Buffs Nearly Pull Off Stunning Comeback at Nevada Invitational, Fall Just Short of Utah
RENO, Nev. - The Colorado Buffaloes ski team came within a whisker of pulling off one of the most dramatic comebacks in recent RMISA memory, storming back from a 61-point deficit on the final day of the Nevada Invitational to finish just eight points behind meet-winner Utah.
After two days of competition, Colorado was tied for fourth and staring up at a crowded leaderboard. But when the giant slalom gates opened on Tuesday, the Buffs came out flying - and nearly flipped the script.
Men’s Team Delivers a Perfect Score
Let’s start with the men, because what they did doesn’t happen often. Colorado swept the podium - the first time in 10 years - and posted a perfect 111 points. That’s not just good; that’s flawless.
Filip Wahlqvist led the charge, picking up his second straight win and second consecutive GS victory. Behind him, teammates Justin Bigatel and Feb Allasina tied for second, locking in the sweep. Christoffer Oestroem chipped in with an eighth-place finish, and Stanley Buzek added depth in 22nd.
It was a clinic in execution and composure. Bigatel set the tone early, winning the top bib in the double-blind draw and then clocking the fastest first run in the field. Wahlqvist and Allasina weren’t far behind, sitting third and fourth, respectively, at the halfway point.
The second run sealed it. A late mistake by a Denver skier cracked the door open, and Bigatel stormed through it with a clean run to tie Allasina for second. Wahlqvist held strong to take the win, and just like that, Colorado had all three spots on the podium - the kind of collective performance that can swing an entire meet.
Accambray Stays Red-Hot, Women Keep the Pressure On
The women’s squad followed with a strong showing of their own, led by the unstoppable Louison Accambray. She’s been on another level this season, and Tuesday was no different. Accambray won her third race of the season - all in GS - and extended her podium streak to eight, tying the program record set by Lucie Zikova in 2006 for most consecutive podiums to start a season.
Accambray built a 1.03-second lead after the first run and never looked back, posting the fastest second run to win by nearly two full seconds. That kind of margin in college skiing is rare - it speaks to both her technical precision and her confidence at speed.
Paige DeHart and Alexa Brownlie backed her up with sixth and ninth-place finishes, respectively. DeHart now has four straight top-10 finishes in the Nevada series, while Brownlie continues to show consistency after bouncing back from a couple of DNFs earlier in the year.
Cathinka Lunder, unfortunately, didn’t finish her first run, but the Buffs still outscored Utah 89-70 in the women’s race - a crucial swing that brought them within eight points of the overall lead.
Final Push Falls Just Short
In the end, Colorado’s furious rally came up just shy. Utah held on to win the meet with 317 points, while the Buffs closed the gap to finish second with 309. Denver rounded out the podium at 288.
Colorado’s 200-point haul on the final day was the highest of any team - 53 more than Utah and 54 better than Denver. It was a massive statement, especially considering how far back they started the day.
The Buffs’ women led all teams with 167 total points across the meet, edging Utah by three and Denver by 16. The men finished with 142 points, just 11 behind Utah and five ahead of Denver.
Wahlqvist and Accambray Climb the CU Record Books
Both Wahlqvist and Accambray continue to etch their names into Colorado skiing lore.
Wahlqvist now has 11 career wins, tying him for 10th all-time at CU and second among men’s alpine skiers, trailing only John Skajem. He also owns 19 career podiums, putting him tied for fourth in CU men’s alpine history.
Bigatel’s second-place finish marked his second podium of the season and fourth of his career. He’s been a model of consistency in GS this year, finishing all four races inside the top four. Allasina’s tie for second was his second career podium and his first time finishing as runner-up.
On the women’s side, Accambray’s sixth career win - all in GS - adds to a growing résumé. She’s now tied for seventh on CU’s all-time women’s alpine podium list with 13. Her eight podiums this season already rank fifth in single-season program history.
DeHart and Brownlie are also emerging as reliable contributors. DeHart’s top-10 streak is building momentum, and Brownlie’s five top-10s this year show she’s finding her rhythm early in her collegiate career.
What’s Next
The Buffs’ Nordic teams are back in action next weekend at the Denver Invitational, which has been relocated to the Frisco Nordic Center. Saturday will feature a 10K classic mass start, followed by a 7.5K freestyle interval start on Sunday.
After the near-miss in Reno, Colorado will be looking to carry this momentum into the next phase of the season. If the alpine squads keep firing like this - and the Nordic teams match that energy - the Buffs could be setting up for a serious title run.