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Mikkel Solbakken Wins National Men’s Alpine Skier of the Year
6/28/2024 10:02 AM | Skiing
Norway native had four wins and seven podiums as a graduate student with the Utes
SALT LAKE CITY – Mikkel Solbakken of the Utah Ski Team has been named National Men's Alpine Skier of the Year, as announced Friday by the United States Collegiate Ski Coaches Association. Solbakken, the 2024 NCAA individual champion in men's giant slalom, collected four wins, seven podiums and 12 top-10 results during his graduate year with the Utes.
Solbakken joined the Utes after spending the 2020-23 seasons just down the road at Westminster. He enjoyed a decorated final season of collegiate skiing, earning First Team All-American laurels both in giant slalom and slalom, also being named All-RMISA First Team. In addition to his GS title during NCAAs, Solbakken placed third in slalom to help the Utes place second in the team standings.
Following the season, he was named the Utah Ski Team's alpine MVP as well as the alpine recipient of the David Novelle Memorial Award, given annually to the outstanding male skier.
As a precursor to his success at NCAAs, Solbakken had a pair of GS wins in February 2024. He won an RMISA alpine qualifier in Big Sky, Montana, before repeating that performance the following day during the RMISA Championships.
His performances at NCAAs made Solbakken the first men's GS individual champion from Utah since 2016.
For all of his ski racing prowess, Solbakken was just as talented a student during his year with the Utes. He completed a Master's degree in finance with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, earning CSC Academic All-District honors. He is currently an Academic All-America candidate, with recipients of that award expected to be announced in mid-July.
A native of Bekkestua, Norway, Solbakken recorded 14 podium results during his time with Westminster, headlined with a giant slalom gold medal at the 2021 NCAA Championships in Franconia, New Hampshire.
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Follow the Utah Ski Team on social media @utahskiteam.
Solbakken joined the Utes after spending the 2020-23 seasons just down the road at Westminster. He enjoyed a decorated final season of collegiate skiing, earning First Team All-American laurels both in giant slalom and slalom, also being named All-RMISA First Team. In addition to his GS title during NCAAs, Solbakken placed third in slalom to help the Utes place second in the team standings.
Following the season, he was named the Utah Ski Team's alpine MVP as well as the alpine recipient of the David Novelle Memorial Award, given annually to the outstanding male skier.
As a precursor to his success at NCAAs, Solbakken had a pair of GS wins in February 2024. He won an RMISA alpine qualifier in Big Sky, Montana, before repeating that performance the following day during the RMISA Championships.
His performances at NCAAs made Solbakken the first men's GS individual champion from Utah since 2016.
For all of his ski racing prowess, Solbakken was just as talented a student during his year with the Utes. He completed a Master's degree in finance with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, earning CSC Academic All-District honors. He is currently an Academic All-America candidate, with recipients of that award expected to be announced in mid-July.
A native of Bekkestua, Norway, Solbakken recorded 14 podium results during his time with Westminster, headlined with a giant slalom gold medal at the 2021 NCAA Championships in Franconia, New Hampshire.
The first men's GS individual champion at Utah since 2016 ?? pic.twitter.com/pqIrTVr1Po
— Utah Ski Team (@utahskiteam) March 7, 2024
Follow the Utah Ski Team
Follow the Utah Ski Team on social media @utahskiteam.
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