BIWABIK, Minn. – The St. Olaf College men's and women's alpine skiing teams began their 2024-25 seasons by competing in the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) slalom events at Giants Ridge on Saturday and Sunday.

Three members of St. Olaf's men's and women's teams were in action at the first races of the winter season, as senior Lexi Jorgensen, junior Emma Gannon, and junior Abby Hahs represented the Ole women. First year Austin Mjanger, senior Graham Barwick, and junior Wyatt Shultz competed from the men's team.

On Saturday, Jorgensen posted the top finish of the day for St. Olaf by placing 10th (1:29.73), Gannon tied for 12th (1:30.43), and Hahs did not finish her second run after recording the 10th-fastest first run (43.48). On the men's side, Mjanger paced the Oles in his first collegiate race in 13th (1:20.03), followed by Barwick in 27th (1:23.27). Shultz did not finish his second run.

Barwick compiled the top performance of the weekend for St. Olaf in Sunday's slalom by earning a spot on the podium in third (1:17.55). Mjanger (16th, 1:20.84) and Shultz (17th, 1:20.91) were also in the top 20. Hahs and Jorgensen both finished in the top 10, with Hahs in sixth (1:31.00) and Jorgensen in ninth (1:33.61), while Gannon was again in the top 20 in 16th (1:35.84).

St. Olaf will be back in action on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14-15 at Wild Mountain in Taylors Falls. The women will compete in two slalom races on Saturday, followed by two men's slalom races on Sunday.