The Northern Michigan University alpine ski team, including head coach Eric Lundteigen at left, pose for this photo at Mammoth Mountain, Calif., during the season-ending USCSA National Championships in early March. (Photo courtesy NMU)

MARQUETTE — The Northern Michigan University men’s and women’s alpine ski teams kick off their seasons in Giants Ridge, Minnesota, for a U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association event today and Sunday.

Today’s racing features giant slalom, with Sunday to include slalom as racing begins at 10 a.m. each day. At last year’s event at Giants Ridge, both of Northern’s team won titles.

These NMU teams include 18 returnees, nine men and nine women, on the combined 22-athlete roster.

Fans can follow the Wildcats @nmuwildcats on Instagram, the NMU athletics website and the official Facebook and X pages for updates through the weekend.

The Northern women’s team finished as runner-up to Rocky Mountain College and the men third to Castleton and Rocky Mountain at the USCSA National Championships held in Mammoth Mountain, California, to conclude last season in early March.

Reagan Olli was crowned a national champion after winning the slalom that was the only race held due to heavy snow conditions — a reported 702 inches for the season at the main lodge and 879 inches on the mountain summit. She was also named a First Team All-American.

Teammate Ainsley Kirk finished 10th to be named a Second Team All-American.

Also earning Second Team All-American status were NMU men Aaron Grzelak, who took sixth, and Bradley Seaborg, who was 11th.

Kirk, Grzelak and Seaborg are all Marquette Senior High School graduates.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.