UW Ski Team Qualifies Both Men's and Women's Squads for Nationals

Despite challenging conditions, the student-run Husky Ski Team is making history with its first-ever dual national qualification.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Despite one of the worst ski seasons in recent memory in Washington state and barely being able to run traditional practices, the Husky Ski Team, a student-run ski racing club at the University of Washington, is competing at nationals this week in New York. It's the first time both the men and women have qualified in the same year in the club's remembered history.

Why it matters

The Husky Ski Team's dual national qualification is a remarkable achievement given the challenging conditions they faced this season. Their success highlights the power of community and camaraderie in an intense sport, as the team prioritized enjoying the season and supporting each other over individual performance.

The details

Finding enough snow to practice has been a major challenge for the Husky Ski Team this season, but they've made the most of every opportunity to ski together. The team has fostered a strong sense of community, with many members living together and supporting each other through both successes and setbacks. This positive environment has allowed the team to perform well despite the obstacles, qualifying both the men's and women's squads for the national championships.

  • The national championships begin on Tuesday, March 11, 2026 and go through Sunday, March 16, 2026.

The players

Marion Garabedian

Team co-captain of the Husky Ski Team.

Cody Trinkaus

Team co-captain of the Husky Ski Team.

Husky Ski Team

A student-run ski racing club at the University of Washington.

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What they’re saying

“They're like my best friends in the world. I live with a bunch of people on the team, I have for years. Outside of skiing, they are my biggest support system. They've seen me through injury, they've seen me through heartbreak. They've seen me through great successes. The community really is the defining factor of my college experience.”

— Cody Trinkaus, Team co-captain (fox13seattle.com)

“...it's emotional seeing all my hard work and everyone's hard work, it's all just successful. Everyone having fun, it makes me really emotional because I really worked hard, and we all worked so hard, and it's really exciting to see the payoff.”

— Marion Garabedian, Team co-captain (fox13seattle.com)

“I joined the team my sophomore year at UW. It was the best decision ever because I remember being in the Quad, and the people that were trying to convince me to do it were like, 'it's like ski racing but no trauma.' And it's totally been true, it's been all the good of it and none of the bad.”

— Marion Garabedian, Team co-captain (fox13seattle.com)

“I think that our ability to perform well is thanks to that fun-loving community that we've built. There's not pressure to be the best skier on the mountain. It's just about having fun and doing what we do. Results come from feeling like a team and trusting each other.”

— Cody Trinkaus, Team co-captain (fox13seattle.com)

“We're really just happy to be there, we're happy to wave our flag around and have people see us and see both our men's and women's teams there, and we're not going to worry too much about how it goes. We're just proud to be there.”

— Marion Garabedian, Team co-captain (fox13seattle.com)

What’s next

The national championships begin on Tuesday, March 11, 2026 and go through Sunday, March 16, 2026. The Husky Ski Team has a GoFundMe set up to help cover costs for the trip, and the races will be live-streamed on YouTube.

The takeaway

The Husky Ski Team's dual national qualification is a testament to the power of community and camaraderie in an intense sport. By prioritizing enjoyment and support over individual performance, the team has found success despite facing significant challenges this season, inspiring others with their positive attitude and collaborative spirit.