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Mountain Sports
Western Colorado University gives student-athletes the opportunity to train, compete and pursue their education in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Based in Gunnison, Colorado, Western’s college Mountain Sports program brings together competitive skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, trail running, climbing and ski mountaineering in a structured collegiate environment.
Western Mountain Sports athletes train with experienced coaches, follow scheduled practices and travel for competitions throughout Colorado and beyond. Whether you’re an experienced competitor or ready to take your sport to the next level, you can continue progressing as an athlete while earning your degree.
Compete in Mountain Sports While Earning Your Degree
For students interested in college mountain sports, choosing a university often means deciding whether they can continue pursuing the sport they love while working toward a degree.
Western’s Mountain Sports program combines the community of a collegiate team with structured coaching, training and competition opportunities. Depending on the sport, athletes may compete in collegiate circuits, regional and national events, and other competitive events throughout the country.
With multiple Mountain Sports teams based at one university, students can also stay active across seasons and pursue more than one discipline.
Explore Western's Mountain Sports Teams
Go to Freeride
Freeride Skiing & Snowboarding
Train on big-mountain terrain at Crested Butte Mountain Resort and compete in IFSA qualifying events while developing your skiing or snowboarding with experienced coaches.
Go to Mountain Biking
Mountain Biking
Train and race in one of Colorado’s premier mountain biking destinations, with opportunities to compete in cross-country and gravity events throughout the region and country.
Go to Trail Running
Trail Running
Build endurance on the trails surrounding Gunnison while training with a competitive collegiate trail running team that participates in races ranging from local events to national and international competitions.
Go to Nordic
Nordic Skiing
Develop your Nordic skiing through structured dryland and on-snow training, with access to groomed trails throughout the Gunnison Valley and opportunities for collegiate competition.
Go to Alpine Skiing
Alpine Skiing
Continue ski racing at the collegiate level through USCSA competition, including opportunities to compete in slalom and giant slalom events.
Go to Climbing
Climbing
Train with Western’s collegiate climbing team and pursue competitive climbing alongside outdoor training trips and regional and national competition.
Go to Skimo
Ski Mountaineering
Develop your uphill and downhill skills on Western’s collegiate skimo team while training in the mountains surrounding Gunnison and Crested Butte and competing at the national level.
Why Choose Western for College Mountain Sports?
Western’s location in Gunnison puts students in the middle of one of Colorado’s most active mountain communities. Instead of having to travel hours from campus just to reach quality terrain, Western students live and study surrounded by opportunities to ski, ride, run and climb.
Mountain Sports athletes benefit from:
Experienced coaching. Western’s Mountain Sports teams have dedicated coaches who provide structured training and help athletes progress toward their individual competitive goals.
Scheduled team practices. Regular practices provide consistency and structure while allowing students to build their academic schedules around their athletic commitments.
Competition opportunities. Western athletes travel throughout Colorado and across the country for collegiate, regional and national competition, depending on the team and season.
An outdoor-athlete community. Mountain sports are a significant part of life in Gunnison and the surrounding Rocky Mountains, giving students opportunities to find teammates and classmates who share their interests.
Year-round mountain access. Gunnison, Crested Butte and the surrounding Rocky Mountains provide opportunities for skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, trail running, climbing and endurance training throughout the year.
Multiple sports. Athletes interested in more than one discipline can participate across seasons, with a multi-sport discount available to students registered for multiple Mountain Sports teams.
Train in Gunnison and Crested Butte
Your Training Ground Is the Colorado Rockies
Western Colorado University is located in Gunnison, Colorado, with Crested Butte and miles of Rocky Mountain terrain nearby. For Mountain Sports athletes, the surrounding landscape isn’t just somewhere to spend the weekend; it’s where much of their training and outdoor life takes place.
Depending on the team and season, Western athletes train on ski terrain, groomed Nordic trails, mountain bike trails, running routes, climbing terrain and other training areas throughout the Gunnison Valley and surrounding mountains.
Freeride athletes, for example, practice at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, while Nordic athletes have access to approximately 75 kilometers of groomed trails throughout the Gunnison Valley. Western’s location also gives endurance athletes opportunities to cross-train across seasons, including trail running, mountain biking and ski mountaineering.
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Register for Mountain Sports!
Registration for Mountain Sports consists of two parts:
- Register online through Fusion Club.
- Our dues payments. To pay with a check or cash, please contact mountainsports@western.edu.
Multi-sport Discount: Athletes registered for multiple sports are eligible for a $100 multi-sport discount. Please contact mountainsports@western.edu for more information.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Mountain Sports
Do I need competitive experience to join Western Mountain Sports?
No. You don’t need previous competitive experience to join Western Mountain Sports, but you should have a background in the sport you want to participate in. Athletes come to Western with different levels of experience, and the program provides structured coaching and training to help them continue developing their skills.
Can I participate in Mountain Sports and still manage a full college course load?
Yes. Mountain Sports is designed to allow students to pursue competitive athletics alongside their academics. Practices follow structured schedules, although training and travel commitments vary by sport and competition season.
How often do Mountain Sports teams practice and compete?
Practice schedules vary by sport and season. Teams have scheduled practices and may travel throughout Colorado and beyond for competitions. Individual team pages provide more information about training and competition schedules.
Can Mountain Sports athletes compete nationally?
Depending on the sport, Western athletes have opportunities to compete beyond the Gunnison Valley and Colorado, including regional and national events. Competition organizations and qualification requirements vary by team.
Mountain Sports Staff
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