Hall of Fame

Marius Korthauer

  • Class
  • Induction
    2014
  • Sport(s)
    Men's Skiing
A member of the Alaska men's cross country and skiing programs from 2004-08, Korthauer becomes the first men's runner or men's skier to be inducted to the Nanook Hall of Fame. The German native was the first national champion for the men's ski team as he celebrated his 24th birthday by winning the 20-kilometer classic race at the 2008 NCAA Championships. He was a six-time All-American for his career and made the podium at the NCAA Championships on five occasions, including national runner-up finishes in the 2008 freestyle race and 2006 classic race. Korthauer was also region and conference champion in the skate race.
 
On the trails, Korthauer was a member of the men's program's best-ever GNAC finish at the conference meet, as the Nanooks placed fifth in 2007. He also excelled in the classroom, as he was named a First Team Academic All-American At-Large selection in 2008 while also being tabbed an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District selection in the same year. As a runner, he was a three-time member of the GNAC All-Academic team and was selected as the Most Outstanding Graduating Business Student in 2008. After graduating from the university with a 3.87 undergraduate grade-point average and a 3.8 graduate GPA, he was a volunteer with the Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks and was active in the Fairbanks community when he was a student at UAF.
 
"When asked by a reporter after he won the 20K race at NCAAs what it felt like for a German to win an American event, Marius said, 'I don't ski for Germany, I ski for the University of Alaska Fairbanks.' That's the type of teammate and student-athlete Marius was," Alaska head coach Scott Jerome said. "He loved UAF and the opportunities that were afforded to him here. He made the most of being on an NCAA team in Alaska. After he exhausted his eligibility he collected some prize money as a national level race. Instead of pocketing the cash he donated it to the Nordic ski Club of Fairbanks' youth skiing program.  Again, this exemplifies Marius perfectly."  
 
He continued, "I was never so proud as I was when Marius won his national title. He truly earned it. It did not come easy. It was a long journey with many hard times but he made it. I am so happy that Marius will be honored by UAF for his athletic and academic accomplishments by being inducted into the Hall of Fame."
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