Completed Event: Skiing versus 20K Freestyle (M) on March 14, 2026 , , 1st
Final Score
Skiing
1st
vs 20K Freestyle (M)
The University of Utah Athletics
Photo by: Davis Kuhn/Utah Athletics
Stories on Snow: Walker Hall
1/15/2025 2:30 PM | Skiing
From Washington trails to Utah podiums, Walker Hall talks skiing success
Editor's Note: Stories on Snow is a new, recurring Q&A series with members of the Utah Ski Team. Throhgout the season, UtahUtes.com will visit with both alpine and Nordic members of the team while looking ahead to upcoming races.
SALT LAKE CITY – Walker Hall has been a standout member of the University of Utah's ski team, known for his consistent performances and leadership on and off the trails. Growing up in Winthrop, Washington, he was immersed in the sport from an early age, guided by a family legacy of excellence.
Hall and the Utes are set to begin the Utah Invitational this weekend, with the Nordic half of the meet taking place at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center in Midway, Utah. A 7.5K classic interval start will take place on Saturday and a 15K freestyle mass start will wrap up the weekend on Sunday. Both day's events are slated to begin at 9 a.m.; parking and admission are free for fans.
Hall visited with UtahUtes.com this week to reflect on the Nordic team's strong performances in Alaska despite certain challenges and shares his personal highlights, his growth as a skier, and the supportive communities that have shaped his journey in both Washington and Utah.
As a team, what were some takeaways from the UAA Invitational and U.S. Nationals?
"I would definitely say that, it was a big step for the team. We raced well in Cable, Wisconsin, in the early SuperTour events, but it was a more competitive field in Alaska. All of the RMISA teams were there as well. So we got to see how our team is shaping up this year, against those competitors.
"I was super stoked with how the team did. I think on the girls' side, Erica Lavén has been kind of leading the team, and she was super strong in Alaska as well. Our other girls were super strong too. Even though we didn't have Joe Davies with us, I think we still managed to have a great week. I was super impressed with the team. I think it bodes well for the rest of the season."
How was the week for you personally?
"It was as good as I could have hoped for. The 10K skate was the first race, and that's generally one of my better events, so I was looking forward to that, but I was a bit nervous to see how it would all shake out because it was fast conditions and it was cold. But, I would say the conditions suited me well, and I like that course. So, I just kind of went for it and I was super happy to be on the overall podium, the college podium and American podium. So that was a great day.
"And then the 20K classic, which was the next college race, was also really solid for me. It's not as good of an event for me, but I was really happy with how I skied it. Brian unfortunately had some misfortune in that race, but he was still super strong and managed to put together a really solid college race despite breaking a pole and losing a bunch of time early on. So that was a good week for me and for the rest of the team."
How stoked are you and the rest of the squad to be home at Soldier Hollow this weekend?
"I think everyone is really looking forward to it. We do a lot of training there and we've had a lot of races there in the past as well, which we always tend to race well at home with all the support that we get. So I think it should be a great weekend, and none of us have actually been able to ski the new courses yet, they're still pushing out snow for those. But based on the map, they definitely look interesting and should be a good change up from the previous courses. So it'll be a fun weekend."
How would you put into words, how you have developed as a skier and as a person here at the University of Utah?
"Skiing takes a lot of time, commitment and ups and downs to improve. I think I've definitely witnessed that throughout my career here at the U. There have been some high points and some lower points. I'm just really looking to finish strong here in my last year and hoping to bring back some good results at NCAAs and any other college racing that I do."
You raced the World Cup in Minneapolis last season; as an American racing on home soil, what did that World Cup mean to you?
"That weekend was crazy because I've done a lot of races in the past, and I've raced at big events in Europe, U.S. Nationals, and other big ski races, but this felt like something I'd never witnessed before.
"It was crazy seeing the lines of people walking in when we were coming in on the bus with all the athletes. Then you'd get out on course to warm up and everyone would be chanting, 'USA,' yelling your name, just lining the course. It had me so excited to race. Then the entire race, both in the sprint and in the 10K, every inch of the course people were cheering and screaming. You couldn't hear yourself breathing. It was a crazy, crazy experience to race in that. I loved it, and I hope they're able to hold some more World Cups soon. Definitely the most memorable race weekend I've ever had, I would say."
How did you get into ski racing when you were younger?
"I got into ski racing basically as soon as I could stand on skis because my mom is a three-time Olympian and once she retired, she went straight into ski coaching. She basically had me skiing as soon as I could. I actually grew up, just down the street from Novie McCabe, who is obviously a legend here at the U, and her mom was also an Olympian, so we would just always be out and about doing stuff with our moms, training and skiing around in Washington. So, I've basically been ski racing for as long as I can remember.
"(My mom) gave me a strong work ethic, just being my coach, and showing me what it takes to try to be the best in this sport. It takes a good amount of discipline and focus. Maybe we were at odds at some points because it's hard to have your parent telling you what to do all the time. She didn't do that exactly, but overall, I would say she's given me a good work ethic and she has countless stories about traveling in Europe and racing and training with other amazing athletes. So that gives you something to look forward to."
What should people in Utah know about cross country skiing in Washington?
"Cross country skiing in Washington is quite a bit different because Utah has the greatest snow on earth, and where I'm from in Washington, we do get a lot of snow as well, but, they call it 'cascade concrete.' So it's not the champagne powder that we have here usually. But there's a great ski community in Washington, and it feels really similar to the community here. So it was an easy transition for me coming here.
"I'm from Winthrop, Washington, which is in the Methow Valley. The whole valley probably has a population of 3,000 people. It's across 50 miles of distance, so it's a pretty small place, but it has over 200 kilometers of Nordic skiing, so it's pretty much Nordic ski paradise."
What do people do on a Saturday in Winthrop, Washington for fun?
"Well, definitely in the winter, you're going to want to go skiing. The community there is great, there's plenty of events and social activities and art and stuff like that to entertain yourself with. But 100% something outdoors. Whether it's skiing, or mountain biking, or backcountry skiing, or climbing, there's plenty of things to do there and a lot to keep you going."
How would you summarize your academic experience here at the U?
"This is my fourth year on the team, so I've had different teammates and pretty much all of them are great academically. So I had good role models when I first got here. I have found a good way to balance it school and skiing. I think it gives a good balance to life because sometimes I think if I only had skiing and nothing else going on, it would just add more pressure and it might even be harder for me to enjoy it. So having school on the side to balance that out has been nice. Everyone on the ski team is great in school, so it's nice to have people that are so driven in multiple areas."
Is computer science something you want to pursue someday after skiing?
"Probably. I got into computer science kind of late because when I first came here, I was undeclared. I took a few general classes my first year here and then decided to try (computer science) out. I'm glad I chose it, and we'll see where it takes me in the future."
What does Walker Hall enjoy doing when Walker Hall is not crushing it in a race?
"I have a lot of great friends that I like just hanging out with and maybe throwing the football around. Maybe watch the Utes play football or watch NFL RedZone. But when we're training so much, there's not so much that you can do in between because you have to be, kind of with your feet up on the couch just relaxing if you want to really train a lot. But I love to get outside for other outdoor activities like backcountry skiing here in the Wasatch or mountain biking."
SALT LAKE CITY – Walker Hall has been a standout member of the University of Utah's ski team, known for his consistent performances and leadership on and off the trails. Growing up in Winthrop, Washington, he was immersed in the sport from an early age, guided by a family legacy of excellence.
Hall and the Utes are set to begin the Utah Invitational this weekend, with the Nordic half of the meet taking place at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center in Midway, Utah. A 7.5K classic interval start will take place on Saturday and a 15K freestyle mass start will wrap up the weekend on Sunday. Both day's events are slated to begin at 9 a.m.; parking and admission are free for fans.
?? meet ??
— Utah Ski Team (@utahskiteam) January 13, 2025
Come on up to Soldier Hollow this weekend for the Nordic half of the Utah Invitational??
9 AM starts both on Saturday and Sunday, with parking and admission both ????????#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/A8wxVaHc3g
Hall visited with UtahUtes.com this week to reflect on the Nordic team's strong performances in Alaska despite certain challenges and shares his personal highlights, his growth as a skier, and the supportive communities that have shaped his journey in both Washington and Utah.
As a team, what were some takeaways from the UAA Invitational and U.S. Nationals?
"I would definitely say that, it was a big step for the team. We raced well in Cable, Wisconsin, in the early SuperTour events, but it was a more competitive field in Alaska. All of the RMISA teams were there as well. So we got to see how our team is shaping up this year, against those competitors.
"I was super stoked with how the team did. I think on the girls' side, Erica Lavén has been kind of leading the team, and she was super strong in Alaska as well. Our other girls were super strong too. Even though we didn't have Joe Davies with us, I think we still managed to have a great week. I was super impressed with the team. I think it bodes well for the rest of the season."
How was the week for you personally?
"It was as good as I could have hoped for. The 10K skate was the first race, and that's generally one of my better events, so I was looking forward to that, but I was a bit nervous to see how it would all shake out because it was fast conditions and it was cold. But, I would say the conditions suited me well, and I like that course. So, I just kind of went for it and I was super happy to be on the overall podium, the college podium and American podium. So that was a great day.
"And then the 20K classic, which was the next college race, was also really solid for me. It's not as good of an event for me, but I was really happy with how I skied it. Brian unfortunately had some misfortune in that race, but he was still super strong and managed to put together a really solid college race despite breaking a pole and losing a bunch of time early on. So that was a good week for me and for the rest of the team."
How stoked are you and the rest of the squad to be home at Soldier Hollow this weekend?
"I think everyone is really looking forward to it. We do a lot of training there and we've had a lot of races there in the past as well, which we always tend to race well at home with all the support that we get. So I think it should be a great weekend, and none of us have actually been able to ski the new courses yet, they're still pushing out snow for those. But based on the map, they definitely look interesting and should be a good change up from the previous courses. So it'll be a fun weekend."
How would you put into words, how you have developed as a skier and as a person here at the University of Utah?
"Skiing takes a lot of time, commitment and ups and downs to improve. I think I've definitely witnessed that throughout my career here at the U. There have been some high points and some lower points. I'm just really looking to finish strong here in my last year and hoping to bring back some good results at NCAAs and any other college racing that I do."
You raced the World Cup in Minneapolis last season; as an American racing on home soil, what did that World Cup mean to you?
"That weekend was crazy because I've done a lot of races in the past, and I've raced at big events in Europe, U.S. Nationals, and other big ski races, but this felt like something I'd never witnessed before.
"It was crazy seeing the lines of people walking in when we were coming in on the bus with all the athletes. Then you'd get out on course to warm up and everyone would be chanting, 'USA,' yelling your name, just lining the course. It had me so excited to race. Then the entire race, both in the sprint and in the 10K, every inch of the course people were cheering and screaming. You couldn't hear yourself breathing. It was a crazy, crazy experience to race in that. I loved it, and I hope they're able to hold some more World Cups soon. Definitely the most memorable race weekend I've ever had, I would say."
How did you get into ski racing when you were younger?
"I got into ski racing basically as soon as I could stand on skis because my mom is a three-time Olympian and once she retired, she went straight into ski coaching. She basically had me skiing as soon as I could. I actually grew up, just down the street from Novie McCabe, who is obviously a legend here at the U, and her mom was also an Olympian, so we would just always be out and about doing stuff with our moms, training and skiing around in Washington. So, I've basically been ski racing for as long as I can remember.
"(My mom) gave me a strong work ethic, just being my coach, and showing me what it takes to try to be the best in this sport. It takes a good amount of discipline and focus. Maybe we were at odds at some points because it's hard to have your parent telling you what to do all the time. She didn't do that exactly, but overall, I would say she's given me a good work ethic and she has countless stories about traveling in Europe and racing and training with other amazing athletes. So that gives you something to look forward to."
What should people in Utah know about cross country skiing in Washington?
"Cross country skiing in Washington is quite a bit different because Utah has the greatest snow on earth, and where I'm from in Washington, we do get a lot of snow as well, but, they call it 'cascade concrete.' So it's not the champagne powder that we have here usually. But there's a great ski community in Washington, and it feels really similar to the community here. So it was an easy transition for me coming here.
"I'm from Winthrop, Washington, which is in the Methow Valley. The whole valley probably has a population of 3,000 people. It's across 50 miles of distance, so it's a pretty small place, but it has over 200 kilometers of Nordic skiing, so it's pretty much Nordic ski paradise."
What do people do on a Saturday in Winthrop, Washington for fun?
"Well, definitely in the winter, you're going to want to go skiing. The community there is great, there's plenty of events and social activities and art and stuff like that to entertain yourself with. But 100% something outdoors. Whether it's skiing, or mountain biking, or backcountry skiing, or climbing, there's plenty of things to do there and a lot to keep you going."
How would you summarize your academic experience here at the U?
"This is my fourth year on the team, so I've had different teammates and pretty much all of them are great academically. So I had good role models when I first got here. I have found a good way to balance it school and skiing. I think it gives a good balance to life because sometimes I think if I only had skiing and nothing else going on, it would just add more pressure and it might even be harder for me to enjoy it. So having school on the side to balance that out has been nice. Everyone on the ski team is great in school, so it's nice to have people that are so driven in multiple areas."
Is computer science something you want to pursue someday after skiing?
"Probably. I got into computer science kind of late because when I first came here, I was undeclared. I took a few general classes my first year here and then decided to try (computer science) out. I'm glad I chose it, and we'll see where it takes me in the future."
What does Walker Hall enjoy doing when Walker Hall is not crushing it in a race?
"I have a lot of great friends that I like just hanging out with and maybe throwing the football around. Maybe watch the Utes play football or watch NFL RedZone. But when we're training so much, there's not so much that you can do in between because you have to be, kind of with your feet up on the couch just relaxing if you want to really train a lot. But I love to get outside for other outdoor activities like backcountry skiing here in the Wasatch or mountain biking."
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