STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo.—The University of Utah had a pair of individual wins as teams from across the RMISA raced in giant slalom on Thursday at Steamboat Resort.
Though the day was not part of a meet—so no team scores were kept—individual results do count for the athletes toward NCAA Championships qualification. Today's race was the second of three total RMISA qualifiers; another giant slalom will be held on February 22 before the RMISA Championships in Big Sky, Montana.
Making her collegiate season debut after competing on the World Cup circuit, Utah's Madison Hoffman won the women's GS including the top times in both runs. On the men's side, Mikkel Solbakken had the top result to complete the Utah sweep. Solbakken won the opening run and held on in the finale despite an 11th-place second run.
Westminster's Loic Chable and UAA's Leon Nikic rounded out the men's podium in second and third place, respectively. Solbakken led three Utes in the top-nine, including Wilhelm Normannseth (seventh) and Sindre Myklebust (ninth). Denver also placed three athletes in the top-eight while Colorado's Louis Fausa led the Buffaloes in fifth.
Trey Seymour of Denver won the men's second run, climbing into the top-four after sitting 17th at the break.
In addition to Hoffman, Colorado's Magdalena Luczak (second) and Westminster's Hannah Saethereng (third) composed the podium in the women's competition. All told, three Utes were in the top-10, two apiece from CU, Denver and Westminster, while Justine Lamontagne led the way for Montana State with a sixth-place result.
An RMISA doubleheader of sorts awaits on Friday as part of the CU Spencer James Nelson Memorial Invitational. Alpine teams will race another GS at Steamboat Resort, while Nordic action gets underway in the meet with a 7.5K freestyle at Howelsen Hill Ski Area.
MEN'S RMISA QUALIFIER GIANT SLALOM TOP 10 (44 finishers): 1. Mikkel Solbakken, UU; 2. Loic Chable, WM; 3. Leon Nikic, UAA; 4. Trey Seymour, DU; 5. Louis Fausa, CU; 6. Cooper Cornelius, DU; 7. Wilhelm Normannseth, UU; 8. Adrian Hunshammer, DU; 9. Sindre Myklebust, UU; 10. Etienne Mazellier, CU.
WOMEN'S RMISA QUALIFIER GIANT SLALOM TOP 10 (36 finishers): 1. Madison Hoffman, UU; 2. Magdalena Luczak, CU; 3. Hannah Saethereng, WM; 4. Kaja Norbye, UU; 5. Sara Rask, DU; 6. Justine Lamontagne, MSU; 7. Evelina Fredricsson, WM; 8. Emma Hammergaard, CU; 9. Nora Brand, DU; 10. Kaila Lafreniere, UU.
| Date | Race |
|---|---|
| Feb. 1 | Women's Giant Slalom |
| Feb. 1 | Men's Giant Slalom |
| Feb. 22 | Women's Giant Slalom |
| Feb. 22 | Men's Giant Slalom |