Senior team captain Caitlin Forbes entered the college record books last week by becoming the first Saint Anselm skier to be honored as Tier One All-American at the Division II national championships in Sun Valley, Idaho. Forbes led the women’s ski team to a fifth place ranking in the national standings.

Forbes, who finished 3rd in the slalom and 5th in the giant slalom, was ranked 5th in the nation and honored as one of only five competitors honored as All-Americans. The team’s performance was especially impressive in light of their greenness to national competition. This is only the second year that the Saint Anselm Women’s Ski Team has qualified for the national championship. “We were excited when we finally broke through to the championship last year,” Forbes said. The Men’s Ski Team, who made their first appearance at the national competition this year, ranked 8th.

Despite the women’s team’s lack of experience on the national level, Forbes approached the competition without trepidation: “I hoped I would ski well, but I didn’t go into it with any expectations. I just raced as hard as I could.”

Forbes, who has been skiing competitively since the age of six, seems well-acclimated to the pressures of heated competition. Forbes admitted, “I don’t get the same thrill from recreational skiing that I get from racing. I guess I’m just a competitive person.”

The victory Sun Valley championship represents both the culmination and termination of Forbes’ collegiate skiing career. Dissimilarly from past years, Forbes was denied the opportunity to participate in the inter-division national championship in Alaska due to changes in NCAA league regulations.

Even so, Forbes was thrilled with her team’s performance: “I was incredibly excited for the team. And I’m glad to have skied so well in my last college race.” Forbes, who is currently mapping out her plans to pursue a graduate degree at another New England university, admitted that she might be eligible to compete next year due to a technicality. Even so, Forbes has resigned to stow away her racing skis after this season: “I just couldn’t imagine racing against Saint Anselm. It wouldn’t be the same.”

Forbes acknowledged that her victory in her final race was somewhat bittersweet: “I’m sad that I’ll be leaving the team after this year, but overall I’m comfortable with it. At least I went out with a bang.”

Forbes said one of the greatest thrills of the performance was meeting her parents afterwards, who have been dutifully attending her races for the past fifteen years. “My dad brought me roses,” she said, “It was so cute.”

While the Women’s Team will undoubtedly have to compensate for fill Forbes’ place next year, prospects are optimistic. Junior ski team member Monica Redente ranked 12th in the nation, and the team as a whole performed quite strongly. Forbes believes that the Saint Anselm Women’s Ski Team will again be competing nationally next year.