Skier of the Week University of Colorado Invitational - January 23-24

Elise skiing through the pack in the Mass Start Classic

We feel that it’s a little dangerous to choose this young lady for Skier of the Week since we seriously suspect that the best is truly yet to come but when an athlete has a start to a season like this one it needs to be recognized.

If you asked Elise how this season was going she would shrug and say, “OK, this is the first time I haven’t made a step in my skiing.” While this can be seen as true from a certain angle this angle would completely dismiss the incredible consistency that she has achieved.

It started with a solid performance in the classic race at US nationals, where she skied to 150 USSA points, the lowest USSA points she has ever achieved.

The next race of note was the 20km freestyle. She simply skied with poise and power. She skied with a pack of skiers who, on paper, were in a different league with points well under 130. She lead, fought, followed, pushed, and showed her true strength right through to the finish!

This fantastic start to the season was followed by a long two day drive home which then turned around to another long drive to Bozeman for MSU. Once again having what she felt was a lack-luster weekend she still had what would have been considered a fantastic Division I race for most anyone else. She finished the 5km skate in 21st, missing the top 20 by less than 10 seconds.

She then skied to an incredibly strong finish in the 15km, fighting with some seriously strong women to a 15th place with

As most of the rest of the team went down to exhaustion and illness for CU, leaving just 3 women standing. 

Despite feeling fatigue from two weeks with the top racers in the nation Elise still managed to ski to a strong 22, 3 seconds out of the top 20, in the 5km free.

Finally, on a brutal 15km course Elise skied the first race she had been working for the entire year. 

Due to her high FIS points, the earlier races hadn’t been recorded yet, Elise started in the back row of the mass start, well out of contention for any stellar race. She didn’t even think twice and charged through the field until she found a great group of women skiing 12-20. They changed leads, charged hills, lost people off the back of the pack until there were only 4 strong women left in the last 3km. The final sprint was tough with incredible racers and Elise held on for 15th. While not her best ever place it was an incredible race and she proved she truly belongs with these , mostly European, recruited, scholarship athletes. She beat the 3rd woman of every team except one and every team out there would love to have her.

Because of her amazing results and consistency, with three races below 151 USSA points. We expect much more to come and an incredible season already under her belt Elise Susler is our Skier of the Week!

YOU ROCK OUR WORLD! 

Postscript: Elise has since crushed the USCSA field in the first four races and at the Alley Loop and skied to her best points of the season beating all but 2 of the Division-1 women the race. The two who beat her have traded the wins at the D-1 races. She is really starting to show some form!