Herland Continues Dominant Stretch in GS Season Debut

Wednesday, January 14

Aspen, Colo. / Aspen Highlands

University of Utah

Giant Slalom

Photo by: Matan Coll

Herland Continues Dominant Stretch in GS Season Debut

1/14/2026 6:30 PM | Skiing

Results

Utah sophomore has won all three RMISA alpine races this season

ASPEN, Colo. – For the third straight day, Utah's Johs Braathen Herland was atop the men's podium as the Utes moved to Aspen Highlands on Wednesday for giant slalom races that were scored as part of the Denver Invitational. It was the first giant slalom of the year for the Utes, who raced slalom on Monday and Tuesday at Loveland Ski Area.

Herland bested the field after winning slaloms both on Monday and Tuesday to begin the RMISA alpine schedule. Additionally, he won a pair of Nor-Am giant slalom events last week—giving him a total run of five straight victories, including all three of his RMISA starts to date. He currently is racing with the RMISA leader bib in both men's GS and slalom.

With the alpine portion of the Denver Invitational now in the books, Utah is in third place in the meet standings with 284.5 points. Colorado (353) is in first place with Denver (316) in second place. The Nordic portion of the Denver Invitational will take place at Maloit Park on Feb. 7-8.

Women's Race
Utah was led in the women's race by Melanie Dahlberg with a career-best fifth-place performance (2:03.44) in a race for Dahlberg that included a top-three first run. Christina Jacobsen (2:04.03) was 12^th and Maisie Blyth scored her first college points with a 17^th-place result (2:04.37).

In addition, Kaila Lafreniere tabbed 18^th and Maddie Kaiserman was 24^th.

"Melanie is such a technically sound skier," said assistant coach Mary Joyce. "For her to come in third on the first run was so awesome. She really is so good—she can be right there playing for podium contention every race. And Maisie has been crushing second runs. We are excited to have her energy and see the potential she has. The girls all have really good stuff, we just need to clean up a couple sections of the course. But we have a strong team and we're excited to see what they're capable of."

Blyth, who wore bib 31 for the race, was in 22^nd after the day's opening run and climbed up five spots in the final results. Her second run was eighth-best in the field of 32 finishers.

Men's Race
Johs Braathen Herland was in first place after the opening run and had a top-two second run, putting together a combined time (1:59.30) that earned Herland his third RMISA victory in as many starts this season.

Sindre Myklebust was in the top-six (2:01.64) and Jay Poulter, who started the race 32^nd, ended up in seventh place (2:01.87) for his best finish in an RMISA race. Pierick Charest rounded out the Utah lineup in 36^th.

Joyce added, "What Johs is doing is really, really incredible. He's found something to connect with and keeps building on his confidence. Sindre has been getting in a better position when he's skiing—he had it on the first run for sure. Such a solid day. Jay was skiing from bib 32—to put down two solid runs was great. He has some really good speed. It's cool to see different people in different positions every day."

Myklebust was third heading into the midday flip, while Poulter was 10^th after the opening run and had his final run rank seventh in the field.

Next Up
Utah will close out a busy alpine week tomorrow with another giant slalom competition, with Thursday's scoring falling under the Colorado Invitational. It'll take place at Aspen Highlands in Aspen, Colorado.

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