SUN VALLEY, Idaho – Nevada's Andreas Unhjem Smith hit the giant slalom podium with a third-place finish, highlighting the Pack's first day at the Western Region Elite held Thursday at Sun Valley Resort.
 
The University of Nevada announced the return of Division I alpine skiing in August 2022. Prior to the return, skiing was established in 1936 before ultimately being cut in 2010. The program had a profound 74-year reign, producing four Olympians, five individual national titles, 39 All-America Honors, and 14 top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships.
 
The team presently resides as a member of the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association (RMISA), alongside powerhouse ski programs Utah and Colorado. Before officially starting the season, the squad traveled to Copper Mountain in November for a training trip before embarking on their first alpine season as a member of the Pack, Thursday.
 
"Today we had very difficult snow conditions, but despite that we have made a bit too many mistakes," said head coach Mihaela Kosi. "Overall, it was a very decent start of the season."
 
The men led off with the giant slalom race, Unhjem Smith recording the fastest first run in the field with a 1:05.26. His overall combined time of 2:14.60 earned him a third-place podium finish, the highest finish for Nevada on both the men and women's side.
 
Not far behind, teammate Ibon Mintegui came back strong in his second run with a 1:07.80, the third-fastest in the field, ultimately leading him to finish fourth overall. Jeger Halbjoerhus also climbed into the top-10 after a slower start in his first run but moving up significantly after the second where he clocked the sixth-fastest time of 1:07.98 to tie in eighth overall. Rounding out the men, Iver Naess took 12^th and Ulrik Danielsen finished 46^th.
 
For the women's slalom race, Georgie Sullivan earned Nevada's top finish, coming in at fifth place overall. Sullivan remained consistent through her first and second runs, sitting just inside the top-10 before her combined runs moved her up to fifth. Sixtine Piccard tabbed a 24^th place finish after making a comeback in the second run. Her 52.49 was the thirteenth-fastest in the field, moving her up 17 spots after the second run. Viivi Hamalainen closed out the women, finishing just behind Piccard in 29^th place.
 
"We know that we are close to other NCAA athletes," said Kosi. "I am sure my athletes have a lot more to show by the end of this series."
 
The Pack will be back in action tomorrow for day two of the Western Region Elite. The schedule will look identical to today with the men starting the morning with the giant slalom and the women finishing up the afternoon with the slalom.
 
Friday, Jan. 12
Men's Giant Slalom – 7:45 A.M. (PST)
Women's Slalom – 11:15 A.M. (PST)
Live Timing - HERE
 
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Results (Nevada)
 
Men's Giant Slalom
3. Andreas Unhjem Smith - 2:14.60
4. Ibon Mintegui - 2:14.72
12. Iver Naess - 2:15.97
46. Ulrik Danielsen - 2:20.33
 
Women's Slalom
5. Georgie Sullivan – 1:42.25
24. Sixtine Piccard – 1:48.46
29. Viivi Hamalainen – 1:51.44