Buffaloes Ski Team Dominates at Utah Invitational
In a thrilling finish to the regular season, the Colorado Buffaloes Ski Team showcased their prowess by clinching the Utah Invitational with a commanding 126-point lead. The event at Utah Olympic Park was highlighted by an outstanding alpine performance that left competitors in the dust.
Louison Accambray was the star of the show, capturing her first collegiate slalom victory and her eighth career win. Her performance was nothing short of spectacular, leading a day where Colorado placed five skiers in the top 5 across both races. Cathinka Lunder joined the ranks with her career-best slalom finish, adding to the team's impressive showing.
On the men's side, the Buffaloes delivered a 3-4-5 finish, with Filip Wahlqvist securing third place, marking his 21st career podium. Stanley Buzek and Feb Allasina followed closely, rounding out a remarkable team effort.
The Buffs dominated both slalom races and claimed six of the eight race victories at the meet. They finished with 740 points, a record under the current scoring format, outpacing Utah (614), Montana State (528), and Denver (514).
Race Highlights
With weather concerns looming, organizers moved the start time to 8 a.m., making the first run crucial. Accambray, wearing bib No. 7, delivered the second-fastest first run and the fastest second run, winning by nearly seven-tenths of a second. Lunder started 10th and made a significant leap from ninth to fifth place, while Paige DeHart and Alexa Brownlie also made impressive climbs.
For the men, Wahlqvist started 16th but powered onto the podium with a strong showing in both runs. Allasina and Buzek completed the top-five sweep for Colorado. Justin Bigatel made a notable jump, improving 14 spots to finish 14th.
Looking Ahead
With the regular season wrapped up, the postseason beckons. The alpine teams head to Bozeman for competition at Bridger Bowl, while the Nordic team will compete at Soldier Hollow for the RMISA Championships.
Team Achievements
Colorado's victory at the Utah Invitational was marked by their dominance across all categories. The Buffs won the alpine, Nordic, men's, and women's overall titles. They narrowly missed out on the women's Nordic title, finishing second to Utah by just 14 points.
Their 740 points set a new high for the program under the current scoring system, showcasing their consistent excellence. The Buffs scored between 181-188 points each day, maintaining a strong presence in all eight races.
Women's Alpine Standouts
Accambray's victory in the slalom was her first in college and her eighth career win. She's been a podium regular, with 11 consecutive appearances, setting a CU record for alpine podiums. Cathinka Lunder's fifth-place finish marked her first career slalom top-five and continued her strong season performance.
Men's Alpine Highlights
Filip Wahlqvist's third-place finish was his second consecutive podium and fourth in five races, solidifying his status with 21 career podiums. Feb Allasina and Stanley Buzek also delivered strong performances, finishing fourth and fifth respectively.
Final Team Scores
- Colorado: 740
- Utah: 614
- Montana State: 528
- Denver: 514
- Alaska Anchorage: 353
- Nevada: 222
- Alaska Fairbanks: 215
- Westminster: 162
- Colorado Mountain: 126
The Colorado Buffaloes Ski Team has set a high bar with their remarkable performance, and as they head into the postseason, the momentum is firmly on their side.