Buffs Nordic Squad Gears Up for Utah Invitational After Strong Start in Lake Placid
MIDWAY, Utah - After a promising kickoff to the 2026 season in Lake Placid, the Colorado Buffaloes Nordic team heads west with momentum on their side and eyes set on the next big test: the Utah Invitational at Soldier Hollow this weekend.
Lake Placid wasn’t just the season opener - it doubled as the U.S. National Championships and served as a proving ground for the Buffs.
And if early results are any indication, this team is ready to compete at a high level. Leading the charge was Tilde Baangman, who wasted no time making her presence known.
The sophomore skier stepped onto the podium three times, highlighted by her first career win in a Buffs uniform. She added a second- and third-place finish in the RMISA-scored races, putting her in a strong position for NCAA qualifying.
Now, the focus shifts to Soldier Hollow, where two more RMISA races - a 7.5K freestyle on Saturday and a 15K classic on Sunday - await. Both events carry weight for NCAA qualification and team standings in the Utah Invitational, making this weekend a key checkpoint in the Buffs’ season.
On the men’s side, the Buffs will be close to full strength. Trey Jones remains sidelined as he continues to recover following his efforts in Lake Placid, but the team gets a boost from Jakob Moch.
The German skier missed the first race in Lake Placid due to travel from Europe but made an immediate impact in his collegiate debut, grabbing a second-place finish. With NCAA qualification in his sights and an Olympic appearance for Germany on the horizon, Moch will be looking to lock in strong results before heading overseas.
The Buffs are also expecting reinforcements this weekend. Astri Lunde and Sophie Spalding, who sat out the opening races, will make their season debuts on the women’s side. Johannes Flaaten, who also missed Lake Placid, returns to bolster the men’s roster.
While the Nordic team was battling in the Northeast, Colorado’s alpine squad was busy making noise back home. The Buffs took early leads in both the Spencer James Nelson Memorial Invitational and the DU Invitational, thanks to a combined 24 top-10 finishes across eight races - a strong statement as the alpine season heats up.
After this weekend’s action at Soldier Hollow, the Buffs will have reached the halfway mark in three major meets - CU, DU, and Utah Invitationals - before the alpine team heads to Reno and Mt. Rose Lake Tahoe for the Nevada Invitational from Jan. 31 to Feb. 3.
The rest of February will be a juggling act, as teams look to chase snow and complete the remaining events from those partially completed meets. All of it builds toward the season’s biggest stages: the RMISA Championships at Montana State (Feb. 26-28), followed by the NCAA Championships (March 11-14).
With key athletes returning, momentum building, and postseason qualification on the line, this weekend at Soldier Hollow is shaping up to be a pivotal one for the Buffaloes.