Utah Wins Second Straight NCAA Ski Championship

The University of Utah ski team captured its second consecutive NCAA national championship on Saturday, securing the title at home venues in Park City and Midway after a four-day competition that combined alpine and Nordic events. The Utes, who entered as defending champions, clinched the overall team victory with strong performances across disciplines, marking their 18th national title and sixth in the last seven years.

The championships, originally scheduled for Bozeman, Montana, were relocated to Utah in February due to insufficient snowfall at the planned site. Organizers shifted the alpine races to the Utah Olympic Park and the Nordic events to Soldier Hollow Nordic Center, drawing enthusiastic crowds under clear skies and varying snow conditions. All events were free to the public, fostering a lively atmosphere with fans, families and even pets gathering to cheer competitors.

The competition opened Wednesday with men's and women's giant slalom at the Olympic Park. Johs Braathen Herland of Utah defended his title in the men's event, posting a combined time of 1:55.41 to edge out Colorado's Feb Allasina by 0.41 seconds. In the women's race, Montana State's Justine Lamontagne...