5 Questions With Two-Time National Skiing Champion Sara Rask

Photo credit: Dylan Lindsey

On a clear, windy day in Hanover, New Hampshire, University of Denver senior Sara Rask entered the women’s giant slalom—the final alpine race of the 2025 NCAA Championships—with a surge of confidence.

Having already secured a national title in slalom two days earlier, Rask was well-prepared for the conditions on March 7. The wind would require athletes to be “really low in your tuck,” a technique she says played to her strengths.

After completing her second and final run at Dartmouth Skiway, Rask paused to gather her thoughts. As she awaited the results, surrounded by her teammates, friends from the East Coast that she hadn’t seen in months, and Josh Berlo, DU’s vice chancellor for athletics, it hit her: She had swept the women’s alpine national titles. 

It was an achievement Rask had worked toward since joining the team in 2023. 

Rask joins a long line of DU women's skiers who have had great success over the history of the program. She is the first Denver woman to sweep the two alpine events since Amelia Smart in 2018 and the first women’s giant slalom champion since Storm Klomhaus in 2020. Olympian and current US Ski Team member Katie Hensien won Denver’s previous individual national title in slalom in 2022.

“I can’t believe I’m one of them,” Rask says. “Whenever I’m in the coach’s office, I see all of the national champions on the wall, and it feels crazy that I’m going to be up there now. It feels surreal and it’s super cool.”

The DU Newsroom chatted with Rask about how she stayed motivated in achieving her goal of winning a national championship, how she manages pre-race nerves, and what advice she has for skiers who are just beginning their collegiate career.

You’ve said that being a national champion was something you’ve wanted to do since coming to DU. How have you stayed motivated throughout your collegiate career?

I’m also at Denver to get an education, and that helps ensure that skiing is not my whole identity and my whole life, which makes it easier for me to put in 100% effort. I think having this team that I’m training and racing with here at Denver, where we’re all working toward the same goal together and none of us want to let each other down, makes it very special and very easy to give your best for your team and for yourself. 

Who do you credit for helping you get to the podium?

There are so many people; I have not done this by myself. My whole family started ski racing together—we live in Stockholm, so we would all drive up to the mountains every weekend. My dad figured out how to ski, and my mom would always cheer for me at the finish and always encouraged me to continue. 

Also, I credit all the coaches I’ve had that have brought me to the place where I am now. Lately, it’s been Joonas (Rasanen, the Otto Tschusdi head alpine skiing coach) and M.R. (Hostetter, alpine associate head coach)—and my teammates. It’s a little bit different doing college skiing because you are on a team, and you race for each other. That has really been a huge part of my success as well. 

What’s your go-to snack or meal that helps you fuel up before a big race?

Dried mango—it’s so yummy and easy to pack. I pack it in a plastic bag, and it gives me that little energy boost and doesn’t make me feel heavy or tired.

How do you manage pre-race nerves?

I try to not make it anything special. I know that some races are more special than others, but I'm not going to change my routines. My routines lately have been very relaxed because that's how I perform. I make sure that I talk to my friends, I smile at my coaches, and I enjoy the day. When I feel that heart racing, I smile—that feels good. I like having a little bit of nerves. It's not every day that I get that anymore. So I welcome it.

What advice would you give to younger athletes who are just beginning their journey in collegiate skiing?

Find a way that works for you and stick with it. It's very easy to get overwhelmed by everything that's going on, and then you look at what everyone else around you is doing. When I started figuring out my daily routine, like when I wanted to do my schoolwork, when I wanted to go to bed, when I wanted to get groceries—those simple things help me feel like I have control. And when I have control, I get things done. 

Also, one thing I talked about in my senior speech is happy girls are fast girls, and I think that counts for boys as well. It’s really hard to do your best if you’re not enjoying it—so find a way to enjoy it.