Home

John Russell

John Russell's sports column appears Sundays in Steamboat Today. Contact him at 871-4209 or e-mail jrussell@SteamboatToday.com.

Steamboat Springs — Her children may be looking forward to next year's NCAA skiing championships, but Marne Roberts has to be torn when it comes to what to wear.

Should she wear the fashionable black and gold of the University of Colorado or the green and white of Dartmouth? My advice is to stick to a neutral color next March - or possibly book a flight somewhere far away.

Marne is caught between a rock and a hard place. Her son will be a senior at the University of Colorado, her daughter a senior at Dartmouth. If things go as expected, both should be in Steamboat Springs next winter skiing for different teams, both in search of national titles.

For most skiers, the NCAA National Championships will be a chance to bring home the biggest title in college ski racing, but for the Roberts family, the 2010 championships will be a chance to come home. A chance to take part in the most important race of the season on the same slopes where they grew up, trained and learned to race.

The University of Colorado will host the races, but Drew, Tina and the entire family will be treated to the home-field advantage.

I can't think of a better way for a senior to wrap up a college skiing career than at home, racing for a national title.

Last year marked the first time Drew and Tina raced at the national championships at the same time. Drew has been to three national championships, but it was Tina's first trip. Drew says the women's team at Dartmouth is strong and that getting to the finals is always a battle - even for the best skiers.

But the funny thing is that Drew already is looking forward to having another chance to ski at the same event as his sister. They are college ski racers, but Drew said that's where the similarities come to an end.

The University of Colorado races in the west, Dartmouth the east. The schools' styles of ski racing and approach to the competition are completely different. And because the schools are in different regions, Drew rarely gets the chance to race at the same events with his sister.

So Drew eagerly is waiting for next year's NCAA Championships. Not only will it offer him a chance to come home for a few days, but he also hopes he will get the chance to race alongside his sister. It's an opportunity he treasures.

Despite the fact that the two race on different teams, they share a love of ski racing and family. It's a love that isn't defined by colors, mascots or the college teams that they represent on the slopes.

So next year when the NCAA championships come to Steamboat Springs, Marne doesn't have to worry about what color to wear on race day or which team to root for when the points are tallied.

The choice seems simple - Marne simply needs to cheer for the hometown racers, no matter what color they happen to be wearing.