Bobcat Freshman Solheim 12th in Giant Slalom at NCAA Championships

Thursday, March 7

Stowe, VT

All Day

Montana State University

Giant Slalom

Aage Solheim finished 12th in giant slalom at Thursday's NCAA Skiing Championships.

Photo by: courtesy of NCAA Photos

Bobcat Freshman Solheim 12th in Giant Slalom at NCAA Championships

3/7/2019 5:35:00 PM | Men's Skiing, Women's Skiing, Skiing

Solheim, a native of Staarheim, Norway, placed 12th overall finishing the two-run giant slalom course in 1:58.72, notching 18.5 points. Solheim was 18th overall after the opening run, before moving up six spots on the second go.

By: Tom Schulz

STOWE, Vermont – Montana State freshmen alpine phenoms Åge Solheim and Louis Muhlen-Schulte made their debut for the Bobcats at the 2019 NCAA Skiing Championships at Stowe Mountain Resort on Thursday afternoon, each with different results.

Solheim, a native of Staarheim, Norway, placed 12^th overall finishing the two-run giant slalom course in 1:58.72, notching 18.5 points. Solheim was 18^th overall after the opening run, before moving up six spots on the second go.

"Åge was skiing as fast as anybody in training and just couldn't find his groove today," said MSU head alpine coach Kevin Francis. "He was accelerating through every turn on the same hill and the same snow yesterday and was just a little grindy both runs today. He skied a little better second run, but was disappointed with the feelings on his skis today. The fact that he was disappointed and still able to get eighth on a run shows how fast he could be if he was feeling good."

Muhlen-Schulte, a product of South Yarra, Australia, was in prime position to reach the podium. Muhlen-Schulte recorded the second fastest opening run, matching the mark put up by Colorado's Max Luuko and just .05 behind eventual giant slalom champion Tanguy Nef of Dartmouth.

Unfortunately, Muhlen-Schulte's second run didn't go as smoothly.

"Louis was quite good on his first run, coming down in second only .05-hundreths out," Francis said. "He had his eye on a podium spot and came out of the gate fast (second run). Only seven gates into the course he hit a hole hard and his binding released and he was out of the course. If the ski had stayed on it wouldn't have cost him much time and he still would've had a great shot at the podium, without his ski he could not finish the course and his day was over."

MSU's lone competitor on the women's side, Jocelyn McCarthy, finished 26^th overall with a two-run clocking of 2:06.67. Vermont's Laurence St. Germain won the women's giant slalom title in 2:00.57.

"Jocelyn skied well both runs, but didn't have much time on icy Eastern snow this year so wasn't able to find as much speed as she has in giant slalom the rest of the year," Francis said. "She's very confident in slalom and building everyday on the ice so we are excited to see what she can do on Saturday in slalom."

The NCAA Championships will resume on Friday with the Nordic mass start classic races, with the alpine slalom events concluding the meet on Saturday.

"I know it has been a cold winter in Bozeman, but today and yesterday were the coldest I've been all year," Francis said. "The humidity and wind are making for frigid conditions. It looks beautiful for the next two days of racing. The Cats are looking to turn things around and have some success and finish out the championship strong."