Skiing Notebook: Summer Update

BOULDER — Colorado head ski coach Richard Rokos recently returned from RMISA and NCAA meetings where a number of rule changes were announced that relate intercollegiate skiing.

FISU, the International University Sports Federation and entity responsible for putting on the World University Games (WUG), has changed the age limit of collegiate athletes for all FISU sports. The age limit for participating in past FISU events stood between 17 and 28, but now the upper end of the bracket sits at 25 years of age.

Since intercollegiate skiing is partially governed by FISU rules, this will come into effect immediately on the NCAA level for all new incoming athletes.

"A positive out of this is that traditionally a young U.S. collegiate team at World University Games and World Championship would not need to compete against Europeans," Rokos said.

Rokos added that regardless of that rule, the United States Ski Coaches Association is working to introduce their own age limit to the NCAA. That proposal would lower the upper end of the age bracket down to 24.

"In the long term, this would have very positive impact on U.S. skiing," Rokos said. "Kids graduating high school would either make the United States Ski Team or go to school and use the college as a potential development path to accomplish the higher goals."

Another rule change that came out of the meetings will impact regional allocation, beginning in 2018-19. The new regional allocation rule would be three times the number of schools in the region minus one, which for the West region would mean one less qualifying spot for the NCAA Championships and you'll begin to see fewer West region teams qualify a full 12-skier team for NCAAs.

The 2018 schedule will be coming out in the near future with the RMISA looking at releasing that as early as next week. CU is in line to host not only the 2018 NCAA Championships (March 7-10) in Steamboat Springs, but also another meet this season.

Additionally, Colorado will be hosting the fourth annual Jimmie Heuga Classic at Eldora Mountain Resort as the unofficial slalom season opener. It is not a collegiate meet.

"(The Jimmie Heuga Classic) is the race honoring one of CU best and most decorated athletes and also my goal will be to bring skiing back to spotlight and to sport enthusiasts subconscious mind," Rokos said.

More information will be released on this year's Jimmie Heuga Classic once the details become finalized.

The event combines a blend of world class skiers in a dual slalom format. It was started in part to attract several high level skiers as the timing fits before the start of the North American Cup and World Cup schedules. It is also held in recognition of Jimmie Heuga and his contribution to the sport of skiing and the University of Colorado.

Heuga skied for the Buffaloes, was the 1963 NCAA Champion in the slalom and he won the bronze medal at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. Along with Billy Kidd, who won the silver in the same race, the duo became the first two male alpine medalists in United States history.

He also participated in the 1968 Winter Olympics in Gernoble, France, before retiring from the slopes. In 1970, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and courageously fought the disease for four decades before passing away on Feb. 9, 2010, 46 years to the day and almost to the hour that he won his medal in Austria.

Colorado University Athletics

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