MARQUETTE – Marquette Mountain will host more than 150 skiers ages 12 to 16 from five Midwest states, including 10 from the Great Lakes Ski Academy based in Marquette, for a U.S. Ski Association Junior Championship qualifier meet Friday through Sunday.

This is an Alpine – or downhill – event, with top finishers advancing to the Junior Championships in Colorado. The Under-14-year-old athletes will advance to an event in Winter Park and U-16s to Vail.

The skiers come from the USSA’s Central Regions 2, 3 and 4, which includes Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.

Those who qualify will be invited to compete for the Rocky Central Team that includes 19 states and is one of USSA’s three national divisions. Top finishers in Colorado go on to compete in national meets that include the USSA’s Eastern and Western divisions later this year.

“The achievement to compete at the regional and national levels comes after many years of dedication and hundreds of hours of training by these young athletes,” Great Lakes Ski Academy head coach Wendy Maas said.

Racing will take place each of the three days in both age groups from about 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Admission is free.