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Joel Reichenberger

Joel Reichenberger's column appears Sundays in the Steamboat Pilot & Today. Contact him at 871-4253 or e-mail jreichenberger@SteamboatToday.com.

Editor's Note: This column has been updated from its original version, which incorrectly stated that Sarah Dixson did not win the Skimeister award. She won the award Feb. 20.

The Colorado High School State Skiing Championships proved to be a chance to shine for many Steamboat Springs High School alpine skiers, but it wasn't the best of weekends for a few athletes I had my eyes on.

A trio of Steamboat senior girls - Sarah Dixson, Jamie Gay and Hanna Berglund - missed out on top finishes.

It's too bad none of the three earned podium finishes in their last trip to state, but I doubt they were too torn up about it. They all loved high school skiing, and that never had anything to do with the great finishes they so often recorded.

It was dedication that made Dixson, Gay and Berglund stand out in another strong year by the Alpine team - dedication to a team that many of their friends never took too seriously.

A high school state championship might mean everything to a football player or the world to a wrestler, but in the world of competitive skiing, it doesn't mean much at all.

There are much larger fish to fry, of course, and many of the best skiers find themselves too busy to sign up for the less competitive, less prestigious high school circuit.

Gay, Dixson and Berglund never were too busy. They all stayed with the high school team for four years.

And they always were headed for something.

Berglund is one of the top all-around athletes at the high school, and this winter, she was on the basketball and skiing teams. That's all before she goes back to dominating in goal for the SSHS girls soccer team this spring.

Gay still participates in the ultra-competitive FIS ski races and spends many of her winter weekends hopping back and forth between the high school team and competitions with the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club.

Dixson, meanwhile, was so devoted to high school skiing that she participated on the Nordic and Alpine squads and won the prestigious Skimeister award that is given to the state's top athlete that competes in both disciplines.

The three were the only three seniors this year to stick with the ski team through their entire high school careers.

"It's just fun to go to the race," said Dixson, who gave up on the FIS circuit last year. "That became too much about chasing points, and I realized I didn't want to do that any more.

"High school races are just a lot more fun."

The other two girls echoed her comments.

Steamboat Springs obviously has a proud Olympic tradition. You barely can drive into town without hearing about the record 69 local athletes who have competed for the United States.

But still, for every one of those 69 dreams that have come true, thousands have been given up and forgotten amid the intense pressure of the sport.

Skiing became about points and seconds, not fun.

It was great this season to watch three athletes fly the banner for the high school Alpine team, a squad that they say is just more fun.