U.S. Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA) events each season include 11 collegiate conferences competing in six regional competitions, all culminating in the massive USCSA National Championships held in March of each year. The National Championships alternate annually between East and West Coast, and in 2024, they are underway this week March 4-9 in Lake Placid with alpine events at Whiteface Mountain and Nordic events at Mt Van Hoevenberg.

The USCSA’s more than 500 student athletes are in Lake Placid this week to participate in these competitions as not only as an important athletic development opportunity but also to represent their 175 colleges and universities as their teams pursue National titles in each ski and snowboard discipline. USCSA competitions stand out because they place team performance at the heart of every competition.

The Purpose in Competitive Structure and Approach

After dedicating so many years of their youth to ski racing, many athletes perceive the end of their high school years as an end to their ski racing. That’s where the USCSA comes in. The team nature of their competitions, especially the National Championships, provides collegiate athletes access to a high level of competition at some of the best venues in the nation, including our own Lake Placid Legacy Sites.

For the National Championships, each team fields five or more racers for each competitive event, and the top three performances are used for the team score. In this way, the USCSA not only places a high priority on team competition but also creates opportunities for many more athletes to compete. In fact, at this week’s events, more than 200 alpine athletes, 200 freeski and snowboard athletes, and 100 Nordic athletes will be competing for their home teams over the course of an entire week.

As a result of this competitive model, USCSA athletes recognize these National Championships are different from their other racing experiences because it provides something even in addition to the intense excitement of national level competition. In placing a high priority on team competition, the USCSA fosters camaraderie and fellowship among athletes across both their athletic and academic careers. In fact, according to the USCSA, their athletes agree this strong team orientation is instrumental in nurturing an appreciation of partnership in other aspects of their lives and careers.

2024 National Championship Venues and Events

At Mt Van Hoevenberg, top U.S. collegiate athletes will compete with their teams for the national title in these events:

    • 15km Mass Start
    • 5k Interval Start
    • 5km Sprint
    • Team Sprint

At Whiteface Mountain, the nation’s top college snowboard, freeski, and alpine athletes will compete for national team titles in these events:

    • Slalom
    • Giant Slalom
    • Dual Slalom
    • Railjam
    • Slopestyle
    • Big Air
    • Skiercross & Snowboardcross
    • Snowboard Giant Slalom
    • Snowboard Slalom

The USCSA National Championship events are all free of charge for spectators. Click here to view USCSA National Championship details from the full schedule to live streams and results as well as photos and video of the events and much more.