Northern Michigan University men’s alpine skier Reed Heathman makes his way around a gate during a past Wildcats’ meet. (Photo courtesy NMU)

MARQUETTE — Fans who want to catch some of the best competitive downhill skiing in this area can head out to Marquette Mountain today and Sunday to watch the men’s and women’s alpine ski teams from Northern Michigan University host their only meet of the season.

And it’s an important one, as it’s the regional championships for the U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association, which will qualify top finishers for the weeklong national championships scheduled for Lake Placid, New York, from March 9-14.

The Wildcats teams have made three trips to Minnesota since mid-January, having won just about everything that was available to them.

The NMU men are 6 for 6, while the Northern women are 5 for 6 in taking victories at meets held at Wild Mountain, Giants Ridge and Spirit Mountain.

Competition both today and Sunday at Marquette Mountain is scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and fans can watch for free. In addition, for those that can’t make it, or don’t want to “brave” unseasonably warm temperatures in the 40s, can watch online at https://www.live-timing.com/races.php.

Marquette Mountain is hosting this USCSA regional meet for the fifth straight season dating back to 2022, and NMU has won it each time.

Last week at Spirit Mountain in Duluth, Minnesota, the Northern men were led to their two-day sweep by freshman Noah Bindas in both slalom and giant slalom. Reed Heathman in GS and Kyan Hopke in slalom were the next-best Wildcats in those disciplines.

The women had some bad luck with multiple racers unable to complete two runs and post a score in the first-day slalom, even though senior the Wildcats’ Kaylee Byrne was the individual winner.

The next day in GS, however, Northern was back to normal with a dominating performance, sweeping the first seven spots, led by Tommie Springer winning, Marquette Senior High School graduate Madalyn Stern second and Byrne completing the NMU podium takeover in third.

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release previewing the meet. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.