Happy Jack Ski and Snow Resort is home to many of those who enjoy spending their days gliding down the slopes. While spending time relaxing and having fun with friends, the Nordic Ski Team members ride the lifts and hit the powder as they prepare themselves for their vigorous season.
This year’s University’s Nordic Ski Team has fewer members this year than in the past with 30 members for its 2012-13 season. The team is a highly-competitive club for those of a more advanced level of skiing. Each competitor brought tremendous talent to the team as 12 qualified and will represent UW in the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association in Sun Valley, Idaho in two weeks.
The club annually sends these participants to the national championships where success has seemed to always come to these competitors.
The Nordic Club’s records show the women’s team was National Champions in 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and the national runner-up in 2005 and 2006.
The men’s team was the national runners up in 2003, 2005 and 2007, and national champions in 2006, 2009 and 2010. With the nationals approaching in the next couple weeks, the team and the coaching staff hopes to add another honor to their championship plaque.
So who leads this team throughout all its triumph?
Her name is Christi Boggs and she has a long history of competing in Nordic skiing.
“This club has always been a big part of my life,” said Boggs. “Seeing the close-knit communities it has created and the amazing players that is has established makes me fulfilled as former competitor and coach.”
As a junior, Boggs was a member of a National Championship relay team where she saw three top five finishes in J1 and OJ divisions, according to her competitive profile listed on the team’s website.
Boggs was also Colorado State Champion in 1987 then continued her career becoming a member of UW’s NCAA Nordic Ski Team till 1992. While at UW, Boggs became a first-team All-American three times and second-team All-American once. That honor means Boggs was the top skier on the strongest Women’s Nordic Team in the Country. After finishing college, Boggs changed her focus to Biathlon where she then attended the 1993 World University Games winning the Rocky Mt. Cup once and the North American Cup twice.
Boggs is proud of her team’s accomplishments this year and is proud to call herself the coach that has been with this team from the beginning. As this season winds down ending with the competition in Idaho, Boggs is proud of her team, win or lose.
“Even though this team is one of the smallest we’ve ever had, I couldn’t be more impressed with all the achievements they’ve made. Somehow having a small team has made our members stronger and more dedicated to the club. Whatever happens in the championships doesn’t affect or take away how far they’ve come in their season. The team is like a second family and I couldn’t feel more honored in sharing this experience with them.”
