Racing to the bottom and staying on top

Perhaps the UNM ski team should scrap collegiate competitions and just head straight for the Vancouver Olympics.

Hyperbole aside, the UNM ski team is good — darn good.

During the second week of competition, UNM jumped to the top spot in SkiRacing.com’s NCAA power rankings.

Although the power rankings for college ski teams are new this year, it’s an amazing feat to accomplish, said UNM junior skier Martin Kaas.

“It’s kind of cool to go out, get a good start right away and we will definitely try to (keep the No. 1 ranking) as long as we can,” he said. “It’s going to give us an edge in all of the upcoming races. Now we get respect from all the other teams, and I think it’s going to push us a little extra to keep up the good results.”

Still, the ranking just underscores what UNM’s been doing for years.

The Lobos have won two of their last four events — the 2009 Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Skiing Association championship and the 2010 Utah Invitational.

UNM earned 850 points in eight events, 29 more than Colorado, the previous No. 1 team.

UNM placed second at the 2010 Montana State invitational and third at the 2009 NCAA championships.

“It’s always fun when you are doing good and this year we have a lot more competition within (the) team,” said UNM skier Malin Hemmingsson. “So, I mean, I have been pushing myself more, knowing that this is my last year racing.”

Hemmingsson is the only Lobo who is a two-time national champion in any event.

During her freshman year in 2007, Hemmingsson became the 10th UNM skier to win an individual national championship in slalom. Hemmingsson won her second championship in slalom last year.

Because of her impeccable track record, Hemmingsson said the members of the Lobos’ ski team look at her as a role model.

“I guess I kind of have to take a role as a leader or the boss,” she said. “But it’s really kind of a hard spot to be in, too, because you have to do everything good all the time. You kind of have to take everything into consideration when you’re working. Sometimes, I am really determined in what I want to do. I think that is good in one way, but can be bad in another way.”

The Lobos will have a skiing event closer to Albuquerque next weekend, when they’ll compete in the Jade Enterprises/New Mexico Invitational in Red River and Taos on Feb. 5-6.

Kaas said it’s a treat to compete closer to home.

“I think it’s just a lot of fun right now,” Kaas said. “Of course, qualifying for NCAAs is important, (but) we don’t really feel any pressure until the end of the season, when we’re building up for the NCAAs.”

*UNM Ski Team

Jade Enterprises/New Mexico Invitational

Feb. 5-6

Red River and Taos *