Battle Mountain Alpine ski team looks ahead to 2025 season

The Colorado High School Ski League will award separate state Alpine and Nordic team titles this year, but the focus for the Battle Mountain Alpine ski team remains the same.

“Creating solid skiers, racers and humans is the name of the game,” head coach Erik Gilbert said. “The focus while Alpine racing is always to ski your individual best and when you need a pick-me-up or a grounding, that is what the team is for. It strengthens us all.”

The Huskies graduated several key cogs from last year’s squads, which placed in the top-5 in all four races (girls and boys slalom and giant slalom) at the state meet last February at Loveland. While recruiting hasn’t been an issue, Gilbert said the coaching staff took a slightly different roster management approach this year.

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“Numbers the last few years have ranged from 70-93 registered athletes, so this year we landed on an intentional team size of 50 to provide better training, coaching, camaraderie and safety,” Gilbert said. “It has gotten off to a great start.”

On the girls side, Battle Mountain graduated eight of its 10 state slalom starters and five giant slalom starters. The Huskies, however, do bring back their top finisher at the meet in junior Ruthie DeMino, who will be joined by her younger sister, Eden on both the Nordic and Alpine courses. On the boys side, the key losses were Ryder Fleischer (11th in GS at state) and Theo Krueger, the defending state skimeister champion. This winter, Gilbert said speed will be found from athletes across all ages, but pointed to his captains — Wynter Kehoe, Caylen Holleman, Keelan Losa and Kai Skellion — as the cornerstone individuals in the group.

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“We have not raced yet, so it is unfair to say who will lead the charge yet,” the coach said.

Statewide, Summit nearly swept all three team and individual events, with Aspen poisoning the perfection with a two-point win in the boys giant slalom. Gilbert anticipates the usual players — Summit, Aspen, Durango and Middle Park — to be strong.

“It is hard to know until we all compete against each other and see who’s new, who’s strong, who’s team oriented, and who is willing to go the extra mile,” he stated. “It will be a fun one.”

Battle Mountain opens the season with a slalom at Loveland on Jan. 9. The Huskies return to Eagle County the following week with a giant slalom at Beaver Creek on Jan. 17 and host a slalom race on their home hill Jan. 31. Everything points to the state meet in Aspen on Feb. 20-21, where, for the first time, team’s will battle separately for Nordic and Alpine trophies. Gilbert called the team scoring change a “fair move.”

“There is strength in training together and allowing the kids to develop bonds, so we hope to retain that aspect,” he said. “Kids are focused and are motivated to try their best, regardless of how state is scored. This new scoring system helps teams that focus more on one sport because of location or school size, so in that regard we strongly support it.” 

No matter the objective outcome, the coach is thrilled to be able to offer a ski racing opportunity to eager athletes in the county.

“Because of our amazing partners at Vail and Beaver Creek, we are able to provide an affordable ski racing opportunity for high-school athletes with a focus on perseverance, respect, integrity, diversity and excellence,” Gilbert stated. “Athletes are coached by some of the most respected and experienced coaches in the Vail Valley. Your ski racing dreams and goals can continue with our team and many athletes have continued to ski club in college.”

For a full schedule, results and archived results, visit sites.google.com/site/coloradohighschoolskileague/.

Colorado High School Ski League 2024 state Alpine ski results

Girls slalom

• Team winner: Summit – 172
• 4, Battle Mountain – 148
• Individual winner: Ella Snyder, Sr., Summit

Battle Mountain (place, name, grade)

• 7, Ruthie DeMino, So.
• 13, Julia Olsen, Sr.
• 19, Madeleine Brown, Sr.

Girls giant slalom

• Team winner: Summit – 175
• 5, Battle Mountain – 146
• Individual winner: Elodie Olsen, Fr., Summit

Battle Mountain (place, name, grade)

• 5, Ruthie DeMino, So.
• 22, Eliska Hlizova, Sr.
• 26, Makena Thayer, So.

Boys slalom

• Team winner: Summit – 173
• 5, Battle Mountain – 137
• Individual winner: Seth Montgomer, So., Summit

Battle Mountain (place, name, grade)

• 12, Theo Krueger, Sr.
• 17, Gabriel Hychalk, So.
• 20, Michael Hoyos, Sr.

Boys giant slalom

• Team winner: Aspen – 172
• 4, Battle Mountain – 150
• Individual winner: Seth Montgomery, So., Summit

Battle Mountain (place, name, grade)

• 8, Sebastian Anderson, So.
• 11, Ryder Fleischer, Sr.
• 16, Theo Krueger, Sr.