Sometimes, all one needs to be successful is the opportunity to do what they love.
University of Idaho Ski Club member Hannah Glaser used that opportunity to the full as she skied her way to second place in the women’s dual slalom at the U.S. Collegiate Skiing and Snowboarding (USCSA) National Championships on March 12. In doing so, the sophomore became the third Vandal ever to reach the national meet.
“It’s awesome to be able to uphold up that (skiing) legacy and represent the school going to such a big event,” Glaser said.
Glaser’s runner-up finish came from the last of three events that she competed in at Lake Placid, N.Y. On Tuesday March 8 and Thursday March 10, she raced in both the giant slalom and standard slalom, finishing 66th and 61st overall. Then on Saturday, the Vandal skier left the championship with the silver in dual slalom.
It was also the first time she raced on the east coast despite competing since the age of seven, and differences from west coast skiing conditions were immediately noticeable.
“The weather is a bit more unpredictable (on the east coast), and it was really icy,” she said. “I also hear traditionally that east coast skiing has firmer snow compared to the west coast. It’s easier to get ruts over here because snow is generally softer.”
After two UI alumni, Andrew Blaser and Robert Burns, competed in the Winter Olympic Games this last February in Beijing, Glaser showed promise by finishing second nationally. But going to the games is something that she doesn’t see herself doing in the future.
“Alpine ski racing is such a competitive sport,” Glaser said. “You need to have a lot of funding and time dedicated to just training. I (ski) because I enjoy it so much rather than being extremely competitive.”
That same passion Glaser finds in skiing is something she hopes will translate to the UI Ski Club.
“Ski racing is super important to me, and I’ve been doing it for a while,” she said. “But you don’t have to be super experienced to be on the ski team. We have such a great time at all our conference races, and it’s great to connect with other people that do a sport we all love.”
Winning awards and hardware in something you love to do is great, but to Hannah Glaser, it’s not the whole picture. Finding a genuine passion surrounded by a community seems to have just as much – if not more – importance.
And all it takes just one opportunity to get out there and find it.
Shea Mattson can be reached at [email protected]