The Pack Down Under
Charlie, David, Cate and Erica
As summer temperatures peak back home in Reno, several Nevada Ski team athletes have headed south in search of snow. Charles Zaretsky (Fr), David Morken (Jr), Cate Dance (So), Erica Lynch (Sr), and Noelle Roth (Fr) are currently training in New Zealand, taking advantage of the Southern Hemisphere winter before returning to Reno for the start of the school year at the end of the month.
David Morken shares an update from New Zealand:
“I spent the majority of my summer getting in shape for next ski season—getting in the gym, running, working on agility and playing other sports. I also spent a week training indoor slalom in Belgium with the Palisades Tahoe Ski Team and felt like I made great improvements to my skiing.
When I’m not training, I’ve been fishing, boating, biking, backpacking or doing just about any other activity you can think of. I’m currently training in New Zealand, fine-tuning my skiing before school starts and we get back in the gym. I’m about halfway through the trip and we are working through a good slalom block at Coronet Peak getting lots of reps both free-skiing and in a course. Soon we will transition to GS and ski a few days at the Remarkables for a change of snow and terrain. I’m here with 4 of my teammates, Noelle, Charles, Erica, and Cate, and we are excited to see what this season has to offer!
— David Morken
Ski Ball 2026: A Q&A with Tamara McKinney
Tamara McKinney
With just a couple weeks of summer left, the Wolf Pack will be back on campus August 24th — and Ski Ball 2026 won’t be far behind.
Ski Ball Denim & Diamonds 2.0, returns to the Reno Ballroom on Friday, October 30th, with Tamara McKinney joining us as this year’s keynote speaker.
Local legend Tamara McKinney—a former World Cup overall champion, World Champion, and three-time Olympian—has remained closely connected to the ski community and is also a member of the Nevada Ski Boosters. Ahead of Ski Ball, we asked her a couple of questions about her connection to Nevada Skiing and what she’s looking forward to sharing with us this fall.
Q: You’ve stayed involved in the ski community long after your racing career. Why was supporting Nevada Skiing and NCAA skiing a natural fit for you?
A: “It has been a gift to share my love of skiing and ski racing with generations of young skiers.
Coaches Cameron Smith and Nico Monforte bring international ski racing knowledge and experience to the University of Nevada Ski Team, with contagious work ethic & enthusiasm. This leadership and atmosphere will not only build a strong NCAA D1 ski team for the University of Nevada, it also creates a lifelong attitude of the importance of teamwork and dedication to excellence for the student athletes who go through the program.
I am honored to be one of the University of Nevada Boosters board members and look forward to seeing the positive impact that Nevada Skiing has on the young aspiring ski racers in the Tahoe area and around the country.”
Q: Without giving too much away, what are you most excited to share as this year’s Ski Ball keynote speaker?
A: “I’m excited to share how having the University of Nevada ski team in the community can open young athletes’ eyes to what’s possible. It’s not only an opportunity to race alongside and against collegiate athletes, but to see where skiing can take them. They’re exposed to athletes from around the world, a higher level of competition, and the possibility of pursuing both skiing and an education. That exposure can broaden their perspective on the sport and, hopefully, open the door to bigger dreams and opportunities they may not have otherwise imagined.”
Join Us at Ski Ball
Tickets are on sale now for Ski Ball 2026 — Denim & Diamonds 2.0, Friday, October 30th at the Reno Ballroom.
Join us for an evening supporting Nevada Skiing, featuring keynote speaker Tamara McKinney and live music from Jakota Wass.
