Buffs Bring the Heat to the Snow: Colorado Heads to Steamboat for Crucial Nordic Races
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS - The Colorado Buffaloes are rolling into Steamboat Springs this weekend with momentum on their side and postseason aspirations squarely in focus. The Nordic portion of the Spencer James Nelson Memorial Invitational kicks off Friday and Saturday at the legendary Howelsen Hill, and for CU, this is more than just another stop on the circuit-it's a key tune-up for March’s NCAA Championships.
This weekend marks the second half of the Colorado-hosted invitational, following up a strong showing at the Denver Invitational in Frisco. But now, the stakes get a little higher.
The distances get longer. The format shifts to match NCAA Championship disciplines.
It’s the kind of weekend that separates contenders from pretenders.
The Schedule: Championship Distances, Championship Mindset
- Friday: 20K Freestyle (Mass Start) - 10 a.m.
- Saturday: 7.5K Classic (Interval Start) - 9:30 a.m.
These are the first races of the season that mirror the NCAA Championship format. That means every stride, every split, and every finish line matters just a little bit more. For the skiers, it’s a chance to test themselves against the kind of grind they’ll face when the national titles are on the line.
Riding the Wave: CU’s Momentum Is Real
The Buffs aren’t just showing up-they’re showing out. Last weekend in Frisco, they capped off the Denver Invitational with a dominant Nordic performance: three individual wins, four runner-up finishes, and the overall team victory. That’s the kind of all-around firepower that makes a team dangerous down the stretch.
On the women’s side, Tilde Baangman was untouchable, sweeping both races. Right behind her?
Astri Lunde, who grabbed second place in both events. That 1-2 punch has become a defining strength for CU’s women’s squad, and with the full roster expected to be available this weekend, they’ll be looking to keep that rhythm going in Steamboat.
The men’s team isn’t far behind. Storm Pedersen put together a 1-2 finish of his own last weekend, and Johannes Flaaten added a second-place finish to the tally. And there’s more good news: Will Bentley is back in the lineup after competing internationally, giving the Buffs another weapon in the arsenal.
Even with Trey Jones sidelined and both Jakob Moch and Hugo Hinckfuss away at the Winter Olympics, this squad has proven it can still deliver top-tier results. Last weekend was proof-depth and resilience are becoming hallmarks of this group.
The Standings: Tight at the Top
This weekend wraps up the Colorado-hosted invitational, which began last month with alpine races in Loveland and Aspen. After the alpine portion, the Buffaloes hold a slim lead in the overall team standings:
- Colorado - 356 points
- Denver - 347 points
- Utah - 300 points
That nine-point cushion over Denver is far from comfortable, but it’s a lead nonetheless. And with the Nordic races set to close things out, CU has a real shot to widen the gap and lock down the invitational title.
What’s at Stake
Beyond the standings, this weekend is about momentum. It’s about sharpening form, testing strategies, and building confidence ahead of the NCAA Championships. With championship-style formats on deck, the Buffs have a golden opportunity to see where they stack up-not just against Denver and Utah, but against the kind of pressure they’ll face in March.
If last weekend was any indication, Colorado is more than ready for the challenge. The skis are fast, the legs are strong, and the podiums are within reach. All that’s left now is to take the hill and prove it.