every year at Eldora after their season concludes to participate in the Nor-Alp Schralp – a friendly event that reunites teammates and marks another successful season. This year they had a lot to celebrate having won their 21st national championship title in school history.

Finding themselves down by 51 points entering the final day of competition at the National Championships in Steamboat Springs last March, demonstrating great skill, resiliency, and determination, they came roaring back, winning the crown by two points. This was the second biggest comeback ever witnessed in the NCAA.

Besides the camaraderie, what makes the Nor-Alp a blast is its unique format. In the intra-squad competition, the athletes flip-flop disciplines: alpine racers switch to Nordic and vice versa. Teams of one alpine skier and one Nordic skier complete two downhill runs and two times around an abbreviated cross-country relay course. The best combined times dictated the winner.

The Nordic skiers seemed to do pretty well in the alpine portion of the contest, but some of the alpine athletes struggled a bit in the Nordic part which made for many a comedic moment.

Afterwards, the 2024 NCAA National Skiing Champions posed for a group photo and signed autographs.

All in good fun: The CU Buffs Ski Team. [/caption]

Alpine skiers turned Nordic skiers for a day learned that it isn’t as easy as it looks.[/caption]