January 31, 2015 – The Colorado Buffaloes have moved into the top spot in the first regular season release of the SYNC Ski Coaches Poll, released Friday by the United States Collegiate Ski Coaches Association. In its inaugural season, the poll is voted on by 12 coaches nationwide, six alpine and six Nordic spread across the three region’s that make up NCAA collegiate skiing.

Colorado earned five first place votes and 107 total points to edge out preseason No. 1 Denver by 15 points.  Utah earned the No. 3 ranking, just three points behind Denver with 89, while Vermont was fourth another six points back with 83.   Dartmouth and New Mexico were tied for fifth with 59 points while Northern Michigan from the central region came in at No. 7 with 44 points.  Middlebury (No. 8, 18 points), Montana State (No. 9, 14) and Alaska Anchorage (No. 10, 13) round out the top 10.

The Pioneers were labeled the nation’s top alpine squad and earned three of the six first place votes, others going to Colorado, New Mexico and Vermont (one apiece).  CU was second with 51 points while Utah and Vermont tied for third with 45 points and the Lobos round out the top five with 36 points.  The next five in order were Dartmouth (30), New Hampshire (22), Middlebury (18), Montana State (14) and Alaska Anchorage (13).

The Buffaloes topped the Nordic poll, as well, garnering four of the six first place votes totaling 56 points.  Utah and Northern Michigan are tied for No. 2 in that poll with 44 points with Vermont coming in at No. 4 with 38 points and Denver No. 5 with 36 points.  Dartmouth (29), New Mexico (23), Alaska Anchorage & New Hampshire (18) and Alaska Fairbanks (14) round out the top 10.

The next coaches poll will be released prior to the regional championships later in February and then another poll will be done prior to the NCAA Championships, which begin March 11 in Lake Placid, N.Y.

2015 SYNC Coaches Poll – No. 1
(January 30, 2015)

1.    Colorado (5)                                  107
2.    Denver (3)                                       92
3.    Utah                                                89
4.    Vermont (2)                                     83
5.    New Mexico (1)                               59
Dartmouth                                       59
7.    Northern Michigan (1)                     44
8.    New Hampshire                              40
9.    Alaska Anchorage                           31
10.    Montana State                                 21
Others Receiving Votes: Middlebury 18, Alaska Fairbanks 14,
St. Scholastica 2, Michigan Tech 1.

SYNC Coaches Nordic Top 10    

1.Colorado (4)                                        56
2.Northern Michigan (1)                          44
Utah                                                  44
4.Vermont (1)                                         38
5.Denver                                                 36
6.Dartmouth                                            29
7.New Mexico                                         23
8.Alaska Anchorage                               18
New Hampshire                                18
10.  Alaska Fairbanks                              10
Others Receiving Votes: Montana State 7,                            
St. Scholastica 2, Michigan Tech 1.

SYNC Coaches Alpine Top 10

1.      Denver (3)                         56
2.      Colorado (1)                      51
3.      Utah                                  45
Vermont (1)                       45
5.      New Mexico (1)                 36
6.      Dartmouth                         30
7.      New Hampshire                22
8.      Middlebury                        18
9.      Montana State                  14
10.      Alaska Anchorage            13

Others Receiving Votes: None

About the USCSCA
The United States Collegiate Ski Coaches Association promotes collegiate Nordic and alpine skiing in the United States and abroad by bringing a unified voice to coaches to represent the best interests of the sport.

About SYNC
SYNC is performance ski race wear company with a group of passionate athletes dedicated to the best products for competitive racers and mountain athletes based in Edwards, Colo.  They work with elite athletes and companies such as the U.S. Ski Team, the University of Denver and Snowboard Club Vail, among others.