Men’s GS Podium/Adri Meyer/University of Denver Athletics
RMISA giant slalom series highlights balance and depth across two days in Aspen
ASPEN, Colo. — Four RMISA giant slalom races over two days at Aspen Highlands on Jan. 14–15 offered a clear look at the conference’s competitive balance, with the University of Utah, University of Denver, and University of Colorado each asserting themselves across men’s and women’s racing.
Utah controlled the men’s races, Colorado set the standard in the women’s field, and Denver remained a consistent podium presence throughout, while Westminster University, Montana State University, and the University of Nevada all broke into the top five and reinforced the growing depth of the conference.
Day 1 — January 14
Women’s giant slalom
Louison Accambray (University of Colorado) opened the series with a strong performance, leading from the first run and maintaining her advantage through the finish. Behind her, athletes from the University of Denver, Westminster University, and the University of Utah rounded out a competitive top five.
Top five results — Women (Jan. 14):
- 1st Louison Accambray — University of Colorado — 2:01.01
- 2nd Sara Rask — University of Denver — 2:01.71 (+0.70)
- 3rd Guro Hestad Vognild — Westminster University — 2:02.75 (+1.74)
- 4th Cathinka Lunder — University of Colorado — 2:03.34 (+2.33)
- 5th Melanie Dahlberg — University of Utah — 2:03.44 (+2.43)
Day 1 — January 14
Men’s giant slalom
Johs Herland (University of Utah) set the pace in the opening men’s race, delivering the fastest overall time to secure the victory. The University of Colorado placed three skiers inside the top five, and the University of Denver remained competitive with a fourth-place effort.
Top five results — Men (Jan. 14):
- 1st Johs Herland — University of Utah — 1:59.30
- 2nd Justin Bigatel — University of Colorado — 1:59.94 (+0.64)
- 3rd Filip Wahlqvist — University of Colorado — 2:00.56 (+1.26)
- 4th Adrian Hunshammer — University of Denver — 2:00.95 (+1.65)
- 5th Christoffer Oestroem — University of Colorado — 2:00.97 (+1.67)
Day 2 — January 15
Women’s giant slalom
Accambray backed up her opening-day result with another wire-to-wire victory, posting the fastest times across both runs. The University of Denver continued to apply pressure with two skiers inside the top three, while Utah and Nevada closed out the top five.
Top five results — Women (Jan. 15):
- 1st Louison Accambray — University of Colorado — 2:00.47
- 2nd Sara Rask — University of Denver — 2:01.96 (+1.49)
- 3rd Cecilia Pizzinato — University of Denver — 2:02.49 (+2.02)
- 4th Melanie Dahlberg — University of Utah — 2:02.80 (+2.33)
- 5th Erica Lynch — University of Nevada — 2:02.83 (+2.36)
Day 2 — January 15
Men’s giant slalom
Herland completed a sweep of the men’s races with his second victory in as many days. The University of Colorado and University of Denver again filled much of the top five, while Montana State University closed the series with a fifth-place finish.
Top five results — Men (Jan. 15):
- 1st Johs Herland — University of Utah — 1:57.99
- 2nd Filip Wahlqvist — University of Colorado — 1:58.30 (+0.31)
- 3rd Adrian Hunshammer — University of Denver — 1:58.55 (+0.56)
- 4th Justin Bigatel — University of Colorado — 1:59.23 (+1.24)
- 5th Gianluca Boehm — Montana State University — 1:59.76 (+1.77)
Depth across the top 10 shapes the series
Beyond the podiums, the Aspen giant slalom series was defined by how many programs consistently placed skiers inside the top 10 across all four races. Colorado repeatedly stacked finishes in the 6th–10th range on both the men’s and women’s sides, allowing the Buffs to stay competitive even when victories went elsewhere.
Denver also demonstrated remarkable team depth, placing multiple skiers on the podium and just off it in every race. Utah’s strength extended beyond its two men’s victories, as additional top-10 finishes helped solidify its position in the overall team battle.
Elsewhere, Westminster University continued to punch above its size with a top-five result and additional skiers finishing inside the top 10, while Montana State University and the University of Nevada each added key results that broke up the traditional hierarchy. Those finishes, while less visible than wins, played an important role in the overall RMISA picture by influencing seeding, confidence, and cumulative points as the season progresses.
Series takeaway
Across four races, the Aspen giant slalom series highlighted the impact of both elite performances at the front and depth throughout each lineup. The University of Utah men set the early tone with back to back victories, while the University of Colorado surged behind Louison Accambray’s consecutive wins and a dominant team effort that placed five Buffs inside the men’s top ten, building a nine point lead over the University of Denver.
Denver answered with impressive balance across both programs, stacking multiple podium finishes and delivering consistent results from top to bottom on the women’s and men’s sides. With RMISA points and start positions adding up quickly in January, performances like these can quietly shape NCAA seeding long before the championship races arrive.
About the Author: SR Staff Report
