Buffs Dominate at Howelsen Hill, Flaaten Leads the Charge with Classic Win
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. - The Colorado Buffaloes wrapped up the Spencer James Nelson Memorial Invitational in emphatic fashion on Saturday, closing out the meet with a commanding performance in the 7.5K classic races at Howelsen Hill. Behind a strong showing from both their men’s and women’s Nordic squads, the Buffs tallied 187 points on the day and surged to a 66-point victory in the overall team standings.
Colorado finished the meet with 689 points, comfortably ahead of Denver (623) and Utah (619), who battled it out for second place. The Buffs placed two athletes on the podium in each of Saturday’s races, capping off a weekend that saw them win three of the eight events and notch two individual victories.
Flaaten Finds His Form
Johannes Flaaten delivered the headline performance of the day, winning the men’s 7.5K classic with a blistering final lap to seal his second career victory and first of the season. It was a statement win for the sophomore, who’s quietly been one of the most consistent skiers in the region this year. Saturday marked his sixth top-13 finish in as many races this season - five of them inside the top 10.
Flaaten wasn’t alone at the front. Teammate Storm Pedersen joined him on the podium in third place, bouncing back after a tough outing on Friday. For Pedersen, it was his fourth podium of the season and second in classic, continuing a stretch that’s seen him finish top five in six of his last seven races.
William Bentley turned in his best race of the season, finishing 13th - matching his career high. Luka Riley crossed in 20th, extending his streak of top-20 finishes to 12 straight dating back to last season. That kind of consistency has become Riley’s calling card, and Saturday was no exception.
With 93 points in the men’s race - 21 more than second-place Alaska Anchorage - Colorado left no doubt about who owned the day.
Lunde, Baangman Keep the Podium Streak Alive
The women’s team set the tone early in the day, with Astri Lunde and Tilde Baangman once again leading the charge. Lunde took second, marking her seventh career podium and fourth this season. She’s now finished as runner-up in four of her last five races - a model of consistency at the top of the field.
Right behind her was Baangman in third, continuing her own remarkable run. That’s now four straight podiums for the senior, who’s been on the box in seven of her nine races this season. She’s finished eight of those events and has 24 career podiums to her name - 13 of them in Colorado black and gold.
Selma Nevin stepped up with a strong eighth-place finish, her second-best result of the season and fourth top-10 showing. Nina Schamberger was in the mix early but took a tumble on the final lap and settled for 13th.
Even so, she’s finished in the top 13 in every race she’s completed this season. Elena Grissom placed 15th - her ninth top-20 finish in nine starts this year - while Sophie Spalding rounded out the Buffs’ effort in 25th.
As a team, the women scored 94 points, just two shy of Utah’s 96, but it was more than enough to help Colorado widen its overall lead.
Complete Team Effort Powers Meet Victory
The Buffs were firing on all cylinders this weekend. They finished with the most points in every category - men’s (342), women’s (347), alpine (356), and Nordic (333). That balance across disciplines is what separates contenders from champions, and Colorado looked every bit the latter in Steamboat Springs.
This marks the 30th time Colorado has won its own invitational - and the second straight year they’ve done it. The 73rd edition of the meet showcased a program that’s peaking at the right time, with only the RMISA Championships and NCAA Championships left on the calendar.
What’s Next
The RMISA season shifts back to alpine for the conclusion of the Utah Invitational, set for Feb. 22-24 in Park City. That meet will wrap up the regular season before the postseason gauntlet begins. If this weekend was any indication, Colorado is heading into the stretch run with momentum, depth, and a roster full of athletes who know how to deliver when it counts.
Final Team Standings: 1.
Colorado - 689
2.
Denver - 623
3.
Utah - 619
4.
Montana State - 456.5
5.
Alaska Anchorage - 442
6.
Nevada - 207.5
7.
Alaska Fairbanks - 175
8.
Westminster - 136
9.
Colorado Mountain - 120
Women’s 7.5K Classic (Top CU Finishers):
2.
Astri Lunde - 23:13.6
3.
Tilde Baangman - 23:19.8
8.
Selma Nevin - 24:59.0
13.
Nina Schamberger - 25:21.7
15.
Elena Grissom - 25:29.1
25.
Sophie Spalding - 27:05.7
Men’s 7.5K Classic (Top CU Finishers):
1.
Johannes Flaaten - 21:01.3
3.
Storm Pedersen - 21:15.8
13.
William Bentley - 21:58.1
20.
Luka Riley - 22:23.5
The Buffs didn’t just win the meet - they owned it. And with championship season looming, this team looks ready to make another deep run.