Three GNC Skiers qualify for Junior Nationals!

This winter, three athletes from Glacier Nordic Club qualified to attend the Junior National Championships in Lake Placid, New York coming up March 7-17, 2024. Here they will compete against the top athletes in the country.

Each skier has followed their own path to get to this point, but they collectively have shared a common work ethic, a great support system in each other and their coaches, and a passion for their sport. The trip cost is over $3,500 per athlete, and they could use some help getting to the East Coast so they can continue achieving their goals and chasing their dreams. All profits will be split between these three athletes. Scroll below to learn more about them!

Meet the athletes.

LIAM BROWNE:

Hello, my name is Liam and I'm a sophomore from Kalispell, MT. This year, with the help of great coaching from Glacier Nordic and some very inspiring teammates, I qualified to go to the Junior National Championships in Lake Placid, New York. Since I was a little kid my parents have encouraged my skiing with the Glacier Nordic Club in Whitefish. That was ten years ago. From this I have learned to love the sport and dig deeper than I thought I could both on the snow and in other parts of my life. In the last two years I have begun competing in the Intermountain Division. This division is comprised of teams from Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah so qualifying for this spot on the eleven-man team is a huge honor.

As you can imagine, traveling across the country and attending such a big event is quite expensive. Thank you so much for your help in making my dreams a reality.

FINDLEY DEZZANI:

My name is Findley Dezzani and I am a Sophomore from Columbia Falls, MT skiing for the Glacier Nordic Ski Team. This is my eighth season skiing for the Glacier Nordic Club. This year, I have qualified to represent the Intermountain Division at the Junior National Championships in Lake Placid, New York. I had a lot of fun and gained valuable racing experience at Junior Nationals last year and I am very honored and excited for this opportunity.

This winter, I traveled to neighboring states for three Junior National Qualifier races to claim three top-ten results and secure the ninth-place qualification spot in my division as a first-year U18. This season has helped build my confidence and I am feeling more prepared physically and mentally for the national races.

Unfortunately, this is a costly trip. Any support you can provide in helping offset the costs would be a huge help and all support is greatly appreciated!

MAEVE INGELFINGER:

My name is Maeve Ingelfinger, and I ski for the Glacier Nordic Ski Team in the Flathead Valley. I am a senior in Whitefish and have been with the Club for 8 years. This year, I prequalified for the Junior National Championships in Lake Placid New York by placing in the top 20 of all racers under the age of 20 at U.S. Senior Nationals. This will be my third Junior Nationals. At the first two, I finished on the podium five times and hope to repeat this trend in Lake Placid. These National races provide many opportunities for high level training during the summer months that add quality to both fitness and technique for the winter season. Unfortunately, this amazing opportunity to race against the fastest junior nordic skiers in the nation is very expensive, especially since we are required to fly into Albany, NY. I would be extremely grateful if you would be generous enough to donate in order to help me chase my dreams of nordic skiing at a high level.

Thank you for your consideration and support of these amazing athletes!