Buffaloes Ski Team Shines at Utah Olympic Park
The Colorado Buffaloes Ski Team continued to carve their names into the history books at Utah Olympic Park, led by an impressive performance from freshman Feb Allasina.
In the RMISA Giant Slalom qualifier, Allasina clinched his first collegiate victory, spearheading a commanding 1-2-4 finish for Colorado in the men's race. This marks the second consecutive season where three different Buffs have claimed wins in the same discipline-a feat last achieved in 1961 before last year.
The dynamic trio of Allasina, Filip Wahlqvist, and Justin Bigatel has dominated the recent GS races, with Wahlqvist sweeping the Nevada series, Bigatel winning on Saturday, and Allasina triumphing on Sunday.
On the women's side, Louison Accambray continued her remarkable season with a second-place finish, extending her podium streak to an impressive 10 consecutive races. She stands as the first alpine skier in program history to achieve this milestone, surpassing previous records set by Lucie Zikova and Frank Brown. Including Nordic skiers, Accambray is only the sixth in CU history to reach such a streak.
Race Recap
The women's race kicked off with Colorado showcasing both speed and resilience. Cathinka Lunder set an early tone with the fastest first-sector split, despite not finishing the run.
Accambray, initially flagged at the start, was granted a re-run and delivered the fourth-fastest first run. She then recorded the fastest second run, narrowly missing the win by just .08 seconds to Denver's Sara Rask.
Other notable performances included Alexa Brownlie, who finished seventh, and Hannah Soria, who made a significant leap from 30th to tie for 11th. Paige DeHart also secured a solid 13th place after a strong start.
In the men's race, Allasina took an early lead, delivering the fastest first run and maintaining his momentum with a top-10 second run to secure victory by .54 seconds. Wahlqvist followed closely, securing second place and holding off Utah's Johs Herland by a mere .05 seconds. Bigatel added to the team's success with a fourth-place finish, marking his sixth straight top-four result in GS races this season.
Stanley Buzek achieved a career-best ninth-place finish, while Christoffer Oestroem, despite a strong start, did not finish his second run.
Looking Ahead
The Buffs will stay at Utah Olympic Park for Tuesday's slalom races, with the first run moved up to 8 a.m. to dodge an approaching storm.
Women's Alpine Highlights
Accambray's second-place finish marks her 10th consecutive podium, a first for any alpine skier in CU history. With 15 career podiums, she now ranks in the top 25 all-time at Colorado and top 10 among women, becoming the second women's alpine skier to achieve double-digit podiums in a season.
Brownlie's seventh-place finish is her second-best GS result, and DeHart has consistently finished in the top 15 in all seven races she's completed this season. Soria notched her second top-11 finish of the season.
Men's Alpine Highlights
Allasina's victory is his first collegiate win and fourth podium in nine races as a freshman. Wahlqvist reached his 20th career podium, becoming the fourth men's alpine skier in CU history to do so.
Bigatel continued his impressive streak with another top-four GS finish. Buzek's ninth-place finish marked a career best, while Oestroem faced challenges in the second run.
The Buffaloes are proving to be a formidable force, with both the men's and women's teams showcasing depth, talent, and a hunger for victory. As they prepare for the upcoming slalom races, the Buffs are setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.