LAKE PLACID, N.Y. –The Hobart Alpine skiing team concluded its impressive season at the 2026 USCSA National Championships on White Face Mountain last week. The Statesmen finished 15th out of 26 teams and were highlighted by sophomore
Will Patton's national title win in the slalom. Patton's win was the first national championship in program history.
Hobart opened the week with an impressive showing in the skier cross, finishing second out of 24 teams. The Statesmen then added a 24th place team finish in Wednesday's giant slalom after competing through tough conditions. Hobart raced to a sixth place finish out of 26 teams in Friday's slalom before closing out the week with action in Saturday's dual slalom to secure 15th place overall at the national championships.
Patton led the Statesmen at the national championships, finishing 43rd out of 133 skiers in the alpine skiing competition. Junior
Ethan Hine added a 63rd place finish, while senior
Luke Ward raced to a 69th place finish through three events.
ALL-AMERICAN STATESMEN:
Patton's dominant showing on the slopes this week resulted in him being named a two-time All-American on White Face Mountain. Patton skied to All-American status in the skier cross, finishing eighth out of 83 racers and added an All-American showing in the slalom after securing his first career national championship. With this year's two All-American awards, Patton now sits at five in his collegiate career. Sophomore
Jake Labanowski raced to All-American status in the skier cross as well, finishing 10th overall. It was Labanowski's first career All-American award.
WEEKLY BREAKDOWN:
Hobart opened national championship action in Tuesday's skier cross competition, which was the first time it had competed in the event all season. Four Statesmen raced to top 25 finishes, securing second place in the 24-team field. Patton led the way with an eighth-place finish after stopping the clock at 40.75, while sophomore
Jake Labanowski followed close behind in 10th with a time of 41.26. Senior
Rex Eidlin chipped in a 23rd place finish with a time of 43.66, while sophomore
Ethan Hine raced to a 25th place finish and a time of 43.66.
The Statesmen competed in Wednesday's giant slalom competition despite the rough weather conditions. Hobart finished 24th as a team after only one racer successfully completed the race. First-year
Zachary Wargo was the lone Statesmen finisher, placing 42nd after stopping the clock at 2:21.55.
Friday's slalom national championship highlighted Hobart's week as Patton secured the first national title in program history. He led the Statesmen to a sixth place finish out of 26 teams after claiming his first career national championship. Patton combined for a race time of 1:30.00, securing the win by just under one second. Hine added a 27th place finish after combining for a time of 1:38.67. Senior
Luke Ward chipped in a 37th place finish after stopping the clock at 1:42.66, while Labanowski added a 61st place finish with a time of 1:58.90.
SKIER CROSS TIMES:
GIANT SLALOM TIMES:
SLALOM TIMES:
