PNSA Nordic Skiers Move Up in th

PNSA Nordic Skiers Move Up in the Ranks

By Brenna Knowles- MBSEF Nordic

According to the 2005 Overall USSA Points Ranking- skiers who began their racing careers in the PNSA division are ranked higher nationwide than ever before. Currently five PNSA skiers, (2 women, 3 men) are ranked among the top 50 best skiers in the US.

Torin Koos, originally from Leavenworth, Washington is the PNSA skier who has taken ski racing to the highest level. At the national level, he was awarded All American status three times for the University of Utah and he earned the 2005 U.S. Sprint Championship title. At the international level, Torin has gathered World Junior, World Championship and Olympic experience over the last 6 years. Currently Torin’s gearing up for his second Olympics with his goals set on a top 10 sprint finish. Torin is currently ranked the 5^th best skier overall in the U.S.

Kristina Owen, also from the Leavenworth Ski Team, was the first ever All American Nordic skier for Michigan Tech with her 7^th place finish in the 2005 NCAA Championships. She was 12^th in the freestyle race at NCAAs and she is currently ranked 9^th in 2005 overall USSA points. According to Kristina, two factors play a key role in slowing the progress of female college skiers: boys and beer. As part of her training plan, she does her best to avoid both.

Laura Valaas, another Leavenworth Ski Team alumni, earned All-American honors for Whitman College by placing 5^th and 9^th at the 2005 NCAA championships. Laura is currently ranked 19^th in 2005 overall USSA points. Laura and her teammate Emma Lohr are the first Whitman Nordic skiers to qualify for the NCAA championships.

Marshall Greene, a former Inland Empire Nordic skier, is currently ranked 37^th in 2005 overall USSA points. Marshall is originally from Spokane, WA. He graduated from Middlebury in 2004 and currently trains and races for Xcoregon in Bend, Oregon. In 2005 Marshall had three top ten finishes in the U.S. Super Tour races and placed 3^rd in The Great Race in Truckee, California.

Josh Smullin, a former MBSEF Nordic racer, is currently ranked 46^th in this year’s overall USSA points. After racing for the University of Colorado, Josh has landed a job as assistant coach for the University of Utah. He will coach and pursue a master’s degree in sport and exercise psychology at the University of Utah.

Who will be moving up the list next? We’ll be keeping our eye on MBSEF’s Dakota Blackhorse Von Jess at Dartmouth and Blue Mountain’s Dane Johnson at Middlebury.