Colorado University Athletics
Ski Team Alums Win Holding Cup
May 20, 2005 | Skiing
SUN VALLEY, Idaho - Five former members of the University of Colorado's storied ski team program won the inaugural Holding Cup, a nation-wide college and university alumni challenge, held in April in Sun Valley, Idaho.
Competing for "pride, prestige and prizes", former Buffs from CU's varsity, club and developmental teams Kipp Nelson, Steve Brown, Dave Tengen, Brian Daluiso and Amber Acker (a Ketchem native) won the donated first-place prize of $1,500 which was presented to the University Foundation and will be used to fund summer school classes for ski team members.
Sponsored by the Sun Valley Resort, Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation, Ski Racing magazine and Dasani water, nine teams received transportation to Ketchum, Idaho and accommodations for participating in the inaugural event.
"This was a great event to have organized," said head coach Richard Rokos. "I hope Sun Valley doesn't get discouraged with so few teams competing. It's something new and promising. It's great that our alumni teams could help support our current athletes."
Montana State's alumni finished second for $1,000 in prize money and Middlebury (Vt.) took home $500 for third place. Due to "too much youth on the roster", Colorado's second team finished ninth with team members Peter Hall, Holly Shelton, Lauren Grimditch, Jaime Engelking and David Butterfield. Rokos had anticipated skiing for the Buffs and was on the start list, but was committed to a CU faculty and staff event at Eldora Mountain Resort, CU's home mountain. "The old guy was supposed to me, and had I competed, we would have won," laughed Rokos.
Next year's Holding Cup is scheduled for March 30-April 1.1
