Alpine Group Posts Good First Day at DU Invitational

Sunday, January 10

Aspen, CO

All Day

University of Utah

Women's Giant Slalom (2)

Alpine Group Posts Good First Day at DU Invitational

1/10/2021 7:05 PM | Skiing

SKI RESUILTS 2021 DU Invitational

Women Raced Today, Men Race Tomorrow in Giant Slalom

ASPEN, Colo. – The Utah alpine team kicked off the season with the giant slalom race at the Denver Invitational on Sunday, January 10.

It was a bluebird day and the temperature dropped last night to help create a great surface for the women's race. The Utes had five racing today with two landing on the podium as Katie Parker finished third in the first race (2:16.29) and freshman Madison Hoffman got second (2:14.61) in the second race of the day.

"Today there were great conditions," Parker said. "It was so fun to be able to race with the team again! I'm struggling with some back issues so I was only able to ski the first race which meant that I had to go for it in that race."

It was Hoffman's first time racing with Utah and after having a ski pop off in the first race, she finished second in the second race.

"Racing today for the Utes for my first time was so fun," Hoffman said. "I was pretty nervous at first as I wanted to do well for the team, but after the first run the nerves dissipated and I just felt super grateful to be a part of a team like this!"

In the second race, Sona Moravcikova finished in seventh (2:17.15). Michelle Kervén finished in 16^th(2:20.66) in the second race.

Katie Vesterstein finished in 17^th (2:21.16) in the first race.

Overall, Utah sits in third in points after the first day with 129 points. They sit behind Westminster (200 points) and Montana State (148 points).

The Denver Invitational continues with the men's side of the Giant Slalom on January 11 to close out the slalom portion of the Denver Invitational.