Selected to compete against many of the world's best collegiate winter athletes, Dartmouth alpine skier Braden Long '12 is now in Erzurum, Turkey, participating in the World University Winter Games from Jan. 27 to Feb. 6.
Long, an Ontario native, will represent Canada in three events the super giant slalom, giant slalom and slalom. Long qualified for the Canadian team by meeting the team's time criteria in races for Dartmouth and in outside competition.
"[Braden] is dedicated to the sport," teammate Peter Ankeny '12 said. "He comes from a skiing family and it has been his life since he was very young."
Last year, Long had a breakout sophomore season on the slopes and became a regular participant in carnival racing for Dartmouth. Some of his top results in 2010 included a first place finish at the Macomber Cup in February, a fifth place finish in the slalom event at the Dartmouth Carnival in February and a ninth place finish at the St. Michael's Carnival in January.
Long was also named to the Collegiate Ski Coaches Association All-Academic Team last season.
As a group, the Dartmouth ski team was undefeated in Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association Carnival competition and finished first at the Eastern Championships last winter. The victory earned the Big Green an opportunity to compete in the NCAA Skiing Championships, where the team finished fifth overall and first among East Coast participants.
Despite previous successes, Long has yet to find his top form this season. He finished 23rd in the giant slalom event at the St. Lawrence Carnival two weekends ago, and 25th in the slalom event at the Colby Carnival on Jan. 22. The Dartmouth team has also had dissapointing season starts, finishing second at both carnivals.
"For [Braden], he hasn't skied as well [this season] as he has in the past," captain Luke McLaughry '12 said. "He's been training really hard, so it's just a matter of time before he puts it together."
Long will join Montreal's Olivier Lacaille, Laval University's Philippe Crte-Belzile and Simon Mannella, and Montana State University's Christopher Barber as representatives of Canada. McGill University head coach Vincent Lavoie will coach the men's team at the University Winter Games.
Although Long will compete in three events at the Games, he specializes in slalom and giant slalom both of which are technical disciplines, and require quick, short turns between gates. The super giant slalom event also known as the Super-G competition is considered a speed discipline.
"It's hard because you have to go all the way to Turkey with the expectations for you to win," Mclaughry said. "But Braden's a great skier, I'm sure he'll be able to compete over there."
Canada has won two gold medals at the Games in alpine skiing. Jose Lacasse won the slalom event in 1991 and Lisa Richardson placed first in the downhill event in 1972.
Long will compete for his own medal on Saturday in the super giant slalom competition.
Long is not the only Big Green athlete who has competed at the international level in recent years, as Dartmouth sent three skiers to compete at the Cross Country World Junior Championships last season. The Big Green was also represented at the Biathlon World Junior Championships, the Cross Country Under-23 Championships and the Alpine World Junior Championships. Isabel Caldwell '14 is now in Estonia, competing in the Junior World Championships.
This season, Big Green alpine skiers Weibrecht, Tommy Ford '12, Keith Moffat '13, Michael Ankeny '13 and Nolan Kasper '14 are off-campus training with the U.S. Ski Team. Four Dartmouth freshmen Annie Hart '14, Caldwell, David Sinclair '14 and Erik Fagerstrom '14 are on the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association National Elite Team.
Long could not be reached for comment by press time.
Seven Dartmouth students and alumni competed at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada including Andrew Weibrecht '09, who won the bronze medal in the men's super giant slalom event.
