Completed Event: Skiing versus 20K Freestyle (M) on March 8, 2025 , , 1st
Final Score
Skiing
1st
vs 20K Freestyle (M)
Friday, February 10
Nederland, Colo.
All Day
University of Utah
vs
Giant Slalom
Photo by: Nick Grace
Vøllo and McCabe Pick Up Wins for Utah on Friday as Utes Win CU Invitational
2/10/2023 3:53 PM | Skiing
Incredible comeback victory complete after giant slalom races; 5K classic opens DU Invitational for Nordic team
NEDERLAND, Colo. and MINTURN, Colo. – A busy Friday for the Utah Ski Team saw the Utes conclude one meet with a victory, while starting up another across Colorado.
Another strong day of giant slalom capped off an incredible comeback for Utah to win the Spencer James Nelson Memorial Colorado Invitational, rallying from what was a 57-point deficit after the Nordic races. Utah ended the meet with 655 points, edging CU by just 12 points.
Also on Friday over in Minturn, the Nordic squad began the Denver Invitational with 5K freestyle races in Maloit Park. Highlighted by a 1-2 finish for Novie McCabe and Sophia Laukli, five women in the top-10 and four men in the top-seven, Utah holds a 50-point lead on Denver entering Saturday's action.
Colorado Invitational – Vøllo and Normannseth Go 1-2 in Men's Giant Slalom at Eldora
A day after Vøllo placed third in men's giant slalom at the Colorado Invitational, Vøllo came back and etched a win while Wilhelm Normannseth was right behind him in second place. Madison Hoffman added another podium for Utah in the women's event, taking home a silver medal for the second time in as many days and again matching her top collegiate finish for a GS race.
"Just having the whole crew back has been awesome," said head alpine coach JJ Johnson. "There's been some energy—people have been feisty but in a good way. Claire Timmermann almost had a podium; that was awesome. Madison Hoffman, solid, good movements in her skiing. She hasn't been in that position of leading after the first run in a while and she executed nicely. Josefine comes back and was our third scorer—it's cool.
"Wilhelm Normannseth is starting to piece together run after run and find some confidence. He skied beautifully. Gustav's runs got better and better. That last run was full grit. The whole crew is going."
Vøllo was in third place after the opening run (51.16 seconds), then won the second run (54.32 seconds) to take over the overall lead with a time of 1:45.48. It went on the books as his third career giant slalom win and first since the 2021 season. Bjorn Brudevoll also scored for Utah, placing 18th.
"I am very happy with the last few days, both from my own perspective and for the team," Vøllo said. "The team is pushing through any challenge we meet, and I am happy to be a part of it. To have teammates step up every day makes it easy to focus on what I can do and I am excited for the slaloms the next couple of days!"
Including Hoffman, three Utes placed in the top-10 of the women's race. Claire Timmermann had her top finish as a Ute placing fourth (1:53.39), and it was great to see Josefine Selvaag pick up key points with a top-10 effort (1:54.58).
Hoffman won the morning run (53.64 seconds) and was third (58.74 seconds) on her final trip down the hill, earning silver with a time of 1:52.38.
Denver Invitational - McCabe and Laukli Lead Women's 5K Freestyle in Minturn
A solid Nordic day across the board for Utah saw a near-sweep of the women's podium. Novie McCabe won the women's 5K, Sophia Laukli claimed silver and Karianne Dengerud (sixth), Ezra Smith (seventh) and Celine Mayer (10th) brought the Ute contingent to five athletes finishing in the top-10.
"The team executed very well today on the challenging course here in Minturn and in the adversity of high altitude," said head Nordic coach Miles Havlick. "We were really focused on pacing today and having a fast second lap and I was very impressed with how everyone skied. Novie and Sophia continue to impress as does Walker and Brian. We are looking forward to carrying this momentum into the mass start event tomorrow!"
Said McCabe, "Great day for the whole team for sure! It was a really nice sunny day up here and it's always more fun to race when it's like that. We had some awesome skis. I feel like we have some good momentum heading into the mass start tomorrow!"
McCabe owns four RMISA victories this season and 13 in her college career after her winning time of 15:33.3. Laukli clocked in at 16:07.3 and Dengerud's sixth-place time was 16:59.6.
In the men's competition, Walker Hall hit his second straight podium with a second-place result (14:45.4). Brian Bushey was just off the podium in fourth (14.51.4) and Samuel Hendry (14:55.2) tabbed sixth. Tom Mancini returned to the lineup for Utah and netted an seventh-place result.
Next Up
Saturday's slate once again has both the alpine and Nordic teams in action; though with the Colorado Invitational now in the books the Utes are full steam ahead in the Denver Invitational. Maloit Park will welcome the Nordic squad back for 10K classic races and Loveland Ski Area will host alpine for the first of two days of slalom racing.
Follow the Utah Ski Team on social media @utahskiteam.
Another strong day of giant slalom capped off an incredible comeback for Utah to win the Spencer James Nelson Memorial Colorado Invitational, rallying from what was a 57-point deficit after the Nordic races. Utah ended the meet with 655 points, edging CU by just 12 points.
Also on Friday over in Minturn, the Nordic squad began the Denver Invitational with 5K freestyle races in Maloit Park. Highlighted by a 1-2 finish for Novie McCabe and Sophia Laukli, five women in the top-10 and four men in the top-seven, Utah holds a 50-point lead on Denver entering Saturday's action.
Colorado Invitational – Vøllo and Normannseth Go 1-2 in Men's Giant Slalom at Eldora
A day after Vøllo placed third in men's giant slalom at the Colorado Invitational, Vøllo came back and etched a win while Wilhelm Normannseth was right behind him in second place. Madison Hoffman added another podium for Utah in the women's event, taking home a silver medal for the second time in as many days and again matching her top collegiate finish for a GS race.
"Just having the whole crew back has been awesome," said head alpine coach JJ Johnson. "There's been some energy—people have been feisty but in a good way. Claire Timmermann almost had a podium; that was awesome. Madison Hoffman, solid, good movements in her skiing. She hasn't been in that position of leading after the first run in a while and she executed nicely. Josefine comes back and was our third scorer—it's cool.
"Wilhelm Normannseth is starting to piece together run after run and find some confidence. He skied beautifully. Gustav's runs got better and better. That last run was full grit. The whole crew is going."
Vøllo was in third place after the opening run (51.16 seconds), then won the second run (54.32 seconds) to take over the overall lead with a time of 1:45.48. It went on the books as his third career giant slalom win and first since the 2021 season. Bjorn Brudevoll also scored for Utah, placing 18th.
"I am very happy with the last few days, both from my own perspective and for the team," Vøllo said. "The team is pushing through any challenge we meet, and I am happy to be a part of it. To have teammates step up every day makes it easy to focus on what I can do and I am excited for the slaloms the next couple of days!"
Including Hoffman, three Utes placed in the top-10 of the women's race. Claire Timmermann had her top finish as a Ute placing fourth (1:53.39), and it was great to see Josefine Selvaag pick up key points with a top-10 effort (1:54.58).
Hoffman won the morning run (53.64 seconds) and was third (58.74 seconds) on her final trip down the hill, earning silver with a time of 1:52.38.
Denver Invitational - McCabe and Laukli Lead Women's 5K Freestyle in Minturn
A solid Nordic day across the board for Utah saw a near-sweep of the women's podium. Novie McCabe won the women's 5K, Sophia Laukli claimed silver and Karianne Dengerud (sixth), Ezra Smith (seventh) and Celine Mayer (10th) brought the Ute contingent to five athletes finishing in the top-10.
"The team executed very well today on the challenging course here in Minturn and in the adversity of high altitude," said head Nordic coach Miles Havlick. "We were really focused on pacing today and having a fast second lap and I was very impressed with how everyone skied. Novie and Sophia continue to impress as does Walker and Brian. We are looking forward to carrying this momentum into the mass start event tomorrow!"
Said McCabe, "Great day for the whole team for sure! It was a really nice sunny day up here and it's always more fun to race when it's like that. We had some awesome skis. I feel like we have some good momentum heading into the mass start tomorrow!"
McCabe owns four RMISA victories this season and 13 in her college career after her winning time of 15:33.3. Laukli clocked in at 16:07.3 and Dengerud's sixth-place time was 16:59.6.
In the men's competition, Walker Hall hit his second straight podium with a second-place result (14:45.4). Brian Bushey was just off the podium in fourth (14.51.4) and Samuel Hendry (14:55.2) tabbed sixth. Tom Mancini returned to the lineup for Utah and netted an seventh-place result.
Next Up
Saturday's slate once again has both the alpine and Nordic teams in action; though with the Colorado Invitational now in the books the Utes are full steam ahead in the Denver Invitational. Maloit Park will welcome the Nordic squad back for 10K classic races and Loveland Ski Area will host alpine for the first of two days of slalom racing.
Follow the Utah Ski Team on social media @utahskiteam.
Players Mentioned
Alpine
/ Skiing
Nordic
/ Skiing
Nordic
/ Skiing
Nordic
/ Skiing
Nordic
/ Skiing
Alpine
/ Skiing
Nordic
/ Skiing
Nordic
/ Skiing
Nordic
/ Skiing
Nordic
/ Skiing
Alpine
/ Skiing
Alpine
/ Skiing
Nordic
/ Skiing
Alpine
/ SkiingSeven New Inductees to Join Utah Athletics Hall of Fame in October 2025
Monday, July 28
University of Utah Athletics - A Storied History
Friday, August 02
Last weekend, Sydney Palmer-Leger won the 7.5K freestyle earning her THIRD national title! 🏆 🏆 🏆
Wednesday, March 13
Utah Skiing National Championship 2023!!
Friday, May 26