Utes Lead Team Points, But Colorado Buffs Shine Individually at NCAA Championships Slalom on Howelsen Hill

Last night on Howelsen Hill in Steamboat Springs, it was an excellent night to be a Colorado Buff. The team won both the men and the women’s slalom. Magdalena Luczak and Filip Whalqvist claimed victory at the 2024 NCAA slalom Championships. 

However, even with the two wins, CU did not conclude the evening in the lead for the team Championship title. After the slalom and giant slalom races and the 7.5 Freestyle Nordic race, the University of Utah holds onto the team lead with 445.5 points, the Denver Pioneers are not far behind with 401 points, and CU rounds the top-3 with 393.5. 

The University of Utah also had two athletes on the podium last night, Madison Hoffman (2nd) and Mikkel Solbakken (3rd). Additionally, Dartmouth and the University of Denver claimed podium spots as well. 

The final alpine competition in the 2024 NCAA Championships was filled with excitement and clear conditions for the athletes to go full send down the Howelsen pitch. The university athletes were not holding anything back under the bright lights, hoping to earn maximum points for their respective teams.

The Women

Nora Brand from University of Denver started off the evening at Howelsen Hill, Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The Pioneer has won two university slaloms this season and achieved three 4th-place finishes. 

This season Brand achieved victory on this hill during the Spencer Nelson Memorial Races, she stated, “It felt good, especially since it is the place where we are racing NCAA’s,” She continued, “It is always my goal to be up on the podium in slalom and win those races.” 

After the first run, Brand was in 12th place, but was able to attack harder on the second run and move up onto the podium, achieving 3rd place. 

Madison Hoffman from University of Utah finished the day in 2nd place, -0.35 ahead of Brand and just +0.13 behind the winning time. 

Hoffman stated, “We had the team lead going into today, but slalom is always a gamble. I knew I had to send it on the second run and was very happy to climb up nine places, end on the podium and get some points for the team.” 

Magdalena Luczak from the University of Colorado reigned victorious, achieving an Individual NCAA Championship trophy. Luczak established her lead on the first run, but she did have a slower second run. Nevertheless, she was able to pull ahead on the combined time and win overall. 

University of Denver and University of Alaska Anchorage both had three women in the top 15, which tied for the most athletes from a team on the leaderboard. 

The Men

After the first run, Filip Wahlqvist of the University of Colorado and Declan McCormack from the University of Vermont had a tight lead over the field with Wahlqvist merely in the lead by -0.16. Unfortunately McCormack did not finish his second run, and Wahlqvist pulled ahead for the win. 

Wahlqvist did not have his fastest second run, but with his first run lead, he was able to clinch the victory. 

Wahlqvist stated, “That was one of my main goals this season to win races, I feel like I accomplished that.  I came here to win races, and I feel like I’ve done that, and when I stand at the start gate, I know I can win, especially in slalom. This race is, by far, the coolest, biggest race I’ve ever skied before. I usually don’t get nervous at the start, but I felt it on the second run.  It was just me and the start ref, but then after I won everybody was there, that was awesome.”

Oscar Zimmer from Dartmouth remained consistent from top to bottom through both of his runs. Zimmer attacked the Howelsen pitch and was able to pull into 2nd place. He finished the day +0.49 behind the Buffaloes winning time. 

This season, Zimmer achieved one other podium finish on the University circuit at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort. 

Mikkel Solbakken from the University of Utah was also consistent in his execution at the evening NCAA race. Solbakken accomplished two times that would earn him a 3rd-place finish. The 3rd-place result helped the Utes pull ahead further in the NCAA Championship points. 

The University of Utah director of skiing, Fredrik Landstedt, stated, “Our alpine team came through big time! It was very impressive for them to ski so well under all the pressure. I am amazed by the performances of the entire team, but especially by Madison Hoffman and Mikkel Solbakken. We are in a great position, and the last day of Nordic will be exciting. Anything can still happen.”

Today, the Nordic teams compete for the last day of NCAA championships. The 20KM Mass Start Classical race will be the final chance to achieve the team NCAA Championship title.