Steamboat’s Cooper Puckett Wins Holiday Classic

Posted on 12/22/2023 by sswscadmin in

Steamboat’s Cooper Puckett Wins Holiday Classic
The Murphy Roberts Holiday Classic alpine ski race wrapped up after two days of giant slalom races at Steamboat Ski Resort and two days of slalom races at Howelsen Hill. This year’s event featured over 220 top regional, collegiate, and nationally ranked racers from around the U.S. and nearly 20 other nations, with 16 colleges and universities represented and many U.S. Ski Team members. The weather was clear, and the courses were fast, and the racers put on a show every day with spectacular skiing. Amid a cheering crowd, fans were greeted by Santa as he skied down the course to start the night festivities on Wednesday. The week ended with SSWSC alumni, U.S. Ski Team Member, and Dartmouth College skier Cooper Puckett winning the overall. Sara Rask from the University of Denver won the overall for the women.

The race honors Murphy Roberts, a former SSWSC athlete who passed away unexpectedly in 2016 at 22. The Roberts family offers a generous scholarship fund in memory of their son. The $1,000 scholarship is awarded to the athlete who best demonstrates a passion for alpine ski racing while selflessly providing a level of enthusiasm, fun, and team participation, which are the traits exemplified by Murphy. This year, Higg and Cassidy Roberts presented two $1,000 scholarships in honor of their brother Murphy Roberts to Katharina Cosby from Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club and Audrey Crowley of Ski and Snowboard Club Vail.